Chapter 27: To Market, To Market
(Part 1)


Finally, they'd arrived!

Rin felt ready to explode, filled as she was with nervous excitement. There was just so much to see! So many delicious-smelling things to eat! She wanted to explore it all but…

Sighing, Rin took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down and ease up on the death grip she had on Miroku-sama's hand. Really, she knew better than to be tugging him along like that, but she just couldn't seem to help it. It had been so long since she'd last felt this free.

'Maybe not since… Not since this Rin's Lord took her to the seashore.' Her thoughts turned inward at the memory.


The sun had already begun to set by the time they'd arrived and her Lord had ordered Jaken to take A-Un and find a sheltered location in which to make camp for the night since a storm was approaching.

Rin could see the storm clouds rolling in over the water – could hear the thunder rumbling in the distance – as she stood halfway down the sandy beach. The water seemed to go on forever. She wanted to approach it – to walk right up and stand at the edge of the entire world – but the waves were crashing and the wind was blowing even harder now as the storm approached. It had made her… hesitant… to get any closer, despite her excitement.

Her lord, of course, had understood.

He always did.

Silently, he'd picked her up, lifting her so that her eyes were level with his own before carrying her to the water's edge. There the two of them had stood, fearlessly facing the approaching storm, the wind whipping their hair about their faces.

Rin had never felt as free – as alive – as she had in that moment.

Her breath hitched in her throat at the sheer beauty of the storm and the sea, and not knowing what else to do with all that emotion, she'd reached out and hugged her Lord around his neck, pressing her small cheek against the twin magenta stripes of his own.

It had only lasted for a moment before Rin realized what she was doing, but she thought that maybe she'd seen the tiniest of smiles soften the lines of her Lord's face for an instant just before she'd pulled away, leaving the two of them to stare silently out over the water together once more.


Rin sighed again, shaking herself free from her memories. In Kaede's village, it was no secret that she belonged to her Lord. Granted, it did make some things more difficult for her. Most of the village children were still nervous around her, even after all this time. She'd overheard them wondering what it was about her that made her so special to the great Demon Lord. Was she really a youkai herself, perhaps? Just like Shippō, only better able to disguise herself?

No, life in the village was not always easy, but at least there she was always safe.

But here, away from the village?

As free as it made her feel to be travelling again, exploring the world – and as sure as she was that her friends would always keep her safe – here there was no Lord Sesshōmaru.

Now that was a sobering thought.

To be amongst so many unknown humans again, without her Lord's protection?

Rin glanced up to meet Miroku's eyes, doubt creeping in around the edges of her excitement for the first time since they'd left the village that morning.

Miroku-sama, it turned out, was a lot like her Lord in that he did not always need words in order to understand. He gave Rin's hand a little squeeze and nodded his encouragement, silently telling her that it was okay for her to be happy and excited. She would be safe.

Still, it wasn't the same.

"Rin's excited to be here," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha. She'd watched her young friend pull Miroku along, Shippō perched on Miroku's shoulder and along for the ride.

Inuyasha scoffed at the sight. "She better be! She's lucky I let you talk me into letting either of those brats come with us."

"Aw, Inuyasha, don't be like that. We're here now and I want today to be fun. I know you were kinda grumpy on the way here and I still want to talk to you about what happened with that man and his son, but for the moment, can't we just enjoy ourselves?"

Inuyasha turned his head enough to catch Kagome's eye. "I can think of much better ways I'd rather be enjoying myself right now."

Kagome's pulse sped up at the intense look that accompanied his words. She had zero doubts about what sort of pleasurable activities her mate had in mind. It required her to take a deep, steadying breath before she could speak, and when she did it was in a low, husky voice.

"Well, koinu, if you are very good today, then believe me when I say that I will make it worth your while tonight." She pinned him with an equally intense look.

Inuyasha's growl in response to her words was low and hungry. What he really wanted to do right now was grab his mate, throw her over his shoulder, and find the nearest secluded alleyway. He'd push her up against the wall, part the folds of her yukata so that he could grab her sweet, sweet ass with both hands, hoist her up and–

"Ah-ah-ah," Kagome shook her head as she spoke, dragging Inuyasha back from his daydream. "I said after, koi. I know you. Hold that thought until after."

She stepped momentarily closer so that her breast brushed against his arm, whispering, "I promise, it'll be worth the wait, mate."

Inuyasha inhaled sharply before exhaling slowly. The wench got some kind of sick pleasure out of teasing him, that was for damned sure. Oh he'd make her pay…many, many times.

She giggled a little, as though she could read his thoughts, before quickening her pace to catch up to the others, leaving Inuyasha to calm the blood that was pounding through his veins.

He took several more deep breaths. 'Focus! 'Stay alert!' He berated himself for getting distracted before reorienting himself to his surroundings.

He and Miroku had come to this market town many times, but they were currently walking through the part where most of the travelling merchants set up their temporary stalls.

He hated this part.

Most of the merchants who actually lived in the town knew him well enough to leave him be, but with so many travelling merchants coming and going, well…

Catching up with Kagome, he made sure not to walk too close to her. No sense drawing more attention to him – to them – than was necessary. It would only put her in danger too if they suddenly decided to turn on him.

And if Kagome noticed the increased distance between their bodies she didn't say anything, too busy in that moment digging out her list. "Miroku! Miroku, slow down! I want to start here."

Miroku slowed his pace, turning back towards her and Inuyasha. "Here? This area of the market is for the travelling merchants, Kagome." He thought for a moment more. "Though it may be a good place to look for the cloth and premade clothing you're in search of at a reasonable price. For the other things on your list, though, we'll likely need to travel further into town, towards the centre where the permanent shops and stalls are."

With a nod of understanding from Kagome, their small group spent the better part of the next hour wandering through the temporary stalls of the travelling merchants. And they'd been in luck! First, they'd come across a merchant who sold cloth. Miroku had done most of the talking, of course, not only getting the cloth that Sango had asked for at a very good price, but also procuring for Kagome some much needed rough linen to practice her sewing skills on.

Pleased with their early successes, the pack had continued wandering amongst the stalls. Shippō sat tall and alert on Miroku's shoulder as the monk took up the lead, the two girls chatting together in the middle, while Inuyasha brought up the rear, hand resting securely on Tetsusaiga's hilt, eyes continually scanning the crowd.

"Look Kagome-chan! Look over there!"

Kagome looked in the direction that Rin was pointing, her eyes instantly landing on the colourful stall containing some of the loveliest garments she had ever seen. The two females made a beeline for the merchant, the males changing course to follow.

"Good day." Kagome gave the man inside the stall a friendly smile.

"Good day! Good day to you both. May I interest you in anything? Many of these garments are made from the silk I received in my most recent shipment from the mainland."

Rin smiled at the merchant. "Everything is so beautiful! Are they not beautiful, Kagome-chan?!" She sighed happily, barely restraining herself from running her fingers over the cool smoothness of each pattern.

The merchant looked at the young girl as she spoke… and then looked again.

For the kimono she was wearing was spectacular.

It was made of a high-quality pale pink silk and had small rosettes hand-embroidered haphazardly across the garment, as though mimicking the trail of a gust of wind.

What was someone wearing something like that doing in a small market town like this?

He cleared his throat and spoke. "Not so beautiful as the kimono you already wear, littlest lady. If I may be so bold, wherever did you procure such a noble garment? I would think such a thing would only be found upon the daughters of the emperor himself."

Rin blushed lightly from the praise, though she knew he was praising the beauty of the kimono she wore, and not she herself. Still, she smiled at the merchant before responding, eyes returning to survey all the lovely patterns as she spoke. "It was a gift from my Lord Sesshōmaru."

The merchant's eyes went wide at that. This slip of a girl had mentioned the great Dog Demon Lord so calmly, so nonchalantly, as though to speak such a name was a common occurrence in a small out-of-the-way market town such as this. He stared at her bowed head for a long moment as she continued to ooh and ahh over his wares, completely oblivious to his eyes upon her in shock.

Hearing a soft growl nearby, his eyes were drawn toward what he now realized was an Inu-youkai of some sort standing a scant few feet away. The sound quickly snapped him out of his gaping.

'The girl who speaks so casually about the Dog Demon Lord has a dog demon guardian as well?'

He cleared his throat again, reasoning that she must be telling the truth… And was it not better to have powerful patrons than powerful enemies?

He spoke to the two females then, in a much more deferential tone. "Please my ladies, survey at your leisure. It would be my greatest honour if you would deign to purchase any of my humble offerings."

Kagome looked up at the man with a confused expression on her face for a moment, wondering what had caused him to change his tone and manner of speech so suddenly, but she let it go. She had spotted a few things that she thought she might want to buy after all.

The girls spent the better part of the next half hour at the clothing merchant's stall. Shippō, of course, being bored out of his mind had shot a look at Inuyasha, seeking consent first, before begging Miroku to take him to get a snack.

Inuyasha yawned. The kit had the right idea. Hell, he was bored too, but he refused to give up his position as sentinel.

Finally, Kagome settled on three garments, two yukata and one kimono. The first yukata was wisteria purple in colour with pink flowers trailing in straight lines down the front, the other a deep blue colour with a swirling pattern of starbursts on the back. And for her kimono, she'd chosen one of vibrant orange with a bold pattern of golden-yellow leaves tumbling over each shoulder. She smiled over her selections, feeling rather pleased with herself.

"Okay, I think that'll–" Her words abruptly stopped as she caught sight of a slash of crimson peeking out from a pile of folded items that sat behind the merchant at the back of the stall.

Kagome pointed. "Actually, if it's not too much trouble, may I see whatever that red thing is back there?"

"Of course, my lady, of course!"

The merchant brought the indicated item forward and Kagome's breath caught in her throat as she realized that it was not a red kimono, as she'd originally thought, but rather a shimmering white one with a pattern of large red chrysanthemums – in the exact shade of red as Inuyasha's Fire-Rat she might add – scattered around the hem and collar. As the merchant continued to unfold the kimono, she could also see that there was a deep golden obi that accompanied it.

'Red and white and gold. Inuyasha's colours.' Kagome took a deep breath, grounding herself against the overwhelming emotions that had suddenly bloomed in her chest.

Finding her voice, she whispered fervently while waving her hand, motioning Inuyasha over "Oh, look! Come look!"

The merchant watched as the older of the two females motioned for the demon to come and view the kimono. He thought the demon seemed hesitant to approach, but did so after a few moments.

"Isn't it beautiful? Wouldn't it be perfect for the wedding?"

The merchant also thought he saw a look of unease crossed the demon's face at the woman's words, golden eyes flicking towards him.

It certainly caught his interest. "Are you to be wed, my lady?"

The woman looked surprised, as though she'd let something slip that she shouldn't have. She seemed a bit hesitant to reply.

"Ye-Yes, I am. In just a few days."

The demon looked like he wanted to speak then, but the smaller girl's voice broke in.

"It truly is beautiful, Kagome-chan! The colours remind this Rin of her Lord, and of you, Inuyasha-oniisama!"

The merchant did a double-take at the girl's words yet again. 'Oniisama?! She calls this demon her broth– Wait, did she say just say "Inuyasha"?'

The merchant made a choking sound then. "Inu–? Lord Inuyasha?"

The daihanyou rolled his eyes before scoffing, "Keh. What of it?"

"My- My Lord, please, I must insist that you take this Kimono for the lady as a gift with my compliments."

Anger settled over the Inu Lord's features before he spoke. "I don't need your charity, old man."

"No, please, you misunderstand. It is not charity, but a debt repaid. My brother lived in a village to the north that had been overrun by demon rats several years ago. It was you and the Shikon Miko who saved him, as well as countless others. I merely wish to repay you some small part of my family's debt to you."

The merchant bowed deeply from the waist, missing the shared look of surprise that passed between Rin, Kagome and Inuyasha.

Rin looked again at the still-bowing merchant, her face cracking into a wide grin. "Oh, isn't that wonderful, Kagome-chan! You and Inuyasha-oniisama saved this man's brother!"

The merchant's head shot up, eyes going wide with astonishment yet again as he searched Kagome's face. "Did she say…? Wait. My Lady? Is it you? Are you the Shikon Miko?"

Kagome wasn't sure why being recognized made her nervous. No, that wasn't true at all. She knew exactly why it made her nervous. She'd just told this man she was getting married, and now he also knew that she was a Miko.

Finally, she nodded slowly as she spoke. "Yes, I'm the one they call the Shikon Miko. But please, my name is just Kagome."

Kagome shared a look with Inuyasha, both bracing themselves for the possible consequences of her confirmation.

They needn't have been concerned.

With a tremor in both his voice and his hands, the merchant picked up the already-wrapped bundle of Kagome's previously selected garments. "My Lady, please, I insist. Take these. I will not accept a single coin from you nor from Lord Inuyasha for anything you wish to have from my meagre offerings. Not after everything the two of you have done for my family and countless others. In truth, every man, woman and child alive in this region today owes you their life. I beg you to accept these garments as a small token of my thanks."

Kagome and Inuyasha could only stare jaw-dropped at the man's beseeching face. Even Rin, who's face still held a wide grin, had been shocked into silence by the man's fervent words. She could tell that all three adults were holding their breath…

Until, finally, something in Kagome's posture relaxed and she reached out her hand to lay it gently upon the merchant's, smiling a soft, slightly embarrassed smile at him.

"We only did what had to be done. I couldn't dream of accepting such an extravagant gift for doing what was my duty to do."

The merchant was undaunted. He shook his head. "Nay, my Lady, please. You must accept. It is a matter of honour."

There was another pause and Kagome opened her mouth to once again refuse but was stopped when Inuyasha reached out his hands to take the wrapped bundle, his voice gruff but quiet when he spoke.

"The Lady accepts with our thanks."

Kagome sent her mate a questioning look. "I do?"

His look in return was one of finality. "You do."

"Well, then… I guess I do. Thank you, sir, for your gift. I will think of you every time I wear them." Kagome granted the wondering man a shy but luminous smile and, despite his age, his cheeks bloomed in a humbled blush as he nodded in acceptance of her thanks.

Inuyasha caught Kagome's eye, silently indicating that it was time for them to move along. She nodded and turned to go.

Inuyasha however, stayed where he was for a moment more, levelling the merchant with an unreadable look before giving him a brief nod.

Rin had watched it all, falling in to walk beside Inuyasha as he turned to leave as well. After a few moments she touched his arm, drawing his attention down to her.

"What is it, Rin?"

"It's just… Do you see, oniisama? Not everyone is against you and Kagome-chan. You must not lose hope, ne?"

Inuyasha looked down at the girl who was much too wise for her meagre eleven years. He wondered, and not for the first time, if there was more to the girl's story than he knew.

Choosing to set that thought aside for the moment, he rolled his eyes and smirked, reaching out an affectionate hand to ruffled her hair.

"Keh. Whatever you say, Rin. Whatever you say."



MariIvyFenta, Guesswho, itzatakahashi, Mini Luu & Individua do mal - Inuyasha's confrontation with Shippō had definitely been brewing for a while, so I'm really glad you all enjoyed how it turned out! And it 100% opens up the door for a change in the dynamic between the two of them. Where once they were mostly antagonistic with one another, Shippō's desire to prove himself as a capable elder of the pack is going to be one of his biggest motivators as the story continues. Tiny bit of spoilers there, but you know... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

hnnwnchstr - Your play-by-play comment reactions as you read through the entire story literally made my week. I kept laughing every time I saw another one pop up. Hope this new chapter is enough of a fix to get you through!

Amanda B - I am in AWE of the beautifully thoughtful and detailed review you left on the last chapter! Thank you again! And I know exactly what you mean by filler, which is what I've been trying very hard to avoid. Trying instead to really show something important in each chapter I write. And even when it's not super angsty or romantic or full of action or secrets, there are still breadcrumbs being left behind that will inevitably feed into the larger story as it progresses. So thank you again!

A/N – If any of you follow me on Tumblr, then you'll know that To Market, To Market was originally going to be one long chapter, but it got to be SO long that I decided to divide it in half. Watch for Part 2 to be posted tomorrow!

You can find me chatting about behind-the-scenes stuff like this over on Tumblr. My username is sarah-writes-stories. It's also where I posted the beautiful Sessrin art that inspired Rin's memory for this chapter!

(And, of course, I do not own Inuyasha nor any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.)