The journey back towards the well was a tense one. Several times Kagome and Shippo had to restrain Kiyomi from going back and giving the taiyoukai a piece of her mind.
"He is behaving like a spoiled child. How dare he treat you like that!" Kiyomi growled and Kagome merely smiled.
"Things will work themselves out in the end. I know that he does not remain like that, and I have a feeling that the events that are the catalyst for change will occur when I return to this era."
Kagome and Shippo told Kiyomi her story, her history, the time travels, the saga with Inuyasha and Kikyo. Kiyomi knew everything, and along the way Kagura and Kanna had joined them. Kikyo and Inuyasha had a handle on things in the castle, and from the looks that Kikyo was sending Sesshoumaru he knew that she was aware of the severity of his broaches in behavior with the shikon no miko. Kanna and Kagura discovered things that they did not know about the miko. It struck them how this young woman had stayed and fought Naraku – not because she had to, but because of the sense of responsibility that she had.
"What do you mean?"
Kagome smiled. "Sesshou will not remain as he is now; something will change him, soften him. Something will happen that makes him realize his mistakes, and fear every day that I will reject the courting gift he gave me a few weeks ago."
Kagome spoke so casually that it took Kiyomi a moment to process her words.
"WHAT!" The youkai shrieked. "You mean to tell me that you let that asshole taiyou—"
"No!" Kagome's voice was sharp. "My Darcy is not that taiyoukai. You are not the same youkai you were a hundred years ago. Kagura and Kanna are not the same youkai that they were before they had their hearts. Time changes everyone, including that taiyoukai. I am not in a courting contract with the taiyoukai and I never will be. I am in a courting contract with Sesshoumaru Darcy, a youkai from my time, whom I happen to know from this time."
"I think I understand…" Kiyomi's voice was soft. "I will have to see this change for myself."
"I wish I could have seen it." Kagome smiled. "But I think I am in love with Darcy, but I am afraid. I know that he fears something that will happen here, something that he feels will turn my affections from him…"
"It will do you no good to dwell on it. You need to return to your time and enjoy the gathering that you will attend. After all at this gathering the one that you court will be attending." Kanna smiled and Kagome nodded.
"You are correct as always. I will be back in a few weeks. I will stay for several months at that point."
Kanna merely smiled and Kagome slipped into the well.
The next week and a half was a blur. Kagome had spend a lot of time with Darcy, had gone on a few outing with Kanna and Souta (which was kind of odd in Kagome's opinion but she went with it) and with Kouga and Kagura. Now she was standing in the foyer area of Sesshoumaru's place. She didn't want to enter the gathering, but she needed to.
"I didn't realize it put a dent in the wall." Kagome's voice was soft and Sesshoumaru glanced to the indicated spot on the wall.
"You had nothing to do with that. I was slightly upset at the time is all." Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Shall we?"
"Am I allowed to enter with you?"
"I am courting you, Kagome." He placed a kiss on her temple. At the moment they were at the entrance to the ballroom that led to the private quarters of the palace. Other than Rin, Shippo, Kagura, Kanna, Kouga and Jaken only he and Kagome had permission to enter from that wing.
"It will cause rumors to circulate – the two of us entering from this door."
"Do you mind?"
"I am the miko of the shikon no tama. I have a reputation to maintain." Kagome turned up her nose.
"Do you now?"
"I am worried, Sesshou. The last time they saw the miko of the shikon no tama was several hundred years ago. They will think I am a fake."
"Then you will have to show them as you did last time that you are not a fake, and that your powers are still as sharp as ever." Sesshoumaru bowed slightly to Kagome and offered her his arm. "Come, this Darcy will escort you around to the front entrance. It will indeed make a better impression."
"Thank you." Kagome placed slight pressure on his arm, causing him to pause. "Does the kimono look alright?"
"Of course." He smiled. It was very similar to the one that she had worn a few weeks ago, or was it a few hundred years ago, to the other gathering, but this one was quite different. Clothed in a navy blue kimono, silver and gold flowers painstakingly embroidered on the kimono she was making a very bold statement as to whom she belonged to.
"You cannot tell that I have added a few layers underneath?" Kagome's voice was soft and Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow in question.
"I had a dream last night – that there would be a fight at this gathering – I could feel my powers surging through me, and a sense of danger. I came prepared to fight."
"You brought weapons?"
Kagome nodded, a secret smile on her face. "If I am to be a worthy mate for you I have to show that I can protect myself, and you, against those who would wish to harm us. That is the rule, right?"
"Hundreds of years ago yes, but this Sesshoumaru has not seen a fight over courtship since Ayame challenged Kagura for Kouga and lost."
Kagome smiled. "I wish I could have seen that. Just trust me, please, Sesshou?"
"You know I do."
It should not have surprised Kagome that once again, when a ningen entered courtship gathering that the rumors once again began to fly. Some youkai mused that this female seemed slightly familiar, as if they had met her before, and Kagome found that she had to hide her smile behind a hand. Scanning the crowd, Kagome spotted a familiar youkai, and after bowing to Sesshoumaru, who bowed in return, Kagome slipped into the crowd. He had to go mingle with the other lords, and until she was formally introduced as the one that he was courting she could not mingle with them. This was why Kouga and Kagura, as well as Rin and Shippo were up on a landing.
It seemed that Sesshoumaru had done some remodeling. She knew that the landing had not been present in his palace a few weeks ago.
Kagome snuck up behind the youkai that she had spotted, and Kagome could see the youkai around her target begin to whisper. "Kiyomi." Kagome's voice was even and the youkai gasped, turning around to capture Kagome in a fierce hug.
"Kagome, it has been such a long time. I have missed you."
"It is good to see you again as well." Kagome smiled.
Kagome saw the other youkai around Kiyomi stiffen. It seemed that they recalled having met a ningen female named Kagome once before. However, signs of recognition had not yet entered their visages.
"Ladies, if you will excuse us it has been a long time since I have seen Kiyomi and we have quite a bit of catching up to do." Kagome bowed to the youkai, the courtship necklace that she worse swinging free.
"You are—" One of the youkai with Kiyomi breathed the words and Kagome nodded. "But how?"
"All will be made clear soon."
"Who are you courting?" The inuyoukai woman asked and Kagome smiled.
"He wishes to wait until the proper time to make an official announcement." Kagome smiled. "Though I will say if the over eager young women at this gathering do not start to take notice of the courtship necklace that he wears the announcement might come sooner than expected."
"I have only been back for a week and a half." Kagome's voice was even. "Do you now see what I mean by saying that they are two different people?"
Kiyomi nodded. "I would not have thought it of him, given what will happen, but I am glad that you will be happy with him. He is a great man."
Kagome nodded, her smile thin as she watched a familiar figure drape herself across her Darcy.
"Is that Kagura and Kouga's daughter?" Kagome glanced at Kiyomi, who nodded.
"She seemed to have inherited several of her father's tendencies. I was under the impression that Kagura had told you of her daughter's interest."
"She had; to watch her act like that with him, when he is wearing my gift – she is persistent. Though if she does not soon stop I dare say there will be blood." Kagome smiled at Kiyomi. "Shall we go rescue him? I am sure that he came down to mingle with the masses for a reason."
"Of course." Kiyomi and Kagome strolled over to where Darcy was trying to extract himself from the grip of Kagura and Kouga's daughters' enthusiastic grip.
"Excuse me." Kagome gentle pushed the young woman away, her powers imperceptibly flaring. "Sesshou, your collar is crooked." Kagome smiled up at him, batting her eyelashes. "It would be a shame if someone didn't see this lovely necklace that you are wearing and somehow behaved inappropriately." Kagome straightened his collar and brought the necklace to lay on top of his clothing. "If the chain were slightly longer this wouldn't happen as often."
Darcy did not reply and Kagome could hear the whispers starting. She could see the amusement in his eyes, and she could feel that anger radiate off of Eri, Kouga and Kagura's daughter.
"I thought you had to stay up with Kagura and everyone until—"
"Don't speak of my mother as if you know her!" Eri growled out and Kagome turned slightly to look at the young woman. Kagome made sure that as she turned her body brushed against Sesshoumaru, so as she faced Eri her back and shoulders were pressed firmly to Sesshoumaru's chest.
"Your mother is a good friend of mine. I wished to spare her daughter embarrassment at behaving in such a way with Darcy-sama. After all it would appear that he is wearing a courting necklace. And it would appear that you were throwing yourself at him regardless."
"How dare you insinuate that my man—"
"Sesshoumaru-sama, you came down here because it was time to begin, did you not?"
Kiyomi smoothly interjected and Sesshoumaru nodded. "You do a good job at keeping the peace, Kiyomi. This is not the first time." He stepped up beside Kagome, offering her his arm. "Shall we?"
"Of course." Kagome smiled up at Sesshoumaru and allowed him to lead her towards the stairs. The tension in the air grew as the two proceeded towards the stairs. Anger and disbelief were the more prominent, and most of that welled from Eri. As they reached the top of the stairs Kagura drew Kagome into an embrace.
"I am happy for you, Kagome. Please don't hurt her too much."
"I will do what I must, no more."
"What, no display of power this time?" Sesshoumaru's voice was low and Kagome shook her head.
"It is not time yet. It will be."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Welcome to my home. It has been five hundred years since this Sesshoumaru has hosted with gathering and this gathering is a very special one for me. Five hundred years ago my brother Inuyasha announced his mating to the miko Kikyo. Five hundred years ago the miko of the shikon no tama announced that she was engaged in a courting contract. Due to the circumstances at the time much of that announcement was clouded in secrecy. The miko of the shikon no tama did not belong in the time of Naraku, she was merely a visitor to that time, to that place. She killed Naraku with her own hand and for that we will always be grateful." Sesshoumaru gently squeezed Kagome's hand and she smiled.
"I am Kagome Higurashi, Miko of the Shikon no Tama. Naraku died at my hand." Kagome paused and turned, surveying the room. She could see youkai from the previous gathering in the room, and they had all paled as recognition finally dawned on them. "I have an announcement to make. I am involved in a courting contract with Sesshoumaru Darcy. Know this now. We have exchanged courtship tokens as a sign of the gravity of this relationship. If you try and remove this necklace from my neck if his jaki does not kill you I will purify you before you have a chance to feel what I have done to you." Kagome smiled as the felt the jaki in the room rise and she reigned in her powers. Most of the disturbance was coming from the general direction of Eri.
"This Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru Darcy, confirms that what the miko of the shikon no tame speaks is the truth. We are in a courtship contract and it would displease this Sesshoumaru greatly if someone were to attempt to challenge that. This Sesshoumaru will have no one but this Kagome Higurashi."
"Same speech, different year?" Kagura's voice held amusement and Kagome smiled.
"I like that speech. And I like this Sesshoumaru's addition to it."
Kagome heard Sesshoumaru begin to announce that other couples should now come forward but a voice cut above the crowd.
"I challenge the supposed miko of the shikon no tama and her claim on Sesshoumaru Darcy."
Kagura paled and Kagome stiffened.
"I will not kill her."
"But she will try to kill you."
"You trained me well. Is she as good as me?"
"No where near, she doesn't take her studies seriously."
Kagome nodded and turned to face the crowd. Kagome could see several youkai urging Eri to rescind her challenge, but Kagome shook her head.
"It is alright. I, Kagome Higurashi, miko of the shikon no tama, restorer of hearts and giver of life, and owner of the courtship necklace that Sesshoumaru Darcy wears will accept the challenge issued by Eri, daughter of Kouga, wolf prince and Kagura, whose heart was restored to her."
Kagome waited for her words to penetrate the rage and jealously filled fog of Eri's mind. Finally the young woman stiffened.
"You cannot be serious, there is no way!"
"Your parents are close friends of mine. I will ask this only once. Do you intend to challenge for the right to court Sesshoumaru Darcy?"
"He is mine. He has always been mine. I have been in love with him for years, and I will not loose him to you, a ningen who lies about being the miko of the shikon no tama. I don't know who you are but I will prove that you are a liar and not worthy of Sesshoumaru."
"I see." Kagome turned her back and glanced to Sesshoumaru. "You wondered why I dressed for combat? Help me out of this?"
Kagome ignored the murmur of the crowd as she began to slip of out her kimono. She had chosen to wear the battle armor that had been gifted to her upon completion of her training, before she had defeated Naraku. She could feel confusion in the air. It seemed that Eri recognized the armor.
"Kouga, of all the traits she could have inherited from you this had to be the one, huh?" Kagome grinned crookedly at the wolf youkai and he smiled crookedly back.
"Ironic, huh?"
Kagome nodded as she leapt over the railing, landing easily on her feet in front of Eri. She noticed that all the other youkai had moved away from Eri, clearing a space between them.
"Sesshou will be rather upset if we cause too much damage to his ballroom." Kagome's voice was even and Eri laughed.
"I will make sure that this is over as quickly as possible then." Eri did not give warning; instead she lunged at Kagome, her claws extended. Kagome easily stepped to the side, slamming her elbow down on the back of Eri's neck, causing her to stumble.
"How did you move that fast?" Eri gasped and turned around to face Kagome.
"Are we not supposed to spell out the conditions of the challenge before you attack?"
"What conditions? I will take Sesshoumaru-sama back from you. He is mine. I will have him."
"I see." Kagome's voice was soft. "You really did inherit your father's stubbornness. Did it ever occur to you to ask what Sesshou wanted? To see if he was ever interested in you? It seemed that not too long ago he stated that he wished for no one other than me."
"He loves me" Eri growled out and lunged at Kagome again. Instead of dodging, Kagome allowed Eri to come up close to her, at the last minute shoving a barrier of purification up between them, sending Eri flying back. The young woman shook her head as to clear it. It amazed her that Kagome could repel her attacks. She claimed to be a miko, but she felt no power coming from her.
"Eri, before your father courted your mother did he like anyone else?" Kagome glanced to Kouga in apology and he nodded.
Eri paused in her movements towards Kagome, noting the exchange. "Why does it matter?"
"Just answer the question. Did he like anyone else?"
"This girl – I can't remember her name. She traveled with Inuyasha. Maybe it was that miko Kikyo that Inuyasha mated?" Eri lunged again and Kagome once again shoved her back with purification.
"Did he ever tell you what happened with that girl?"
"Why does it matter, he is mated to my mother."
"It matters a great deal, child." Sesshoumaru's voice was bland and Eri growled, her aura spiking. "I am not a child. I am a woman."
"You are certainly acting like a child." His voice was cold and Kagome, who knew him well, could hear the slight self reproach in his voice. "You act no better than your father did. You exert a claim on someone without asking them. You show that you do not wish to court me, merely that you wish to possess me. I do not want you. I never have. For a long time now I have been focused solely on mating Kagome. None other will do. Should you succeed in taking that necklace from her, which I assure you, you will not, then I still will not mate with you. I will remain without a mate, as I have for hundreds of years now."
"You LIE!" Eri shriek and lunged at Kagome, her eyes beginning to bleed red. Kagome rolled out of the way, but only barely. Kagome could feel winds beginning to pick up around Eri and glanced up towards Kagura.
"Kagura, can I borrow your fan? It seems the sword that I had Jaken bring is not the weapon best suited for this."
"Of course." Kagura tossed her fan over the edge of the landing and Kagome easily caught it, flipping open the fan with a well-practiced flick of the wrist.
"Mother, how could you? She is fighting your daughter."
"Kagome is right in this. You have no claim to Sesshoumaru. You never have. You had dreams of mating with Sesshoumaru, but we had hoped that they were merely teenage fantasies. You contest this because, much like your father, once your mind is set on something you will not yield. There is one difference between you and your father in this, however."
"Which is?" Eri noticed her mother glance to her father, and her father sigh.
"Once I saw that necklace, the one that Kagome wears now, I gave up any ideas I had of making her my own. She had told me many times that she was not my woman, that she did not want to be my woman, but I did not listen. I did not treat her with respect, and I have had many years to reflect upon that mistake. She is right; I never asked her if she wanted to be my woman, I just decided that she was. Just as you have done with Sesshoumaru."
"She can't be the same woman. She isn't even a miko. No human lives that long."
"You were not paying attention when Sesshoumaru spoke earlier then. I think you were still shocked that this ningen woman who dared touch Sesshoumaru was actually courting him. And being courted by him. And I am a miko. I am the miko of the shikon no tama. I killed Naraku with my hand. I was trained by Kikyo and other mikos through time. Kikyo and I freed Kagura and Kanna from their servitude by returning them their hearts. I am the shikon miko and your disbelief will not change that. How have I repelled you back?"
"Luck, I haven't felt your powers yet. You are a liar!" Eri's voice trembled. This could not be the woman who freed her mother. This could not be the woman that her father had pined over for years before her mother had knocked some sense into him. This could not be the guardian of the shikon no tama, the slayer of Naraku. She could not be. "I will show them all when I kill you, that you are no miko.
Kagome sighed. "I was hoping to spare the guests here the experience of unfurling my powers. Once they felt my aura flare as I announced that I was in a courting contract. I did not release the entirety of my aura, and I know that there were many that were relieved when I left. I did not feel that I needed to repeat that performance." Kagome allowed her power to flow into the fan that she held, a tight smile on her lips. "It appears that I was mistaken. Though I do not think that a show of power at the beginning would have changed the fact that you refuse to believe that Sesshoumaru might not want you." Kagome noted that Eri braced herself, but she did not move from the building purification energy. Kagome watched as Eri raised her jaki in response.
"He wants me. He is just playing hard to get."
"Placing himself in a courting contract is not playing hard to get. It is stating that he is unavailable. I will not give him up to you. He is mine and he will remain mine."
"You bitch!" Eri growled and lunged at Kagome, wind swirling around her.
Kagome did not move, watching Eri approach with a steady eye. Suddenly Kagome flicked the fan out towards Eri, the purification energy that had flowed through the fan arching out in a stream of power. Kagome did not wince as Eri was surrounded by the wave and slammed into a wall in the back of the room. Several youkai had to scramble out of the way to avoid Eri. Kagome watched impassive as Eri struggled against the back wall of the room, attempting to free herself from the bonds that held her there.
"Struggling will do you no good. I will not let you down until we have come to an understanding. If we cannot reach an understanding you will just remain there until you reach the epiphany needed." Kagome flipped the fan that Kagura had lent her closed.
"I will never give up my man to you."
"He is not yours. He never has been. You claim him like he is an object, like he is nothing more than someone that you will enjoy carnal pleasures with. I will not let that happen to him."
"I do no such thing." Eri growled and struggled against the bonds and Kagome frowned.
"Have you ever asked him how he felt about you? If he was interested in you? If he wanted to date you? Did you ever ask, or did you see the handsome friend that your parents had and decide that you wanted him, staking your claim on him. Youkai laws on courting are very specific. You did nothing correctly."
"What do you know about youkai law?"
"Everything." Kagome's voice was sharp. "I know that since we did not set terms for this I can kill you for daring to attempt to take Sesshoumaru from me. I know that I could kill you now, any way I wish, and no one in this room would find me in the wrong in doing so. Some people would be unhappy, but no one would object. The law says I can do with you as I wish."
"You are a human, the laws do not apply to you. You cannot use them."
"I am in a courting contract with a youkai, the laws apply to me. I must obey the laws just as Sesshoumaru does. You have lost. Give up."
"I will never give up my man."
"Eri, stop being a spoiled brat." Kouga called from the balcony and Kagome watched his daughter turn shocked eyes towards him.
"Otou-san—"
"You have lost. Kagome won. Will you not let the shikon no miko have happiness with a man who loves her, and with whom she is in love?"
"He doesn't love her. He loves me!"
"Has this Sesshoumaru ever told you that? Has this Sesshoumaru ever paid you attention at all, given you any sort of encouragement?" Sesshoumaru's voice was cold. "You live in a fantasy world, child, one that will never come true."
Kagome could hear Eri whimper and she sighed.
"I am sorry that your dream was ruined in such a fashion, but he is bound to me. And I to him. What right do you have to ruin that with a dream that is nothing but a fantasy? What right do you have to destroy the potential happiness of two people because you refuse to live in reality?"
"Do you yield?" Kagome watched Eri, watched her fight tears, watched her tremble against her bonds. The young woman didn't answer, but Kagome saw her go slack in her bonds. Kagome turned away and with a slight smile towards Sesshoumaru began to walk away. Slowly she allowed her powers to fade, and she heard Eri fall to the ground in a heap.
Her gaze locked with Sesshoumaru and she could see him tense as he began to move, leaping over the railing.
"Trust me?" She mouthed and he paused. Time seemed to slow and she could hear screams. Kagome did not think but spun around as she heard the scratching of claws on the floor and a growled, "Die bitch." Kagome poured as much energy as should could into the fan that she held, flipping it open as she spun around. Eri and Kagome fell in a tangle of limbs and the room was silent as a pool of blood began to form around the pair.
"You couldn't let it go, could you?" Kagome's voice was soft and Eri blinked, her eyes wide.
Sesshoumaru, Kagura and Kouga were surrounding them, and Kagome trembled as Kagura lifted her daughter, Eri, off of Kagome. Her eyes widened as she saw her fan buried in her daughter's stomach.
"I am sorry – she – I reacted – I –" Kagome could fee the hot tears trailing down her face, and Sesshoumaru pulled her into a tight embrace.
"She will live." Kagura's voice was cold, and Kagome was terrified that this was the end of their friendship. "I am very disappointed." Kagura helped her daughter to her feet.
"Mother—look what she did-"
Kagome gasped at Kagura's hand struck Eri's face, leaving claw marks.
"You have dishonored yourself and this family, and attacked the shikon no miko unprovoked. Kagome, were she to choose to excerpt herself, outranks all of us here, even Sesshoumaru. You should be put to death for what you have done. My daughter you may be, but if Kagome chooses to have you killed that I will not argue."
""Okaa-"
"Silence." Kouga growled. "Your mother is correct, and all the youkai here know the law. Kagome, as the shikon miko, should be honored above all else, above all others, even above the taiyoukai Sesshoumaru." Kouga turned to Kagome. "I would ask for mercy, since she is my daughter, but she does not deserve it."
"What will you do?" Kiyomi knelt beside Kagome, holding her hand in comfort as Kagome stared at Kagura and Kouga, her eyes wide.
"I—" Kagome felt her voice tremble and Sesshoumaru tightened his grip on her. Her voice steadied.
"I think not, perhaps, Eri realizes what she has done – and the truth of the words that I had spoken to her. I hope that she understands now that what she wishes for will never be. Since I am the one that she has wronged, I must be the one to choose what consequence her actions have merited." Kagome paused. "There is a mark of dishonor that can be placed on those who have committed the most atrocious crimes against mikos. The shikon no tama is a recognizable symbol, but a bleeding shikon no tama, that is a mark of condemnation from the shikon no miko. No one has even permanently been given this mark by a shikon no miko – because there have been very few. Some mikos have given them out, when they have been violated in ways that merit such a mark." Kagome looked at Eri, who paled with each word spoken.
"Even now as we speak the mark is forming on Eri's forehead. My powers had a mind of their own in this. I only meant to stop her, but in using my powers as I did, to protect myself against a threat to my life, they travel though a youkai. I could choose to stop them, and keep the mark from forming, but I will not. Eri's shame will not taint her parents in any way, for she acted independent of them. Eri will be forced to proudly display this mark – no amount of make up or alterations will ever cause this mark to disappear. In allowing it to stay with her I have condemned her to a life of solitude. You will be treated differently, Eri, because of this. It is likely that you will never mate, for I do not know a youkai who would be willing to overlook such a grievous action. Perhaps a ningen would marry you, but eventually, if you wish your union to be recognized by your people, he would have to find out what you had done to merit such a mark. You will forever be known not as Eri, daughter of Kouga and Kagura, but Eri, bearer of the mark of dishonor the shikon miko. You are not allowed near me or Sesshoumaru again." Kagome struggled free from Sesshoumaru's embrace and stood. "This is the punishment that I lay upon you now, but know this. If you come near Sesshoumaru or myself again I will kill you. It may ruin my friendship with your parents, but I will not trust one who attacked me from behind with the intent to kill." Kagome glanced to Sesshoumaru, who nodded.
"We will be leaving now. This gathering will be rescheduled, unless anyone wishes to continue." Sesshoumaru waited for a response and when no one answered her swept Kagome up in his arms.
"Rin, you know where you may find us. Please come by in the morning with Shippou? I am sure that you wish to visit."
"Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin bowed and Kagome smiled weakly at Rin and Shippou.
"Kagome, I will come visit tomorrow as well." Kagura's voice was cold and Kagome nodded. Kagome had just condemned the only child of two of her best friends to a life of solitude. How could she go back to the past and face Kagura, knowing what she knew currently? How could she continue on in her friendship with her, knowing how she could ruin the life—
"Stop thinking about it, Kagome." Sesshoumaru's voice was low in her ear as she walked outside into the night air. Jaken was waiting at the limo, the door open. "You could have demanded her death and no one would have faulted you. You acted with honor and compassion as expected of the shikon no miko, but you did not let her escape unscathed."
"But Kagura—"
"It will be fine." Sesshoumaru's voice held no room for argument and Kagome did not answer as the tears began to fall in earnest.
"Jaken, take us home. Kagome needs to rest."
"Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama." Jaken closed the limo door, his heart heavy. Such trauma the miko of the shikon no tama had to endure – and it was not yet over. Her last visit to the feudal era would be her hardest yet, for many reasons, and she hoped that Sesshoumaru Darcy would be able to deal with their separation. Finally the time was approaching where Darcy did not have some inkling of how things would turn out, and something that Jaken knew well was that Sesshoumaru Darcy did not deal well with uncertainty.