Chapter 18
Thatching was a rare skill in her time, requiring many years of apprenticeship to achieve master level. Kagome herself had only ever seen traditionally thatched roofs on school field trips, so she found the opportunity to watch the village thatcher at work endlessly fascinating.
Since the storm did substantial damage to the village's common hall, the roof of the structure had to be almost entirely repaired. Kagome was assigned, along with a handful of others, to sort through the torn chunks of thatch, setting aside the largely intact sections. As they went through, they were also instructed to spot any areas that have rotted and salvage any sound material. The grass used for thatching was a very specific kind that was grown only for this purpose. While she was told they had a small amount in storage from last year, it was best to reuse as much as possible.
A swell of excited chatter coming from the far side of the building drew Kagome's attention. The actual content was lost amidst the sounds of construction but she could make out Kaede's orange robes weaving in and out of the small group of children. They were tasked with bringing the working crew water and refreshments, as well as running around to fetch tools.
It made her happy to see the young girl laughing, toothily and unabashed, so different from the way Kaede carried herself while carrying out her errands for the shrine or as Kikyou's helper. Today she had her hair bound up high on her head and sleeves tied back, blending into the throng of her peers without any difficulty. Maybe she was imagining it, but Kagome could swear that Kaede was a bit more at ease lately, and spending a bit more time with the children her age.
Her pensive gaze might've been a bit too prolonged, as Kaede looked up and caught her eye. She smiled, waving and then trotted over to where Kagome and her group was seated with straw scattered all around.
"Kagome! Here, have a drink." Kaede came to a stop in front of her
Taking the bamboo flask of something refreshing looking from her young friend, she took a sip and sighed out in pleasure. "Thank you! Just what I needed, Kaede."
"How's the work going?"
"Pretty good actually," She gestured to the diminishing pile of material to be sorted through to the right of the group. "We'll be done in no time."
A fresh burst of commotion came from further down the road, including a cacophony of boyish whoops and cheers. Big billows of dust heralded their arrival, as the stampede of feet and loaded cart passed through.
The familiar bright red and silver shock of hair appeared, a massive newly felled tree casually hoisted on one shoulder. The hanyou braced it with one arm but otherwise, did not look the least inconvenienced. Something about the way Inuyasha looked—or maybe the infectious excitement from the villagers crowded around—made Kagome's heart speed up. Golden eyes caught hers, flashing her a cocky, lopsided smirk.
Everyone had paused to watch as the other end of the log wheeled into view, secured onto a cart flanked by handful of the men. There were grunts and heaves before the beam was maneuvered onto the ground, secured by ropes and then began the final hoist up to its place on the roof.
The men were straining, focusing all their strength on maintaining an even grip on the ropes. Inuyasha steadied the beam, preventing it from swinging too much until it travelled up the height of the wall to be braced on the existing parts of the roof.
Kagome cocked her head watching the way the hanyou worked and an interesting thought occurred to her. From the look of things, Inuyasha seemed almost a tad bored. And even though he was the only one supporting the weight on the ground while everyone else was pulling, using the apex of the roof in place of a pulley, Inuyasha hardly broke a sweat. It made her wonder if he was actually holding back… if he might, in fact, be able to easily lift the massive log up to the roof on his own.
She hadn't know him for all that long, but judging from the way he could move, the way he easily flew through the skies with her and Kaede in tow, Kagome had no doubt he could do just that. Glancing around at the villagers all paused to gape at the spectacle, she understood.
Inuyasha most likely did not want to look too out of place. It was already impressive enough how he cut'd cut down that tree and brought it back fairly easily, it would definitely be overboard if he finished the task of siting it on the roof alone. Because it would not be admiration he'd garner, it might be fear that led to other nasty reactions.
Although Kagome made a huge effort to not make it visibly apparent, the way the villagers acted around Inuyasha did not escape her attention. She'd like to believe it was slowly, painfully improving, but there was still the palpable air of suspicion. Even though Kaede and herself—and hell, even Kikyou, their beloved priestess— have been playing intermediary.
Inuyasha's appearance was one thing, but his abilities certainly could be interpreted as a threat. And he most likely understood that better than anyone and hence downplaying his role. Enough to help, but carefully within the humans' expectations.
After the beam was maneuvered into place, everyone got back to their respective tasks, as no doubt, the next raincloud was likely on the horizon. Kagome doubled down on sorting through the old thatch, but she still took the opportunity to sneak looks at her friends. Kaede seemed to be enjoying herself. And she caught glimpses of Inuyasha, perched on the roof in that doggy way of his. The master carpenter had taken it upon himself to explain how to secure the beams together and the hanyou listened, with a serious expression on his face.
It made her smile.
By sundown, most of the work was complete. Kami willing, if they could have one more dry day tomorrow, the thatcher and her helpers can hopefully complete the bulk of the roof before the next heavy rain.
—-—
It seemed like the day's toil tuckered out the entire village. Everyone dispersed quickly, too tired to socialize and eager to be off to eat a quick supper. Inuyasha too, disappeared soon after he was presented with his due from the headman's household— a large meal specially prepared, as promised, for his help with the repairs. The lights in the surrounding huts winked out one by one, much earlier than usual when evening set.
Kagome didn't have to wait long before the usual wheezing sighs drifted across the small room. Her elderly hosts were accustomed to an early bedtime and tonight was no different.
With unnecessary caution, she carefully unwound the blanket from around her to shift her weight a little at time in order to not rustle the reed mat underneath that she used as mattress. Untangling her legs, she shimmied out onto the floor and tip-toed carefully around the privacy screen to escape out to the other room.
Reaching for her cloak, just-in-case, even though the nights have grown humid and warm, she made her way out the door without clanging the entrance hanging too much. Fingers crossed there would be no rain, because the straw raincoats were much too noisy to bring with her. Even by modern standards what she was doing was hardly the most proper (her own mother would be livid if she did this at home), so discretion is doubly advised.
She still wore the shoes she fell down the well with and they were a little loud against the pebbles, so Kagome traced the borders of the path, treading in the scruffy grass that grew up against it.
Familiarity with the path made it such that she'd entered the sparse beginnings of the forest on the hill across the river in no time. Kagome never worried about where to go, because if Inuyasha was there, it was almost like she felt it. The sky was clear which made the moonlight shine bright and glorious, illuminating even though it was still a silver in the sky. It helped tide her over until a faint glow declared itself in her periphery, just a whiles in the trees off the path.
She'd been expecting to find it. Because, as always, though she'd never explicitly declare, Inuyasha seemed to expect to her come.
The songs of the cicadas were loud tonight, almost covering the sound of her foot steps in the underbrush. Popping out into the little clearing, she found Inuyasha lounging against a rock with one arm propped on top of a bent knee, chewing on a piece of reed.
"Wha' did I tell ya about running 'round the woods at night, Kagome." He sounded annoyed but his eyes was liquid with mirth in the flickering firelight.
"I wouldn't if you weren't hiding yourself in here all the time." She stuck her tongue at him, still couldn't help but smile. "And hi, Inuyasha."
Kagome moved to settle herself closer to the tiny fire the hanyou had made. More for light than heat, more for her sake than his. Beside her, Inuyasha shifted, nudging at banked embers with a foot.
She raised an eyebrow at him but followed his gesture. Kept warm by the coals was an earthen pot and a quick glance located a carry cloth and a few wooden utensils, another container and a bowl. Carefully, she retrieved the vessel, settling its comfortable warm in lap. Easing the lid open, there was a small portion remaining of what she assumed was Inuyasha's payment for his work that day.
"You're not hungry?"
"Keh." He dismissed, not looking at her. "S' your cut of the pay. I'm fair, ya know."
"Eh?"
"Isn't that how you humans work? You get me work, you get commission."
Kagome furrowed her brow. "What? 'Course not! You know that's not what I was thinking-"
"Just eat it, would ya?" He waved a spoon at her.
What quieted her was actually the small smile that played on his lips when she took it. Looking down, she stirred the saucy dish around, mixing it in with the rice he'd dumped into the pot to keep it all warm.
Lifting a spoonful to her lips, Kagome couldn't resist humming her pleasure. The pheasant was braised in some sort of spice she could quite put her finger on, maybe star anise, but whatever it was it brought out the gaminess of the meat.
She hadn't had such flavourful food since falling down the well. Salt and spices were expensive and hard to come by—it made sense that only the headman's household would have a supply.
When she looked up, she saw Inuyasha flash a smirk at her. Not calling attention on it did not mean she didn't notice that he'd saved her some of the tenderest cut—the dark meat in the legs. Having deduced with some confidence that sharing food was Inuyasha's most comfortable way of affirming their friendship, Kagome made sure to thank him earnestly before polishing it off with gusto.
Food demolished, Kagome leaned back, patting her comfortably full belly. Looking over at the boy, she found him looking up at the patch of sky visible through the break in the trees surrounding them.
"Thanks for helping today, Inuyasha." She began softly. "Everyone really appreciated it. I can't believe all of that got done in one day!"
"Keh."
"I'm serious! Did you like the food at least?"
"It was a'right."
Kagome hummed, thinking about how it was the kind of cooking that would be difficult without the semblance of a kitchen and specific cooking implements. "Yeah, I guess it might not be what you're used to cooking, huh?"
Inuyasha's swift movement beside her caused her to jump when he suddenly jerked his head down to pin her with his gaze. "What? Think the hanyou doesn't eat civilized food?"
Her face immediately crinkled with confusion. "Wha-? How'd you get that from what I said?!"
Sometimes the intensity in his yellow eyes was a bit difficult to hold, especially when he wouldn't even blink and it reminded her why people could be nervous around him. After another few seconds, he did drop eye contact and scoff.
"Inuyasha," She reached out to touch his arm lightly. "That's totally not what I meant. I know what you eat, 'cause you make it for me a lot, remember?"
He grumbled something incomprehensible but visibly relaxed, resuming the lazy slouch he was in earlier.
A random thought crossed her mind and Kagome popped up on her feet. Gazing down at the silver-hair boy, she reached out a hand and wiggled her fingers at him. "C'mon. It's such a clear night, let's go check out the stars."
Inuyasha hesitated for a second, before carefully closing his hand around hers, barely gripping. Having none of it, Kagome grabbed him tight and yanked him up—though he obviously didn't need it— amidst his usual grumblings.
He scuffed dirt over the mostly extinguished fire and led them through the trees to the crest of the hill that looked out to the valley. Here, there was an unobstructed view of the inky night sky with the generous spread of twinkling stars.
Kagome couldn't help but gasp in delight, running out a little ahead. Choosing the perfect spot, she laid down the cloak she'd brought with her and plopped down, patting the spot beside her for Inuyasha to do the same.
There was no hurry, and the lapse in conversation was comfortable as Kagome let herself adjust to the decreased light. Soon, the pinpricks in the sky became gradually brighter and her eyes wandered looking for the one constellation that haven't failed her yet.
"Oh, there!" She pointed excitedly upon spying the ladle shape in the sky. It was a small comfort to find at least one thing that was consistent with the world she came from.
"Eh?"
Kagome traced the shape with her finger, urging Inuyasha to follow her gaze. "It's the Big Dipper! Do you see the stars that make up the shape?"
The hanyou frowned up at the expanse above them. "Just lights, what's the big deal?"
"They're stars, Inuyasha. Really big balls of energy that's super far away from us."
"Like youki?" The genuine curiosity in his voice surprised her.
"You mean that's real? What does it feel like?" Her grandfather had spoke of demonic energy like it was a real thing, but Kagome'd always been guilty of disregarding those tales.
"Uh… warm, sometimes hot," He muttered, looking away from her. "Depends what I'm feeling, I guess. Keeps me strong."
"That sounds pretty neat." She remarked, trying to imagine what it would feel like.
Inuyasha grumbled something but didn't elaborate further. Sneaking a glance sideways, Kagome found him fidgeting a bit. The reluctance in his voice when he spoke earlier was evident and she'd noticed he tend to get like that whenever they spoke of the beyond-human aspects of his abilities. She figured, over time, he might be more comfortable with opening up about these sorts of things.
Desperate for change of topic and to avoid adding to her friend's discomfort, Kagome spotted the dim silhouette of the village outskirts faintly beyond the sparser edge of the trees near the bottom of the hill they sat on.
"Say Inuyasha," She began weakly. "Do you ever want to live in a house?"
Beside her, the hanyou stiffened. So much for not making him more uncomfortable.
"Keh." He spat. "Why? What d'fuck for?"
She couldn't stop the slight eye roll at his classic reply. "Dunno… a kitchen?"
He let out a short bark of a laugh. Not one that conveyed humour of the good variety unfortunately.
Kagome groped about for a reply but came up short. Eventually, her companion sighed out a long breath and surprised her the second time that night by his determination to keep their conversation alive.
"D-do you live in a village like that one down there?"
Oh.
"Hmm… not quite." She couldn't help but smile fondly. "Where I come from, it's very big. If we sat on a hill like this, the city would go on forever, buildings all the way up to the horizon."
Inuyasha cocked his head a little, softly glowing eyes focused on her as she continued to describe the city. She'd told him about her family running a shrine before, but she went a bit more into detail this time.
Inuyasha was the only one she could tell these things to and though his expression crinkled when she used unfamiliar terms, he never doubted her or judged her, only ever listened with an open mind. He genuinely seemed interested in what she had to say.
"If it's possible, if I could ever go back or find a way to do it," Kagome remarked at last. "I'd really like you to come visit me."
"Why… ya think people won't scream?"
She crinkled her nose. "Well…um.. not exactly. 'Screaming' seems a bit extreme, don't cha think? But that's not the point. I'd like you to meet my family. I think they'd like you."
Turning slightly to catch his golden gaze, she beamed at him.
"K-keh." He sputtered, caught off guard. "'the hell they will."
Biting her lip to hide her smile, she emphasized. "No, I'm sure they will."
He dropped eye contact then, wide eyes sweeping up to the starlit skies above them. Kagome took pity on the poor boy and didn't call him out when he hastily and obviously blurted out a question about stars again. Letting him steer their conversation back once more to safer territory, she leaned back in the long grass, flipping the spare ends of the cloak up to cover shoulders.
She proceeded to murmur about constellations and the stories people made up to explain them (although she really didn't know many except one or two). Then she went on to talk about how humans in her time have been exploring space and how as a child she'd wanted to be an astronomer.
Inuyasha mostly made grunting noises at the appropriate pauses but didn't talk much—she'd probably exhausted his social reserves for the night. Kagome didn't mind though, having him finally relax and sprawled at her side, listening to her ramblings in the calm evening was plenty enjoyable for her.
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A/N: This felt like it shouldn't be broken up, so I just slapped the two scenes together. I know many of you have been missing the length of the updates comparable to Kintsugi's monstrosity…. so I hope you enjoy this longer addition :) lemme know!
Thank you so much to the kind soul(s) who nominated this fic for the 'Best Canon Divergence' category for this year's 2nd Quarterly Inuyasha Fandom Awards run by FeudalConnection over at Tumblr!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. However, this plot, the exact sequence of words and any original characters described therein, I reserve all rights to.