Nearly falling back in disbelief, the seriousness splayed upon Kaede's countenance told Kagome it was no joke. Kaede had intentions to marry her and Yuuta off, that much was certain from her shifting gaze between herself and the older man sitting quietly beside her.

Fervently, she shook her head from side to side, the very idea ludicrous. No offense, but, her feelings for Yuuta were nothing more than friendship. "Arranged marriage? Lady Kaede … what are you saying?"

Her brows shot up at her response, but there was a glint in her gaze, and she couldn't help the amused chuckle which fell from her breath. "From what I've heard from Lord Shako, the two of ye have been married since you left the village," She began, resting her hands upon her lap. "And I would not be surprised if the other villagers have already heard this rumor…"

"No, Lady Kaede … you're misunderstanding. It's not like that between Yuuta and me. We're just friends." As she tried to explain, Lady Kaede merely raised a hand, and she bit her lip worryingly.

"Just hear me out, child. Ye marriage would not be real. In fact, it would be as fake as the one ye were traveling with."

Fake? What was Kaede insinuating? Have a wedding which wasn't legal? Lie to everyone? But why? Shifting her gaze to Yuuta, who was blatantly staring straight faced at the older woman, without so much as a concern, Kagome merely sweat dropped. "Yuuta, at least show some emotion! Why aren't you rejecting this?"

"This is called a marriage contract, Kagome," Kaede suddenly voiced, catching her curious stare once more. "This is not a marriage by law but by contract. Ye will not be officially bonded to one another. This is merely a front for the village."

Even still, Kagome wasn't too sure about this. Besides, it was too sudden. "Is it really necessary? This seems a bit … extreme."

"Allow me to put it like this. When ye both left, ye were single, but upon ye journey, ye have convinced many ye were married. Ye convinced passerby's, I'm sure?"

Recalling the family in Hitomi Village, as well as those residing in Demon Slayer Village, not to mention the hotel staff in Edo, Kagome slowly nodded. Perhaps, their harmless little lie truly had caused an issue between herself and Yuuta.

"Ye have convinced Lord Shako and his family, as well as the entire village. Not to mention…"

Her eyes widened in realization. "Even the Daimyo…" She nearly faced palmed.

"I'm sure those closest to ye may understand, but as for the others ye have convinced, I believe this lie has stretched a little too far, and I fear it may lead to issues down the road, were it found false."

Overcome with sudden anxiety, Kagome covered her face with her hands. This little lie, as innocent as it might have been during the time, truly had escalated into something quite dangerous. Now that she thought about it, she recalled garnering curious attention from some of the men in the village who were helping the Demon Slayers; it was likely they were aware of their situation and had believed it.

According to Kaede, the only way to fix this was to cover it up with an arranged marriage, but it seemed too rushed and unplanned, not to mention there were no feelings between her and Yuuta. How could they possibly get married? Wouldn't it be better to simply confess the truth to everyone and explain the situation from their point of view?

But, as she thought about this, she couldn't help but sigh. No. It wouldn't be so simple, especially in this time period, and the fact that the Daimyo was aware made it all the worse. For women to reveal such a lie would certainly tarnish her reputation, and even worse, she might lose respect from everyone. In fact, she could almost hear the words whore echoing in her ears.

"You sneaky old bat," Yuuta suddenly voiced from beside her, drawing her out of her reverie. "Are you backing us into a corner?"

"Yuuta, don't call her that."

But the older woman only laughed in response. "I suppose so. Yes. Then again, ye two do get along rather well. One would think ye were married and with children already. It's not uncommon to marry young," She began. "I did not bring this up merely to cover this lie, but also as something which could help ye in the near future after I pass on."

"Lady Kaede?"

"Once I hand over the rights to this village, it will not be easy. Ye will need someone to help ye, I can guarantee. Alone, ye will face many hardships, and because of ye situation, I believe it would be best to take a husband and share the duty. I only wish, in my younger days, I had taken a husband. Perhaps I could have managed to avoid many hardships then."

So that was why? "Lady Kaede … you want us to get married, for the sake of the village?"

"Yes. And by having Yuuta take the title as ye husband, it would mean lessening ye burdens. I understand ye feelings clearly, and if it helps, this does not need to be a marriage which will last years. After all, it is merely a contract marriage. Should ye both find someone whom ye wish to settle down with in the future, then ye can end it. Ye are both responsible and ye do not have to look at it negatively. How does this sound?"

Turning her gaze to Yuuta, Kagome bit her lip thoughtfully. It was for the sake of the village, and seeing as how she had already agreed to take ownership after Kaede's passing, Kagome wondered just how difficult the task could be.

'It would likely take place after my training has finished, I'm sure, but with the way Lady Kaede is talking, she truly believes she doesn't have much time left. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this.'

"There is so much more I do for this village, and because I have been on my own for so long, it's no wonder I've found hardship. With all the help ye have brought to this village, it's brought great relief and has taken much off my shoulders. I am truly grateful. As for the barrier, I can no longer find it in my strength to maintain it, I'm afraid. it weakens as the days go by, and I fear for the safety of the villagers."

From her peripheral vision, Kagome noticed Yuuta's thoughtful countenance. Just as she, he also seemed burdened, but he didn't say anything else in response.

"I would like for ye two to think about this. I will not force this upon ye," She explained after a moment. "But, before ye leave, I have one last thing to discuss with the two of ye. It concerns ye training, Kagome. It's been two weeks, and I'm afraid there is nothing more I can teach you."

This came as a surprise, especially to Yuuta, who looked up confusedly. "What do you mean? It seems too early for her training to be finished."

"With the books I've lent and the time I've spent teaching her of medicinal herbs, there is still a great deal more that I cannot do for her," She explained. "From what I gather, ye still lack in ye training with the bow, am I right?"

Kagome nodded. "I can string a bow, no problem, but my aim is weak…"

"Those licks against your cheek say otherwise," Yuuta unexpectedly chuckled. "You are lucky you haven't lost an eye."

"I'm trying!" She replied, touching the scratch on her cheek. Kagome recalled miserably failing to string her bow the first several times, and the result ended with the string striking her cheek.

High Priestess Kaede's lips curved upwards, and just as Yuuta, she couldn't contain a hearty chuckle. "And this is why I believe it's best to continue ye training with another. Someone more experienced than myself."

"What?" Someone else would train her? "Who is this person? Is it someone from the village?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Sadly, no. Ye will have to make a journey to meet with her."

"You're sending her away?" Yuuta asked, somewhat surprised. "We've only just recently returned to the village."

"It would be for the best. I cannot teach Kagome what she needs, and she will learn far more than I could ever teach her. I have someone in mind, someone who is well known across the Kai Province."

Yuuta's brows shot up, his eyes widening at her words. "The Kai Province? That's quite a journey. If I had to guess, it would be nearly a month by foot to reach."

"Indeed, it is. But it will certainly be in Kagome's best interest. There is a temple which resides there, one which trains many girls in the arts of swordsmanship, archery, and a place which will help Kagome to connect with her spiritual powers. The person whom I have in mind is an old acquaintance of mine. Her name is Tsubaki."

A temple? So, she would leave the village once again? For how long would this training last? "I see. If it takes that long to reach the province of Kai, then about what Shippo?"

"I'm afraid ye will have to leave him here," She explained, noticing Kagome's distraught expression. "Where ye are going, it will be impossible for Shippo. He will be safe here. I will watch over him until ye training is finished."

"Just out of curiosity, how long do you propose her training could last?" Yuuta asked.

"A year if not more. It depends."

"A year?!" Kagome exclaimed, her mouth agape. That long? "I can't possibly … For so long … what about Shippo?" In all honesty, he was her son. How could she abandon him for so long? Her chest ached just thinking about it.

"I figured as much," Yuuta suddenly replied, arms crossed. "It makes sense. With the way you are now, you will certainly need more training, Kagome. And if you intend to take leadership of this village later, then you will need all the training you can get."

Kaede nodded, flashing Kagome a reassuring look. "And it's not unknown for a priestess to train for so long. Do not forget, Kagome, ye have only scratched the surface of ye training, barely if I might add. One year or two is nothing compared to life training, and with ye dedication and how easily ye pick up on things, I'm sure ye will do just fine. Perhaps, there is even a chance ye will finish sooner."

Even still, this didn't settle right for Kagome, but if Kaede was unable to teach her anything more, then maybe it was best to make the journey to train with this priestess. "Alright. When should I leave?"

"If ye feel ye are not ready and wish to continue ye archery here, ye may do so, but I leave the decision with ye."

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Kagome caught Yuuta's stare. It was obvious he was worried, perhaps even a bit concerned about this journey, but there was also understanding in his gaze. "You don't have to reach a decision right away."

"I'll admit, I wasn't expecting this, but if Lady Kaede believes this is for the best, then I'll do it. Besides, I've learned what I can already, so there's no use staying here any longer. The longer I put it off, the longer it will take to get started on my training. I'll leave first thing in the morning, Lady Kaede."

Seemingly pleased by her quick decision, Lady Kaede nodded. "Very well. I will get the papers ready to send with ye, and a map of where to find the temple. Yuuta," She suddenly shifted her gaze to the young man. "Would ye be willing to escort Kagome there?"

Perhaps he was still caught up in surprise by Kagome's decision, but with a few moment's pause, he soon breathed a heavy sigh. "Of course…"

Delighting herself with a tasty onigiri, with a side helping of roasted fish and nuts, Aiko's gaze drifted from the hillside, seated together with Kagome, Naomi, Ume, Kosuke, Sango and Kohaku. From the scent in the air and the cloudy gray skies overhead, she knew it would rain soon, perhaps within the next hour.

While enjoying their small picnic, Aiko realized it was the first she'd ever spent time with the Chieftain's daughter, let alone hold little conversation with. Both she and her brother had joined them twenty minutes ago after Kagome returned from Lady Kaede's Hut, and according to Sango, Kagome had asked them to join them on the hillside earlier.

For a chieftain's daughter, Aiko had expected to see the young woman donned in something more expensive, intricate and colorfully flattering than a simple pink and white kimono. Even her long and beautiful brown tresses were without painted accessories, tied just at her back with a standard white ribbon. It was surprising, even more so when she learned Sango was one of the best Demon Slayers of their village.

As for her brother, he was quite a joy and kind-hearted. Ume was practically leaning against him, holding Shippo on her lap as they talked animatedly together, Sango joining in on the conversation here and there, but the majority of their time eating was spent in comfortable silence.

Even Kosuke had taken time away from helping with the repairs of the village, situating himself close to Kagome's side. Whether he realized it or not, it was certainly obvious he held feelings for Kagome, especially with the way his eyes watched her. Seeing this, she merely shook her head. If the guy didn't muster up his courage and admit his feelings, then it would only continue on like this.

From across the lake, she noticed the men from demon slayer village gathered together, a few traveling in and out of the woods with carts filled with logs. There were a few standing near the tree line, closest to the lake conversating, and from her field of view, Aiko accessed them. They were slightly rugged, a few strongly built, but the majority had faces filled with short beards and mustaches, their dark locks either contained in high top knots or flowing just below their shoulders.

In all honesty, they were quite handsome, and she couldn't help the sly smile from spreading upon her face as one of the workers bent over to retrieve a fallen drinking container. Very handsome indeed.

From her peripheral vision, she couldn't help but notice Naomi's eyes also lingering on the men, one in particular who was assisting with the carts. By the flushed expression upon her cheeks and the way she bit her lip, it was obvious she had an intimate inclination towards one of the workers.

Before she could tease Naomi, she paused on account of Kagome's absentminded stare beside her. Unlike Naomi, she'd managed to devour half of her food, but she wasn't focusing on the workers, in fact, there was a crestfallen expression upon her face, her eyes turned downwards towards her lap.

"Hey, are you alright, Kagome?" She asked, touching her shoulder gently, and it worked when her raven-haired friend blinked at her. "Were you daydreaming as well?" She teased.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just had some stuff on my mind. That's all."

"Does it have to do with Lady Kaede? I noticed you seemed a little quiet after leaving. Did something happen?"

She nodded. "I've finished up my basic training, and Lady Kaede wants me to train with an old acquaintance of hers. It seems like I'll be leaving the village, and probably for a long time."

"Huh?" Naomi suddenly joined in, leaning forward to stare at Kagome. "You'll be trained by someone else?"

"Yes. She owns a temple in the province of Kai. I'll be leaving first thing in the morning. According to Lady Kaede, this training could last well over a year or more," She explained somewhat dismally.

Immediate silence fell upon the group, and as if sensing their stares, Kagome smiled. "But, it's for the best. The sooner I can begin the rest of my training, the better."

"Yeah … but you only just returned, Kagome…" Naomi replied. "And what about Shippo?"

"I have no choice but to leave him behind. It won't be safe for him to make the journey, and I doubt this priestess will allow demons in the temple," Kagome answered, her gaze shifting to her child situated on Ume's lap, playing with her long hair.

"You've made your decision," Kosuke replied after a moment. "If you plan to leave tomorrow, I wouldn't mind taking you there. It won't be safe leaving on your own…"

"Yuuta will be accompanying me," Kagome explained, not noticing Kosuke stiffen at the response, a somewhat envious look crossing his expression. "Lady Kaede says it will take at least a month by foot to reach."

"So, who will watch Shippo while you're away?" Ume asked curiously from behind her and the other girls.

"Lady Kaede said she'd look after him until Yuuta returns."

While this was definitely a surprise to Aiko, she understood the situation well enough. Still, seeing Kagome leave just as soon as she returned, left her feeling somewhat disappointed, but she kept to herself. It was for the best.

"So…" Kosuke started, his expression somewhat bothered. "Yuuta will watch him until your return? If only you could bring Shippo along. Being without his mother would surely bring him discomfort."

Kagome nodded at this, taking a small bite of her rice and swallowing slowly. "I feel the same, but it can't be helped. Yuuta volunteered to handle Shippo once I arrive at the temple. Besides, I'm sure Shippo will be fine; he is quite fond of Yuuta after all."

From Aiko's peripheral vision, she noticed Sango and Kohaku exchange a worried glance, but the two remained ever so silent behind them. "Well, that's quite the job, even for a man to handle. I don't mind helping out with Shippo. He does make the strenuous days a lot brighter."

"Will it really be alright?" Kohaku's voice drifted to their ears, earning Kagome's attention when she shifted her body around to face the younger brother of Sango. "I can't imagine leaving my family for a whole year, even if it is training…" Although he also seemed somewhat disappointed by Kagome's decision, his expression immediately brightened, an excited grin gracing his face. "How about you train with us? I'm sure father would agree to it, that way you wouldn't have to leave everyone."

"That's a sweet gesture, Kohaku, but Kagome needs more than just simple hand to hand combat training. She needs spiritual training, and that's something we cannot provide for her," Sango explained, a small hand upon her brother's shoulder.

"Oh…"

"Honestly, the idea isn't half bad. I think it would be nice to learn some self-defense, and I couldn't think of anyone better than your clan," Kagome revealed, smiling as she lifted Kohaku's defeated expression. "But, I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to lift Sango's giant boomerang."

Sango merely sweat dropped at the term. "It's made from the bones of many demons and only a small selection of people can withstand it's density. It would require a great amount of strength. It took years until I managed to lift it with both my hands."

"How did you manage to smelt all those bones into a weapon, let alone come up with the idea?" Aiko asked, eyeing the large weapon nestled beside Sango.

"It's not fair! You just got back!" Ume's voice suddenly interrupted, surprising everyone as the little girl stood up from beside Kohaku, Shippo held tightly against her chest as she carried him with both arms to stand in front of Kagome. There was a small pout upon her face, her eyes narrowed angrily. "How can you just suddenly leave us again?"

Softening her expression, Kagome removed her small bowl of food from her lap, setting it beside her in the grass and extended her arms towards the child. Easily enough, she pulled Ume, along with Shippo, onto her lap, her arms folding around both. "I'm sorry, Ume, but it won't be for long. Once my training is over, I can stay in the village forever, and I'll never leave you or Shippo again."

"Really? But a year is too long…"

Pressing her chin upon the child's head, she rocked Ume from side to side, hugging her a little tighter. "Yes. It's a long time, but I'll do my best to finish my training as quickly as I can. Do you think you can wait until then?"

"Can't I come with you?"

"Ume, what about your papa? He would miss you if you left for so long," Aiko suddenly interrupted, smiling as she leaned forward, her arms wrapped around her knees as she watched her. "Not just him, but Naomi and I would miss you as well, as would Shippo."

Although somewhat troubled by this, Ume's pout remained. "I don't want papa and the others to be sad…" Sighing, she turned in Kagome's embrace, her large brown eyes staring into Kagome's. "Promise? Promise you won't leave again after?"

"I promise, Ume," She replied, hugging the child tighter. "I love you so much, I could never leave you or the others again."

The loving connection between Ume and Kagome certainly didn't go unnoticed, and the group smiled upon the sight. It was obvious, from everyone's perspective, that Aiko noticed, Kagome was a natural born mother. Ume only had her father to depend on, and though her mother had passed on long ago, she truly did look up to Kagome greatly. 'They're like mother and daughter, those two…'

Hearing a sigh escape Naomi, Aiko followed her friend's gaze across the lake, the sight of a handsome young man easily noticed kneeling at the water's edge filling one of a few buckets with water; he was positioned a short distance from the others working, though, Aiko noticed his gaze linger towards the hillside where they sat.

Looking back at Naomi, she caught her blush, her head quickly turning away, and Aiko couldn't help the smirk from sliding across her face. While he was indeed quite handsome, his black hair pulled neatly into a high topknot with only a few strays falling over his thick brows, he also had a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. Still, peering closer but not enough to catch his curious stare, his lips appeared full, and if she had to guess, this young man was probably in his early twenties. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Hearing Naomi's intake of breath, Aiko caught the silent exchange between her and the mysterious man, and not surprising, Naomi turned her head once more, her face darkening further in embarrassment. There was definitely something going on between those two. Perhaps, the feelings were mutual? "So, what's his name?"

"Huh? W-what do you mean?" She slightly stuttered, fiddling her thumbs together.

"Oh, don't play coy with me. That young man across the way. You've been staring at him this entire time."

"What's going on?" Kagome suddenly interrupted, her smile curving into a similar grin as Aiko's. "Does our Naomi have a crush on someone?"

"It would appear so. Right, Naomi?" Aiko teased. "See that guy over there, Kagome?" She pointed, both hers and Kagome's eyes watching as the young man stood from the water's edge to stretch his aching muscles, unaware of the attention across the way. She heard Kagome whistle low in reply.

"He's pretty cute. I haven't seen him around the village before. I'm guessing he came with those from Demon Slayer Village."

"Looks like it. So, what are your thoughts, Naomi?"

Naomi only looked at Aiko and Kagome uncertainly, biting her lower lip before focusing her attention on her food. "What … do you mean?"

"Do you see him as potential husband material?" Kagome questioned, causing her friend to gasp at the insinuation. "If he's caught your notice, you must like him, right?"

"I suppose…"

"Why don't you talk to him? Looks like the guys over there are going to go on lunch break," Aiko explained, watching them without a care in the world. "It could be your chance."

The very thought of speaking with him must have caught her off guard, and she insistently shook her head from side to side, as if the idea was the farthest thing from her mind. "What? No. I can't do that."

"Why not?" Kagome asked, canting her head curiously. When Naomi failed to reply back, obviously flustered and timid over the very thought, Kagome mused. "Then … I know. We can invite him over to eat with us. There's plenty here," She explained, pointing towards the small basket between the group.

"Great idea. He's been working hard since this morning. I'm sure he'd love to sit down and eat with us."

"But what if he's already married?" She softly murmured. "I'd make a fool of myself if I revealed my feelings…"

At this, Aiko and Kagome exchanged a glance. Well, that was certainly a good reason to worry. It wouldn't be surprising if such a good-looking man was already taken, but there was always a chance he might be single.

"Sango, Kohaku, that man over there by the lake. Do you happen to know his name?" Kagome asked.

The siblings shifted their gaze towards the person of question and within a brief second, the two nodded. "His name is Tenchi. Why do you ask?" Sango inquired.

"Is he single?"

"Are you interested?" Sango asked, laughing suddenly when Aiko's cheeks burned, but upon realizing it was for Naomi's sake, she pondered. "No. I do not believe he is, but he is quite the catch, isn't he?"

"Definitely," Kagome exclaimed, watching the young man once more. "If my friends were here, they'd jump at the chance to speak with him. What's he like?"

"Aside from hard-working, he's got quite the reputation back in our village, though nothing lewd, I assure you. He's very charismatic and wonderful with children, but he spends a great deal of his time training our young ones."

Kohaku nodded at his sister's words. "He's more of a sympathetic kind of guy and isn't the type to show any aggression. His family runs the blacksmith in our village, and he's trained me from time to time."

"Good to know," Aiko replied, turning her attention to Naomi, whose eyes were once again watching Tenchi, but she seemed nervous. "You've always been timid by nature, but wouldn't you like to change that? You never know, he could provide you with a family in the future."

But she only nodded in response. "I..."

When Naomi failed to reply after a moment, Aiko mused. Of course, it wouldn't be so simple for Naomi to open up on this topic, after all, she'd never been in a relationship before, nothing serious. Still, another thought surfaced, and recalling Naomi's traumatizing incident a short time back, she bit her lip. "I guess it's a bit soon for that…"

"No," Naomi surprised her. "You're right. Nothing will change if I keep to myself, and its time I find a husband."

"Well, there's no need to rush into marriage." Kagome replied, chuckling in response.

"Yeah, but our village is quite small as it is, and there aren't that many young- and good-looking guys," Aiko replied. "Then again, we shouldn't be too choosy…"

Reaching beside her, Kagome took Naomi's hand in hers, patting it softly and reassuringly. "Take this chance and go talk with him. Who knows, you two might get along well," She insisted. "There's nothing a guy likes more than receiving food from a pretty girl, and you've got nothing to lose. What do you say?"

"What should I say to him?"

"Well, for starters, you should introduce yourself," Kagome began. "Then, ask him if he 'd like to join us for lunch. And, if he accepts, then we'll handle it from there and see how it plays out. How does that sound?"

With her mind apparently made up, Naomi nodded. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll be right back…"

When she moved to stand up, Aiko watched as the young woman began her slow descent down the hillside, adjusting her kimono nervously. From beside her, she heard Kagome shout a strange term, and bewildered, she stared at the raven-haired girl beside her. "Huh?"

"Fighting!" Kagome replied once more, a single fist raised into the air as she flashed Aiko an encouraging smile. "It means good luck, as a way to cheer someone on."

"For a moment there, I thought you wanted Naomi to fight Tenchi," She laughed. What a strange term, then again, Kagome normally said and did things which were not the norm she grew up with.

Kagome only sweat dropped. "I guess I can see how that might be misinterpreted."

"Kagome," Kosuke soon voiced. "are you sure you want to make this trip? It's such a long journey by foot. It's a shame we don't have any spare horses…" He explained, musing on their earlier conversation. "What if I talk to Lady Kaede and ask to escort you there myself? We could take my cart."

Her eyes gleamed at this idea, but her expression soon fell when she shook her head. "It's a good idea … but you're needed in the village."

"I'm pretty sure they can survive a couple weeks without my assistance," He joked. "Besides, I wouldn't mind taking you there myself, that way, Yuuta can remain behind with Shippo."

This didn't seem like a bad idea, now that Aiko heard it. By allowing Kosuke to handle Kagome's travels, it would give Yuuta more time to rest and spend time with Shippo. Still, it was painfully obvious Kosuke intended to initiate some form of contact between him and Kagome, perhaps admitting his affections most of all.

From behind her, Aiko heard a small intake of breath from Sango, and glancing over her shoulder curiously, she noticed the slayer's eyes glowering suspiciously at the young man seated near Kagome. Something about her gaze spoke volumes of distrust, but no one else seemed to notice.

"I think I have an idea," Sango suddenly interrupted, her eyes no longer glued to Kosuke, but instead were focused upon Kagome. "I could ask my father if we could lend you two horses, that way you and Yuuta," She paused, shifting her gaze to Kosuke for a slight moment. "can still travel."

Although Kagome was completely oblivious to the silent exchange between Sango and Kosuke, Aiko certainly felt the tension. Did the chieftain's daughter have something against him? What was with that pointed stare? Judging by Kosuke's countenance, his eyes meeting the slayer's, there was confusion in his eyes.

"Really, Sango? That would mean so much!"

At the sight of his hands fisting upon his lap, his eyes turning away from both Sango and Kagome, Aiko only shook her head. He lost once again. No matter how many times he tried, he never got his chance. Perhaps, he and Kagome were never meant to be.

"Oh, Yuuta!" Kagome's voice rose suddenly from beside her.

Looking away from Kosuke, Aiko's gaze met Yuuta's briefly, his tall and rugged appearance watching them from above the hill. Like most of the village men, his kimono shirt was open, exposing his chest and navel to the world, and she bit her lip at the sight. Even his muscular arms were exposed, the sleeves of his shirt ripped unevenly at his shoulders, his hair falling just a little over his shoulders. He truly was a work of art, even in her opinion, and as the days dragged on, he looked less menacing.

"Yuuta, why don't you join us?" Kagome offered. "We've got plenty to eat."

Although his eyes fell upon the basket situated between the group, he merely shook his head. "I ate earlier. Kagome, I need your opinion on something."

"What's that?"

He beckoned her with his hand, and while his question certainly confused Kagome, she otherwise stood up, dusting her kimono and proceeded up the hill after Yuuta. When Kagome stood at his side, he bent his head low to whisper something into her ear, his arms crossed and his expression slightly serious. Whatever they were discussing, it fell on deaf ears, but Kagome soon turned apologetically to everyone.

"Sorry everyone. I'm going to head off with Yuuta for a bit."

"Of course. Take your time," Sango exclaimed, smiling softly.

Although no one was upset by Kagome's sudden departure, everyone except Kosuke, Kagome soon turned, her arm wrapped around Yuuta's elbow as they left. The sight alone wasn't surprising; Kagome, after all, was a touchy-feely person, but as for Kosuke, she noticed his mouth open disappointedly.

"Ever since Kagome and Yuuta returned, they've been awfully close. Closer than usual," She found herself saying aloud, watching as Kagome leaned her head against Yuuta's shoulder before the two both disappeared from view.

Kosuke only scoffed, turning his head away before biting into his onigiri agitatedly. "If I remember correctly, he was also indifferent and distant with her…"

"Isn't it normal that they're affectionate?" Kohaku asked from behind them. "They're husband and wife, after all."

A noise fell from Kosuke's lips, the sight of him beating his chest as he choked on the rice, obviously the case he swallowed too quickly. "What?!" He cried, startled as Aiko patted his back. "What do you mean husband and wife?!"

Even Aiko turned her questionable stare to the siblings. Where on earth had Kohaku heard that from? Or did he just assume Kagome and Yuuta had that sort of relationship? "You must have misunderstood. Kagome and Yuuta aren't married." When she revealed this, Sango suddenly struck her a look, as well as her brother, but the stare was disbelieving.

"That's not what I heard," Kohaku immediately replied. "They introduced themselves as such when they visited our village. They even shared a room together."

"What?!" It was Aiko's turn to gape. They did what?

"Really? They married?" Ume asked beside Kohaku, her eyes widened in pure delight. "When did that happen?"

"Could it be possible they eloped while on the road?" Aiko couldn't help but wonder aloud, exchanging a confusing stare with Kosuke. 'That can't be right. From what I know of Kagome, she isn't that type of person, and there would be no reason to keep it secret either. What is going on?'

"You mean you were unaware?" Sango inquired.

A scoff escaped Kosuke, this one much louder and with a countenance filled with agitation, he pushed his food off his lap, as if it had offended him in some way. "I can't believe him! He took that opportunity away from me!" He stood up immediately after, fists clenched, and without a word, he left in the opposite direction of Kagome and Yuuta.

"Uh oh…" Ume made a noise beside Kohaku, watching as Kosuke disappeared over the hillside.

"Poor Kosuke…" Aiko muttered, cleaning up the rice littered upon the grass.

"I'm sorry. I think I'm misunderstanding something. What is going on?" Sango soon asked.

"To make it short and simple, Kosuke has always been smitten with Kagome since she first arrived to our village three months back," She explained. "And I guess a rivalry built up since Yuuta came to our village not long back. Yuuta has an interesting background, one that didn't set well with our village before…"

"He used to be a bandit!" Ume jumped in excitedly, her reply immediately surprising the siblings. "He stole Kagome away but Kagome came back with the bandits and they apologized."

"Stole?" Sango inquired, exchanging a glance with her brother.

Aiko otherwise sweat dropped at the child's reply. Well, she wasn't wrong, and judging by Sango and Kohaku's expression, they were not aware of this little fact. "That's a good way of putting it," She weakly laughed. "He's been by Kagome's side ever since, so it's no wonder Kosuke feels jealous. I guess you could say, Yuuta placed himself between him and Kagome."

"See sister? I knew those men looked like bandits!" Kohaku replied, seemingly pleased by this revelation as he smiled at Sango.

"I knew Kagome was an incredible woman, but I didn't realize her influence was so strong…" Sango replied thoughtfully.

"Yeah. Kagome is very kind and forgiving," Ume loudly exclaimed, holding Shippo as he slept in her lap. "even to those who don't deserve it."

The child's words did not go unnoticed to Sango, and she soon nodded. "I see. This is definitely a story I need to hear from Kagome, when the time is appropriate."

"So … are they married or not?" Kohaku suddenly asked.

A troubled sigh fell from Kosuke's lips, and as his eyes shifted towards the evening and cloudy skies overhead, he felt an incredible urge to jump in the lake, clothes and all, if only to release his pent-up frustrations. Clenching the grass at his side, the roots lifting from the ground with each tug, he closed his eyes.

Married? It couldn't be true. Somehow, he couldn't seem to believe it, and yet, Aiko was right when she said Kagome and Yuuta's relationship had changed; since returning two weeks prior from their trip, they'd spent a great deal of time together, whether it was training or not. As much as he'd feigned ignorance to this fact, he couldn't deny it; something had indeed changed, and he wondered if it was possible, they had eloped.

"Kagome would have said something if so…" He muttered, trying to understand. It couldn't be possible in the short time they'd been gone that they'd come to such a decision; but according to Sango and Kohaku, it was supposedly true.

Another sigh escaped him. Kosuke couldn't think straight. It seemed, no matter how many times he tried, he could never get a chance to spend time with Kagome except for the small occasions within the village. She'd been so quick to turn him down when he asked to escort her to Kai that it hurt him, and he questioned whether it was truly worth it to continue wooing her. Did she even notice his affections?

"Why does it have to be him, of all people?" He asked aloud.

He recalled the moment when Yuuta and his men attacked the village, the scuffle between himself and that beast of a man, until the moment he took off with Kagome. At the time, he truly thought he would lose the village as well as Kagome permanently, but he never anticipated Kagome's safe return and her unexpected bond with the bandits. "I met Kagome first. I did my best to protect her."

Thinking back, this wasn't the first he'd felt such irritation towards the bandit. Sure, with his years of swordsman-ship, terrorizing the lands with his fellow brothers, it was no surprise he held considerable strength, even greater than him own. Still, the conversation with Yuuta weeks back remained at the forefront of his thoughts.

"One Month?" The thought was ridiculous and without a horse? "I could certainly escort Kagome there on a wagon. The terrain North is not easy." With a horse, they could get there as quickly as two weeks, if they were lucky.

Yuuta only sighed. "No, I need for you to remain here, Kosuke. Besides, with me gone, who will aid the men in constructing the huts? We prepared everything the night before and it would be a waste of your skills if you didn't participate."

"Listen—"

Yuuta only interrupted, turning on Kosuke with an arched brow. "Besides, you're still a bit beaten up after that scuffle with Satouru. Let's say I brought you with me, could you protect Kagome and Shippo?"

"Of course!" He replied without hesitation.

"I've had more training than you ever had, Kosuke. If you couldn't defeat me, even without injuries, what makes you think you can protect them? Especially if a demon were near?" Noticing the young man's silence, Yuuta only sighed. "That's enough. You'll only get in the way as you are now. If you want to be of use, stay here and help the villagers."

The very memory urged a disgruntled groan from his throat, and without a word, he reached for a large stone nestled close beside him and tossed it down the hill, watching as it ricocheted off the narrow incline several feet away. Another followed after, and another traveled much further than the last. Before long, he fell back into the grass, his arms spread wide beside him as he followed the dark clouds overhead.

It would rain soon.

But before he could accept this painful reality, he heard laughter nearby, a laugh very familiar to him, and he immediately rose into a seated position, his dark eyes scanning the landscape of the village below the hill. Squinting his gaze, he caught sight of Kagome walking the path, and tempted to call out to her, he quickly stood up, but he soon paused when he noticed she wasn't alone.

Yuuta stood a short distance down the path with Shippo snug in his arms, and Kosuke watched, without a word, as Kagome ran towards him, her hands affectionately touching Yuuta's forearms as she stopped to coo at her son. There was no doubt in his mind, something had definitely blossomed between the two of them during their trip.

While he went unnoticed, he silently watched the two fell into short conversation, Kagome's arm sliding around Yuuta's elbow, similar to earlier, and once again, her head against his shoulder. Again, he found the sight unbearable to watch, but there was no helping his feelings; he needed to know the truth and most importantly, why.

For a short time, he watched them until Kagome took Shippo into her arms and made her way back towards the huts, likely turning in for the night. With this opportunity, he stood up and followed the bandit as he made his way towards the barn. Just as Yuuta stepped inside, Kosuke closed in behind him.

As if sensing he wasn't alone, Yuuta turned at Kosuke's quick approach, but before he could utter a word, Kosuke reared his arm back and threw his fist into his jaw, causing the bandit to stagger back in surprise. Disbelief and confusion immediately swept over Yuuta's expression, and picking himself off the ground, he struck Kosuke a glare. "Kosuke. Have you lost your goddamned mind? What's gotten into you?"

Although he wished it hadn't come to this, he couldn't deny this any further. "I knew it was a bad idea for the two of you to travel together! You knew of my affections for her and yet, you still went behind my back and slept with her! Now you're husband and wife?!"

Yuuta's astonished wide-eyed stare was clearly discernable, even in the shadows of the barn's entryway, and from his expression, Kosuke realized it was true. So, Kohaku was right. "Bastard!"

Wiping his lip, he noticed a small dribble of blood upon his finger and sent Kosuke an accusatory glare, as if he hadn't expected Kosuke to knock him off his feet and spill his blood. Picking himself off the hay-littered ground, he towered formidably before him, his hands clenched. "How do you know of this?" He asked, his voice low and menacing.

Although he expected this reply, he couldn't deny the nervousness and betrayal settling at his lower abdomen. "So, it is true! I heard from Kohaku and Sango," He began, watching Yuuta's expression carefully.

Yuuta spit what glob of blood he had from his mouth but otherwise kept his glare on Kosuke. "Well, it was only a matter of time before it was revealed. So, what do you intend to do about it?"

Unnerved, Kosuke reared his arm back once more and lunged at him, but Yuuta caught it with ease, side stepping before reaching out and grabbing his arm with little effort. Unable to break free from his strong hold, he could do nothing more but collapse to his knees as his arm was pulled behind his back, the tension alone enough to grind his teeth.

"So, you intend to fight me? Is that it, Kosuke?" Yuuta inquired loudly, applying more tension onto his forearm. "I'll admit, I didn't expect this reckless behavior, but it's clear you've misunderstood."

"What's there to misunderstand, Yuuta?" He retorted, casting him a dirty glare. "You slept with her, married her in just a short amount of time. And even during the past two weeks since your return, neither of you mentioned a word to anyone. Even Aiko was unaware!"

"Calm yourself," He groaned, pulling away from Kosuke before crossing his arms indignantly. "Your anger is unnecessary. If anyone is at fault, it should be me. The idea was mine."

"What?"

"It was the only way to protect Kagome's reputation," He pressed. "You know how it is. A woman and child traveling alone with a man. For her sake, I did her this favor, to spare her the torment and resentment from those who would accuse and sully her name. I didn't want a repeat of what happened last time with that bastard Satouru," He explained. "The only person aware of this reasoning is Lady Kaede."

So, that was it? That was the reason? Picking himself off the ground, he turned. "And what gives you the right to continue this lie, Yuuta? It's clear you haven't explained this to the Demon Slayers. Now that Aiko and Ume are aware, no doubt Naomi as well, it won't be long before the entire village finds out," He explained, pinning Yuuta with a steady glare. "For Kagome's sake, how will you fix this?"

There was a pause which fell between them, and it was clear from Yuuta's expression, Kosuke had cornered him. If anything, it would have been best to reveal this relationship only to the eyes of strangers, but to reveal it even to the Demon Slayers only created an awkward air and with it, tension would surely follow.

"You needn't worry your britches, Kosuke. It will be handled accordingly."

Even still, this didn't settle well with him. "So … there's nothing between you and Kagome? Answer me this, Yuuta. Did you sleep with her?"

"Even if I did, that's my business. Not yours, Kosuke," He replied unblinkingly, obviously aware it drove Kosuke over the edge. "I'm aware of your feelings for Kagome. There's nothing stopping you from confessing to her. Then again, you've never been the type to openly reveal your feelings."

"Yuuta!"

A heavy sigh escaped just then. "If it eases your thoughts, then I'll be blunt. I did not sleep with Kagome, we merely shared a room together. There's a difference, and it served its purpose while pretending to be husband and wife."

After hearing this, immediate tension fell from his shoulders and he exhaled the breath he'd been holding since he came at Yuuta. So, that's what happened? If that was the case, then he felt relieved, but he still couldn't erase the image of Kagome touching Yuuta, even if it were mere friendship. "I see. I apologize for striking you then. My anger got the best of me…"

Yuuta only scoffed in reply. "Clearly, but that punch of yours caught me off guard. No man has easily snuck up on me like you have. You've improved a bit with that arm of yours."

Kosuke didn't expect the compliment, especially after what he'd done, but he accepted it with a weak smile. "Again, I do apologize," He explained, running his hand along the back of his neck awkwardly. Now that he knew the truth, he couldn't deny his relief, then again, he felt the tension between himself and Yuuta slightly dissipate, but he could still feel it in Yuuta's stare. "As for my bold statement earlier, I care a great deal for Kagome, and have before you and your men settled in the village," He revealed, meeting Yuuta's stare for a moment.

"Why haven't you told her?"

He looked away, feeling heat rush to his cheeks; just revealing it only deepened his embarrassment. "Well, I can't say I haven't tried. Though, something always manages to get in the way," He explained, recalling the time, four weeks prior when he had tried to kiss Kagome before she left on her trip North with Yuuta; Clover, the name Kagome gave to the goat, had purposefully managed to ruin his opportunity.

"I do recall that time you were adamant on escorting Kagome to meet with the Demon Slayers, but at the time, your injuries were great. I suppose I wouldn't blame you for thinking I got in the way."

"I suppose I did feel resentment towards you, but thinking back on it, you were right. If anything, I blame Satouru."

Yuuta nodded at this. "But you did rescue Shippo," He began. "And from my understanding, Kagome was greatly appreciative of your efforts," He began slowly, musing suddenly. "I'll be honest with you…"

"What is it?"

"If there's one thing I should apologize for, it's my cruelty towards you and Kagome when we first met. When my men first attacked this village, the moment I first set my eyes upon Kagome, I had intentions to make her mine. Looking back, I regret such lewd thoughts, even if they were brief," He revealed. "I clearly see why you adore her, Kosuke. Kagome is unlike any woman I've ever met; she's compassionate to people, no matter their differences, and she's forgiving and brave in ways even I cannot fathom. There's certainly a mysterious air about her, but I can clearly see she cannot so easily reveal her most troubled thoughts."

As he watched Yuuta intake a deep breath and close his eyes, he felt the all too familiar tug at his abdomen, and the weight upon his chest, which had lifted earlier, returned. "Yuuta? What are you saying?"

Opening his eyes, he struck Kosuke with a determined stare. "I suppose, what I'm trying to say is this. I no longer see Kagome as a simple traveling companion with whom I should return a debt to. I see her as a woman, much like you. I'm afraid I cannot give her up to you so easily, Kosuke."