#seinenfables

Dango.

ㅤThe magic little word captured his attention immediately, of course; like a cat perking up his ears. Even if the brutal combo of devastating illness and even stronger meds to keep it under control would leave Itachi lacking in appetite at the best of times, for every rule there was an exception to confirm it - and, in the case, yes, it would be a thin wooden skewer holding together little round chunks of rice flour and icing sugar.

«Unless you kick me out, then yes.»

ㅤThe humorous tone was soft, tentative. Almost hesitant. The two of them were treading very thin ice, to say the least. One does not simply grab an entire decade of trauma and grief and deception and flicks it away, pretending nothing terrible ever happened and everything was fine and dandy now just because certain heavily loaded truths had surfaced. Baby steps. One day at a time. Just the simple fact of being here now, sitting with his little brother again, it was more than good enough for Itachi. Way more than what he felt he deserved.

Anyway.

ㅤHearing the quiet noises of plates and bowls being set down on the table, quickly followed by wood gently dragging across the floor boards to signal that the other chair was being occupied, he was able to figure out what Sasuke had just done and where he had moved to. And so he adjusted his own position accordingly, tilting his head in the general direction he believed his brother to be.

He didn't like it. He didn't like it when things came to a pause. It was one thing for everyone else. Humans caught illness so easily. A hanyou did not. As quick as he was to call things to a halt when it was one of the others, when it was due to himself, that was another matter entirely. It meant it was his fault. It meant he was the one who wasn't strong enough to keep going.

And every time one of them had glanced at his sneezing, he met that glance with intensity in his golden eyes. A silent demand, that they weren't stopping. Seemed like that had been enough for two days or so, yet even he felt himself slowing down. Muscles that ordinarily felt lighter than feathers, were heavier. Fatigued. It's not like Inuyasha didn't know how to recognize illness. His immune system was weak, especially for a hanyou.

He got sick a lot when younger. It was the whole reason his mother had taught him the medicinal properties of herbs. It was with the intent that when he got older, if he ever got sick and sh wasn't around, he could take care of himself. Neither of them had been expecting how... things had actually gone, but the knowledge his mother had imparted to him, it never left.

He couldn't even say he was surprised it was Kagome who spoke up. Was it because she knew he'd be more receptive to her gentle tone? A voice that could calm the raging ocean in his chest, if only for a few moments. Nobody else he traveled with had that same effect on him. Whether he'd outwardly say it or not, every single one of them were deeply important to him.

But Kagome was his best friend. He didn't have it in him to fight right now. Even if he did, he probably wouldn't have. Not after that gentle, caring touch. That soft voice.

"...You know I don't like layin' down and doin' nothin'."

Half open, those golden eyes lacked their usual intensity, gaze fixated on the grass beneath them.

"It'll pass. 'M sure I'll sleep it off tonight."

An indirect way of saying he already knew he had caught something. Though he tried to inhale deeply through his nose, his head quickly turned. A coughing fit, of which he refused to allow be in her direction. He'd be damned if Kagome caught whatever he did. Lungs burned with each breath. Just another physical pain he knew would pass soon enough.

The sooner the better.

"Just keep goin'. I'll catch up with all of ya tomorrow. 'S not like I ain't faster than every one of ya put tagether."

A truth. Though even he knew this wasn't going away over just one night. He knew all too well.

While Yoruichi genuinely did often wander to and fro without any real kind of plan, it would've been a lie to have said she didn't intend for a meeting like this to happen. Suggesting that she'd stalked the Inutachi would've been something of an overstatement, but she'd certainly followed them and gradually closed in.

The hanyō and nekomata were fairly easy to smell even at range, but she'd visually confirmed the isolation of the oddly-attired human before choosing to present herself—she seemed likely to be the most diplomatic from what she'd heard tell of and personally observed, so might as well take the opportunity when it presented itself. She'd still been stealthy until she got close enough for her own preferences, just to be a touch dramatic, then finally revealed herself openly to the young woman. Sure enough, she was promptly spotted.

Her brows lifted at the question which was put to her, finding the woman's voice somewhat familiar, only for her gaze to settle upon the nekomata. She gave a mild laugh, the sound actually melodious rather than harsh, before smiling graciously and then turning her attention back to the woman. "My, but you must be Kagome! Hmm. I am Yoruichi." She brought her arms up slowly to present bared palms—no guarantee of anything, of course—then turned around steadily to show she was unarmed, until she faced them again. "I mean you no harm," she asserted.

It was perhaps notable her voice sounded rather like Kagome's own, if notably deeper and sultrier in pitch. With her introduction made, she easily brought her hands back to her sides and smoothly strutted forth as though she owned the very earth itself, stopping at around twice normal conversational distance. "This is quite the fierce little kitten. Very loyal," Yoruichi noted while observing Kirara, giving a casually polite bow to the nekomata, "My congratulations to your Taijiya, Sango."