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Chapter 6: Embers of a Trail
The morning haze hangs low over the village as Kagome steps out onto the porch, the chill of dawn biting gently at her skin. Her fingers tighten around the strap of her pack. Inuyasha follows just behind, arms folded and his golden eyes scanning the horizon like he already senses what lies ahead, waiting for them.
Behind them, soft laughter filters from inside the house. Sango and Miroku are trying to calm the younger twin, by only four minutes, who refuses to eat her porridge unless it's stirred precisely seven times—a habit Miroku claims she picked up from her mother. Sango had only rolled her eyes and swatted his arm in mock indignation.
Kagome smiles faintly. It's peaceful here. A little too peaceful. But there's a tension beneath the surface, like the still air before a storm.
The sliding door creaks open again, and Sango steps out, holding a fresh pack of supplies. "You'll take this," she says, offering it to Kagome. "Dried meat, bandages, salve, some herbs, and a few poultices—Kaede made sure it was all prepared before she left to tend to the other end of the village."
"Thank you," Kagome says, shouldering the weight and offering a small smile. "I don't know how many times I can say that without it sounding hollow."
Sango brushes it off with a wave. "You don't have to say anything."
Miroku's voice calls from within, "Just bring him back in one piece."
"Oi," Inuyasha snaps towards the house. "Who says I'm the one in danger?"
"You always are," Sango quips with a smirk, and Inuyasha doesn't argue.
Sango reaches out, touching Kagome's arm gently. "If there's anything strange out there… we want to help. Miroku and I talked about it. We can't travel like we used to, not with the little ones, but if a mission brings you close by—we'll join you."
"Or take turns," Miroku chimes in from inside, bouncing their youngest son on his knee. "Rin and Kohaku have both offered to help with the children if needed. I believe Kohaku's even hoping for an excuse."
Kagome turns toward the familiar name. "Kohaku's still with the demon slayers?"
"Leading them, actually," Sango says with a hint of pride. "He travels quite a bit these days. I don't get to see him as often as I'd like."
Inuyasha grunts. "Wouldn't mind him showing up if things get messy."
As if summoned by the thought, the steady sound of hooves hits the earth beyond the rise in the road. A single rider approaches—a slim figure with long dark hair half-tied behind her back and a bow slung over her shoulder.
Kagome blinks. The girl has definitely grown, but her face still holds a young, playful expression. "Rin?"
The girl-turned-young-woman dismounts smoothly, dusting off her travel cloak. "Sorry I'm late."
Inuyasha raises a brow. "You're not supposed to be wandering around alone."
Rin grins at him, unbothered. "I come with news. Kaede overheard a conversation between two passing traders. They mentioned a village east of here—about a day's journey. People are saying there's something strange happening—sickness in the air, odd lights, voices in the trees. One traveler mentioned seeing a dead loved one walking through the forest. She thought you might want to check it out."
Inuyasha's expression darkens just slightly. "That's not normal."
"No," Kagome murmurs, exchanging a glance with him. "It's not."
Rin continues, slipping her quiver into the crook of her elbow. "Sesshomaru is handling things west of here. He said if something like this happens near the village, I should stay close."
"I'm glad you came," Sango says, drawing Rin into a brief hug. "Would you be willing to stay here for a bit? Maybe keep the kids company?"
Rin nods. "Of course. I'd love to help. I overheard that Kohaku arrived this morning and is resting from his travels, so he can help too."
Sango squeezes Rin's arm with a warm smile. "Thank you. That means we can help them check it out."
Kagome shifts her pack on her shoulders. "Then I guess we know where we're headed next."
"Inuyasha, you're not going to try to run ahead, are you?" Miroku teases, stepping outside with the now-sleeping child on his shoulder.
Inuyasha gives him a half-smirk. "Not unless Kagome starts dragging her feet."
Before they set out, Miroku slowly shifts the sleeping boy into Rin's arms, barely causing him to stir. Sango hugs Rin one last time, lingering longer than before. "Be careful."
"We always are," Rin promises, even though both of them know that's rarely true. Knowing Kohaku will be helping provides comfort for the parents.
"Oh," Miroku adds, stepping out, "Shippo sent word through one of the fox messengers. He's still deep into his studies at the fox academy. Says he's working toward an advanced rank—wants to be strong enough to join you next time. He mentioned something along the lines of he's trying to graduate early so he can travel again."
Kagome's heart lifts, her eyes softening. "Shippo… I miss him."
"He misses you too," Miroku says warmly. "You'll see him again soon."
"He'll catch up," Inuyasha murmurs. "He always does."
Just then, Kilala bounds forward, brushing up against Sango before leaping onto her shoulder in her small form.
"She's coming with us," Sango says, stroking Kilala's fur as the neko purrs. "We'll keep pace from above."
Inuyasha nods. "Good. We'll move fast."
They exchange quick goodbyes, promises lingering in the morning air, and as the sun climbs higher, the four of them—Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku—begin their journey east.
The village fades behind them slowly, the warmth of familiarity giving way to a deeper, older silence.
Kilala transforms into her bigger form, allowing Sango and Miroku to climb on. They fly up ahead and float at a leisurely pace. Kagome cranes her neck to look up at them in the clear, blue sky, the image bringing back nostalgic memories.
Kagome and Inuyasha begin to walk side by side now.
Neither speaks for a while.
But the bond that had once been frayed—blurred by time and memory—feels a little stronger with each step forward.
They move through the forest at a steady pace, Sango and Miroku flying above on Kilala, occasionally circling to scan the path ahead. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled shadows along the dirt trail. It feels both familiar and surreal—like a dream they've stepped back into.
Kagome adjusts the strap of her quiver and glances at Inuyasha beside her. He's quiet, but not distant. Just focused. She catches his nose sometimes sniffing, picking up a scent. Still, there's something softer in the way he walks close enough that their arms brush every now and then.
By midday, they've covered a good stretch of land. The terrain grows rougher—uneven and steep. Inuyasha walks slightly ahead, ears twitching at every sound, always alert. Kagome watches him with quiet admiration—somehow exactly the same and yet… different.
As they begin to climp up a hill, Kagome stumbles once, catching herself on a nearby tree root.
Inuyasha slows and glances back at her. "You're gonna wear yourself out before we even get there."
"It's the boots," she defends, pouting. "And the pack. Really, I'm fine," she replies, though she's breathing a little harder than she'd like to admit.
He stops walking and then sighs. "Come on."
She blinks, her body freezing in place. "Come on what?"
He turns his back toward her, crouching slightly. "Get on."
Kagome's breath catches. She stares for a moment too long.
"Unless you want to be slow the whole way," his voice comes off snappy, but when he glances back with a hint of red on his cheeks, Kagome doesn't take it personally. "We won't make it by nightfall if you keep stumbling."
It's been years. But the motion is so familiar her body reacts before her mind does. She hesitates for just a heartbeat, then steps forward, placing her hands gently on his shoulders as he scoops her up with practiced ease.
Once settled, the motion is muscle memory—her arms wrap loosely around his neck, chest against his back, and she exhales a soft, shaky breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"This okay?" he asks, his voice low.
She nods against him. "Yeah. It's… just like before."
She remembers riding like this after the sun went down, wrapped in her yellow pack and exhaustion, half-asleep against his back as he carried them to safety.
He doesn't say anything, but the way he takes off—smooth, fast, and steady—tells her everything. The wind catches her breath as he leaps into the trees like he never stopped carrying her.
The world rushes by in a blur of green and gold, and for the first time in three years, Kagome feels weightless.
Safe.
Alive.
She doesn't say anything, but her grip tightens slightly, a smile pulling at her lips, and she feels his hand adjust just enough to hold her a little closer. She presses her cheek to his shoulder, heart pounding, not from the speed but from something deeper.
They don't speak for a while. Just the wind rushing past and the rhythmic thump of Inuyasha's feet hitting the ground.
Above them, Kilala soars with Sango and Miroku, keeping a close eye on the forest below.
By the time the sun begins to dip behind the trees, the scent of smoke and distant voices reaches Inuyasha's nose.
"We're close," he murmurs, slowing to a stop at the edge of a ridge. Below, nestled in a clearing surrounded by hills, the village comes into view—quiet, but with a strange unease lingering in the air.
Kagome slides off his back, eyes locked on the distant rooftops. "We made it."
He watches her for a moment, then nods. "Yeah."
She glances at him and smiles, just a little. "Thanks for the ride."
His ears twitch, and he mutters something that might've been "anytime" before heading toward the path down.
At the same moment, Kilala lands beside the pair, and Sango and Miroku hop off to join them. Miroku rubs his lower back and tried to stretch.
"My body is not used to traveling all day, anymore."
His comment makes Kagome and Sango giggle, and Inuyasha smirks.
"Let's settle somewhere on the edge for tonight. Try to keep an eye and see if we notice anything." He suggests, his golden eyes looking down in the direction of the village.
The group agrees, and they begin to set up their fire and spots for the night.
By nightfall, Inuyasha is eager to take a closer look. To get a good feel of what the hell is going on and why the place feels so strange. The four of them agree on it, and while Miroku and Sango gather sticks for their fire, Inuyasha and Kagome decide to be the ones to spy.
Climbing onto his back, together, they descend into the quiet village, unaware of just how deep this new journey will go.
Inuyasha launches from a tree above, and his feet land firmly, but light enough to not make any noise, on top of one of the houses on the outskirts. Both of them glance around at the dark, quiet surroundings, and they quickly notice obvious signs that something is going on.
No children's laughter. No crackle of cooking fires. Just smoke curling from a few chimneys and doors drawn tight against the wind.
Inuyasha crouches low on the rooftop, Kagome beside him, surveying the darkened homes. A few flickering lanterns sway outside doorways like dim eyes in the dark.
"We'll talk to someone tomorrow," he says lowly. "Figure out what the hell's going on."
Kagome nods. Her breath clouds in the cold air.
She glances at him. "Thank you—for earlier. The ride."
He shrugs nonchalantly. "You looked like you were gonna break your ankle."
She smiles, small and genuine. "Still. It meant a lot."
For a moment, neither of them speak. The silence stretches, not heavy… but full. Of things unsaid. Of memories trying to come back to life.
Then Kagome shifts closer. Just a small movement. Just enough for their shoulders to brush—soft, tentative, but deliberate.
Her warmth seeps into him. A quiet presence, steady.
"I'm glad we're doing this together again." She whispers it like a memory, but his ears pick up on it.
Inuyasha doesn't look at her, but his voice is quiet when he responds.
"Me too."