Chapter twenty-one – Towards Spring

While Kagome and his mother were out on their stroll, Sesshoumaru had planned to go out to the practice yard to run through some sword exercises. Due to the New Year celebrations and now this reception, he'd been very neglectful with his practise. His plan was foiled, however, by a servant. He bowed in the doorway, telling Sesshoumaru that Lord Shinobu wished to see him. Sesshoumaru arched his eyebrow at the summons, but obeyed at once, following the servant upstairs to his grandfather's rooms.

"Ah, Maru," Lord Shinobu greeted him as soon as he walked in, "you came quickly."

"You requested my presence, grandfather," Sesshoumaru replied with a respectful bow.

"I was hoping you might indulge an old daiyoukai – it has been quite a while since I last had a nice game of Go."

"Certainly," Sesshoumaru agreed, walking over to Lord Shinobu and the awaiting game board.

"Splendid! I am sorry to say your mother has little interest in the game; she finds it tiresome. Your father, however… Now there was a worthy opponent!"

Sesshoumaru took his seat. A wave of nostalgia swept over him at the sight of the empty game board. He hadn't always appreciated the game, either. He'd been younger then, and like with many of his esteemed father's lessons, he hadn't quite grasped the purpose of it.

"I never managed to win against father," he murmured, running a finger over the lacquered jar holding the stones.

"There is no shame in that," Lord Shinobu replied. "Inu no Taishou was a masterful tactician."

Sesshoumaru nodded, and watched his grandfather place the first black stone on the game board.

Sesshoumaru opened his lacquered jar and picked a white stone with two fingers. He chose a spot and placed the stone.

And so the game went; his skills were rusty, his grandfather's wits sharp. Soon enough, the black stones were cornering his white ones with alarming accuracy.

Sesshoumaru was holding his next stone in his fingers and considering his options, when he finally gave in to his curiosity.

"Grandfather, if you do not mind me asking… Why did you come down to the New Year's reception? You have not usually cared to attend them, so why now?"

Lord Shinobu glanced up. His calm face betrayed nothing of his thoughts.

"I do not often bother to leave my rooms, and I have little wish to be involved in the affairs of the clan as they are in capable hands. But I thought others could do with a little reminder; that I still have some breath left in me, old and reclusive as I am."

Sesshoumaru cocked his head and placed his stone on the board.

"Are you concerned over Mikazuki's succession, like mother?"

"Not so much," Lord Shinobu said as he studied the game board, probably thinking three steps further than Sesshoumaru was. "I am certain Chiyo will settle the matter to our satisfaction."

Sesshoumaru inclined his head in agreement – his mother would die before naming anyone incompetent or unworthy as her heir.

"Perhaps, in another few years I should step down entirely and let Chiyo officially be the leader of Mikazuki. She has done so well, she deserves the full title."

"Mother is admirable," Sesshoumaru acknowledged.

He frowned, sensing his grandfather was laying yet another trap for his poor white stones. From the start, he'd hardly had hope to win; his grandfather was a very wise man, with a wealth of experience that dwarfed any Sesshoumaru had. Of course, given Lord Shinobu's advanced age, that was only to be expected – and for a daiyoukai, Sesshoumaru still was rather young.

"What would you do then?" Sesshoumaru asked. "After you stepped down?"

"Much the same I am doing now." Lord Shinobu smiled. "Collect these scroll sand poems and text. Translate some. Write something of my own based on what I have studied. These humans we have, the foreigners trading out at the Western ports, I would like to learn more of their lands and traditions."

Amusement flickered in Sesshoumaru's golden eyes. "I believe, had you been born a mortal, you would have been content with the monastic life."

"Oh, I would have been very comfortable indeed!" His grandfather chuckled. "Although this mention of monks reminds me – have you heard from the inu clan in north east? Chiyo got a dispatch that they had had some trouble with a monastery bordering on their territory."

Sesshoumaru nodded grimly. "I received a word months ago that the local warrior monks were growing restless."

Lord Shinobu shook his head. "What wretched times are these, when even the men of faith have their own armies! Do not the humans ever tire of war?"

"One can hope," Sesshoumaru said. "I am only glad that there is peace among youkai."

He glanced at the board and put the stone he'd been holding back into the container. There were no more moves he could make, the game was over.

"Looks like the victory is yours, grandfather."

"Thank you, for obliging me. It was a good game."

"Any time. Though I am not certain I was much of an opponent."

"For a youngling, you did more than well. I was happy just to have a partner interested in the game."

Sesshoumaru considered Lord Shinobu for a moment. His mother wouldn't play – and if she did, it would be reluctantly and only to please the old daiyoukai. Playing against someone who didn't enjoy the game made the whole thing feel like a chore, but perhaps…

"Might Moriyasu serve as a practice partner, grandfather? His wits are apt."

Lord Shinobu pursed his lips. "That is hard to say – he is a kitsune and it is their nature to grow bored easily. But of course, there is never any fault in trying. I shall ask him."

Sesshoumaru bowed his head. "I hope he will indulge you."

"Thank you, Maru. I shall not keep you longer from dear Kagome's company. Give her my regards, will you?"

"I will," Sesshoumaru promised. "She will be delighted."

He gave Lord Shinobu a final, respectful bow, and left the room.

L-A-L

Kagome and Sesshoumaru took time that afternoon to visit Moriyasu together. The kitsune led them to his tea room and Kagome sat back, ready to enjoy the ceremony. As she and Sesshoumaru watched Moriyasu start preparing the tea, surprise bubbled through the mating bond. Kagome spared a quick glance at Sesshoumaru. He stared at Moriyasu's careful, ceremonial movements with a riveted expression.

Kagome hid her smile and turned back to admire Moriyasu's work.

Later on, they dined with Lady Mother. The three of them talked well into the night, until Kagome could no longer swallow her yawns.

They left the next day, shortly after midday. Lady Chiyo came out to the castle yard to see them off and made Kagome promise she'd write often. Kagome mustered a smile and hugged her goodbye. Then, she once again snuggled into the warm fur trailing from Sesshoumaru's shoulder and braced herself for the journey home.

It was a fast way of travelling, and she trusted Sesshoumaru with her life – but rushing through the open air vulnerable to all elements just wasn't the most comfortable position to be in. Luckily, the trip wasn't too long and she was glad when her feet touched solid ground again.

The guards posted at Tsumekiri's gates bowed as she greeted them. Kagome and Sesshoumaru walked through the gates together, entering the courtyard. She stopped to watch the single-story mansion. Something stirred in her chest.

Her hands fisted in the sleeves of her uchikake as Jaken, Akie-san and steward Nobuo crossed the yard to welcome their lord and lady. Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru, patiently standing by her side, then turned to greet Akie-san with a smile.

She was home.

L-A-L

With the new year, Kagome made a fresh start and dusted off the old routine she had so grossly neglected during the long winter's apathy. She got up early and went out to the practise yard. She was clumsy at first with the sword, though the more familiar bow felt just right in her hands despite her long absence.

Some mornings, she trained alone, fumbling through the half-remembered kata. Some mornings she trained with the guards – it was easier with them, because she could look how they moved and try to mimic them. Some mornings, the guard captain Saburou personally oversaw her training. His lessons were helpful and Kagome was grateful he took time out of his busy schedule to work with her. The mornings, few and far in between, that she was joined by Sesshoumaru were the best of all. She never stopped being amazed by him; the fluidity of his movements, the superb control he exercised as he went through the kata, the never-ending patience with which he taught her new moves and corrected her on the old ones.

No matter who she was training with or not, after her morning workout Kagome would quickly visit the bath house, then return to her rooms where Akie-san or the maid Kasumi would help her change into her kosode and uchikake. Sesshoumaru would join her soon after that, so they could have their breakfast together. Kagome took interest in the clan's matters once again, governing over the domestic aspects of keeping their small clan afloat with the help of Akie-san.

Slowly but surely, she started to find her own place among the clan. She was hesitant at first, not wanting to step on anyone's toes, and was still more prone to give people around her suggestions, rather than outright commands.

It took her a full week from when the idea first occurred her, to gather her courage enough to voice it.

The evening was cold and dark, as most evenings were in early February. She and Sesshoumaru were sitting on the futon in her room, as the paper lanterns threw flickering shadows on the painted walls around them. She had offered to comb Sesshoumaru's hair, which had surprised him, but she felt more comfortable speaking up if she didn't have to face those piercing golden eyes.

Though she was Tsumekiri's lady, she had never really meddled much with the clan's affairs; she'd just overseen to her best ability that everything ran smoothly. She'd never actually dared to suggest they try something new. Not until now.

Running the comb soothingly through Sesshoumaru's silky silver-white hair, she bit her lip, then drew a deep, fortifying breath.

"I've been thinking," she began in a soft voice.

"Go on," Sesshoumaru prompted, when she didn't continue right away. He must have felt her hesitation and nervousness through the mating bond, if he didn't outright smell it on her – but he made no mention of it, for which Kagome was grateful.

"We don't farm, do we? Some of the guards hunt, some fish, but all of our rice is bought, isn't it?"

"That is correct," Sesshoumaru said.

Kagome kept the comb running through his hair. "Isn't that expensive?"

"It is a necessary expense. There is scarce room on our lands to farm, even if we did have enough members in our clan to spare some to mind the fields."

"Wouldn't it save us some money if we made a deal with some other farmers?"

Sesshoumaru hummed. "What would you suggest, Kagome?"

"There are some human villages nearby, aren't there?"

"A few," Sesshoumaru replied, "none outright in our territory, but there are three that are not too far from our border."

"Couldn't we try to trade with them?" Kagome's fingers trembled around the comb. "We could offer them our protection for some of their crops."

"Hmm." Sesshoumaru tilted his head, as Kagome's movements faltered, then stopped completely. "We could easily promise them protection from other youkai. Few would dare to cross us. Protection against other humans, though… that may become problematic."

"I'm sorry, it was just a thought –"

"Do not apologise, Kagome. I do not think your idea to be wholly without merit. The only problem is that humans do not always view youkai benevolently. The attacking force might not see our actions as defending the human village but of youkai once again battling against humans with could be cause enough for further strife."

Kagome hummed. "You're right, of course." She really hadn't thought her suggestion through. Sesshoumaru did have a valid point and she should've realised it herself. Even if she wasn't youkai herself, she had seen the range of attitudes up close while travelling with Inuyasha – the suspicion he was always treated with in every human village.

"Also, I imagine the village owe most of their crops to the daimyou, whose obligation it would be to defend the village… but then, with all the ruling clans constantly at each other's throats, I doubt most of them could spare any soldiers for that."

Kagome made no reply. With Sesshoumaru raising reasonable concerns, she was starting to regret voicing her suggestion before thinking it all the way through.

"Nevertheless, it is a fair proposition, it will not hurt us to give it a try."

Kagome looked up, her hands curling around the soft strands of Sesshoumaru's hair. "Really?"

"Of course. By all means, you should go to negotiate with the villages."

"Eh? Me?"

Sesshoumaru peered at her over his shoulder. His eyebrow was raised, his golden eyes alight with mild amusement.

"It was your idea, Kagome. You are the lady of the clan, who better to represent us? Besides – I am certain the villagers will be more disposed to listen to you than any of us youkai. Of course you shall need a guard, but perhaps you had better leave them outside the village so they would not frighten the humans."

Kagome bit her lip and resumed combing his hair. "All right. I guess I can go and try to negotiate."

"I am sure you will do well. And perhaps you could take Nobuo with you."

"That's a good idea."

He hummed, leaning back to enjoy her ministrations.

A small smile rose to Kagome's lips. It was so rare, to see him show his appreciation so plainly. And once again, he'd somehow managed to put her at ease. For that, she owed him a lot more grooming.

L-A-L

Kagome visited the nearby villages in the course of the next week, accompanied by Nobuo and two guards chosen by Captain Saburou. Personally, she had thought this excessive for such a short trip, but didn't want to argue about it. It felt nostalgic to once again don the plain white kimono and red hakama that served as the uniform of a miko. As their primary bargaining chip was offering the village protection, Kagome had thought that she'd make a more convincing argument if she left her expensive silks at home – besides, in her miko garb she would travel all the more comfortably.

And so Kagome had mustered her confidence and commenced the negotiations, with her bow slung over her shoulders, her sword secured on her hip, and Nobuo by her side, lending her his full support. At first, the people were hesitant in all the three villages, but in the end they reached an agreement with each of them. Kagome couldn't take all the credit though, even as they returned to Tsumekiri victorious; it had been Nobuo who'd discussed things through with the village headmen and ironed out all the practicalities of their agreements. Nevertheless, the Tsumekiri clan celebrated the news.

The remainder of winter passed uneventfully: Kagome and Sesshoumaru both stayed at home, swept up in their everyday routines.

It wasn't until the winter at last bowed to the spring when Kagome next had any cause for excitement.

The weather was letting up and the worst of the muck and mud brought on by the melting snows and the early spring rains had vanished. The sun was shining from a clear blue sky – a perfect spring day, as one could be. Tired of being cooped up inside, Kagome had wanted to go on a stroll out in the gardens, accompanied by Akie-san, as she always seemed to be these days. They made their way through the garden at a leisurely pace, inspecting each shrub and plant; gardening was one of Akie-san's passions, and she was curious how the vegetation had fared through the winter. At the southern side, they came to a small copse of cherry trees.

Kagome studied the branches for a moment, then gasped.

"Look, Akie-san! There's already a few buds!"

"So it seems. Sometimes I feel they start blooming earlier every year," the demoness replied, inspecting the few scarce buds.

"I can't wait to see it, I'm sure it must be beautiful," Kagome said, enjoying how the sun warmed her cheeks.

"If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, my lady…"

"Of course you can. What is it, Akie-san?"

"When our Lord General was still alive and Chiyo-hime was the lady of Tsumekiri, when these cherry trees began to bloom, she would hold a flower viewing party. They were very popular, at the time."

"Oh, that sounds lovely," Kagome sighed, trying to imagine what the bare branches would look like once the trees would be in full bloom.

Akie-san's smile was kind as she carefully spoke her next words: "Perhaps it would be time to bring back the custom, my lady?"

"Perhaps," Kagome replied with a slow nod – but the idea of a flower viewing party quickly took root in her mind.

It itched all day at the back of her head, like the annoying ceaseless buzzing of a fly trapped in a room. Finally, when she and Sesshoumaru lay on their futons in the flickering light of the sole lantern, she took a deep breath and broached the topic.

She rolled over to her side and peered at him, propped up on her elbow.

"Akie-san told me today that Lady Mother used to hold flower viewing parties here?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru admitted. "That grove of cherry trees… my father planted it soon after they were mated and my mother took great pleasure in it."

"Flower viewing sounds nice. Maybe this year we could host a party, too. And invite Lady Mother."

A small wry smile touched Sesshoumaru's lips, his eyebrow arched as his piercing eyes bored into her – mesmerising and bright gold even in this dim light.

"You are the lady of the clan, Kagome. You are free to do as you please; there is no need to ask for my permission."

Kagome's cheeks flushed. "Maybe there's no need like you say, but it would be the polite thing to do. Tsumekiri's not my clan."

She took a breath, her heart racing in her chest as a wave of sadness lapped at her through the mating bond.

"It's our clan," she continued, her voice soft and close to trembling, "and I wouldn't want to host a party if you didn't care for one. That wouldn't be fun at all."

She pouted at him, even as Sesshoumaru reached over and cupped her cheek with his clawed hand. His eyes were hooded, his lips curled.

Kagome stilled completely – she didn't even dare to breathe.

"It will not be much of a party, though, with just the two of us and mother," Sesshoumaru pointed out, his voice even warmer than the fingers resting against Kagome's skin.

"Well… I thought," she said, her throat suddenly dry, "that Moriyasu could come too. And maybe we could invite Sango and Miroku. And Rin and Kohaku. …Shippou, too, if he has the time."

"That does sound more like a party," he agreed. His fingers danced against her skin in a brief caress before pulling away completely. "I confess I have never been one for gatherings, but as this is only for our friends and family, and the thought of it pleases you so, I shall be happy to attend."

Kagome's heart swelled, filling her chest with giddy flutter. She smiled at Sesshoumaru, then flopped down onto her futon and burrowed under her heavy quilt. She stared at the ceiling and the shifting shadows, certain that she wouldn't get a wink of sleep all night. Her mind was whirling with plans and ideas, abuzz with the party preparations. In the end, when she finally did succumb to sleep, a smile still lingered on her lips and her curled fingers rested on her cheek.