Kagome was grateful for her anger. Compared to her sadness, it was a welcome refuge, and she took solace in the white-hot fury that gripped her heart. It energized her, galvanized her, as she went about her duties with fervent, compulsive diligence.

Discipline and industry were important, essential—these were lessons she had learned from him, of all people. After Inuyasha had been burned and buried, and she had lain there, languishing in his absence, it was Sesshoumaru who had dragged her up and imposed his own sense of structure on her days. It was this same rigorous schedule that she followed in spirit even now, and the irony set her teeth that much more on edge.

To think that in the end, she would be the one to return the lesson of discipline to him—but perhaps this, too, had been by design. Like two knives, they sharpened one another necessarily. Where he dulled, where he languished, she would force him back into proper form once more.

In this way, she would make order from the chaos of this world.

Her morning tasks attended to, Kagome spent the rest of the day traveling between the scattered ring of waypoints that encircled the perimeter of the village. These were stacked stone markers which she had enshrined and regularly reinforced with her own reiki—combined, they formed a powerful protective barrier against demonic intruders. Kagome had spelled them to allow only trusted youkai to pass through uninhibited. Now, she amended that enchantment, revoking her brother-in-law’s access to Edo village.

If he attempted to force his way in, she would know at once—though she doubted that he would dare. The point of the exercise was more to send a message. Next time he came calling, he could wait outside on the doorstep for her like the animal he was.

She slept more soundly that night, knowing that he couldn’t just come and go here as he pleased. This was her village—these were her people. Hers to defend against the Beast and the lurking threat that he presented.

The next morning she awoke invigorated, ready to enforce her iron peace upon the region at large. While most youkai had the good sense to steer clear of her sphere of influence, her power was an attractant as much as a deterrent—and there would always be foolish demons itching to take her on. She had learned over the years that it was better to deal with these trespassers swiftly and thoroughly before they could cause trouble in the neighboring villages.

This time was no different. Though her opponent was stronger than most, as she met him in the outlying hills, he proved as foolish as the rest. Glaring into his many red eyes, it was almost with relish that she put him down, the blast of her arrow leaving no trace of him behind her as she turned toward home.

On the road outside of Edo, a familiar face gave her sudden pause.

“Rin-chan,” she greeted in surprise, her gaze lingering on the suspiciously large basket hanging from the younger woman’s shoulders. “…Where are you going?”

Setting her jaw, Rin glanced away. “You told me yourself that Tatsumi-sama wished to have a miko in his employ. I’m going there to offer my services.”

Kagome frowned. For the past few days, her apprentice had been avoiding her. She’d been too concerned with safeguarding the village to address it—waiting, also, for the right time to broach the subject she’d been dreading. But there was no delaying it any longer.

“Rin-chan,” she began carefully, “if this is about what you saw that day in the garden—”

With a furious flash in her dark eyes, Rin cut her viciously off, “How could you? You know how I feel about Kohaku-kun! I confided in you, trusted you—and then you, you…”

“Please, Rin-chan.” As her red-faced apprentice paused to catch her breath, Kagome reached out. “Just let me explain—”

“I don’t want to hear your explanations,” Rin seethed, slapping her hand aside. “I can’t stand to spend another second in your presence!”

Shouldering past, Rin continued on. Kagome’s gaze hardened after her, an image of Mayuri’s torn drowned body surfacing briefly in her mind. There was no way she could let her apprentice go off into the West alone. Knowing Sesshoumaru’s true nature, she couldn’t be certain that he wouldn’t target Rin—her familiarity and proximity might be too much for him to resist in his depravity. Only in Edo could Kagome guarantee Rin’s safety.

Striding after her, she seized her apprentice’s arm and yanked her around. “You will listen to me, Rin.” At the fierce command in her tone, the glowering younger woman shrank slightly. “What you saw that day was nothing more than a misunderstanding. I have no romantic feelings for Kohaku—I made that clear to him shortly after you left. There’s nothing between us whatsoever.”

Releasing Rin abruptly, Kagome stared her down in flinty challenge. Warily, Rin stared back, her posture relaxing a fraction at last.

“Do you promise?”

“I swear,” Kagome affirmed.

At Rin’s faint nod, the older miko turned on her heel, knowing that she had her. Eyes fixed upon the stronghold she had created, Kagome led her apprentice briskly on.

“Now,” she said to her, “we’re going home.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi