Denial isn't just a river
Kagome was being courted by Lord Sesshoumaru, demon Lord of the West. This was a fact that Kagome was still trying to deny, even several months after their first major 'discussion' and 'almost-break-up', as she often referred to that chilly February day. Each week Sesshoumaru would come and visit. The couple would take a few hours, walk, talk and just enjoy being in each others company. On rare occasions he would even accompany her to sometimes visit a villager or to gather herbs in the forest.
They both found, after that initial fight and make up, that something changed between them. A wall, that neither realized was there, had been removed and now there was a comfort between them. It wasn't perfect. There was still some stumbling around words and every once in a while a flair of temper, but it was balanced. Kagome didn't let him stay too quiet and Sesshoumaru didn't let her blow things out of proportion.
It was a warm spring evening that found Kagome and Sango in the bathhouse that Sesshoumaru had built for her. The demon had left an hour before and the ladies took advantage of the evening to talk, leaving the children in the care of Miroku.
A deep, contented sigh echoed through the small building followed by a small giggle. "Lord Sesshoumaru certainly found the way to your heart. Gifting you with your own hot spring was a wonderful idea."
"A heated tub in a small building is hardly my own hot spring, Sango." Kagome replied, then let out a small sigh again, "But it is nice and beats bathing out in the open in that cold river any day."
Sango couldn't help but agree with her friend. The walls were solid, except for one, small window at the top to let the steam out and the door that they could bolt from the inside. The men or children kept a small fire going when someone was bathing. "How did you manage to talk him into commissioning this anyway?" she asked.
"Actually, I have your husband to thank for that." Kagome said, opening one eye to peer at her friend.
"Really? Why?"
"I was telling Sesshoumaru about how Miroku used to try to peek during our travels. Apparently he wasn't happy with the idea that someone could see me bathing," she smiled and closed her eyes again, "Next thing I knew, he told Inuyasha that he need several men to build this." Sango laughed, knowing the demon probably thought about killing her husband before making her friend this wonderful gift.
Both women were quiet for a moment before Sango asked, "What is bothering you, Kagome?" noting her friend's melancholy look.
"I'm afraid that.." Kagome started, she was cut off when her friend raised her left hand and grabbed a small rock with her right hand from the little pile kept near the tub. Without a word, she threw the rock it ricocheted off the ceiling then out the small window, ending with a 'thump' sound.
"Pervert" she muttered.
Outside the building they heard Inuyasha echo her. "Damn pervert. You know what would happen if the bastard found out you were trying to peek when Kagome was bathing."
"You misunderstand, my friend, I was simply making sure that the water was a comfortable temperature for my beautiful wife." The former priest stated. "She can be so delicate."
Inuyasha scoffed, "Yeah, well that 'delicate' woman cracked you a good one. Now come on, before the ice lord finds out about this and kills you. I don't wanna be raising your brats myself."
The women inside laughed as they listened to the men walk off.
"Now what were you saying?" Sango asked.
Kagome took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "I want Sesshoumaru and I to begin courting again, but I'm not sure how to tell him. What if he doesn't want to?"
Sango sat unmoving, staring at her friend, before smiling and shaking her head. "What do you think you two were doing all these months?" she asked.
Kagome gave her a confused look. "We were courting, then broke it off. Now we're just getting to know each other a bit before we were making it official. Well, that and he's been training me with my bow and a short sword."
Sango splashed some water at her oblivious friend. "What do you think courting is for?" she asked with a laugh. "I suspect Sesshoumaru never saw his visits as anything other then courting you."
Kagome simply looked at her long time friend for a moment. It was true that dating, or rather courting, was a time to get to know each other. How could she deny that's what they were doing? "But I told him..."
Sango interrupted with a shake of her head. "Do you really think he would spend so much time with you if he wasn't courting you? Did he ever say the courting was off?" Kagome slowly moved her head back and forth in the negative. The older woman continued. "Normally, your father would handle this, or an elder brother, negotiating for your marriage. Instead you've have gods and spirits arranging it. I suspect Sesshoumaru is unsure of how to proceed, that's why he has been gifting you with such wonderful things." and she indicated the building around them.
Kagome sunk down a little further in the water, thinking. Wrapping her head around the formalities of things like dating and marriage, in this time, was giving her a headache. Part of her wanted to rebel at the notion that she had to have a man negotiate for her, like property. She understood that this was how things were done now, in the era she chose to live, so she was a bit sad that she didn't have the family there to take up for her. However, how many could say that spirits intervened directly on their behalf? That brought her mood up a bit.
Sango saw the thoughts flipping through her dear friend's mind. She tried to impart to the young woman what she knew of demons and their courting rituals, which wasn't a good deal. Each species of demon had it's own variation of courtship and mating, so the slayers only knew enough to avoid trouble. One didn't need to approach a demon intending to threaten it, only to find out you were propositioning it instead.
"What if we start arguing again?" Kagome finally asked.
"You have it bad, don't you?" Sango asked with a soft smile. Kagome shrugged. She just wasn't sure anymore. "You know, arguing is ok." Sango said. "Look at you and Inuyasha. All you two do is argue and you're very close."
"I know it's ok, but shouldn't we get along more then argue?"
"And you two get along very well. Don't avoid the sky because you are afraid of the occasional storm.
And some people best express themselves with a good debate, whether they mean to or not..." then Sango smirked, "Besides, making up after an argument can be wonderful..." ending her thought with a wink and completely suggestive tone.
Kagome's jaw dropped. She blushed and she splashed her friend. "Sango! Now I know you've been around your pervert husband too long."
Sango laughed and shrugged. "We aren't children anymore. Innocent blushes don't work on us."
"I know, but still you don't have to be quite so..." Kagome trailed off. She wasn't a little girl anymore. If anything, being 20 and unmarried, she was heading toward being an old maid, for this era, anyway.
"Kagome, look at how Miroku and I were when we were courting." She looked at her friend to make sure she was listening. "I never thought then that I would 'actually' bear his children." Both women laughed at the monk's old pick up line. "But we are happy. We are different enough to keep things interesting. A mating or marriage is full of compromise and talking... lots of talking at first if you are going to make it work. I think he's trying... in his own way."
Kagome gave a nod, grateful for her friends insight. "What would I do without you?" She asked.
Sango smiled, "Have to put up with Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo by yourself." Both women shuddered a bit with a giggle.
Suddenly, a loud knocking against the side of the bath house startled them both. "Lady Kagome, we need your help." Kagome jumped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself before peering out the door. There was a very upset, young woman. Her hair and clothing were dirty, she was crying and flushed as she stood, nervously wringing her hands. "Oh, Lady Kagome."
Kagome had seen the girl around the village, but couldn't remember her name. "What's wrong?"
"My little sister, Hitomi, was taken by a demon. He bade me to let only you know or she would die." The girl pleaded, the tears running freely down her cheeks.
Kagome gave a nod, "Let me dress, I'll be out in a moment." And she retreated back into the warm bathhouse. Quickly she put her clothes on, and told Sango what the girl had said.
"You should get Inuyasha to go with you. You know it's a trap of some sort."
"You go tell him." Kagome said, while grabbing her bow and arrows. "He'll catch up." And she darted out the door as Sango hurriedly dressed.
The girl pointed the direction the demon was and Kagome ran, holding her bow at the ready. She had a small sword at her hip, that she still didn't feel comfortable using, but Sesshoumaru insisted she carry it everywhere with her.
Leaving the girl at the edge of the village, Kagome walked cautiously through the woods trying to extend her senses as much as humanly possible. She did not look back to see the girl's image fade from view.
Eventually, she came upon another small girl of about 5 years. She was sitting, curled into a small ball at the base of a large tree, crying. Kagome slowly approached the girl, looking around for the demon that apparently kidnapped this child to get her attention. Bow still at the ready, Kagome gently knelt in front of the child. Her eyes continued to flicker to the trees around her as she spoke. "Are you hurt?"
The girl suddenly stopped crying and raised her head. Without warning, the child's face gained a malicious look and she lunged at Kagome, the dagger in her hand, aimed at the priestess's chest.