Villiage Elder

“That was quite the nap. Now, what’d I miss?”

      “ain’t really in the mood for SCOLDIN’ – yew old bat. whatever they said i did this time? it ain’t true. only the BEST behavior – from me.”​

’someone bring the old man a bottle of sake. it’s been a long day of forging weapons for ungrateful whippersnappers.’

“She started it.” His shoulders hunch as Kaede pats his head. Shippo knew Kaede had a point, and he didn’t want him and Moroha to end up like their father and their uncle, always fighting every time they saw each other, never getting along for years upon years… It wasn’t as though he liked fighting with Moroha, he just hated being picked by her all the time!

“Ya sure you can promise that? She’s really mad.” Not as mad as he’d been after spending two days sealed inside the shed, but when Moroha got mad, it was a special kind of mad. It was like the perfect storm of Kagome’s quiet anger and Inuyasha’s violent temper, and the little fox demon was just at the right size to be her punching bag.

Another thump from inside the shed sends Shippo scurrying under Kaede’s arm, hiding behind the elderly priestess for protection. Not even Moroha would dare go through Kaede to get to him. “I think I’d rather just experience bein’ a only child again.”

“It does not matter who started it.” The elder remarks back in a firm tone. Helping to ‘parent’ children who lived in the village had been something Kaede was plenty used too, even before she had taken in Sesshomaru’s eldest daughter. No pair of children seemed to require more of her attention and guidance then the children of Inuyasha and Kagome, and considering how Kaede often had to help those two much during their youth, this fact was not at all shocking.

However, that did not mean it still did not test her large amounts of patience, Kaede remaining still as she heard the thump and Shippo scurried behind her. The old woman would think Shippo, considering he was much older than Moroha, would have taken the initiative and been more mature about these things. Guess all his experiences with his father and the guidance he learned from her and his mother had not sunk in yet, making things much harder for her to help mediate. This family she swears...

‘ i brought you another blanket. ’ [ Sango, post canon ]

“Why thank ye, Sango. I appreciate it very much.” The old woman spoke, smiling gingerly as the slayer entered her home. Despite her age, Kaede did not get sick that often. She was a master of healing and had a whole village to run. She could not exactly afford to get sick. Though, with her having taken Kagome and Rin under her wing, at least someone could fulfil some of her duties while she had to recover.

Thankfully, the old woman simply had a cold. And while a cold could be devastating, especially for someone her age, she had gone through so many in her life that she knew exactly the best way for her body to fight it. Not to mention, when Kagome returned from the future, she made sure to bring a whole supply of her magical medicine for emergency purposes. So, if things took a turn for the worse, she could always use some of that to help as well.

“Don’t lie to me.” [ Wicked Wish! Inuyasha ]

“In this situation, I have no reason to lie to ye.” The old woman states as she stares up at the demon lord, simply remaining still without any fear. She had been dealing with Inuyasha for long enough now to know how he operated. If he didn’t attack her in the past as a child when she was most vulnerable due to her connection to his former lover, then why would he attack her now when she was older, wiser, and had spiritual abilities honed to deal with demons like him? Besides, he came here seeking the truth, and if he wanted that truth, he had to be civil.

It was also why she asked the rest of the village men who often went with the elder whenever she left the village to stand down, leaving her and Inuyasha alone to talk. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt, or provoke him during conversation. That would just make things worse, and considering she too believed in young Kagome Higurashi’s words regarding this whole situation, that would make her goal even harder. 

That is why she has chosen to simply give him the information confirmation he sought out, thinking that might help somewhat. It is not like Kagome hid this face, anyway. She did outright say it during their encounter according to the account she gave the elder, seeing she indeed was quite different from her elder sister despite the similarities in their appearances.  

“I do, yes.” he nodded when she asked if he really wanted to learn how to use a bow and arrow. Sora watched her, as she seemed lost in thought. His brows furrowed, worried belatedly that she might turn him down. Did she think he was too unruly for it? Not that he blamed her, he hadn’t exactly been in the fuedal era often lately, so he and Lady Kaede hadn’t much chance to talk….

His ears twitched a bit, and Sora blinked as she agreed. He smiled happily, which turned to a grin, but that sobered. It sobered as she mentioned that archery wasn’t as quick to pick up. At her reminder of concentration and the like, Sora’s posture straightened a little more, head held a little bit higher. Not in arrogance, but confidence,

“I understand, Kaede-sensei. I’ll make you proud.”

The elder can see his drive, see it all behind his golden hues. Sora had always been determined, even back when he went by Inuyasha and was barking up a storm. Kaede has no doubts about that. However, she still cannot deny that mastering this sort of thing might be a bit too difficult for him. The least she could do was let him at least try, right? Learning a new skill was never a bad thing in her eyes.

Sora using the title ‘sensei’ with her so quickly certainly was surprising. Sure, she knew now he was a lot more respectful than he had been in the past, but being called that so quickly was something she had not prepared herself for. Half-demon canine boys had always managed to surprise her, and this sort of behavior was how Sora did it. Seeing the title though does make her smile, walking past him to give him a gentle pat on the back.

      inuyasha was listening but that didn’t mean he LIKED what he was hearing. it would be a lie to say he hadn’t thought about what was going to come NEXT - - would kagome be ripped out of his life and thrown back into her OWN world once all of this was over? that thought scared inuyasha more than ANYTHING. to love again and to LOSE it again - - he wasn’t sure if he would recover from it AGAIN. but then again - - had he even recovered from the first one? he didn’t know. people always say you live and you learn, but when did the learning START?

      “i don’ get it granny.” inuyasha sighs - - nearly defended. “kagome can’t just be here for th’ jewel. there’s gotta be another reason too, huh? ain’t it a little cruel that she’s here JUST for that reason?” wasn’t it cruel that he had undoubtedly fallen in love with her too? inuyasha knew what kaede was getting out but wasn’t it still UNFAIR?  but shouldn’t he, of all people, know just how unfair life could be? it kicked you when you’re down & when it rained, it POURED.

      “i ain’t sayin’ yer wrong but i am sayin’ i ain’t like what i’m hearin’.” being HONEST was difficult for the half demon. especially when it came to talking about kagome - - the feelings just weren’t ones he wanted to welcome with open arms for reasons such as LOSING her forever. sometimes, if he had known the pain & fear would be this bad, he wished he’d NEVER met her. “i guess i will keep tryin’ to be better.” no matter how hard.

“Life can be cruel....Ye should know that as well as I do. The worst things can happen to the most pure of souls.” She sighs, memories of the day Kikyo tragically died flashing back in her mind. While she had only been a child back then, there was no doubt the elder saw how much happier her sister had been when Inuyasha entered her life. The young lad might blame himself for her passing, but Kaede always tried to make sure he didn’t. Naraku was to blame. If he was to take responsibility for anything, it was bringing a smile to her sister’s face and making her feel like herself for what seemed like forever.

“The fact Young Kagome, the reincarnation of my sister, came into our world with the Shikon Jewel having been reborn inside of her is no coincidence. I’m certain of that.” The old woman was now standing, pouring the half-demon a glass of tea now that he seems to have calmed some. If only getting him to this point would take less time, she thinks. “I cannot know for sure fully why she is here, but the jewel being a crucial part of that reason is something I believe in deeply. All I’m trying to suggest to is to be prepared for anything to occur, both during and after the battle for the jewel.”

The thread between myself and @gomiokamu tonight unintentionally (BUT ALSO TOTAL PERFECTION) feels like the build up to this scene from Final Act EP 18, and it gives me an excuse to post and gush about this scene.

Not only is it really short and sweet with some super nice lighting, but really shows how much Inuyasha has grown throughout the series. He isn’t pushing Kaede away, he’s accepting her company and speaking to her calmly. And his internal monologue? WOULD INU AT THE START EVER SAY THAT STUFF NO. HE GROWS SO MUCH AS A CHARACTER AND KAEDE IS PROUD OF HER GRANDSON.

      again - - kaede wastes NO time in twisting her hand right where it hurt. inuyasha wasn’t stupid, he was immature, and not to mention he almost always never thought before acting ( especially when kagome was involved ). that aside, kaede was right. a place that he could visit without trouble - - why hadn’t he wanted to travel passed the well? why hadn’t he thought of that? maybe, just maybe, that time period caused inuyasha GREAT distress. he felt like he didn’t belong, he felt even more useless there, and he didn’t know how to protect kagome there either. he was good at DEMON slaying - - not school.

    “well - - when ya say it like tha’ i do sound like a’dumbass.” no one BUT kaede would EVER be able to hear that from this stubborn, high & mighty, dog. “i ain’t belong in that time kaede. ya can’ argue tha’wit me.” pause. “- - i guess tha’s how kagome feels too…”

         oh, were we getting somewhere?

    “i ain’t tryin’ take ‘er from ‘er family and stuff…” could have fooled everyone, inuyasha. “i think it’s unfair that i’m always the one gettin’ my ass chewed. it ain’t like kagome is a’saint.” was he trying to deflect again? absolutely. things were getting a little too real for inuyasha - - he was starting to feel things he wasn’t sure HOW to feel.

    beating against the walls: I DON’T WANT TO BE LONELY ANYMORE.

“I will not. Did I not mention she returned to her rightful home? She is from that realm, reincarnation of my sister or not. That is the truth of it.” It was a fact that everyone had to understand. Though, it was clear it was one the boy struggled with more than anyone else, and his ability to travel to her home world no doubt made that more apparent then the rest of them. His ability to go there was both a blessing and a curse in a way, the priestess thinks as she sips more of her tea.

“Young Kagome is not perfect, just like ye are not perfect. I never said her constant running home whenever ye two have an argument was the best course of action. In fact, it only makes the misunderstanding ye two have last longer than it would be if ye two simply just spoke to one another.” Inuyasha’s stubbornness frustrated her, yes. However, Kagome’s own was also an issue. Kaede did say they were similar, and that applied to how they often handled sorting out their issues. They both had a long way to go, indeed.

      ah, got called out QUICK this go’round. inuyasha only went as far as he was allowed with kaede - - seemed that he had met that mark fairly quickly this time. she really knew where to stick it so that it hurt - - maybe kagome running back to her own time WAS all his fault. not surprising one bit. was it so bad that he DIDN’T want her to leave? like a dog, he was lonely with they weren’t ALL together. though kagome obviously took front & center.

    “… i told ‘er that i was gonna…destroy the well. ya know - - so she couldn’ go back home.” saying it aloud now & to kaede had inuyasha reconsidering his earlier words ( to both kagome and kaede ). “i ain’t really gonna destroy it. not then, not now. but she ain’t even let me explain that.” would he have? no. “ - - now that i tried, i guess.” the truth, finally.

Finally, the young one started talking. Her patience seems to have paid off this time around, thankful she did not have to sit upon hours and hours going back and forth with him until he finally explained the situation. Kaede simply sat there for a few moments, taking a sip of her tea before responding. 

“Ye wish to prevent her from returning to her rightful home when ye can visit her any time ye would like?” She quickly points out the laws in his logic, but understood the sentiment. Inuyasha was a person who connected very deeply with people, and it was clear to anyone his strongest bond was to Kagome. Without her around, it is clear he isn’t happy. Kaede’s sat with him enough times during the girl’s time in the other world to know that much.