June 10th

The rays of the morning sun drifted into the small open window of a small hut, shining its light upon a restless ebony haired girl. As Kagome rested, nestled beneath a warm and thick blanket, she couldn't stop her thoughts from trailing to last night's conversation…

Flash Back

Kagome sighed and dropped her gaze to the wooden floor beneath her. "I have to go back."

The old priestess nodded. "I understand, but I think it's best ye stay here for now. Ye say ye have no recollection of how far home is, so for now, ye shall stay here—"

"I can't!" Her head shot up suddenly and she fisted her hands. There was no way she could stay here any longer. "I can't do that. I haven't done anything to deserve this. My family is out there worried about me. I can't just stay here and do nothing."

Kaede held up a hand, surprised by her sudden outburst, but instead of reprimanding her, she instead shook her head. "I understand fully, Kagome. Understand that I will not keep ye here as a prisoner, but as one of us."

"Huh?" She was confused. So, she wasn't a prisoner anymore? Yet she planned to keep her here despite releasing her? That didn't make sense. Either way, she was still keeping her here against her will.

"However, I cannot simply allow ye to leave, especially when ye have no memory of how it is ye came here," Kaede replied. "Ye will not be treated ill by anyone."

"I can't stay. I don't belong here."

For a short moment, the two stared at each other silently. They were completely opposite in their thinking. Kaede understood she wanted to leave, but she didn't believe it was the time. Allowing her to wander the land on her own was suicidal, but Kaede wondered how it was possible she came this far without any trouble.

Her hands trembled slightly and she had a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. This was wrong. "Let me leave. Turn a blind eye towards me."

The child was acting difficult. As she glanced out her window, she realized it was getting rather late. "I see. Let us continue our conversation tomorrow, Kagome," She explained, watching the girl's shoulders drop suddenly. "By then, I hope ye will tell me everything without any secrets, alright?"

Kagome's frown deepened. There was no getting through to her, but she noticed she wasn't being entirely truthful in her explanation. Should she tell Kaede everything? Should she run away as soon as everyone went to sleep? Could she even make it through tomorrow without breaking?

There was a small knock outside the hut, and it shifted the two's attention towards the door flap. "Excuse me, Lady Kaede. May I come in?"

The voice belonged to Aiko, and as Kaede allowed her entrance, the young girl stepped in, looking between the two somewhat hesitant. In a matter of seconds, she dropped to her knees and lowered her head to the floor before the high priestess. "Please excuse my interruption. If it's alright with you, can Kagome stay with me?"

Hearing this, Kagome blinked in surprise. Stay with her?

"I see no reason why not," The old priestess replied, turning to look back at Kagome, who's attention was focused bemusedly on Aiko. "After all, I have released ye from captivity. For the time being, ye can stay with Aiko. Tomorrow, we shall continue our discussion."

End Flash Back

The soft pitter patter of feet crept from one area of the hut to the next, and with a sigh, Kagome pulled herself up into a seated position, her crystalline blue eyes settled on the young girl sorting through her belongings in a chest across the hut.

Last night, Aiko had overheard the conversation between her and Kaede, and Kagome supposed she felt inclined to take her in. Although it gave Mayoko and Daisuke their needed space, Kagome didn't feel too well about the entire situation.

She couldn't stay here.

"Oh, you're awake," Aiko exclaimed before approaching the girl with a bundle of clothes in her arms. "I wasn't sure if I should wake you or not."

A forced smile fell from her lips. "Thank you for letting me stay with you, Aiko."

Kneeling beside her, Aiko only shook her head, her smile widening, despite Kagome's frown. "Think nothing of it. Here," She offered Kagome a clean kimono, but as she held it out to her, Aiko saw how her countenance seemed entirely dejected. Well, who wouldn't feel upset after all she's been put through? If only there was something she could do to lift her spirits. "While you were sleeping, I went over to Daisuke's hut and gathered your belongings for you."

She looked up at this.

Aiko grinned and pointed to a small chest in the corner of the room. "I've placed your clothing in there. I thought you would like them back before something should happen to them."

"Thank you."

"It's no problem." Standing up, she dusted her pale red kimono off and looked around the hut briefly before her stare rested back on Kagome, who was still sitting inside her futon. "When you're ready, we'll head out."

"To the fields?" Kagome asked, hoping that wasn't the case, but Aiko only shook her head.

"Not yet. Priestess Kaede wishes to speak with everyone in the village soon. I'll give you privacy while I go out and finish cooking up breakfast, okay?" She asked, starting towards the door before glancing back.

Kagome nodded. As soon as Aiko left the hut, she pulled herself out of the warm blankets, but she couldn't find the energy to remove her kimono. After a few minutes of simply standing there, staring at the dull wood of the floor, Kagome eventually changed her clothing, wearing a knee length brown kimono. At least the length was a lot easier to move around in, as well as a lot looser.

After tying the obi around her waist, she stepped over to the door flap before putting on her straw sandals. After which, she stepped out, shielding her eyes from the intense sunlight blazing upon her.

Aiko was bent over a medium sized cooking pot, stirring constantly at what appeared to be simmering rice porridge. It was always the same food day in and day out, and last night Kagome was lucky to have something different to satisfy her hunger. But Kagome didn't say anything to Aiko, and she accepted her large bowl of breakfast, which Aiko had tended to all morning while she slept.

"After the meeting, we should hurry on over to the fields to finish planting and weeding the soil, and after we should go to the rice fields for a couple hours," Aiko explained, pushing her bowl aside to clean later. "Have you met Naomi by chance?"

Pausing from eating, Kagome took a moment to recollect her thoughts. Naomi? She was sure she met her a week ago, right? Wasn't she the girl who was supposed to take over her shift one day but was refused by the village men? The name sounded familiar. "I think so … but only briefly."

Hearing this, Aiko clasped her hands together. "Oh, that's good. We'll be helping her out. Naomi is really easy to get along with, so if you ever have questions or anything, feel free to ask away."

Kagome nodded. There were only a few spoonful's of porridge left, but Kagome couldn't stand to eat another bite, but she was grateful to Aiko, nonetheless. "Thank you for the food. I'm sorry I'm not very talkative. I just have a lot on my mind."

"No, it's ok. It's perfectly understandable."

The sudden sound of a bell resonated within the village, and as if on cue, Aiko stood up, offering her hand to Kagome, who only looked on bemused. "Well, priestess Kaede is calling for us. Let's go."

The two were the first to show up, followed after by the other villagers, especially the children who paused in their games to run over, latching onto their parent's arms and kimonos curiously.

Kaede was standing before a large copper bell, obviously the one who had rung it. While many of the farmers were rushing over as quickly as they could, Aiko and Kagome situated themselves beside the elderly priestess.

Among the bustling crowd, Kagome caught sight of a familiar and friendly face, staring over at her. It was Kosuke. From the looks of it, he must have finally arrived after spending some time away from the village. Although she was a little depressed with how things were going for her these days, just seeing him put a smile on her lips. Kagome didn't know why it was she enjoyed his company, but he seemed to have a knack at cheering her up.

After spotting her beside Kaede, he waved at Kagome, wondering if she was faring well during his absence. Although she seemed to have lost a little weight, she was still glowing, though her smile seemed more forced than before.

There was a sudden shift in everyone's behavior, mainly those of the villagers who'd arrived. Their heated glares stared straight at Kagome, and a few choice words were uttered, which left Aiko fuming and Kagome annoyed.

"Did this bitch do something to upset you, Lady Kaede?"

"Wouldn't surprise me! Why is she even still here? She's stinking our village up!"

A small group of men laughed at this, eying Kagome up as if she were some sort of thing they found amusing. Even they spoke terribly about her, repeating the words bitch and whore, and it left Kagome completely stiff.

It was one thing to say it behind her back, but to continuously say it in front of her was completely out of line. She was fed up with the humiliation. She was fed up with their hash treatment and despicable behavior. She was simply Kagome. Not a bitch and not a whore!

Kagome was shaking, trying her best to contain herself. She wanted so much as to talk back and put them down just as much as they treated her, but that was beneath her character. She wasn't the type to belittle others simply because they belittled her. Kagome was a respectful person, but it was awfully hard not to lose her temper and embarrass herself further without opening her mouth. She knew that if she did, she would make the situation a whole lot worse.

"That's what we call submission, boys," One man remarked, smirking at Kagome's defeated countenance.

Another laughed. "She's not so feisty as she was before. The little bitch has finally learned her place!"

"But there must be a reason why priestess Kaede has called for this meeting, right?"

"I bet it has to do with that girl. She must have done something to upset her."

"Then we should put her in her place! The little conniving wench!"

Aiko wasn't about to stand for this much longer, and immediately took a position in front of Kagome. "Hey stop that! Kagome hasn't done anything!" She defended, much to Kagome's appreciation, but she wished she didn't say anything to worsen the situation. "You know just as well as I do how hard Kagome has worked to attain some respect here! You shouldn't be so quick to judge when you know nothing!"

"What's this? Aiko, don't tell me you're siding with this girl…"

Aiko's face reddened. She was shaking just as much as Kagome; she was so frustrated and tired of the village men treating every woman like this. It wasn't just Kagome who was suffering such torment. "Enough is enough!"

Before the group of young men could say anything further and harass Aiko as well, Kaede held up a hand, and immediately everyone silenced. "As of today, this young woman shall no longer be our captive."

A chorus of noise sounded after these words, and many flashed Kagome disapproving glares. The group of men who heard this responded arrogantly, eying Kagome up and down before spitting at the ground.

"Quiet." When everyone quieted down once more, she continued. "Through her hard work and ambition to assist our crops, she has not once shown us a reason not to trust her. I have also looked into her identity, and I can assure everyone she is innocent of any crime."

Kagome looked over at the head priestess in question. Was Kaede telling only half the truth?

"Since she has no place to go, Kagome will stay with us," She replied, watching the confusion grace her people's faces. No one was happy about it, but they would have to get used to it. As the elderly priestess turned towards Mayoko and Daisuke within the crowd, she went on. "You do not need to worry about housing her any longer. Kagome will be staying with Aiko from this point on."

Mayoko and Daisuke nodded, completely understanding. Although Mayoko didn't have a problem with the girl sleeping outside their hut, she couldn't help but become disheartened slightly. She was just beginning to like the child.

"I would like everyone to get along with her. If I should hear of any problems, then ye will be brought to me, understood?"

Though the villagers weren't as accepting of this decision, they silently nodded before leaving to continue their daily chores once the meeting ended. As they did, Kagome approached Mayoko and her husband, offering them a respectful bow of gratitude.

"Thank you for looking after me. I'm sorry if I burdened you both," Kagome replied. "Thank you for the meals and the bath by the lake."

Mayoko only shook her head at this, while her husband looked away at the retreating villagers. "Well it can't be helped," She sighed before bringing the girl into a soft hug, much to Kagome's surprise. "It's not like we won't be seeing each other, child."

Although the hug reminded her of her mother's, Kagome couldn't help but nod, smiling softly. Maybe she really could get along with some of the villagers.

As soon as Mayoko and her husband departed from them to continue their chores, Kaede eventually returned to her hut, leaving Kagome and Aiko standing beside the other.

Kosuke, who hadn't left with the others, quickly walked over to the two girls, his brown eyes smiling as they landed on Kagome. "Are you alright?" He asked. The fact that those men had said awful things to her irritated him.

"I'm alright. It's good to see you again, Kosuke," Kagome replied, watching a smile tug at his lips suddenly. He was dressed as if he had just come back from a long journey, and she presumed he was out visiting other villages. In truth, this was her second time seeing him.

"Kagome, would you like to have lunch this afternoon?" He asked, and at Kagome's nod, he grinned. "I'll tell you about the places I went to, if you like?"

She nodded, suddenly excited to spend more time with him. "Yes. Do you mind if Aiko joins us?"

Kosuke nodded. "I don't mind. I would love to catch up on all that's happened during my absence." With a quick glance back in the direction of the fields, Kosuke offered the two girls a final smile before running off to help the men in the fields.

Aiko, who had been listening silently, couldn't help but grin to herself next to Kagome. "He sure is a hard-working guy, huh Kagome?"

Although she nodded, Kagome couldn't help but notice the sly look in the girl's eyes, smiling at her as if she knew something she didn't. When she understood the smile, Kagome immediately blushed. "It's not like that, really. This is only our second time talking."

"I'm only teasing you, Kagome," She laughed before grasping her hand suddenly. "Come on, we've got some work to do."

A few hours went by quicker than Kagome first imagined, and with Aiko's assistance, the two managed to cover over half the fields in no time. The two worked alongside each other wonderfully, and without Aiko's help, Kagome would have struggled on her own.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Aiko stretched her arms above her, her back and shoulders cracking in the process; Kagome followed after. Right now, it was around ten in the morning and there was still much daylight left to spend in the fields.

As she closed up the bag of seeds while Aiko discarded the weeds off to the side of the fields, the two walked alongside each other, making their way to the rice patties to assist the others.

On their way, they passed Kosuke, fixing up a cart on the side of the road near the huts. He was helping a few men fix a broken wheel when he noticed Kagome and Aiko walking by. Though he didn't have much time to talk, he waved at them, and they returned it.

Aiko eyed Kagome, whose eyes were looking over towards Kosuke in the distance, and she couldn't help but smile. It was obvious something was going on between them, but it seemed Kagome was oblivious.

There was a commotion a short distance away from them, and as the two looked off curiously towards the hills, they saw a group of older men gathered around a fallen individual. As they neared the scene, Kagome and Aiko gasped at the sight of blood, seeping from a fresh wound.

"Daisuke…" Kagome couldn't help but run forward, with Aiko close behind. When she got there, the other men were trying to ease the man's discomfort, sitting him down so as to inspect the wound. One fled immediately away towards Kaede's hut to fetch the old priestess.

"Just take it easy, Daisuke. The wound looks bad," An older man with a scruffy beard exclaimed, easing Daisuke as he squeezed his shoulders. "Damn, that's one messed up wound!"

Daisuke who was built like an ox, only scoffed. "The wound isn't so serious. I'm fine." When he went to pick himself up, the men stopped him, much to his annoyance.

"What happened?" Kagome found herself asking.

For a second, the others looked at her, though it was not with looks of disapproval. Another turned to Kagome before pointing at the wound near Daisuke's thigh. "The rope holding his scythe fell off and sliced his leg."

Kagome winced and quickly knelt at the wounded's side before grasping his pant leg, tearing it open, much to everyone's surprise. When a hand reach out to stop her, she pulled away. "I need to see his wound to make sure it doesn't get infected."

"That's why we had Takemaru run after the medicine from Lady Kaede. With that he will be fine. You don't need to worry about this."

"I'm fine, child," Daisuke replied before pushing her hand away from his thigh. "You needn't worry."

Even so, Kagome couldn't help but feel she had to help, after all, Daisuke took her in for a short time, despite their rough meeting. "Still, it's best to check the wound first." With that, she pulled at his pants once more until his wound was suddenly visible. Kagome didn't dare touch the wound, not until she cleaned it. While her hand was lying on his outer thigh, away from the injury, this caused some of the men to frown; Daisuke on the other hand said nothing.

"Um … Kagome…" Aiko tried to pull her away, realizing it was causing some misunderstandings.

Kagome didn't listen. "I need a wet cloth! Anyone?" She asked.

Everyone looked at each other before scratching their heads. To her disappointment, she only sighed before turning to Aiko. "Can you quickly get me a hot wet rag? And if possible, some needle and thread? I need you to put the needle in really hot water before I begin."

Without even waiting a second to ask why she needed those things, Aiko quickly ran off to fetch the desired items.

It wasn't long before Lady Kaede arrived with her basket of medicinal herbs, a jar nestled in her basket filled with various herbs, salves and roots. As she arrived, she noticed the young girl, Kagome, kneeling beside Daisuke. She was applying pressure to his thigh in order to stop the bleeding, and seeing this, Kaede was somewhat surprised.

"Move aside girl, Lady Kaede will take care of this," Someone in the group replied, but Kagome refused to move.

Although she took notice of Kagome's defiance, she said nothing of it as she knelt down, careful of her back before setting her basket to the side. "Let me have a look at his leg, child."

Nodding, Kagome let go, allowing the old priestess to look over the wound. With a shake of her head, she reached for her jar of medicine, before pulling out some moist, crushed leaves. With a large bit in the palm of her hand, she reached forward to place it onto Daisuke's wound, but Kagome quickly stopped her.

"Wait! His wound needs cleaned first."

Kaede nodded. "Yes child. This medicine will help cleanse his wound and rid it of infection if it should arise. There is no reason to grow wary."

"What kind of medicine is that?" Kagome asked, eying the dark substance of finely crushed up leaves.

"These are Arikko leaves."

Even though she was sure this woman had tended to many injuries in her life, Kagome couldn't help but protest. Instead, she asked that Lady Kaede wait until Aiko returned with the items needed to properly take care of Daisuke's leg. Even though she knew the thread wasn't as thick as those used in her own time, she was sure it would do the trick.

Eventually, Aiko returned, with all three items in hand. The needle was lying in a scolding small wooden cup of water, while the hot rag and thread was in her other hand. Immediately Kagome took the hot rag from her and quickly and gently cleaned his wound, removing any dirt visible to the eye. As blood continued seeping from the wound, Kagome realized the gash was much bigger than she first thought.

As Kagome went to work, ignoring the constant stares from the village men surrounding them, Kaede poured a little water into the palm of her hand and added the crushed leaves before blending them together into a type of moist salve. "Here," Kaede voiced, handing kagome a small handful to place onto his injury. "It will rid him of any infection."

Nodding, Kagome placed the herbs onto his wound while she used her rag to clean around the area of the gash. "I'll only leave it on for a bit, but I need to suture his leg up soon. Although you say it helps to rid infection, with the gash wide open like that, infection will still spread."

"Suture?" The old priestess's eyes widened at the term, and in an instant, she grasped Kagome's hand, much to Kagome's confusion. "I believe ye should come back to my hut."

"Huh? Why?" Kagome asked.

Despite her questions, Lady Kaede ushered the group of men to help Daisuke to her hut, with Kagome and Aiko following behind curiously. When they arrived moments later, Aiko and Kagome made room in the small hut to lay Daisuke onto the wooden floor while Lady Kaede ushered the men back to the fields to work.

As soon as the men were gone, Kaede turned back to the girls kneeling beside Daisuke. Approaching them, she knelt down beside Kagome, her bowl of medicinal herbs and remedies inside various jars. "Kagome, are ye knowledgeable in western medicine?"

Hearing this, Aiko suddenly gasped.

Kagome looked between the two of them confused, but nodded anyways. "Um ... somewhat. My mother is a trained nurse, and she's taught me the basics of how to tend to injuries, especially those as severe as these."

Although Kaede wasn't familiar with the term nurse, she narrowed her gaze. Telling her no would have been more sensible in their predicament, but instead of scolding her, Kaede turned to Daisuke.

He was staring at Kagome long and hard, and having heard the words western medicine, his gaze narrowed. It couldn't be possible this girl knew of such things. "So, this suture you intend to do to me involves western medicine?" He questioned.

When he asked this, Kagome nodded, taking the hot rag from Aiko before she began cleaning away the blood once more. It was a shame they wasted the herbs which they had recently put onto his wound after moving him to Kaede's hut. "Well to be honest, suture is relatively … something that's been around for many years," She suddenly explained. "Think of it as a fancy word upper class doctors have started using."

"Upper class?" Aiko asked.

Kagome nodded. "But it's the same. I only need to sew up your wound so infection doesn't spread. It will take some time to heal, but in time it will be as good as new, though you might have a scar."

"You intend to sew my leg?"

Kagome nodded again. "Are … you all against this or something? If we leave the wound open like this, the worst-case scenario will likely happen. Since it was a scythe that fell onto your thigh, you will most likely end up with gangrene … and ultimately lose your leg."

He immediately paled hearing this. That was something he really did not want to happen. He pondered briefly on this decision, before turning his eyes to Lady Kaede.

When she saw his look, she nodded. "I will allow it. I have seen this practice many times in my life and the end result has never disappointed me. The child is right about the infection. If left untreated, ye may very well lose ye leg as well as ye way of life. It would no doubt burden ye wife, but I will leave the decision to ye."

While Kagome looked between them confusedly, she looked back at Aiko who was staring at the needle lying within the wooden cup at her side. There was a strange expression on her face; it was as if something plagued her thoughts.

Before Kagome could ask what was wrong with suturing his leg, Daisuke suddenly lifted himself up into a seated position, his gaze locked onto Kagome's. "Very well. I will trust you. If Lady Kaede trusts you, then I will trust you."

"Thank you…"

With one last look at Kaede beside her, Kagome helped Daisuke onto his back. Once the blood was cleared away, as best as it could, Kagome turned to Kaede. "Do you have any alcohol?"

"Don't tell me you intend to drink before sewing my leg!" Daisuke cried out, eyeing her warily.

"No no! The alcohol isn't for me. It's for you," She replied, suddenly easing his thoughts. Kagome looked back at Kaede, and to her surprise, the older woman already had a jar in her possession. "Thank you."

Aiko looked at it questionably. "What do you intend to do with it?"

"I will pour it onto his injury," Kagome replied. There was no doubt in her mind how much pain Daisuke would be in after this. "Lady Kaede, will you help hold him down while I do this?"

Nodding, she moved around the child, kneeling beside him before pressing her arms onto his chest and shoulders. Aiko held him down as well, watching as Kagome pulled the cork off the jar before turning the jar over slightly as the milky white contents flowed onto his open wound.

In an instant, he reacted, his body jerking at the stinging sensation. His bellowing was so loud, everyone was sure the entire village heard him, but Kagome didn't let up. As soon as she was finished pouring the alcohol onto his gash, she immediately reached into the scolding hot wooden cup beside her and retrieved the needle.

"Thread?" Kagome asked.

Aiko was on it quickly, handing her the thick black thread. As Kagome pierced the hole of the needle, she made a knot at one end of the thread and positioned the tip of the needle near the beginning of his injury. "I'm not going to lie, but this will hurt."

Already knowing the excruciating pain that would no doubt follow, Daisuke sat up and reached for the jar of Sake at Kagome's side before bringing it to his lips. He swallowed the contents greedily, and when he was sure he had enough to dull his senses, he laid back down. "I'm ready…"