Chapter 4
"You must move on, Earth is no place for a spirit. There are things in the plane you walk that can destroy your soul, take it over. That's a fate worse than passing." Kagome sighed to the spirit glittering before her. Kagome had said this line a thousand times with her grandpa, but this was the first time she was actually telling it to a spirit that hadn't crossed over, all on her own.
"I. . . I can't." The woman stood before Kagome, her form seemingly solid, but the slight glimmer of her being was the only hint that Kagome was the only one that could see her, that her form was as thin as the air the Guide was breathing.
Kagome gave the woman a warm smile. "Your son Junya and his mate Yumi will be fine. They want you to have peace, and in that plane you won't find peace."
"But they are so young," The woman pleaded, "That were only married 10 years ago!"
"And they will have many more years together, and when their time is done you will see them again." Kagome smiled.
"What is my mother saying?" Junya asked nervously. He looked to be about 25 or so, but he was really 300, his wife the same age.
Kagome sighed and smiled at the couple. "She doesn't want to leave you two. She says that you are so young and were only recently married. She doesn't want to leave you because she isn't done watching you grow."
"Exactly!" The mother demon exclaimed, as if someone was finally seeing things her way.
"Can she hear me . . . ?" Yumi asked as her held her clenched hands to her heart, her glowing peridot eyes hopeful.
"She's standing right in front of you . . . she hears every word you say." Kagome smiled warmly. She was standing in the sitting room of the demons house, the coupe facing the mother and not even knowing it.
"Mama Yamagata, I know you love us most dearly, but you must let us go and move on to the kami's. I love you, you were a mother to me when I had no one, and even more so after your son and I wed, but now is your time for peace, for rest." Yumi said sighed, just over a whisper, tears flowing silently down her pale.
After a few tearful exchanges and a softly whispered prayer, Madam Yamagata had passed on and Junya was finally able to breath. She hadn't been an angry spirit, or by any way a hindrance to the couple, just a soul that thought it had unattended to business. Unfortunately, the demoness mother's presence was taking a toll on her son, causing him nightmares, and that was the only reason the couple had asked their mother to pass on.
"I'm happy to have helped you both." Kagome bowed as she wished the couple farewell. Before she could walk away, Yumi stopped her, her pale green eyes soft and slightly puffy from her tears. Even still, she was devastatingly beautiful, like a young angel.
"We would like you to have this." Yumi smiled warmly bowing her head and presenting her hands to Kagome.
Kagome looked at the black covered, Wakizashi blade in the demon woman's hands, unsure of what she supposed to do. Kagome knew that demons often thanked those that helped them, but she had never heard of them giving them their belongings. She knew, however, to refuse a gift from a demon would be very disrespectful and disgraceful for both parties.
Kagome took the foot long blade and bowed to the demons. "Thank you."
"No, thank you." Junya smiled and he and his wife bowed with a soft, almost enveloped look, on their faces as if unhappy to see her leave, before they showed Kagome out of their home.
"Kagome mama!" Shippo cheered and nearly threw himself out of Miroku's arms as she walked up to them as they stood outside the demon's house. Kagome laughed loudly as she took Shippo out of Miroku's hands and hugged him close, the Wakizashi blade still in her right hand.
"I'm sorry it took so long, and you could have come in after all. It was simply a mama who wasn't ready to go of her son yet." Kagome smiled as Shippo nuzzled his face against her braid.
"It wasn't long at all. Actually, it was shorter than I thought it would be." Miroku admitted as he and Kagome started to walk down the paved path leading from the house to the sidewalk.
Kagome smiled as she held Shippo on her hip. "She wasn't an evil spirit, or even agitated. She simply didn't want to leave her son and his wife."
"And you were able to get her to cross over, just like that? So quickly." Miroku asked, an eyebrow hidden under his bangs.
"Well, I could only tell her what would happen if she stayed here, which is normally enough to get the harmless spirits to cross over, and inevitably it was her daughter-in-law who convinced her to move on." Kagome smiled and the hand that held the Wakizashi going to hold Shippo's leg.
"What's that Kagome mama?" Shippo asked as he touched the smooth black scabbard of the blade. Kagome looked down at it to, taking in the mother of pearl inlay of an inu demon and clouds on the sheath and the soft white and black cording along the handle.
"It was a gift from the Yamagata's. . . It's a Wakizashi." Kagome said simply, and Miroku looked at her hand and his eyes bulged.
He looked up into Kagome's eyes and chucked nervously. "They must have been very grateful to you, Kagome. That is obviously an heirloom, and for them to give it to you after only 25 minutes is truly a testament to the peace you gave them."
"Wow . . . all I did was get their mother to go to the heavens." Kagome whispered as they walked down the sidewalk.
Miroku nodded his head as he looked forward. "Well, demons tend to be very possessive of their family, probably why Madam Yamagata wouldn't cross over, and to help a demon's family is a great honor. I know that some high blood demons reward those that help them, but with a family heirloom?"
"That's exactly what I thought." Kagome smile a second before her stomach growled loudly.
"Come on, there's a ramen bar just down the road. Just don't tell Inuyasha we went without him" Miroku smiled and Kagome smiled.
"No worries," Kagome chuckled, "I doubt I'll be talking to that hanyo any time soon."
"My, Kagome if you don't mind my saying but that is a beautiful locket." Miroku smiled after he wiped his mouth of the broth he had just slurped up.
Kagome finished chewing with a smile. "Thank you very much."
"I gave it to her!" Shippo exclaimed, throwing his chopsticks into the air, and getting a few glances from the humans in the restaurant. Honestly, though, Kagome could care less as they stared at her. Demons were a welcome part of society, so they needed to get the sticks out of their rears and get over it.
Miroku grinned at the little demon. "Really?"
"Mmhm," Kagome grinned with pride, touching the etched face of the locket, "He saved up for a whole year to give it to me for Mother's Day. My little brother helped him."
"That was a very sweet thing to do Shippo, you must really love Kagome." Miroku smiled, his heart warming at the idea of the demon and human being so close.
"Of course I love her! She's my mama!" Shippo giggled and leaned close to Kagome. More people were watching them, and Kagome grinned before she leaned close to Shippo and kissed the top of his head, and the humans around her nearly lost their dinner.
Kagome smiled so wide it hurt her cheeks as she pulled the little kitsune close, into her lap. She nuzzled her face in his soft hair and kissed the top of his head a moment before she pushed her bowl away, completely full and very comfortable. Today had been one of the best and the great dinner had just been a great end to it.
Miroku smiled as warmly at the two. "Well, let's get back home."
Kagome nodded and they made their way out of the restaurant and down the road home. The Wakizashi bumped against Kagome's leg as she walked, having tied it to her pants belt loop before they got to the ramen house, but was wasn't so annoying that Kagome couldn't stand it.
Shippo was talking very excitedly to Miroku, telling the man all about the different things he did to save money for his Kagome mama's gift, and Kagome was happy to see him so animated. Telling Miroku about the gutters he had to clean, the leaves he had to rake, and the countless prayer he had to help with to make money.
"Then, before Mother's day got here, Souta and I went to the jewelry store and he said Kagome mama would like a locket, and this one was the first one I saw!" Shippo cheered as they walked up to the bar at the front of Shikon House property.
"Wow, Shippo, you have a real eye for jewelry, you'll make some woman very happy someday." Miroku chuckled and Shippo stuck his tongue out.
"Yuck." Shippo whined and Kagome laughed.
"That's right, the only woman for you is me, huh Shippo?" Kagome giggled and held Shippo tight as he nuzzled her hair again. She wasn't sure what his obsession with her hair was, all she knew was it soothed the kitsune, so she never questioned him.
"A good taste in women to." Miroku chuckled and Kagome rolled her eyes as she saw the mischievous look in his eyes as they got closer to the houses.
They quickly walked into the south house and were called into the sitting room by Sango. She was sitting at the low table, drinking tea with Ayame.
"Hey you two, did all go well?" Sango smiled as Miroku walked in and sat down next to her.
"Beautifully, Kagome lives up to her family's name." Miroku smiled as he leaned close to Sango. They kissed each other for only a moment, but as he got comfortable beside her she got a very stern scowl on her face.
"Miroku-" She started but Miroku quickly pulled away from her and whistled softly, and Kagome scowled as she sat next to Ayame.
"Don't ask Kagome, its better that way." Ayame giggled and Sango shook her head as she rubbed her temples.
"So, Kagome, it seems you're a fast worker. I've heard that it could take days to get a spirit to cross over." Sango smiled brightly.
"Kagome mama is just amazing!" Shippo exclaimed, making the adults around him laugh. He grinned with pride a moment before he looked up at Kagome with warm eyes.
"Can I go to the garden, Kagome mama? I wanna play a little before bed." Shippo asked, using his sweetest voice and pouting both his eyes and mouth.
"Alright silly, but only for a little while. You need a bath before bed." Kagome giggled and Shippo laughed and hugged Kagome around the neck a moment before he ran out of the room toward the gardens.
"It's almost like you are his mother, he's so close to you. It has to be your scent." Ayame giggled and Kagome scowled.
"My scent?" Kagome asked as she looked to the three other adults sitting at the table. She knew demon's sense of smell was incredible, but what did that have to do with her and her son?
Ayame grinned and turned to the young Spirit Guide. "Well, demons can smell very well."
'I know that . . .' Kagome thought with a chuckle, but remained quiet as Ayame continued.
"We can smell fear, agitation, excitement, anything. It all goes back to our baser instincts, our natural beings. We are first and foremost, part of the earth, animals. Animals sense things through smell, and that's what makes them tense or comfortable around people. For insistence, certain people are dog or cat people, because of the emotions and smells they put off when they see those animals. Same thing with demons. We're more comfortable, or even happier, around those that smell best to us."
"And. . . I smell . . . good?" Kagome tried her best to sound serious, but ended up chuckling through her question. Ayame didn't seem offended by the chuckle, but seamed encouraged by it.
"Divine." Ayame grinned and Kagome stopped laughing to stare at the wolf demon.
"What?" Kagome asked, unsure what else to say to that last comment made to her.
"You have a very welcoming smell, almost like what a warm home would smell like after getting out of the cold rain, but it's also very earthy and sweet, like an herbal or rose garden. It's also got a bit of a luxurious undertone, like a hot cup of coco or fresh, clean silk. It's remarkably delicious." Ayame explained very simply, as if she was discussing something very every day, and Kagome was left starring into her bright green eyes, dumbfounded.
Miroku decided that he would end the awkwardness for the human's and clear his throat. "The Yamagata's gave Kagome a gift for her services today." He grinned, and Ayame nodded as Sango gave Miroku and Kagome some tea.
"That's very common in high blood, demon practices." Ayame smiled, noticing the way Kagome's heart slowed and her calm returned, she really did smell wonderful.
"They gave her a family Wakizashi. Their crest on it and everything." Miroku smiled and the two women stopped drinking their tea to stare at Kagome. Ayame immediately grinned.
"Really? Can I see it?" Sango asked excitedly, setting her tea down and leaning toward Kagome.
Kagome untied the blade from her waist and laid it on the table for the others inspection. They all leaned over and looked the blade over, pulling it out of the stone sheath to inspect the blade, as well as the inlay of pearl on the scabbard.
"This is gorgeous." Sango breathed as she replaced the blade to its sheath carefully.
"See, even the high bloods love her scent." Ayame laughed, giggled, electing another flutter of Kagome's heart and deepening of her scent.
"Who doesn't!" Koga laughed as he walked in and sat on the other side of his wife.
Kagome chucked nervously. "And on that note, I am going to go find Shippo and give him a bath before bed."
"Night." The men said together.
"Good night Kagome." Sango smiled and handed the Wakizashi back to Kagome as the young Spirit Guide stood.
"Smell you tomorrow." Ayame smiled and Kagome chucked nervously again before bidding everyone good night and leaving.
"Ayame." Sango scowled with a smile and the wolf demoness only shrugged.
"I will." Ayame giggled devilishly.
"You didn't have to make her so uncomfortable, love. We want her to stay, remember?" Koga chuckled, leaning close to his wife.
"Well make it so her scent doesn't flare and become deliciously strong when she's nervous and I'll stop." Ayame giggled and everyone laughed.
"Shippo!" Kagome called as she stepped out into the garden. She expected to be plumbed with tickling again, but was only met disappointed.
No one was here. No Rin. No Shippo.
No one.
"Shippo! If you and Rin are playing hide and go seek, please stop for a minute and talk to me!" Kagome shouted, fear slowly gripping her heart as she stepped farther into the garden.
There was no response.
"Shippo!" Kagome was screaming now, terror taking a tight hold on her heart faster than Kagome ever thought one simple emotion could. She was frantic, more so than she ever remembered being as she walked toward large tree in the middle of the garden.
'Calm down Kagome! He's fine, you know he is. He's running around with Rin, and she always has eyes on her. Shippo is fine. Shippo is fine!'
Even as Kagome told herself those things as she faced the door into the south house, she couldn't breathe. Fear had a tight hold on her heart and anxiety had filled her lungs, leaving no room for her heart to beat or air to fill her lungs.
"Spirit Guide."
Kagome flew around at the deep voice and saw Sesshomaru watching her, standing next to the bench around the large tree. He had no expression, but a bit of curiosity in his eyes.
Kagome didn't want to, not in front of the Lord of the west, but she fell, dead weight, to the stone path she stood on. She pulled her legs against her chest and buried her face in her knees as she gasped for air, her head whirling around her, making the world swim with it.
"What is wrong with you?" she heard Sesshomaru ask, no fluctuation or variation in his voice. Simply monotone.
"I. . . can't breathe." Kagome managed.
"Why?" The same monotone.
"I. . . Shippo isn't here." Kagome said, hoping that would explain things as her breath finally began to regulate.
"Hence he did not respond when you called." again, with that no expression voice.
'How was that intimidating? There's no emotion in it at all!' Kagome thought, and, no matter what she told herself, still shivered when he spoke.
Kagome finally looked up at Sesshomaru and wanted to faint. His head was tilted slightly to one side the way Rin had done the first time they spoke, as he stared down at her, obviously confused by her actions. His pail skin glowed in the moonlight and her eyes bore into Kagome.
"You-you heard that?" Kagome breathed, unsure of what else to say to the demon before her.
"This Sesshomaru was sitting there when you came outside yelling." Sesshomaru explained, pointing to the side of the tree hidden in shadow. Kagome threw her face into her hands and shook her head, completely embarrassed.
"I am so sorry to interrupt you Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome managed past her hands.
"There was no interruption. Come." Sesshomaru commanded softly, taking a step forward and holding out his clawed hand to Kagome. She looked at the hand, immediately blushing as she thought of the morning, how close she had been to him. Kagome looked up into his eyes, and was lost to him again. His glowing golden eyes had her wrapped in him and out of her mind.
"Take this Sesshomaru's hand Spirit Guide, or be left sitting on the ground." Sesshomaru sighed, the slightest touch of annoyance in his voice.
Kagome placed her hand in his, and before she could grip his hand and pull herself up, he had her on her feet, distractingly close again. He starred at her for a moment, then quickly turned away from Kagome and left her breathless.
'He's unfairly good at that.' Kagome complained inwardly as she wiped her pants of any dirt they had collected.
"Come." Sesshomaru commanded over his shoulder as he walked away.
'That to.' Kagome thought and sighed before she followed after Sesshomaru. She tried to force herself not to get lost in his movements this time, but she was unfortunately unsuccessful. The only thing that stopped her was running into his sturdy backside and falling to her but with a thud.
"What was that?"
Kagome heard from in front of Sesshomaru as he looked back over his shoulder at Kagome as she sat on the ground.
"The Spirit Guide." Sesshomaru said simply, turning back to look at his brother.
"Oh, that's who I was looking for." Inuyasha said and Sesshomaru eyed him as the woman stood up behind him.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, everyone was so presumptuous, even if they were right. "Miroku said the Yamagata's gave her a Wakizashi, and I wanted to see it."
Sesshomaru looked back at Kagome at that, his honey eyes looking her up and down until they rested on the blade at Kagome's hip. "This Sesshomaru would like to see that." He said as he held his hand out to Kagome. She gulped and quickly untied it from her hip, very uncomfortable with his staring at that part of her body for so long.
Sesshomaru held the Wakizashi in his clawed fist, looking at its delicate features like he had looked at Kagome yesterday. Like a critic appraising the worth of an object.
"Hey, I wanted to see that!" Inuyasha growled, reminding Kagome of when Souta would whine when they were kids.
Sesshomaru looked at his brother, actually looking bored, before he looked back to Kagome standing at his left shoulder. "Do you allow the hanyo to see this?" He asked, and all Kagome could do was nod.
Inuyasha took it from his brother and immediately pulled the blade out to look at it, not even minding the beautifully crafted art on the scabbard. He held the small sword up in the air at different angles a moment before he snorted and replaced the blade in its sheath and offered it to Sesshomaru, who took it quickly.
"I've seen better." Inuyasha said, and quickly walked past Sesshomaru and Kagome.
"This Sesshomaru doubts that most seriously." Sesshomaru said under his breath as he tightly held the century's old Yamagata family heirloom. The scabbard was made of onyx and the inlay of pearl, the blade made of one of the first Yamagata's fangs. It was priceless, and the Yamagata's had given it to the Spirit Guide. She was more powerful than Sesshomaru had first thought.
"Uh, um. . . Junya and Yumi gave it to me after I helped Madam Yamagata move on. . ." Kagome tried to explain as Sesshomaru turned to her with the wakizashi in his hand.
"It is a very important part of their history. This Sesshomaru suggests you take great care with it." He said, his voice rumbling low.
Kagome nodded as she took the weapon he offered and followed him as he led her to the west house.
"Do I have to take a bath!" Shippo whined as he stood in front of the bathing room door, his little arms crossed over one another as he refused to look at Kagome.
She giggled as she touched her son's soft cheek with the back of her fingers. "Yes, Shippo, you do. You can't go around being dirty."
"Why not!" Shippo demanded, refusing to give up on not bathing. Kagome smiled, a sure fire way to get his to take a bath on the tip of her tongue.
"What would people think of me as a mama if I left my son dirty? They would think I wasn't taking care of you." Kagome explained softly, and Shippo looked up at her quickly.
"But you do take care of me!" He exclaimed, mad that people would think less of his Kagome mama.
"People won't think that if you're dirty." Kagome smiled, and Shippo sighed and took his bathing things from Kagome.
"Promise you'll stay right here and wait for me to finish?" Shippo asked, and Kagome laughed lightly.
"I swear, I won't move." Kagome promised and sat against the wall by the screen door. Shippo nodded, and quickly went inside to take a quick bath.
"Don't forget to wash your tail!" Kagome called through the screen, and Shippo yelled back in agreement, even though he hated to scrub dirt from his tail.
Kagome smiled as she heard the gentle splashing in the room and sighed softly. That was the shortest argument they had ever had over bath time. This place, this job Kagome had agreed to, was definitely good for her dear little kitsune.
Kagome closed her eyes and just breathed, really breathed, evenly, listening to the gentle sloshing of water in the room she sat outside. She hadn't let herself be clam in so long that even as she sat on the hard carpet of the hall, she didn't care. She was relaxed, and when Kagome was relaxed, she could think. At that moment, her thought turned to something her mind normally didn't turn to.
The idea of a bare, broad shoulders. . . Of a thick, corded biceps. . . Of a flat, steely stomach. . . Of golden eyes.
"Kagome-sama?"
Kagome jumped and gasped at the small voice. She looked around and saw Rin standing in front of her, her little brown eyes curious and soft.
"I am sorry Kagome-sama. Had you fallen asleep?" Rin asked, wearing a soft navy jinbei with little white flowers on the cuffs and around the ankles, her hair loose around her shoulders.
"Oh, no, I wasn't sleeping. I was just, erh. . . thinking, yes, I was thinking." Kagome smiled as she blushed softly, and Rin smiled warmly.
"Well I am sorry I disturbed your thinking, I only wanted to tell you goodnight!" Rin smiled.
Kagome smiled, then remember the flower in her room. She was going to tell Rin good night and thank you, but was interrupted by a shadow over her and Rin. Both girls looked up at Sesshomaru as he stood next to the screen door.
"Rin." was all he said, and the little girl smiled.
"I was telling Kagome-sama goodnight Sesshomaru-sama! I promise I'm going to bed right now!" Rin smiled a second before she stepped closer to Kagome.
The young Spirit Guide wasn't sure what the child was doing until the second before her little mouth made contact with Kagome's cheek. Rin hugged Kagome's neck for a moment before she pulled back and stepped away.
"Good night Kagome-sama, Good night Shippo!" Rin yelled and she was off skipping down the hall.
Kagome sat staring at the wall in front of her for a minute before she shook her head and looked up at Sesshomaru. He was looking down at Kagome, at her face, and the young woman was unsure as he seemed to be contemplating something. He was deep in thought, Kagome was sure of it, and Ayame's words whispered through her.
'Do I smell good to him to?' Kagome thought a moment before Shippo pushed the door open and grinned at Kagome.
"All clean Kagome mama!" Shippo cheered and Kagome folded him into her arms as he threw himself at her.
"Very good." Kagome giggled as she pushed herself up and stood with Shippo.
She turned to Sesshomaru and bowed. "Good night Sesshomaru-sama."
"Good night!" Shippo said sweetly with a smile.
Sesshomaru starred at them for a moment before he nodded and walked away, his silvery swaying as he walked.
Kagome and Shippo quickly went to bed, and after only a few minutes Kagome was sound asleep in the smooth sheets of the futon, but Shippo was wake. He had to stay up, he had fallen asleep last night before he could speak to his papa.
When Shippo knew Kagome mama was fast asleep, he sat up in bed and sighed with a smile. "Hi papa."
"I know we didn't talk last night, but I had been really sleepy. I'm sorry.
This place is very nice, you'd like it. Lots of room to run around! Except for the baths, its perfect here! I guess it's perfect there to.
I hope you're at peace papa. Kagome mama says you are, but I sometimes think you know Kagome mama can see ghosts so your hiding from her, so she can't make you move on and leave me. Not that I want you to stay and be hurt, but if you're not with the kami's already, I don't want you to go just yet.
I made a new friend! You'd like her! Her name is Rin and she almost knows as much about flowers as you did! Her master is a little scary, but Rin really loves him!
Well, I'm really sleepy! I'll talk to you tomorrow papa! I love you!"
With the final whispered words of the young kitsune, Shippo snuggled close to his Kagome mama and feel asleep, ready for another fun day with his new friends.