The trek back to the demon camp was anything but leisurely. Kagome felt like her tongue had taken a vow of silence, but Kimiko didn't seem to care either way. The diminutive demoness strolled beside the priestess—Kagome was certain that even her most sprightly steps must have felt like a crawl to a full-fledged demon. They maintained a polite buffer zone between them, and Kagome just kept sending silent prayers to the gods of small talk that Kimiko wasn't in a gabby mood. How could she even begin to justify what had just transpired? What could she possibly say? 'Sorry for begging your future husband to—' The thought left her cheeks ablaze. Nope, couldn't even finish that mental sentence.
Meanwhile, as Kagome wrestled with mortification, Kimiko could still detect the scent of her future mate on this human woman. She wasn't particularly bothered. Her forthcoming union with Toga was purely for the sake of political convenience between their clans. She had no other expectations or allusions otherwise. But this human dalliance was, well, surprising. Kimiko gave Kagome a sidelong glance, her eyes half-lidded. What was so fascinating about them? They didn't even taste all that good.
"You sent for me." Toga stepped into a makeshift tent, kneeling before another dog demon. "Inu no Taisho," he intoned, respect lacing each syllable.
The elder demon, Inu no Taisho, was an awe-inspiring sight—even to a son who'd known him for centuries. Draped in an immaculate white kimono with an equally pristine shawl over his armored shoulders, he was a study in contrast. His black armor offered a stark counterpoint to the white fabric. Even seated, it was clear he towered over Toga by at least two heads. His eyes, a warm amber like his son's, were etched with lines that bespoke his age. When he spoke, his booming voice resonated like a bass strummed by the gods.
"The time has come for our clans to reunite," Inu no Taisho declared, foregoing any pleasantries. "I expect your return to the castle by the end of this moon."
Toga stood up and waited for his father to continue.
Inu no Taisho's sharp gaze pierced through his son. He measured the younger demon with his eyes and sighed heavily before continuing.
"Word is that you have taken a…human consort."
"Yes, Taisho-sama," Toga replied, jaw clenched in anticipation of the lecture that was likely coming his way.
"You're well aware of my views on the matter."
"Yes, Taisho-sama."
Inu no Taisho leaned back slightly in his seat, his permeating gaze unrelenting as he scrutinized his son.
"With times as they are, I find it better that you relinquish your ownership of her," the elder demon advised, sensing that his son was gearing up for a rebuttal. Raising his voice just a notch, the entire tent quivered as if hit by an earthquake.
"The decision has already been made. The human will fall under the service of the clan of Sesshoumaru. My command is effective immediately. "
Toga wanted to protest, but he knew he would gain nothing. His father laid the law in all these lands. If nothing else, talking back at his father would earn Toga, and possibly Kagome, just further punishments.
"Let us not argue over this, Toga," Inu no Taisho said, his eyes softening woefully. "One disappointing son is quite sufficient."
Although Toga maintained his silence, it didn't keep his fists from shaking with anger.
When Kimiko and Kagome finally arrived back to the base camp, most of the area was already deserted.
"Where did everyone go?" Kagome inquired, scanning the area for any sign of Toga. The hut she'd been staying in had vanished; the only trace left was the hay that had served as her makeshift bed.
"They've returned to Inu Castle Fort," Kimiko replied, casually inspecting her claws as if they were the latest fashion accessory. "They won't be returning," she added, pre-empting Kagome's next question.
"W-Wait, what? What does that mean?" Kagome's anxiety was escalating. He just up and left? And she was left to the whims of this pint-sized demoness who had an eerie calm about her?
"It means he's not coming back. You're free to go," Kimiko stated matter-of-factly. Sure, she'd been given the option to keep Kagome as a servant, but Kimiko wasn't in the market for human paraphernalia. The young demoness also had adopted a practice to never kill without the intent of either defending herself or eating. So, she saw best to just let the human go.
Kimiko hummed a little tune, carried away by the breeze.
Kagome frowned. "Where am I supposed to go?"
" That is not one of my concerns," Kimiko retorted, waving her hand dismissively. "There are plenty of human settlements around. Seek them for company or aid." With that, she flicked her hand as though she were swiping away a bothersome fly—or a bewildering human dilemma.
"But… but…" Kagome stammered, fishing for words that could maybe, just maybe, activate Kimiko's dormant sympathy. No such luck. Kagome had as much bargaining power as a flea at a dog show. While Toga might be swayed by food and a good compliment, Kimiko was far too intelligent and indifferent to flattery to let her ego hinder her decision-making. Talk was cheap, even cheaper in this era where the rights to live were a privilege bestowed only on the strongest. Everyone else had to fight for scraps. Kagome had nothing to offer for her patronage, save for her bow and some dead rabbits. But judging by Kimiko's outfit which was the nicest craftsmanship Kagome had come across this era, the demoness was well off. She would have no need for anything little Kagome was able to offer.
Sourly, Kagome clenched her jaw and cut her sentence short. Fine. She would face whatever came next, alone if she had to. She could handle food—her quiver and hunting skills saw to that—but shelter was a different, much colder, animal. Literally. There was no point in asking Kimiko for help; that would be like asking a rock to float.
After everything, she was floored by how easily Toga had just ditched her. Had she misjudged his character? Was he off somewhere, skipping joyously toward that castle fort, looking forward as if she were a footnote? Okay, so he wasn't into the whole "rape and pillage" scene, but leaving her to face the elements solo was a far cry from chivalry.
Kimiko observed with odd fascination the emotions that ran across the human woman's face. Like an infant, incapable of hiding the inner turmoil, she was. Like any other human, but still… So, peculiarly different.
"Thank you for bringing me this far," Kagome said, her voice flat but heavy with resignation. She wasn't begging for mercy, and Kimiko couldn't help but respect that.
The demoness had been trailing Kagome ever since she entered Toga's life. Not for any particular reason at first, but to ease her insufferable boredom. Watching the human without Toga suspecting was child's play; she'd only let him know if she felt like causing a scene. Over time, Kimiko began to understand Toga's interest.
Yes, the priestess was clumsy. Could hardly survive the night in these parts of the land where all beasts wreaked terror. But she was also terrifyingly strong, both in her untapped spiritual powers and her mental resilience. Kagome faced unimaginable terrors without flinching. No running away, no tears. Sure, sometimes it was just her foolhardy audacity that led her to stand toe-to-toe with demons far more powerful than herself. But within that foolishness was a kernel of genuine courage. And that was something not even a demon could ignore.
Kimiko couldn't help but be amused. She'd seen many a demon—and let's not even talk about the humans—who'd soil their undergarments in situations that Kagome would simply get mad at and fight back against. Oh yes, Kagome was handling her doom like someone managing a bad hair day. "Just going to deal with it," her demeanor seemed to say.
The young demoness smirked, her smile wicked as a poisoned apple. If the poor miko only knew that some cursed bugs and roaming cat demons were the least of the scary things that the night cloaked from view, maybe she wouldn't have acted so brave to be left behind.
Foolhardy, clumsy and wearing her heart on her sleeve. That was the young priestess with powers that easily matched Kimiko's, if only Kagome knew how to harness them? Here was Kagome, refusing to play the damsel, standing tall as if she were the storm herself. Oh, what a stir it would cause to bring such a human back to their fort, Kimiko's smile widened.
Just then, the wind picked up as the clouds huddled closer together in the murky sky above. Kagome felt the chill prickle her arms. Maybe she could become a hermit, dig a hole, and hibernate there. Standing guard at night, sleeping in the day, and navigating by sheer willpower towards that human town Toga had shown her before. It was a shaky plan held together by spit and a prayer, but she couldn't just roll over and wait to be monster chow.
A low rumble erupted from the clouds and Kagome saw how the clouds shifted, a dark silhouette moved within the gray, fluffy mass. Something green broke through and slithered downwards. At first, it looked like some demented cross between a snake and a lizard. But as it came closer, Kagome's eyes widened. Oh, it wasn't a snake; it was a dragon. A two-headed, green, ferociously maned dragon.
The dragon-like creature curved in the air and made a sharp dive above Kimiko. The thing landed dexterously between Kimiko and Kagome. Unfazed by this sudden appearance of her beast of carriage, Kimiko locked eyes with Kagome over the creature's scaly back.
"Whenever you are finished with worrying how you are going to live through the night, do join me." Kimiko cheerily announced and hopped on the creature.