Yours Forever

All her life, Kagome had heard whispers of the demon that lurked in the dark forest, a being of ancient malice who ensnared the unwary that trespassed into his domain. The villagers spoke in hushed tones, spinning tales of how the demon devoured children and bathed in the blood of young men to preserve his youth.

Kagome dismissed these stories as mere superstitions. She did not believe in demons. After all, she had lived on the outskirts of the village, closest to the dark woods, since she was a young girl, and had never encountered any such creature.

Humming a cheerful melody, she took her time pinning the white sheets to the clothesline, her skepticism unwavering.

Her disbelief was rooted in experience; in all her years residing by the edge of the foreboding forest, she had never heard a demon's call, much less seen one.

"Kagome! Where are you?"

"Back here, Sango!"

Her best friend, Sango, was the only one who dared to visit her regularly. The rest of the villagers shunned Kagome's cottage, afraid of its proximity to the dark woods. They spoke of a haunting melody that lured the unsuspecting into the forest's depths, compelling them to wander against their will.

Kagome scoffed at such notions.

"People are so gullible," she murmured to herself.

"You look happy today," Sango remarked, a warm smile on her face as she carried a large basket.

"It's a wonderful day," Kagome replied with her own smile, her heart light. "Would you like to come in for tea?"

Sango shook her head gently. "I must return home to greet Kohaku. He's coming back this afternoon from school."

"How long will he be staying?"

"Only a week before he must return," Sango sighed, a touch of melancholy in her eyes. "He's growing up so quickly, and it saddens me."

Kagome nodded understandingly. "I'm glad he's thriving at school."

A shadow of sorrow and guilt crossed Sango's features. "I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to—"

Kagome shook her head, pinning the last sheet up on the line. "It was a long time ago," she said, taking Sango's hands in hers. "I'm not angry."

"I know," Sango murmured, and quickly changed the subject. Setting down the large basket on the stump where Kagome sometimes sat, she said, "I brought you enough food for two weeks. I won't be able to visit while Kohaku is home, and next week I have to deliver weapons to a nearby village for Father."

Sango, the daughter of the village blacksmith, often traveled to deliver her father's wares. She always made a point to visit Kagome's cottage, bringing her food from the market. Despite the villagers' mixed feelings—pity and respect for Kagome as a healer—Kagome seldom ventured into the village unless summoned.

"Thank you, Sango," Kagome said, accepting the basket. "How much was it?"

"Twenty gold pieces," Sango replied with a smile.

Kagome reached into her apron pocket, drawing out twenty-five gold pieces, and handed them to Sango. "This is too much, Kagome," Sango protested.

"Think of it as a delivery fee," Kagome insisted.

Sango knew better than to argue. She accepted the payment and pocketed the gold. Kagome always gave her extra, knowing Sango's father struggled to make ends meet. Living alone with minimal expenses, Kagome could afford the generosity.

"Thank you, Kagome," Sango said, embracing her childhood friend. "We'll have tea together in two weeks."

"I'll be waiting," Kagome smiled, waving as Sango turned to leave, her brown hair catching in the wind, the bright pink ribbon fluttering.