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Chapter 28: To Market, To Market
(Part 2)
The group had spent the next few hours meandering through town, procuring most everything on Kagome's list.
Miroku, of course, had done most of the talking – and most of the haggling – with Inuyasha hovering nearby, always ready to eye the merchants into submission before turning over coin as needed.
And with every purchase, they'd made their way toward what they had decided would be their last stop: the woodworker's shop in the central square.
"It's a good thing you convinced that guy to deliver or else I don't know how we woulda gotten that big storage chest back to the village!" Shippō sounded sufficiently impressed with Miroku's haggling skills as they made their way back out into the square after leaving the woodworker's shop.
The central square was where the town's residents had their established shops and stalls, all built in a roughly circular ring around their watchtower and freshwater well.
Inuyasha smirked at Shippō's words. "I think the Bōzu's arms were getting tired and he just wanted an excuse to leave all the stuff we'd already bought behind in the chest."
Kagome, Rin and Shippō laughed at that, but Miroku only smiled guilelessly in return. "Do not begrudge me the lightening of our load, Inuyasha. I only sought to solve two problems with a single solution."
Kagome smiled ruefully. "I definitely can't blame you. I feel like we've bought out half the market already!"
"Indeed, I believe we've been able to procure most of what was on your list. Is that not so?" Miroku peeked over Kagome's shoulder as they continued walking, both eyeing the list of items she still held in her hand.
"Does that mean we can stop and get something else to eat soon?" Shippō's nose rose in the air, sniffing.
"What makes you think–" Inuyasha began but then stopped abruptly. Something in the shop to his left had caught his eye when the slanted afternoon sunlight had caught on…whatever it was, causing it to sparkle slightly within the dim recesses of the shop.
Miroku noticed Inuyasha's distraction and followed his gaze toward the shop in question. He knew it to belong to the local tailor.
Catching Inuyasha's eye then, he gave his friend a questioning look. Inuyasha nodded and allowed himself to fall back from the others before turning to head towards the shop.
Miroku then turned to look at Rin, the two sharing a small nod of understanding before Miroku also fell back a bit from the rest.
Rin knew it was time for her to play her part. She latched onto Kagome's arm. "Ooh! Look, Kagome-chan! Over there! That stall has hair sticks and combs! Let's go look!"
Shippō was affronted. "Hair sticks? Combs? That's stupid, girly stuff!" He made a sour face and was about to head back to where Miroku was still standing and watching but was stopped by a quick shake of Miroku's head and some surreptitious gesturing that indicated that Miroku wanted Shippō to stay with the girls and keep an eye on them.
Shippō felt his chest puff up with pride at that, a look of resolve settling into his eyes before the two males shared a quick nod.
Finally, Miroku turned to follow Inuyasha into the tailor's shop, while Shippō hopped back up on Kagome's shoulder, suddenly quite interested in the girly stuff.
When Miroku caught up with him, Inuyasha was standing just inside the doorway to the tailor's shop. "Has something caught your eye, my friend?"
"I don't know yet, I need to take a closer look."
At the sound of their voices, the tailor – a portly, balding man known simply as Shitateya – appeared from his workroom.
Inuyasha and Miroku stepped more fully into the shop at the sight of him, the sunlight streaming in the door behind them, at first obscuring their faces and casting the rest of the shop in long shadows.
"Greetings, gentlem–" The tailor's eyes grew wide when he finally recognized the hanyou standing in front of him, words dying on his lips.
Fear.
The strong scent of it immediately hit Inuyasha in the face. He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.
The tailor cleared his throat. "Lord Inuyasha, I presume?"
Shitateya was not so foolish as to be rude to the Inu Lord outright, but he was truly at a loss for what on earth the hanyou could want in his shop of all places?
And how could he get him to leave?
Inuyasha stepped forward, scowl still firmly in place, scanning the table in the back corner of the shop that stood directly across from the doorway, trying to pinpoint what it had been that had caught his eye from out in the street.
Miroku, too, stepped more fully into the shop, smiling benevolently at the tailor. "Good day, Shitateya. It would appear that there is something in your shop that has caught the eye of my friend here."
Once both men were away from the door, the sunlight again shone through the unobstructed entryway, causing something on the waist-high table to sparkle once again.
"What's that?" Inuyasha's voice was gruff as he pointed to the sparkling…whatever it was.
The tailor followed the line from the hanyou's pointed finger to the carefully folded garment sitting on the back table.
"That?" The tailor didn't try to hide the confusion from his voice. "That is an uchikake. I am well known in the region as the most accomplished in creating such finery." He also didn't try to hide his pride in that fact.
"Bring it into the light," Inuyasha gruffed again. "Over by the window. I want to see it."
The tailor shook his head slightly. 'What on earth could this hanyou want with an uchikake?'
Inuyasha's scowl deepened as the tailor began. "I don't think–"
In stark contrast to Inuyasha's scowl, Miroku's smile remained benevolent, even as he quickly cut the tailor's words off. "We would be most pleased if you would show us the beauty of your craftsmanship, Shitateya. Please, bring the uchikake into the light."
Sighing and looking more than a little putout, the tailor walked over to where the folded uchikake lay. There was an air of self-importance in his tone when he spoke again, bringing the garment forward. "It is a very expensive piece, originally commissioned by the local daimyō for his daughter's wedding. Unfortunately, she and her intended – another local lord – were killed in an ambush and so the uchikake was never claimed."
The tailor sighed heavily again before dragging a kimono rack towards the window near the front of the shop. Carefully, he unfolded the uchikake and hung it over the arms of the rack. Once done, the man stepped back and both Miroku and Inuyasha stepped forward.
The wedding coat was made of snow-white silk and embroidered all over with small glass beads which Inuyasha could now tell were what had caught and refracted the light into swirling patterns. The beads were gathered more thickly near the hem of each of the sleeves, drawing attention to the heavier scarlet lining that peeked out from the edge of each cuff.
It was the perfect compliment to the kimono that Kagome had picked out for the wedding.
Inuyasha stepped back with a nod. "Wrap it up. We'll take it."
A look of disgruntled confusion again passed over the tailor's face before it was quickly replaced by one of understanding.
"Of course, my Lord. You need only tell me on whose behalf you have been sent to purchase such a garment, and I will see that it is wrapped well and delivered to them in a timely manner."
It was Inuyasha's turn to look confused. "What the fuck?"
Seeing where this was going, Miroku stepped forward, shaking his head. "You are mistaken, my friend. We do not purchase on another's behalf, but on our own."
The tailor spoke slowly, "I… I see."
Although really, he didn't.
Because it was no secret that the warrior monk had long ago wed the taijiya who had also aided in the defeat of Naraku – as unorthodox as that was. The two of them lived in a nearby village and before the birth of their children would often come to the market together.
So he would have no use for a wedding coat.
Did that mean that it for the hanyou? Did he have a bride?
The very idea of it twisted the tailor's face in disgust.
Inuyasha understood that look. He'd seen it too many times in his life not to recognize it for exactly what it was.
He'd watched the thoughts play across the tailor's face – the man clearly too big a fool to bother schooling his features – until they had landed upon the logical conclusion.
And in that moment he was sorely tempted to tell the pompous ass to stuff his uchikake where the sun don't shine.
But he also knew that Kagome would love it… and he would do anything to see her happy.
Snarling with disgust of his own, Inuyasha reached inside the folds of his suikan and pulled out a large bag of coins, tossing it to Miroku.
"You deal with this shit. I'm out of here."
Throwing the tailor one final death glare, Inuyasha stomped back out into the bright sunlight, suddenly anxious to return to Kagome's side.
"Would you like to pick something out, Rin?"
The two females were casually perusing the various hair adornments on display on the table outside the shop that Rin had pulled Kagome towards… all the while Kagome smiling a secret smile to herself.
'I may not be sure what the others are up to, but I'm certainly willing to play along.' She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from grinning and giving it away.
Because really, the way Shippō had turned to leave and then abruptly returned to the "girly" shop? Or how the two men had suddenly disappeared when Inuyasha had barely even let her take a breath on her own since they'd left the village that morning?
'Yeah, real subtle, guys.'
Rin's reply to her question brought Kagome back to her surroundings. "Oh no, Kagome-chan! This Rin would not expect Inuyasha-oniisama to buy her anything!"
"Why not, Rin? Think of it as a gift. You accept gifts from Sesshōmaru all the time."
"Yes, but that is different. This Rin's Lord is her Lord." Rin gestured with her hands as though it might help Kagome understand the clear and vast difference between the two.
Kagome was undaunted. "But wouldn't it be nice to get something to wear to the wedding, something to compliment one of the kimonos Sesshōmaru has given you?"
That idea caught Rin's attention. She seemed to waver slightly in her resolve to refuse, though Kagome could tell that she would need more convincing.
Luckily, Shippō piped up then. "Come on, Rin! You know you want to!"
Rin smiled shyly, her willpower continuing to fade.
'All she needs is one more little nudge,' Kagome thought with an inward smirk.
"How about this, Rin? What are you planning to wear to the wedding? If we can find something that matches it perfectly then it would only be fair for us to get it for you, wouldn't it? And, hey, if we don't find anything then there's nothing to even worry about. Okay?"
The younger girl thought about it for a moment more before finally nodded her assent.
"This Rin wants to wear the kimono that her Lord brought her last spring. It is the most beautiful yellow that matches the sash that her lord wears. It has white sakura blossoms embroidered down the centre of the back, plus more on each shoulder. And there is a pretty pink obi that he gave this Rin to wear with it. It was a little too big for her last year and so this Rin has not worn it yet."
"All the more reason for you to get something to go with it!" Kagome exclaimed
With that settled, the three of them leaned over the display with renewed determination, each searching for the perfect piece to accompany the kimono Rin had described.
Several hair combs, sticks and ribbons were suggested but quickly discounted as not quite right before it was Shippō who finally exclaimed, "Now these are more like it!"
He jumped down from Kagome's shoulder to stand on the far side of the table that held the various pairs of hair sticks. "Look at these, Rin!"
Most of the hair accessories displayed on the table were of a dainty, feminine design. Some had flowers, still others were adorned with birds or animals. But Rin gasped aloud when she saw the pair of hair sticks that Shippō was pointing to.
These sticks looked to be made from some kind of polished metal, which was unusual in and of itself since most hair sticks were made of wood.
Still, that wasn't what caused Rin to gasp. Rather it was the fact that instead of being shaped like sticks, this pair had been forged to look exactly like two miniature swords, each adorned with a pair of tiny bells that dangled off the ends of their dainty hilts like tassels from the hilt of an actual sword.
Rin stared at them silently, eyes wide. It was Kagome who voiced the thought that had caused her to fall so silent. "Rin these… They look exactly like Bakusaiga!"
It was true! Rin could hardly believe her eyes, for the tiny swords each had a geometric pattern etched into them that reminded her so much of Bakusaiga's hilt and scabbard.
Shippō's grin was wide, pleased with himself for having noticed the unique pair. "If that ain't a sign from the Kami, Rin, then I'll cut off my tail!"
With a loving touch, Rin picked them up, using the tip of her finger to jingle the little bells against one another.
"Shippō's right, Rin. I'm getting these for you. You two stay right here, I'll just step inside and pay and be right back."
The two youngsters leaned against the display table to wait, Shippō still puffed up with pride.
"If Sesshōmaru asks where you got the sticks from you can tell him that I was the one who found them for you."
Where Rin would normally have found Shippō's smug self-satisfaction a bit annoying, she had to admit, he'd done good.
"I'm not sure if my Lord will ask, but if he does, I'll tell him, Shippō. I promise."
She smiled down at him where he stood beside her… but Shippō's attention was no longer on her. Instead, he was looking across the central square, his features quickly changing from smug to scowling in a way that would have rivalled Inuyasha's. He began growling a low warning growl.
Kagome stepped back outside in time to hear her kit's growls.
"Shippō, what is it?"
Both Kagome and Rin followed the direction of Shippō's glare until it landed on a group of three boys who were standing near the base of the watchtower. It looked as though two of the boys were teasing the third… who seemed to be blushing profusely and every once in awhile casting sidelong glances in Rin's direction.
Kagome laughed, bending low to speak quietly, closer to Rin's ear. "Why, Rin, I think that boy might be sweet on you!"
"'Sweet on me,' Kagome-chan? What do you mean?"
"I mean, Rin, that he probably thinks you're cute and wants to come over and say hello."
Shippō growled even louder at that, the sound carrying enough for the three boys to notice and sober up slightly as a result.
Kagome only rolled her eyes. "Oh, Shippō! You're as bad as Inuyasha!"
"As bad as me about what?"
Inuyasha had been fuming when he'd exited the tailor's shop. But really, what else had he been fucking expecting? He should have known better, should have sent Miroku in on his own.
He glowered at the passersby who gave him a wide birth, his dark mood growing with each nervous glance thrown his way. That is, until the sound of Kagome's laughter coming from across the square caught his attention.
His eyes followed the sound and he watched as she whispered something in Rin's ear, all the while Shippō looking just about ready to spit foxfire.
A feeling of warmth spread across his chest…and he smiled, shaking his head and allowing the anger that had been all but choking him to fade.
Rin had been right earlier; he couldn't lose hope. Because who the fuck cared what some narrow-minded tailor thought? He had to focus on people like that merchant from earlier. People who were able to see past his claws and fangs.
Inuyasha looked again at his pack and sighed.
He'd be damned if he let one closed-minded asshole get to him like this.
Still…
In that moment he swore that if ever the day came when the closed-minded outstripped those willing to see beyond his youkai blood, he would do whatever it took to keep his Pack safe.
Whatever it took to keep Kagome safe.
Thank the Kami!
Haruto had been just about ready to give up his post in an attempt to stop himself from dying of embarrassment!
He was sure that the elder sister of the pretty girl was whispering about him into her ear. And that kitsune with them looked like he was ready to run across the square and sink his teeth in Haruto's leg.
Earlier in the day, the rumours had spread like wildfire that not only were Lord Inuyasha and the Warrior Monk Miroku in town that day, but that the Shikon Miko was once again with them!
He'd been sent by his father to wait in the square, confident that at some point the legendary group would make their way there.
And after waiting beside the watchtower for most of the day, Haruto was bored out of his mind. Sure, Hinata and Itsuki had hung around to keep him company, but still…bored.
That is, until he'd caught sight of the prettiest girl in the most beautiful pink kimono he'd ever seen.
That was when his so-called friends had switched from keeping him company to teasing him mercilessly about the way he couldn't seem to stop blushing and staring in her direction.
And just when he was sure that he couldn't possibly bear any more of their taunts he'd finally caught sight of the Hanyou Lord making his way across the square. Looking around, Haruto also saw the Hōshi stepping out of the tailor's shop and following the hanyou across the square… Right towards the pretty girl!
Well, there was no hope for it. His father had given him a job to do and he had to see it through, embarrassment or no.
He took off across the square.
"As bad as me about what?"
Kagome turned to see her mate smirking at her as he approached.
"As bad as you when it comes to being protective! I mean, that poor boy–"
Kagome's words cut off when she realized that said poor boy was now standing right behind Inuyasha, looking as though he was trying to work up the courage to speak.
"Oh, hello." She smiled at the boy who stood rooted to the spot.
"And who do we have here? A new friend?" Miroku called out as he approached. He smiled down at the boy whose head had whipped around at the sound of Miroku's questioning voice behind him.
The monk's smile seemed to unlock the boy's tongue, though he kept his voice low, eyes casting about as though the very shadows might be listening.
"Lord Inuyasha, Hōshi-sama, is the Shikon Miko not with you after all?"
Haruto frowned a bit at that before shaking his head and pressing his palms together beseechingly. "That does not matter. Please, I beg of you, you must come with me now! Without your help, my father fears that many more will die!"
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Angel-the-hedge - That is a HUGE compliment, I LOVED both of SweetInuGirl's stories and always think of them as the gold standard that I'd be lucky to live up to! So thank you!
Mini Luu - Can you tell how much I enjoyed writing that scene? I am SO looking forward to when Sesshōmaru FINALLY joins the main cast of the story!
Surfy & hnnwnchstr - Thank you both! I'm so happy you're here and enjoying the story!
A/N – Eeek Cliffhanger! Here we go, ladies and gents! Hold onto your hats!
PS – You can find me chatting about behind-the-scenes stuff over on Tumblr. My username is sarah-writes-stories.
(And, of course, I do not own Inuyasha nor any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.)
