Kagome woke up slowly and grudgingly, with sunbeams on her face and a nagging feeling of some distinct wrongness. It was only when she opened her sleepy eyes and blearily looked around that she realized where it came from. She was lying down in warm and fluffy embrace of Sesshomaru's pelt, but he himself wasn't anywhere near. Even when Kagome remembered how he left her alone with his fur yesterday she still didn't understood why he wasn't there to take it back yet - it was already past dawn.
Not knowing what else she could do, Kagome decided to went on with her day and keep the pelt with her. It seemed wrong to leave it in empty room, alone, even if Kagome felt strange putting the length of fur on her shoulders. It was quite heavy, and too big in volume and lengh for Kagome to not leave an end to trail behind her.
When the priestess ventured outside, her new accessory instantly gathered everyone's attention. Kagome could see shocked and curious glances thrown at her, could see people whispering things to each other, but nobody dared to ask her, so she put a brave front and ignored the onlookers. What did they knew, after all? Even she herself was in confusion!
Since she slept through dawn, Kagome knew that all her new friends had left their meeting place in gardens already. They planned in case of such occasion, to meet again at midday gong and at dawn, so right now Kagome had almost a half a day to kill. Thankfully, on the festival this was one of the easiest things to do. The last day of it was also the most spectacular. As she walked through the terraces, Kagome remembered Tsume saying that after the sunset it will end with great parade, and after the next dawn people will be able to start enlisting to the tournament.
And just as Kagome thought about her, the female dog youkai appeared before her wandering eyes. She was, just as the last time Kagome had seen her, enjoying herself greatly. Tsume was sitting in a big lavishly decorated palanquin that was lying on the ground before a stage where some kind of music performance was taking place. It was then that Tsume turned away from musicians for a moment, and their eyes met.
Kagome watched from her place in the crowd of listeners how the woman whispered something to one of the servants in her entourage, who immediately dived into the sea of people to move towards the priestess. It wasn't long before the same servant reappeared in front of Kagome with the words that she honestly expected to hear at this point: "Kagome-sama, Tsume-sama wishes to invite you to her palanquin". Of course, Kagome couldn't refuse, even if she was somewhat afraid that she will not able to leave Tsume's company again until the end of day. She didn't know the reason for it, but the female youkai seemed to have some particular interest in her.
"Hello again, girl," Tsume said with a pleasant smile when Kagome was seated on pillows near her. The palanquin was spacious enough that between the two women there was enough space for a third one. "How do you find this one's festival?"
"It's absolutely spectacular, Tsume-sama," Kagome admitted sincerely. Even now she was distracted from the conversation by an enchanting song that was flowing from the stage.
Tsume nodded with a pleased expression on her face, before her eyes lowered on pelt that was lying across Kagome's shoulders. She reached towards it with one clawed finger, poking it as if to make sure it was real.
"And what is this? Are her senses lying to this Tsume, girl, or did her vagabond son really left his pelt in your hands?" Tsume asked with a frown. "This one would've accuse you of thievery, if she didn't knew for sure that you are alive yet and not a ghost! After all, Sesshomaru would never let someone steal from him and live."
Kagome gulped, not sure how to interpret Tsume's inquiry. Was she angry at her? At Sesshomaru? Or just surprised? If Tsume decided to kill Kagome, the whole island full of dangerous youkai will turn against the priestess, and nothing would help her then.
"H-he did," Kagome replied carefully. "I don't know why, Sesshomaru-sama just left it with me yesterday night and walked away. I was very shocked myself."
Tsume snorted, pulling away from Kagome. Her lips again settled into a small, sly smile.
"Well, well, well," she said with a slight shake of her head. "It seems that this one's fears of her son spending his whole life alone were not as justified she thought. She spend so much time, trying to introduce her dear son to strong and charming youkai in hopes that he will finally make friends, and all for naught! All hope was lost, before you appeared. You are quite special, girl, to succeed where this Tsume failed so many times."
"Um, thank you, Tsume-sama," Kagome replied awkwardly, playing with her fingers. The next words came out of her mouth before her self-preservation instinct could stop her from her blunder, and were filled with a surprising amount of firmness. "But I think that if Sesshomaru-sama wants to live alone, this is his right. I believe that he lived for long enough to be able to make his own life choices."
Kagome could understand where Tsume came out from. She knew that youkai were more solitary than humans, but even they tended to live in some sort of groups. Tsukuyomaru had his tribe and his family, Touran had her wildcat siblings (who weren't actual blood siblings, luckily for Shunran and Karan), Tsume had the whole island of servants and soldiers and guests – Sesshomaru had only her, Kagome, and even that was a recent addition. But she also felt that Sesshomaru preferred it to be like this, and it wasn't right to push him into a different way of life.
But all of that didn't mean that Kagome had any rights to tell Tsume how to raise her son! Not to mention, chastise the owner of the island where the priestess was hosted as a guest! But, to Kagome's relief, instead of taking offense, the youkai female only smiled wider in amusement.
"Such fire in your eyes, girl! Such protectiveness! Oh, you two are sure worth each other. And how happy this Tsume are that she will have all the time needed to know you better after the tournament! A unique curiosity like you cannot be just passed by, and it seems like Sesshomaru understand this just as well!" Tsume prattled on and on excitedly.
"What do you mean 'all the time needed'?" Kagome asked in confusion and growing dread. She just couldn't understand how to act with this woman, and honestly, would've been glad to leave her presence. One moment Tsume acted cold, next – hot, and all the time looked like she was only playing all along. It was just plain tiring.
"Oh, didn't this one's son mention it to you? How common for him, to not tell something so important before the last possible moment," Tsume shook her head disapprovingly. "He asked his dear mother to help him with your interesting problem, and since she, of course, agreed to help her son in his plight, you are going to stay on my island for a while longer after the tournament ends."
"You are going to help Sesshomaru-sama with my… studies?" Kagome clarified, feeling an immerse longing for comfort of Sesshomaru's den all of the sudden. "Why? Why would he need this?"
"Oh, girl, it's not that he is unable to teach you everything you need on his own, he just knows that this Tsume will do a much better job. After all, who knows more about female beauty than a female? But don't worry, with this one's help, you will be a prettiest dog youkai in the world – after this Tsume, of course," Tsume hid her smile in her sleeve in an aristocratic gesture, but her eyes still held sparks of amusement and lots of self-assurance.
"That's very generous of you, Tsume-sama," Kagome thanked politely. She was surprised that Sesshomaru lowered herself down to asking anyone's help, more so his mother with whom, as Kagome assumed, he didn't had the warmest of relationships. But it seemed that his perfectionism was stronger than his pride.
"Well then, now let's stop insulting the musicians with indifference! You and this Tsume shall watch their performance, and then she'd like to hear on what could be added to the festival next year," Tsume said, turning towards the stage. "This one is very curious to hear a human's opinion."
"I don't think it will be so helpful. I had only participated in small village festivals," Kagome replied honestly, but stayed put and turned her attention to beautiful music that was played. If Tsume intended to keep her close, then at least her legs will be able to rest at soft pillows, and walls of the palanquin will protect her from stares of people outside. But Kagome still intended to look out for her friends later.
'I wonder what makes a dog a pretty one for other dogs,' Kagome wondered, as her thoughts started to stray under an influence of soft melody that was dancing in the air. 'It's probably all in the smell. This is, after all, dogs' strongest sense. I don't know, though, how will I smell all that beauty I will need to understand and copy.'
In the end, Kagome managed to ditch Tsume at midday and spend rest of her day with Shunran, Karan, Shizu, Touran and Shiori, doing what Karan said with a sly smirk, was 'girl stuff'. The statement chased males away and left the females alone to enjoy soak in a local bathhouse, browse stalls full of pretty trinkets and beautiful kimonos, and gossip over their love lives a lot. When, returning to her room at night, Kagome hadn't seen a sight of Sesshomaru, she was relieved. After all the questions about what was hiding under his robes, Kagome knew that she would've blushed if she saw him, even if she did knew what was there. Which she didn't! She still turned away each time he disrobed for the night! Though, after all that was said, Kagome herself was curious about what Sesshomaru decided to be a perfect 'sword' to hang between the legs of his human form. Was it gigantic? Everyone (besides Shizu, who preferred "more sensible", as she put it, sizes) seemed to prefer their 'swords' on the bigger side. Why did Kagome cared for such things anyway? 'Where is my priestess' purity now?'
On the next day – the day of tournament registration - those questions, thankfully, all settled firmly in farthest corner of her mind, only huddling closer together in fear when Kagome had actually seen Sesshomaru again. His face was a mask of fury, and even his aura, usually perfectly controlled and hidden under his skin, was seeping around in palpable, oppressive, poisonous cloud. The crowds that were even thicker now, than in the previous days of the festival, left a wide empty circle around him.
In his hands he was holding the closed puzzle box.
For Kagome, who was trying to not be affected by Sesshomaru's aura, the situation was quickly becoming a bit funny. He was a very sore loser, it seemed, and Touran, who's smile was quickly becoming as self-satisfied as Sesshomaru's gaze was icy, was a very smug victor. Tsukuyomaru, who stood together with them in the tournament registration line, seemed to be torn between backing away and saving some of his male pride before two women, which made Kagome's desire to smile even harder to resist to.
In even steps Sesshomaru reached their mixed group and thrust the box into readily offered by Touran hands.
"So you had lost," the wildcat woman purred. "Now, what about fetching my spear before tomorrow?"
"Do not test this Sesshomaru's patience, cat," he hissed in response. In lightning-fast movements he grabbed his pelt from Kagome's shoulders, which could only gasp in shock, and draped it over himself. Before Touran had time to say anything else, Sesshomaru's youki expanded around him and he shot away like a brilliant arrow, transforming into a brilliant ball of light in the air.
"What was that?" Kagome asked in confusion, following his flight with her eyes. It was much faster than she had ever seen him fly.
"A form of pure energy," Tsukuyomaru replied in awe, doing the same. "I have only heard of youkai who can assume it. It's completely intangible, and because of that allows for much faster flight than anything else."
"Who cares about this dog?" Touran snorted and grinned. "I had finally won! My dear spear, I will never ever bet on it again!"
"Congratulations, Touran-san!" Kagome smiled as well and looked down at the box in wildcat's hands. "So, what is inside of this box? I was actually so curious…"
"I'd like to know as well," Touran shrugged and pursed her lips. "I just found it in some bandit camp. I tried to crack it up for a whole week, and then decided to use it for a challenge. Actually, you know what, Kagome-san? You should keep it. Consider it a gift."
"What? I can't! It's so well-made, it must be way too expensive for me to accept!" she protested, putting her palms before her in a shielding gesture.
"Well, I don't know what is this all about, but it's really rude to refuse a gift," Tsukuyomaru interfered with a devilish smirk. Kagome's shoulders slumped.
"Oh, Kagome-san, you can just tell me later what was inside and we will be even!" Touran said with a wink, putting the puzzle box in the priestess' hands.
"Thank you very much," Kagome finally said with a deep bow. "And I will be sure to tell you!"
Touran nodded, turning towards the beginning of the line, where a bunch of youkai were testing and listing all participants. "Now," she said. "I wonder what will happen first – we will get to finally register in the tournament or Sesshomaru returns with my Rime Spear?"
When the line finally went to Kagome, Sesshomaru was still away somewhere, despite the amount of time that passed – a fact that made her somewhat glad. He, of course, will know that she is participating in the tournament one day, but Kagome was happy to put this moment away for as long as she could. Especially considering his mood after being beaten, figuratively speaking, by Touran.
Two officials – a tall and lanky man and a short, plump female, both wearing appropriate for their positions robes – threw one glance at Touran and Tsukuyomaru before deeming them 'strong enough' and writing their names into the list of participants, to the envy of many other youkai who weren't granted entry (it seemed that most of the long line of people consisted of rejects). With Kagome, though, they decided to take their time, and while the male left to deal with a queue, the woman led Kagome aside to a small training field.
"Please, demonstrate something of what you can do," the female official said in bored tone, gesturing towards the only notable thing around – a boulder that was standing as tall as Kagome was. A scorch marks and cracks on it showed that it was already used for target practice, and a lot.
Nodding, Kagome thought for a moment. She brought her bow and her sword, but the goal was only to demonstrate her power, not to decimate anything. Besides, Kagome didn't want to alert any of multitudes of youkai nearby. But at the same time, she didn't want to show too little and get denied from entry.
Finally, Kagome came near the boulder and put her hand on it. Taking a deep breath in and closing her eyes, she sang a low note, pouring her power in the stone just as air was leaving her lungs. She sung and sung, not stopping for a moment, but keeping a close track on the delicate balance of power within herself, until she could feel that the stone cannot take anymore at one go without breaking. When Kagome opened her eyes, the grey rock was warm and slightly glowing under her palm.
"Is this enough?" she asked, turning back to the official. The woman was standing with her mouth open in shock, and was now a few steps farther away than Kagome remembered her standing before.
"Definitely!" the woman nodded vigorously, gathering herself together. "Just give me your name and I will write you in. Tournament grid will be hanged near the arena tomorrow at dawn."
"Higurashi Kagome," the priestess said, giving her full name for the first time in years. She never had a reason to use it, not when she hadn't been at household of her birth for so long. Still, something moved Kagome to say it now. The official nodded, returning back to her colleague, and the priestess went to expecting her Touran and Tsukuyomaru.
"That was amazing, Kagome-san!" the bat youkai commented her show of power as the trio moved from the registration grounds towards their living quarters. "I think that now officials would be able to determine who is strong enough for tournament just by making youkai walk up to that boulder."
"I didn't thought of that," Kagome said, blinking. She did pour quite a lot of reiki into the stone, as it was big enough to allow it, and could imagine that weak youkai will be not feeling that good near it. "But it's better than accidentally burn someone!" she tried to excuse herself, but was only met with amused smiles from Tsukuyomaru and Touran.
"Kagome-san, I personally didn't expect anything less of you," the wildcat said with almost pride. "Anyone can defeat one of my siblings so easily cannot be weak."
"And I am not!" Kagome nodded and squared her shoulders. 'I will show them all!' she cried out in her head. She wasn't sure to whom exactly she will be showing, though. When she thought about anyone to whom she wanted to show off anything, the only image that her mind conjured was Sesshomaru's disdainful face. So Kagome changed tracks. "Don't worry, Tsukuyomaru-san, we will surely get that morsel of immortality for you!"
Despite the festival itself being over, the island was still full of people and more were flying in as day progressed, despite living accommodations being short – it seemed that not only Sesshomaru was ready to sacrifice some night sleep from time to time. Stalls with food and all sorts of items from jewelry to weapons were growing around like mushrooms after rain, in even bigger amounts than they were before. Those new crowds, though, were much less friendlier to Kagome than before, and as soon as she left the company of her friends, she felt it on her own skin in form of glares and then, something worse.
As Kagome walked over the terrace towards the stairs to upper levels, she suddenly felt someone bumping hard into her shoulder.
"Watch where you step, wench!" a loud voice was heard. When Kagome raised her head, she saw an ugly-faced and green-skinned oni before her. He was looking at her with angry red eyes, and Kagome could easily see that the oni bumped into her on purpose.
"Hey, this was your fault!" she responded, putting her hands on her hips. "And who did you called a wench?"
"Who else but you, stinky human? You should say your master that this island is no place for bringing his dirty whores!" the oni said, baring his long fangs. Instead of being intimidated, Kagome just felt like exploding from her anger. This youkai managed to call her all possible sorts of names in the span of three sentences!
"I think if someone should leave, it's you! You reek so hard, that not only your nose can't feel anything besides your stench, but even your brain dissolved into puddle from it long ago!" Kagome threw back.
The oni growled at her, lowering his face to her in a show of intimidation, and it was all Kagome could do to not pinch her nose with her hand. He really did stink.
"Ugh, don't come closer!" she backed off in disgust, trying to breathe through her mouth. "What did you ate, some rotting corpses?"
"Enough from you, bitch!" the youkai roared, swinging his clawed hand at her. Kagome dodged, swift on her feet. She noticed that their squabble was creating quite a lot of attention from people around. Many cheered for the oni, while others just seemed to be curious. Either way, Kagome knew that guards were bound to appear soon and wasn't so sure that they will care about who started it first, and who was or was not attacking.
The youkai threw another swing at her, and Kagome dodged again, but noticed that she was stepping dangerously close to the circle of spectators now. The oni was using his bulky stature and long hands to corner her, and people around were glad to help him. Kagome didn't know how she was going to get out of this situation without being eventually thrown away into some dungeon for fighting.
Just as she was contemplating starting to panic, her ears were hit by a sudden onslaught of loud wailing noises, and a mountain of big, living, bug-eyed mushrooms was thrown on Kagome, the oni that attacked her, and nearest onlookers alike. Everything became a complete chaos, in which the priestess felt someone's small hand pull on her own and led her away.
Kagome trailed swiftly throw crowds, running away from the nearing guards after her unknown savior, until they finally stopped in a small corner behind a crooked trader's stall. It was only then that Kagome could finally look at her helper and see to her surprise, that he was only a child, looking to be eight years old at most.
"Now you are safe from this ogre and the guards, lady!" the kid declared, letting go of Kagome's hand. "They won't find you from here!"
"Thank you very much," Kagome said with a kind smile, examining the kid's paws for legs and fluffy tail. Judging by its orange color, the boy was a young fox youkai. "But what you are doing out there alone?"
"My dad brought a shop stall for a festival," the boy said, puffing his chest out. "We sell the best toys and trinkets of all kinds! You should also come and see!"
"Sorry, maybe later," Kagome shook her head, showing a puzzle box in her hand. "I still need to bring this back to my room."
"Then I shall make sure you get to it safely, pretty lady!" the kid stated. "No one will dare to attack you again when the Great Shippo is around!"
"This isn't necessary, Shippo-kun," Kagome protested weakly, ignoring the fact that right now she wasn't even that sure where she was. "I can get there by myself. You should better return to your dad."
Shippo, though, wasn't inclined to hear her protests, and soon Kagome found herself following after him again. As young fox led her through less-populated alleys of the island towards the upper terraces, Kagome shared her name with him, as well as the fact that she was actually a powerful priestess that could protect herself, and that she was even going to participate in the tournament tomorrow. After hearing from the most excited with this information Shippo that he never talked with a tournament participant earlier, Kagome even promised to introduce him to Touran and Tsukuyomaru later, which made the kid completely ecstatic.
"This is the house for the most important guests!" Shippo exclaimed, as Kagome led him near the building where her room was. "Wow, I didn't know you were not only strong and pretty, but also a real big boss!"
"Shippo-kun," Kagome said, trying to contain her laughter over that notion. "I am nobody's boss. Now, thanks for bringing me there safely, but I am sure that your dad is worried about you. You should go to him."
"If you say so, Kagome-san!" Shippo replied with disbelief. "Bye!"
"Goodbye, Shippo-kun!" Kagome waved back at him.
When she entered her with Sesshomaru's room, Kagome was met with a surprise company of the dog youkai himself. He was sitting near an open window, glowering into the emptiness, until Kagome entered – then he started to glower at her. Despite priestess' knowledge that he didn't slept for two days, Sesshomaru looked as fresh and pristine as ever.
"Nice to meet you too, Sesshomaru-sama…" Kagome grumbled under her breath. She could understand that he was angry, but it wasn't her fault that he lost! Then she noticed how the youkai's eyes lowered to the puzzle box in her hand for a moment. When Sesshomaru didn't say anything after that, Kagome went in to put the box on the shelf for keeping.
"Why do you have it?" a question was asked coldly just as a bottom of the box touched wood of the shelf. Kagome tried hard to ignore Sesshomaru's burning eyes on her person. 'I feel like I just got in a fight with other kids and now expect a tounguelashing from my grandpa. Except, Sesshomaru is not my grandpa!'
"Touran-san gave it to me," Kagome replied carefully, still avoiding to look at Sesshomaru, as if even one glance could provoke his wrath somehow. It even wasn't that irrational, since she knew now that in dog body language direct eye contact meant a challenge and a threat. She also knew that Sesshomaru was above beating her for no reason, but wasn't above making up a perfectly good reason for a beating. Say, a fencing lesson.
To Kagome's slight relief, Sesshomaru just grunted non-communally. With the corner of her eye she could see him turning his face away from her and decided that it was safe to look back. The anger on Sesshomaru's face dissolved into his usual cold neutrality.
"This Sesshomaru expect you to fight well in the tournament. Do not be a disappointment," he said suddenly. Kagome's eyes flew wide open in shock. 'He knows?'
"How do you know that I enlisted?" she blurted, feeling unsure if she should be glad to not get a scolding or afraid of Sesshomaru's subtle threat. It was obvious for her, that if Kagome won't show her best tomorrow, she was going to be in deep trouble later. The better question was – would her best be enough, especially if she meets Sesshomaru in one of the battles? Kagome hadn't seen him in the registration line, but she was sure that he will participate anyway.
"Touran," was Sesshomaru's one-word answer. Kagome nodded, not knowing what to say in the heavy atmosphere. She could tell by Sesshomaru's tense shoulders, that his anger didn't go anywhere, and was only hidden away for now. For some reason besides her self-preservation instinct, Kagome felt like consoling his wounded pride.
"She told me that she spent a week on that box before giving up," the priestess said, picking the box up again and sitting on the floor step away from Sesshomaru. When Kagome felt his eyes on her again, she put the box on the floor near him. "You know, if you crack it open faster than that, you will still sort of win one over her!"
Sesshomaru looked down on the puzzle box and lifted his palm. For a moment his clawed fingers tensed, as if he contemplated literally cracking it open, before he picked it up to stare at it contemplatively. Feeling bold all of the sudden, Kagome inched a bit closer.
"So, did you make a good progress on it in those two days, Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked, also looking at the box. The wood pieces were now in different positions than they were when Touran gave it to Sesshomaru earlier, but she couldn't say anything about which was closer to the right one.
Slowly, as if he was unsure about his decision, Sesshomaru moved two pieces in their tiny grooves. They slid in their new places with loud clacks, and then nothing interesting happened again. Kagome waited patiently for Sesshomaru to say something, but when instead he moved one of those pieces back at its previous position, she just tried to understand the puzzle on her own. Sesshomaru himself seemed to have a great amount of ideas about what he was doing, judging by how long he spent on thinking before taking another action.
Kagome became so immersed in trying to understand both the rules of the box and of Sesshomaru's thoughts, that she didn't noticed nor when she moved over last remaining space between her and the youkai, nor when she snuggled her head in the pelt on his shoulder. Eventually, she caught the pattern behind Sesshomaru's actions and even came up with some of ideas of her own. Those, of course, required to be said aloud.
"I think that you are supposed to move lighter pieces first," Kagome noted, when another move on Sesshomaru's part didn't led to desired results. "It will free the space for darker ones in the middle."
Sesshomaru's hand stilled in the air. He turned his head towards the priestess, and she suddenly realized how close she was to him, and quickly jerked away and looked to the side. Kagome could feel her cheeks grow hot in embarrassment. And she was also sure that her advice wasn't welcomed no matter if Sesshomaru needed it or not.
"Just now you were granting this Sesshomaru this small chance of rematch, and now you are taking it back, priestess?" the youkai asked, burning Kagome with his stare. His features were impassive, and she couldn't tell if he was truly angry at her or not. But it was hard to believe that he was only teasing when Kagome still could remember his angry face from this morning.
"I'm sorry, Sesshomaru-sama!" she hurried to apologize, scrambling away and bowing low. "I just wanted to help, I didn't think… I'm sorry!"
Sesshomaru grunted, turning away from her, and while he didn't said anything more, Kagome felt that he accepted her apology. It took some time, but eventually she moved back to her previous spot on his shoulder. This time, she kept her silence, trying to understand what Sesshomaru was thinking, doing moves that he did, and trying to predict what he was going to do next. The closeness to him that Kagome felt when she foresaw right was much more than the one that came from their physical proximity.
The new day arrived with loud bangs of a gong that were announcing that the tournament was going to start soon. Since she woke up, Kagome was equally excited and anxious about upcoming event. She was anticipating the opportunity to prove everyone, including herself, her strength once again – after being in Sesshomaru's company for so long, she needed this reassurance – but was afraid of how it was going to go. Thanks to earlier stories from her teacher, Kagome knew that there will not be a lot of rest between fights, and was scared to exhaust herself to the point where her youki will start to rebel.
And right now another reason for worrying was added to the pile, when Kagome, Tsukuyomaru, Shizu and Shiori, with whom she met on the way to the arena, looked at the tournament greed that was written on the big wooden tablet near the entrance.
"Oh, this isn't good," said Tsukuyomaru after the first glance and pointed with his hand. "There are only three places in semi-finals."
Kagome looked there as well. Indeed, since in the previous round there were six participants, one of them was skipping a semi-final fight and going straight to finals. According to the grid, chances for such were given to Sesshomaru and some youkai named Hiten. Sesshomaru was going to skip a fight in the second round too.
"And look over there, Kagome-san! You might have a fight with Touran in the fourth round!" Tsukuyomaru exclaimed with his brows furrowed.
"This is good, actually," Shizu inserted her word, putting a hand on Tsukuyomaru's shoulder. "That means that if both of them reach that round, one is going to pass to the semi-final no matter who will win."
"Right, I didn't think about it like that, love. What would I do without your smarts?" Tsukuyomaru blinked and smiled wide, before placing a surprise kiss on Shizu's cheek. "Well, if you are going to be brains, I am left with brawn!" he joked, flexing his muscles. The show wasn't that impressing thanks to the layers of clothes and armor that was hiding them, but Shizu blushed anyway, before putting a kiss of her own in corner of Tsukuyomaru's lips. Seeing this Kagome felt her cheeks grow hot from those public displays of affection.
"Dad, don't lose, or mommy won't kiss you again," Shiori chimed in hilariously serious tone. Shizu giggled, while Tsukuyomaru gently patter his daughter's head.
"With a threat like this, how could I?" he said with a smile and turned to Kagome. "Alright, let's go to our lodge. The tournament will begin soon."
The tournament arena was a big, covered in sand, circular area of open space, surrounded by sturdy-looking wooden benches that were arranged in tiers. Kagome remembered that when the festival was still ongoing, this place was used as one of the stages for performances – the biggest one. It was certainly build with giant youkai in mind – two creatures of Sesshomaru's true size could fight there and don't feel too restrained. It was big enough to allow Kagome an opportunity to use her bow in fights, though knowing youkai speeds she was unsure if that would be a good idea.
As participants of the tournament, Kagome and Tsukuyomaru had their own lodges provided – small, but separated with high wooden screens parts of the spectators' area. Tsukuyomaru's lodge was barely big enough to fit him and his family, but they found a corner for Kagome. She could imagine how tightly wildcats' foursome was packed right now with Shuran's wide build, when there was barely enough sitting space at Tsukuyomaru's lodge with Shiori sitting on his knees.
Outside of the lodges it was even worse. Crowds packed the spectators' area so tight that if an apple was thrown in there, it wouldn't have even hit the ground, because it would've landed on the head of one of the many youkai who were just hovering in the air because the lack of other space.
From where she was placed, Kagome could see that just as her, Sesshomaru didn't go to his lodge, but instead sat near his mother. She, of course, had her own lodge, big enough to fit her, her son, her servants and the big chest that was said to contain all tournament rewards – list of which was going around the place for quite a while.
A tall and bulky ogre hit the great gong thrice, announcing the beginning of the tournament, and the spectators cheered loudly, making Tsukuyomaru wince from the noise and Shiori to close her ears with her hands. Then, Kagome saw Tsume rising from her sitting place.
"This Tsume is glad to greet you today, fellow youkai, at her forty-third Ten Winters Tournament!" she announced loudly, somehow overlapping all the noise. "Let the strongest and the most cunning win today and ripe their rewards, while we will cheer for them and enjoy this great spectacle of bloodshed!" with those words Tsume and Sesshomaru both smiled the same scary smile, just as crowds started to cheer again with double the power.
The gong was hit again, and the first pair of fighters was announced by a tall official that Kagome seen to register participants yesterday. Both names were unfamiliar to Kagome, but she still couldn't stop her hands from shaking. Her turn will come as well, and soon.