Apologies for the slow update for Running to Stand Still! I’ve gotten a bit distracted by my scifi projects coming up, but I want you to know this story hasn’t been forgotten. The bulk of it is written and edited, and I just need to add the finishing touches.
Here is a lil preview of the next chapter to whet your appetites!!
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“Which way do you think it should fall?”
“I–I don’t know…”
They stood on the edge of a charred-out landscape, smoke drifting from smoldering duff. Kagome buckled chaps around her waist and knees, bending down to check the saw and make sure it was topped up on fuel. She took a deep breath, preparing to start it up.
Yash stood beside her, his hand grazing her shoulder as his neck craned upward, studying the tree.
“Look up,” he muttered gruffly, holding up a shovel handle as a reference. “Where is the weight leaning?”
She squinted, standing up beside him as the rim of her helmet brushed his shoulder. “I see larger branches to the right. So that way?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’d do.” He stepped back a little, a small smirk edged the corner of his lip. “Start ‘er up and cut your wedge. Don’t go too deep.”
“Geeze, so bossy.” She joked, giving him a wink before putting on her mesh goggles.
“Less flirting, more cutting!!” Sango hollered behind them, a couple hundred feet away, half of her body waist deep in a smoking stumphole. Miroku looked up beside her, his face covered in black streaks as he grinned and catcalled.
The both began to blush, Yash turning away as Kagome distracted herself with cranking the pull cord.
It was their second fire run together. Things had gotten easier since the bee incident. Yash had been standoffish the days after, uncertain how to interact with her. Waiting for his secret to spill from her lips. But she made a promise, and she never broke those. Not unless someone’s life depended on it.
Slowly, at a snail’s pace, he warmed up to her—showed her things she never noticed before. He had a literacy to land she had never known, a silent wisdom that could only be seen by those who read the wind in clouds and plants by their leaves. She could see it for what it was, a language of survival.
Kagome learned to pay attention, took note when he stopped to smelled the air, or scoured his eyes along the ground, following invisible tracks. When she peppered him with curious questions, sometimes he shook her off, other times he gifted her with grunted short answers. She would listen attentively, soaking up every word he gave her. With time and practice she could identify the difference between pines and firs, plants that could be foraged and others with likeness to avoid. She would point and call out a name, and he would glance over his shoulder and nod or shake his head, a lightness glowing from his violet eyes.
During breaks he would wander away, to come back with a handful of berries in his stained palms, held out in offering to her. And when he did so, he would sit beside her quietly. Sometimes she would talk, and other times she relaxed into the silence with him, never digging too deep with questions.
And then one day, without her realising, he began to speak without her prompt.
“You’re not gonna ask?”
She had been staring at her cold cheesesteak sandwich dismally, it tasted nothing like its namesake, but she was too hungry to be picky. Frowning at it disdainfully, she picked off the slimy half cooked onions.
“Hmm? Ask what?” She answered absently. She glanced up at him, her actions pausing as she witnessed a look she had never seen cross his eyes.
For@ruddcatha, my darling, my dearest: thank you for all that you do - not just for this fandom, but for me. We are so lucky to have you ❤️
As you may know, Rudd is currently fundraising to attend a national pageant in July; this is one of the special, self-care things that she does for herself, and she is not a person who does this nearly enough.
If you have a little spare change, and would like to donate to Rudd’s ko-fi to help her get there, we would so appreciate it.
Rated:M
Summary:
“Why are you here?”
Inuyasha grimaces. His foot starts tapping again, and Kagome notes that he’s wearing dark Chelsea boots with tight jeans – and they are tight everywhere. “You really weren’t listening to me,” he says, aggravated. “I told you. I’ve been sent by The Guild.”
“The Guild.”
He shoots her an unimpressed glare, which is understandable. Everyone knows about The Guild of Witches. Kagome’s not in top form, but she can slowly piece two and two together. The Guild of Witches is the governing body for all practicing witches on the continent. They are judge and jury, enforcement and legislation, scholarship and practicum. In this instance, what she’s gathering is this: The Guild has sent her yet another familiar for her to attempt to bond with, because they think she is dangerous and/or evil, and they wish to have a spy.
(i just realized this kind of ties in with an AU i imagined a while back, where kagome is from the current ages as opposed to the 90s, and she’s a more cocky, confident and obnoxious version of herself lel. i just think the dynamic would be hilarious)
Summary:When Kagome gets back to feudal times, person after person comes over to help her with things. They all have reasons that they love her, and remind her of that. Inuyasha is the last one to drop by, and his becomes the most profound gift of them all.
Oh my goodness Fe, what do we say? Well… @ruddcatha,@fawn-eyed-girl and I probably just want to say thank you. You’ve been a serene light in the IY fandom since we all joined, and we are so happy to call you a friend. I hope that this little Kagome appreciation canon fic puts a smile on your face. Happy belated birthday!
