Snow in October

ROSELOTUS


"... can read the future! Father, listen to me! This will work!"

"Why are you just sitting there? Why aren't you doing anything?"

"... it doesn't work that way-"

"Get a hold of yourself, ... Just try!"

Kagome's sweat dampened the hair around her forehead as she tossed and turned.

"I'm trying! I am! But, I can't.. I can't see! It's dark and no one can hear me! I'm not opening that door again."

"Thank you, ... You saved our lands. We will never forget."

"... Will you come visit again?"

"Yes.. I will, ..."

Kagome gasped and sat up. She whipped her head back and forth to see where she was and calmed down, knowing she was in her bedroom. Kagome sighed and rubbed her temples. She hadn't gotten those dreams in the last 2 months. It was the same dream where she was walking through a dark corridor of her Yuugen. There were doors all around her and as she ran down the aisle to get out of the darkness, different voices shot out at her. At the end, when she couldn't find the exit no matter how far she ran, there was a boy with no face appearing in front of her, asking if she was going to come again. She hadn't responded in the dream, but she had heard her voice reply that she will.

Kagome draped an outer kimono layer over her haneri (inner kimono) and slipped out her bedroom doors. It's been 2 weeks since she came to Sesshomaru's castle and all shes been doing was training with Sesshomaru with basic combat and a katana. She only talked to Midoriko twice the entire week before she never responded again.

Her feet led her to the garden area where she sat on the edge of koi pond. Kagome glanced over the edge and her eyes followed each passing fish, before sighing.

"Sometimes, I feel like I'm missing a part of me, which is stupid.. right?" She whispered to no one but herself.

She glanced up at the sun rise. Kagome was always busy chasing the jewels and being trapped in dreams that she never had time to sky gaze as much as she wanted to. The scenery in the feudal era were truly mesmerizing.

Kagome decided to ignore Sesshomaru's youki she had felt seconds after she entered the garden. She smiled to herself. How did such a Lord she had once feared, become so comforting.

She felt as though he wouldn't leave until she did so Kagome melted into the comfort of his aura as she and Sesshomaru watched the sun rise together.

Kagome changed into her training clothes which were just like a regular kimono except it came up to above her knees and she had shorter sleeves that ended at her elbow. She placed her katana securely on her back and set out to the dojo.

She arrived earlier than Sesshomaru and decided to train a bit by herself. Before she started, she tied a small bell to her hip. Kagome and Sesshomaru played a game where they both try to take each others bell. It was a tie with a pending score of 8-8.

Kagome unsheathed her katana on her back and went into position. One vertical foot behind the other slight horizontal one for a sturdy base stance, her hands holding the blade poised in front of her. A week ago she would've just tried to stab with a katana, now she danced with one and felt empty without it. Kind of how she felt uneasy without her yellow backpack.

Kagome outstretched her hand and turned to spin to the other side when it clanged with another blade.

"What the- Sesshomaru!" She said appalled. "When did you enter? I didn't feel your aura." Kagome said, she usually had.

"I hid it." He replied before she heard the chime of a bell. Sesshomaru lifted his left hand and held between his fingers, was her bell.

"9-8."

Kagome gaped and looked down at her hip, now noticing the disappearance of it.

"How? When? Huh?"

"English, miko. I took it when you were distracted by the sound of our blade clashing." Sesshomaru said, smirking. He tossed the bell back to her and she caught it glaring at him, before retying it at her hip.

"Whatever, that didn't count. Don't you dare add that to your score." She narrowed her eyes at him, a habit she picked up from the other.

He walked a 4 feet away from her before stopping and turning back to her.

"And if I don't?" Sesshomaru said. The hand holding tokijin was calmly at his side, not looking like it would attack at all.

Unknown to the Sesshomaru a pink translucent orb formed behind him and zipped through his sleeve to barely singe him.

The shock showed on his face as he looked down, hearing the ripping of the cloth before the tingle on his arm. Sesshomaru touched the fabric and saw a clean cut. He looked back up to see Kagome wearing a sly smile on her face.

"Surprised?"

".. Where did that come from?" Sesshomaru normally didn't ask questions, but soon realized that if he was going to get something out of the miko, he would have to ask.

She scratched the back of her neck lightly out of habit. "I've been practicing to hide the aura of my attacks." Kagome grinned feeling how proud he was before he quickly contain it. After learning how to sense feelings, she came to know that he wasn't exactly "made out of ice".

"Hn. About time." Sesshomaru said in a monotone voice, knowing she felt his emotions anyways.

Kagome laughed knowing that wasn't what he meant. In annoyance, he lunged at her and if she hadn't been a second slower, he would've cut her.

Metal clanged against metal as her blade was dangerously close to her nose, his golden eyes stared down at her azure eyes.

"Focus, miko."

Kagome rolled her eyes and put her powers into the blade and pushed against tokijin, making him jump back before he got purified. She put her power at her feet and dashed at the speed of ones that could compare to Sesshomaru, aiming at his bells. Of course, he wouldn't let her get it that easily, and she had to put up a barrier before his whips could touch her.

After a few similar exchanges, they were back to their original places.

Kagome dashed to a position near him before realizing who had the upper hand. He easily slashed at her arm which held the blade and she grit her teeth, letting her katana drop, as she jumped back to her spot. Her left hand grabbed at her right arm and it healed in less than 3 seconds.

He raised his hand and her bell was in between them.

"Now it's 9-8."

"Sure, for me not for you." Kagome said, confidently. Sesshomaru raised a brow at her and the bell in his hand turned into a exact replica but instead it was made out of her miko powers. He quickly dropped her morphed powers, feeling the tingle at his fingertips. The pink "bell" fell like an object towards the floor and it disintegrated before it could reach the floor. Sesshomaru looked up to her hip to see the bells still there before he trailed up to her hands and saw his bell in her hands.

She shook it lightly with a playful smile painted on her face.

"Not bad, miko." He said, with acknowledgement. Kagome had purposefully placed herself in an awkward position to make him think that it was his win so she could grab at his bell.

Kagome mocked a bow in happiness. "Thank you, Sesshomaru."

"That's it for today, I will be sending a servant to your room. They will help you change into a formal kimono. We are visiting the Northern Lands. Then, come to my study afterwards." Sesshomaru said.

Kagome nodded and walked out the door and heard the soft flapping of wings before Haruto materialized beside her.

"How was training, Kagome?" He asked, curiously. "You're ending rather quickly today."

"Yeah, apparently I'm going to the Northern Lands with him, so he wanted me to prepare early so he can discuss some matters about it later."

"Oh.. I haven't heard of such matters."

They both felt Sesshomaru's youki pulse twice, meaning that he was calling for Haruto.

"Well, there it is." Kagome said, laughing.

"Indeed. Well, if you'll excuse me." He bowed and just as silently as Haruto came, he left.

In front of her door was, Chiharu, a coy female fox youkai.

"Oh! Chiharu! Are you attending to me today?" Kagome said, opening her door and and grabbing her necessary items for her bath.

"Yes, Kagome." Chiharu said, smiling.

"Great!" Kagome shut the door behind her and glanced down at the basket filled with roses/rose petals that Chiharu was holding.

Kagome grinned, "I always wanted to try a rose bath!"

Chiharu looked surprised, "You have never?" Kagome shook her head. "Never found the time."

They talked about random things and found themselves at the bath house already.

"I will prepare the bath, take your time, Kagome." Chiharu resorted to a polite nod instead of a bow, ever since Kagome reprimanded her not to do so many times.

"Okay!" Kagome entered the changing rooms and quickly slipped on a thin towel like always and washed her hair and body once she got to the rinsing station. She smelt the roses before she even entered the main bathing quarters.

She gasped at the sight. The water had turned into a slightly opaque pink with rose every now and then. She found Chiharu still setting roses down in the water and slowly dipped into the water before adjusting and swimming over to her.

"This is beautiful. Thank you, Chiharu." Kagome said, already feeling her skin turn soft due to the infused water. She touched a rose that was passing by and it spun around delicately to the other direction.

"Of course."

"I wish you can join me.." Kagome pouted.

Chiharu chuckled. "All in due time, Lady."

Before Kagome could correct her to calling her just Kagome, a line of servants came in holding baskets full of all sorts of natural beauty treatments. She saw one hold a plate of sliced cucumbers which she presumed was for her face.

Kagome was stunned. "Is that.. all for me?"

"Well, who else?" Chiharu joked, finishing up on the roses and standing up from her kneeled position.

"Oh... well, uhm, I guess I can use a bit of doting today." Kagome said, sheepishly, running a hand through her hair.

A servant had already made their way over to her and asked for her hand.

Kagome, startled at the request, gave it. "Oh, its already starting. Okay, I could get used to this.."

However, one by one, she started feeling a bit too overwhelmed.

"I appreciate the thoughts, but that was too much!" Kagome panicked, talking to an amused fox. "Chiharu! I feel like jelly! Like, like... my skin is really soft! Like... feathers!" Kagome didn't know how to explain it.

"I see." Chiharu replied through a stifle of laughter.

"Were you talking about feathers?" Haruto appeared next to the two females, looking at Kagome queerly.

"No! I mean, yes, but I don't know!" Kagome said, feeling more confused the more she talked. Haruto shot a curious look at Chiharu and she shook her head at him.

Kagome was going to enter her bedroom when Chiharu stopped her. "We will be dressing you in the dressing quarters."

"Huh? Where else is there to dress?"

"Lord Sesshomaru requested a close friend to design your kimono for the meeting." Chiharu explained, "This person also doesn't design for just anyone, so I'm surprised she accepted."

Kagome mouthed an 'oh'. "Who?"

Chiharu was silent as she opened a door and they trailed in, Haruto being the last one, shut it. They weaved right and left before she lifted a Japanese Noren curtain to the side so they could enter.

"This is as far as I shall accompany you, Kagome. I'll see you around." Kagome nodded slowly and turned back to the room they had entered.

"Whoa." She and Haruto both said as Kimono fabrics were all around the room and different uncompleted kimonos were hung up on hooks around the walls. A woman with striking pale golden hair with elf like ears came into the room in a hurry from the other door leading to presumably another sewing/designing quarter.

"The obi..obi..obi." She muttered to herself looking around the floor and searched her table in the corner.

"Uhm.." Kagome began before she found herself at a loss of words staring into pale blue eyes.

"Oh my.. It's really you!" The woman flew up to her in a flurry.

Kagome seemed surprised. "H-huh?"

"It's you! It's really you! Oh my goodness! Do you remember me? Kagome-sama!" The blonde haired female definitely looked like an adult but seemed to be jumping up and down enthusiastically like a child.

"I'm sorry.. who?" Kagome said, feeling bad for snuffing out her excitement.

"Oh, Sesshomaru was right." She pouted before hugging Kagome. "It's okay! I'm Yui! I'm a nymph by the way. Anyways, follow me this way! You're kimono is ready!" Yui picked up an obi that was probably was what she was looking for.

They came into another room where a finished kimono was draped over a chair and among the other kimonos, this one caught her eye the moment she walked in.

Yui noticed her staring at it and smiled, "So you noticed it already. Here I'll help you try it on! Haruto step outside for a bit." Yui winked at the slightly pink man.

They waited until he was out of sight before Kagome shrugged off her layers. It was silent as Yui worked on fitting it onto Kagome

The inner was a pale blue color that was slit on the side, the silk elegantly pooling at her feet. The outer layer was similar to the first, but it was thinner satin that didn't rest on her shoulders. They hovered a centimeter above her shoulders and were clipped onto her obi to make the floating effect and the rest of the fabric came down to her feet. Over that was another pastel blue silk fabric that didn't have sleeves, but she had her arms go in between the slits on both sides and had it rest there.

The whole kimono had a gradient blue to purple effect with beautiful silver flowers woven into the bottom, slowly disappearing as it got to the top.

"Done!" Yui exclaimed. "Oh, it looks so good on you, Kagome!" Her hands clasped together.

"Ah, ah, ah." Yui carefully stopped Kagome from moving to look at the mirror and sat her down in a chair, being extra cautious not to crinkle the kimono. Kagome pouted, but complied.

Another servant came in to do Kagome's hair, behind him was on other servant. Kagome guessed the other was for makeup and accessories, while the first had already brought in a basket of hair accessories. While they came in Yui left, muttering about something she had forgotten.

Kagome held her breath in expectancy at the outcome as the young male youkai intricately started braiding her hair.

"You seem comfortable with doing hair. How long have you done this?" Kagome asked, making small talk. The male seemed surprised that Kagome was talking to him.

"It's been 50 years... I have 3 sisters I tend to at my home." He said softly. "Ohh.. Makes sense. What's your name? I'm Kagome." He seemed even more surprised that she asked for his name.

"Aki, Lady Kagome."

"Please, call me Kagome." She said smiling even though they couldn't see. Kagome made eye contact with the other servant who squeaked and lowered her head. Kagome called out softly, "And your name?"

"Me?" The girl slowly lifted her head. "Kia, Lady Kagome."

"She is one my sister, Kagome." Aki informed.

Kagome nodded taking it in. "Ahh, I see the resemblance. Call me Kagome too." She smiled warmly at Kia, who grinned back. Kia seemed to be holding back her personality. Must be a servant incident in the past seeing how she was filled with fear at meeting my gaze.

"I'll be using the heat rod now." Kagome connected the name to what was probably a curler in her time and nodded. "Okay."

At one point, Aki's fingers stopped touching her hair.

"Kia." Aki called out to the girl and she nodded before stepping in front of Kagome. Kagome closed her eyes as she felt the delicate flutters of the brush on her face.

In less than two minutes the make up was done and Yui was already back in. She was holding a golden moon that she clipped onto the front of Kagome's obi.

They all stared at her after she had gotten up from the chair, including Haruto who was back in the room.

Kagome nervously touched the nape of her neck. "Does it...look weird?"

"No!" They all replied in different tones and Kagome laughed.

"You look beautiful, Kagome!" Yui squealed and Kia beside her nodded vigorously.

The men just gaped a light flush across their cheeks.

Kagome shifted to the other foot. "Can I look yet?"

"Oh!" Yui turned the body length mirror around so Kagome could see her reflection.

Kagome gasped in awe as she stared at the mirror. "I look..." She didn't know what to say.

She turned slightly to see half her hair was woven into a braid and twirled around to look like a flower on the center-back of her head with braids falling from the center of the flower. The rest of her hair curled almost naturally around her. There were blue forget-me-not's placed in her braids. Her front bangs caressed her face, leading her attention to the lightest shimmer of pink on her eye lids and a sakura based lip tint on her lips, leaving a soft pink look.

"Thank you so much. Yui, Aki, and Kia." Kagome said turning to them in appreciation.

They all smiled at her.

"Yui.. this kimono is astonishing. You designed and made this alone?"

Said female grinned. "Of course. Fit to your appearance."

"Well, shall we go before a certain silver haired inu-youkai throws a tantrum?" Yui suggested, Aki and Kia slipped out the door while she had spoken.

Kagome giggled at the thought of a huge dog demon slamming his paws on the floor while whining.

"Yes. Lets." Kagome said, flashing a grin at her.

'Oh, Sesshomaru was going to love her.' Yui thought excitedly.