Title: Secrets in the God-Tree

Author: aimee_blue

Prompt: Chest

Words: 200

Rating: T

Genre: Drama

Summary: AU. Kagome's intuition pays off.

Kagome relaxed into her mother's fierce hug and submitted to being told that she should come home to the shrine more often. Mayhap her mother was right; the longing feeling in her chest had intensified when she'd crossed the threshold of her childhood home.

Introducing Sesshoumaru had been an amusing affair, her mother practically melancholic that he didn't have Inuyasha's ears and Sesshoumaru livid that she seemed to prefer Inuyasha. But that had been swept under the rug when her mother had realised she'd get puppy-eared grandchildren – despite Kagome's protests that it was far too early to be thinking like that.

Grandfather had flung a few customary sutras at the demon in their midst and, due to some pleading and forewarning by Kagome, Sesshoumaru didn't react to being plastered with bits of paper.

Mee, though it was the anniversary of her husband's death, was obviously trying to be calm for Rin, who clung to her mother's side silently.

"Well," Mrs Higurashi murmured, "shall we?"

They all trooped towards Souta's grave, except Kagome, who lingered at the gate, glaring venomously at the god-tree.

"Leave, this is for Souta."

In the boughs of the Goshinboku, Ungai bowed his head reverentially.

Another day.