"Not So Long, Long Ago"

viealle

Summary:

A revisionist fairy tale story of Kagome and Sesshoumaru as modern day Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Rated: K

Notes:
2021 SessKag Annual Falloween Event (SAFE) Submission

Prompt: "Fairy Tale AU"

Challenge: Use any fairy tale you wish. Include somewhere in your story: a lavender peony, a sacrificial alter, a white hart/stag, a black mirror, and a harvest moon

Level: Hanyou (1200-2000 words)

[[COMPLETED ONE-SHOT]]

"Oh my goodness, Kagome! I am so glad you came! You look beautiful!" Eri cried, giving the other young woman a tight hug. Kagome laughed nervously. "I told you that I'd come support you on your big night!" Kagome responded before stepping back from her friend and fidgeting with her shimmery, light blue ballgown. She didn't want to say that she'd gotten lost several times trying to find the villa where the event was taking place. Instead, Kagome nodded absently in response to Eri's chatter as she followed the other young woman into the beautifully crafted traditional Japanese building before her.

All Eri wanted to do since she was a little girl was to be an accomplished artist. And now, she was finally getting her chance. According to Yuka and Ayumi, there would be some major investors present at the ball. They were convinced that today was going to usher in financial success due to it being the night of the harvest moon. Supposedly, that meant good luck and a sign of a new beginning, since it was the first moon of the new season. Kagome wasn't really sure if she believed in that, but she supported her friends just the same.

Kagome was shaken from her thoughts as Yuka and Ayumi arrived and pulled her into more hugs. "Hi, guys." She stated sheepishly. Her three friends began to chatter as they led Kagome further into where the event was taking place.

It was breathtakingly beautiful. All around her were easels of intricate artwork lined in multiple rows throughout the hall. The room itself was decorated in autumn trees with warmly hued leaves scattered across the ground. The lighting was dim, as if the room was being lit by the rays of a setting sun.

Kagome passed by several pieces of art that caught her eye. "I hope Taisho-san buys one of my pieces. He is to die for." Yuka sighed as she stared longingly into the crowd. Kagome's face scrunched in confusion before looking at her three friends.

"Who is that?" Kagome asked quizzically, suddenly interested in their banter. The name sounded familiar. "Only the most handsome bachelor in Tokyo, Kagome. This is his villa, which means he threw this party. I forgot you were like, sick for 10 years and moved away a long time ago." Ayumi supplied as Kagome flushed scarlet in embarrassment.

That's right. Kagome knew very little of her hometown. When she arrived back to the present after defeating Naraku, she had hoped that one day she'd be able to return to her friends. In the meantime, she'd focused on graduating from high school. And when the Bone Eater's Well never let her return to the past, she moved as far away as she could. She went to college and tried her best to forget about her adventures.

"Earth to Kagome! You're doing that thing again!" Ayumi stated loudly as she snapped her fingers in front of Kagome, whose blush darkened in response.

"I-I think I'm going to take a walk around and look at the art. I'll see you all in a little bit." Kagome uttered nervously before walking quickly towards the bar where she'd be able to grab a drink. She snagged a glass of Champagne and downed it quickly.

"Ugh." Kagome moaned in exasperation as she downed another and tipped the bartender. He nodded in shocked thanks as she began to wander away.

Instead of mulling over the past, Kagome decided to focus on the artwork. She came first to a piece that immediately made her uncomfortable. It looked like it came straight from a horror movie. It was a painting of a sacrificial alter surrounded in pale, lavender peonies. The scene was illuminated by a full moon that was stained orange. Creepy.

Kagome pursed her lips and moved quickly to the next item for sale. It was a lot less jarring. The artwork was a life-like charcoal illustration of a white stag holding its antlers high. Kagome continued to look at it for a few more moments before another tingling sensation traveled through her. The last time she felt that was when she was 500 years in the past. Immediately incensed, Kagome swiveled around to see what was causing that reaction she only had in the presence of a demon.

"Miko." A deep voice greeted her as she swirled around from the piece. A voice she hadn't heard in years. Her sapphire eyes traveled up the lithe body of the tall man standing in front of her. Kagome's mouth fell slack in shock.

"S-Sesshoumaru?" Kagome blinked in disbelief. The man in front of her looked at her in quiet amusement before nodding once. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him.

"Your hair is black? Where are your markings?" She asked in hushed tones as she pulled away from the demon lord. "One must blend in with his surroundings." He stated evenly as his golden eyes surveyed her budding emotional overflow.

"I-I never thought I would see any of you again." Kagome said as tears began to gather in her eyes. He took her arm and wrapped it around his before guiding her to one of the lesser occupied rows of artwork. They strode slowly in uncomfortable silence before stopping at one of the items. He turned them so they could look at the refinished cast iron mirror.

Feeling her discomfort, Sesshoumaru initiated the conversation. "You must have many questions." Sesshoumaru supplied as he studied the item. Kagome whimpered softly before gulping in a large breath of air, trying to stop her tears before they ruined her makeup. The demon lord stayed silent as she gathered her bearings. He began to guide her further down the aisle.

"I do. But I don't know if I believe this is real yet. I hoped that I would have been able to go back in time for so long. And I just recently accepted that I would never get that. And now you're here…" Kagome began as she took another deep breath. He listened in silence as they continued down the path.

After a few more moments of pregnant silence, Kagome faltered in her steps before sliding her arm from his. She turned to look at man at her side. "Why didn't you come find me?" She gulped, before fresh tears filled her eyes. "Your attendance tonight is not a coincidence, Kagome." He responded smoothly.

"Oh, Kagome!" Came the voices of her friends, interrupting the exchange between the two. Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi came rushing up. They looked quizzically between them, asking silently for an introduction to the handsome man they were gushing about earlier.

"Oh, uhm, Sesshoumaru, these are my friends Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi." She introduced as she gestured to each of her friends who were brimming with excitement. Each woman bowed neatly in front of Sesshoumaru, who returned the gesture with little interest.

"Taisho-san, it is such an honor to meet you…How do you know our Kagome?" Ayumi exaggerated her Sesshoumaru's honorific before her curious eyes roved over Kagome's sheepish expression. How was it that Kagome was on a first name basis with Tokyo's most eligible bachelor?

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat as his eyes narrowed slightly as the scent of Kagome's tears wafted in the air for the third time that night. "Kagome-san and I have known each other for many, many years."

"Kagome, do tell us of your story!" Eri chimed in as she clasped her hands together in excitement.

"Uh-Uhm…Well—You know what, I'm not feeling well, I think I need some fresh air!" Kagome laughed nervously before running towards the entrance of the building.

Left in the company of the three women, Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "I apologize I cannot continue our conversation. I must tend to another matter." The three women blushed at his velvety voice, stunned into silence as they watched the man quickly followed after their friend.

Elsewhere, Sesshoumaru followed Kagome's scent to the front entrance. The scent of tears were stronger, which suggested she finally gave into the tears she'd been holding in.

As he passed the Zen garden, the sparkle of a silver heeled shoe caught his attention. He swiftly collected the shoe and continued on his course of finding the distraught woman. Of course the miko would continue her escape and forgo a shoe.

He found her sniffling in front of a Koi pond near the edge of the property. Far away from the rest of the event, she had finally found her solace.

"I did not intend to cause you any distress by having you here." Sesshoumaru stated softly as he approached her. He withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to the crying woman. She thanked him with a tearful nod.

"It's not you. It's just everything all at once." She said as she dabbed her eyes. Sesshoumaru nodded as he knelt down in front of her. He slid the silver high heeled shoe back onto her foot.

"Thank you for everything, Sesshoumaru." Kagome offered with a watery smile. "Think nothing of it." He replied simply before taking a seat next to the crying woman. They sat in silence as they watched the Koi swim peacefully in the water.

He could almost taste her apprehension in the air. She had a question, but she did not know how to form the words. So, he decided to aid her.

"After many years waiting for your return, Inuyasha eventually mated a human woman and produced heirs. The monk and demon slayer married and had three of their own. As for…Rin, she married Kohaku and had a daughter. The fox child went to learn about his lineage and gained the prestige of nine tails. It was very impressive. Only Shippou and I…remain from that time now." Sesshoumaru recounted. He expected to be hit with scent of fresh tears, but none came.

"I-I figured…That if he were alive, he would have visited by now. But I am so happy everyone had their happy endings." She responded honestly. A sigh escaped from her lips as she turned to look at Sesshoumaru.

"Why now?" Kagome asked, her cerulean eyes begging him. He closed his eyes in response before returning his gaze towards the fish. "He insisted, before he died, that Shippou and I wait until you completed your studies prior to us contacting you. He wanted you to get the education you always wanted." He saw her nod in the corner of his vision.

"I'm so glad you're here now. Even if we were…not always on the same side a long time ago." Her confession startled him, causing his golden eyes to dart towards her. She flashed him a brilliant smile, resulting in the slightest upturn of his lips. "I cannot argue." He responded softly.

"This is gonna be weird…but can I have a hug? I really need one right now and—" Before Kagome could finish her sentence, she was pulled into Sesshoumaru's strong arms. A startled noise escaped from her lips at the unexpected action. However, the hug quickly soothed her frazzled mind.

Kagome lowered her head to rest her cheek on his firm chest. The slow thrum of his heartbeat overtook her racing thoughts. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru." She whispered against the fabric of his shirt. "Hn." He responded simply.

"Maybe not everything changes." The sound of her twinkling laughter filled the air as the pair continued in their embrace.