Chapter 36

"Hmm… this should be most of what's on your list."

Kagome watched as Ma deftly packaged the various dried herbs within an envelope made from bamboo leaves. Taking the packets handed to her, she tucked them snuggly one by one into the oiled cloth sack Kikyou gave her.

To be honest, she felt a little useless, watching the woman work while she fidgeted beside her.

As she idled in the corner, Kagome went over the events earlier in the day in silence. Inadvertently, she blurted out a question that's been stewing in her head before she could stop herself.

"Seiko-san, how come you seemed so unfazed by what happened earlier at the chief's?"

The older woman looked up from the latest herb she was packaging, her sharp eyes boring into Kagome's as if trying to decipher something.

"It ain't like that was something novel." She scoffed at last, breaking eye contact to look back down at the counter. "Happens every couple a' moons at least."

Kagome couldn't help the surprised inhale at the casual statement.

"You mean, the villagers wrongly accuse Jinenji regularly?"

"Most a' them's alright now. Just a handful who can't let it go." Ma muttered. "Surely you've noticed the scars?"

Kagome bit her lip and nodded sadly.

"That was before. And I'd rather some people talking shit once in a while than all of that again." Weariness settled on Ma's face. "I'm only getting older, and I can't always be with Jinenji."

"I'm sorry." She laid a hand on Ma's shoulder.

Silence pervaded for a moment.

"Um... the chief," Kagome offered eventually, trying to start up the conversation again. "He seemed really fair at least. It's good to have someone like that leading the village."

"Kenji is a good man." Ma smiled faintly. "He used to be good friends with my brother, before he passed away, so he tries to look out for us if he can. Plus, the village is realistic. There's no shrine or miko, so our healing herbs are all anyone's got in these parts."

"Oh, speaking of... I want to apologize for causing you to lose business." Kagome frowned. "If Inuyasha and I didn't show up and disrupted things-"

The woman flapped a hand, cutting her off. "Nonsense, would've happened anyways. 'Sides, it's good for my boy to see someone like—"

Kagome's eyes widened a little, trained on the woman's face to see what she might divulge and was immediately disappointed.

"Enough chit chat. We're pretty much done here anyway." Ma stood up, dusting her hands on her apron. "Why don't you go find Jinenji? He's harvesting some fresh shoots for you take home."

Understanding that this was Ma's way of shooing her out of the hut, Kagome headed down the dirt path winding through the field.

She was curious about Ma's thoughts. After all, she'd put it together enough that hanyou were rare in this world. Wonder what Inuyasha thought, meeting someone like him?

Kagome made a mental note to ask him sometime, maybe a lazy evening by the fire when Inuyasha was a little less prickly than normal.

True to the morning, the weather stayed cool but the cloud cover broke periodically. The plants were hitting the part of the life cycle where the scorch of summer had not yet come and they were at the height of their vibrancy.

Amongst the verdant crops, Kagome spotted a familiar lumbering shape ahead.

Under the midday sun, the uncountable number of old scars crisscrossing Jinenji's olive skin seemed all the more prominent in their paler tone, the puckered skin etching across the bulk of his body.

It spoke of many years of prejudice and cruelty that Kagome couldn't even begin to fathom. How much pain and torment had he endured to end up with so many? With this thought weighing heavy on her heart, Kagome approached the hanyou crouched over the row of young plants.

Nearing him, she quickly summoned a smile back on her face so as to not greet the hanyou in a gloomy mood.

"Hello Jinenji!"

If even possible, his massive blue eyes widened just a fraction more, meeting her gaze for not even a second before dropping back down to the soil at her feet. "Uh... hello, Kagome."

"Your Ma sent me out here to see if I can help. She mentioned you were harvesting something?"

"Oh!" He exclaimed, visibly panicked. "I-I got distracted. There were weeds... I'll go do that now."

"No, no! We're the ones imposing on you, please finish what you're doing first." Placing a hand on his elbow, Kagome was quick to reassure him. "Actually, better yet, let me help!"

After some instruction on Jinenji's part, Kagome got to work right away weeding at the base of the tender young shrubs the hanyou had been tending. Since Jinenji moved so much slower than Inuyasha, she was able to discreetly shuffle over when he did so as to stay in the coolness of the hanyou's shadow. Garden work was something she enjoyed doing, helping out her mom and grandpa with their tiny kitchen garden. The repetitive motion was meditative.

"Say... Jinenji, what makes you and your mom stay here?" Kagome asked hesitantly after they've been working for a little while in silence. "I mean, it seems like the people here are not that good to you."

The protracted silence made her bit her lip in anticipation, but she understood the man tended to take a longer time to go about everything.

"Um... I like it here. Plants grow very well in this valley." Jinenji finally mumbled. "This is the land Pa left us. And the villagers have been getting better... it's not so bad anymore." Implying of course that it was way worse, clearly evident by the history of injuries documented on his body.

"Ah, I see. Thanks for sharing that with me." Kagome scratched her head awkwardly. "It was a pretty personal question out of the blu— AHHH!"

At the sound of her sudden screech, Jinenji went rigid and froze up beside her. In short, he was no help. The flesh-coloured monstrosity that had somehow breeched her defences without detection was still lounging on her shoulder.

"W-worm—" A chill of disgust rippled up her spine. "Jinenji... please help me."

The hanyou blinked, and the colour returned to his face that had suddenly paled at her scream. Was he also scared of bugs? If so, she might have to yell louder for Inuyasha.

A large hand entered her field of view, approaching painfully slowly towards her shoulder. She didn't know if he was worried about startling the worm or her. In any case, Kagome held herself still so as to not dislodge the worm. Kami help her if it falls into her robes or something.

Crisis averted, worm deposited back in the soil where it should be, Kagome gave a big sigh of relief. Jinenji was eyeing her hesitantly, making her flush in embarrassment.

Bugs were creepy, okay?

Thankfully the rest of the weeding was uneventful and pleasant, filled with light conversation. Although punctuated by periods of silence, Jinenji proved to be a decent conversation partner. The actual harvesting of the herbs that was the initial objective was very quick. Just a few brisk movements from the expert gardener was all it took.

The two made their way back to the hut, Kagome insisting on carrying the small basket filled with green shoots. They took a circuitous route back, winding the long way around as Jinenji gave her a tour of some of his plants, taking time to satisfy her curiosity.

As they neared the hut, a cloud of dust could be seen billowing from the side of the building.

Now Kagome has had a few months to familiarize with this particular kind of dust plume. A certain hanyou tended to cause this sort of phenomenon when he was particularly enthused with his task.

Sure enough, once the dust settled somewhat, her friend emerged. The bright red sleeves of his robes were tied back with a tasuki, giving off an endearingly energetic look.

Inuyasha was busy stacking up firewood beside Ma's house. Though he'd deny it to high heaven and back if Kagome confronted him, it was nonetheless obvious that he was trying in his own way to repay their hosts for their hospitality.

Sure, they brought along money for the herbs they were getting from Jinenji, but they had put them up for the night. And no matter how they refused the claim that they brought trouble to their doorstep, truth is, Kagome and Inuyasha kinda did to a degree.

"Inuyasha!" She quickened her steps, trotting a little faster towards him with a happy wave. "It's looking good!"

His bright golden eyes flashed her way and the line of his lips quirked. Only Inuyasha can make that expression torn between pleased and grumpy. Though she couldn't hear it, that look can only be accompanied by his signature one syllable comment.

Just then, Ma popped out from behind the door hanging.

"Hello Ma." Jinenji murmured softly beside her.

"I was wondering where you two were." The woman motioned for the basket Kagome was holding. Deftly, she tipped a large portion of the green tips into one of the remaining packets Kagome had brought with her from the village.

It wasn't even five minutes before the mighty efficient Ma disappeared back into the house and reappeared with everything they purchased and more tied up into a secure bundle for carrying. The amount of time was just perfect for Inuyasha to finish up stacking the firewood.

"So, about half a palmful of those tips you and Jinenji picked is enough for a two-person portion of tea to help with travel fatigue." Ma instructed as she handed over the whole bundle to Kagome.

Kagome silenced Inuyasha with a firm nudge to the shin before he made more than a little noise. No need for that 'hanyou ain't weak' nonsense.

"Thank you so much." She turned slightly to look at the lumbering hanyou slouched beside her. "And you too Jinenji! For showing me the plants and everything."

"Uh... it was good for me too." He replied, a slight frown turning his lips.

Clearly, he was sad to see them go. It wasn't too much to assume to that it was rare for him to be privy to easy companionship. If only they lived closer to each other.

Still, Kagome hoped.

"We'll come back to visit!"

"I-I'll show you the birds... next time." Jinenji nodded, big watery eyes earnest.

"Yes, yes. Now hurry along you two," Ma ushered them off. "While there's still daylight to travel."

Though she sounded callous on the surface, Ma actually did offer her and Inuyasha to stay one more night, but Kagome refused earlier. And the woman wasn't one to repeat her words.

With a few more bows and goodbyes, Kagome and Inuyasha gathered the few items they brought with them and left the small farm in the valley.

It was still early afternoon and being summer time with Inuyasha's capabilities, they should be fine. But, just then, a reminder for a task she'd almost forgotten popped into her head.

"Ah! Inuyasha!"

"What?" He shot a sharp glance at her, surprised by her sudden outburst.

"Let's go back to the market, we have to hurry!"

Kagome scurried behind his momentarily stilled form. Clumsily wrapping an arm around the shoulder that wasn't carrying the bundle of herbs and gave a pathetic little hop.

She hoped that her one leg trying to hook itself on his hip would spur him into action.

He looked flabbergasted for a second. Then blinked once, twice before whipping his face away from her before she could verify if his cheeks were flushing, or if she'd imagined it.

"Keh." He sputtered. "What the hell is wrong with you, Kagome?"

She giggled loudly as he hauled the rest of her effortlessly onto his back, all the while muttering irritably.

"You..." He hoisted up a little, balancing her weight against his previous non-human cargo. "Use frickin' words. Just climbin' all over people..."

"Sorry, sorry!" She placated, patting him on the back. "I forgot I wanted to go get something for Kaede since she couldn't come along."

As such, they arrived back to the village proper and Kagome scrambled off again before anyone could see and give them mean looks.

There was a stall she saw yesterday and made a mental note to return if they had any money left from what Kikyou had given them.

In this era, metal was a prized commodity and as such most items were usually made with wood or bamboo with pottery as an additional luxury.

Kagome scrutinized the offerings laid out neatly at the vendor's stall. There were small wooden combs and hair sticks, each delicately carved with flowers.

On the bottom row, a shorter hair stick with tiny daisies curling around the tip caught her eye. It would be perfect for a happy young girl like Kaede!

Noting the price quoted by the merchant, she discreetly counted the amount of money left in the pouch. To her dismay, she was just short. Looking up, she caught the shrewd gaze of seller, who no doubt had picked up on her predicament.

As she was debating silently whether she should attempt to bargain, a very familiar throat clearing came from behind her.

Kagome turned questioning eyes at the hanyou trying to keep himself inconspicuous, standing in a corner under an awning.

Excusing herself, she trotted off to where Inuyasha was. As she neared, he grabbed her hand suddenly and the feel of a heavy coin was pressed into her palm.

"Take it." He murmured, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

Checking the amount in her hand, Kagome's eyes widened.

"Inuyasha! This... how did you—"

"Just let a man have his secrets." He quipped back, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's mine, ok?"

Between the lines, he was saying he didn't steal it. Which was not what popped into her head at all.

"I didn't mean to imply—"

He cut her off again. "Just go buy the damn thing, Kagome. I wanna get outta this stupid place already."

She sighed, then smiled brightly at him. He was always trying to help in his gruff way.

Then she turned back to the stall. After getting Kaede's gift, they can finally get going.

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tasuki - accessory used for holding up the long sleeves of the Japanese traditional robes. Usually, a sash made from cloth or cord that loops over each shoulder and crosses over the back.

A/N: Hello! I am alive. Work-related hell has swallowed me whole for the last 3 ish months :(( Hopefully I'll be back a little more frequently. Thank you for all your love and patience!

I'd thought this sequence of scenes would be shorter but nope... so excuse the abrupt cut. Plus, I think switching POVs would be good for the rest of the scene.

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.