By the time Inuyasha and Miroku returned the group was ready to head out. They were going to head south. Kouga’s tribe had relayed a few odd things to the shard hunting group that were the best clues they had so it was at least a decent place to start. Because Kagome was on Sesshomaru’s back and the humans plus Shippo were riding on Kirara, they made good time and put a lot of kilometers between them and Edo.
After stopping for a brief lunch, the pace slowed. The firecat needed a rest so they walked at a comfortable pace for the humans. Kagome walked for a while but quickly grew tried, she was still recovering and not up to her usual stamina, so she was again riding on Sesshomaru’s back.
Inuyasha had made a couple grumbling comments that they were spoiling her but he was grinning at the time so no one took him too seriously. He also needled his brother a bit about being a pack mule, a comment the taiyoukai had made to Inuyasha several times after seeing him with Kagome on his back. Much to everyone’s surprise the stoic Lord took his brothers ribbing with good grace and just smirked at him.
Used to riding on Inuyasha’s back and accustomed to his bouncing, jumping gate that jostled her all over the place, Kagome found riding on his half-brothers back a far different experience. Even when moving at high speeds, Sesshomaru’s style was a lot smoother. In fact there was very little jostling or unevenness. It was so smooth that she found herself dozing off several times and not being jarred awake by sudden movements.
Kouga, unlike times he had traveled with them in the past, didn’t spend his time trading insults with Inuyasha. Instead he spent his time walking by Sesshomaru and Kagome. A good portion of the time he had his hand on her back. But, she found out, he was as bad as Miroku when it came to her backside. Though he didn’t grope, his hand sure did seem to slide there and rub quite a bit. Before she could reach back and do anything, he would move it.
Unlike Miroku, he only did it a couple times a day, with Kouga it was several times an hour. After the first couple hours she gave up trying to get him to stop. After all, it was just a pat or rub; maybe just his head resting there, she could deal with it. The only good thing was since they were walking behind everyone else no one saw anything.
By mid-afternoon, Inuyasha was ribbing both Sesshomaru and Kouga, in a good-natured sort of way; about the way they were being affectionate with her. Of course, Kouga ribbed him right back like he always did. Mostly Sesshomaru was quiet about it but would occasionally lob a few well-placed barbs at his half-brother that would let him know he couldn’t get the best of him and would give the others a good snicker. However, unlike times past, none of it was malicious or meant to incite, it was just for a bit of levity.
Really, the only member of the party that had a bit of a rough day was Shippo. Since he had joined with Kagome and Inuyasha he had always been either carried by Kagome or had ridden in the basket of her bike. Her bike had become a thing of the past long before so he was used to being carried. Several years had passed since they had joined up and he was now bigger. Even before this trip Kagome had told him he was starting to get too big and heavy to be carried around but had continued to do so because he had been upset.
Shortly after leaving Edo he had mentioned he wanted her to hold him. Naturally, she said no as nicely as she could, explaining that she couldn’t until her arms were fully healed. That had pacified him at the time. A short while later, while they were taking a short break, Kouga had taken him aside a bit and explained that Kagome’s days of carrying him were over. He said he was now big enough to walk most of the time unless he could ride on Kirara. That, for a while, until he got used to it, one of the men would let him ride on their shoulders but he was getting too big to be carried. Sango had to carry her weapon, a hefty piece of equipment, and Kagome had her pack, something that wasn’t light. They didn’t need to be carrying him.
If it had been Inuyasha that had told him that the kitsune would have argued or thrown a tantrum until he got his way but he wouldn’t do that with Kouga. There was also no way he would even think about that around Sesshomaru. Pouting a bit, he walked with Sango, holding her hand.
Kagome had sighed in relief and thanked Kouga for it.