Chapter 1: You are the New Land God?

I had returned from my visit from Shippo and a quick check up at the Higurashi Shrine to still see my human-self journeying at around sunset. I glanced around to see how the shrine was and to see if any youkai crept in during my absence. I couldn't be too careful since Tomoe isn't always around anymore. I saddened me that, as a fellow familiar of Mikage and his mother, he would leave so frequently while in the God's necessary absence. But, when I sniffed the clouded air and spread my aura, I smiled when I felt and smelt him within the shrine.

I greeted our will-o-the-wisps, Kotetsu and Onikiri. They are wonderful to have around. We chatted for a while in the shrine, discussing what chores needed to be done for tomorrow. They can also be good informants of Tomoe's whereabouts nowadays when he is gone.

I entered and dropped my things off in my room. I headed for the kitchen to make dinner since Tomoe refuses to learn how to cook and eating out all the time is not good for him. I made sure that tonight's dinner was going to be extra tasty as a reward for staying at home. Suddenly, I felt Mikage's aura mixed with a younger female one. I sensed Onikiri and Kotetsu go and greet the Land God as I put the finishing touches on dinner. I suddenly felt Tomoe becoming hostile.

I phased to the prayer room to see what is going on. Tomoe was about to injure and maybe kill the poor young girl out of blinded rage. I phased next to him and jerked on the collar of his kimono, stopping him just an inch away from the frightened child. I straightened him back up roughly, so I could nag at him.

"What are you doing Tomoe?! You are terrifying the poor child! She is our guest as soon as she steps past the Tori, you know that!"

His head was tilted forward to look down at me since I could only still come up to his chest. He looked forlorn and annoyed that he was being nagged at. He glanced at the dazed and confused girl.

"She felt like Mikage, so I acted without thinking. Now, that I look closer she has the mark of the Land God on her forehead."

I sighed in annoyance. I reached up and tugged on his ear.

"I knew that ever since she stepped past the Tori. You need more training! What have you been doing all these years when you should have trained?"

I waited a minute, but he didn't answer me. He just pointedly looked the other way with a slight unnoticeable pout. I sighed.

"Forget it, we will talk later. Right now we shall welcome our guest."

I turned to the even more frightened child that was staring at Onikiri and Kotetsu. I gave her a disarming smile and held out my hand to help her get up.

"I am sorry about his attitude. Please come in and have something to eat and we will explain everything."

The girl was reluctant at first but her clearly grumbling stomach allowed me to lead her to the dining table with dinner prepared. Tomoe grabbed his portion and left to his room to eat and sulk. It disappointed me so much how his manners rotted so. When I turned my attention back onto the girl, Nanami Momozono, she had eaten each dish heartily. It was good to see her eat since she looked a bit too thin for her age. The Nanami from 20 years ago didn't look this underfed. Tomoe or I will need to fix that once she accepts to being the Land God.

After that, I served tea to discuss her new position and home. Tomoe came back in, looking grumpy but satisfied. During my discussion of what the mark on her forehead meant and her new position would be. Tomoe threw a grumpy fit that left both him and Nanami indignant and self-righteous anger. I pulled out my fan and turned my head a bit to the side to not-really-hide the crocodile tears when Tomoe left. I sighed and apologized for Tomoe. Nanami seemed to calm down a bit as I led her to her new room but not wholly satisfied.

The next morning, I had Onikiri and Kotetsu wake up Nanami for breakfast before she did her chores. The purpose of the chores was to get her to understand and forgive Tomoe on her own. After breakfast, I told her that I was going out to town to do some errands, so she would be in the will-o-the-wisps' hands for the morning and afternoon. When I came back just before evening, she looked so exhausted. I made a quick dinner out of some of the groceries I bought before sending her to bed for some rest.

I sighed as I did the missing Tomoe's chores over the next couple of hours. I also went about fixing the run down shrine just in case no one is able to use their power to support it. I had used a silencing spell, so I wouldn't wake up Nanami. When I went to bed for the few hours before sunrise, I was slightly tired. I am old and even if I don't act like it, it is starting to get to me but just not yet. I am still within the prime of my years.

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Kagome's age: 3,266

Kagome's physical age: early 30s – like 31 years old

This will be Kagome's age until I deem the time in the manga her birthday. I think it would be in the next autumn somewhere …