"Shippo, Rin, don't run far. You need to stay within my eyesight." The group was walking along a deserted dirt road flanked by trees.
"Alright, Okaa-san!" Shippo ran ahead with Rin playing tag and chasing each other in circles around the group.
"Kagome, you really do worry too much," Sango said as she walked with Kagome, eyes closed face raised to the sun.
"Let's just call it a healthy dose of precaution. I don't want the children to get hurt and if there's danger, one of us needs to be able to reach them in time." Kagome glanced towards her friend as they walked side by side, noticing the subtle changes that were happening in her face.
The threat of Naraku weighed heavily on all of them, but Sango and Miroku the most. Miroku because he could lose his life to his curse, and Sango could lose the man she loved. It was a daily threat that could arise at any moment. 'Im thankful they have each other to rely on for now.'
"Im going to get you!" Shippo yelled as he chased Rin.
"Never!" Rin shouted as she looked over her shoulder. She proceeded to run into Kagome's legs and they both fell to the ground in a pile. Soon all that could be heard were the wails of a small girl.
"I'm so sorry Kagome-nee-san!" Rin said as she cried, crawling off of Kagome.
"Rin, sweetie, it's alright. There's no need to cry." Kagome sat up and pulled the bawling child into her arms, holding her close to her chest. "Shhhhhh, shhhh, it's alright. There's no need for tears." Kagome rocked them both back and forth on the ground for a few moments, calming Rin down to the occasional sniffle.
Looking down at the child in her arms and brushing the hair from her face, Kagome smiled gently. "There, all better. We just need to watch where we're going so we're all safe. Alright Rin?"
"Hai Kagome-nee-san. I'm sorry for not looking and making you fall." Rin pulled away from Kagome and scrambled to stand up.
"It's really alright Rin. I know you did'nt mean to. How about we play a different game? This one is called 'I Spy' and its when you see a specific thing, and the others have to guess what it is. The person who gets it right is the next person who looks."
Kagome stood, brushing herself off as much as possible.
"I want to go first okaa-san!" Shippo said as he ran towards them as he completed his loops.
"Alright Shippo, go right ahead. You have to say "I spy with my little eye something.. And then the color of the thing you spied." Sango and Miroku shared a glance and small smile as they started walking down the path again.
"I spy with my little eye…"