Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters, though the metal kimono comes from Melanippos Couture, costumes, props and glorious garments. If you have to ask the price then you can't afford my wares.
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~Chapter 9 - Cat's Tongue!~
Kagome finished cleaning the blade as best she could. Inuyasha had never bothered to clean Tetsaiga so she did the best she could from memories of Sango cleaning her smaller blades. There was the whisk of a huge cloth around her perch on an upturned bowl as the giant brushed the crumbs from the table top and set out the supper dishes.
Politely he placed a great bowl of stew before her and a spoon that could double as a shovel. He himself used chopsticks.
Finishing up with the piece of paper she was using to wipe down Tensaiga's blade Kagome resheathed the sword and tucked it into her waistband. Hopping down from her seat she strode across the table to her supper.
Respectfully the giant requested she eat and sat down across from her.
"I suppose it must suffice. It is fortunate that I am only a little hungry," Kagome bellowed back, her mind racing for how to continue to impress the giant without giving the game away. He sat watching, waiting for her to begin the meal so he too could.
"Itadakimasu…" She picked up the giant wooden spoon with both hands and looked glumly at the vat of food in front of her. The giant sat expectantly. Kagome dipped off a portion and, resting the spoon on the side of the bowl sniffed then sipped it. She scalded her tongue and this brought on an epiphany. Throwing the spoon down she kicked it away from herself.
"Ah! You serve me such cold food?! This is far to cold for me to eat! Why it is barely boiling!! And after you told me that you did not want more wood!?"
The giant took a spoonful of his own supper and promptly spat it out, fanning his mouth.
"Neko Jita," Kagome scorned, though the moment the words were out of her mouth she worried that she had overstepped the mark.
The giant's two beefy palms, each easily as long as her torso, slammed down on the table top and Kagome jumped as stew slopped over the side of the bowl and the Kyoujin kowtowed apologetically.
"Kagome-sama forgive me for my poor hospitality this day. You are indeed a great person, though I am larger in frame I cannot compare to your strength. Ask any boon of me that I might make amends."
Kagome's eyebrows brushed her hairline and she let out a relieved breath that could have also been mistaken for a huff of mollification. Deciding not to push her luck to far she decided to tell something along the lines of the truth - the giant didn't seem a bad sort at all.
"Kyoujin-kun. You have already proven your worth. In truth this Kagome-sama was sent to test you and steal three of your treasures if you were unworthy. But I have seen you and judge that you do not deserve such punishment. You have done your best to provide hospitality to me and I shall not dishonour your kindness."
"The lady you spoke of Kyoujin-kun, gave you the three treasures with the expectation that they would, one by one, be taken from you, then, as you chased the thief you would fall to your death. She is not a kind lady and I will not be her executor."
"Kagome-sama…" The giant's voice choked off. "Truly I have one treasure only. If you would leave her with me I would gladly give you all my other wealth…"
"Her?" Kagome asked.
"I will show you my most beautiful treasure." Rising the giant strode over to the tansu cupboard and slid the door open...
~o0o~
* 猫舌 (ねこじた) Neko Jita – Having a "cat's tongue" is to be unable to eat hot foods.
Authors Endnote: Evil cliff hanger. mwa ha ha aha ha
