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Chapter Text

~*~

At nineteen, Higurashi Kagome had seen and done more than any of her peers in the future could even imagine. She’d travelled through time, defeated a great evil, restored and disappeared a magical chaos-causing jewel, and managed to effectively adapt to a double life separated by 500 years. She’d come into her – immense, ever since the disappearance of the jewel – power and become a competent warrior under the tutelage of her companions during the peaceful post-battle life they’d settled into. The one thing she hadn’t managed to do was lost her stupid virginity.

At first, she’d been almost obsessed with the idea. Young, victorious, and in love, she was sure that she and Inuyasha would finally see their relationship through to the foregone conclusion. It wasn’t just her, either – Inuyasha was on the same page, ready at last to set the past aside and live in the present. He hadn’t wasted a moment, scooping her up upon her return and nearly demanding the future they’d promised themselves.

“Marry me, Kagome. Become my mate. I don’t ever want to be apart from you again. I can’t.” He murmured it against her neck, holding her tightly.

“Of course!” She’d laughed, breathless and delighted. “Of course I will, stupid!”

The village celebrated for a week. In the past, there was no daylight to spare for frivolity. especially with the breeze cooling and the rumbling storms of late summer coming closer and stronger. But at night the villagers would kindle a bonfire and party until their bedrolls called them. Inuyasha easily supplied enough meat to feed everyone and then some, contributing to the winter supplies they’d all be needing soon enough. Sake poured freely – nobody could get the monk to admit where or how he’d gotten it, but Miroku seemed to have an endless supply on hand as the celebrations kicked back up night after night. All the while, Kagome’s thoughts circled endlessly with anticipation around the idea of her impending marriage. Even as they laughed and danced and enjoyed the festivities, their eyes met over and over again, full of promises and hopes.

Eventually the tempestuous weather put an end to the party streak, raining everyone in for a while. Though they hadn’t actually had the ceremony yet, Kagome knew this was the perfect opportunity. Awakening in Inuyasha’s arms to the patter of rain on their roof in the futon they’d been sharing for a week, falling into it only when they were too exhausted to do anything else, felt like a moment she’d been waiting her whole life for. She’d turned her face up to look at her future husband, finding him already awake, and kissed him deeply.

What followed couldn’t even really be called sex so much as frantic teenage fumbling. Kagome slipped her hand under Inuyasha’s hakama, taking him in hand and pumping experimentally. The noise he made sounded like he was choking on it and he was on top of her in an instant, his hips grinding down into hers with her hand still trapped between them. She took advantage of her lingering grip to line his clothed cock up against her wet panties before withdrawing it to grip locks of Inuyasha’s hair in both hands and pressing upward to meet his every thrust. Within minutes, they were both trembling helplessly in their equally damp clothing, spent and dizzy from the release of so many years of tension.

And then they laughed.

It started with Kagome, who couldn’t seem to contain the giggles bubbling up inside her. Inuyasha jerked back to look at her, his face going from blissed out to perplexed to embarrassed and finally a creeping joy that matched Kagome’s. He dropped his head onto her shoulder and joined her, slowly building up to a belly laugh that Kagome had never heard before. He pushed himself up and off her, sitting back on his heels to regard her with endless warmth and fondness. Kagome sat up too, still flushed and now fading from giggles into a matching warm smile.

“We ain’t gettin’ married, are we?” The half-demon stated more than he asked, his smile tugging up into a smirk.

Kagome reached up and tweaked his ear, saying, “No. No, I don’t think we are. That was…”

“Hot as fuck?” He tried, grinning as she swatted his arm.

“Yes. But, no,” she said, ignoring Inuyasha’s smug face. “It was hot, and it felt amazing, but… now it feels strange. Like… “

His gaze softened as he watched her carefully string words together, his brilliant Kagome with all her futuristic knowledge and education. “Like we got it out of our system?”

“Like closure,” she corrected, an apology creeping into her eyes. “Like we needed to do that so we can… move on.”

“Feh.” Inuyasha straightened, his demeanor recovering from their frantic interlude and transitioning back into his usual gruff bravado. “Don’t go giving me those big sad eyes, you dummy, it’s not a big deal. I feel the same way.”

She’d launched herself across the futon to hug him tightly, smiling into his neck. “I love you, stupid.”

Inuyasha rested his chin on her head, feeling more at peace than he ever had in his life, and said, “Yeah, yeah. You, too. Dummy.”

And that was how Kagome began the next chapter of her life. Only a fraction more experienced than she had been, and still undeniably a virgin in almost every sense. They opted to continue sharing their hut. There were no hard feelings between them and with a full village, Kagome would’ve felt bad taking a whole hut for herself when there were families who needed it more. They didn’t share a futon any more after that one morning of teenaged fumbling, effortlessly settling into a routine as roommates instead. As life moved on, Kagome took advantage of her free time to hone and cultivate various skills, including formal training with Kaede and extra-curricular training with her friends. It was a good life, happy and fulfilling.

And if Kagome sometimes laid awake at night, looking out at the stars and wondering about the future and all the things she’d once imagined for herself, well that was nobody’s business but hers. Just because she couldn’t picture herself settling down with some nice boy from the village someday didn’t mean it wasn’t possible. There were plenty of fish – and demons – in the sea.

Right?

~*~

Chapter Text

               A curious silence laid over the forest outside of Edo. There wasn’t a chitter, rustle, or tweet to be heard within a square mile of the village. By complete coincidence, one very angry priestess happened to be crouching at the dead center of that circle, furiously scrubbing her laundry at the river’s edge, and doing nothing to restrain the matching fury of her reiki. The laundry in question was her favorite t-shirt and her last good pair of jeans – now sporting broad green stains that were slowly, reluctantly, bleeding out into a frothy trail down the river under Kagome’s ministrations.

 “Oh, hey, guys! Long time, no see – yeah. How was your weekend? Uh huh? Oh, mine?”

               There wasn’t a soul around brave enough to risk becoming a surrogate for her true target, who was wise enough to get the hell out of dodge until she calmed down. Which she was trying to do, honestly. Talking to herself was almost as therapeutic as the aggressive cleaning. Kagome imagined catching up with her friends from school in the future, chatting at WacDonald’s like they used to, like they’d never really been parted.

“Yeah, my weekend was fine. Except for the part where my stupid, half-demon bestie generously splattered DEMON GUTS on my LAST GOOD OUTFIT!” She picked up a rock and beat at the soggy pile of soapy laundry as she spoke, the last three words punctuated with even more aggressive downward strokes.

“What are you doing?” Deep baritone abruptly spoke from behind her.

               Kagome screamed, startled. Her whole body jolted, unbalancing her crouch, and sending her sprawling with a yelp. She dropped the rock to catch herself and heard the wooden rattle of her soap bowl along with the clatter of rock. With a curse, Kagome pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, looking for the bowl. It was upturned atop the rocks nearby, the last drips of soapy syrup dribbling down between them. It took hours to boil down that syrup and that was the last of what she had. She’d have to boil more before she could resume her laundry, during which time the clothes would dry, and the stains would set. Fuck.

               Defeated, Kagome sighed and sat back on her haunches, turning to give her interloper an unimpressed look. Only Sesshoumaru would be both bold enough to interrupt her – and powerful enough, controlled enough to surprise her mid-tantrum with her power laying heavy over the whole area.  

“Do you mind?” Kagome huffed.

               Normally, she was less rude to the stoic demon lord – they were more or less allies, but he would still be high on the list of suspects if a member of their group ever disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He seemed unruffled, though, so she supposed the integrity of her flesh wouldn’t be tested by claw or sword in the immediate future. With another quiet huff, Kagome gathered her belongings and stood. Anger still simmered under her skin and, by extension, in her reiki. As she turned to face Sesshoumaru, she thought she saw a little spark of static ripple across the fur on his right shoulder. If he was just going to stand there and give off ‘silent, unyielding asshole’ vibes, she would gladly match him with ‘unimpressed priestess’ vibes.

               Kagome took their little silent staring contest as an opportunity to give the demon a once-over. It was always a little surreal realizing that long after she and the rest of the humans were old, wrinkled, and cold in the ground, the demons that they coexisted with would still look more or less the same. And yet, in the future, demons were figures of mythology rather than history. Kagome’s brain, not for the first time, delicately circled around the ominous question that sat unanswered in her heart – what happens between now and then? She may not even live long enough to find out. Shaking that depressing line of thought, Kagome refocused. Her reiki settled down as her mood shifted from anger to contemplation, still laying heavily across her territory but no longer buzzing with the threat of malice. All the while, Sesshoumaru stood silently before her, a statue but for the ends of his hair swaying gently in the occasional breeze.

               It wasn’t particularly strange to see him near the village. Rin lived with Kaede now, learning to live amongst people and finding her path in life. Sesshoumaru visited often, bringing her new clothes as the seasons changed and her growth continued. Actually, it was pretty adorable. Now in her tween years and on the brink of stepping fully into womanhood, Rin was less interested in play when he visited and more interested in bending her surrogate parent’s ear with every detail of her life and the social dynamics of the village youths. He rarely offered any commentary, but Kagome had seen him sit and appear to listen for hours as the girl chattered. Sometimes Rin would take up locks of his hair and braid them, adding wildflowers when they were available. He never adopted the styles she came up with – each time he returned, his hair was as straight and flawless as ever – but he never took them out in front of her, always leaving bearing whatever decoration she bestowed upon him with as much pride and confidence as he strolled in with. Looking at his unmodified hairstyle, Kagome guessed he hadn’t encountered Rin yet. Maybe that’s what he was here for – everyone else had made themselves scarce in fear of Kagome’s wrath, so she was the only one left to ask about Rin’s whereabouts.

               “She’s gone with Kaede,” Kagome said, “Rin, that is. They went to get some herbs that are about to go out of season. They’ll be back tomorrow, though – I’m sure nobody would mind if you wanted to spend the night.”

               Kagome watched Sesshoumaru’s face closely as she spoke, trying to find any micro expressions that might give away his thought process. It was fascinating to watch – no human could possibly keep their expression so still. The ridiculous thought of Sesshoumaru winning a poker tournament had her biting her lips on a giggle. But the clothes in her arms were still soggy, the demon lord had still said nothing to her, and looking at a brick wall could only be so entertaining. With a deep breathe, Kagome let go of the last smoldering ember of her annoyance with Inuyasha as well as the heaviness in her aura. With the letup of her reiki, a sense of stillness that had hung in the air dispersed as well. Birds began chirping again and the day seemed brighter. Dismissing the demon who’d yet to grace her with a response, Kagome gave him a little wave and started back home with her armload of half-finished laundry.

               Now out of her line of sight, Sesshoumaru gave no reaction but watched her as she walked away. When she likewise disappeared from his line of sight, he turned and strode, unhurried, back into the forest. The trees whispered amongst themselves as the opposing powers parted ways.

               Oftentimes, the demands of living in the past left Kagome plenty tired enough to sleep at night. Each day was packed with the myriad activities necessary to survive without modern technology, tending to the crops and animals, foraging and cleaning, mending, and planning for the cold months. Nevertheless, insomnia occasionally found her, usually during the full moon. Maybe it was just her imagination running rampant in the bright darkness of the moonlit night, but she felt like the moon called her out on those nights. She felt a restless tugging in her soul but couldn’t figure out which direction it was pulling her. Sometimes she padded carefully through the forest, feeling the impulse to run but having the good sense not to go breaking her neck in the middle of the night for the sake of a good jog. If she didn’t feel the pull to run and go, then she’d stoke the evening fire back up and sit outside reading until sleep pulled at her eyelids.

               When she’d returned from her lengthy entrapment in the future, Kagome had planned ahead as best she could before she came through the well. She hadn’t known if the well would let her continue her double life or if this was a final choice. So instead of loading her backpack with items they’d run out of in a couple of weeks and potentially never have again, she’d filled it with books. History and references and survival manuals. A small niggle of guilt had arisen that maybe she shouldn’t be bringing modern knowledge back with her, but it was easily squashed by the simple determination that her whole damned life was chaotic, and she should take every advantage she could get, regardless of time travel ethics. So, Kagome now had a small, fiercely guarded library, and she spent many of her restless nights pouring through it, making notes and plans. Her history notes in particular were among the most extensive.

               Hours after she’d left Sesshoumaru standing by the river, Kagome found herself drawn back to the one problem she couldn’t puzzle out. What happened to demons in the future? And what could she do about it? She sat outside with a modest fire at her back, holding her knees to her chest and looking up at the stars as if perhaps they might throw her a bone here and give her a hint. Natural disaster, disease, genetic disorders, war… She mentally listed off the possibilities, keeping a running tab of what she felt was more or less likely. She figured a war between humans and demons would have definitely stuck in the history books and a demon-on-demon war probably would’ve been explosive enough to do the same. Natural disaster was unlikely – if it was enough to kill off demons, it would’ve killed the humans too. She didn’t even know if demons could catch plagues or suffer side-effects from inbreeding like some of the old human monarchies did, but it didn’t seem probable. Even the most deformed demons she’d met were pretty healthy and strong.

               “Maybe they’re not really gone at all,” Kagome mused quietly to herself, “Maybe I’m sitting here obsessing over a problem that doesn’t exist.”

               With a sigh, Kagome unwrapped herself from her curled-up sit and scooted forward to lay back in the grass. The warmth from the fire radiated against the top of her head and her shoulders , the flickering light dancing amongst the leaves of the trees nearest. She took a deep breath in, closed her eyes, and released it slowly. Meditation came easier now than it had when she was chasing jewel shards and evil demons all over Japan. She felt herself tune into the rhythm of the universe, the spin of the earth, and the energy of the life all around her. Kagome imagined her body as a container for her power, and then imagined the walls of that container thinning away to nothing. Her reiki spilled forth like water being released from a dam, rushing and frothy. It splashed through the village and forest, touching all the life nearby. Kagome could feel the sleeping villagers, the wildlife in the forest, and even a lot of the older trees, each consciousness unique and similar at the same time. Every living thing arose from the same current of life, but each one had its own unique edges and signatures to identify it.

               Kagome inhaled deeply again, her power swelling and preparing to sink deeper. Her power settled, the frothy rush fading away as it sunk into the soil, the trees, and drifted through the air. As she exhaled, she felt the forest breathing and tasted the air as the trees tasted it.

                “What are you doing?”

                The same question, the same voice. It wouldn’t have surprised her if she hadn’t been with the trees, no longer paying attention to the movements of the mobile creatures in the forest. But she was and it did. Kagome jolted back to her own body and awareness with a choked gasp, the impulse to scream tripping over the lack of air in her lungs with which to do so. She sat up quickly, coughing a little to sort out her windpipe and trying to reorient herself from the abrupt conclusion of her meditation. Before her stood Sesshoumaru, the light from the fire illuminating his face and making his eyes look like they held flames of their own. Why does he keep showing up just to ask me that? What are you, twelve? Jeez! Her mood soured somewhat, she fixed him with a scowl.

                “What are you doing, Sesshoumaru?” She snapped back. “That’s the second time you’ve snuck up and scared the shit out of me just to ask nosy questions.”

                “Your reiki.”

                She waited for more, but that was apparently a complete sentence.

                “Yes, what about it?”

                He watched her for a long time, until she started to wonder if she should just go about her business rather than wait for an answer.

                “You don’t know.”

                It was a statement. And even though there was no emotion in his smooth tone whatsoever, Kagome bristled as if he’d expressed disappointment in her. It was her power. Whatever there was to know about it, she knew a hell of a lot more about it than Sesshoumaru did. Annoyed, Kagome pushed herself up to stand and dusted off her clothes. As she did so, she realized how she must look to the demon lord. She’d already changed into her pajamas, a threadbare blue cotton tank top and short set that had faded pink bunnies printed on it. And she’d been lying in the grass dumping reiki into the atmosphere like humans needed it to breathe. His original question had been valid, and she’d bit his head off like she wasn’t a total nutcase by this era’s metrics. As she finished dusting and tugging her clothes back into place from her lie-down on the grass, she watched him again. As before, he only stood there silently and looked back.

                “Sometimes I meditate when I can’t sleep,” Kagome said softly, apologetically. She wouldn’t say she was sorry, but she could at least lose the attitude. “Tuning into the forest is soothing.”

                Sesshoumaru said nothing further. Kagome guessed that maybe he was turning her words over in his mind, thinking about them. Did he think everything humans did was silly and ignorant? She wondered if they all seemed like children to him, ephemeral, and frail. It was impossible to say. Before Rin, surely, they’d been little more than bugs in Sesshoumaru’s eyes. Now, though, she knew there was at least one human that he cared for. Maybe that had changed him enough to regard other humans as beings deserving of more acknowledgment than a cricket. Feeling like she’d fallen into another round of ‘the quiet game’ which she didn’t volunteer for, Kagome matched Sesshoumaru’s silent observation with her own. His eyes cut down to her stack of books and then back to Kagome. She held still, anticipating another question. But Sesshoumaru turned to leave instead. Puzzled, Kagome watched him go before shrugging and getting ready to go back inside. Once the fire was effectively smothered, she ducked back into her shared home to put away her books and tuck into bed.

                She lay awake for a while longer, her mind circling around a specific demon for nearly half an hour before finally winding down to rest. In the other room, Inuyasha laid fully dressed on his futon with his arms crossed behind his head, staring up at the ceiling in contemplation. Nothing further disrupted the night and the next day dawned as any other. Kagome didn’t even notice her best friend watching her just a little more closely. And none of the beings of the village noticed the whispering amongst the trees.

Chapter Text

               “You are educated.”

               Kagome shrieked, her arms and legs taking it upon themselves to dart in various directions. A little swell of reiki burst forth like a mini miko bomb, briefly saturating a three-foot radius around her. The book she was reading fell off her lap, flipping end over end to fall closed on the grass beside her. She’d been perusing it while Shippo and Rin played a game nearby, which presently seemed to consist mainly of adding more rules to the game rather than actually playing it. Sesshoumaru had appeared earlier in the day with several packages – new warm layers for the coming cold season, a bundle of dried foods and supplies from his lands that weren’t cultivated in Edo, and – to Rin’s shrill delight – a small but obviously expensive collection of cosmetics. Rin had immediately taken them inside to paint her face, which was less than neat to begin with and now hopelessly smudged by the children’s play. Kagome had thought Sesshoumaru had gone on about his way, but apparently he’d also been watching the kids play, lurking near enough to scare the bejeezus out of her again.

               “You know…” She picked up her fallen book and glanced up at him through her lashes, letting her reiki sizzle just a bit. “I’m going to have to put a bell on you if you don’t quit startling me like this.”

               He turned his head slightly and gave her some side-eye, unperturbed by the static sparking across his shouldered fur from Kagome’s reiki. She guessed that the emotion he wasn’t expressing was incredulity at the idea of a mortal woman putting a bell on a demon lord like a common housecat. The idea of it was humorous enough to dim her annoyance at being startled and she made herself comfortable again, watching Rin and Shippou stop running to put their heads together, having a seemingly very important discussion.

               “Where I’m from,” Kagome began, responding to his initial statement, “most people are, at least to some extent.”

               “You can read and write.” It was a statement, but Kagome inferred that he was simultaneously inquiring as to what else she knew.

               “I can read, write, do arithmetic. I studied science and history, too.” She was proud of her education – she’d fought hard for it. “I tried to get as much of a medical education as I could, but I didn’t have time to do any of the extracurricular coursework, so I’m mostly self-taught on that one.”

               Sesshoumaru smoothly sat beside her, legs and arms crossed. His gaze drifted back to the children. They were stacking logs and rocks in some kind of formation, working towards a goal unfathomable by the adults. Kagome worried a little for Shippou – soon Rin would outgrow him and he had no other demon children to play with.  But that wasn’t one of today’s problems, so it simmered on the back burner. And there was always Inuyasha – at this point, it was probably safe to say he wouldn’t be outgrowing anybody. The silence continued comfortably, and Kagome eventually returned to her book. Sesshoumaru disappeared at some point while everyone was enthralled in their own activities.

               “Jaken.”

               “A-ah! Yes, milord!”

               “Prepare for the Harvest Tournament.”

               Jaken gaped at his honorable lord, stunned. The West hadn’t hosted a proper Tournament in centuries. With the passing of the Great General and his fearless son gloriously pursuing the path of conquest, the Western fortress had been left to maintain itself and little else. Of course, their magnanimous leader never left the fortress fully unattended because he was a wise and intelligent demon – the smartest and cleverest in the land, no doubt. But neither had their lord taken any lengthy respite at his childhood home as he sought supreme conquest, even once the foul half-breed Naraku was exterminated. The glorious and honorable Lord Sesshoumaru needed not the comforts and pampering within the fortress walls! He would continue as he always had, relentlessly pursuing power and victory for the House of the Moon.

               Which is why the command to prepare for the Tournament confused Jaken so terribly. The event itself would last a week, throughout which the Lord of the House would be expected to host his guests. It would require his lord to take residence for the first time in centuries. The preparations would normally have begun at the start of summer. When the Great General had hosted tournaments with the Lady Mother, the planning for the next tournament began as soon as the current year’s tournament ended, adjusting the following years crops and trade priorities to ensure the Western House continued to dominate in all things, even frivolity. Not only was it shocking to receive the order after so long, but the timeframe in which it would need to be accomplished was mind boggling.

               “B-b-but milord-“ Jaken began, moisture beading on his forehead, “Tournament preparations are very complex, milord, and the palace hasn’t seen a guest in-“

               A pebble struck Jaken between the eyes with an unnecessary excess of force, knocking him flat on his back. He scrambled back upright and threw himself into the deepest bow he was physically capable of, trembling and alarmed. He bowed a second and third time as he heard his Lord’s voice rumble forth again.

               “See it done.”

               “Y-y-yes! Milord!”

The toad bowed several more times as he backed out of the room. Once safely out of view of his lord, he pulled a cloth from his haori to dab at his forehead. There was much to be done and regardless of how confused and alarmed he was, Jaken would uphold his honor as a dedicated servant and see his Lord’s will done. He set about making the necessary arrangements and managing the buzzing energy of the fortress as it stirred to life for the first time in hundreds of years. Tongues would wag vigorously over the return of the prodigious son as well as the excitement of a tournament. Jaken hated gossiping amongst the servants. It was a lazy, good for nothing habit that was beneath demons of esteem such as those residing within the Western House. Privately, though, Jaken could admit to himself that his own curiosity was growing.

               Edo was a small village and Kagome’s band of mismatched warriors didn’t quite fit neatly into the lives of farmers and tradesmen who’d never battled for the fate of the earth. They were all a little too damaged, a little too different, a little too attached to each other but almost entirely without any surviving ties to anyone beyond themselves. So, when the battle was won and it was time to rebuild and move on, the gang had built their new lives on the fringes of the village where they could find their own way forward without upsetting the established rhythm of the community. Their little collection of huts had been built on the far side of the village, nearer to the forest than most were willing to go, in a cluster that became their family unit. This worked out well all around, as the village felt that much safer with their local heroes standing as a barrier to the dangers lurking beyond the trees and the group’s strangeness – including a higher-than-average rate of demon traffic – was distanced from the main community.

               It was a gloriously peaceful balance. Kagome and the gang were all welcome by the villagers and they often sought them out to barter for various services, amicably crossing the small divide between their spaces. They were all confident in their understanding of the community rules. They had a very content, very happy vibe built on mutual understanding and respect. You don’t let your cattle graze on your neighbor’s property. You don’t borrow tools without asking. And you don’t receive demonic royalty in the dead center of the village common area.

               Sesshoumaru did not pass the vibe check. 

               He knew where they all lived. He’d never bothered with any kind of pomp or attention-grabbing before. So, Kagome was really wracking her brain trying to figure out what on earth could have possessed him to approach the village very visibly and arrive like he was bringing the word of God to them. His youki had reached well ahead of him, like a trumpeter announcing his arrival. Kagome had been sitting with a gaggle of children around her, giving a lesson on edible plants that grew amongst the surrounding trees. The hot rush of energy came in like the tide, splashing against her back and rushing around her before receding to a thin layer across the soil. It sent shivers up and down her spine, gooseflesh rising on her arms. The children couldn’t sense it like she could, but they still somehow knew that there was a predator nearby as the breeze created by his power rushed past them and scattered with a chaotic burst of motion and noise, retreating to find their parents.

               By the time the almighty himself appeared above the tree line, drifting their way on his cloud with his two most constant companions close behind, Kagome was on her feet with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed, waiting for them. Nothing was said by the demon lord as he touched down with his entourage, meeting her bemused frown with his usual shuttered expression.

               “Humans!” The proclamation was squawked by Jaken as he leapt from the back of Sesshoumaru’s dragon. “Bow before the Mightiest of Demons, the Grandest of Lords, the Great and Terr-“

               Whatever happened, Kagome had blinked and missed it completely. Cut off in the middle of his extolment, Jaken had gone from standing to prone and appeared to have lost consciousness judging by his still form. More confused than ever, Kagome looked to Sesshoumaru expectantly. By now, the whole village had congregated around them, observing curiously from a safe distance. Whatever happened now, the gossip wouldn’t burn out for weeks. Not that rumor or hearsay bothered her, but Kagome could really do without the additional social drama. Sesshoumaru seemed to indulge his own inner monologue for another moment before he spoke, ignoring the spectators.

               “The House of the Moon is to host the Harvest Tournament one month hence,” his voice was deep and smooth as always, rumbling through the air. “This Sesshoumaru extends an invitation to the Shikon Miko and her companions as honored guests.”

               Kagome played that back through several times in her head before she really understood what he’d said. She waited several seconds to see if there was an explanation forthcoming or anything at all to help her understand what and why. Sesshoumaru simply regarded her calmly, expression unreadable. She supposed he might be waiting for the RSVP. She didn’t know what the tournament part entailed, but it sounded a whole lot like Sesshoumaru had just invited the whole gang over for Thanksgiving. Was he trying to build more of a relationship with his brother? Had the war set the sons of Inu no Taisho on a path to familial bonding? Technically, anything was possible. Would it help if she said yes? Could it hurt to say no? Straightening her spine, Kagome made a decision and bowed low enough to indicate respect for an equal and offered a smile as she straightened.

               “The Shikon Miko and her family accept the invitation, Lord Sesshoumaru. We will attend the Harvest Tournament.”

               And that was that. As abruptly as he’d arrived, he turned and left. Ah-Un delicately took the collar of Jaken’s haori in one massive jaw and followed their master back the way they’d come. The villagers immediately began to gossip, the buzzing murmur of voices gaining volume rapidly. Kagome just stood watching the tree line, thinking. Inuyasha wasn’t going to like this.

               “So…”

               Kagome smiled at his abrupt lead-in while she plucked at sprouting weeds and little pests in her garden. No matter how much he’d matured, Inuyasha was never going to be particularly graceful with social interactions. He’d been stewing on something all day but hadn’t spit it out yet. Kagome didn’t dare tell him, but his ears twitched just so when he was thinking really hard – like they could flick the thought out since he wouldn’t voice it.  His reaction to the invitation was as she expected – explosive – and he’d probably stay wound up about it until the entire event was behind them.

Kagome was wearing her traditional garb, the better to do dirty work with, with her sleeves tied back while she dug around in the dirt. Inuyasha was generously acting as her parasol, standing over her and effectively keeping the sun off her neck. He mainly helped her identify subterranean pests and the perfect picking day for ripening produce that she’d otherwise be unaware of with her own, human, senses. Sometimes he’d ask her specific questions about what she was doing, and it made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that his curiosity was sparked. Curiosity. Her mind started to wander down a path, but Inuyasha continued his sudden pronouncement.

               “What’s the deal with you and Sesshoumaru?”

               Kagome froze for a moment, but continued her gardening as she responded casually, “There isn’t a deal with me and Sesshoumaru.”

               “Keh,” Kagome heard the soft rustle of fabric as he crossed his arms, “I ain’t been invited to this Harvest Tournament crap one time my whole life. Now he comes here personally and invites you?”

               That got her to cut her gaze sharply towards him. His ears went flat at the dangerous spark he saw in her eyes, but she knew what he meant so she went back to gardening. Retrieving the wicker basket she’d brought out with her, she started pruning and harvesting. The squash and gourds were almost done producing but there were several ready to pick. As usual, a few sprigs from each kitchen herb were trimmed off to dry and store. A large marijuana shrub was overdue for harvest, too. Kagome had been completely scandalized when she’d discovered it amongst the seeds and herbs Kaede had given her. It was extremely illegal at home – in the future. Here and now, it was just part of the agriculture and their primary source of cloth in the village. Once harvested, the stalks would be prepared to weave over the winter. The rest of the plant was usually dried out and delivered to Kaede to turn into little bundles that would be used for spiritual purification.

               Being curious and presented with an opportunity, Kagome had tried smoking some after her first harvest. Inuyasha had caught her laughing hysterically and unable to explain what she was laughing at, only laughing harder the more he asked. Eventually she’d wiped tears from her eyes and bid him to bring her a snack and share a smoke with her. It was an interesting experience but having had it, she was satisfied. Inuyasha took up the habit of indulging on new moon nights to smooth the frayed edges of his anxiety, so Kagome kept a small stash in their hut but otherwise she sent the rest along to Kaede to use as she saw fit.

               “Damnit, woman, listen to what I’m trying to tell you.”

               At that, she withdrew from the dirt and sat back to look at Inuyasha. He met her gaze with a kind of severity that she hadn’t seen on him in a while. The quiet comfort of peacetime and family had actually relaxed him a great deal, most of the time. She took a deep breath and considered what he’d said. There was no denying that the whole experience of being invited to Sesshoumaru’s home for a festival was highly unusual – not to mention so far beyond unlikely that it had taken a solid ten minutes to convince Inuyasha that everyone wasn’t just yanking his chain about Sesshoumaru inviting the whole group to the Harvest festivities.

               “I’m listening, Inuyasha, I just don’t know what you want me to say,” she said eventually. “It does seem a little strange, but maybe he’s just making an effort to be nice. I don’t know.”

               Inuyasha scoffed. “Sesshoumaru doesn’t do nice. He has a motive. And it has something to do with you.”

               “Ok,” Kagome said slowly. “But what could it possibly be? If he wanted to maim, kill, or torment us – or me – he wouldn’t have to come up with a whole ruse. That doesn’t really seem like his style.”

               “Keh - he's done it before. And why’s he hanging around all the time all of a sudden?” Inuyasha was clearly winding up.

               “I wouldn’t say he hangs around all the time, Inuyasha, he’s just visiting a little more frequently.”

               “Exactly!” He flung his arms out to his sides, getting more animated. “But he’s not visiting Rin more, he’s visiting you! He invited you, Kagome. He formally recognized your status as an alpha of your own pack.”

               That startled Kagome. She hadn’t really considered it from that angle and besides that had absolutely no context for demon social dynamics or politics. From her side of things, Sesshoumaru hadn’t been visiting her so much as randomly terrifying her and the invitation had been just that – a polite invitation. It hadn’t occurred to her that since he was a Lord of some sort, when he did something it meant something. Truth be told, for a long time she’d assumed that Sesshoumaru called himself ‘lord’ because nobody would dare correct him. Inuyasha thought it was hilarious and almost refused to correct her perception. Eventually he explained to her that there was a castle or something situated on a peninsula on the western coast and that his ancestors had held the largest chunk of the continent for thousands of years. Like humans, demon society included a ruling class, a middle class, and then the peasantry. Inuyasha held no love for politics and knew less than the average demon due to a lack of tutelage as a child. What he did know was taught to him by his mother. Kagome stood and rested a hand on Inuyasha’s arm, meeting his gaze with seriousness.

               “Inuyasha… Do you really think that after everything, he’s decided to screw us over now?” Kagome asked softly, searching his eyes and finding anxiety beneath his bristly hostility.

               Inuyasha huffed, turning his gaze towards the horizon instead of meeting hers directly. “I just have a bad feeling about the whole thing.”

               “What if I promise to purify him if he pulls any funny business?”

               He huffed again, but with a smirk this time, and shrugged her hand off his arm to wrap her up in a one-armed hug instead. Kagome grinned, picturing the demon lord scorched and sparking with pink energy. She threw both arms around Inuyasha’s waist and held him tightly. He let his chin drop to rest on her head, a very quiet rumble vibrating between them.  

“That’d be a sight worth seeing.”

Chapter Text

               The Western Fortress was buzzing with excitement. Long had the palace halls been filled with nothing more than the daily drudgery of sustaining an unoccupied habitat. Although their Lord was never inattentive, neither was he in residence for longer than the time needed to ensure his duty to his people was excellently tended. When Jaken had arrived with orders to prepare for the Harvest Tournament, the populace of the palace had erupted into a flurry of activity and gossip. Like a kicked hornet’s nest, everyone was frantically darting from one task to the next with a toxic combination of urgent duty and distress at the monumental, and unexpected, task. Akasuke, one of the maids on the lowest tier of the staff roster, was just as effected. She did her best to not fall prey to irritability – there was no time to spare for bad attitudes, in her opinion – but the list of chores to be done was daunting.

               Akasuke had originally been a foundling, left at the gates to the fortress as a young child. The act of fostering foundlings was a long-upheld tradition. It was rare for a demon to surrender their young in such a way – the instinct to protect and rear offspring is potent – but times were hard and suffering is indiscriminate. Any family unwilling or unable to care for their pups could instead deliver it to the lord of the land with a token imploring them to care for the child. Most often, foundlings were the offspring of mid- and low-level demons. The parents fell in battle, the child was born misshapen and difficult to care for, or resources were too scarce for the family to provide for another empty belly. If it was too weak to live, the family was spared the pain of delivering the mercy blow themselves. Should the child prove strong, they might find more opportunity in their new life than that from which they were delivered.

In Akasuke’s case, none of that had been true. She had been rejected not as an infant, but as a child old enough to know and feel betrayed by her family. They’d abandoned her before the fortress with an offensively paltry token of a single gold coin. The Great General himself had looked upon her trembling, heartbroken form and found compassion where her own sire and dam had not. Had Akasuke been delivered to any other doorstep, she would very likely have been struck down or turned away. Instead, the Great General had spoken kindly to her and welcomed her into his home. Though she longed for more, she swore to hold gratitude in her heart until her dying breath, for even a life of servitude was still a life lived.  

               She was a trembling child no more. Hundreds of years had passed since then. The Great General was dead. Akasuke was a fully matured adult. And there was a Tournament to prepare for. Along with a handful of other maids, she darted from room to room in the main building, clearing away centuries worth of dust and neglect. Drapes and scrolls were brought down to be cleaned, windows thrown open to admit fresh air, guest quarters prepared. From the training grounds, the sounds of metal clashing and warriors grunting indicated that the servants weren’t the only ones putting in extra hours of work as the big day loomed ever closer. The kitchens were processing so much food that the fragrance saturated both the entire floor in which it resided and the floor above with mouth-watering flavor. In the distance, the clatter and noise of construction could faintly be heard where the arena was being constructed. For obvious reasons, the arena had to be placed well away from the fortress to minimize collateral damage. Judging by the state of the youkai who returned from the site each evening, sporting thick layers of filth and debris, its tending had been forgotten not long after the last Tournament.

               Akasuke’s gaze drifted to the window of the room she was working in. It had already been stripped and cleaned – she was now replacing the linens and ensuring that all measures had been taken to ensure the comfort of the future occupant. The view from this high in the guest quarters was spectacular – the uppermost rooms were reserved for guests of the highest honor while lower rooms were assigned to unimportant guests, typically whatever staff or servants the noble guests brought with them. The peasantry would see only the surrounding buildings and walls, but from this window Akasuke could see vast swathes of land and sea.

The Fortress stood guarded by ocean on three sides, consuming the entire width of the peninsula upon which it stood. To the south, mountains and forests stretched wild and untamed back towards the mainland. Though it wasn’t visible from the fortress, Akasuke knew the land beyond her view narrowed around a small bay intruding into the peninsula, creating a natural bottleneck in the landscape, and further still stood the largest demon community in the territory which thrived near the larger bay that stretched from peninsula to mainland. Fresh water flowed down from the mountains, pouring into the bay and nurturing the most impressive fishing grounds in all of the lands. When the waters grew rough and the waves stretched high, they carried pieces of jade to shore along the eastern coast of the bay that demon jewelers refined and carved. With such bounties to trade, the wealth of the West was impressive. The territory was rich in resources and well-guarded by land, sea, and community.

Akasuke finished her tasks and closed the window, allowing herself a small sigh. She’d often considered a life outside of the fortress walls, finding her place in the community and a role that didn’t involve cleaning and catering to her supposed betters. That life wasn’t meant for her, though. She was fortunate to be housed and employed by the West when the majority of her people would not waste their saliva to spit on her. Come to that, Akasuke was fortunate to exist at all. She let that dark thought lie, refusing to retread the old and painful path it led down, and gathered herself to move on to the next room. Once the guest quarters were complete, there was still an endless list of tasks yet to finish. Jaken, the obnoxious little ass-licker, was threatening – and dishing out with no hesitation whatsoever – violence against any who slacked. Akasuke frequently passed other workers with knots and burns in various stages of healing thanks to the toad’s staff and she had no desire to join them in their suffering.

               A week following Sesshoumaru’s bizarre invitation, Kagome found herself increasingly consumed with curiosity. Inuyasha knew next to nothing about the Harvest Tournament, having been raised outside demon society. Sango didn’t know any more than their friend did, having been taught only the basics outside of exterminator skills. Shippou wasn’t born until long after Inuyasha’s father died and the West had apparently stopped hosting events altogether. That left only Kaede, Miroku, and Rin to query for more insight into demon society. Kagome lamented that demons were beings of myth in her time – if only she could have purchased The Idiot’s Guide to Demon Society. Still, she wouldn’t let the lack of such a publication deter her. She would make the best of what she had on hand, starting with the human who knew him best.

               Luckily for Kagome, opportunity arose quickly as the late summer grew wetter and wetter with the approaching autumn. The increasing rains led to a lot of time indoors spent close to her friends and family. One such day found her spending the afternoon in Kaede’s hut with the old woman and her young trainee. Kagome listened as Kaede instructed the young girl, only speaking up to offer supplemental information from time to time. She primarily focused her attention on Rin’s hair, brushing and oiling it as the other two holy women conversed. Today’s lesson included rituals and other duties that the village priestess would be responsible throughout the harvest season. As Rin grew older – and Kaede’s joints stiffer – the young girl was steadily taking on more responsibility in her role as an apprentice. Rin didn’t know it yet but following her next birthday she would begin to perform the role of the village priestess in earnest and Kaede would step back into a supervisory role to oversee the remainder of her training. Kagome thought she was a bit young to shoulder so much responsibility still, but Kaede had gently reminded her, when she mentioned it, of the time in which they lived as well as the fact that she’d turned down said responsibility herself before it was offered to Rin. Touché.

               As the two women continued discussing the harvest practices in the village, Kagome’s thoughts were fixed on the Tournament that was fast approaching.  As she waited for the opportunity to broach the subject, she contemplated the great unknown that was demon society. Demon society. She hadn’t even realized that it existed as such, a fully realized society with structure and culture. A flush of shame warmed her cheekbones – for all her modern ideas and support of equality, she’d fallen into the same xenophobic trap any other human might have. If anything, she might be the most ignorant human around on that particular subject. Stubbornness stiffened her spine – Kagome wouldn’t ever allow herself to become complacent in ignorance. A lull in conversation left only the patter of raindrops on thatched roof to fill the silence and Kagome saw her chance.

               “Rin?” Kagome prompted in the not-quite-silence. She knew she had the girl’s attention by a minute shift in her head, turning enough to indicate she’d heard without dislodging Kagome’s hands in her hair. “Do you know what the harvest season is like for demons?”

               Kagome couldn’t see Rin’s expression, but Kaede’s gaze fell upon her as if it had weight, reminding her of the look her mother used to give her when she was a child on the brink of learning a lesson the hard way. Though the old priestess was less prejudiced than most, she did not share in Kagome’s willingness to offer her heart and her friendship freely. While Inuyasha and several other demons had proven themselves to Kaede, many more remained firmly in the not-to-be-trusted category as far as she was concerned. Rin, bless her, seemed oblivious to the tension bristling at the edges of Kaede’s aura.

               “Hm…” Rin tapped her chin in thought, eyes cast upward as if she could pluck her knowledge from the air. “Well, Rin never – I never got to visit the Fortress long enough to see any festivals. But Master Jaken told Rin lots about them!”

               Kagome smiled, finding it adorable that she still spoke as Sesshoumaru did and had to consciously correct herself when she wanted to speak casually with others. Kagome said nothing further – now that Rin had gotten started, she wouldn’t need to – and instead began separating Rin’s hair into sections for French braided pigtails.

               “The West is the richest and most bountiful, so our harvest celebrations are always the best!” Rin’s joy and pride was charming. Kagome nodded as she listened and wove the strands of Rin’s hair together. “The mountains provide fresh water and vast forests. The seas in the Western territory have more fish than anywhere else in the ocean and in the springtime the squid glow at night! And all along the coastline, jade washes up on the shore all the time. Some say the Gods have blessed the rule of the House of the Moon by filling the seas with such a bounty.”

               “The House of the Moon?” Kagome guessed it had something to do with Sesshoumaru, since he was the only demon of prominence she was aware of that had any such association.

               Rin nodded solemnly, dislodging a few strands of hair from the braid Kagome was working on, and elaborated, “Lord Sesshoumaru is the ruling alpha of the House of the Moon, and he rules the whole Western territory all by himself!”

               “Are they separate titles?” Kagome asked. Rin nodded again but Kagome was ready for her this time, her hands simply following the motion as she worked the last several inches of the braid.

               “Yes!” Rin enthused, happy to be the teacher for once, “My Lord inherited the strength and prestige of the House of the Moon from his Honorable Mother. The title of Western Lord was awarded to Lord Sesshoumaru when he successfully defended his right to succeed the Great General after his passing.”

               This was far more fascinating than Kagome originally anticipated. “He had to defend it?”

               Rin nodded again. Kagome tied off the first braid and began the second as the young girl spoke.

               “Lots of demons wanted to be the Lord – and a lot of them thought that Lord Sesshoumaru shouldn’t get to be Lord because of his father’s reputation. So they challenged his leadership, but they were all weak and Lord Sesshoumaru defeated them easily!”

               Huh. Kagome wouldn’t have thought anyone would have the nerve, but maybe Sesshoumaru’s reputation wasn’t as dangerous back then. He’d had hundreds of years since then to sufficiently terrify the nation. Trying to picture a younger, less intimidating Sesshoumaru was a challenge Kagome’s imagination struggled to contort itself around. Her brain skipped straight to what Sesshoumaru might have looked like as an infant and she bit her lip on the giggle that threatened to escape at that image. She set that thought aside – time to get Rin back on topic.

               “So, the Harvest Tournament…” Kagome began, “What’s that about? If resources are so plentiful, surely they’re not competing for that. Is it just an excuse to pummel other demons?”

               “Well, Master Jaken said that a lot of it is for show,” Rin crossed her arms, lifting one hand to tap at her chin as she thought. It was a habit she’d learned from Kagome and it warmed the older girl to see it. “The nobility can use challenges to settle disputes and grievances, but mostly the fighters are just showing off who’s the most powerful. It’s a good way to look for mates, too!”

               “So, pretty much the same as any other tournament – a lot of peacocking for clout and… romance,” Kagome said wryly, tying off the second braid and patting the girl’s shoulders to indicate she was finished. Rin didn’t understand the reference, but seemed to get the idea because she giggled and agreed.

               Kaede, silent until that point, spoke up from the other side of the hut. “Ye must tread carefully, Kagome, when walking amongst demons.”

               Rin and Kagome both stilled and fell silent, giving the old priestess their full attention.

               “If ye think to find a festival not unlike that which we assemble here, ye will be harshly disabused.” The ominous thread to her words struck Kagome as strange, unlike Kaede, so she listened closely when the old woman continued. “These are demons, child, with the hearts of animals beating beneath their human guises. Ye may have a few powerful allies, but more still will ye have of strangers and enemies at the Tournament.”

               That left Rin and Kagome both quiet and contemplative, each doubting in very different ways. Rin was clearly biting back the impulse to make some kind of pronouncement based on her hero worship of Sesshoumaru, firmly doubting that anything under his control could pose any substantial threat to them. Kagome, on the other hand, was doubting the wisdom of accepting the invitation now that her traitorous brain was rapidly pumping out worst-case scenarios for her to consider. Everything from the group being maimed by a hostile stranger or murdered mid-festivities to the outrageous idea that the whole invitation was a prank a la Mean Girls, meant to massively embarrass them but cause no real harm. Mean pranks seemed a bit beneath the stoic demon lord, though. And he seemed reasonably honorable – surely, he wouldn’t let his honored guests get maimed or murdered under his roof. That wouldn’t reflect well on him, even if they were mostly a group of outcast humans. Letting your guests get got while under your care is in poor taste in any circumstance. Right? Right… 

               “Thank you for your wisdom, Kaede,” Kagome murmured eventually. She would keep it in mind if nothing else. Kaede seemed to understand and nodded, saying nothing further.

               Having gotten some answers to a few of her questions, Kagome found herself burning with more. The scholar in her desperately wanted to know the full truth behind the mythology. In spite of Kaede’s caution, Kagome was eager to see for herself what demon society could look like during the relative peace following Naraku’s defeat. Based on Rin’s description, she figured Sesshoumaru’s territory stretched across at least the entire Noto peninsula and, most likely, covered a significant chunk of Toyama as well. She wondered if it reached as far as Ishikawa, Nagano, or Niigata. Maybe it went even further. There was no telling – Sesshoumaru was potentially the most powerful demon in the world. He could probably hold as much land as he wanted if he felt like putting forth the effort.

               Then again, something obviously defeated him in the next five-hundred years because there was no such demon as Sesshoumaru ruling those territories in the future. Melancholy threatened to choke Kagome when her thoughts turned in that direction. The huge, looming question mark between then and now sat heavy on her heart. It would crush her if she let it. Let go of what you cannot control and focus on what you can. Kagome told herself firmly, repeatedly, throwing herself into busy work instead. The brilliant idea to assemble a gift for their soon-to-be host struck her several days following her conversation with Rin and Kagome seized the opportunity to channel her obsessive anticipation for good. Bearing in mind that the West apparently had resources out the wazoo, Kagome decided to aim for unique rather than impressive. 

               Over the next two weeks, Kagome crafted and tested demon-friendly blessings and charms. Inuyasha, her reluctant guinea pig, cursed and hollered as the first couple of attempts sparked and burnt on his skin. By the time she was satisfied with her work, a total of eight items lay neatly and prettily packed into a basket to be given to Sesshoumaru when they arrived for the tournament. Five of the items were simple paper sutras, intended for protection, but operating on intention rather than either type of energy. That had been the most difficult, infusing such a specific concept into the flimsy paper spells. Several had simply burst into flame as she attempted to activate them. In the end, perseverance had paid off in the form of a set of sutras which, when tested, repelled even Kagome when she approached with hostile intentions. The last three gifts were meant to offer more pizazz than practicality. Each was a different sort of trinket imbued with some minor good intention. She’d imbued a jade worry stone with wishes of wisdom and peace of mind. A silver torque that she’d paid way too much for carried a blessing of good health. The last gift, a small figurine carved to resemble a dog, held a blessing of prosperity.

               When the time came to make ready to travel, Kagome found herself in high spirits. She was confident in her choice of gifts and feeling secure in the company of Inuyasha, Rin, and Shippou. Everyone else had decided to stay behind, Miroku and Sango not wanting to make the journey with all of their children, and Kaede simply not relishing the idea of having to travel so far at her age. The Harvest Tournament would be fun. Rin and Shippou would have a good time, Inuyasha would make sure they were all safe, and Kagome would take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about demon culture. This will be great! She told herself as she hopped onto Kirara with the children. Inuyasha wanted his arms free to fight as they traveled, despite Kagome’s eye-rolling at his caution. Honestly, you’d think we were going to war instead of a harvest festival. I bet when this is all over, he’ll be looking forward to going again next year! 

Beaming, Kagome held on as Inuyasha leapt into the air and Kirara followed close behind him, giggling with the children as they whooped and shouted at the take-off. Her optimism lasted almost all the way to the fortress.

Chapter Text

~*~

Kagome’s had grossly underestimated the significance of the event to which they’d been invited. As they drew closer to the fortress, Kagome could sense more and more demonic auras brushing against the edges of her senses. There were other travelers heading West – lots of them. Exactly how many became apparent long before they passed the last human village on the route to the fortress. The first demon they passed appeared to be some kind of bird youkai, but it was hard to say for sure – as soon as they registered the holy aura approaching from behind, they disappeared into the surrounding forest with a flurry of squawking and shaken branches. Kagome was intensely curious, but Inuyasha was immediately twice as irritable as he was before. They passed two more demons that day, each one setting Inuyasha more on edge. The following day they encountered three more lone demons and two families in the same manner.

Inuyasha insisted they steer clear of the main road after that, and Kagome didn’t protest even though privately she figured it was only a matter of time before the crowd was unavoidable. The demons they were passing were all headed the same direction – it seemed unlikely that there was some other big harvest festival that demons would flock to if not Sesshoumaru’s. They were making good time but still two more days away Rin and Shippou were ambivalent to the tension amongst the adults, frolicking and playing all around the campsite in the evening when they weren’t assigned a task to help with. Inuyasha’s eyes met hers over the fire several times, tension apparent in his features, but he said nothing until the kids had gone to bed.

“There’s gonna be a lot of demons there, Kagome. A lot, a lot.” The first creeping niggles of anxiety started to eat at Kagome’s optimism. “You know I ain’t gonna let nothin’ happen to us. I just want you to be prepared – we may have the golden ticket, but we ain’t gonna be popular.”

Kagome nodded, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth and lightly biting. Her gaze slid over to the children, sleeping comfortably in sleeping bags laid side-by-side a few feet away. Rin was beyond excited. Her bubbling energy seemed to increase with each step towards the demon she idolized so much. Kagome was willing to bet that it hadn’t even occurred to the girl that she could be in danger. As far as Rin was concerned, if Sesshoumaru was present there was nothing to worry about. And Shippou may not share her confidence in Sesshoumaru, but he had almost as much confidence in Inuyasha and Kagome. Even if the children were aware of the threat, they were sheltered from the stress of worrying about it. At least that was something.

“You don’t think it’s a trap… do you?” She’d been so sure it wasn’t before. Now, with demonic auras closing in around them, her confidence was a little shaken.

“Keh. He’s a bastard, but he ain’t the type to create this much spectacle just for a scuffle. It’s the rest of those fuckers I’m worried about.”

“The other demons?” Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the question, but Kagome ignored the rudeness. He was grumpier when he was worried.

“Yeah, Kagome, the other demons.” Inuyasha shook his head at her. “They might not have the balls to confront us directly... at first. But don’t doubt for a minute that we have targets on our backs. We always will.”

The last three words were spat with bitterness. Kagome wilted slightly, scooting closer to her friend. He bristled, still uncomfortable with accepting comfort or reassurance, but he didn’t move or shove her away like he might have once upon a time. Instead, he simply huffed and lifted his arm for her to duck under. She made herself comfortable against his side, curling into his body heat and taking folds of his haori into her hands. After some shifting, Kagome hummed contentedly and stilled with her head resting against his chest. Inuyasha shifted as well, cheek coming to rest against Kagome’s hair.

Based on the information she’d cobbled together, Kagome realized it was very likely that at least one demon would challenge Inuyasha just for the opportunity to beat up on a half-breed. She knew she should – did – trust in Inuyasha’s strength and ability to protect himself, but not knowing what kind or how many demons would end up challenging him during the Tournament was stirring up a lot of anxiety. What if he received so many challenges that they wore him down over time? She tried not to picture Inuyasha bloody, beaten, exhausted after a dozen battles, and set to fight yet another fresh-faced full demon. Dread tightened in her gut. Moments later, Inuyasha’s arm tightened around her shoulders.

“Quit worrying, woman,” he grumbled from the vicinity of her bangs.

“I can’t help it, Inuyasha.” She murmured. “It was my idea to go along with this whole thing. If you get hurt… I’ll feel responsible.”

“Keh. Like you could ever make me do something I don’t want to do,” he groused. “If anything, I’m responsible for you, stupid, remember?”

“Uh-huh,” Kagome smiled, “If you say so.”

“Go to bed, woman. You’re getting on my nerves.” He was smiling too – she could hear it.

Kagome disentangled herself, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before she retreated to claim her own sleeping spot next to the kids. She laughed at the faint blush that graced his cheekbones – even after everything, sometimes he was so much like a little boy. He spat a rude remark at her that held no real hostility or rebuke. Inuyasha would keep watch, able to go without sleep and determined to do so with so many potential threats closing in. She’d tried and given up arguing with him long ago – she couldn’t poke holes in the simple logic that he truly didn’t need the sleep and the humans (and demon children) did. Kagome was still smiling as she slid into her sleeping bag and got comfortable, looking up. The stars looked so much brighter and clearer in the past, even with the fat gibbous moon fully risen and beaming. There’s Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Draco, Ursa Minor… Kagome fell asleep naming constellations.

~*~

The next day took them past Toyama, the last human village along their route. They didn’t pass closely enough to be seen by any of its denizens – there were still some hard feelings about the time Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru tussled there – but there was a faint smell of the sea on the air that made Kagome long for a refreshing swim instead of long hours travelling on an unreasonably hot and humid day. She also desperately wanted to see what Sango had told her lay beyond Toyama – demon villages. From the slayer’s description, the largest demon village lay along the coast beyond Toyama. If Kagome’s estimates were correct, it was in the vicinity of what would become Takaoka in another hundred years or so. A few more villages peppered the peninsula, but many demons chose to live in isolated familial clans throughout the territory rather than living in communities.

Kagome was intensely curious, but not enough to ask Inuyasha to veer any closer. Daring to trust Sesshoumaru to have invited them honestly and honorably was stressful enough for the moment. She instead channeled her energy for good – keeping the children in high spirits with games and chatter was much more productive than worrying. When they stopped to eat and stretch at midday, Kagome suggested activities that would wind them up and burn them out quickly. Quietly, Inuyasha murmured that they’d reach the fortress just before nightfall. Kagome balked slightly, considering the distance they had to cover, the sun’s height in the sky, and how fast they’d have to move to get from here to there by then.

“I ain’t walkin’ into this shitshow in the dark and there’s no point camping out on his doorstep.” He stated by way of explanation. “If we push ourselves, we’ll make it.”

Kagome bit her lip and reigned in the impulse to argue. She knew Inuyasha was on edge and couldn’t really blame him for wanting one less disadvantage when they arrived. Truthfully, his nerves were definitely rubbing off on her. As she made quick soup for lunch, she couldn’t help trying to picture how the whole event would play out. She doubted it would be so simple as a knock, hello, and here’s your room but the whole thing was so different from anything she’d attended before, she could only conjure increasingly outlandish scenarios. When that train of thought wore itself out, she started questioning her choice of garments. Again. Her priestess garb and slayer suit both seemed like poor taste to wear to a demon celebration. But neither could she travel in a nice kimono or reasonably expect Inuyasha to agree to stopping somewhere to let her primp before they approached. And her clothing from the future would be as scandalous and out-of-place as it always was. Which left her with absolutely nothing good to wear and some of everything packed into her bag, straining the seams.

She’d ultimately decided on the slayer uniform to travel in – heaven forbid, if something should happen on the road, she wanted to have maximum range of motion and every weapon she could use strapped to her. It was much too hot to be comfortable, but it would be the best thing to have on in case of a conflict. Especially if what she was sensing was accurate. The closer they got, the more dense the demonic signatures around them became. Kagome carefully stretched her senses as she stirred the soup, picturing her energy spreading out like a delicate mist and drifting along the air currents. Her eyes fell closed and she pictured the geography of the area with her energy spread over it like the thinnest of clouds. Blips of energy began to register and as she identified one after another, a picture began to form. Like a river flowing backwards, many branching paths were laden with travelers moving up into the mountainous peninsula, the various branches winding together into heavier traffic.

Halfway up the peninsula, there seemed to be a meeting place established where most of the energy was congregating. Some of the demons continued north towards where the fortress must lie. Kagome couldn’t tell much about it beyond the front gates – Sesshoumaru’s energy lay across the structure in a deeply-rooted barrier. Her energy drifted lower, closer to the boundaries of that barrier. Kagome was curious, following through on the impulse to just touch it with the slightest brush of her power. A spark ignited at the point of contact which left her whole body zinging, like she’d touched a livewire. Her power withdrew instinctively, almost painful as it slammed back into her body. She gasped, dizzy, as her eyes snapped open. Her vision focused, with excessive difficulty, on the soup. It’s going to boil over, she thought vaguely even as it did so. A droplet landed on her hand and she snatched it back with a hiss.

Worrying her lip between her teeth as the fog of distraction cleared, Kagome used her good hand to withdraw the pot and set it aside to cool some. She absently checked the skin where the hot soup had landed – a little red, but it won’t blister. Blowing on it, Kagome glanced around to take stock of her immediate surroundings. She nearly startled when she met Inuyasha’s gaze – it was intent and serious. Her mouth fell open to ask him what he was staring at but the words wouldn’t come out right away.

“Kagome…”

She couldn’t precisely identify what caused her to flush with embarrassment. It wasn’t like she’d done anything too shocking or foolish, with the soup or with her power, but something about the way he was looking at her had a weight to it usually reserved for the worst of her hair-brained schemes. Her shoulders drew up around her ears defensively and she dropped her gaze to the soup, fussing with it to position it exactly how she wanted it.

“Woman!” His sharp tone drew her eyes back, wide and blue and startled. “You need to be careful, Kagome. I don’t think you fully understand what you are, how powerful you are. You pull shit like that,” he gestured broadly which Kagome took to mean her impromptu exploration, “Like it’s nothin’ and you try to be everybody’s damn friend and you act like none of it means anything!”

Inuyasha was bristling again and looked ready to keep going, but Kagome held up both hands to placate him. “I hear you, Inuyasha.” She drew in a deep breath and blew it out, then acknowledged his worry. “Even if we consider Sesshoumaru to be a trusted ally, that doesn’t mean we have any others where we’re going.” He didn’t look pleased, but he also didn’t start in again, waiting for her to keep going. She opted to avoid the circular argument they always had when it came to his over-estimation of her abilities, instead deferring to his greater experience. “So… what’s our strategy?”

He looked more suspicious than surprised at her seeming capitulation, but he didn’t hesitate to start issuing firm suggestions. Inuyasha wanted her to keep her power as contained as possible without risking her own safety. He briefed her on some common snubs – it broke Kagome’s heart how blasé and familiar he was as he described all the ways one demon can insult another nonverbally. They agreed on an escape plan in case things went sideways. There was some debate as to how much they ought to involve the children, with Inuyasha wanting to give them orders of their own and Kagome firmly refusing the idea. She didn’t want them to worry – if anything happened, Kirara would snatch them up and make a run for it while Kagome and Inuyasha covered their retreat. They were smart kids and would have enough sense to follow directions in a dangerous situation.

Kagome felt conflicting impulses as they cleaned up after themselves and prepared for the last leg of their journey. Part of her was buzzing with excitement at the new and unknown adventure ahead. Just as much of her wanted to run the other direction and make her excuses to Sesshoumaru later, avoiding the significant potential for disaster altogether. They were practically on the arrogant demon lord’s doorstep, though, and they hadn’t been murdered yet. Maybe it would all work out just fine.

Yeah, right, Kagome thought to herself with just the slightest edge of hysteria as they departed, cause that happens in my life.

~*~

The rumors were true! Any palace rumor mill was a wild and untamable beast – not a word could be whispered within the walls of the Western Fortress with any semblance of privacy. What had started as a story that the Lord’s little toad had let slip word of an honored guest attending the tournament had evolved rapidly over the week between its first utterance and the arrival of the highly anticipated mystery guest. Some said that Lord Sesshoumaru had invited an intended mate from a far-away land. Others speculated that he’d invited a powerful ally and would soon seek to dominate all of Japan since there’d been little else of excitement since the defeat of Naraku.

The first guests began to arrive a day in advance, eager and hopeful that being early might secure them a more advantageous position in the guest quarters. There was a crew of twenty or so high-ranking servants whose role was to know the names of every invited guest and what accommodations they were expected to receive. It was a very important job – the care extended by the Lord’s servants was the care of the Lord himself. Lord Sesshoumaru would not attend any receptions or personal greetings prior to the beginning of the tournament, so they arrived with little fanfare and were escorted to the quarters that had been designated to expected guests during the preparations. Normally the early guests barely registered to any beyond the demons assigned to greeting and settling them, but this a time the guests brought word that sent the castle nearly into a frenzy.

The General’s bastard and the Shikon Priestess had been spotted travelling towards the Tournament. Akasuke was practically vibrating with the news, as was everyone on the grounds. Their Lord, now in residence once again, despised gossip. Even the risk of his ire was not enough to stifle the frenzied whispers of the fortress residents. Some said they were coming to challenge the Lord in the tournament or even wage war. Some suspected that Lord Sesshoumaru had invited them himself in order to display his dominance over them - that he would challenge them instead. Akasuke privately doubted both scenarios. The priestess and the half breed were fairly notorious - so few years had passed since the defeat of Naraku, even human memory was not so short - and though many demons still spat upon their names, most of the land had seen for themselves the nature of the odd pair as they traversed its width and breadth. Their character was almost as inarguable as Lord Sesshoumaru’s. They wouldn’t come to pick a fight. Nor was the Lord so petty or dishonorable as to invite them with ill intent.

No, Akasuke suspected something altogether different was happening. Most of the community considered her beneath their notice when they weren’t in the mood to terrorize her, which gave her the unique perspective of the unseen. Since the guests had begun arriving, her task had been to assist the higher ranking servants in catering to their guests - mainly by removing soiled items and delivering meals. It wasn’t a particularly desirable job, but it did offer the opportunity to hear even more of the gossip circulating the fortress. Beneath all the myriad threads of rumor woven around the impending arrival of the unexpected arrivals, little grains of truth could be found if one knew how to listen. Akasuke knew how. Without any real friends, she had little other connection to her people than that which she could glean from watching and listening. And she’d been collecting little grains of truth for a long time, compiling enough truths to begin to tell a real story.

Lord Sesshoumaru was not the same demon he’d been when he first departed the fortress to pursue ultimate conquest after his father’s passing. As many young demons did, he had sought first to prove himself beyond his father’s shadow. And then a female changed him. The adoption of the young human girl into the House had shocked everyone. Though she was rarely in residence, her place was firmly secured both tangibly in the family’s quarters and intangibly by the threat of a painful, lengthy demise should the Lord be displeased with his Honored Daughter’s treatment. Akasuke had managed to suss out that the adopted Western Princess also traveled with the priestess and half breed, lending even more weight to her evolving theories on the situation at hand. She considered what she knew against the possibilities she’d deduced were within the realm of reason as she toted a tray laden with used dishes back to the kitchens. Which she nearly fumbled and dropped all over the polished floors when a gruff, rude voice shouted at her the moment she entered her destination.

“Genki!” The name made her hackles rise and her teeth clench, “You useless lout, I’ve been looking all over for you!”

Unlikely. Akasuke thought viciously as she deposited the tray of dishes and turned to scowl at the ugly male. His name was Jurou - he was a rude, hateful, despicable little lizard demon and managed the lowest tier of servants. Alas, that included Akasuke. He was older than dung and hated her from the moment she’d turned up at the Great General’s feet, a dirty little runt without the barest amount of good sense required to just fall into line and be what was expected of her. He couldn’t be excessively hostile without getting his own sorry hide in trouble, but he never missed an opportunity to covertly torment. Whatever he had sought her out for this time, if his nasty smirk was anything to go by, she would not be pleased to hear.

“His Lordship had sent for your useless self.” The hideous reptile was too pleased, apparently certain some reprimand or horrid fate was imminent. “You are to report to his study. Immediately.” Jurou chuckled darkly, his beady eyes squinting at her. Akasuke refrained from rolling her eyes. “I’m sure milord has finally remembered that there’s one last piece of trash drifting about that needs disposing of. Good luck facing our Honorable Lord, you little cretin.”

She didn’t grace the smarmy bastard with more than a nod, patting invisible dirt from her clothing to conceal the shaking of her hands. Without a word, Akasuke turned and walked away to report to Lord Sesshoumaru. She knew Jurou would bristle at the dismissal, grumbling and cursing her and looking for an opportunity to get back at her. Let him, she thought. Her thoughts were wholly preoccupied with what on earth would warrant a direct summons. Maybe her time really had come - had the Great General’s son only overlooked her presence until it became inconvenient? She fought to calm her trembling limbs as she made her way towards the Lord’s office.

The massive power of his energy was concentrated in a soft beacon within his office. Akasuke wouldn’t shame herself by dragging her feet when her Lord was expecting her, but neither did she hurry. Even so, she stood before the doors to that intimidating presence too soon. Lord Sesshoumaru did not speak. A firm pulse of energy indicated that it was appropriate to enter. Akasuke slid the door open, stepped inside, and shut it behind her before dropping into a full and perfect bow, awaiting the Lord’s command.

She dared not stare as she desired to, but she had managed in the few brief glances she’d had in her life to commit most of the Lord’s Office to memory. Large, meticulously carved and oiled cherry wood shelves took up most of the walls to her left and right, some laden with scrolls and leather-bound volumes, some with trinkets, weapons, and expensive items. Many remained sparse, awaiting whatever future items might be deemed worthy of a place upon them. The Lord’s desk sat in the center of the room. Whatever wood the desk was carved from was much darker than the shelves, and so old that it no longer held any of its original fragrance. Whatever it had smelled of in its original form was lost beneath centuries of use, aging, and oiling. There was little decor upon the walls - only two large woven tapestries which hung on the back wall, bracketing the Lord’s silhouette. To the Lord’s left, the bloodline of his mother was depicted in white thread upon a backdrop of darkness like the night sky - each child was represented by the moon under which they were born bracketed by the markings upon their face, connected to their forebears by wispy, nebulous lines that glittered slightly as light and shadow moved across them. Beyond Lord Sesshoumaru’s right shoulder, his father’s line was woven in golden thread across a field of blood red fabric - these ancestors were depicted in their natural forms, large and snarling beings of fang and claw.

“Rise and approach,” Lord Sesshoumaru rumbled quietly. It was not a growl of imminent death, but of simple command - the Alpha spoke, and his audience would obey, nothing more. Akasuke reminded herself to breathe, inhaling slowly and obeying on legs that only faintly trembled. “Speak your name.”

She swallowed thickly and hated herself for it. She kept her gaze fixed on his reflection in the glossy surface of the desk. “Akasuke, my Lord.”

“Hn.” A heavy silence followed, and she hated that more. She could feel his gaze measuring her, weighing her worth. When he did address her again, what he said shocked her enough to punch a little breath of air from her lungs and snap her gaze upward.

“This One has an important assignment for you, Akasuke. Are you prepared to accept?”

~*~

Chapter Text

               Kagome wasn’t afraid of demons. She wasn’t the hapless, ignorant teen who’d fallen into a fairytale anymore. She was a strong woman, powerful, having allied with some of the strongest demons in Japan to defeat one of the greatest evils the land had ever seen. But there were just so many of them. And one thing her adventures had not prepared her for was the social anxiety of attending a really big party.

               They’d returned to the main road as near to the fortress as possible, opting to skirt wide around the encampment of demons that ringed what looked like a stadium in the fading daylight. It was hard to be sure from such a distance, but it was the right shape and given that everyone was calling the festival a tournament, Kagome figured it was a reasonable assumption. They’d managed to get within 3 kilometers or so of the fortress before deciding to walk. Inuyasha wanted them to arrive in a specific formation – whether it was for safety or meant something in his culture, Kagome refrained from asking for the time being – with himself and Kagome at the front, the children a step behind between them,  and Kirara bringing up the rear in her larger form to guard the children’s backs. Kagome certainly appreciated that the kids would be protected from all sides. She also appreciated that they didn’t ask questions when they were ushered into formation, simply imitating the serious airs of the adults as best they could. With everyone situated, Kagome pulled her hair up into a high ponytail and patted herself down, then nodded to Inuyasha that she was ready.

               When they first emerged from the forest, there was no reaction from the other travelers on the road. From what Kagome could see, there wasn’t as much of a crowd beyond the stadium – everyone on the road now had the pompous, arrogant airs of folks who thought very highly of themselves. It made sense, she supposed when she thought about it, that not everyone would be invited into the fortress walls. They were likely immersed in demon nobility. She swallowed tightly, her reiki beginning to buzz beneath her skin in response to her nerves, but took the opportunity to look as much as she could before the crowd noticed them and the mood on the road changed.

               On cue, a quiet gasp registered somewhere over her shoulder. One whisper became five and then the travelers on the road began to part like the red sea around them. They kept walking, the murmurs of the demons around them blending into a meaningless susurration ringing in her ears. Casting her eyes to her right, where Inuyasha walked beside her, Kagome could see the twitching of his ears and the tension in his body. Her heart went out to him – he obviously heard the whispers much more clearly than she did. She debated taking his hand, but held back even as her fingers twitched towards him of their own volition – she wouldn’t give anyone extra reasons to pick on him if she could help it. Kagome cast her eyes back forward and straightened her posture, lifting her chin proudly. Maybe I can’t hold his hand, she thought to herself, but I can try to look strong beside him.

               They made it before dark, as Inuyasha predicted. The evening sun sat fat and orange beyond the trees, casting long shadows and painting the clouds in vibrant colors. There were no torches along the path as there would be for a human festival, but the path wasn’t unmarked. She couldn’t see what in the fading light, but something was strung between the trees lining both sides of the path. She knew something was there, because red and white ribbons were hung upon it and fluttered between the trees. Whatever the material was, it looked super soft – it floated like chiffon and gleamed like satin. With the sunlight blocked by the trees, the heat of the day was fading but Kagome’s nape and brow were still damp and sticky with sweat and there was a fair amount of walking still ahead of them. She wondered if the little ribbons were any good as hankies.

               Kagome occupied her anxious mind for the rest of the walk towards the fortress by making a game of the whole thing. She would find a demon amongst the crowd and apply everything she knew to guessing things about them. As their little mismatched group proceeded down the path, the novelty eventually wore off and the rest of the travelers began to move again. They continued to steer clear of Inuyasha and company, though, sticking to the outer edges of the road and leaving only the center of the path clear. Kagome wondered, as they walked, if maybe that was less to avoid them and more to box them in. A little drop of sweat trickled down her temple, close to her eyebrow, and left behind an itchy feeling that made Kagome want to bury her whole face in a fresh towel and scrub it clean. She ignored the feeling instead, following Inuyasha’s lead and holding on to the tough front. Then the fortress came into view.

               “We’re here!” It was a loud, joyous cry – Rin.

               By the time Kagome turned to look behind her at the little girl’s outburst, the girl had already darted forward and raced ahead on the path. She turned back to chase after Rin, only to stop short as Shippou exclaimed behind her. Kagome turned to him, mouth open to say something, but her brain halted once more as she found the little kit gone as well. Inuyasha and Kirara, both pulling themselves together faster than Kagome, took off after the children. With a groan of exasperation, Kagome gave her shoulders and neck a quick roll and started jogging after them all. Kirara fell into step beside her, and Kagome hopped on with a heartfelt thanks. So it was that they arrived at the gates of the Western Fortress in a loud, disorganized, charge rather than the dignified approach they had planned.

               It looked like any other castle would at this time in Japan’s history – built strategically, defensively, with ornamentation a secondary consideration at best. But oh, it was so much more beautiful than any she’d seen in person. This wasn’t the castle of some little human lord. This was a fortress built by demon hands and generations of work. It was magnificent, the main building at least two stories taller than any of the old castles she’d studied in history. Soaking in the architecture – truthfully, she didn’t know much about that particular subject, but she appreciated the visual beauty enthusiastically – was almost enough to make her forget the number of demons loitering around watching the spectacle they’d become.

               Rin had come to a stop directly in front of Lord Sesshoumaru, who awaited them just in front of the open gates to the property, executing a perfect bow in front of him with a beaming smile. Inuyasha and Shippou had stopped several paces behind her, well out of range of Sesshoumaru, and were both standing as if prepared for battle to erupt at any moment. Kirara stopped behind them to allow Kagome to dismount. The priestess went to her best friend, placing a hand on his shoulder with the intention of reassuring him. This is fine. Everything is fine! She thought with forced cheer. The pressure of deciding what to say or do from there was, mercifully, taken from her.

               “Welcome home, Daughter.” Sesshoumaru’s deep rumble carried perfectly down the road – even Kagome had no trouble hearing him with her human senses, “This One thanks you for escorting these Honored Guests.”

               “This One is honored to serve the House, my Lord.” The formality surprised Kagome – she’d never seen Rin put on such airs. Sesshoumaru placed his hand on Rin’s head then and she straightened from her bow, face bright like the sun. “Rin is thrilled to be home!”

               Sesshoumaru nodded, which was apparently some kind of signal, because Rin executed a quick second bow and then hurried to stand behind him. Kagome was so lost. There was a lot more pomp and ritual going on here than she had any clue about. Her young charge apparently having defected to her adoptive father’s side – and boy, wasn’t that a nugget for Kagome’s brain to chew on – they were standing on the road in the middle of a crowd of fancy demons, completely wrong-footed. Sesshoumaru’s gaze caught hers, unreadable as ever. Kagome swallowed reflexively, willing more moisture into her mouth. She had enough sense to execute a passable bow.

               “This Sesshoumaru welcomes you to the Western Fortress, Shikon Priestess.” The murmur of whispers erupted again. Sesshoumaru continued as if he didn’t hear it. “Be welcome and take comfort within its halls. This One will escort you.”

               Sesshoumaru did not wait for them to acknowledge the greeting, turning on his heel and setting a respectful pace through the gates. Rin, however, beamed at them and waved them forward before turning to follow Sesshoumaru. Kagome turned to Inuyasha, who’d mirrored the movement and met her eyes. She shrugged, he huffed, and it was settled. They caught up to Sesshoumaru and fell into step behind him.

               Rin was radiant with joy, happily pointing out different structures and describing the grounds for them. There was a short, wide building on their right that Rin identified as the dojo where young recruits were shaped into soldiers. Beyond it lay the barracks – they couldn’t see the ground floor from where they were, but the upper floors of the building were visible over the roof of the dojo. To their left, a stretch of smaller buildings was identified as the homes of high-ranking residents – the advisors to the Lord, his generals, important people who didn’t stay in the main building. Apparently, there was also room for extended family – Rin explained that the Lord’s pack would, naturally, reside with him in the fortress, but if he had a big family, it would be normal for cousins and siblings to bring their packs for long visits and stay in some of the more secluded homes.

               Kagome watched Sesshoumaru’s back while Rin performed the role of tour guide. He appeared to be ignoring them completely, though she knew he wasn’t. Sesshoumaru could surely feel Kagome’s gaze – and Inuyasha’s, which was most likely very hostile – just as thoroughly as Kagome could feel the weight of all the eyes watching their steady march towards the main building towering ahead of them. She almost envied his ability to be completely untouchable. Kagome’s nerves were unravelling quickly. It felt like walking into a pit of vipers. Why did I agree to this?!

               A warm, calloused hand wrapped around hers and Kagome turned to find Inuyasha was looking at her now instead of glaring daggers at his older brother. When her eyes met his, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Kagome didn’t try to stop the small smile that tugged at her lips, purposefully letting go of some of the tension she’d let wind through her body. It’s fine. We’re fine. And together, we can face anything. It was the unspoken sentiment that cemented the bond between them – Inuyasha would always have her back, she would always have his, and together they were undefeatable. He sensed her bolstered mood and released her hand, straightening his own posture and falling into a much more natural vigilance instead of continuing to glare.

               Sesshoumaru escorted them all the way into the stunningly tall main palace. Once they were all inside, he turned to face the group. Servants moved silently and without prompting to relieve them of their weapons and footwear. Inuyasha’s hackles rose immediately as a young male with soft-looking brown down in place of hair knelt and extended his hands for Tetsusaiga. Truthfully, Kagome shared his reservations, but she didn’t want to offend their host.

               “Inuyasha may retain his sword.” Sesshoumaru’s proclamation was calm, quiet, and immediately obeyed. The bird demon servant retreated instantly with a low bow to Inuyasha and a lower bow to Sesshoumaru.

               When another servant – so fair that he looked like he’d been dipped in white paint – reached for Kagome’s bow, she hesitated, looking to Sesshoumaru. When another intervention was not forthcoming, she reluctantly surrendered her bow and arrows, the short sword at her hip, and the daggers sheathed in her left sleeve and her right boot. The process of surrendering everything she carried reminded her of something in particular that she didn’t have on her person.

               “Oh!” Her exclamation drew everyone’s attention, but she was focused elsewhere and only blushed a little under the scrutiny as she finished her thought. “Lord Sesshoumaru,” she began with a bow before straightening to meet his eyes. She aimed for the kind of formality this situation called for and was proud that she only fumbled a little. “We brought a gift – a, um, small token of appreciation for our generous host.”

               Sesshoumaru didn’t react perceptibly, but there was a sense of waiting hanging in the air. Kagome turned to approach Kirara, placing a comforting hand atop Shippou's head as she passed him, and untied one of the bundles she carried on her back. The silence while she fiddled with the cord and cloth securing the basket had her cheeks burning even more. Once she freed it, she shoved the wad of string and fabric into a gap in another bundle and turned back to the waiting demons. The objects within had shifted out of their carefully arranged positions, but they’d succeeded in arriving without rumpling or breaking anything. Kagome nervously approached Sesshoumaru and held the basket out towards him, looking at the contents instead of his face as she explained the gift.

               “The, um… the sutras will repel any intruders with hostile intentions – it even works against holy energy. The trinkets each have a little blessing on them. Peace of mind on the worry stone, health on the torque, and prosperity on the f-figurine.” She desperately hoped none of it would be found offensive. If Sesshoumaru didn’t like the gifts because he was a prissy jerk, that was one thing, but Kagome would be upset with herself if she accidentally committed some grave demon faux pas.

               The silence stretched a beat too long and then large hands settled under the basket across from her, the claws on the middle fingers of those hands lightly tapping her own blunt fingernails before the basket was lifted from her hands completely. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru then, relieved to find that he was now looking into the basket and she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes yet. Sesshoumaru didn’t say a word. He shifted the basket to rest on one large palm and reached into it, pulling out the worry stone. Kagome watched as he turned it over between his fingers, examining it. She had no idea how much more detail his demon eyes could see compared to hers and she couldn’t help wondering exactly what he saw in the stone. Sesshoumaru’s grip on the stone shifted and he held it as it was intended to be held, rubbing his thumb slowly back and forth across the indentation in the jade.

               Sesshoumaru’s eyes met hers abruptly and he spoke quietly, not for the entire room to hear but for Kagome specifically. “This One thanks you for your thoughtful gift.”

Chapter Text

Having successfully delivered their gift to the host, Kagome and her friends were given over to a servant and Sesshoumaru disappeared between one blink and the next, taking Rin with him. The barely perceptible vibration in the air increased dramatically in his absence. There was just too much going on to try to take it all in without becoming horribly overwhelmed. Amid the flurry of motion and ravenous curiosity, Kagome fixed her attention on the servant they’d been assigned to and did her best to filter out the nonsense. 

They’d been introduced as Akasuke. It was a traditionally female name, and the demon escorting them presented themselves femininely, so Kagome supposed they probably were female. They lacked breasts, but otherwise their build was as androgynous as their face. They didn’t wear makeup and the lines of their jaw were stronger than most, but then this was also likely a full demon and possibly not even subject to the gender norms associated with human beings. Kagome wished someone had bothered to publish a book or two on demon physiology by the time she’d been born. 

Akasuke’s hair was an ashy shade of brown that should have looked drab, but it gleamed with health and good grooming. It was coiled into a knot smooth enough to make Kagome a little envious – she could never get a hairstyle that smooth, even in the future with unlimited access to hair products. Though Kagome hadn’t got a good look at Akasuke’s eyes, she’d caught a glimpse of hazel that leaned hard towards green but didn’t fully turn. As all the servants appeared to, she wore a uniform that must reflect the colors and sigils of the house because they sort of matched Sesshoumaru’s clothes too. White kimono – or haori and hakama for the males, it seemed – with a single, large Sakura blossom across the back that resembled the ones printed on Sesshoumaru’s clothes. 

As they moved further from the entryway, some of the staring and whispers faded away. Shippo broke rank to dart between the two adults ahead of him and make the short hop up into Kagome’s embrace. She, of course, opened her arms automatically and adjusted his weight as she walked. Kagome smile, privately proud that Shippo had waited this long to seek comfort. Kirara reverted to her smaller form and leapt up onto Inuyasha’s shoulder. She appeared to curl up for a rest, but Kagome could see the tiny slits of her open eyes as she watched behind them. Though their arrival had been jarring and chaotic, that moment re-centered Kagome completely. Everything was fine. They were together and they were fine. 

Kagome tried to take in as much of the fortress as she could, at first. Her wide eyes followed architecture, décor, the paths of servants, the way it grew quieter deeper into the fortress. And then they started climbing upwards. The first few floors were no big deal. As they pushed past the fourth floor, Kagome’s body began to protest. By the time they reached the sixth or seventh floor – Kagome wasn’t counting accurately, it took too much effort – the human was dead on her feet. When they finally, finally, reached their destination and were shown into a room, she was ready to wash up and crash as soon as possible. 

Stepping into the room, Kagome’s fatigue slipped away like water off a stone. It was beautiful. The décor was simple, but obviously expensive and luxurious. There was a kotatsu table in the center of the room, cherrywood if Kagome had to guess. Lovingly tended plants dotted the walls and corners, bringing a small piece of the sweet outdoors inside. Sliding doors stood open on the walls to their left and right, but the wall directly across from them was what held Kagome’s attention. The door leading onto the balcony was closed, but there were windows on each side through which the full and glorious blaze of sunset swept across the entire fortress grounds and forest beyond. The view was stunning. 

Shippo wiggled down from her grasp, beginning to explore the space without hesitation. Kagome rushed forward without thinking, sliding the door open and throwing herself out into the cooling humid evening to bask in the view. A breeze teased the hair that had slipped from her ponytail and cooled the sweat on her neck and brow. Everything was gilded and magical in the moments before the sun fully slipped away. She could hear Akasuke hesitantly explaining their accommodations to Inuyasha back inside the main room, but she ignored them for the moment. It sounded like Kirara was sticking close to Shippo – his chatter was mainly directed at the miniature fire cat as he darted from one end of the room to the other and started poking around in drawers and cabinets. 

Maybe this will be a fun family vacay after all. Kagome thought with a smile and a happy sigh. 

Jaken was apprehensive about everything. He’d been driving the staff with an unyielding rigor and still the turnout for the event had been even more than they’d anticipated. Furthermore, none of the useless cretins employed at the fortress could restrain the flapping of their gums and the despicable gossip was completely out of hand. Their Mighty Lord was, of course, infallible in his wisdom – Jaken only felt that none of the others were capable of executing said wisdom without somehow cocking it up. Still, so far things had gone as smoothly as could be expected with underlings such as these. The only thing the little toad demon still couldn’t begin to fathom was why his Honorable Lord had invited the dirty half-breed and his inappropriate priestess.

The pair and their collection of strays had arrived in a predictable show of uncouth disrespect, falling over themselves at Lord Sesshoumaru’s feet like poorly taught children. The gall. At least the priestess had enough sense to honor her host. Though the gift was paltry, a bunch of useless holy trinkets rather than something more traditional and more valuable, Jaken appreciated the attempt. One could only expect so much from common humans, after all. At least the youngling adopted into the Lord’s house was brighter than the rest of them. She’d learned well and brought honor to her Lord. Jaken would continue to watch her with a critical eye to ensure she continued to do so, even if she remained with the humans. She was a Daughter of the House, after all. 

Lord Sesshoumaru seemed to appreciate the trinkets more than Jaken had expected. Or, at the very least, he was perhaps curious about the paltry blessings of the weak human woman. He’d returned to his study after receiving his guests and placed the basket upon his desk, settled into his seat, and stared down at the contents with both palms flat against the surface of his desk. Jaken imagined a lesser demon might tap his claws or some other foolish fidgeting if they were similarly lost to thought. His magnificent Lord never fidgeted. But then… neither did his Lord show this much attention to a typical guest. The forbidden burn of curiosity arose shamefully within him. What has this silly human and her filthy cretin friend done to so capture milord’s attention?! He hated them for being a distraction from the great destiny of conquest. 

A balcony door on the floor below slid open and both Jaken and his Lord glanced in the direction of the sound. Lord Sesshoumaru was on his own balcony in a movement too quick for human eyes. He didn’t look down, but Jaken heard the subtle inhale in his Lord’s breathing. As the breeze wandered into the room, Jaken caught the smell of the priestess on the wind. His hackles prickled with irritation. 

“Milord, perhaps we could,” Jaken was going to suggest placing the dirty charity cases on the other side of the wing they were in, where they wouldn’t be within smelling distance, but Lord Sesshoumaru’s eyes cut towards him scathingly and he balked, gulping and trembling. After a long, paralyzing stare-down, his Lord turned away from him and Jaken sighed quietly with relief. 

“The priestess is more powerful than she presents herself.” The quiet declaration from Lord Sesshoumaru stunned Jaken and he gawked, not comprehending what his Lord was saying. A stone hit him between the eyes and he squawked, flailing and fumbling to catch the smooth pebble that had struck him with unusual softness. “Hold the stone in your hand and tell This One what you feel.”

Jaken blinked owlishly and then looked down at the stone in his hand. It was the one from the priestess’ gift basket, the jade smooth and warm. Jaken smoothed his thumb across the stone and then looked back up to Lord Sesshoumaru. He wasn’t sure what the point was – he didn’t feel anything in particular. 

“I-I,” he gulped, “don’t understand, milord!” 

“What do you feel, you fool?” Lord Sesshoumaru was looking at him again and Jaken’s knees knocked together. 

But his anxiety didn’t rise in turn with his body’s instincts. Jaken looked back at the stone in his hand, gaping at it, and thought back to all the other things that he’d been brooding about since he’d started work that morning. His bothers were no less bothersome, but his pressing preoccupation with them was relieved – he felt calm and resigned rather than apprehensive and fretting. The stone was plucked from his hand and his anxiety began to rise again, slowly, as he blinked at Lord Sesshoumaru’s pant legs. 

“She gifted the most powerful demon in the land with sutras which would repel her own power should she seek to use it against This One.” Jaken blinked again, daring to look up at his Lord as he spoke. “We must determine the impact of the other two blessings.”

Kagome reluctantly dragged herself from the beautiful sunset and returned to the main room of their guest suite. Akasuke was giving Inuyasha a rundown of how to access various amenities. Inuyasha, bless him, looked completely lost to Kagome, but he was covering it well with a stern look. Kagome smiled and looked around for her little mischief maker. Shippo had found a small cabinet a few feet to the left of the door they’d come in through. There were some drawers at the bottom and Shippo’s bottom half was visible hanging out of the uppermost drawer. Kirara was perched atop the cabinet, looking down at the kit with her head cocked and her tails undulating peacefully. Making a judgment call, Kagome went to her best friend to rescue him from domestic details. 

“Excuse me,” Kagome interrupted politely, smiling at Akasuke when she turned to meet her eyes, “I know we were told your name, but let me introduce us properly. I’m Kagome. This grumpy guy is Inuyasha. The kit is mine - his name is Shippo. And Kirara is my dear friend’s companion.” She gestured to each in turn. Inuyasha was clearly relieved and quickly darted away to hassle Shippo, herding him into the next room.

“I am Akasuke, my Lady Priestess,” Akasuke bowed low as she said it, much lower than Kagome truly deserved. 

Kagome waved her hands awkwardly to dissuade the other woman, “Please, truly, just Kagome.” She smiled reassuringly. “I promise I won’t tell or anything if you’ll get in trouble for saying it, but just between us let’s leave the formality aside. Please?” Akasuke looked extremely skeptical but nodded slowly. Kagome beamed. “Excellent! So, what do we need to know? I know you were telling Inuyasha, but he’s probably already forgotten all the important details.”

Akasuke began to reiterate what she’d told Inuyasha, haltingly at first as she seemed to slowly adjust to Kagome’s informal preferences. She explained that their accommodations included the main area, a sleeping space to the right with a small wash area behind a screen for cleaning and relieving oneself. The opposite room was designed to be multipurpose - with more furniture, it could be utilized as an office, a reception area, or there were extra futons stored within if additional sleeping space was needed. Meals would be served in the evenings - there was a dining room in which formal meals were served to as many guests as wished to partake - but they could request meals at any time from any servant. The wash basin and chamber pot would be emptied throughout the day, but they could request cleaning sooner if they wished. 

Akasuke then outlined the expectations of their host, that there was to be no fighting within the grounds - any grievances would be taken to the dojo or the stadium. The family quarters were off limits unless invited, which apparently meant the entire top floor was off limits. They were welcome to come and go as they pleased but would be escorted most places within the walls for both security and protection. There was a bathing chamber beneath the fortress, carved from the rock below and fed by hot springs from beneath the mountains. Kagome wished they’d mentioned that before she’d climbed all the way up the tower.

That seemed to conclude the spiel, but Akasuke seemed to be hesitating. Kagome hesitated, too. There were dozens of questions Kagome wanted to ask someone, and who better than one of the staff who saw and heard it all. But would it be appropriate? Would she unintentionally offend the other woman? Would word get back to Sesshoumaru that she was a nosy little spy who needed to be tortured for information?! Okay, that last one was a little outlandish, Kagome acknowledged. What was the worst that could happen? Akasuke might turn her nose up and say something rude like Kagome was sure plenty more demons would before the Tournament was over. Speaking of which…

“So, what does the tournament entail?” Kagome asked.

Akasuke blinked wide, hazel eyes at her for a moment before she seemed to recover, “Well, tomorrow the Tournament will be commenced by the Lord of the House. He’ll choose an opponent to spar with him for the first bout. A midday feast will follow and then the contest will be open for any who wish to participate to register.”

“Sesshoumaru is going to fight the first match?” Kagome blinked. She supposed it made sense that the host ought to participate. She pitied his opponent, though. “Are these matches… to the death?” She had to swallow a lump before the last three words would emerge.

Akasuke seemed frozen again, but she answered the question. “Y-yes… Lord Sesshoumaru always fights the first bout – it is the host’s honor. Matches need not be deadly, but they often are… It is the way of things.” She said that with a shrug, as if she knew that Kagome would have some delicate human sensibility about the senseless death. Akasuke was a fair judge of character. “The first day or so, many will be testing the strength of others and watching. Some will submit direct challenges; more will opt to fight at random.”

“Challenges? It’s not all set into brackets and whatnot?” Kagome was surprised – she’d assumed tournaments all followed pretty much the same structure.

“Those who are fighting for the fun of it will participate in bracketed matches on the official scorecard. Many do so in an attempt to attract a mate above their standing – the harvest tournament is often followed by a surge of spring births.” Akasuke smirked as she said the last part and Kagome giggled in response – nature is nature. Akasuke continued, “But the challenges are the real show of the Tournament, of course. This is where grievances will be addressed between nobles who can’t simply draw blood over every little slight. Many feuds are settled in the arena.”

A ruckus erupted from the sleeping room. Shippo, laughing maniacally, came running through the door and disappeared into the study just as Kagome realized that he was completely naked. Inuyasha, red faced and cursing a storm, came stomping out behind him. The half-demon stopped in his tracks, shoulders drawing up around his ears when he realized Kagome was watching the whole thing play out. She raised an eyebrow at him, gaze darting towards the study and back to Inuyasha. Her best friend scoffed and continued his angry march to reclaim the wayward child. Kirara stood from her perch on the cabinet against the wall and stretched with a soft mewl before leaping down and casually strolling into the bedroom. Kagome smiled and turned back to Akasuke.

“Thank you, Akasuke, for indulging me and for your service. I think we’ll retire for the night, now. Will I see you again tomorrow?” Kagome bowed respectfully as she thanked the other woman and then smiled kindly, hoping that she’d get to keep interacting with a demon who treated her mostly normally.

“Er-“ The question seemed to throw the servant girl off, but she recovered well. “Of course, my L-… K-Kagome. I will return in the morning to break your fast?”

It was a question and Kagome agreed happily, thanking Akasuke again before finally letting her retreat into the hallway and slide the door quietly closed behind her. Alone at last in the strange new space, Kagome sought comfort in the familiar – wrangling Shippo into bed. It was no easy feat; between his naturally high energy and the continued absence of Rin from their party, he was very resistant to bedtime. There was nothing Kagome could do about his missing Rin, but all children crash sooner or later. When he did, he was clean and combed, freshly changed and tucked into a futon with Kirara curled at the back of his neck, purring. Inuyasha propped himself up in the corner but indulged in the comfort of a futon under his backside.

With everyone else settled, Kagome ducked behind the privacy screen to wash herself up in the basin and use the pot before turning in herself. Darkness had long since taken over the room and left her navigating by the moonlight that shone through the one window in the room. She didn’t mind – the dark didn’t frighten her and the light from the moon made her feel safe and strong. Kagome calmly finished her ablutions and changed into a sleeping yukata, then padded over to the futon to slide in next to Shippo. She thought that bedding down in a strange palace, filled with demons she didn’t know and couldn’t trust, would make it hard for her to sleep.

As she lay there, listening to the soft breaths of her foster child and feeling the warm buzz of Inuyasha’s vigilance laying over them like a blanket, Kagome didn’t feel anxiety anymore. She was desperately curious about a dozen other things, apprehensive about socializing with demonic nobility, and absolutely certain that Inuyasha would receive multiple challenges. But things had gone well so far. Sesshoumaru had shown them the respect and honor he’d promised, so that was good, right? She hadn’t sensed any power that Inuyasha couldn’t handle, and she might even get to make a friend within the Fortress, if Akasuke turned out to be amenable.

With a soft smile, Kagome drifted away to imaginings of cheering Inuyasha on as he beat up every cocky jerk who thought they could take him just because he was a half-demon.

Chapter Text

~*~

               Waking up in Sesshoumaru’s home was strange, and not only because it was Sesshoumaru’s house. For Kagome, the feeling was nostalgic around the edges, reminding her of her first sleepovers with friends and the different-ness of waking up somewhere new. She came to awareness in a slow progression, registering all the different smells and textures and sensations. The morning was cooler this high in the air, but the futon was plumper and softer than what she had at home, and it help warmth splendidly. The scents on the air were different – the brine of the sea breeze, the mild, earthy scent of plants and flowers around the room, and the absolute lack of human smells. Being human herself, Kagome was of course not one to judge that the past smelled a little riper than the future, but she wouldn’t deny her appreciation for having a break from the inevitable stink of village life. As her body and mind began to wake up, she stretched and curled her fingers and toes and sighed, rolling onto her stomach without opening her eyes. She wrapped her arms around her pillow and nestled in, fully intending to let her power stretch and curl just like her limbs had.

               Shippo was still asleep, soft snuffling snores coming from the vicinity of the little patch of fluffy hair that was visible from within the nest of blankets. Kirara was awake, prowling the room and occasionally batting at things unseen to Kagome’s eyes. Inuyasha, of course, wouldn’t have slept, so he was definitely awake, but he wouldn’t bother her. He knew her morning routines better than anyone. He’d intervene if she needed to come back to reality and stand guard over her otherwise. Kagome smiled a sleepy smile, her hazy mind slipping a little closer to sleep without succumbing to it again as she turned her thoughts back to her own intentions.

               Her power was sleepy and sluggish in her body, waking slowly. Kagome drew in a long, slow breath, pulling it deep and holding it for just a moment. Then she let it out in a soft whoosh, her power stretching outward to fill all the spaces left behind. She felt the press of her power on the inside of her skin, stretching against the boundaries of flesh that contained it. It felt like stretching a muscle, invigorating. Kagome’s mind drifted far from sleep and centered itself in her meditative state. She breathed a second and third time, each time stretching and compressing her power.

               On the last breath, as the last whispers of air passed from her, Kagome let her power trickle out behind it. This time, she filled their room instead of just her body. She could feel the boundaries of her companions’ demonic energies, the light, airy presence of life within the plants, the particles of the sea carried into their room through the window. And she could feel the staticky edges of Sesshoumaru’s energy above them. That startled her enough to open her eyes, her power pulling back into her like the tide receding into the ocean. Kagome yawned, stretched, and rubbed her eyes before giving up and sitting up on the futon. She turned to look at Inuyasha and found him watching her already. Kagome got up and padded over to the futon he’d spend the night sitting on.

               She made herself comfortable next to Inuyasha, tugging the blanket from underneath him, with his cooperation, and wrapping it around herself instead. He remained in his typical sentry position, Testsusaiga leaned against his shoulder and his arms crossed within his sleeves. Kagome leaned against his arm with a sigh, wiggling around until she was fully comfortable. They sat in silence for a while, both looking at the window and the brightening light beyond.

               “You think he’s going to challenge you.” Kagome finally said, quietly so as not to wake Shippo just yet.

               “Feh. ‘Course he is.” Inuyasha said it matter of fact, not concerned. Kagome supposed they’d fought enough times by now that he had no real reason to worry. “Might be just as well.”

               At that, Kagome leaned back to look at him fully. “What do you mean, ‘just as well?’” She said sharply. “Getting beat up is just as well?!”

               Inuyasha didn’t turn his head, but his eyes cut to hers with irritation. “Thanks for the confidence, Kagome.” She continued frowning up at him. “What I mean is if Sesshoumaru fights me in the first round and I give as good as I get, it will deter a lot of the weaker idiots out there who’ll want to scuffle with me just because I’m Toga’s bastard.”

               Kagome’s frown melted into something between sad and thoughtful. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Sheesh, she thought to herself, demons are so hostile and violent all the time. Is that just their animal… or demon… nature?

               Inuyasha rolled his eyes at her, but it was fond. He didn’t say anything else, so Kagome settled back into her spot leaning against him. They enjoyed a few more quiet minutes of peace before a quiet rapping on the sliding door to their suite signaled Akasuke’s arrival and woke Shippo, who was immediately vibrating with energy. Kagome let herself get swept up in the chaos of morning routines, combing out Shippo’s hair while making a simple breakfast request to Akasuke, then washing both of their hands and faces, seeing to her own hair while Shippo burned some energy aggravating Inuyasha and playing with Kirara. Akasuke returned with food as Kagome was pulling two sets of clothing from her bags and laying them out across the futon to consider them. She could hear the commotion of dishes being settled and organized on the table.  

               A sudden lack of chatter indicated that Inuyasha and Shippo had started eating without her while Kagome stood looking at her chosen options for the day. On the left, a pretty kimono in autumnal shades of yellow and orange, with vibrant red maple leaves stitched from the shoulder to the hip, wrapping around the backside of the kimono to create the appearance of a small pile of fallen leaves accumulating about her ankles. It was her prettiest. To the right was the simple, the tried and true, her priestess clothing. She wanted to appear as the other women she’d seen – confident, beautifully attired, but as deadly in a kimono as in armor. But if Inuyasha was already anticipating a fight, perhaps she should too. And her armor was not a kimono.

               Akasuke rapped on the frame of the open door before stepping into the room and executing a bow. Kagome looked over her shoulder at the sound and stifled the urge to dissuade the formality – she probably ought to just leave it be or she’d be arguing day and night with every other staff member. Kagome turned back to pick up her priestess clothes and then faced Akasuke fully. The other woman looked at the bundle in Kagome’s hands.

               “Will you need assistance dressing, L… Kagome?” Akasuke offered a small smile.

               Kagome smiled back and lifted the clothing slightly to show it to her, “Nope! Keeping it practical today. Thank you though! How long do we have to get ready?” Kagome ducked behind the screen where the wash basin was and quickly peeled out of her yukata, swapping it for the white haori and red hakama of her profession-by-default.

               Kagome wished she still had her weapons to tuck into her clothing. Akasuke answered her question from the other side of the screen, sounding as if she’d moved over to the window. “There is time enough to eat, my lady, and walk at a comfortable pace.”

               “Kagome.” She corrected automatically, emerging from behind the divider to find that Akasuke was, indeed, by the window. “Alright then, I guess I should dig in before the boys gobble it all up.”

~*~

               After breakfast and another quick face washing for Shippo, they went over their gameplan for the day. Stick together and play it by ear was, for the most part, the unimpressive essence of said plan, but Kagome emphasized the importance of sticking together and gave Shippo instructions for if they got separated, Kirara instructions to stay with Shippo even if it meant leaving Inuyasha and Kagome, and Inuyasha instructions not to be stupid and pick a fight with somebody for no good reason. He bristled at that and made some noises of protest, but Kagome was firm and unyielding on this subject. She wouldn’t stand for any of them being in any more danger than they already were by virtue of existing beside her.

               Akasuke led them back through the fortress, down the offensive number of stairs between them and the ground floor, out the front doors with a brief stop to reclaim their shoes and things, and to the main gate. Kagome was disappointed to learn she wouldn’t be attending with them but understood when Akasuke mentioned her duties within. Many others were flooding out towards the arena, so there was no real need for directions, but Akasuke gave them anyway and Kagome was grateful anyway for the assurance that she wouldn’t follow the crowd into something worse and weirder than a battleground.

               As they made their way back down the path they’d trod the day before, the stares and whispers were no fewer. This time, though, Kagome did a better job of ignoring it all. The morning air was fresh and the heat not yet risen to the stifling temperatures it would reach in the afternoon. Shippo was perched on Inuyasha’s shoulder, wide eyes taking in all the demons around them. Kagome felt a pang in her heart – this was the most he’d been properly ensconced in his own people since she’d met him, and even now he was just one member of the ragtag group that followed Inuyasha. Kagome wished, privately, that she could offer him so much more. We’re giving him this. That thought reassured her somewhat, and then the train of thought was gone completely as the arena came into view.

               It was absolutely massive. Kagome couldn’t actually see the entire scope of it – it looked like they’d cleared out three city blocks in width and depth. The heigh was more what she’d expect from an arena – tall enough for everyone to have a decent view and, given the monstrous circumference, it ought to fit half of Japan. There were stalls lining the road to the left and right of the arena entrance. From what Kagome could see, there was everything from food to clothing to fine jewelry and furniture. It was a feudal strip mall, all set up in front of the arena like they were part of the main construction.

               Kagome could tell that Shippo was desperate to go see all the available wares – his tail was stiff as a board with the fur standing on end, every fiber of his being wanting to go. Truth be told, he wasn’t alone in the sentiment – but it looked like everyone else was skipping right past the shops. I guess business starts later in the day. The vendors didn’t look perturbed, so Kagome reached out to place a soothing hand on Shippo’s head and then led the way in the direction of the crowd.

               The inside of the arena was about what she’d expected. Large open space, stands full of people, and a big fancy box for the important people to sit in – it was just on a much,  much larger scale than any human tournament had ever needed. Kagome noticed that the grass was patterned with dirt circles where trees had been torn out and the craters left behind filled back in. Enough trees to build the arena.  She had a moment of hesitation where she asked herself where in the world should they sit? But she was spared from having to decide. Shippo cried out and leapt from Inuyasha’s shoulder, racing across the empty field. Inuyasha curse under his breath and chased after him, Kirara hot on his heels.

               Kagome sighed and took up a slow jog after them, not bothering to try to match their pace. She knew exactly what had cause Shippo to bolt – Rin, up in the fancy box and hanging halfway over the railing that guarded it to wave at him. It looked like Jaken  was with her, if the staff waving frantically in the background was an indicator, but Sesshoumaru hadn’t graced them with his presence yet. Just as well, Kagome sighed. Her anxiety around the inevitable battle was steadily growing. But she took great comfort in knowing that, at the very least, all of their weapons and gear had been returned to them as they had left that morning. If Sesshoumaru pushed things too far, she wasn’t above shooting him.

               Demons moved out of their way with an equal mix of hostility and curiosity, but she paid them no mind. They’d come around or they wouldn’t – at this point, it seemed like they were safe enough. Anyone who had enough beef to fight them hadn’t felt it worth doing outside the parameters of the tournament. Later, it wouldn’t be enough to stop her fretting, but in the moment, surrounded by unknown demons, she opted to hold on to bravery. Any worries would have been unfounded – she caught up to the boys without incident. She didn’t, however, get a chance to do more than smile and greet Rin before their reunion was disrupted by Sesshoumaru’s arrival.

               There was a rush of sound all around them as his energy burst outward from the fortress in a single, bone-shaking pulse. Kagome took a seat – not because her knees were weak or anything – just to better observe the spectacle. The energy faded quickly and just as quickly, a light appeared in the sky and raced to the center of the arena. Kagome expected some kind of boom or thunder with his arrival, but Sesshoumaru appeared on the grass where the light had landed without a single sound. Silence fell around the entire arena. Rin was on the balls of her feet at the railing again, biting her lip to contain whatever gleeful sounds would have accompanied the wiggling excitement that was wracking her body. Shippo was standing on the railing beside her. Inuyasha waited with tense posture to Kagome’s left, ignoring the children and watching Sesshoumaru.

               “Let the tournament commence. This Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands and firstborn heir to the House of the Moon, claims the honor of the first match.” His quiet baritone shouldn’t have carried so easily to every corner of the stands, but Kagome heard him as if he’d spoken a foot from her face.

               It was a great deal less pomp than Kagome was expecting after everything else. She leaned back in her seat with a quiet exhale and tried not to fall into the pit of anxiety that opened up inside her as the inevitable challenge became increasingly immediate. She was so consumed with it that she didn’t even really listen to what the demon lord actually said next until Inuyasha turned to her with a shocked expression, mouth agape.

               “This One challenges the Shikon Priestess, Higurashi Kagome, to honorable combat.”

               Excuse me, what?!

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

               Excuse me, What?!

               In the beat between hearing the words and her conscious mind understanding them, Kagome’s lizard brain had skipped straight to panic. Her soul left her body to sink into the earth, a tidal wave of cold terror rising to fill the empty space it left behind. She’d never felt so cold in her life, even when her soul was literally outside her body. She distantly realized she was trembling and was grateful that she’d already sat down. Inuyasha recovered faster than she did, turning back to start cursing Sesshoumaru out and probably jump down there to beat his ass too. That thought was enough to shake Kagome back to reality a little bit.

               “Inuyasha…” She whispered with a suddenly dry mouth. She licked her lips twice before trying again. “Inuyasha.”

               He turned back to her, face full of righteous fury and protective wrath. “Kagome, he’s going to kill you!”

               “Geez, Inuyasha,” Kagome chuckled nervously. “Have a little faith.”  She didn’t blame him for the thunderous disbelief that darkened his scowl, but she cut him off before he could get started. “If he wanted to kill me–”

               It wasn’t Inuyasha who interrupted her, but Jaken, squawking angrily. “Stupid filthy humans! Being invited to fight milord in the first match is a high honor! You don’t deserve to spar with him at all, you foolish woman! You should be grateful for the chance! ARGH!”

               Well, he’d missed the mark for reassurance, but Kagome was comforted by his words nevertheless and Inuyasha seemed somewhat mollified for having been able to punch the daylights out of somebody. Jaken lay prone with a large knot forming on the side of his head where Inuyasha had clocked him. Kagome took a deep, shaking breath and stood up, decision made. Inuyasha started to say something, but she cut him off with a dirty look and stepped up to the railing to address Sesshoumaru.

               The other demons had been murmuring and, for those who hadn’t seen them approach, searching wildly for the chosen priestess. A hush slowly fell as Kagome looked down into the arena. Sesshoumaru was watching her, still and aloof as ever. His expression was unreadable, his body language placid. She hated that she couldn’t understand him or read him at all. Kagome took a deep breath and channeled her irritation with him into her courage.

               “Lord Sesshoumaru. Higurashi Kagome, Shikon Priestess and firstborn heir of the Sunset Shrine, accepts your challenge.” That nobody would know of the shrine for ages was neither here nor there. Kagome could be self-important too.

               The murmurs started up again. Kagome thought she saw a slight twitch in Sesshoumaru’s expression, but he was much too far away to be sure. Ignoring all of it, she focused on her plan as she took her time descending from the viewing box and making her way to where Sesshoumaru stood. He obviously expected to beat her – he was a demon, after all, and she was human. He had the advantage in speed, strength, all five senses and probably a couple more besides that. He had his whip and swords. There was no way she could beat him in direct combat. She’d have to use her own power to the best of her abilities – and probably get creative beyond that as well.

               If she could keep him at bay with barriers and arrows, she could avoid his whip and his sword. If she struck him, there was a good chance she’d win – if she didn’t kill him accidentally, it would at least slow him down. Probably. Kagome ignored the little voice in her head that said oh, who am I kidding! She rolled her sleeves up to her elbows and tied them as she walked across the field, coming to stop only a couple feet away from him. She planted her feet in a widened stance and let her balled fists rest on her hips. She gave Sesshoumaru her most stubborn look and waited for him to say something. She had no idea what the rules were here, after all, and he damn well knew that. He looked far too amused than any person – or demon – with such a blank expression had a right to.

               “Do not worry,” he said, loud enough still for everyone to hear him. “I will endeavor not to permanently injure your frail human body.”

               That pissed her off. “Oh, how magnanimous of you, Sesshoumaru.” Gasps erupted far and wide. Ah, hell. The title thing was important to people. “I suppose I’ll return the favor by endeavoring not to purify you irreversibly.” The last was said between gritted teeth because he looked completely nonplussed, only nodding as if indulging her.

               Her power sparked across her skin, but Sesshoumaru leapt about ten paces back, falling into an easy stance and drawing his sword. His mistake is, she thought, that he’ll underestimate me. She didn’t move, shifting into her own stance where he’d left her and letting her power rise as it wanted to. It wasn’t something she had to dig deep down to tap into anymore, not like it had been when she’d been a young teen new to this world and her own power. Now, it was a force she kept leashed without thought but not without effort. Letting go, though - that was so easy, now.

               Her energy rose and bubbled out around her, barely visible as a faint pink haze in the air. Sesshoumaru’s energy immediately matched her action, moving faster and expanding much farther. She scowled at him and let her power expand further. They pushed each other further and further without moving an inch. The sun wasn’t visible above the arena walls, but the heat in the air was still rising. Sweat began to prickle at the base of Kagome’s neck. Demons scrambled away from the bottom rows of the arena to the upper levels that sat further back. Some made a break for the exit and peeked around the corner if they were brave enough.

               That was when he struck. Lightning fast, he was in front of her again. It shocked her so completely that she lost all concentration on her power, knowing it was flaring wildly but trying to process her imminent death and not panic. He had to have slowed himself at the last moment so that Kagome could see his swing coming. She had time to draw the daggers strapped to her upper arms and bring them up to catch Sesshoumaru’s sword between her crossed blades, her heart racing like a frightened animal. The impact rattled the bones in her arms, and she kept her grip on the daggers only by sheer force of will, her whole body sliding backward as she let her stance take some of the inertia of the blow. Holy shit! He wasn’t holding back as much as she would have preferred. He smirked at her as their eyes met over steel, his gaze blazing with intensity now. Kagome was shocked all over again.

               Sesshoumaru pulled back, swinging high on the right and then twirling to hit from the left at the last second. Kagome threw up her right hand to block the first blow and tried to catch up with the feint with her left. She was right-handed and wielding a dagger against a sword. Her dagger caught Sesshoumaru’s sword again, but she didn’t have the strength to fully parry it. She watched in horror as the tip slid through an inch of the meat on her thigh. The gasp erupted from her mouth before the pain erupted in her leg.

Except, it didn’t. Kagome blinked down at her thigh, which was absolutely not sliced open and bleeding. She then looked at the sword in Sesshoumaru’s hand. Tenseiga. She recognized it immediately now that she wasn’t in the heat of the moment. Sesshoumaru obviously realized that she was now fully distracted from the battle, because he dropped his stance and simply stood there watching her stare at his sword.

He challenged me to battle with a sword that can’t cut. She knew he hadn’t drawn it on accident. He’d gone into the fight assuming he’d maim her if he didn’t go to such lengths. He wasn’t wrong, but it incensed her anyway. She’d faced a lot worse than a damn tourney match with Sesshoumaru and it rankled to be treated like she was delicate, true or not. Sesshoumaru’s head tilted ever so slightly, like Kagome was some kind of inferior animal whose behavior he didn’t understand.

               Kagome lunged forward, sinking a dagger deep into his side while holding his gaze with her furious scowl. Sesshoumaru blinked, unimpressed. And then she siphoned holy energy into the wound. From so close, nearly nose to nose, she saw the red bleed into his eyes as his pupils constricted. She could see every line of every tooth in the snarl that erupted from him, some of the vibration rumbling up her arm from where she still held her dagger. She could smell the acrid burn in the air from the poison accumulating in his saliva and fingertips. Kagome yanked the dagger out, cutting to the right and trying to race away, to put some distance between her and the pissed off demon she just poked a hole in. This is fine! She thought hysterically. He did draw Tenseiga, after all! I probably won’t die! She made it about six paces.

               He brought her down in a rough tackle, knocking the air out of her body and filling it with the vibration of an extremely hostile growl instead. Kagome felt like her brain was buzzing, the horizon in front of her tipping from one side to the other in a nauseating lurch. Her power spilled down her back, singeing Sesshoumaru where they touched. So much for distance. Kagome focused harder and smelled burning flesh, gagging at the odor combined with the dizziness she was already fighting off. Again, they were caught in a game of chicken – her power increasing, his growl and the pressure on her back increasing. The stars in her eyes growing more numerous as the heavy smoke of burnt flesh increased steadily. Just when Kagome was sure she was going to black out, the pressure and vibration were gone completely. She rolled onto her back, gasping in one huge lungful of air after the other as fast as she possibly could.

               When Kagome became cognizant of her surroundings again, she realized she was being held at sword point. Tenseiga again. She wasn’t as salty about it the second time. The tip was cold under her chin, with a quiet hum that was fairly disconcerting.

               “Yield, priestess.”

His voice held some of the rumble of the growl she’d felt when Sesshoumaru had had her pinned. Just a smidge. The crowd, she realized, was thrilled and highly amused by the whole spectacle. Assholes. I wish I could show them all. Kagome sought out Inuyasha in the crowd. He was thrilled and amused too, but his eyes were absolutely blazing with pride, and they were fixed on her, not his brother. Kagome took in his body language – hands gripping the rail, mouth pulled into a feral grin, poised like he’d been cheering for her the whole time with as much ferocity as any of the strangers around them. No. Kagome said to herself. I will show them. All. She turned her gaze back to Sesshoumaru and felt her expression mirror her best friends, feral and gleeful in equal measure. His expression didn’t change but Kagome felt like she’d surprised the demon lord, nevertheless.

               “Say my name.” She demanded.

               Now Sesshoumaru was definitely surprised. His eyebrows twitched upward just a few millimeters. Kagome ignored her hummingbird heartrate and attempted something dangerously bold – she directed some of her power through the tip of Tenseiga. The sword instantly lit up red-hot and sparked severely enough that Kagome flinched away from it, eyes closing tight. But she had to follow through with her plan – drawing her knees up to her chest, she put as much force as she could into kicking her feet out in the vicinity of Sesshoumaru’s abdomen. She smelled flesh burning, heard his hand hissing and sizzling, felt the impact against her feet.

               Though Sesshoumaru didn’t actually move, Kagome thought she heard a grunted exhale over the pounding in her chest and the scuffle of the fight. Tenseiga’s point fell away from her throat, which was the point. Kagome drew her knees back again and this time let the momentum carry through into a backwards summersault. Putting her feet under her again, she reached over her shoulder and drew the blade hidden down her back. It was shorter than most of the men’s swords, and thinner, but it was well-made, and she could swing it with a reasonable amount of speed and force. She brought it down in front of her as she settled into a defensive crouch.

               When she had finished the motion and locked eyes on Sesshoumaru again, Kagome was more than a little bit proud of herself. Sesshoumaru hadn’t just let the sword fall from her throat – he’d dropped it completely, letting it clatter to the ground. The crowd was a furious background roar, but she heard Inuyasha’s gleeful shouting over the mindless noise. Sesshoumaru was snarling again. She grinned back at him and offered a small shrug. She whispered under her breath, hoping only Sesshoumaru would hear it.

               “I think you dropped something there, buddy.” Oh, boy, did he hate that. Kagome fought the impulse to turn and run, knowing she’d never beat him. But oh, did she want to run.

               He was on her again in a blink, sword in hand. But this wasn’t Tenseiga. It was Bakusaiga glinting at her, the faintest hints of green glowing withing the steel’s sheen. A prickle of terror rose at Kagome’s nape, spreading down her back. Now he was fighting fair. She blocked his blow, but his strength was, again, thunderous compared to her own mortal limitations.  Force of will kept her trembling legs locked in place, but she simply didn’t have any stopping power against the brute strength of a full demon. She began sliding backwards against the grass and dirt, her knees knocking violently as her legs threatened to give. Sesshoumaru just calmly kept pressing forward, growling in her face.

               “Do you yield, Ka-go-me?” He said clearly. She made a good show of thinking about it.

               “Hm,” it was hard to sound casual when she was being forcibly slid around like furniture, but she tried really hard, “Nah.”

               At that, she twirled to her left. Sesshoumaru snarled loudly and made to press forward, but Kagome was ready for him to be ready for her. As she spun one way, her power lashed out the other direction, snagging on Sesshoumaru’s left ankle and yanking as hard as she could. He didn’t fall, but his foot slipped an inch – it was enough for her to complete her turn and press her blade to his neck, steel bright with holy energy.

               “Do you yield, Lord Sesshoumaru?” Kagome said it loud, from her belly, wanting every demon in the arena hear her make him answer the question. She was high on her own victory. If she never had an edge over Sesshoumaru again, she would die holding onto this one time when her sword touched his skin.

               At this point, Sesshoumaru’s snarling was an ongoing background noise to Kagome just like the crowd. But when she put her sword to his flesh, he roared. She was instantly on her back in the dirt, every inch of her body crushed under Sesshoumaru again. The zing of shock that bolted through her body acted like a true electric shock, paralyzing her in place as is coursed mercilessly through her body. This time, Sesshoumaru’s fangs were locked on her throat instead of his sword, his growl rumbling directly into her neck. As the shock faded, something else ripped through Kagome’s body.

               “I yield! I yield!” Kagome nearly shrieked.

               Sesshoumaru withdrew slowly, lingering for two heartbeats before he finally released her. His growling subsided and he stood, holding out his previously burnt hand for her to take. Kagome looked at his pink, freshly healed hand distrustfully, and then scoured his expression for any sign of deceit. He had called it honorable combat. This is how that sort of thing was supposed to go. Sesshoumaru could have killed her a minimum of four times but hadn’t. So, even though it had been brief, and her pride stung as much as all the aches in her body, Kagome nodded and held out her hand to meet him halfway. Holy shit, she thought to herself when his hand actually wrapped around hers. She felt tiny – her hand almost looked like a doll’s in his grip. Sesshoumaru pulled her to her feet gently. Kagome just focused on brushing herself off and straightening her clothing, trying to also smother the blush that was lingering in her cheeks. She was breathless and sweaty, dirt making every damp place gritty as well. She didn’t need the extra fluster.

               When she looked back at him, she expected to meet his gaze again. Instead, he’d returned to center stage to address the audience. He declared himself the winner, thanked and honored her for participating, and then streaked out of the arena the way he’d come to the sound of thunderous cheers all around. Kagome stood standing where he’d left her all the while, blinking in confusion until Jaken suddenly arrived to shoo her away. Apparently, he was taking over from here and she was in the way.

               Kagome shook herself enough to make her way back to her friends. Some of the audience members were getting up and shuffling out, back towards the shops or possibly wherever they were staying for the duration of the tournament. I guess the opening ceremony is the main event today… With the adrenaline fading and her heart trying to calm its frantic pace, Kagome began to tremble just a little bit all over. It wasn’t the most intense or exerting fight she’d ever fought, but something about it shook her differently from what she’d experienced before. Perhaps because it was a structure match rather than a very real and desperate fight for her life.

               Inuyasha met her halfway, at the bottom of the stands, and swept her into a crushing hug with a cheerful whoop. Kagome only grunted a little in protest, wrapping her arms around his waist and beaming as he gave her a spin before putting her down. When he held her at arm’s length, he still wore that boyish grin that she loved so much. It made him look his age – young. Kagome couldn’t help but beam back at him.

               “I don’t know what you’re so excited about,” she said breathlessly. “I lost Inuyasha.”

               “Kagome, that was amazing!” He looked like he was thinking about twirling her again. Kagome’s stomach churned in warning against the idea but Inuyasha didn’t move to do anything else. “You really got a rise out of that salty old dog! I’d like to see any human – hell, any of these halfwit demons – last as long in the arena with that asshole.”

               The crowd very obviously did not approve of his disrespect, but Kagome laughed uproariously at the language, glad that it covered the shaking in her limbs that was slowly starting to fade. Shippo jumped up into her arms, taking over the conversation to monologue about how incredible Kagome’s part in the battle was. Kagome let them shower her with love and attention, grinning like an idiot and forgetting about Sesshoumaru completely. The jerk.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                The rest of the day was surreal. The demons that had previously stared and whispered now avoided Kagome’s gaze completely, reacting either with fear or with respectful deference. It was bizarre but… not unpleasant. Inuyasha had minimal insight to offer – only the obvious that her little scuffle with Sesshoumaru had made an impression and a prickly irritation that Kagome had a few theories about but refrained from mentioning. Shippo could not stop rehashing every moment of the battle, describing Kagome with far more glory and praise than she felt was really warranted.

                Against her will, the thought of Sesshoumaru’s jaw locked around her throat intruded on her thoughts. Gods, I need to find a boyfriend! She lamented. Her poor deprived libido was really reaching with its weird reactions. When she’d felt the rumbling growl, the blazing heat of Sesshoumaru’s mouth, his sharp teeth pinching but not breaking the skin. Fierce heat had rushed straight to her panties. Maybe she could find herself a potential beau amongst all the demons in attendance. Kagome was a grown woman, after all, and she had needs. The thought was laughable but also frighteningly tempting.

                Instead, she spent the day perusing the shops with Rin, Shippo and Inuyasha. Kirara had disappeared at some point, but she was a cat after all. She’d turn up again when the time was right. Kagome had no idea there were so many magnificent demon-crafted items. One shop boasted rare fabrics and silks crafted into kimonos of unparalleled beauty and other outfits with special features like Inuyasha’s. Another stall sold gems and jewels of all cuts and colors, some of them appearing finer than anything Kagome had seen cut by human hands.

                Some of the shop keepers seemed ready to close up on the spot and be done for the day if Kagome so much as thought about approaching. Others welcomed her approach, hoping that such a prestigious priestess might also be wealthy and indulgent like the lords and ladies. She was sad to say, they’d be disappointed with the contents of her purse. She did, however, find the funds for some candies and toys for the children.

                By the time they all started to get properly hungry, the sun had passed the midway mark in the sky by several finger widths. Kagome was in desperate need of a bath before she did anything else. So, they trudged back to the fortress, again surrendering their weapons at the door – and again, to a significantly changed attitude from the demons assisting them. Kagome shooed off her friends when they entered, sending them upstairs to settle in with instructions to ensure a meal was waiting when she got back. Akasuke appeared in the foyer as the boys and Rin scampered off to head back to their room.

                The pretty servant bowed much lower today than she had yesterday, making Kagome frown. Akasuke caught the look as she straightened and beamed a toothy grin. “My Lady… you have caused a stir.”

                Kagome buried her face in her hands with a groan. “Is everyone going to treat me like an alien from now on? Sesshoumaru kicked my butt, end of story.”

                Akasuke looked taken aback as Kagome peaked through her fingers. “Oh no, my Lady. Do you not understand what happened this morning?”

                “Well, aside from a scuffle in which I was soundly beaten…” Kagome really wished one of these demons would start explaining all the weird social nuance she was missing. “And which left me filthy, so I was hoping I could make my way to the baths… Maybe you could accompany me and assist in understanding?”

                Akasuke grinned and inclined her head, gesturing for Kagome to walk with her. They started down a long hall towards what Kagome suspected was a downward staircase somewhere in the depths of this palace. “The first battle of the Tournament is a great honor in itself, my Lady.”

                Kagome was frowning again. “It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she murmured.

                Akasuke seemed to consider arguing with the young priestess and then let the notion go. She opened a sliding door to the staircase Kagome had suspected they were headed for and allowed Kagome to precede her in descent. Akasuke had a soothing voice, deep and soft, perfect for stories and lecture.

“That his Lordship offered it to you was both offensive and impressive, depending upon whom you ask.” At that, Akasuke gave her a sly smile and Kagome found herself grinning back. “But you did much more than get ‘soundly beaten’ as you have said. You disarmed Lord Sesshoumaru, held your blade to his flesh, and spectacularly set off his temper… without coming to harm. You’re a figure of near mythology at this point. The rumors amongst the servants have wondered at the Lord’s true purpose in bringing you here since we discovered your impending arrival.”

                Kagome blushed hotly, disliking the idea of being a subject of gossip. She focused on something else. “What do you mean, his ‘true purpose?’ Was this whole thing some kind of trap or political scheme?!”

                Akasuke gave her a shocked look at that. “Oh, no, my Lady. Certainly not – Lord Sesshoumaru does not indulge in such machinations. Truthfully, I suspect the Lord despises politics entirely.”

                That was unsurprising, actually, when Kagome thought about it. Politics was a lot of patience and blustering and putting up with other people’s crap. Sesshoumaru wasn’t good at any of that. The thought made Kagome smile as Akasuke continued.

                “I only mean that we wondered if my Lord intended to make of you an ally in some conflict, if he intended to make an example of you – some even suggested that he meant to bring both you and Lord Inuyasha into the pack.”

                That was a hell of an idea. “So, what you’re saying is nobody knows what he’s up to.”

                Akasuke didn’t look back at her, leading the way off the staircase now and through another sliding door to a long hallway. “Lord Sesshoumaru is very selective when sharing his thoughts.” Kagome snorted. “And he does not like for them to be presumed. So, no.” Now, Akasuke did look over her shoulder to smile at Kagome. “Nobody knows what he’s up to.”

                “Hm.” Kagome supposed that Sesshoumaru might be interested in mending bridges with Inuyasha after all this time, but it seemed unlikely. Maybe he wanted to keep them close for Rin’s sake. She said as much to Akasuke, who paused thoughtfully.

                “Perhaps. Dog demons are very pack oriented.  Though many choose a path of solitude, all feel the pull of that instinct. Lady Rin’s absence as she reintegrates with humans may prey upon milord’s need for pack.”

                “Why send her away if he wanted to keep her close?” Kagome figured the answer was obvious, but she wanted to hear it from a demon’s point of view.

                “For education, of course. Lady Rin… had suffered a great deal before meeting Lord Sesshoumaru. She needs much in the way of human rearing to supplement her education here.”

                “Supplement? I thought Sesshoumaru had brought her to live at the village permanently.”

                “She may if she wishes to, of course. But she will also receive the same education any pup of the House would receive, because she was formally adopted into the pack. Because she’s human, it’s very unlikely that she will inherit, so she is free to choose her own destiny. Lady Rin may mate or marry any Lord who would bid for her, continue her life in your human village, or if she wishes she may pursue a warrior’s path.”

                That horrified Kagome a little bit, to imagine the bright soul of Rin molded into a soldier. “Warrior’s path?! Sesshoumaru would let her do that after everything they’ve been through?”

                Akasuke glanced at Kagome again, this time with seriousness. “Lord Sesshoumaru is honorable and will only guide his daughter’s path, not force it. Perhaps some might consider him weak for it, but Inu value our independence. Our bonds are sacred and can only be given freely, never demanded.”

                That piqued Kagome’s curiosity. “Your bonds?”

                “Yes.” Akasuke replied simply, stopping at last to open a door. Hot springs! She led Kagome inside a room that appeared to simply open into a cave, walls and tatami fading to stone and a delightfully soft moss carpet. The stone walls had shelves carved into them, from which Akasuke began retrieving items – starting with a towel that felt luxurious – and handing them over to Kagome. She continued speaking as she retrieved bottles and lumps of soap.

                “We are, of course, fiercely bonded to our family when we are young. It’s instinct – not every Inu makes for a good parent, but most cannot deny the fundamental care a pup requires. As we mature, our bonds become those of choice. Inu are fiercely loyal, but also extremely selective in bestowing their loyalty. Every Inu within this fortress would lay down his or her life for Lord Sesshoumaru even if they believed he were in the wrong.”

                “That’s heavy.” Kagome said faintly as she stood with her towel, two bottles of oil, a lump of soap, and some kind of cream jar.

                Akasuke looked at the load in Kagome’s arms and back to her face with concern, then took the items back from her. Kagome felt her face blaze with heat at the misunderstanding. Think before you speak, dummy! But she let it go.

                “I mean… that’s a lot of trust to give someone,” Kagome said.

                Akasuke nodded and began walking again, leading them around a divider into a changing room, also carved from the stone. There were benches and cubbies and Akasuke placed everything she’d carried in on the former. She turned back to Kagome with a small smile.

                “Indeed, it is. And so, we Inu honor those who share such bonds with us by trusting them in turn. Now,” Akasuke brushed her hands down her kimono, “Would you like assistance with bathing?”

                Kagome held up both hands in a placating gesture. “No, thank you! I can bathe myself just fine. But…” Kagome bit her lip. “I would like some company if you have the time. I want to understand demons better, and Inu specifically. That’s what Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are, right? Dog demons?”

                Akasuke seemed surprised and hesitated, but then gave Kagome a smile that was a little shakier around the edges than she’d seen before from the other woman. “I… have the time to keep you company, my Lady, of course. And I’d be happy to oblige.”

                Kagome wasn’t surprised when Akasuke slunk back towards the changing area they’d passed to acquire more supplies, nor when she returned with a towel tightly knotted over her flat chest. Kagome had a feeling there was more to Akasuke than she knew, but she also suspected that there wasn’t any point in asking yet until she understood the culture better. As the women bathed, they alternated between Akasuke giving information lecture-style and Kagome quizzing the other woman to help her better understand specific circumstances.

                And the picture that began to come together was startling, different from the story she’d come to know. Kagome had always assumed that Izayoi had been the other woman. In reality, the mating between Sesshoumaru’s parents had been dissolved officially and for valid, if widely unknown, reasons. It hadn’t been Izayoi’s humanity that had caused the chaos that ensued from Inuyasha’s birth – only fuel for the fire. What had divided the west was the distraction of Lord Toga to the dangers of the dragon demons as well as Izayoi’s pampered princess nature. It takes a formidable personality to earn the respect of the people. It was common practice for others to challenge the Lady, especially during tournaments and other formal events.

                She also learned why the tournament was so crowded. This was the proving ground for young demons far and wide, seeking mates or alliances or even business. A sufficiently strong male could hope to woo a noble lady through his performance in the arena. Hopeful soldiers were often recruited from these events as well. It was a huge social fixture that Kagome couldn’t believe had been neglected since Inuyasha’s father died. She wondered if it was a case of Sesshoumaru not understanding the value of community events, or if he just didn’t care how it affected anyone but him. Maybe both. She thought uncharitably.

                “Wait a minute, so by battling Sesshoumaru did I like gain rank in demon society or something?” Kagome asked abruptly as she was stewing over some of what Akasuke had said.

                The other woman smiled. “You have not earned any sort of rank or title, but those beneath your ability will be expected to show you deference. Truly, between your own strength in battle and the honor bestowed you as a guest, none should feel at liberty to disrespect you who are not of the Lord’s immediate pack.”

                That left Kagome wide-eyed and open-mouthed. She had nothing to say to that and fell quiet for a while before beginning to ask about family dynamics in Inu culture. They spent much longer than Kagome had originally planned in the springs talking. By the time she returned upstairs, everyone else had eaten and retired for the night. A plate was carefully saved for her, wrapped and sitting on the kotatsu table for whenever she got back.

                Kagome ate, washed, and settled in for bed. Inuyasha was in the same spot as the night before, but this time his eyes were closed, and his breathing was soft and even. He’d stir if anything out of the ordinary tickled his senses, but otherwise he’d doze lightly until morning. Kagome tucked herself in next to Shippo again, staring at the ceiling and turning over everything she’d learned that day. As her eyes drifted closed, she thought back to their first night and realized they’d missed the midday feast after the commencement. She wondered if Sesshoumaru had attended or if he’d disappeared on everyone else as thoroughly as he had her. With the last dregs of consciousness, Kagome reached out with her holy energy and stroked a line down the ceiling where the edge of Sesshoumaru’s energy protected the floor above. Right before she fell all the way asleep, Sesshoumaru’s energy pressed back, like an acknowledgement.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                “Kagoooomeee…” It was a cold, raspy whisper that chilled her to the bone. I know that voice. Whatever she’d been dreaming was derailed completely as she opened her eyes to darkness and terror. She couldn’t see anything – there was no light coming through the window. Is it storming? She couldn’t hear the patter of rain or rumbled of thunder. All she could hear was her heart thudding in her ears.

                The whisper came again, closer this time. Every hair on her body lifted as adrenaline flooded her system. She scrambled out from underneath the blanket and felt her way to the corner of the room where Inuyasha should be. His futon was empty. Kagome threw herself into it and wrapped up tightly in the blanket, fighting whimpers and hyperventilation.

                “You can’t escape me Kagome.” The voice was an inch from her left ear. Naraku.

                Kagome’s mouth dropped open of her own accord and she heaved out the biggest scream she could muster, a long, shrieking note that she prayed would carry to anyone who cared for her. She was alone in the dark with Naraku, back from the dead to finally kill her. When she ran out of air, Kagome drew in a massive breath and began again. Naraku chuckled.

                “Kagome. Kagome. Kagome! KAGOME!” Each time he said her name, she shrieked anew. She was lightheaded, the world spinning, her power flaring wildly around her. Trying desperately to defeat the evil lurking in the dark.

~*~

                Kagome startled awake to the slam of oppressive demonic energy against her own. She gasped, mid-shriek, her throat raw and her face wet with tears. It took several more gasping shrieks for her to realize what was going on. A night terror. Oh, gods. She frantically struggled out from underneath the blankets, leashing her power abruptly and trying not to suffocate under the pressure of Sesshoumaru’s energy. Sesshoumaru. What?

                As her brain slowly focused from her delirious panic, Kagome finally began to register her surroundings. Sesshoumaru stood at the foot of her futon, staring down at her with an intimidating intensity. Kagome pulled the blankets up to her collarbones even though she was fully covered in her yukata. She felt exposed, vulnerable. Kagome looked for her friends, but they weren’t in the room. She was alone with Sesshoumaru. Oh, gods, oh gods, ohgodsohgodsohgods. She began hyperventilating, terrified of the possibility that niggled at her brain even though she knew it couldn’t be true. Panic set in anew and Kagome clenched he blankets, burying her face in them to weep and shudder through the panic attack.

                Abruptly, she was flat on the futon with a growling demon lord crouched over her. Sesshoumaru’s eyes were bleeding red, his teeth bared. Kagome’s breath hitched and her power flared to life, trying to rebuff his presence. It failed, but the jarring experience interrupted her panic momentarily.

                “Calm yourself, woman.” Sesshoumaru rumbled above her, his hair falling like a curtain around them. They weren’t touching at all – his body simply arched over hers without making contact as he stared her down. Nevertheless, it suddenly felt intimate, and Kagome flushed. “You have disturbed the children.”

                She burned with shame now, fighting to take measured breaths and count backwards to calm herself. She shakily began to touch the tips of each finger to her thumbs in a synchronized pattern, reminding herself. Naraku is dead. I am alive. The Jewel is gone. We are okay. Sesshoumaru seemed satisfied that she was behaving herself now because he withdrew, standing at the foot of the futon once again.

                Kagome spent several minutes working through her process before she was ready to acknowledge her silent observer. When she was, she glanced up at him through her lashes, measuring him up. He didn’t appear to be judging her, but then how would she know if he was? This was Sesshoumaru – he could be planning to compassionately put her down like a lame-legged horse and she wouldn’t know the difference. It seemed unlikely, though, since she wasn’t dead.

                “I…” She swallowed thickly and licked her lips. “I’m sorry. It was a night terror. They’ve gotten better, but… I guess the new surroundings and the excitement got to my head.”

                Sesshoumaru said nothing, watching her. She wondered if he thought it was weak to apologize for things like that or if he had bad dreams too. That was hard to picture.

                “Where did Inuyasha and Shippo…?” She didn’t need to ask – she could feel their energy further away on the same floor. But she wanted reassurance.

                “They relocated temporarily for safety.” He said simply.

                Kagome nodded. She knew she’d singed the half demon and her little kit a time or two. Normally Inuyasha toughed it out to watch over her – it must have been a bad one to drive him away. Kagome slumped, tears prickling threateningly at her eyes.

                “It is not of consequence.” The statement was abrupt enough that Kagome had to replay it several times to understand what he’d said – and she still couldn’t figure it out.

                “Excuse me?”

                “You should not trouble yourself over such things. Battle leaves scars, without and within. It is to be expected.” It was all said matter of fact and without any empathetic inflection, but Kagome blinked at him like he’d given her a hug.

                “Are you… reassuring me?” She asked.

                Aha! She saw his eyebrow twitch at the question. He didn’t respond and instead turned as if to leave. Kagome leapt out of the bed to follow him, headless now of her state of dress. He didn’t stop even though she knew he’d have heard her movements, so she kept pace and persisted.

                “Hey! I’m supposed to be an honored guest here, right? The least you could do is put aside the cold shoulder and answer a straight question!” She was running her mouth, she knew, but she couldn’t help it. She needed something to focus on that wasn’t nightmares and panic.

                Sesshoumaru stopped, then, and Kagome almost ran into his back. He glanced over his shoulder, just enough to see her with one eye. “Whether you take assurance from This One’s words or not, they were only the truth.”

                Kagome frowned at him. He was dodgy. A shifty, sketchy, dodgy character who was no good at fibbing. “Oh, okay then.” She said with false nonchalance, letting it go to dive for another prize. “Well, since you’re here why don’t you honor your guest by sharing some tea? Are you in a hurry to be somewhere?”

                Static charged the air between them. Kagome felt like she’d gotten on his nerves somehow, but he was hesitating so that had to mean he was considering it. If she could get him to stick around even for a few minutes out of duty, maybe she could take the opportunity to pose some questions. Sesshoumaru finally turned to look at her. His gaze looked as murderous as she’d ever seen it without any teeth showing but she met it with her best innocent smile. Sesshoumaru didn’t look impressed, but he did sit down at the kotatsu imperiously to await his tea.

                Kagome scampered off to retrieve the supplies and returned to the table to start the pot, then settled herself across from Sesshoumaru. The way he watched her reminded Kagome of Buyo – he used to watch strangers with that same cautious intensity. But unlike Sesshoumaru, Buyo usually did so because he was fat, lazy, and desperate for pets. He’d watch like a hawk until he worked up the determination to stroll by the newcomer to see what they would do. Kagome couldn’t imagine Sesshoumaru casually brushing up against her leg to see if she’d pet him, but she hoped that he was at least open to seeing her as a friend. Kagome smothered the smile that wanted to tug at her lips when the image of a big, white puppy dog rubbing against her legs came to mind unexpectedly and refocused on her purpose in inviting the Killing Perfection to tea.

                “So,” she said at last. “Why did you invite us as honored guests?”

                The silence became abruptly charged, as if Sesshoumaru hadn’t expected her to be so bold as to demand such an answer from him. Kagome truthfully didn’t expect him to answer – she just didn’t know if he’d dodge the question, ignore it completely, get up and leave… The last thing she expected was for him to be as direct as she had.

                “It is deserved,” he said, and the words were colder, stiffer, like he was reluctant to say them at all. Kagome blinked, waiting for a follow-up that wouldn’t come. Eventually, she cleared her throat and tried again.

                “Deserved? As in?” He looked annoyed, though she couldn’t describe how she knew – his facial expression had barely moved.

                “We have allied in battle against a common foe, succeeded in a nationwide war, and you, priestess, singlehandedly destroyed the Jewel that plagued these lands for centuries.” His tone of voice made her feel a little foolish, and the inherent compliment made her feel twice as awkward.

                Kagome flushed, dropping her gaze to the tea supplies, and began to fiddle with the cups, preparing everything for the pour. She muttered to a teacup when she spoke. “It’s not that big of a deal. Everyone else had as much a hand in it as I did. Yourself included, Sesshoumaru.”

                She glanced at him through her lashes and went back to the tea, checking the water for steam. She chose a green tea that smelled of jasmine. Jasmine was her favorite – she’d always preferred it to chamomile or lavender flavors, even as a child. If Sesshoumaru objected to the selection, he didn’t say so. They sat in silence until long after the water was ready and Kagome had started the tea steeping, counting silently in the back of her mind in hopes she wouldn’t scorch the leaves. Only when it had been poured and distributed between them did she speak again.

                “Did you challenge me for the same reason?” Kagome asked at length. She held her cup to her nose and inhaled slowly, sighing blissfully on the exhale.

                “No.” Sesshoumaru immediately lifted the cup to his lips for a sip. Kagome’s tongue tingled – even at the temperature for brewing green tea, it would scorch her mouth if she tried to sip it before letting it cool a bit. She waited for the follow-up – again – and was left hanging.

                “Then why?” She asked, then blew across the top of her cup. Swirls of steam parted, and she watched the little ripples on the surface of her tea while she waited for him to answer.

                “It was the simplest solution to the issue at hand.”

                Gods, getting information out of him was like pulling teeth. “And what issue would that be?” Kagome said with less patience than her previous question.

                “The issue of perception.” Sesshoumaru took another sip of his tea. “This One is aware of your capabilities – perhaps more so than you are, little priestess. Others are not. Gossip and theatrics are common in large communities and gatherings. The best way to undermine any foolish notions or intentions is to demonstrate the consequences.”

                It was the most she’d ever heard him say at one time, and Kagome gaped at him for a moment before she composed herself enough to take a sip of her own tea. Still hot, but not quite enough to burn. She mulled over what he’d said. When he put it that way, it sounded like he’d intentionally gone out of his way to make sure that everyone knew she wasn’t somebody to mess with. Which was inordinately considerate for her perception of the demon Lord. Maybe his perception really has changed. She knew he’d changed in how he cared for Rin, but he’d never shown more than disdain towards Kagome. Then again, he hadn’t been particularly disdainful lately, had he? Had Kagome missed the memo on something as big as Sesshoumaru offering the olive branch?

                “That sounds uncharacteristically considerate of you, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Kagome offered a small smile in the hopes that he would understand she was teasing. This time, she was sure she saw the twitch in his face as he very briefly arched a brow at her.

                “Such respect is uncharacteristic of you, priestess. Perhaps, should you employ it more, you would be satisfied with the results.” At that, Sesshoumaru placed his cup on the table and stood. “You should return to bed.”

                Sensing the dismissal in the words, Kagome nodded, feeling inexplicably off balance, and said nothing. Instead, she stood to see him to the door. Once they were standing on either side of the open doorframe, facing each other in the silent night, she suddenly found herself wanting to get to know him better. She was curious. Who was Sesshoumaru, underneath all the attitude, if he could plan ahead to make sure that people respected her and didn’t cause a scene by making their disdain obvious? Sesshoumaru had invited them to a tournament as allies – it wasn’t friendship, but it was closer than she’d ever thought they would get. He was capable of bestowing recognition on those he’d once despised for their heritage, capable of not only burying the hatchet himself but ensuring that others knew better as well. What else was he capable of?

                Kagome returned to bed after cleaning up and laid awake for a long time before sleep claimed her again. This time, there was no Naraku. Only peaceful slumber and the light press of demonic energy from upstairs. When she woke to Inuyasha and Shippo returning to their suite, she felt happy and refreshed.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                Their second morning was much more relaxed than their first. As far as Kagome was concerned, her being challenged directly by the strongest demon in the nation was the worst-case scenario and it had turned out okay, so how bad could anything else really be? Her optimism was completely rejuvenated, and she was more determined than ever to not only make nice with Sesshoumaru, but to carve their own place out in this society, where her friends belonged. If they grew closer to Sesshoumaru – and others, Kagome thought, Akasuke’s face in mind – then Inuyasha and Shippo could both have a small piece of their long-lost community back. Nobody’s parents could come back from the dead, but the only thing stopping them from building a new family was themselves.

                Rin arrived shortly after the boys, proclaiming that Lord Sesshoumaru had entrusted her to their care for the day. Kagome was delighted. They braided each other’s hair, Rin’s turning out in a beautiful waterfall coronet that pulled her hair away from her face but left it free to flow in the wind. Kagome received a much simpler, but impressive nevertheless, French braid after giving Rin a brief lesson in moderate to advanced braiding techniques. A few loose hairs near her ears and temples framed her face nicely. She praised Rin’s handiwork enthusiastically and sincerely, giving her a hug as the younger girl giggled.

                Dressing herself and the children was a much more raucous affair. She opted for a kimono today, reasonably confident that nobody would try anything the day after her bout with Sesshoumaru. She passed over the maple leaf kimono for the only other one she’d packed – a simple chu-furisode kimono that was dyed an ombre that faded bright red at the bottom, like her priestess hakama, to a snow white at the shoulders. Kagome loved the appeal of her usual colors translated into formalwear. Rin wore a similar kimono that resembled her favorite orange yukata from her prepubescent wardrobe but had red framed cherry blossoms like Sesshoumaru’s dotted across it rather than checkered color.

                Inuyasha and Shippo, of course, were not inclined to primp and wore their usual attire. Inuyasha announced that he planned on entering the tournament as Kagome was in the process of herding everyone to the door. She stood ramrod straight and looked at him, taking in his expression and stance. He was serious, but relaxed. There wasn’t some toxic macho motivation he was trying to hide from her – this was something he just genuinely wanted to do. She wasn’t terribly surprised, but still wanted to know.

                “Why?”

                He scoffed at the question, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “Been quiet, the slaying business. Be nice to blow off some steam, ‘specially since you went and kicked Sesshoumaru’s ass for me before I even got a chance to.”

                He smirked at her as he said the last bit and Kagome grinned back mischievously. She said nothing, nodding her acceptance, and resumed herding the children. Akasuke met them at the door, seeming surprised. She tried to persuade them to stick around for breakfast, but Kagome waved her off – she wanted to try some more of the food from the shops, support local business, mingle. She had a plan in mind now and she was eager to get it underway. Instead, she pleaded with Akasuke to join them, but she declined as she had the day before. She offered to escort them out again and Kagome accepted, falling into step beside her demon friend.

                “What will you do today, then, Akasuke?” Kagome asked as they began their trek to the front gate.

                “There is much laundry to be done, my Lady. And the evening meal to prepare for. Will you be in attendance this evening, my Lady, or shall I expect to bring dinner to your room?” Kagome considered the question, not having thought about dinner yet. 

                “Yes, we will.” She decided. “We’ll come to dinner tonight.” Akasuke smiled at her, and Kagome smiled back.  “What is dinner like during the tournament?”

                Akasuke shrugged. “It is unlike dinner at other times, but typically what you’d expect from a large gathering. Not everyone chooses to attend, of course, but the host is obligated. Many come just to share a meal with their Lord. It is a fair amount noisier than is typical for dinners at the fortress without pups underfoot, but certainly it lacks the drama and violence of the arena if you have any concerns over that.”

                That got Kagome thinking about something else. “Why aren’t there? Any pups under foot, that is.”

                Akasuke looked surprised by the question, but it was brief, and she only shrugged again. “I suppose there will not be until my Lord takes a mate. The Honorable Mother never birthed him any siblings and, of course, you know Lord Inuyasha is neither in residence nor reproducing.” Kagome blushed a little and annoyed herself with her own maidenly reactions. She was a grown woman; the word reproduce shouldn’t embarrass her. “There is Lady Rin, of course. She is human, so perhaps her pups will soon grace these halls. Your kind reproduce so quickly.”

                It wasn’t meant any kind of way, but it made Kagome a little bit nauseous. Rin was much too young for children, marriage, or anything else but being a kid. It was Feudal Japan, Kagome knew, but she couldn’t unlearn her modern principles any more than she could force these people to learn them. She said nothing on the subject to Akasuke, choosing to respect the culture and just hope that Rin wouldn’t become interested too young or feel pressured too early.

                “You don’t think Lord Sesshoumaru will take a mate before Rin gets married and has babies?” Kagome asked instead.

                Akasuke didn’t shrug this time, but Kagome heard it in her voice. “My Lord is very private, solitary, and immensely powerful. No demoness has ever caught his eye that anyone has ever known of. The rumor is that he’s never even indulged in a casual dalliance.”

                That left Kagome stuck between the idea of Sesshoumaru having casual sex and the ridiculous thought that no wonder he’s so pent up all the time. Her cheeks were hot, and she pressed her hands against them to try to cool them.

                “If I may ask yourself the same question, my Lady… why do you have no pups underfoot? You clearly have the mothering instinct.” She gestured to Shippo. Kagome blushed harder.

                “Where I’m from, I’m a bit young still to be considering children. Plus, I have Shippo, and I help my friend with her children as well.” Privately, Kagome also figured Miroku would more than make up for her lack of children by giving Sango as many as she could handle.

                That seemed to pique Akasuke’s interest. “And where is my Lady from that a human in her prime is too young to pup?”

                “Oh, it’s far, far from here. Unreachable, except by magic.” Or time. That made Kagome sad. Grief hit her like a punch in the gut as she thought about the magic that used to sustain the well and the impossibility of seeing her family again without it. She swallowed around a sudden, thick lump in her throat. “Even I can’t go there, anymore.”

                Akasuke’s expression turned appropriately somber. “I grieve for your loss, my Lady.”

                “Thank you.”

                They both let the subject drop, and they were at the front doors soon enough. Getting everyone into their shoes and belongings was a brief kerfuffle, but then they were spilling out into the bright morning light and fresh autumn air. It was cooler, indicating a cold front during the night. It wasn’t truly chilly yet by a long stretch, but it excited Kagome that relief from the oppressive heat was coming. She’d always preferred to bundle up against the cold rather than trying to stay cool in the heat. Letting the grief fall behind her, they embarked on a new day’s adventure.

~*~

                Inuyasha entered the tournament as he’d said he would, so they divided their time throughout the day between watching his matches and wandering up and down the lane in front of the arena that seemed to be bursting with new shops every day. Kagome bought matching cherry blossom hair clips for herself and Rin. They were so finely made they looked like real blossoms freshly dropped from the tree, but they had a sturdiness to them when Kagome held them that reassured her that they wouldn’t fall apart as easily as said blossoms. When she asked, the beaming craftsman declared that they were bone hand carved by his daughter’s claws. He didn’t have any traits that would show what type of demon he was – Kagome had figured out that this meant he probably a full demon from a stronger bloodline – but he had a black rectangular marking that stretched across his right cheekbone from just under his eye to nearly the edge of his hairline at his pointed ear. For Shippo, Kagome bought paints that a young woman with gorgeous plumage that reminded Kagome of a hummingbird.

                They passed weapons, fabrics, toys, games, furniture, décor. There was some of everything here. Kagome could see how valuable this trade would be for the community. She wondered how far these demons had travelled to get here. As they walked, she started to approach those shopkeepers who looked like they’d welcome her even if she couldn’t buy something from them. Kagome made conversation with the people of Sesshoumaru’s lands, learning where they’d come from and how many generations of their family had taken part in their chosen crafts. Some of the fabrics were made by spider demons, which sent Kagome’s anxiety skyrocketing the first time she met one.

                The spider demon that caught her eye was a woman who gave off the air of someone older and more mature even though she looked as young and fresh as anyone else of the semi-immortal persuasion. She could have passed for human from her waist up, if she didn’t have two spindly legs reaching around from her back to join her hands in weaving the fabric she had mounted to a large loom beside her wares. It was going to be a beautiful kimono, if Kagome’s guess was correct based on its shape. Her lower body was the large, bulbous abdomen of a spider with her weight supported by another four long, spindly legs. Kagome’s arms erupted in goosebumps. She took a deep breath and approached the stall.

                She was glad she had when it was said and done. The woman, whose name was Tsumugi, was from the demon village Kagome had passed with her friends on their way here. She knew of the priestess and her friends and bestowed unnecessarily kind praise upon Kagome for slaying the half-bred monster who’d terrorized Japan and given her species a bad name. They discussed fabric and fashion for a while after that. Kagome even described a few modern styles to the spider-demoness. Tsumugi gave her some estimates for the cost of the items and even offered to create a couple of items for free as she learned the new techniques. Kagome demurred, insisting that she’d pay Tsumugi for her time. They parted ways with matching smiles and waves.

                Making friends is awesome! Kagome cheered mentally. They turned back soon after to make their way to the arena again. Judging by the sun’s position, it was about time for Inuyasha to enter the ring again. He’d thoroughly beaten each and every opponent so far, but as he made his way up in the ranks the fights would get more challenging. There were still days of fighting ahead. Kagome badly wanted to fuss and worry over him but knew it would only succeed in irritating him and making him even more bullheaded in battle. Her worrying was for nothing, anyway, as Inuyasha thoroughly thrashed every single opponent he faced for the rest of the day.

~*~

                Dinner was a completely different affair. Kagome and Rin had insisted on returning to their rooms in the early evening to primp and freshen up. They each had washed their faces, found a place for their cherry blossoms in their hair, and indulged in applying some sparing cosmetics. Kagome demonstrated her own makeup based on a more modern look – a smudge of kohl on the lash line, a small amount of rogue on her lips, and a very light powder on her cheekbones. Rin was enamored with the finished look and demanded a replication. The little girl looked much too grown with her face done so neatly, even with the sparing makeup highlighting her youth instead of hiding it.

                Akasuke had come to escort them to dinner. She told Kagome that she would announce her entrance to Lord Sesshoumaru and then turn them over to the servants in the dining room. Kagome wished her friend could stay with her through dinner, but she knew it was busy working in the fortress during the tournament. So, she steeled her nerves and herded her crew down to dinner to eat among a bunch of strangers. And Sesshoumaru. The formal dining area was, apparently, on the second floor.

                And it was massive. Kagome didn’t really know what she’d expected, but there were a dozen rows of a dozen tables all set up. The room surely had to take up most of the floor all by itself. It was lovely, though. The lighting was bright and warm, the cushions looked plush and comfy, and the food smelled divine. As they entered, Akasuke – unphased by the splendor, given that she lived and worked here – announced them.

                “My Lord Sesshoumaru, this humble servant presents your honored guests and your Lady Daughter.” She bowed low, holding the pose for a long beat before she straightened and stepped out of the way.

                The whole room went silent, all eyes turning to them. Kagome felt her knees threaten to tremble and took a deep breath, lifting her chin and smiling serenely. She was hoping for open and friendly with her expression but had the niggling doubt that it instead came off as something more like delusional human trying too hard. She scanned the crowd and was glad she’d worn her pretty red and white furisode. Everyone else was dressed nice for dinner too. Kagome glanced up to the only table turned perpendicular to the others, centered on the wall to her right on a platform about ten centimeters higher than the rest of the room. Sesshoumaru was sat there, alone, and he was looking right back at them.

                Rin executed a quick bow and then hustled over to Sesshoumaru’s table without being told. Kagome was left hesitating – she’d assumed they’d eat together, had discussed it with the young girl. She didn’t realize Rin had planned on eating at the table, Sesshoumaru’s table. Kagome didn’t know if they’d be welcome. She glanced over her shoulder at Inuyasha, who was frowning after Rin. Kagome didn’t know if he’d go willingly if they were welcome. In the end, she was spared from having to decide whether to follow the little girl or go find a table elsewhere by Sesshoumaru. He stood from his seat, placing a hand on Rin’s head when she arrived at his side. The little girl took a seat where Sesshoumaru indicated, at his left side. She gladly claimed the seat and sat happily while her adopted father turned his attention back to Kagome and crew.

                “This One invites you to sit at the high table and sate your hunger.” He said formally, but his tone was less cold than it used to be.

                Kagome looked to Inuyasha again, who was frowning harder. He met her eyes and she shrugged, letting him know she saw no harm in it. He looked at her for another moment and then gave her the barest nod, turning to give the kit permission to join his friend. Shippo raced up to the table to sit next to Rin and Inuyasha matched Kagome’s pace as they followed more sedately behind him. Inuyasha sat himself next to Shippo without waiting to be told where to sit. Sesshoumaru looked at his brother, but if it bothered him to see Inuyasha be rude, he didn’t let on. He’s probably as used to it as anybody, Kagome thought with a smile. Then her eyes met Sesshoumaru’s. And he offered her the seat to his right.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                Kagome hesitated. Did taking this seat have implications? Surely, Sesshoumaru wasn’t the type to lure her into some complex social trap. Most likely he simply wanted to offer her a seat and it was the next open one. It made sense. He probably didn’t care about social conventions anyway – this was Sesshoumaru, after all. He’d spent most of his life, as far as Kagome was aware, enjoying solitary living on the open road rather than mingling with other upper-class demons and socialites. Sesshoumaru’s eyebrow twitched, so Kagome smiled, accepting the seat with grace and a thank-you.

                It looked like nobody was waiting for Sesshoumaru – or he’d already given the signal for dinner – because everyone else was already tucking in between chatting with neighbors or watching the high table. Kagome felt a permanent blush heating her cheeks at being in such a conspicuous position.

                “Red, white, and a cherry blossom.” The baritone surprised her. She turned at Sesshoumaru’s random pronouncement to look at him. He was sipping his tea, his face still turned forward but his eyes canted towards her. “One might infer you were declaring yourself a part of my House, dressed as such.”

                Kagome blinked, her brain doing a one-eighty trying to understand what he’d just said. Red. White. Cherry blossom. She leaned away from him, eyes taking in his haori. She touched the blossom affixed to her hair. Oh, gods. Her whole face was burning.

                “I didn’t mean anything by it,” she said stiffly, trying to stifle her embarrassment. But as her eyes found Sesshoumaru’s face again, she realized he’d turned to look at her fully and he didn’t look particularly offended. He said nothing, though – only watched her. She took a deep breath and tried again. “I guess I should be more careful, huh? Or people will start to talk.”

                She threw in a smile and a chuckle at the end to let him know she was joking. His expression shifted. She couldn’t say exactly what that change meant, but intuition told her it wasn’t a bad thing. Servants arrived offering her selections of meats and vegetables, and Kagome was distracted from Sesshoumaru entirely for a while. She ended up with a plate full of something resembling a chicken stir fry, a bowl of rice, and a fresh cup of green tea. Kagome picked the tea up first, blowing on it lightly before sipping. She hummed appreciatively – it was brewed so perfectly it tasted delicious unsweetened, with hints of something floral that she couldn’t identify.

                Dinner was cozier and more pleasant than she’d expected. With so many guests, and being in the main building of the fortress, Kagome had imagined something stiff and formal, like Sesshoumaru, with tables full of silent diners. Instead, it reminded her of the cafeteria. So many different people and conversations coalescing into a murmur of white noise. Servants moved quietly amongst the tables, offering refills and additional selections. Laughter rang out from time to time, lending an air of congeniality where Kagome had expected to meet an extension of Sesshoumaru’s usual attitude.

                Usual attitude… That got her thinking. Maybe Sesshoumaru wasn’t as stiff as she thought if his people sat and ate with him in so much comfort and familiarity. Kagome wondered if maybe she’d just never gotten to see his friendly side. The notion that Sesshoumaru was secretly a teddy bear, friendly and warm, was simultaneously amusing and intriguing. They were honored guests here. Kagome’s brain was running fast and far with this train of thought, her curiosity surging. Could she get to know Sesshoumaru well enough to see another side of him? She was in as good a position to do so as she would ever be. She glanced at him from underneath her lashes and almost jumped out of her skin. Sesshoumaru was already watching her, the tiniest of smirks tugging at the corner of his lips.

                “Ask, priestess.” He said simply.

                Kagome blinked at him. “How do you know I want to ask you something?”

                Sesshoumaru leaned in closer and Kagome had to fight the impulse to lean back as he closed in. He stopped only when his nose just barely brushed a strand of her hair that had fallen to lie against her neck. It was so close to Kagome’s skin, without touching, that it rose goosebumps up and down her arms. She heard, just barely, the quiet inhale as he scented her before he withdrew as quickly as he’d leaned in. Kagome felt her heart rabbit-fast in her chest.

                “Your curiosity smells like azaleas.” He stated, as simply as if he’d said the sky is blue and not at all like he’d just read her mind by sniffing her. Inuyasha wasn’t that good, her mind threw out traitorously.

                Kagome knew she was tomato red at this point. She flustered. “Quit that!” Her voice was a little too loud, drawing the gazes of their other dining companions. She smiled and waved everyone off as she blushed harder – how is it possible to be this hot and not on fire?! To Sesshoumaru, she whispered furiously, “You can’t go around sniffing out my thoughts and feelings! It’s rude!”

                A quiet, rhythmic rumble distracted her. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru for a long beat before she realized he was laughing at her. Peeved and embarrassed, but fully aware she couldn’t seriously blame him for his naturally good senses, Kagome turned to her meal and took her frustrations out by chewing aggressively and saying nothing else while her face cooled for the rest of the meal. Once she’d politely excused herself and her party, thanking Sesshoumaru for the meal, and scuttled away out of the dining hall with her kit and her half demon, Kagome realized something. She hadn’t asked him anything at all, and he’d given her permission to do exactly that. Rats.

~*~

                Kagome was running. Her power was flaring wildly, her senses on high alert. Every breath burned like icy fire and her heart thundered in her ears beneath the sounds of her own crashing flight through the forest. She didn’t know these trees. She kept tripping, stumbling, branches scratching her from head to toe. Her thin sleeping yukata did little to protect her extremities and the fabric was wearing quickly under the abuse. Her bare feet were throbbing, leaving little bloody prints from injuries and all the debris on the forest floor. Still, she kept running.

                His laughter echoed right over her shoulder. She screamed, ducking to run even faster. Her power shot out behind her in a wild stab at the dark aura following hers. It was so dark out, she couldn’t see the branches that were pummeling her, but she could feel them getting denser. All at once her forward momentum came to an abrupt halt against a low-lying tree branch. Inertia carried her over and around the branch, landing hard enough on the forest floor to knock the wind out of her.

                The forest came to life with insidious energy. The branches of the trees reached for her, trying to pull her away from the path and into the forest. Kagome shrieked, batting at the branches and sending scorching waves of power into her palms. The dark aura grew thicker around her, oppressing her. It was crushing the air out of her lungs, forcing Kagome to labor just to lift herself off the ground. Sweat beaded on her brow as she fought back with her own aura. It was useless. The power around her just pressed harder and harder and harder.

                Kagome wept. It was too much. She couldn’t take any more. She sobbed in great, heaving gulps, desperate to escape this nightmare. Nightmare. Nightmare.

                “Kagome, you are having a nightmare!”

~*~

                Kagome came awake with a heaving gasp that dissolved into hysterical sobs. She was quickly swept into a warm embrace, arms hooked beneath her knees and her shoulder blades. She huddled against the shoulder she was pressed against, throwing her arms around her savior’s neck. Slowly, the fresh terror and tears subsided, and other sensations began to register. The cold prickle of night air on her sweaty neck, the loud quiet of the ever-active outdoors, and a warm, masculine scent that was unfamiliar to her. Oak and savory. She knew who it was. How could she not? Now that she was awake, she knew the oppressive aura in the air wasn’t Naraku’s, back to torment her. Even if she didn’t feel the silky, warm fur against her knees, she’d have known it was Sesshoumaru.

               Kagome could hear the sounds of the forest around them. The auras of the fortress occupants were more distant than she expected. Running off in the grip of a night terror wasn't a first for her, but she had no idea how she'd managed to get out of the fortress and so deep in the trees by herself without someone stopping her sooner. She wondered if her power had hurt anyone and felt despair threaten to take hold. Understanding that it was a trauma response didn't make it any less frustrating that Naraku could still frighten her. Desperate to escape the circular thoughts, Kagome cast around for something else to focus on. 

                “You called me by my name,” she hiccupped quietly into Sesshoumaru’s collar.

                “You often call This One by his given name, little priestess,” he rumbled. Kagome thought he sounded wry but couldn’t be sure.

                She huffed. “Exactly. In character for me. Very out of character for you, Mr. This One.”

                Beginning to feel embarrassed at being held like a child, Kagome wiggled around to indicate she was ready to stand on her own. Sesshoumaru wordlessly released her, regarding her with the same unreadable expression he always had. She was inexplicably disappointed – maybe she wanted to see some concrete indication that she wasn’t imagining the vibe she was getting from him. Kagome just watched him back for a long time, chewing her bottom lip lightly and thinking hard.

                “Why are you doing… all of this?” She asked at length. He only raised an eyebrow in reply and Kagome rolled her eyes – what the hell was with these sons of Toga that they were so difficult to talk to? She wondered if Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were both cases of apples landing near the tree. “I mean, why invite us? Are we friends now? Does our alliance from… from before, extend into now? What’s your motivation here, Sesshoumaru? We were enemies for years, and then you mostly ignored us for years, and now here you are playing big brother and best friend to Inuyasha and me. You told me to ask, at dinner. I’m asking now.”

                A long silence stretched in the wake of her words and Kagome resisted the impulse to fidget. She gave Sesshoumaru her best impression of her mother’s sternest look and waited. Sesshoumaru watched her back for a long time, saying nothing. Kagome eventually realized he wasn’t going to say anything at all and deflated with a sigh. Maybe she shouldn’t expect him to open up right away at her demands. But, then again, it was Sesshoumaru who’d invited her here with honor, placed her and his brother above all others in his house, and seated them at his side at dinner with what was pretty much permission to speak freely, coming from Sesshoumaru. Kagome wasn’t crazy.

                “The path of conquest has no final destination.” What? What does that have to do with anything?! She didn’t get the chance to ask before he continued. “Following the defeat of the half-breed spider, This One walked that path alone again for the first time in a very long time.” Kagome softened. I bet it was lonely. “I have come to realize, little priestess, that conquest may take many forms and it need not be the tedium of mindless violence.”

                “Many forms?” Kagome asked, fully invested now in taking advantage of this mysterious, midnight Sesshoumaru who was almost warm and forthcoming.

                “Indeed. Conquest through success, through lands ripe with wealth and happiness. Conquest through allies, in addition to the defeat of one’s enemies. Power comes in many forms. Pursuing it single mindedly through combat... no longer holds the appeal it did in my youth.”

                Youth, Kagome thought vaguely, wondering how many hundreds of years old this man – this demon – was. Sesshoumaru stepped closer to her, leaving them only a foot apart at most.

                “I can acquire power through other, more enjoyable means,” he said, his voice a dark, quiet rumble. “Such as friendship with a powerful priestess… and my half-breed sibling.” He mentioned Inuyasha after a long pause, like he’d almost forgotten him completely. Kagome suspected it was deliberate.

                “So… you do want to be friends?” Kagome asked, softer than she intended. She thought back to all that had led them to this conversation. “Why didn’t you just say so from the beginning? You were so weird about it!”

                Sesshoumaru shrugged one shoulder as if he couldn’t have less of a care on the matter. “Such things are unfamiliar to me.”

                Kagome stared at him for a moment before bursting out with an incredulous chuckle. “Well, that’s obvious.”

                Sesshoumaru didn’t laugh with her, but he was smirking, and it didn’t feel derogatory. Kagome considered the entire thing a victory. If it took a night terror to get her and Sesshoumaru to actually define their friendship, then that was a price she was okay with having paid.

                “So, what kind of perks do I get for agreeing to befriend the Killing Perfection?” Kagome asked with a grin, taking a chance at joking around with him again.

                “You will not die at my claws.” He said it so very seriously that Kagome’s neck and arms prickled even as she laughed.

                “I guess not murdering your friends is the industry standard.” Kagome shook her head, but she was smiling still. Looking around, she came to a decision and posed a question. “Since we’re friends now… could you maybe help me back to my room? I’ve made a mess of myself and it’ll be a long walk back at a human pace.”

                Sesshoumaru inclined his head ever so slightly, holding out his left hand to her. Kagome slowly took it, not sure what to do from there. She needn’t have worried – Sesshoumaru maneuvered her like she weighed absolutely nothing. He tugged her to his side and tucked her under his arm. Kagome startled when his fur rippled across her right arm, wrapped around Sesshoumaru’s lower back, and slid across her shoulders to drape over her like a furry boa. She blinked up at the demon Lord in surprise.

                “It will be cold.” It was the only warning he gave before his cloud condensed into existence beneath their feat and lifted them up into the air.

                With a squeak, Kagome wrapped both arms tight around Sesshoumaru’s neck and hid her gaze in his shoulder. His arm around her waist adjusted for her changed stance, but he said nothing. A shiver wracked her body as cold wind whipped around her exposed legs. The furry boa then chased the chill away, winding itself around her legs like she was some kind of maypole. Kagome gladly nestled into Sesshoumaru’s side and the warmth of his pelt for the short trip back to her room. She was already drowsy again before they crossed the wall into the fortress. When she fell asleep, it was warm and dreamless.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                Kagome woke up warm, cozy, and with a child tucked up under each arm. Shippo and Rin were both snoozing, limbs akimbo and tangled up with Kagome. She had no idea how Rin had ended up in bed with her, or even how she ended up in bed at all. Something else seemed off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it until she let her energy stretch and uncurl, sensing the beings around her more intentionally. Sesshoumaru was in the sitting room, as was Inuyasha. Given the lack of cursing and crashing, Kagome dared to hope that they were actually interacting without fighting. Everything coalesced from the cobwebs of sleep into memories of the night before – her night terror and midnight flight, Sesshoumaru’s rescue and gentleness with her. The strange, new side of him that she was just beginning to glimpse. Kagome blushed. He’d brought her all the way back to bed and possibly even tucked her into it. Inuyasha, no matter how much he might’ve wanted to, would’ve known better than to make a fuss while Kagome and the kids were sleeping. He valued his life too much to wake a sleeping priestess for anything short of life and death.

                Reigning in her distracted train of thought, Kagome carefully began extricating herself from the tangle of sleeping children. It took several minutes, but once free she was able to complete her morning ablutions and throw on her white haori and red hakama behind the changing screen before quietly slipping out into the sitting room to join the boys. Sesshoumaru sat across the kotatsu table from her and Inuyasha to his left. It was a strange sight, to see the two brothers at a table together and not fighting. An optimistic picture coalesced in Kagome’s mind.

                She pictured Sesshoumaru’s home as a fixture in their life, he and Inuyasha a violent but generally harmless version of frenemies. There would be holidays full of memories, fights and jokes, adventures and misadventures in equal measure. Kagome found it appealing. She’d always secretly wished for a big family, though she’d never dare say it to mama – mama had wanted a big family too, until daddy died, and it made her sad to talk about it. Kagome knew it was okay to talk about things that made mama sad, but she tried to limit such subjects anyway. She wondered what her mother would make of the situation at hand as she went to make a pot of tea, only to find it already brewed for her. She instead distributed cups and hot tea and settled on a cushion to Inuyasha’s left, across from Sesshoumaru.

                “Good morning,” she murmured into her cup before taking a delicate sip. Jasmine green tea. Her favorite. To Sesshoumaru, she posed the obvious question. “To what do we owe the honor this morning, Lord Sesshoumaru?”

                His expression flickered briefly. Kagome hoped he’d both noticed and appreciated her effort to apply the honorific he deserved. He looked at her for a long moment. Kagome was getting used to aging patiently while Sesshoumaru considered her questions – was the lack of rush an immortal thing? She supposed she wouldn’t mind taking her time if she had all of it to spare. Kagome took another sip of tea.

                “This One returned you to your bed early this morning.” She’d managed to forget that, in the haze of sleep, she had spent some part of the night running through the forest and Sesshoumaru had been the one to fetch her back. “The children were perturbed enough to wish to remain at your side.”

                Inuyasha’s ears flattened against his skull and his scowl became impressive. Kagome laid a hand on his with barely a though, smiling softly when it drew his gaze to hers. She knew he hated her night terrors – they scared him as badly as they did her, and there was little he could do except protect her until they ran their course. It had to chafe even worse knowing that not only had it happened in someone else’s territory, but it also hadn’t been Inuyasha to bring her back this time. Kagome could feel a light blush trying to rise in her cheeks as she remembered Sesshoumaru’s gallant rescue of the fainting maiden. How embarrassing! She caught the subtle flare of Sesshoumaru’s nostrils across from her, followed by a twitch at the corners of his mouth before he lifted his cup for a sip. Kagome blushed harder. Keep it together, girl.

                As she set the cup down, Kagome nodded – more to herself than to Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha. “Yes. You did.” Kagome took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. “Thank you for that. Sadly, the kids are fairly used to the night terrors but the bad ones still shake them up a little.”

                Neither male said anything. Inuyasha didn’t need an explanation – he was usually the one chasing Kagome in the dead of the night while she fled and had suffered no few burns in the process, to Kagome’s immense guilt. Kagome decided to barrel forward through the conversation rather than wait on either of them to contribute.

                “I apologize for the disruptions and I hope nobody got hurt. The night terrors are getting better – honest! They just tend to get a little worse whenever I’m sleeping in an unfamiliar environment.” Kagome rambled through the explanation. “I usually wear my reiki out before bed – that helps. And exercise – the deeper I sleep, the less likely I am to get caught in a loop of bad dreams. From now on, I’ll –”

                “Priestess.” Sesshoumaru interrupted with a tone of authority. Kagome’s mouth hung open for a moment before she closed it on her annoyance and decided to hear the rude demon lord out. “You have nothing for which you need apologize, nor have you made any errors which need correcting. Think nothing of it. It is This One’s duty to protect those under his care.”

                There he went, saying more at once than she’d heard in their entire acquaintance prior to the Tournament. And being kind and generous to boot. Kagome stared at him for a long while, trying to understand Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha appeared to be done with socializing and abruptly left the table, grumbling and leaving his tea behind. Kagome’s gaze followed him all the way into the sleeping room, where he shut the door behind himself with a quiet snick. Who spit in his bean curd? She wondered to herself. Silence fell. Sesshoumaru and Kagome amicably existed within it, drinking tea and observing each other without looking.

                Kagome felt a little like she’d stepped through the looking glass. A few days previously, her description of Sesshoumaru and their relationship with him would have been short and concise, not unkind but definitely brutally honest. In the present – well, this present, she thought wryly – Kagome found herself rapidly editing her perception of the mysterious Lord. There was evidence aplenty, and now Sesshoumaru’s outright declaration, but there was a new question growing from the remains of the ones now laid to rest. Who are you really, Sesshoumaru? What kind of man are you hiding behind that icy façade?

                Nothing was said for several moments and Kagome let her thoughts wander. Sesshoumaru’s words echoed in her mind as she slowly replayed the previous night back. She hadn’t given it a whole lot of thought at first, but something was niggling at her mind. Something about last night. Conquest may take many forms. Friendship with a powerful priestess. You will not die at my claws. It will be cold. Kagome abruptly realized what was bugging her. As she thought back on the tail end of their conversation, she remembered pointing out to Sesshoumaru that she’d been dirty with a raggedy yukata by the time he’d shaken her from the nightmare.

                Kagome had woken clean and in a pristine yukata. Her face went beet red as the obvious implication occurred to her. Across the table, Sesshoumaru’s brows rose. To him it probably looked like she’d went into a conniption unprovoked, but Kagome didn’t really care so much while she was dealing with the horrified thought that someone had had to clean and change her. If it had just been Inuyasha, it would be embarrassing still but they could easily laugh it off. With Sesshoumaru in the equation, Kagome’s sensibilities were much more delicate.

                “You smell of green blossoms and honeysuckle.” Sesshoumaru informed her.

                “Am I supposed to know what that means?” Kagome snapped without heat, pressing a hand to each cheek to try to cool the blush. “Sesshoumaru – did Inuyasha clean me up when we got back last night?” The long, heavy pause was telling. Kagome buried her face in her hands with a groan. “A servant?”

                The silence stretched long enough that Kagome lifted her flushed face to look at Sesshoumaru, her expression begging for answers. He didn’t have any particular look to him and Kagome distantly hoped she’d learn to read him sooner rather than later, for the sake of her sanity. He only looked back at her, for so long that she started to wonder if he was going to answer at all.

                “Inuyasha and Akasuke kept the pups preoccupied in your absence. They were not present when we returned.” Kagome blinked at him. He continued. “You did not stir, so This One saw to your comfort and cleanliness prior to returning you to your bed.”

                Kagome’s mouth fell open. Sesshoumaru had cleaned and changed her? It was hard to imagine the demon lord attending to her dirty arms and legs with the kind of patience that had to have been required to bathe an unconscious human. That meant he’d also been the one to change her clothes. Kagome’s blush redoubled. She didn’t think he was the perverted type, so she tried to stifle the virginal modesty that protested his male gaze. I’m sure he doesn’t even register humans as potential partners. Kagome reasoned to herself. Sesshoumaru may have changed a lot, but I don’t think Rin’s changed him that much. Even so, her embarrassment at having to be tended to like a child was substantial. She was a grown woman and this was a Lord among demons.

                “Kagome.”

                Hearing her name in his rumbling baritone drew her attention immediately. Sesshoumaru’s gaze met hers with a shuttered intensity that she wished she could see fully expressed in his facial features. The molten gold of his irises was distracting.

                “What do you know of Inu dynamics?”

                The question threw her all over again. “I, um…” She fumbled for a moment before recalling what she’d learned with Akasuke. “I know that pack is important, and the bigger the better. Inu have their immediate pack of parents and children, their extended packs from any children who leave home to start their own, and a strong sense of community as dog demons in general. Um…”

                Sesshoumaru nodded, the left corner of his mouth lifting two millimeters. “Indeed, priestess. For Inu, pack comes above all else. Pack guards one another, provides care for one another, rears the offspring as a unit. An Inu without pack is vulnerable. And Inu within the pack take all measures to ensure the strength of the whole. It is each pack member’s duty to the others and one to be executed with honor.”

                Kagome wasn’t sure where he was going with this and said so.

                “It is This One’s duty and honor to have provided for the needs of his extended pack while they reside within the Fortress.” He said simply.

                Oh. Sesshoumaru was just shy of spelling it out for her. He’d told her he wanted to be friends, to strengthen the bonds between her pack and the stoic Lord’s. Kagome felt unnecessarily flustered. Sesshoumaru was silent, his face as still as ever, but somehow his expression seemed too full of amusement for her liking. Kagome couldn’t make her stupid brain form any kind of useful response, so she deflected with a question.

                “Why haven’t you started your own pack yet?” It was blurted without thought. Kagome busied herself with refilling their teacups to try and distract her from the heat in her cheeks.

                “This One has not previously encountered any worthy of the place at his side.” Sesshoumaru said it simply, unperturbed by the question Kagome had thought was too personal once she’d asked it.

                Kagome couldn’t help the snort that escaped at that and gave Sesshoumaru an apologetic look for her rudeness. At least her cheeks couldn’t get any pinker. But honestly, did he even hear himself? Worthy, indeed. Sesshoumaru’s brows rose marginally at her response, but she only shrugged and sat her tea down.

                “That’s a little conceited, don’t you think?”

                “Is it?” He countered. “When This One takes a mate, she will become a target, as will her offspring. She will have to protect both my young and my people. Her guidance will mold the Western heirs. Her temperament will affect my people.” Obviously, it was a big responsibility – that made sense, given Sesshoumaru’s position. But it didn’t really answer the question.

                “And in all these years, you’ve never met a female strong enough?” Kagome found that hard to believe.

               Sesshoumaru smirked at her. “This One has met many strong females, little priestess.”

               She ignored the diminutive and persisted, waving a hand in the air dismissively. “There’s more to it than just strength, then. I’m sure you’ve met plenty of smart, strong, cultured demon women. But you’re still single. What are you really looking for?”

                Kagome couldn’t be sure, but she thought she’d surprised him with that one. His expression froze and blanked immediately. She sipped her tea placidly, finally feeling like she was getting her feet back under her in the conversation. She tried to psychoanalyze the male in front of her, working through what she knew about him and trying to connect all the threads to the subject at hand. She wondered if he didn’t actually know what he wanted in a woman, in a mate, outside of the metrics he’d always valued previously.

                “I believe that friendship is meant to be reciprocal, is it not?” Sesshoumaru asked instead of answering. When Kagome only blinked at him in confusion, he continued. “You have obtained a great deal of information from This One and provided little. Perhaps we should rectify this imbalance before you demand my innermost desires.”

                That had Kagome blushing again. Innermost desires! I didn’t ask you what kind of kinks you have, you jerk! I just asked what you like in a lady! She fumed at the twisted words, but refused to be baited. “I’m an open book, Sesshoumaru – all you have to do is ask.” Kagome patted herself on the back mentally for saying it with the same tone her mother would have, placid and warm. She hid her smile in a sip of tea.

                “What lies beyond the bone-eater’s well?”

                Kagome choked on her tea.

~*~

Chapter Text

          “What lies beyond the bone-eater’s well?”

~*~

          Of course Sesshoumaru would start out with the most loaded question imaginable. Kagome knew he wasn’t a stupid man - he’d been around enough to pick up on the obvious even if they hadn’t been especially close. She wondered if he could sense the path she trod with each sad, pointless visit to the old well, if he could smell her tears on the aged wood if he leaned in close. Maybe when they were better friends and that particular nerve didn’t feel so raw, she would ask. In the moment, though, she had to decide what to say to Sesshoumaru about the well. 

          The simplest answer was to just tell the truth. If they were really going to be friends, she’d have to be able to trust him with basic knowledge about herself and vice versa. But there was a niggle of doubt in Kagome’s mind. What if she changed the course of demon history? Her actions in the past could have any number of consequences. Rationally, she was pretty sure that it was scientifically impossible for her to alter a future she’d already experienced, but she’d fallen into the past through a magical well so maybe physics wasn’t as reliable as the future thought it was. Kagome took a deep breath, telling herself to put on her big girl panties and be direct.

          “My home,” Kagome began simply. Sesshoumaru blinked marginally slower than he usually did, but didn’t interrupt so she assumed he was waiting for a full explanation. “I was born - or rather, will be born - in 1982, not far from where the bone eater’s well still stands 500 years in the future.”

          “The future.” His tone didn’t change, but Kagome felt like he was incredulous nevertheless. 

          “The magic in the well activated when I was fourteen and a centipede demon pulled me into the past to get to the jewel. From then until the fall of Naraku, that well acted as a portal that allowed me to go back and forth between this time and the one I was born in. It’s closed now.”

          Kagome couldn’t help the sadness in her heart when she said the last, nor could she say anything else around the lump that suddenly choked her. She missed her mother terribly. She couldn’t even write to her, not really. Neither of them would know what became of the other. Kagome wondered how tall Souta was and if he was looking after mama. Sesshoumaru said nothing and Kagome found that for once she appreciated her emotions being politely ignored.  

          The door behind Kagome was roughly slid open with a snap, startling her enough to nearly splash her tea everywhere. She whipped around to see Inuyasha poised in the doorway with an impressive scowl, looking ready to throw hands. Kagome goggled at him a little bit, still surprised and feeling a little caught out at the sudden intrusion when she was feeling vulnerable. 

          “Inuyasha, what the hell? You almost made me spill my tea!” His ears flattened against his skull as they always did when she yelled at him, but he didn’t let up on his glower. 

          “What the hell did you do, Sesshoumaru? You made her cry!” 

          Kagome was taken aback at the accusation, whipping back to look at Sesshoumaru, who surely wouldn’t appreciate the finger pointing. Sure enough, his own brow furrowed into a much more subtle, but likewise much more terrifying frown. Kagome felt more than heard the low vibration of a growl in the air. 

          “Sit, boy!” The beads were long gone, but he flinched hard nevertheless. “I made myself cry, Inuyasha! Go away!” 

          Rather than soothing his temper, that seemed to irritate Inuyasha even more but he was sufficiently chastised. Rather than argue, he huffed aggressively and turned back into the room. Kagome caught a glimpse of the children watching with wide eyes and hands covering their snickers before the door snapped shut behind Inuyasha’s retreat. Kagome shook her head at the ridiculousness before turning back to Sesshoumaru. To her surprise, he was watching her with a greater intensity than before. Kagome wasn’t really sure what to make of it, but truth be told she was just glad he had let her handle it and the boys hadn’t gotten into a fight. Hell, the only reason they probably refrained during the night was because Inuyasha knew what would happen if they got into it and woke everyone else up. Kagome would be livid. Speaking of last night, Kagome had a few things to ask herself. Unfortunately, Sesshoumaru beat her to it. 

          “You have a family, in the future.” It sounded like a statement, but felt like a question.

          “My mother, grandfather, and younger brother all live on a holy shrine near the well. My dad died when we were little, so it was just the four of us, until I got pulled through the well.” Melancholy was threatening again, and Kagome looked down into her tea cup at the watery reflection and the little grains of tea lurking near the bottom. She made the executive decision to distract herself with a change of subject. “What happened last night? Before and after what I already know about.”

          Sesshoumaru sat in stony silence for so long that Kagome began to fidget with her cup, turning it clockwise and then counterclockwise on the tabletop, unsure if he intended to answer and feeling awkward waiting in the silence. 

          “You vanished into the wilds late in the night. It was only when your aura began to flare as you ran that This One detected your misplacement.” 

          Huh. It wasn’t a surprise to hear - Inuyasha had told her before that she was earily difficult to sense when she was sleeping, with even her scent muted. Their best guess was that her powers tried harder to protect her while she was unconscious. She’d managed to give Inuyasha the slip more than once, usually when he needed to sleep himself. He must have dozed off last night - it explained his edgy attitude with Sesshoumaru, then, if he was kicking himself for dozing during her nightmare. He was always cranky when he worried. 

          “And after?” Kagome prompted when her thoughts circled back around to the original question. “Surely, you didn’t waltz in here and bathe and change me without a word to or from Inuyasha. But I didn’t wake up to a bloodbath, so you two had to have come to some sort of impasse.” 

          Kagome felt like Sesshoumaru was reluctant to spit it out, but he didn’t hesitate as long as she expected him to. “This One promised impressive bodily harm if the children were disturbed.”

          Kagome raised a brow. 

          “This One also reminded the halfbreed that you are capable of impressive bodily harm.” 

          She snorted. That makes more sense. Inuyasha would never back down from a fight with Sesshoumaru. But an exhausted, filthy Kagome who would rain down fire and reiki on her best friend for waking her and the children was a beast Inuyasha wouldn’t contend with.

          “So how did you convince him to let you clean me up?” Kagome’s cheeks heated anew. This will never not be awkward, ohmygods. 

          “The bastard didn’t give me much of a choice.” Inuyasha said gruffly from behind her.

          Kagome turned to find that the kids were up and putting away their bedding. Inuyasha leaned against the door frame, watching the kids go through their morning routine with a scowl that Kagome knew was meant for Sesshoumaru. 

          “I can’t believe either of you.” Kagome snapped, hoping to nip an argument in the bud. “You act like you’re still mortal enemies! Don’t you think you’re a little overdue to let go of your childhood rivalry?”

          Inuyasha’s head whipped around to gape at her in outrage. Sesshoumaru’s raised brows, Kagome presumed, communicated the same emotion. But she’d had enough of the name calling and fighting - if they were really going to be friends, then they were going to be friendly. 

          “ I can’t believe you’d say that after all the shit he’s put us through!” Inuyasha’s voice wasn’t quite a shout as he turned to face her, but it would cross that line sooner than later. “He’s literally tried to kill us both, Kagome! Why are you so hell bent on this- this- playing house shit?!” 

          “Playing house? Inuyasha, I love you, but get some perspective. If you want to live in the past, I can’t stop you. But you and I both know a lot has changed since all of that happened. We defeated Naraku together. We’re allies.”

          Sesshoumaru watched the whole exchange silently so Kagome ignored him. Behind Inuyasha, she caught a glimpse of Rin and Shippo ducking behind the screen to wash their faces. Their giggles made the morning air seem fresher and brighter - the kids were completely ambivalent to the adults bickering. Kagome stood and walked up to Inuyasha, placing a hand on his arm.

          “I know he hurt you,” she said quietly. “I don’t expect you to just get over it all… but I think it’s a good time to move on now, don’t you?”

          Inuyasha’s ears swiveled backwards and down as he scoffed, his gaze cutting away from her. He was still angry. Kagome feared he’d always be angry. But he was also reasonable. Much more so now than he had been when they met. Kagome knew the discussion was far from over, but he was conceding the battle to her for now. He’d keep his mouth shut and play nice until Sesshoumaru pushed one too many buttons. With a sigh, Kagome shook her head. How on earth did she end up with these buffoons? Just lucky, I guess. She thought to herself. 

          The kids darted back out from behind the screen, careening past Inuyasha to take over the living room. Kagome lifted herself up on tiptoe to plant a kiss on Inuyasha’s cheek before turning to greet the children. She caught sight of red and white silk fluttering through the main entrance to the suite as Sesshoumaru stepped out and Akasuke stepped in behind him. 

          The next hour was spent feeding and prepping the children to spend another day out on the lane at the arena. Inuyasha was moving up into the next set of brackets in the tournament, too. When everyone was fed, spot cleaned, and equipped with necessary comforts for a day outside, Kagome said goodbye to Inuyasha and the children at the door. Nothing needed saying between them - this, too, was a bittersweet fact of their routine. After some of the worst nightmares, Kagome occasionally needed to spend the day hiding and licking her psychological wounds. Akasuke was harder to wave off, but Kagome successfully sent her along to see Inuyasha and the kids out the door. 

          The suite would have been deafeningly still and silent if she were staying in a modern hotel, Kagome thought to herself. Nothing but the air conditioning to penetrate the walls around her. Instead, she could hear the low murmur of activity on the floors below, faint susurrations of the breeze passing through the open windows, and the rhythmic wash of the distant shores. At the shrine, it would be the perfect day to throw open the windows, turn up some music, and clean the house. This place didn’t need any cleaning, though, so Kagome made the best of what she had to work with. Piling some cushions together to make a cozy reading spot next to the window, she grabbed a book she’d brought from home. 

~*~

          “Akasuke.” Having tended to the priestess and her group, Akasuke stood before her Lord within his study as he had requested when he left the guest quarters a mere hour prior. She sensed the command in the simple statement of her name.

          “My Lord,” she began, “Inuyasha continues to excel in the tournament, as you are aware. The salesmen on the lane see him with Lady Kagome between bouts - the rumors surrounding milady have shifted with each day passed. She is compelling, milord, and makes friends easily.”

          “Hn.” With the general report acknowledge, Akasuke addressed the more specific issue she’d been tasked with the night before.

          “None of the servants or guests saw Lady Kagome leave the fortress, my Lord. It is as the guardsmen said - she seemed to disappear from within the fortress and appear outside of it faster than the wind.” She hesitated to divulge the next rumor - Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn’t appreciate the folly. However, he would appreciate her reluctance even less. “They are whispering that she can fly or perhaps transform into some otherworldly spirit.”

          Lord Sesshoumaru said nothing further, gaze cutting to the window where land and sea stretched out to the horizon. Akasuke was certain his thoughts followed a similar path to her own. How on earth did a human priestess slip through the night without so much as a scent left in the halls? What manner of creature was Lady Kagome, that she could rival their Lord in power and achieve such unattainable feats? Akasuke briefly detailed the orders and schedule that the priestess had issued before sending her party out without her, including where everyone should be for the rest of the day. Lord Sesshoumaru would know, of course, that the priestess’ presence hadn’t left her rooms, but Akasuke had been tasked with relaying information and she would perform to the fullest. 

          Lord Sesshoumaru’s gaze never left the window, even after he dismissed her. 

~*~

          Kagome was lost in thought. She’d read her favorite fiction novel contentedly for a couple of hours, but she’d begun to feel restless and put the book away. She took some time to unpack her bags into the storage available in the suite - they’d be there for a few more days, might as well get comfortable. After the bags, she tidied up the bedding that the children had put away - they’d done well cleaning up, but they were little and folding big items was hard. With that done, there wasn’t much left to her except her thoughts. Kagome made herself a cup of tea and sat at the kotatsu table, not even considering turning the heat on as the day warmed. 

          Her thoughts mostly featured a specific demon. Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, the Killing Perfection. Her friend. A younger, more naive Kagome would have celebrated the building of this bridge without reservation. Older, traumatized Kagome was nervous about the new social dynamic. Truthfully, even with all of her apprehension, Kagome was mostly just intrigued and very curious. How much could she learn about the mysterious demon who’d lurked on the fringes of their group for so long without fully joining? 

          Deciding to embrace the opportunity, Kagome mentally catalogued what she did know as she sipped her tea. Sesshoumaru used to hate humans, but now he’d adopted one and befriended another. He’d also gone from attempted fratricide to amicable sibling bickering. So he was capable of change, acknowledging when he was wrong, and letting go of the past. He’d pursued conquest single mindedly for years, but now seemed to be preparing to settle down a little bit. Maybe he was maturing with age - Kagome had no frame of reference for demons, but she knew human boys didn’t really finish maturing until they were several years into adulthood so maybe male demons needed even more time because of their long lifespans. Kagome thought about how the boys would react if they knew she was comparing them to immature human men and smiled into her teacup. If the shoe fits… 

          Setting that thought aside, Kagome reflected on what she’d seen since they arrived at Sesshoumaru’s home. He was a man of his word, showing them respect at every turn and upholding his declaration of their honored status. Even his challenge to Kagome on the first day had turned out to be an act of consideration on Sesshoumaru’s part. He could have chosen anyone for the first bout, but he’d opted to simultaneously honor Kagome with the privilege and show everyone she wasn’t to be trifled with. He’d seated them at his table like family in front of his other guests. He’d come to her rescue in the dead of night when he could’ve sent anyone else to do it - he could have let Inuyasha do it. And, she realized, he’d stayed to make sure she was alright afterwards. Sesshoumaru had sat at this very table from the time he’d brought her back to the moment he’d seen she was perfectly fine and resuming normal activity. 

          Sesshoumaru was shaping up to be a pretty solid friend. Kagome was glad, now, that she’d put so much thought into the gifts she’d brought here with them. She promised herself that she’d give as good as she got in regards to Sesshoumaru’s friendship. If a demon who’d sworn to murder them all could do a complete one-eighty, the least Kagome could do was meet him halfway. It would be good for all of them, in the long run, to have Sesshoumaru in the group. He’d be there for Inuyasha and Shippo long after Kagome was dust. Hell, he’d probably outlive Inuyasha too. It was a melancholy line of thought that Kagome swerved hard around. Instead, she determined it was time for a subject change and redirected her thoughts to her last self-imposed mission on earth: finding out why there weren’t demons in the future and fixing it. 

          Kagome cleaned up her teacup and went to her bag, withdrawing her history books and her notes to pour over in her idle time. Judging from the light outside, she had an hour or two before lunch to brainstorm. She hadn’t come up with any solid leads yet, but she couldn’t help the impulse to do something about it, so she just kept looking for clues. Idly, she wished there were someone she could just pose her questions to and discover a lead. If only life were that easy. 

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                When Akasuke returned to the Lady Priestess’ rooms to offer a midday meal, she found the young human engrossed in what looked like work at the low table in the sitting area of her rooms. The bindings of the books and the parchment she wrote upon were very strange, but the priestess didn’t seem perturbed as she flipped through the former and scribbled upon the latter. The young woman didn’t even look up at Akasuke’s entrance. Whatever held her attention held it well. Akasuke cleared her throat politely to no response. Only when she lightly flared her aura did the Lady’s eyes snap upwards to meet hers, wide and doe-like.

                “My lady,” she addressed respectfully, “it is midday – will you require a meal?”

                The girl blinked at her blankly before appearing to comprehend the question posed to her. Akasuke watched her look down at the work spread out before her and then out the window, presumably to gauge the time of day. Something was bothering the young woman, judging by her posture and subdued aura. A bloom of aloe and pine lingered in her scent – whatever was weighing upon her mind, it grieved the little human. The scent of humility with her grief was strange, but Akasuke reminded herself that the woman in question was fairly strange as well. Lady Kagome’s eyes found their way back to Akasuke’s and the human woman smiled.

                “That won’t be necessary, thank you,” the priestess said politely before turning her face back down to her books. “I’ve actually filled up on tea, so maybe I’ll just have a snack in a little while.”

                Akasuke disagreed with her assessment of the necessity of sustenance but refrained from arguing. Instead, she approached the low table and took a chance on expressing her curiosity. “If I may ask, milady, what are you doing?”

                The priestess heaved a sigh and for a moment, Akasuke thought she’d offended the woman like some of the other courtly ladies would be if she asked such a question. No further displeasure was forthcoming, however, and the priestess turned back to Akasuke with a dim smile.

                “I’m trying to solve an impossible problem.”

                “Wouldn’t such a task be futile, milady?” Akasuke wondered if she simply enjoyed the mental rigor – some intellectuals enjoyed such things.

                “I hope not,” The human woman said sadly before turning back to the materials covering the table.

                “Perhaps the solution is not impossible, only difficult to see.” It was a bland, nearly useless bit of wisdom, but Akasuke felt compelled to assist the priestess and didn’t know what else to say.

                “More like impossible to see,” the younger woman said wryly. She looked up at Akasuke and gestured broadly to the tabletop. “The problem is I’ve looked through all of this and there’s nothing else left to find. Whatever the answer is, it’s not in here. I just don’t know what else to do.”

                Ah, now that Akasuke could help with. She may not have the solution to whatever problem ailed the little priestess, but she did know something the young woman most likely did not. “Perhaps, then, you must look elsewhere, milady. Perhaps my Lord’s library?”

                That absolutely caught the human’s attention. She sat up straight on her cushion, a brightness coming into her eyes and a rush of angelica flooding her scent. “There’s a library? That would be wonderful!” Akasuke ducked her head to hide her smile, fondness for the little woman growing rapidly.

                “Of course, my lady. Shall I escort you?” She offered, as much because she wanted to as because of responsibility.

                The priestess quickly began gathering her supplies from the table back into a raggedy yellow sack. Akasuke waited patiently and was rewarded by a flood of information from the priestess as she began to chatter excitedly, though she doubted the young woman realized how much she said. Truthfully, not all of it made any sense to Akasuke but she absorbed as much as she could to report back to her Lord.

                “I’ve been pouring over the same books for years. I tried getting some new material back in the village, but we’re not exactly a wealthy settlement.” The bag Kagome had stuffed looked near to bursting and Akasuke was concerned that its contents would soon spill forth, but the priestess handled it with little delicacy and less concern. No wonder it was ragged. “And what I did manage to get, well it doesn’t really help with my particular problem. But Sesshoumaru has got to have some good stuff in his collection, right?”

                Akasuke was always just a little bit confused by the priestess’ mannerisms, but she more or less understood everything Kagome said. She nodded at the rhetorical question and listened quietly as the priestess went on to describe libraries from her home. Akasuke hadn’t heard of such large collections, but they sounded impressive by the human’s description. Through the chatter, she led the human woman up the stairs towards the library situated beside the Lord’s office. It was typically off limits to guests by virtue of being on the same floor of the building as the Lord’s pack quarters, but the Lady and her entourage were permitted.

                Akasuke took the time to show the lady priestess how the library was arranged but needed to do little else besides that. Once Kagome was turned loose within its walls, nothing within seemed safe from her hungry gaze. Having successfully delivered the young human, Akasuke briefly busied herself with preparing a comfortable spot for Kagome before retreating to secure sustenance for her. It looked like the human woman intended to spend a while in the library and she’d already skipped the midday meal. Taking an educated guess at the woman’s preferences, Akasuke assembled a tray of finger foods that would be easy to eat – some preserved meats, a wedge of cheese, a chunk of bread, and fresh berries. Human nourishment wasn’t as foreign a concept as it once was, with the Lady Rin being human, and Akasuke felt a smidge of pride that she was capable of providing without instruction.

~*~

                Hours had passed. It was too easy to get lost in the history all around her. Kagome was flipping through a book of genealogy, thoroughly distracted from what she was originally seeking by the incredibly long and expansive family trees. She was somewhere near the tenth or eleventh generation of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru’s family history and in awe of how many demons there were. The branch of the family tree she was looking at showed a total of seven siblings, each with at least three children of their own. Not every demon reproduced and some of the branches disappeared into nothing with the passing of the last male heir, but enough demons were born to keep the family growing consistently. Kagome stopped where she was at and found her way to the very end of the tree, where Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were noted as the last two surviving children of Toga’s line. A possibility niggled at her mind, and she began working her way backwards through the lineage instead of forwards.

                “Ever so studious, little priestess.” The low rumble caused Kagome to let out a shriek and nearly jump out of her skin. When Kagome whipped around to look up at Sesshoumaru accusatorily, he didn’t even have the decency to hide the amusement in his eyes.

                “Yes, well,” she began, smoothing her kimono to settle her rattled nerves. She turned her gaze back to the table she’d set up at, covered in scrolls and tomes and amended notes. “I was studying, quite effectively, until I was interrupted.”

                Sesshoumaru ignored the remark, instead taking in the various materials she had assembled. When he sat beside her at the table and picked up one of her notebooks, Kagome realized she’d been thwarted for the moment and closed the book she’d been working on. She knew her modern writing was probably strange for him to read, but if he struggled with it, she couldn’t tell. He said nothing for several minutes, the turning of the pages the only sound in the quiet library. A few more minutes passed before Kagome allowed the work to pull her back in, opening the genealogy once again.

                It was kind of nice, studying next to Sesshoumaru. Though they didn’t speak, Kagome still enjoyed the presence of someone else nearby. She’d spent most of the day alone and while it was nice to have some personal time here and there, Kagome was just too much of a people person. She thrived in the company of her friends and family. She’d never been meant for a solitary life. It made her happy to be surrounded by the noise and chaos of her extended friends and family. She and Sesshoumaru weren’t nearly as close as her friends, though, so Kagome had expected it to be awkward or uncomfortable to have the uptight demon intrude on her studying. Instead, his quiet presence made Kagome feel even more focused, grounded by the company.

                At one point, it looked like Sesshoumaru had started making his own notations in her book. Kagome let him, figuring he couldn’t really do any hard – she’d already notated it nearly to death herself. Kagome quickly lost track of what Sesshoumaru was doing as she worked backwards through the genealogy book. She might’ve found another piece of the puzzle, but she’d need a bigger sample size than just the one family tree. Hopping up from the table, she quickly went back to where she’d found the first book, swapping it for one that was significantly smaller. Kagome didn’t bother taking it back to the table, instead flipping through the pages where she stood. Having seen what she was looking for, she did the same with several more volumes. After six or seven, she considered her theory tentatively substantiated and retreated back to the table.

                Sesshoumaru was watching her, but he said nothing, so she said nothing. Taking stock of the books she had on the table, Kagome selected a few that she no longer wanted and hauled them back to their respective places. She then sought out a couple of tomes that would give her more context to develop her theory. Kagome wondered if she should just lay it out for Sesshoumaru and get his opinion, and even hesitated for a moment before depositing her newly retrieved books and scrolls back at her study spot. He was an intelligent demon, lord of a large territory – he would have valuable insight. After a moment’s deliberation, she decided against it. She wanted to finish her own research first.

                As the big picture drew together, Kagome felt her heart begin to sink. There were a lot of things that she’d prepared herself to face, a lot of problems she’d spent years working through in her mind. The one it looked like she was facing was almost a worst-case scenario. Each and every demonic lineage had gone from having dozens of offspring per generation to only one or two. They were dying out.  Kagome had figured war with humanity was the most likely thing. She’d thought about ways to hide her friends, reasoned it out with herself that they simply couldn’t show themselves to her in the future because of the timeline. Disease, disaster, or famine – anything could happen to a species in five-hundred years. Like naturally occurring extinction.

                Though nothing she read seemed to address it directly or indicate why, some of the medical texts she’d found proved helpful. One of them was a journal kept by a healer – Kagome found illustrations of fibroids, cysts, deformed testes. So ,fertility was definitely a factor but judging by the text accompanying the drawings, the onset of the fertility problems didn’t track back early enough to account for the steady decline of the demon population. So, maybe it’s a multifaceted problem. War, infertility, stubbornly fighting the growth of humanity… demons defeated themselves, in the end. Kagome felt heavy and sad. She let her arms rest on top of the open book in front of her and dropped her head down onto them.

                “Some say it is a curse laid upon demon-kind by a priestess of old.” The quiet rumble drew Kagome from her despairing posture to look at Sesshoumaru. “This is not spoken of with humans. Yet, here you sit before This One as if you mean to solve it singlehandedly.”

                “I do.” Kagome said simply. Maybe it was a stupid response, altruistic and shooting for an unobtainable target, but she meant it. “I will do whatever it takes to secure the future for my friends and family.”

                Sesshoumaru watched her for a long moment. “If it can be done” he said at last, “It would not surprise this one that you would be the one to do it.” That was as high a compliment as Kagome had ever received from Sesshoumaru and she blinked away the tingle of mist in her eyes. “Now, however, it is time for you to eat.”

                Kagome blinked again, this time in confusion. “Eh… what?”

                “It is time for the evening meal.” Sesshoumaru repeated.

                Evening already? Oh! The boys! Kagome quickly began replacing everything she’d brought to the table. To her surprise, Sesshoumaru gracefully stood and scooped up half of the load at once. Kagome was grateful for the help, though – she hadn’t meant to spend the entire afternoon in the library, and she knew Shippo would be antsy to see her after spending the whole day apart. Sesshoumaru silently walked her out of the library and all the way back to her rooms, giving her the barest incline of his head before retreating at the door to the suite.

~*~

Chapter Text

~*~

                Kagome didn’t make it down to dinner. As she started to tuck away her belongings, her eyes caught on Sesshoumaru’s neat script. Instead of getting ready for dinner, she found herself settling back down at the table and reading his notations. The notebook he’d taken it upon himself to annotate was full of Kagome’s theories and speculations. All throughout it, Sesshoumaru had either corrected or confirmed different ideas Kagome had had over time. Sometimes, he gave explanations. Kagome learned more about demon kind over the next hour than she had in years.

                Some things, like sickness and plague, Sesshoumaru had firmly rebuffed as possibilities. Her theories on the decline of the species due to battle and bloodshed seemed to have intrigued him – there were more notes on those pages than others, detailing feuds, wars, and the whittling down of family lines. Kagome grabbed her new notes from the library on the birth rates and used what Sesshoumaru had left for her to fill in gaps in information.

                Inuyasha and the children found her still studying the notes when they returned from dinner with a plate neatly packed for her. Some pointed remarks were made about neglecting her health and Kagome blushed, chastened. Apparently, if Inuyasha was a reliable source of information, Sesshoumaru had been less than pleased when she never showed for dinner. The half-demon seemed a little too chipper as he relayed the information, smirking as he described Sesshoumaru’s angry body language.

                Kagome, for her part, tried to accept the criticism gratefully and failed to. She pouted and frowned as she ate her dinner, then stubbornly returned to her notes as soon as she was done. She was beginning to formulate a hope for a way forward. It  was no more than a nebulous idea at first, born of the observation that demons would die a lot less if they were united as one society rather than divided into clans. It would take a powerful demon to unite so many different subcultures, one who didn’t mind war and had the fortitude for conquest. But if demon kind could be brought together peacefully, that would eliminate one of the bigger factors in the decline of the species. From there, the birth rates might start to climb.

                Kagome put her notes away in order to facilitate bedtime. As she thought it through, Kagome realized that would be just one of several problems that would need to be addressed in order to turn things around for demon kind. There was also the issue of negotiating peace with humans, which Kagome had to assume didn’t go well based on the lack of “out” demons in the future. So, there would need to be a backup plan that included protecting demons from human perception without forcing them into hiding.  Even after Kagome got the kids into bed, her thoughts continued to circle around the idea of protecting demon kind from the future she feared.  They followed her into sleep and haunted her dreams.

~*~

                Inuyasha could tell Kagome was mulling over something important. She was as present and loving as ever, but there was tension in her eyes that told him she was thinking hard about whatever was on her mind. Her scent was in flux too, a bloom of florals that was too much to pick apart overlaid with the scent of aloe. Inuyasha had come to associate aloe with empathy, the affectionate sort of grief that Kagome bubbled over with whenever she saw suffering. He loved and hated the scent, loved the woman deeply for who she was and hated to see her hurting.

                He watched her go through the evening routines and eventually tuck herself into bed. Truthfully, he was a little tired and ready for a nap, but he planned to wait until later, when the castle had settled, to catch a few hours of rest before dawn. Going to sleep with the servants and guests all active and moving around was a challenge he never felt like tackling. Hypervigilance is hard to unlearn. Instead, Inuyasha settled himself into his usual spot and let his senses guide his awareness.

                Kagome was dreaming already, but the kids were in deep and heavy sleeps. Somewhere on the floor, he could hear Akasuke’s tread and sense her energy, but aside from her they were alone. Sesshoumaru’s energy was more distant than usual – he was still downstairs somewhere, dealing with Lordly business no doubt. Servants moved about, settling the castle for the night. Guests trickled away from the dining hall, retiring to various rooms throughout the building.

                Inuyasha’s thoughts circled back around to his half-brother and his best friend. Sesshoumaru had been excessively irritated when Kagome hadn’t come to dinner – though he didn’t really behave any differently from usual, there was an edge to his energy and scent as well as a thunderous look in his eyes. The half-demon wondered what had happened between the two of them for Sesshoumaru to be so bent out of shape over something so minor.

                Everyone thought he had the emotional intelligence of a rock, but Inuyasha liked to think that he’d come a long way over the years. Far enough to notice the something building between Sesshoumaru and Kagome, even if he couldn’t understand it yet.  Sesshoumaru was up to something and Inuyasha didn’t like where his gut was telling him things were going. It was irrational, improbable, insane. But there were so few rational explanations for what was happening right in front of his eyes.

                Sesshoumaru had strategically elevated Kagome to the highest possible status a human woman in a demon court could achieve. He’d deliberately placed her close to him and the bastard had even demonstrated a vested interest in her wellbeing. If it were anyone else, Inuyasha would be absolutely certain he was making a move on the beautiful priestess. Still, he hadn’t been raised in this fancy high society shit. Maybe his knee-jerk reaction was unwarranted. This was Sesshoumaru, after all. Maybe the frustrating woman was right, and this was simple pack bonding, an overdue reparation of the broken family they once were.

                He glanced over at the woman in question, examining her sleeping profile in the darkness. For all his own back-patting over his emotional growth, Inuyasha found he couldn’t decide if he was feeling resignation or dread.

~*~