The realization that something dreadful was about to occur surfaced within Sango, her caramel eyes widening at the sight of the Shikon Jewel blackening, it's aura unexpectedly demonic and frightening. It was immense, it's aura, like nothing she had ever faced in her lifetime; it truly felt as if a demon were mere inches away from her, a terrifying yoki which didn't belong within the young woman seated before her.

"Father!" Sango cried, hoping to rouse him from his stupor.

Immediately breaking away, as if transfixed by the aura, he nodded to his daughter. This certainly wasn't the time to space out. The yoki which emanated from Kagome was far too powerful, and he feared it might draw unlikely attention. Reaching for the beads of subjugation, he hoped to put them around Kagome's wrist, but to his dismay, he was forced back, a strong gust of seemingly dark energy propelling him backwards and into the shelves.

Sango also staggered back, shielding her face from the massive wind which circulated chaotically around the room, knocking over pottery, plants and paintings.

"Kagome! Kagome, snap out of it!" Sango cried through the turbulent winds, the visage of the young girl seated a short distance away, her eyes half closed and pupils large.

Something was happening, something she couldn't fathom. She saw Sango, through the darkness encompassing her vision, her frantic voice calling out to her, but Kagome couldn't comprehend. What was she saying? What was happening at this very moment?

"I feel … cold…" Kagome murmured, her body swaying slightly. Something felt wrong. She felt this before, back when the crow demon attacked the village. Suddenly, and without control over her body, her head turned towards the shoji screen door, her eyes staring blankly at the rice paper. "They're coming…"

Shako and Sango followed her line of sight. As the winds continued circulating within the room, there was a faint demonic aura in the distance, and realizing this had to stop, Sango reached for her sword, pulling it from her violet obi and pushed through the winds until she was close enough.

"Sango!" Her father cried out, raising his hand to stop his daughter.

"Forgive me, Kagome," She shouted, slamming the hilt of her sword against the back of her neck, the result causing the young girl to collapse onto the floor unconscious. Quickly after, Sango grasped the beads and placed them around her wrist, the demonic aura which surrounded Kagome seconds before diminishing entirely.

The winds within the room vanished and Shako and Sango breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't anticipated something of this magnitude to transpire, but it was clear to them, the jewel within Kagome was indeed corrupt. Whether or not it was because of the evil in the world or within the jewel, it was certain something had to be done, otherwise, Kagome's very existence, even the entire world, could likely fall into peril once more. The Beads of Subjugation acted as a reliable barrier, suppressing the malevolent aura, but without it, only chaos would follow.

Unexpectedly, a shrill horn bleated through the night, the sound carrying throughout the entire village, enough which turned Sango and her father's head towards the door. In a panicked state, Sango slid open the door, her eyes catching sight of thunderous clouds in the distance and the visage of hundreds of demons appearing over the mountain tops and woods.

"Demons! Demons are coming!" The villagers cried.

Cerulean eyes slowly fluttered open in the quiet of the night and shifting her gaze around the room from which she laid, she noticed a couple lit candles near her futon, the dancing flames rousing her curiosity. Where was she? Moments ago, wasn't she in the Lord's Study?

There was movement from the other side of the shoji screen door, and as she pushed herself up from the blankets, the figure of a woman stepped inside, a small tray in hand with a large ceramic bowl settled atop. "Oh good, you're awake. You had us pretty worried," Sango exclaimed as she knelt beside the futon, the tray placed gently beside her. "How are you feeling?"

Kagome blinked, her eyes staring curiously at the bowl of water beside her, a small cloth lying beside it on the tray and back to Sango. "What happened? Why am I here?"

Sango frowned. "Do you not remember?"

"I do … but only faintly," Came Kagome's reply, her head canted in confusion. "I remember concentrating for you and your father after you slathered the concoction on my chest and I remember feeling really cold…"

Sango nodded. "I see. Well, perhaps I'm to blame for that. You see, things got a bit out of hand after removing the beads, and I had no other choice but to stop it," She replied solemnly, immediately lowering herself into an apologetic bow. "Forgive me. I had no other choice but to knock you unconscious…"

The fact that a lord's daughter was bowing to her was surprising, but hearing the words come out of her mouth about knocking her unconscious certainly worried Kagome. Suddenly, the words spoken by Lady Kaede surfaced within her thoughts, words which served as a warning for her two months back.

"Those are Subjugation Beads, which will serve to protect ye. Because the Sacred Jewel exists within ye, many demons will sense its return, and the result of what transpired yesterday will undoubtedly reoccur. I placed these beads upon ye, and ye must never take it off. Do ye understand?"

Kagome swallowed nervously and turned her body fully towards Sango, her hands shaking as she settled them upon her lap. "Sango, what happened? Did … demons attack?"

Lifting herself up from her bow, Sango nodded slightly, but rather than give Kagome a depressing frown or scowl, she instead smiled. "It was nothing we couldn't handle. Small demons appeared over the mountains and were guided by the powers of the Shikon Jewel," She replied, waving her hand as if the matter weren't that big of a deal, but it only served to worry Kagome further. "Luckily I got the beads back on you before anything worse happened."

Kagome rubbed the back of her neck achingly. Sango mentioned she knocked her unconscious, so, perhaps that was the spot where she was struck. "Before things went wrong, the jewel turned black," She solemnly voiced, her eyes down cast. "Sango, it's tainted, isn't it?"

At first, Sango didn't say a word, her eyes watching the young girl closely. It was obvious she was distressed about the entire situation, and she wanted to ease the tension brewing within her. "I hate to admit this and I don't want to scare you further, Kagome, but despite the beads subduing the powers of the Shikon Jewel, I believe it would be best never to remove them again. After what father and I witnessed, it seemed as if the jewel was trying to consume you. The powers emitted from it were very ominous, Kagome."

"What?" Kagome's eyes widened at this.

"I also believe the jewel may be feeding off your emotions as well."

"My emotions?"

Sango nodded. "Before it turned black, it was pure, but when you became discouraged after father explained he couldn't remove the jewel without endangering your life, the jewel must have reacted to that, and … it was malicious," She answered. "Since you have no control over it, I fear the jewel is dominating your entire being, Kagome, perhaps even your spiritual powers."

If that was the case, then why only recently, three months in fact, did it start happening? Nothing like this had ever happened to her before, even without the beads. Then again, now that she thought about it, Kaede mentioned that her powers first emerged, but only slightly, during the attack of Mistress Centipede but didn't fully release from her until the Crow Demon attacked. Maybe the jewel was dormant for so long inside; it sort of made sense. "So, you are saying I do have spiritual powers then? It's not just the jewel?" Her eyes widened at this.

Again, Sango nodded. "Yes. It was faint, but father and I also sensed it. If I had to guess, I would say your spiritual powers were mingled with the demonic aura of the Sacred Jewel. One thing is certain, Kagome; you have no control over either, and that's what worries me."

A moment of silence passed between them as Kagome absorbed this information. At this very moment, she felt vulnerable and anxious. The jewel was not only trying to consume her, but it also fed off her emotions and not only that, could not be removed from her body without killing her; just like the Lord said, it was her lifeline and yet, it was a danger to herself and others.

"Sango, was anyone hurt?" She asked, looking into Sango's eyes worryingly. "I feel just terrible about this. I shouldn't have removed the beads. I'm so sorry for causing you and your village trouble…"

To her surprise, Sango only shook her head, dismissing her apologies. "Nonsense," She replied, a reassuring smile gracing her face. "The village is fine. I accompanied our warriors towards the mountains and the battle was short and there were no injuries sustained either," She explained, hoping to soothe her worries.

"I'm glad no one was hurt, but I caused you and your village great distress…"

"Do not blame yourself. Perhaps we shouldn't have pressured you into taking it off, but despite all of what's happened, we were glad we did this," She explained with a smile. "Father and I saw only a small portion of what the Sacred Jewel was capable of, and that alone helped us to understand your situation, Kagome. Still, we do not understand why it's reappeared in this world, even after its destruction; perhaps, we might never know."

A long sigh escaped Kagome, her shoulders slumping and her hands touching the spot behind her neck achingly. After hearing all this, she wasn't sure if she could rest easy. She had hoped, after journeying to the Demon Slayer Village, they might have helped her, and despite learning this information, it only scared her.

"You've had a tiring and stressful day. How would you like to take a bath?" Sango asked. "It might help relax you and your muscles. I also have ointment I can put on your injury afterwards."

Kagome nodded. "That sounds amazing. Thank you, Sango." As she stood up, following behind Sango towards the shoji door, she suddenly paused, her eyes wide in worry. "Oh, what about Shippo and Yuuta?" She almost forgot about them, during her conversation with Sango.

"Do not fear. Your husband and child are resting in another room. I separated you so you wouldn't be disturbed while you slept," Sango answered, pulling open the door for Kagome step through. "He was worried frantically the past three hours and was a bit loud to our liking. I hope you don't mind."

Hearing this, Kagome sweat dropped. Well, she never saw that side of Yuuta before, but she was glad he and Shippo were both alright and unharmed. "That's a relief. Thank you."

"This way."

Exiting the room, Kagome followed Sango across the terrace until they were at the far side of the house, turning the corner until they came upon the backside. Descending the wooden stairs, and passing a few maid servants, Kagome's eyes glimpsed the gardens, the yellowish glow illuminated from several torches lighting their path across a stone walkway.

Eventually, they arrived towards a separate building, and while it was still late in the evening, Kagome couldn't discern the difference between it and the main house besides the structure seeming much smaller in comparison. There was no terrace connected to the outside structure, nor even steps, a simple shoji screen door which Sango easily slid open.

Inside, Kagome was greeted to a dimly lit room, the air within warm and inviting. There were a couple wooden cabinets at the far end of the room, situated with many bottles and small ceramic containers. The other side of the room was shielded by a large shoji screen with painted pink cherry blossoms adorning the white rice paper, the image quite lovely and delicate.

As Sango pushed one of the panels of the screen aside, Kagome was immediately greeted by the steaming hot air of large hot spring nestled on the other side, small wooden planks encompassing the entirety of the hot water.

"You have an indoor hot spring?" She exclaimed, suddenly filled with excitement.

The slayer nodded, smiling as she watched the raven-haired woman creep closer towards its edge, kneeling down until her fingers were pressed into the water. "Yes. Do you not have a hot spring near your village?"

"I wish. I haven't seen any around," Kagome replied, glancing over her shoulder as Sango gathered two woolen clothes in hand, a couple small bottles in the other. "It would definitely be much better than bathing in a cold lake or river."

"You may go into the bath. I'll join you in a moment," Sango explained, moving away from the hot spring and towards the cabinets nearby.

Delighted about sinking into the hot water, Kagome stripped off juban and underwear, folding them and setting them near the edge of the spring. Satisfied, she removed her hair tie, allowing her long raven tresses to fall over her shoulders and back before stepping into the water.

It was hot, but it also felt very soothing. Lowering herself further into the water until she was seated, she realized the water came up to her neck and no further, the warm steam relaxing her as she leaned against the wooden wall in contentment.

After gathering a couple bottles off the shelves, as well as a couple large cloths to dry off with, Sango slipped off her black slayer garb and joined Kagome. Both the cloths and the bottles were placed behind them on the floor. For a moment, her eyes were closed in relaxation before she opened them and glanced at the young girl beside her.

Feeling Sango's stare, Kagome flushed, her hands raising to wipe some of the dirt from her face and hair. "It's been a while since I last bathed. I should have brought my bag with me. I had some soap inside it. I could have washed my hair…" She sighed, running her fingers through her hair, hoping to remove a few tangles.

"Soap?" Sango blinked.

"Oh, well, soap is just a white bar about this big," She replied, using her hands as an emphasis of how small it was. "Sometimes it comes in different colors. It helps to remove dirt and oil from your body, and it smells really nice and can be moisturizing."

"Oh, I see. It's the first time I've heard of it before. So, I assume your people have found a way to harden oil?"

Kagome blinked. Harden oil? Did she mean lotion? Wait, they didn't have lotion in this time period, at least, not to her understanding. Noticing Sango's curious expression, Kagome weakly laughed, but nodded anyway. "Yes, something like that…"

She smiled. "Well, if that's the case, I have some oils you may use," She explained, motioning towards a couple bottles sitting directly behind them. "You are free to use them on both your hair and body."

Elated by this, Kagome took one of the bottles and uncorked the lid, a sweet smelling and flowery fragrance greeted her. "It smells like Rosemary."

"It is. We have a small garden in the back that we grow spices and herbs, and we use many for our perfumes and oils," Sango replied while uncorking one of her bottles, a fragrance of lavender permitting the bath.

Relaxing at the smell, Kagome scooted further into the hot water, her fingers massaging her scalp and cleaning her dark tresses thoroughly. Her eyes closed in contentment as she felt the cool sensation of the oil on her head. After a moment of cleansing her hair, Kagome rinsed out the oil, soaking her hair into the water until her hair was clean and fresh. Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time she had a decent hot bath. Was it two months ago?

Sinking further into the water, shoulder deep, Kagome sighed in contentment. This was amazing. Who would have thought the people of this world, the lucky ones, would enjoy themselves in such springs? It was surprising, that even those of the past had private hot springs, and indoors.

Noticing the young girl's eyes close in relaxation, Sango couldn't help but smile. "Tell me Kagome, is this your first time in a hot spring?"

She nodded. "When I lived back home on the shrine, we used to have a place nearby where all the men, women and children could go sit and relax."

"Altogether?" The thought was almost mortifying.

Kagome almost laughed at the absurd thought. "No. There is a wall that divides us. Men on one side and women on the other. I used to go there all the time with my mother, brother and my grandfather. It was a nice bonding moment between family."

"I see."

"Back in Kaede's Village, we only have a river to bathe in, which goes downstream away from our village. Unless you want to take your time and haul river water to your hut and keep the fire going, and also find a big enough tub to soak in, then it's too much work, at least, for one person."

"Understandable." Normally, those within the peasantry class were known to bathe in rivers, and such luxuries as an indoor bath was only commonly seen in those of the upper class. It seemed Kagome wanted more for their village than what most could dream of.

Despite the conversation turning towards hot springs and rivers, Kagome found herself deep in thought over the subject of Kaede's Village. "I wonder if it's possible to have the water transported up the hill to the village. That way it's more efficient and less work."

Sango blinked. "Well … it's not completely impossible. Your village lives on the hillside, right?"

"A little bit. We are more like a wide-open valley, but the river is downhill."

"And the river flows past your village downhill?"

"Yes."

Sango smiled. "There's your answer. Since the river is flowing past your village, you could have your men dig a trench into the village from the river, therefore creating a divergence."

At her explanation, Kagome gasped. That was it! "I get it! Like a waterway!" That was perfect. Creating such a divergence would create two pathways for the river, one through their village and the downstream. Doing this would certainly make it easier to haul water, and not only for the bath but for their drinking water; it would create less distance for everyone.

"Yes. Perhaps your High Priestess might take it into consideration for your people. It would certainly decrease your efforts traveling back and forth." As Kagome seemed thrilled with the idea of benefiting the village, Sango couldn't help but change the subject. "Kagome, if you don't mind me asking, may I ask a personal question?"

"Sure."

"I mean no disrespect, but your features are quite different from what I'm used to seeing…"

This confused Kagome. "What do you mean?"

"Your skin is much paler, not to mention your eyes are rounder and a peculiar color, much like the sky. Even your speech and mannerisms are different. Could it be, one of your parents is foreign?" Sango scooted closer to Kagome, noticing her sudden quietness.

Kagome paused at her words. No one, besides Kaede had ever questioned her like this before, except for the mentioning of her eyes, but other than that, no one else thought to question her appearance. It was true. Her eyes were rounder, and it wasn't surprising her mannerisms were more modern than ancient.

Realizing her words might have offended her, Sango turned away. "I'm sorry. I meant no disrespect, but I was only curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine. I was thinking how funny it is that no one else has really noticed, no one besides Kaede. Yes, my father was foreign. Sango, can I trust you to keep a secret?"

She nodded. "Of course." She was surprised her father was foreign, but she was curious of his kind. Surely, he wasn't a westerner?

Pleased she could slightly trust Sango with this information, she relaxed a bit beside her, their shoulders barely touching in the hot spring. "He lived across the ocean in a large country. He is what you would call a westerner."

Immediately caught off guard by westerner, Sango's voice suddenly lowered. "Truly? How? Any foreigner who crosses into our land immediately face execution without question. How is this so Kagome?"

That was exactly what Kaede told her previously, and although she'd been warned not to bring up the topic to anyone, for fear their village and herself would face troubles, Kagome couldn't help but trust Sango. Her family was helping their village out, and trust was an immediate factor in their relationship, at least, right now. Kagome wasn't one to keep things hidden, and while it might bring her hardship later on, she couldn't help but lean into others. "My father was what you would call … a constable. A man who serves the law. He protects the people, no matter their race or blood."

Sango nodded.

"He was on a hunt for a murderer who crossed over into Japan unknowingly and along the way, he met my mother. It was so funny; my grandfather couldn't stand him. But all that changed when he saved my mother from the very man he'd been searching for, for years."

"What an interesting turnabout. So, a westerner traveled into our land to catch a criminal and met your mother … It sounds like fate brought your mother and father together, Kagome," Sango smiled. "What about your father now? Did he marry your mother? Was he caught?"

"There are so many questions," Kagome sweat dropped, waving her hands before Sango. "Calm down, calm down. After my mother was returned, my grandfather showered him with affection. He gave his blessings to marry his daughter which he did but because my father was foreign, grandfather refused to take his last name and instead, he took our last name, which is Higurashi."

So, Kagome was from a Higurashi Family who lives on a shrine; strangely, she has never heard of such a family, at least, not on her travels during her hunts. "I see. So, your father took your mother's last name. That's completely understandable; from what I know, foreigners tend to have strange last names, so I can see how that might have been a problem. Was he a good man? How was he able to stay so long in Japan without being discovered?"

Kagome mused. "Well … our shrine is on a very high hill, divided by the forest around our village. So, my father could freely walk around without being discovered, unless we had visitors. But … he passed away before my brother was born; I was just a little girl then."

"I'm sorry for asking so much. I'm sure I've crossed a boundary…"

"No. It's alright. After some time, he returned to his country because of his job. Sadly, he didn't make it back home. A missive was sent home to our shrine explaining that my father had been injured while chasing after a criminal. He was struck down and didn't make it," Kagome replied. "Shortly after receiving the letter, we received a small box of his belongings. I can't tell you how many days my mom would cling to his jacket, crying."

"I'm sorry," Sango apologized, looking away from Kagome. "My father was the same way after my mother passed away. He would hold her favorite kimono time after time."

"How did she pass?"

Sango looked up above the steam of the hot spring, her eyes falling onto the wooden ceiling. "It happened when Kohaku and I were children. Mother grew very ill and wasn't expected to live much longer. She passed shortly after in the warm season."

"We've lost both our parents, but we've grown stronger despite it. And we both have little brothers to look after," Kagome smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Sango smiled in return. "What of your brother? Is he with Lady Kaede?"

"Actually, he is back home with mother and grandfather."

"I'm sorry if I keep asking you so many questions, but it's not every day I get to talk with another female and for long," She replied, sweat dropping. "I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but why is it you are with Lady Kaede? Is it possible your grandfather sensed the Shikon Jewel inside you and sent you to to her for training?" The letter didn't specifically mention anything more about Kagome besides arriving to the village and discovering the jewel within her, and because Kagome mentioned previously that she lived on a shrine away from Lady Kaede's Village, it only furthered her curiosity.

She threw her head back in laughter. Her grandfather sensing the Shikon Jewel inside her? That was hilarious. Despite Sango's confusion, Kagome almost doubled over with laughter, but because of the hot water surrounding her, she merely leaned back, wiping her eye free of a tear. "I'm sorry. My grandfather might be a priest, but he does not have any spiritual powers, as much as he seems to believe he does."

Sango sweat dropped.

"In a way, you could say he is similar to a quack doctor. Demon begone this, demon begone that. Every time he says this, there is never a demon in sight."

Sango canted her head in confusion of the word quack. A quack doctor? Was she referring to a noble doctor or one from humble birth?

Kagome continued on. "Mother always told me that demons aren't real, but they are, from what I've witnessed. I'm pretty sure those 'sutras' of grandfathers wouldn't work either, even if one attacked our shrine." She made small quotations with her fingers at the mentioning of sutras, continuously baffling Sango.

"Then, if your grandfather doesn't have spiritual powers, could it be possible you inherited it from your father or mother's side?"

"No. I don't believe so. I'm pretty sure it skipped grandfather's generation and went straight to me. That or he hasn't tapped into his spiritual ability. Or maybe I got it from my mother; she is pretty amazing. Mother always has this sense that something might happen, and she has the most pleasant aura that just takes all the negativity away from you. So, to answer your question, I'm not sure who; it's either from my mom or grandfather, or both."

Sango nodded once more in understanding. Once more, she noticed Kagome fall into deep thought, her eyes narrowed slightly and her eyes staring blankly into the water. It was as if the young girl was trying to see something past the milky water, but instead, she turned to Sango, whipping her head fast with a look of surprise upon her face.

"Oh, the village! You asked me how I ended up at Kaede's Village," She sweat dropped. She had completely forgotten to answer that part of the question. "Since I've already trusted you not to say anything about my father, I want to trust you with this also. Even Yuuta doesn't know the full story."

"Of course. You have my word."

Kagome smiled and took a deep breath and exhaled it. "I don't know."

"What?"

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know how it happened. The last thing I remembered was playing soccer with my brother when suddenly there was this light." Well, it wasn't a light but more of a voice calling out to her, but Kagome didn't want to be too specific; after all, she didn't want to mention the whole-time travel scenario to her, at least not yet. "I heard my brother screaming my name and the next thing I know, I blacked out. I woke up shortly after in the Forest of Inuyasha, right outside Kaede's village."

Sango's eyes narrowed slightly at her explaining. A light brought her to the Forest of Inuyasha? Honestly, she didn't know such a forest existed. "It sounds like it could have been the work of a demon."

Kagome nodded. Demon tree or not, it was weird without explanation. "I'm not sure what it was but I didn't see any demon when I woke up. In fact, it was peaceful and quiet. As far as the other villagers know, I'm just a little girl who lost her way and stumbled too close to their village. I ended up captured and brought to the village before Lady Kaede. No one trusted me and for a short time, I was held hostage, forced to work in the fields and sleep outside."

The slayer frowned. This girl was held hostage for a short time? Anyone would have run away the moment they were released, but instead, she remained and wanted to help the village prosper. How interesting. "I'm sorry that happened. Was there a reason why they held you hostage?"

Kagome nodded. "I was thought to be a spy or a thief, and my eye color confused Kaede. So, they kept me there until they could trust me. Which they eventually did, but it wasn't easy. Eventually Lady Kaede came around and released me from my confinement. And everything that happened in the letter happened after that. I've only been in the village for a little over two months."

"Does your husband truly not know?" Somehow, she felt it would be wise to be honest and upfront with him, rather than keep this a secret.

Husband? Who, Yuuta? It was still strange people thought they were husband and wife, but Kagome continued out. "Not yet. As much as I trust him, I cannot tell him the truth. I feel I'm only able to confide in few people. Even though I've just met you today, Sango, I feel like I can trust you. Perhaps I take after my mother a bit; I can read the auras of people very easily, and you have a pleasant aura."

How interesting. Perhaps, Kagome truly inherited the bloodline of priests and priestess from her mother's side of the family. If she was able to read the auras of people, then that was definitely a start with her powers.

After finishing up their bath, the two fell into comfortable silence, each washing themselves and relaxing for a short time before the steam of the hot bath began its dizzying spell upon them.

"It's getting late. We should head back to our rooms and get some sleep," Sango suddenly replied, turning suddenly to leave the bath. "I'll put some ointment on your neck before you head back."

Understanding, Kagome followed Sango out, each drying themselves with their towels before redressing into their clothing. Sango donned her slayer garb and Kagome donned her white sleeping kimono. After which, Kagome knelt beside Sango as the young woman applied the medicine to her wound.

"After everything that's happened, have you considered taking up official priestess training?"

"You are the third person who has brought this up," Kagome laughed.

"Really?" Sango asked, removing her finger from Kagome's neck before covering the lid of her medicine jar.

Kagome nodded. "Lady Kaede, Yuuta and now you. At first, I didn't give it much thought, but after hearing what Yuuta said the other day and having it happen first thing tonight, I'm seriously considering it." Kagome didn't want any harm to befall her friends or Shippo. Sooner or later, she might not even have the protection of the Subjugation Beads. Perhaps, her best interest lied with training. There was no telling how long she would be in this world, and since the Goshinboku Tree refused to take her back home, what else could she do but remain helpless to everyone here? How would she even begin training?

"It would be in yours and everyone's best interest, Kagome. It will help you in the long run, I can assure you of that," Sango replied, touching her shoulder softly. "I've finished putting the medicine on you."

Touching her neck softly and looking at the strange green substance upon her fingers, Kagome followed after Sango. "What kind of medicine is this?"

"It's just a collection of healing herbs ground into a fine powder with a bit of water added. It will prevent you from bruising and will dull the pain," She answered.

"Thank you, Sango. Thank you for the bath and for the medicine."

"It's no problem."

Exiting the hot spring building, they made their way across the path and towards the main house ahead. It wasn't long before Sango suddenly came to a stop, grasping Kagome's arm suddenly. "Kagome. I just had a thought. Since you are considering becoming a priestess, why don't you and your husband see the Daimyo in Edo tomorrow? It will only be a day's trip by horse."

Kagome blinked. "It's really that close? I kept thinking Edo was a few days away." Then again, they've been walking most of their journey and were lucky enough to catch a ride to Demon Slayer village, thus shortening their trip tremendously.

Sango nodded. "For you to begin your training as an official priestess, you'll first need recognition from the Daimyo himself and permission to undergo this training. Also, you can explain the situation happening in your village, such as the attacks and lack of food. Our Daimyo is in charge of all the villages in this province and to have your village under such strife, he has every right to help you and your people," Sango explained, catching Kagome by surprise. "It would be in your village's best interest to see the Daimyo."

"But, Yuuta was against the idea of seeing him, and besides, he's such an important person, what if he denies our visit? Something could go wrong, or I could make more trouble for my village, at least, that's what Yuuta warned me about…"

"Well, there is always the possibility with nobles that something might go wrong, however, you have every right to visit the Daimyo. Regardless of what your husband said, I do understand his concerns, but you must look for the best interest for your village. Even though our people will do our best to help you, we can only do so much."

Sango was right. There was no denying how much they were going out of their way to help them, providing them food and whatever more they could soon. And she was sure Kaede wouldn't continue to ask for the Demon Slayer's help, after all, it took a lot out of Kaede to simply reach out for help. "Maybe I can bring up the other problems our village is facing…"

"Other problems?"

Kagome nodded, squinting her eyes at the very thought. "I think there is a snake hiding out in the palace."

"A snake?"

"It's a figure of speech, but twice a year, we have village inspectors check our harvests and this particular person, Takeo, has been overcharging out village, which we recently found out from a neighboring village, and because we cannot meet the cost of taxes, many of our young women and children have been taken and sold into Edo to work for the money to help our village, at least, that's what Takeo told us…"

"By how much?" Sango's eyes narrowed.

"We were told by those who live in Hitomi Village that the taxes should only be forty mon a year, but our village is being charged eighty mon."

Sango's mouth opened at this, her entire expression almost speechless and appalled. Kaede's situation was even worse than she first imagined. "That's ridiculous! That is a definite cause for concern, and you should definitely speak with the Daimyo. If this keeps up, you will not only lose money and people, but you will also lose your protection."

"But proving this is the problem, Sango. Takeo could easily lie and get away with it because he is higher up than us…" Kagome replied. She could already imagine the outcome for revealing such accusations which would possibly put her behind bars or worse, ruin the village entirely.

"Surely it would be recorded in his book," Sango replied, unless he was lying in ink.

"Not unless he is pocketing the money," She replied. "So, we have no way or proving this unless the Daimyo personally comes to our village and sees for himself the state it's in, but I doubt he will make the trip himself."

That was completely understandable. The world in which they lived in was not easy. Living was difficult and getting by without being reprimanded by officials or nobles and not losing your lives due to small matters what rare. "If you need a voice in this, then you have our clan behind you. I'll have my father, in the morning, write out his concerns about your village for you to deliver to the Daimyo. I'm sure, once he's seen our clan's seal, he will believe you."

"Thank you, Sango. I'll speak to Yuuta about this when I return to the room." Excited that Sango would more than willing to help her and the village out, she quickly ran ahead, but shortly stopped and turned around. "I don't know the way back," She replied, causing Sango to sweat drop.

Chuckling slightly, Sango led the way towards the main house, crossing the wooden steps before following the terrace towards the guest quarters around the house.

Along the way, Kagome fell beside Sango on their walk, completely refreshed from the bath and comfortable. "Can I ask you who the Daimyo is?"

"His name is Takeda Nobutsuna who hails from the Province of Kai. Their territory expands well into our Province of Musashi, and they are a ruthless clan by any means, at least, that's what my father has said. My father often makes visits to and from Takeda Castle, but this was months back. Unfortunately, I don't know anything else about him, but just to be safe, you and your husband should be careful and be respectful."

So, the Daimyo's name was Takeda Nobutsuna? The mentioning of the Takeda Clan definitely sounded familiar in her history books, and from what she remembered about them, their clan originated as far back as the Heian Era and were spread out all around Japan with many families. Now that she thought about it, she remembered seeing the Takeda Clan mentioned in video games as well.

After enjoying her time with Sango and getting acquainted, Kagome finally arrived to her room, the dimly lit candles greeting her as she walked inside. Both Yuuta and Shippo were spread out upon a large futon, both sleeping peacefully.

Careful of not waking Shippo, Kagome quietly tiptoed towards the futon and knelt down beside Yuuta before gently shaking his shoulder. "Yuuta, wake up," She softly called into his ear, hoping to rouse him from his slumber. To her relief, he awoke without any difficulty and opened his eyes sleepily.

"Kagome?" He asked, staring at her face for a moment before his vision cleared. Realizing she had returned after falling unconscious, he quickly sat up, and put both hands upon her shoulders. "Are you alright? Are you feeling okay?" He asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Yuuta, you are such a good husband to worry about me," She softly teased.

Scoffing at this, he pulled away, but he couldn't help but notice her kimono had fallen slightly off the shoulder, a small amount of cleavage displayed before him. He looked away, a small blush upon his cheeks. "This is no joking matter." He replied, crossing his arms and leaning away.

When his voice rose a bit too loudly, Kagome pressed a finger to her lips, scolding him lightly with her eyes. "Not so loud or you'll wake Shippo."

Yuuta and Kagome looked at the small child sleeping quietly beside Yuuta before looking back at each other. Fortunately, the child could sleep through almost anything.

"All joking matters aside, I'm glad you're okay. You had us pretty scared. Shippo was crying nonstop for hours until he fell asleep. I'm guessing he must have sensed something was wrong but didn't fully understand," Yuuta replied.

Smoothing the child's bangs from his face, Kagome smiled softly before looking at Yuuta. "You did a great job taking care of him. Thank you, Yuuta."

He merely shrugged, his face unfazed, but there was a hint of relief in his gaze as he watched her. "You should get some rest. We have a long trip back to Kaede's tomorrow."

"Before that … there's something I need to ask you. I need a favor from you," She replied, suddenly crawling closer to him, her kimono shifting each move.

Yuuta couldn't help his eyes from straying to her cleavage once more, his cheeks burning as she leaned in closer. What was she doing? "A-alright … what is it?"

"I know you might be against it, but it's really important to me."

"Whatever it is, I don't think you should go any further with it," He replied, not liking where this was going.

Realizing he was already refusing before she even mentioned anything, she forcibly pushed him down into the sheets, and crawled atop him before he could push her away. Her sudden dominance over him must have startled him, but she wasn't going to move until he heard her out. "Yuuta, I know this is sudden, but I really need this. I need you to understand and not refuse me. Okay?"

What? His eyes widened a fraction. Not refuse her? What was she getting at? Surely, she wasn't insinuating intimacy between them, was she? After all, she crawled over top him and was almost pleading to him. The very thought left him almost speechless. "In front of Shippo?" He asked, testing the waters to see if this was certain.

"He's asleep. If we're quiet enough, he won't wake up," She replied softly, almost sitting in his lap by this point.

She was definitely certain. Yuuta was almost taken aback by this, but it wasn't as if he never had such thoughts about her. After all, Kagome was an attractive woman, fierce and determined when she wanted to be, but also a compassionate mother. "Kagome, I don't think we should."

He must have already figured out that she was intending to ask him for permission to travel to Edo to speak with the Daimyo. "I think we should. There won't be any harm in it and it could even help us out in the long way," She replied.

He blinked. "Help us out? What do you mean by that?" His voice rose a little louder than he intended, but he was immediately silenced when Kagome's hand fell upon his mouth, covering it so he wouldn't wake Shippo.

"I already talked to Sango about this."

She what? Kagome and Sango were talking about him behind his back? What the hell was she referring to?

"And she said it was perfectly fine and that you would be okay with it. In fact, I've been thinking about this for a while and she only helped me realize that this is what I need to do. Please, can we do it, Yuuta?"

He grabbed her wrist, removing her hand from his mouth as he looked at her. For a moment, he was silent, as if trying to understand why it was she suddenly wanted this, and to be honest, it wasn't as if he hadn't laid with a woman before, but right now, this felt, a bit weird. Too fast. Still, he didn't refuse her, but instead understood her want. "I didn't know you were this enthusiastic about it. I mean, I won't lie and say I didn't have these thoughts as well…"

Her eyes widened at his words, her smile growing. "So, you've been thinking the same thing? That's great. At first, I thought you might be entirely against it, but maybe I was wrong to assume so…"

His hand fell upon he waist, and pulling himself up into a seated position, he leaned in close, his eyes locking with hers. "Are you sure about this, Kagome? This might change everything and there's no turning back."

She nodded, slightly easing away from him. "Yes. I can't deny this any longer. Can we, please?"

"I understand." He replied, caressing her cheek before flipping her onto her back gently and moving over top her, which completely took her by surprise.

"Yuuta…" What was he doing? This … this didn't seem right.

He mistook her murmuring his name for something else, and he leaned in close to her. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Kagome? If this makes you uncomfortable, I can stop."

What the heck was he talking about? "Wait … so are you agreeing to it?"

He nodded slightly confused. Didn't he already agree? "Yes. I'm agreeing to it."

Without warning, she sat up and threw her arms around his neck, and he fell back in surprise. "That's great. We definitely need to see the Daimyo tomorrow. I think this will help our village out tremendously."

"Go see the what tomorrow?" He removed her hands from his neck and eased her away gently.

"The Daimyo," She repeated. Noticing his confusion, she canted her head to the side. "Yuuta, the Daimyo. I know you were against it before, but Sango told me it would be in our best interest to visit, especially after I told her about Takeo scamming our village; she said she would have her father write out a letter proving our truth to him. Not only that, but I've decided I want to begin my training. I can't just sit around and remain a burden to everyone; with both the jewel inside me and these spiritual powers, I have no control over each, and so, Sango believes training would certainly help. She also said that I can get official permission from the Daimyo as well."

One after the other, words of the Daimyo, Sango and priestess training flew at him, and he had to close his eyes and remain calm. This entire time, she wasn't referring to anything else but that? He felt foolish for believing so, maybe even a little embarrassed, but he wouldn't come out and say it. Yuuta rubbed his temples and released a heavy sigh. Here he basically confessed his feelings to her but instead, he felt slightly rejected, even if it was a misunderstanding. Still, how did she not catch on, even after flipping her onto the futon? "I can't believe I almost thought…"

"Almost thought what Yuuta?"

Opening his eyes, he only waved it off. "Nothing. Let's continue this conversation in the morning. It's really late and I can't think straight," He replied before standing up and moving away from the futon, but Kagome's hand upon his wrist stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

He arched a dark brow at her. "I'm going to sleep on the far side of the room."

"You don't have to do that. This futon is big enough for all three of us."

"I know," He replied somewhat hesitantly. "Bu—"

"No buts or ifs about it. I'm tired of seeing you sleeping on the floor. There's no harm in it and I promise not to bite," She giggled at the thought and laid down beside Shippo, snuggling under the blankets.

Sighing, he settled himself down on the other side of Shippo, but rather than stare at her, he turned his back, his thoughts weighing heavily on what just happened.

"Good night Yuuta."

"Night."

"Good night my sweet Shippo."

August 22nd

"They've prepared everything so quickly," Kagome stood at awe.

Three large carts, pulled by three horses, stood before her. There were many bundles of rice, vegetables and fruits, that would last them weeks if not months. The other wagons were full of many fabrics and blankets, which would be needed for Winter which would fall upon them. There was also furs mixed in with other valuable necessities. It was so much, Kagome felt almost bad for leaving with it all.

Yuuta smiled at the sight of the wagons before shifting his gaze behind them, the sight of the Daimyo and his daughter quickly approaching. As they turned to greet them with respective bows, the Daimyo handed Kagome a rolled-up missive, which she took elatedly.

"My daughter spoke with me this morning about wanting to travel to Edo, and this letter will help against any false accusations should they arise. Our seal will be good enough and I'm sure the Daimyo will put his trust in you just as he does in us," Shako replied with a smile. His eyes turned towards the wagons and to his many men gathered around it, stocking the wagons with more than enough supplies for their travels. "While you were still in your rooms, I spoke with the village about your circumstances, to a degree, and you will be kindly welcomed back whenever."

"We appreciate your help and all that you've done for us," Kagome replied happily, Shippo snug in her arms. Her eyes however turned towards two of the wagons, the sight of five slightly older men sitting atop it, with barrels of water sitting behind them. "Are they coming with us?"

Shako nodded. "Of course. When I said I would help, I will," He laughed. "Winter is fast approaching and, in the letter, it was mentioned some of your huts have been destroyed. Regardless if your people are rebuilding, I would feel better if me and my men saw for ourselves."

Yuuta blinked. "You are traveling as well?"

Again, he nodded. "Of course. Kaede is an old friend whom I haven't seen in years. I would like to also meet with her and see how she is doing and also get a sense of your village's predicament. Do not worry about, I've been meaning to do some traveling and I'll have only the best of my men with me."

There was a sudden noise from behind, and as Kagome and Yuuta turned incuriosity, they were surprised to see the three girls from yesterday, the very same girls who brought them by cart and who also pulled out their blades upon them.

To their surprise, Rui, Chiyoko and Itsuko both fell to their knees before them, their heads bent apologetically. "Please forgive us!" The replied in unison.

Sango moved beside Kagome, a hand upon her shoulder comfortingly. "Despite the circumstances which happened yesterday, they are truly sorry. A common misunderstanding, though they should have been more resourceful before pulling out their blades."

Kagome slowly nodded. Honestly, she wasn't sure if she wanted to forgive them, not to mention bringing up how it was wrong for her to care for Shippo. When they pulled out their swords, threatening to kill them, not to mention calling them spies, it simply hurt. There were so many distrustful people, but still, she supposed she could understand.

"Kagome?" Yuuta called, hoping to know her reaction to the girls. He was able to forgive but not forget, and he only wished Kagome would come to the same conclusion.

After a moment's pause, Kagome nodded. "Alright. I'll forgive you, but don't you ever pull out your swords on strangers again unless they attack you. As for your hate towards demons, I can understand a bit, but it still doesn't mean you should attack an innocent child, regardless of their race."

"We're sorry!" They replied, heads lowered to the grounds.

Looking away from them, Kagome smiled at Sango. "Yuuta and I agreed this morning about traveling out to Edo. It will take two days by foot to reach, so I'm sorry we can't travel with you the rest of the way south."

"I'll be remaining behind to handle the affairs here," She replied.

Lord Shako smiled. "I'm sure everything will be fine. And while you and your husband are in Edo, you should take in the sights; it's a lovely village, bigger than you could possibly imagine."

"We will. Thank you," Yuuta replied. "Are you ready, Kagome?"

She paused, her eyes looking down at Shippo. He was suddenly fussing, squirming in her hold as the hot sun shined upon his face. "I'm a bit concerned about Shippo. He hates traveling and with this heat wave, I don't know if he should go. Not to mention, I don't think the Daimyo will be too keen on seeing a demon enter his village."

Sango and Shako's eyes widened in realization. That was true. They hadn't considered it until just now. Both father and daughter shared a look, and after a moment, Sango took a step closer to Kagome.

"Since that's the case, he can stay here with me until you return," She replied, but Kagome seemed uncertain. "Do not worry. He will be safe with me, I assure you. You can leave Clover here as well."

Yuuta, who was holding the rope to Clover, he heard her bleat from beside him and he handed the rope off to Rui and her two friends. "That will certainly help us. Thank you."

Although she was a bit sad to leave Shippo behind, she realized it would be for the best. Smiling, she kissed his cheek one last time before handing him to Sango. "He might be a handful."

She nodded. "I think I can handle it. Taking care of him shouldn't be any different from taking care of Kohaku when he was a baby," She replied before pointing towards a brown horse standing off to the side. "I've prepared a horse for the two of you. It will be much faster traveling, and you should reach Edo by tomorrow morning. We've filled up some containers with water and there is food prepared for you in the sack attached the horse."

"Thank you so much for all your help. We won't be gone long," Kagome replied. Looking at Yuuta beside her, she smiled. "Well, let's go Yuuta. No use standing around and wasting time."