As it turned out, Kagome did not need to write the letter to Inukimi.
Ahmya showed up the day before her birthday, unannounced.
Inuyasha, Kaori and the gang also arrived in that same 24 hour period (Takashi, Kouga and Ayame, the Nothern lady, she had yet to meet and other dignitaries). But the kami, being fair and just they arrived at night, weary from their travels and unable to put up much fuss. They weren't supposed to reach this early and they wouldn't have- if it weren't for Ahmya mistaking the situation for what it actually was (not that she would have known).
Inukimi came upon them at midday in Sesshomaru's study while they were in the middle of conversing with Yasuhiro over Sesshomaru's illness or lack thereof (according to both males) and other topics.
"You honestly can not think that I believe that nothing is wrong with him," Kagome said, not even bothering to look up from the journal in her hands from her spot on the cushions next to Sesshomaru.
This had been going on for a while now, (them talking in a circle, that is) and she has been stating the same point over and over in different ways: something was wrong with Sesshomaru in a medical sense. They disagreed with her citing stress (it made some sense, but stress should not be enough to knock him out without some underlying illness) and an overuse of his powers which is why he had an episode last night.
An episode? An episode of what? Episode denoted that it happened previously and was expected to happen again. So an episode of what? Yasuhiro couldn't blame the smoke lilies this time. The grey-white lilies were not found anywhere near the palace by design and the only traces of it could be found in crushed up with other herbs and medicinal menageries into various medicines, pastes and potions. One such medicine was used to heat a demon's blood to help it fight off poisons and their induced fevers. Sesshomaru had no access to it and the smoke lilies in it were too minuscule an amount that it wouldn't have triggered his beast's rage (if it was truly smoke lilies she were dealing with it would have been his lust ).
So it could be one of three things :
They knew but didn't want to tell her.
They were unsure of exactly what it was and didn't want to confirm anything.
Or, they truly were at a loss at what he had.
Anyway, it was all for the sake of not worrying her she believed. Anxiety did funny things to Kagome's powers and made it impossible to control. So they might be thinking that leaving her in the dark world be best, however, they failed to realise that the dark was a scary place, especially when you know there is something more than just the darkness.
So she kept her nose down in the journal for any and all references to this "handshake", never skipping a single phrase (even the sexual ones). The moment she realized that the conversation was moving concentrically, she turned most of her attention elsewhere. She would fully return to the conversation when they began to speak on the reason they were here in the first place.
"While I find this topic riveting," a muffled voice drawled from the right of the room, "shouldn't you be preparing for the coming day's celebration instead"
Floating outside the window closest to Kagome on a cloud of silvery grey stood the interim Lady of the West, Tsuku Ahmya, mother of Taisho Sesshomaru. Pushing aside the window she stepped in with so much grace it appeared as if she might still be floating. Her silver hair in her signature high pigtails barely even danced with her movements. The only thing that moved out of her control was the second tail attached to the bottom of her blue overcoat that she always wrapped around the bottom of her shoulders and flowed down to her feet- that one liked to move around her steps in a dramatic fashion.
From Kagome's understanding, moko mokos were inuyoukai tails, but not in the traditional sense. They were something like the manifestation of excess power. Some dogs never got there's, but all the full inus she had personally known had one (even Yasuhiro, although his manifested as a fluffy silver tail that he hid using kitsune magic, along with his wolf one and kitsune ones, unless he was scared or agitated). Lady Ahmya was a wonder in her eyes, being the only one with two she had ever seen. She always wanted to ask how and when she got it, but the question always died on her tongue due to the scarce details found in Ahmya's journal (all she could tell was that it had something to do with her late mate).
"Good day Ahmya," Kagome said as she scrambled out of her reclined situation to fall into a how-to after covertly hiding the journal of course (she wasn't ready to bring Sesshomaru's attention to it as yet.) She had nearly tripped over her silk hakama (her clothes were still in the laundry apparently) but Ahmya levelled her with a striped hand and a chuckle.
"Kami, it's a miracle. Has my son finally convinced you to wear the many silks he has given to you over those rags?" Her husky voice said with her ever-present playful tone that could rival a nine-tailed fox.
Yasuhiro snorted and answered before she could, " If sending all her clothes to the laundry with an order to take their time, then yes he did convince her."
"I always knew my son was smart," she said as she sat next to the hybrid canine in front of Sesshomaru's desk while Kagome settled back into her original seat, "but I find myself questioning it when you are talking about a shift in the land I caused instead of planning the celebrations for our Miko's 25th birthday."
A shift in the land? Had the topic changed? Anyway, Ahmya had just confirmed it was her doing and changed the topic to the exact one they had been here to speak about in the first place. Her 25th birthday is tomorrow.
"This castle is too serene to be doing any planning of worth. The guest will arrive and nothing will be prepared. Do the servants even know that such an important event is supposed to happen?" She asked incredulously
"Guests?" Kagome asked confused.
"Thank you, Lady Ahmya. Did you know he wasn't planning to do the big event? She's turning 25 and a part of the Western Lord's pack. It's the mark of her maturing fully into womanhood, being able to officially mate her and the beginning of her slowed ageing." Yasuhiro agreed throwing his hands in the air.
If she wasn't paying close attention to the conversation she might have missed something important. "What do you mean, being able to officially mate?"
Sesshomaru was the one to answer her after a beat of hesitation. His voice was clear and even, and she recognised the carefulness that was being stitched into his very being
"In demon culture, a demon either full or any part thereof must wait until both parties have reached the age of maturity before proposing a mating."
Inuyasha proposed to her 4 days before the events that led her to be here in the West. That was early March, and today marked the third week of her stay. Now, it is to her understanding that he truly couldn't have proposed a mating to her until tomorrow?
Why didn't Sesshomaru say anything when he told her?
"What does it mean if a mating was proposed before both parties reached 25?"
"It can mean many things. It could be a promise to mate, but a person can easily reading it without any repercussions from the pack- or when dealing with humans, their family. The males who do that are those that are trying to steal young naïve girl's virginity that they may have chosen to keep for their mate.
"It's even worse if they try to mate with you during that time. You can become a concubine to them. I've seen too many humans fall into that trap because they don't know the difference," Ahmya answered where Sesshomaru would not.
Inuyasha knew she wasn't 25 yet. So did he have no intentions to mate her, or did he only want as a mistress... There was a third option but that felt just as bad as the mistress one. Her mind flitted back to when she told him about being his brother's intended.
He opened his mouth to say something, paused and seemingly chose something else, "May you find all the happiness you deserve."
With those words, Seshomaru's presence seemed... smaller.
Hard eyes glittering with unshed tears turned to watch the man beside her whose impassive face increasingly grew in trepidation (not that anyone else would see it). She got up slowly and made slow and steady steps to Sesshomaru. A resounding smack echoed throughout the room, stunning everyone to silence. "You knew. You had an idea about what Inuyasha might be doing and you said nothing!"
He sat still with his head snapped forward from the force of her slap. She noticed the guilt tensing around his shoulders. She felt her own guilt eating at her for causing him pain, but kami-damn-it she was in pain too (not that it was ever an excuse for lashing out)!
"I'll be at the gazebo tonight." Translation 'You have until tonight to give me a good explanation'.
"Ahmya, you said guests would be arriving?" Kagome was rapidly blinking to keep her tears from flowing and was working on keeping her powers on a smooth baseline.
Ahmya, for her part, pretended that the little altercation between her son and the reason she had a grandchild did not just happen. "Yes, they all should be arriving tonight. Come, let's go get my grandson and talk to the servants." She rose gracefully, grabbed Kagome's hands and pulled her out of the room.
"I don't know what he did, but he surely must have been wrong. I never thought I would see the day that you would genuinely feel that level of anger towards your beloved lord. Now, where's my Ichiro?" Despite her anger, she felt a blush rise on her cheeks.
Thereupon stealing Ichiro from his lessons, (no one questioned the whim of the Inukimi) they spent their next few hours until the guests arrived making preparations.
The servants were appalled to hear that such a milestone in their Lady's life was to occur tomorrow and they had no idea. They had assumed that she had already turned 25 somewhere within the seven years of her being n and out of the palace and they had missed the opportunity. But now, they had a chance to prepare for a celebration fit for their Lady.
It was sunset when she had taken a bath and changed into the white and green kimono with red cherry blossoms kimono that Ichiro and Ahmya had chosen for her. She was now walking with them to the entrance where they would have to great the guests with the rest of the pack.
"Just keep your head straight and hold on to your anger until you have an opportunity to let it go. And try not to look as though my son hung the very moon that shines above us, but don't look as though you're ready to asphyxiation him in his sleep."Ahmya said before they reached the gate.
Kenta was wearing a dark blue and white kimono with his sleek bone armour and hair as untamed as ever in its messy bun and tail and stray hairs. Ichika standing next to him was the essence of grace and refined beauty in her light blue, pink and black kimono. Somehow they had gotten Yasuhiro to wear something other than his comfortable medical wear. But that meant that he dressed extravagantly in a mix of of poppy-red, cyan, teal and turquoise kimono similar to Kenta's and Sesshomaru's his black and silver hair, lay on his shoulder in a plait, and his 3 mismatched coloured tails were proudly on display. She took in Sesshomaru and his attire and blushed. They were matching (inversely, his accent colour was green where hers were red). Actually, looking down at her little moonbeam, she realized that he had one colour than matched someone in the pack. She wasn't sure how he had accomplished such a thing and made it work, nonetheless, she was inpressed.
She took her place in the center, Ichika and her mate on her right, Sesshomaru and Yasuhiro on her left, Ichiro in front of her and Ahmya behind her.
They made an intimidating sight to all who came to the Palace. At least that's what the look on the Inugang (and the interloper) told her. There were many a confused look amongst the group as they took them in. The two objects of curiosity were Ichiro and Yasuhiro for obvious reasons. Valiantly, she ignored the knowing look that alighted Miroku's features as he looked at Ichiro. She just hoped he didn't say anything about his assumptions (he wouldn't, not until he talked to her first). If she could get through this "visit" -for a lack of a better word- without having to explain any of this to them with anything but vagueness.
But that was a problem she shouldn't have to deal with if they leave quickly.
Taking a deep breath, she moved in a graceful bow of medium height with the rest of them (there were varying depth of bows according to station but there were nodded bows), "Welcome to the Palace of the West. Thank you for coming to the celebration of my reaching of maturity. My pack and I hope you all enjoy your stay."
So I'm late, but here's the chapter. And it's longer than usual. If you were wondering why I was fixation on time and age, now you know. Age is important and we have further proof that Inuyasha was up to no good. But why didn't Sesshomaru say anything? That will he answered in the next chapter along with what Inuyasha did that made Kagome break their intendedship and sometimes else that was mentioned in a blink and you miss it sentence. Hope you enjoyed