An Education by UnknownRandomness

No More Than Deserved

Prompt: Pecuniary - Consisting of or relating to money.

Word Count: 660

Kagome blinked in surprise as the heavy iron gates shut behind them with a definitive clang, sealing away their only chance of shelter from the bitter cold. Shippo released a plaintive cry before breathing on his frozen fingers, burrowing himself deeper in her backpack. Kirara's flames were almost completely diminished as she tried to conserve energy whilst Sango and Miroku were huddled together under one of her blankets and the red-clad hanyou was swearing like a sailor at the imposing mansion behind the barred entryway, although his threats were impeded by his chattering teeth. 

'Whoever coined the saying "money makes the world go round" was right', the shivering miko thought bitterly. Here, or in the future, money was at the forefront of everyone's thoughts- or if not actual coinage, some other form of payment. Every single creature put their own personal gain before others and it made her sick.

The rich and selfish owners of the house had ignored their desperate pleas for a room, asking if they could afford the night's stay; and when it became apparent that they were skint, they were cast out without mercy. Miroku had tried his usual spiel of 'warding against evil', but the occupants weren't fooled. 

So that left them outside, the chill wind cutting through their clothes to numb all extremities and raise goosebumps on parched skin. This wasn't how these affairs usually went- people were supposed to be kinder, to not care about making money from the helpless for just once in their lives! At this rate, they would all be sick by morning... 

Money was nothing but trouble; it removed the heart of people when they saw a chance at making a profit.

A sharp tingle snapped at the miko's aura and her head snapped back to the mansion in sync with Inuyasha's muttered prayer.

"Yasha, did you feel that just now?"

"Yeah, we've got a demon on our hands."

Miroku and Sango emerged from under the blanket clearly intending to fight before jumping in surprise, startled by loud and terrified screams that started coming from the building. Inuyasha raised a fist, preparing to smash the gate in, when Kagome spoke.

"Leave them Inuyasha."

The hanyou almost stumbled mid-swing, shock spread across his face. Miroku turned towards her, his gaze incredulous.

"You cannot be serious, Kagome-san." It wasn't a question, but she still answered. 

"I am. They had their chance to be kind, to earn our help, but they turned us away because it wasn't profitable for them. And what profit will there be for us? They already made their stance clear on this matter... I say we let them pay for their cruelty."

Shippo clambered out of the bag to look directly into Kagome's eyes. He normally approved of everything she said, but this was just wrong. The normally cheerful and benevolent woman looked dead, her face was white, her eyes alight with a strange look that caused his heart to clench anxiously. His small, freezing hands clamped onto her cheeks as he tried to get through to her.  

"But then that makes us no better than them. We should help!" 

As if awoken from a trance by his touch, she blinked and nodded. The group broke through and assisted the inhabitants in swiftly defeating the demonic intruder, but there were casulties- the head's wife was murdered just before they arrived.

They received lodging for the night and a week's provisions as payment for their services. The member's of the group looked to Kagome, to show her that she had been wrong, but what they saw alarmed them. Her gaze was cold and unforgiving; she showed no signs of remorse or sympathy for the deaths that they could have prevented. Something inside of her had died that evening, an inner kindness that had previously always been there.

Miroku shook his head sadly as they departed the next morning. Money was nothing but trouble; it removed the heart of people.

A/N: I hope you readers liked this chapter- please leave me a review, I really would like to know what you thought of it! I know that Kagome is so nice that this would never happen in the show, but c'mon, if it were real life I'm SURE that there would be at least one instance in which her usual personality didn't prevail.