Susu-harai, Journey to the Century Wastelands

Placing the letter down after reading it for the thirtieth time, she finally stood up and walked to the back room of her home. It was unopened, untouched, and unused for some days now. Years ago, she could never enter it with memories of her beloved lingering in the bed and sheets. His scent was still in there. The perfect blending of wood, metal oil, and sweet orange in the notes of his masculine fragrance. Taking some time out to clean the room, she took out a small dusting rag and wiped down the furniture. Thoughts of him doing menial tasks or practicing his ikebana skills made her eye soften and a smile grow on her lips. Once everything was dusted, she wept and waxed the floor. The sheets were brought outside to be cleaned, dried, and fluffed out to achieve his ideal crispness. He loved his thin, fresh sheets, especially if she dabbed her special softening oil on them. It calmed him down in the night.

Nights with him... were filled with intoxication. She was his drinking partner in secret. They never turned to highly fermented spirits, just playful ones with fruity bottom notes like peach or cherry wines. Cherry wine was a favorite of hers back then. He would tease her when they shared a bottle. Careful in his advances towards her, every now and then he'd be frisky enough to nip at her jaw. And... every now and then, she'd challenge him and suckle on droplets of wine on his lips. Their gazes as fiery and fluttering as a firefly dancing in the tall grass. Before long, he might ask her if she enjoyed their play. She might respond with a definitive answer on the occasion, but there were nights when she needed something else as a response. Those nights were shameful in her line of work, but she remembered them as clearly as a summer day and regretted no part of it. Some nights, she would dip a finger in her cup of wine, stir the tonic for a moment, and place a singular drop wherever she wanted to kiss or touch or tease him. His purring was a sign of enjoyment for them both. If he had wine on his fingers, blunt and calloused from war or battle, she would take a finger to her lips and graze it across them before taking the finger in her mouth or licking at the side of it. From there, they often resumed in their play.

He shouldn't have been able to break her so easily. Not after what happened to her sister. His voice shouldn't have been so soothing. His wisdom shouldn't have been so enlightening. The way he finds things beautiful about nature and people shouldn't have been so inspiring. He shouldn't have been her "playmate." But he was. Going to the floorboards behind the byobu, she lifted a board that revealed a drawstring to a hidden safe. She pulled at it and sighed at the sight of a pristine green box. Opening the box, she hesitantly caressed the fabrics of a kimono given to her years ago. She only ever wore it for him once, and it's been locked away since like the memories of her past with him.

"Kaede..." he would whisper to her.

"Hey, Kaede!" a familiar voice called, waking her out of a trance. "Lady Kaede, you in here?"

"Aye, I'm coming!" Kaede replied, closing the floorboards and leaving the back room.

Kaede walked into the front room, seeing Kagome standing there with a basket of herbs in her hands. It looked like something caught her interest, which made the sagely woman suspicious, but she let the girl speak within her own time.

"There you are," Kagome said, sighing. "I've been looking for you for thirty minutes."

"You don't live that far from me, Kagome," Kaede said, raising a brow. "But you look like something's on ye mind. What ails you?"

Panting, Kagome produces an interesting face before she slams her basket of herbs down and shouts, "What was in that letter? And who are those kids you keep visiting that live just outside of the village? What's with all the secrecy? And the fond sighs? And the gazing up at the sunsets?"

Kaede smirked before asking, "Patience wearing thin, is it? Your curiosity keeps getting the better of you, child."

"Please, Kaede!" Kagome begged, clasping her hands together. "You can tell me. We're close, right? I just wanna know who wrote it to you! I swear!"

"Just now ye asked about what was in it," Kaede said, keeping her smirk in place. Kagome was an amusing girl if not a bit nosy.

"There's so much to know!" Kagome responded, smiling brightly. "Please, Kaede, just one hint?"

"No," Kaede replied, turning on her heel to walk into the kitchen area. Just some rice and vegetables should do.

Kagome hustled after the sage, though, undeterred and even more determined to know who was making Kaede so eager for the days to pass by. She then asked, "Okay, then I'll guess. If I'm getting warm, just tell me. Uh... a relative?"

"Cold," Kaede replied, taking out a wok skillet and filling it with some water.

"Okay, an old friend?" Kagome guessed.

"Impressive," Kaede answered.

"Okay, how about the kids then? A-a-are they your old friend's kids?" Kagome asked.

"Hm... you're not warm but you're not cold either," Kaede replied, looking up to the ceiling for the best way to describe things.

"What?" Kagome responded, feeling slightly bummed that she was off.

"Why do you want to know so much, Kagome?" Kaede then asked, turning to the girl for a response. "It shouldn't trouble ye this much."

"B-b-but you had this dreamy look in your eyes when you read those letters like you were twenty years in the past," Kagome said. "You hardly ever have that kind of expression on your face. You even visit the tree where Inuyasha..."

"I'm just happy is all, child," Kaede said softly, smiling warmly at Kagome. "I haven't seen my friends in several years. I miss them."

"Then, I'll wait with you," Kagome said, returning the gentle smile. "You've done so much for me. This is the least I can do for you. You shouldn't have to wait alone. I'll keep you company."

"That's sweet, but I don't think my friend will allow you near her children without meeting you personally first. She's highly protective of them. You can, however, help me dry some herbs. She is a doctor, after all, and will need them to make medicine."

"She's a doctor?" Kagome asked, raising her brow and tilting her head minutely.

_______________________________________

"Well, since you're going to be travelling with us, old man, we'll have to discuss a few rules."

"Hn."

Sesshomaru led the way in silence as Jaken, Kirameku Ha, and Ah-Un trailed behind him. The imp was ecstatic that he got to torture another human soul to possibly do his bidding while on their trip to only the gods know where. Kirameku Ha had been quiet for some time since they left this morning. Sesshomaru, out of pure pettiness, decided that since Kirameku Ha was acting in Meioshi's place as his ally then he would assume part of Meioshi's responsibilities. The main one being to take care of Jaken, and, in a small way, that gave the western lord time to understand the old man. How was he able to silence Tokijin like that? Is he that strong? What about Meioshi? What punishment did she have to do? Was it like her cutting punishment? There were so many questions running through Sesshomaru's mind. He just couldn't answer everything at once. Instead, he simply decided to watch Kirameku Ha and see how much of Meioshi's skills came from the old man. Ah-Un was pulling the old man's wagon full of items quite contently. They seemed used to it. Probably so since they keep visiting the old sage. Their destination would have posed a problem for a normal man, especially a human, but this may prove to be interesting. What kind of teacher would a hell traveler need?

"First off, absolutely no loud noises that might disturb my lord," Jaken instructed, folding his arms and keeping his nose high. "He has very sensitive hearing and doesn't tolerate such things. Secondly, no complaining about any of his rules or directives. You're safest when you're obedient and rewarded when you're efficient. Since that scaly horse back there likes your attention, you will more than likely be assigned as its secondary caretaker. That means keeping him entertained, fed, watered, and properly exercised. You'd best be good at hunting or fishing as well. Me lord doesn't waste his time providing for you. We are only allies until Lady Meioshi returns to our side. Oh! You can't cook with flora that is too fragrant either. Me lord has sensitive smelling as well."

"What happens if my pupil upholds her end of your bargaining?" Kirameku Ha asked, making Sesshomaru and Jaken stop walking.

Only Jaken turned around to the old man and asked, "What do you mean?"

Kirameku Ha lifted a hand, pointed outwards, and said, "That's her flag there. The hell traveler's mark."

"Huh?" Jaken responded, snapping to the direction the old man was pointing.

Sure enough, there was a double flag with the same color schemes and imagery as Meioshi's kesho-mawashi and manto cloak some miles out flapping in the wind. The old man then said, "Perhaps it is best for you to inspect these markers. She doesn't back out of agreements just because she doesn't get along with you. A deal is a deal. If that marker leads to a pre-made camp, I think she's holding up her end of the bargain indirectly."

'She'd... do that... for me? Even though, I...' Sesshomaru thought.

He had to prove the old man wrong. She wouldn't have done this. She couldn't have! Not if she didn't know where they were going. Taking flight just to see for himself, Sesshomaru went to inspect the double flag marker. When he landed near it, a note was attached to the flagpole. He took it and read it silently to himself.

Lord Sesshomaru,

My apologies. Although we have parted ways, I did not forget our agreement. Before I proceed with this letter, I want to say one thing that I somehow keep finding myself repeating when it comes to you. Thank you. I sensed your presence when I obtained an injury at Heiwa and had to flee to recover. Before my home was supposedly destroyed. I... honestly didn't expect you to show up the way you did. Then again, I never do. You... confuse me sometimes. One moment, I can see you being this stoic but caring person, and then the next I could just slap you into the ground for treating others so coldly. As much I would rather keep away from you, your presence has been more of a positive experience than it's been a bad one. I don't know what any of this means, and we aren't particularly close, but, I suppose if you were in danger the way that I've been, I would turn up to help you in some way as well. Perhaps this campsite I've prepared for you can serve as that help. Take good care of my sensei. He is a great man and of even greater help to me. I love him very dearly as I would a father, or, in my case, a grandfather.

I don't know where your path is leading you to, but... mine has deviated a bit since meeting Homugi. I can't let you keep hurting her the way you've been doing. She is ready to move on and find healing for herself. Protecting her as she makes this journey has taken priority at the moment. I did not forget about Jaken, however. Don't you forget to find a proper healer for him. You may not trust me anymore to care for him, but Jaken has been listed as my patient and is protected by the Tate Record. You can choose to remove him from my records when we meet again. IF you even want to meet again. I will do what I can to find clues on your Meido Stone and leave reports for you via these messages. Give my sensei the blue arrow at the campsite. He can send me notice that you are ready to retire for a night and are not close enough to an inn. I'll prepare a place for you. You should take this time to heal yourself as well. If you were as sweet as Homugi has said, I believe it's time to forgive yourself.

This note is long enough now. I'll depart accordingly.

Sincerely,

Witch

"Hah, just the way I like it!" Jaken sighed, snuggling into his bed.

Sesshomaru said no more since he found the campsite Meioshi took the time to make. He would have to ask her how she knew that they were traveling this way at a later date. For now, he had to rest and think about a few things. Hearing something pouring or leaking, Sesshomaru turned his attention to the byobu wall and frowned a bit. Within moments, he regretted looking to the wall. Kirameku Ha had walked from behind the wall fully naked and walked to his wagon to find some clothes. Problem was he had to bend over for something, so Sesshomaru saw all of the old man's glory.

"What are you doing?" Sesshomaru questioned, eyes widened with horror.

"Hm?" Jaken questioned, looking to where Sesshomaru was looking. When he saw the same horrid display, he shouted, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN? WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?"

"I had to pee," Kirameku Ha answered without blinking or looking back at the demons.

"Who pees when they're ass out?" Jaken questioned. "Cover yourself!"

"But the air's nice," Kirameku Ha replied.