~The Western Isle, Palace~
Toga, the Inu no Tashio and King of Dogs, waited impatiently upon his throne for the procession that marked his son's return from the celebration of peace in Edo. Quiet murmurs and laughter filled the generously sized hall full of people who waited to welcome their prince home. Out of the corner of his eye, Toga noted Kagome slip into the room, making her way to stand discreetly behind him with other select members of the court.
Though his face didn't change, Toga was relieved. He would not wish to see her slink away into the shadows, avoiding this woman who she claimed Inuyasha would return with. He had not had the chance to query her further on the matter these last weeks. Kagome had buried herself in the devotions of her new role.
"Lady Oracle," he heard Myoga the flea demon murmur a low greeting, and frowned.
That was another matter he had not been able to discuss with her. The news had spread like wildfire almost as soon as she had set foot in the temple, but it was no burden he wished for her.
But it had been unlikely that she had heard word from Inuyasha, so distantly across the sea. Had she Seen his son's new love, and given over to fate's design?
Toga had ever held in making his own destiny, but the gods had his respect still. Kagome had beloved part of his family for the entirety of her life, since her dear father's passing decades ago. He had been a powerful priest, and a true friend. Toga would have preferred to have her wed into his own family, as her closeness with his son had always suggested.
Toga sighed internally. Apparently such a happy union was not to be.
Kagome smiled briefly at Myoga's greeting before turning her attention back to the grand entrance of Toga's main reception hall. Though her face was consciously free of trepidation, she nonetheless felt a faint fluttering in her heart and stomach. I have no idea what's coming.
Ironic, she reflected sardonically, considering her official designation. It was true that she had always known things, but she did dislike the heavy weight of the eyes that now followed her. Many people would consider being in the confidence of the high priests an honour. Kagome found their pushy watchfulness and pointed advice annoying.
Not nearly as annoying as her disappointment in herself in not being as discreet as she thought. It was no wonder they'd been hounding her so relentlessly to take on holy orders. Almost as soon as she'd set foot in that temple they'd sat her down for a series of tests to "test the strength of her precognition"...and she'd passed. Every single one. Internally, Kagome groaned. At the very least it did come with some perks.
Once - just once - one of her many advisors and watchers had diplomatically suggested that it might be proper to distance herself slightly from the royal family in the wake of her holy awakening. The scathing look she had given him had promptly cut off any further suggestions of that kind. After all, how could you tell an oracle she didn't know best?
And now she stood once again in Toga's throne room as she had a hundred times before, listening to the victory drums pound an exultant beat as cheers rose ever closer to the palace. Any moment, her best friend and his new lover would walk through that door and Kagome - she would be as she ever had, only remade.
Outside, the cheers rose to a crescendo and the receiving rooms' doors swung open with slow ceremony. Her breath caught at that first gleam of silver hair and eyes.
As ever, Inuyasha's eyes scanned the room, seeking until they found her and their gazes locked. Uncertainty and remorse shone in those eyes, and her chest tightened. I will not cry. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with neither trepidation or hostility as they communicated wordlessly, and then his eyes were dragged away as his father stepped forward to meet him.
The loss of that connection which she had always felt so keenly was heavy, but Kagome put the feeling aside and focused on the woman at his side.
Looking at her features, Kagome was struck with a sense of familiarity. It was like looking at her own mirror image, if her hair had been parted just so, and her eyes had not been blue, and if her features had been just a bit finer. And around her neck...the Shikon gleamed, so bright and pure that Kagome's breath caught.
So...Kagome considered mutely. Her truest wish come to pass, at the hands of another who could be her twin. It was almost poetically cruel, but her heart already felt lighter, as if a higher purpose had been served.
"Inuyasha," Toga's voice boomed, his pride filling the room. "I am so glad to see you well my son, after your journey, and in such lovely company. What beauty have you brought home to meet me?"
Kagome saw Queen Izayoi cover her mouth discreetly to hide her smile, and could not help but smile in turn. Toga had always had a way of being outrageously charming.
Returning her gaze to the arriving party, Kagome was surprised to see Miroku's piercing gaze fixed upon her. She raised her eyebrow and his expression grew grim as Inuyasha leaned forward, speaking quietly to his father.
Toga, however, was not quiet in his reply.
"Kikyo?" He repeated loudly. "Kikyo of Edo?"
Whispers spread like wildfire, growing quickly into a dull murmur. Inuyasha's ears laid back and the implication of such a revelation struck her just as shock began giving way to panic.
Glancing around quickly, Kagome felt the unease in the room rise. This was about to blow up, and quickly. But what on earth could Toga say? Beautiful and creeping, branches blooming with cherry blossoms spread far past Kikyo's collar, proclaiming her as Inuyasha's mate for all to see.
Fuck me.
Kagome stepped forward, measured and slow, gaining attention with the deliberate strike of each shoe against tile. Passing Toga, she reached forward and took Kikyo's hand in her own.
Surprise coloured the woman's face, the appealing pink fanning across her cheeks as she submitted to Kagome's inspection. The room fell deathly silent.
Releasing her, Kagome circled the couple slowly, engaging in a deliberate fanfare meant to convey ceremony and weighty thought. This, among others, was one of the things she had learned the past few weeks. How to walk, how to speak. How to command attention and hold it.
Coming to a stop once again in front of Kikyo, Kagome slipped her fingers under the jewel, lifting it between them so all closeby could easily see its shining gleam. Studying it silently under Inuyasha and Kikyo's anxious faces, Kagome smiled.
"So," she said finally, startling many. "The Shikon no Tama has chosen a new bearer. It shines brightly in your grasp, Kikyo of Edo."
Hesitantly, the beautiful woman dipped her head. "Thank you…?"
"Kagome," she supplied, smiling benevolently. She lowered the gem back down, letting it rest against Kikyo's silk Kimono.
Turning to Inuyasha, she reached and took his face in her palms. His shock prevented him from offering any resistance as she brought his face down and kissed him ceremonially on his brow.
Releasing him, she raised her voice. "The gods have brought us the blessing they promised when the jewel was born from my body."
Kikyo's eyes widened as Kagome gently grasped her face too, kissing the top of her head in a pronouncement no one dared challenge.
"May you bring Inuyasha all the joy this world has to offer, Kikyo of the West. Be not afraid, for our port is your safe harbour, as the gods surely intended when they sent Inuyasha to find you."
Clearly shocked and unsure, Kikyo offered a low bow and Inuyasha followed. Kagome felt Toga's hands settle on her shoulder, and his quick squeeze conveyed thanks. Stepping back, she let him take over, fading into the shadows. Before she was enveloped in the crowd spilling forward around her, Inuyasha's eyes found hers one final time and she smiled. She blinked, and he was out of sight, surrounded now by those offering well wishes and congratulations.
Once in the narrow corridor outside, she leaned back against the way, her breath coming short in her chest. Oh Inuyasha. All the things she knew, and she had not seen this? You'd think a pending war would filter through a little higher on the priority list.
One thing was certain. The days ahead would not be easy for any of them.
Steeling herself, Kagome pushed off from the wall and began to move resolutely down the hallway.
She had a lot of fucking seeing to do.
~The coast of Ida, Southern Peninsula~
"You're hopeless, Kagura," she muttered to herself as she fought her way through the forest trail that was somehow always overgrown, even though it was the only way into or out of the Western Princes' domain. "Out of your pretty little mind."
The branches that snagged helpfully into her Kimono seemed to laughingly agree, and she wondered bitterly if they were charmed to inconvenience anyone who wasn't a welcome guest.
That thought rankled more than she would ever admit, so she shoved it down, maintaining the cool expression she excelled at.
Trudging along, she unbound her hair. If she was going to look like a mess when she got there, he could bloody well deal with her looking like it wasn't a forest that had torn up her clothes.
Not ten minutes later, she put her hair back up, knowing with a sigh that it would make no difference to him anyway, and only her feminine vanity would take a hit, not his composure.
She would have flown in, but he always took exception to her trying to announce her presence without the required amount of warning. Last time, a thick buffet of his youkai had sent her and her feather tumbling into the sea.
Miserably, she wondered what she saw in such a difficult man anyway.
As she drew closer, the clang of metal on metal rang, and her eyebrows drew up in some interest. Training today, was he? Perhaps he would be in a good mood.
Trodden forest mulch gave way to meandering stone, and finally smooth rock as she rounded the tall outcroppings that circled his preferred grounds. Quietly, Kagura settled against a boulder to watch and wait, not bothering to announce herself.
He was moving slowly, much below his capacity, and a closer look revealed why. His opponent was human.
Clad in black and pale green armour, the man was of a height with the pale youkai lord, which in itself was impressive. It was not his only good quality, Kagura assessed. Sesshomaru had slowed his speed, but his skill was much the same as always, by her judgement. The human man was good.
The style of his garment caught her eye, and she straightened. He was also a demon slayer. What in the world was such a man doing here, sparring in such a friendly, albeit serious manner?
With great interest, Kagura watched the progressive demonstration of skill. Sesshomaru was putting the human through his paces. Was it truly sparing as she had thought, or was it the more measured assessment of teacher to student? Keen ruby eyes followed each twist of the other man's limbs. He certainly moved like Sesshomaru, and not just in the way of a few months knowledge. Such mimicry was the work of years, if not decades.
It was certainly interesting if true. Wasn't the prevalent rumour that Sesshomaru despised humans? He certainly held no love for his human stepmother and hanyou brother. Kagura had never herself witnessed anything to contradict popular opinion.
Abruptly, Sesshomaru shifted gears, and Kagura straightened as the flurry of his attacks increased in speed. Her supposition was confirmed when the previous series of moves repeated, and his opponent matched each blow strike for strike. On and on it went, the daiyoukai increasing each set in speed and in force. She watched in amazement as the demon slayer parried and struck with equal speed and vigour, until at last he seemed to reach the limit of exertion.
A particular blow from Sesshomaru drew a wince and grunt, and the next parry was missed. Only Sesshomaru's perfect reflexes in withdrawal of the strike saved the man from impalation.
Reaching behind his head, the black mask that protected his face was undone, and he groaned lightly.
"Well done, Kohaku," Sesshomaru offered shortly, voice as cool and mellow as it ever was.
Kohaku bowed low at the waist, sheathing his sword. "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru."
"Go," he replied shortly, but not with any force, and Kagura stood, walking closer in the wake of 'Kohaku's' departure.
"Kagura," he acknowledged shortly as he walked to the flat stone where his discarded outer haori rested.
"Training humans now, Sesshomaru?" She queried, eyebrow arched as he shrugged into the garment.
His eyes slid over her in that piercingly dismissive way of his. "Kohaku is my retainer."
And thus, she surmised, exempt from normal human rules.
Nevertheless, she couldn't resist getting one good dig in. "Taking human retainers now, Sesshomaru?" She rejoined flippantly.
He snorted, lightly, and her heart fluttered traitorously.
"Why are you here?" Sesshomaru replied cuttingly, and the flutters abruptly disappeared.
"You haven't heard?" She asked, inspecting her fingernails.
Stone faced, he stared at her. Meeting his gaze with equal blankness, she held for several long moments before her lips gave over, twitching upwards faintly. I lose this round.
"Edo and the West are going to war," she told him, and not a flicker of surprise passed over his eyes. He did already know, the fucking bastard.
"What is it you propose?" He asked cooly, eyes sliding with a gleam over the tears in her clothes.
"Oh," Kagura said offhandedly. "I'm feeling rather ambitious these days. Let's wait until both sides tire themselves out, and we can crush them both between us."
The surprise she was looking for made an appearance, and to her amazement a whisper of a smile curled his lips. It almost even made it into his eyes.
"Your help for my hand in marriage?" he replied dryly. "You grow more cunning by the day, Kagura."
She snorted, flipping her fan open to hide her smile. "Naraku sent me."
"Unlikely," he countered.
"Naraku sent me, after I convinced him to," Kagura corrected agreeably. "I would rather know what you are upto than wonder when you were going to throw a wrench in all our lovely plans."
"Hn."
"So you are planning something."
He sent her a flat look and began to run through his katas, clearly intending she should know this conversation was beneath him.
Fanning herself slowly, Kagura walked casually over to the cliff face that stared out into the sparkling sea. "Naruka doesn't care overmuch for the land, it's the slight against him that drives him to revenge. Inuyasha -" the air grew immediately more oppressive - "must be made to pay. He is prepared to cede the territory to you in exchange for your cooperation in victory."
He didn't reply immediately, but she hadn't expected him to. Like his father and brother, Sesshomaru disdained the hanyou that was her lord and King. She watched the waves patiently as the sun dipped lower and lower.
At last, Sesshomaru hissed in annoyance, sheathing his sword abruptly. He came to stand beside her on the cliff, arms crossed in vexation.
"Even breathing that spider's air gives me a headache," he growled lowly. "It would be far more satisfying to take victory myself."
"But, more costly," Kagura offered lowly in rebuttal. "Will that human retainer of yours be following you into battle?"
He frowned, silent as his eyes pierced the horizon.
"Meet with him," Kagura encouraged. "If you don't like the deal, do what you want, like you always do. What will it hurt?"
The look he shot her clearly said his pride would hurt, but Kagura shrugged, looking away.
"I do not know why you remain loyal to that insect," Sesshomaru said lowly, addressing his comment to the sea below.
"You know I owe him my life," Kagura muttered back. "That counts for something, don't you think?
"And should he find himself my enemy?" Sesshomaru growled, and her throat tightened, because it was the closest he had ever come to asking her allegiance.
"I would really rather," she answered, the faintest quaver in her voice, "that he didn't."
No answer came, so Kagura plucked her feather from her hair. His hair gleamed in the rippling wind as she took to the sky, but Kagura forced her eyes forward and up as she left him far behind.