𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜;; 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐮

𝟑

"I can't believe this!" Kagome complained loudly as she shivered in the cold river. "I'm in a time before hot baths were a thing. It's..." She sneezed. "Freezing!"

From the riverbank next to a fire, Kaede sighed at her. "Kagome, don't force yourself. Come on out."

"No! I'm all bloody and dirty. And I can't stand my filthy hair! Besides, look, Sayuri is perfectly fine!" Kagome pointed over to the woman... or at least in her direction. "Huh? Where did she go? She was right there a bit ago?"

Sayuri sat at the bottom of the river, legs crossed and her eyes closed. Her hair had been let loose from its braid, and it floated around her in the water. Though she appeared to be meditating, she was really thinking and reflecting on her options.

Should she travel with Inuyasha and Kagome? They didn't need her help, as Kaede said, but it wasn't as though she'd be a hinderance, either. Besides, she would be necessary in case there was a medical emergency for either of them.

That being said, the main reason she wanted to go was so she could explore the human world herself. Aside from the odd visitor to her mountain, it had been a while since she'd last been around humans. And it wasn't like she had anything better to do; the Konohasakura Festival was in six months, so she had time until then to do whatever she wanted. Not to mention, if she didn't enjoy her life, then what was the point of living?

Sayuri opened her eyes. After swimming back to the surface, she raised her fist in determination. "I've decided!" she exclaimed, nodding fiercely.

Kagome screamed. "Sayuri-chan! I thought you left! Have you been underwater this whole time?!"

"Oh... sorry, sorry." Sayuri laughed embarrassedly. "I didn't mean to worry you, Kagome-chan."

After reassuring Kagome that she was okay, Sayuri climbed out of the river and covered herself with one of the towels at the riverbank. Luckily, Kaede was kind enough to pass Sayuri her clothes. Though she'd worn her underclothes into the river for the sake of modesty, it took a while for her to completely dry them off. Of course, in her hurry to get dressed, she failed to notice Inuyasha staring down at them from the top of the small cliff.

Then Kagome screamed, "SIT!" and he came toppling down.

Though Kagome's face was an angry shade of red, and Sayuri felt mildly nauseous at the thought of people seeing her skin without her knowledge, Kaede didn't seem particularly bothered - mainly because she knew Inuyasha didn't care enough to look. "There you are, Inuyasha."

He lifted his head from the ground, clawing at the now-glowing necklace. "Damn it! I'd forgotten about this thing."

"Shame on you, peeping like that!" Kagome shouted as she got dressed behind some bushes.

"Hah? Don't flatter yourself! I was just..."

Kaede turned around, holding a glowing jewel shard in her hand. "Trying to steal the Shikon Jewel, right?"