Curiosity Killed... the Dog?

The 3 F's

When faced with an overly familiar opponent, how do you react? How do you fight when the enemy is someone you'd die to protect? What do you do when faced with your own mortality? Going into a fight, not knowing if you'll live to see the end of it.

When faced with life or death, your adrenaline rushes through your veins and will do one of three things.

It can give you a boost of confidence you wouldn't otherwise have, allowing you to fight your way to survival. # Or…

It could cause your panick to get the better of you. Instead of confidence, you gain speed, leaving you with the option to flee.

Finally…

It could allow your fear to overtake you. Instead of running through your extremities, it pounds in your chest. You feel trapped, like a deer in the headlights. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know what's coming, but you're helpless to stop it. Your adrenaline, instead of benefitting you, causes you to freeze.

Now, Kagome was the first to admit, her instincts always push her towards fleeing, but recently, responsibility has stayed her steps. It had been five years since Kagome was dragged into the past.

Five years since she released Inuyasha from the Goshinboku. Five years since she accidentally shattered the shikon no tama. Five years since she saved and adopted a kitsune child. Five years since she promised to fix her mistake and change the future. 

She could no longer flee. She had a reason to fight. And fight she did. While the group ultimately won the batle, it did not come without consequences.

Sesshomaru had left the morning prior to oversee his land. He was due back later the next day. Inuyasha was once again nowhere to be found after catching a glimpse of Kikyos Shinidamachū and Miroku was immediately incapacitated by a colony of saimyōshō.

Luckily, Kagome had been able to work together with Jaken, Ah-Un, and Kirara to defeat the confused and manipulated walking corpse of Kohaku without killing him while Sango tended to the injured monk.

It should have been a somewhat joyous occasion. Both Kagome and Jaken had proven they didn't need the inu brothers help 24/7. But Sango was sporting a huge gash on her arm, and Kagome had bruising along her face, back, and ribs.

She should have been able to focus on treating these injuries and soothing the children, who had smartly hidden inside a hollow tree during the fight, but we're no less frightened about what they had seen.

But instead, she found herself facing a newly returned, if not slightly disheveled, inuyasha… and he was absolutely furious that he hadn't been the one to save the day.