Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kagome sat down and was breaking down the bamboo she had gotten into strips so she could make more baskets and maybe some fish traps. She tried to keep her mind off of what Bart had said to her...she hadn't even really thought of having another mate so soon. She was content with Parker, but she knew how the world was here.

She knew that eventually, it could happen, but she wasn't in a rush. Things could happen at their own pace. Kagome had been keeping mostly to herself doing her tasks, she hadn't talked to anyone besides Rosa and Bart...as well as Bai. Muir didn't really talk much to her, more just observed and stayed close to Bai.

Kagome shook her head, she would figure it out at a later date. Parker and herself would have to have the conversation eventually, but at this moment she was good. Better than good, she was happily mated, she had found a place to belong, and she was improving it every day.

"Mah, Kagome! My mother has agreed to go shopping with you later today if you still wanted to go." Parker's bright happy voice made her blink out of her thoughts and she turned to face him with a smile. He stood there in the doorway, a smile on his lips as he kicked the door shut behind him. In his hands were furs and fabrics that made her arch an eyebrow at him.

He laughed as he sat the bundles down on the table. "Mother sent these, said she would need to make room for your shopping trip. Father has already left to go jewel hunting." They shared a laugh as Kagome moved her project into an already made basket, setting it on the chair so she could pick up some of the furs and fabrics.

They were soft to the touch, some silky, some fluffy, and warm. There were five new dresses, all various colors, and styles but all ornate and lavish. There were also bed furs and folded bundles of fabrics that had yet to be turned into anything.

Gushing over them she could only turn wide eyes towards her mate. "Your mother spoils me!" He laughed as he pressed a kiss to her forehead, grinning as she leaned up to peck him on the lips.

"She is very fond of you, none of my other brother's mates receive such treatment. You should be proud, oh here are some jewels, it's not much but it's what I've been able to gather while hunting with my father. I should go join him when you leave to go with mother. I want us to have enough stocked up so that we won't have to worry during the rainy season. Maybe we can go hunting together if you do go with me back to the old village..." He trailed off a shade of pink dusting his cheeks.

He was embarrassed but he missed hunting with his little mate, and no amount of teasing from his father would make him change his mind.

A smile bloomed on her face as she set the fabrics and clothes down to grab his hands in hers, "I miss hunting with you, if I do go with you to the old village we will definitely hunt together. So, want to walk me to your mother's?" She smiled as he gave her hands a loving squeeze.

"Of course, are you ready to go now? Or did you want to eat a light lunch?" Blinking at the mention of food Kagome realized she hadn't eaten all day, it was mid-day and by now she would have eaten something yet here she was not even a tinge hungry.

Odd.

Shaking off the random thought she stood, gathering the small handful of small and medium sized jewels, placing them in the leather pouch that hung from the belt around her waist to rest with the rest of the jewels. Rosa had been true to her word, she had begun sending females to her with various grievances that she had been able to alleviate with her 'magic grass' and as such had begun to gather payments in the form of jewels and other various goods.

"I will eat with your mother should I get hungry." Parker frowned, he had noticed the last few days that she had begun to skip her morning meals and it was concerning to him, yet maybe it was due to her being human. After all, if she was ill or something then she would no doubt fix it with her magic grass so he had been letting his worries go.

If she didn't eat while out with his mother, and he would ask her, then he would press the matter. Standing up he grinned down at her as she stood herself, grabbing a nearby satchel that she had sewn out of some of the fabrics gifted due to her herbal business. It resembled a crossbody sack bag from the modern era made out of black and purple fabric.

"Well, let's get going. I want to get a few things and then come back to finish my project." Parker nodded, a smile on his face while deep down he knew his poor little mate had no idea what was in store for her.

When his mother went shopping, she went shopping.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Never again.

Never again would Kagome go shopping with Parker's mother.

It wasn't that she disliked their time spent together, it was the fact that the woman had no impulse control and it made sense that Parker was at times the same way. Anything she so much as glanced at her mother-in-law would buy for her, even after many protests.

Meimi was a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure. The other woman would not take no for an answer and that's how Kagome found herself halfway across town with parcel upon parcel of items, on her small back was a basket filled to the brim with items and at her feet were even more bags and parcels. She had no idea how she was going to get this all home, part of her was debating sending Parker a feeling through their mating link but she knew he was out hunting collosals with his father and didn't want to bother him...

Letting a tired sigh fall from her lips she left her shoulders slumping. She would have to hoof it, thankfully the rest of the items Meimi had bought her had to be special ordered and would be delivered once they were ready. The woman had been so very curious about what spurred on the shopping trip and she had gone into detail about wanting to try to recreate a futon...and now six of them had been commissioned by the leopard queen, one for each of her mates and one for herself and Parker.

Which had brought on the discussion of herself taking on another mate. She had quickly vetoed that conversation, steering it away into another one about jewelry which Meimi had eagerly latched onto.

Why was everyone so interested in her love life?

When and IF she took another mate that would be between her, Parker, and the male they would be welcoming into their home and hearts. Yes, it was the norm to have more than one here and she was okay with that but she would not be pressured into it, not for safety or breeding or any of that other shit.

If she mated it would be for love.

Period.

Mood even fouler than before Kagome huffed and carefully bent down to try and gather the bags at her feet, her fingers crying out in pain at the weight subjected onto the small digits.

"Miss Kagome?" Blinking at the male voice, Kagome turned her head towards it and blinked.

"Ah, Shuu right?" She smiled at him as he nodded at her, concern floating in his blue eyes as they flicked between her and the bags dangling from her already aching fingers.

"Do you need help?" They both knew she did but it was up to her whether or not she accepted his help. He didn't want to step on her mates toes but it was in his nature to want to care for females, even more, so ones who had been nice to him.

Kagome chewed on her lip, weighing her options, she didn't want to upset Parker by accepting another male's help but honestly, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place...

Sighing she decided to accept, she would offer payment once they reached her home, thus not giving him false hope as the males in this world seemed to leap at any attention from females. Plus she really doubted Parker would get upset, he had aged and matured while she had been kidnapped and if he was truly upset or hurt by her choice to accept another males help then they would have to talk about it since he couldn't always be there for her and there were going to be situations where she wouldn't be able to handle it alone.

Pulling herself from her thoughts she gave a nervous-looking Shuu a small smile. "Yes please, I went shopping with my mate's mother and she went a bit overboard..." They shared a laugh as she set the heavy and bulging bags back on the ground, her fingers screaming in relief.

Shuu returned the smile with one of his own, his cheeks flushing as he gathered the bags in one hand and mentioned for her to lead the way.

Kagome gave a small chirp of appreciation. "Wow, you sure you can handle all that?" She was a social person by nature and making small talk was as easy and essential to her as breathing. She had once spent a whole day talking to Sesshoumaru who merely ignored her, she didn't bat an eye and happily kept up her one-sided conversation.

She mused it was part of what made the stoic demon lord come to respect her, her tenacity and refusal to give up.

"I might not be the strongest of my littler but I'm far from the weakest." His words were shy and a bit awkward and it only made her smile more.

"Ah, well thanks. So..what were you doing in the marketplace? Looking for a present to woo some lucky female?" Her voice was light, hoping to help him relax as he seemed a bit high-strung, walking stiffly next to her as if afraid to offend her.

Shuu was hard-pressed to keep his eyes on the road ahead of them instead of the breathtaking female walking next to him, her voice light and full of happiness and warmth. Bart had done nothing but tease him for his obvious interest in the female at his side and it made even being next to her awkward.

Jerking at her words he paused mid-step and shook his head violently lest she gets the wrong idea. "No! I was looking for some new leather cordage, my clothes need some mending!" The only female he was interested in was right next to him.

Kagome blinked at his reaction and smiled, he reminded her of Souta when pressed about having his first crush. It made her want to tease the male next to her, not in a malicious way but a playful one.

"Oh? I do think you protest too much...you're a handsome young man Shuu, I'm sure you could have any female you set your mind to." She was so very oblivious to the fires she was stroking in the male next to her.

Seeing her home come into view she decided to steer the conversation back towards a semi-serious one once more. "Anyways, I have some cordage I can give you for your help if you want. Or I can even fix your clothing if you'd like. It's the least I can do for your help." Her tone was light, letting him choose his form of payment.

Shuu could feel his face heat up, the thought of her touching and mending his clothes made his heart beat faster. He would be a fool to let this opportunity slip by. "Ah, I could bring the clothes by tomorrow if that's okay? I wouldn't want to impose..." He paused as she stopped in front of a home, her scent lingering in every nook and cranny of it as well as that of her mate.

Kagome gave a light laugh as she mentioned for Shuu to place the bags on the ground outside the front door, she wouldn't push things by inviting an unmated male into the home she shared with her mate. While they were beasts and not demons she knew that they were so very similar at their cores and she didn't want nor need any more drama in her life.

Bai more than had that part of her life covered.

"It's fine Shuu, I wouldn't have offered if it was an inconvenience, so please do bring by what you need mended tomorrow." She wanted to try making Bai another necklace anyways so she might as well make it a crafting day. She would also have to finish her bamboo baskets and fishing traps tomorrow as well. Mm, maybe she could make another set of clothes for herself and Parker for their trip back to the old village.

She was pretty sure she would join him, she needed a small break from Bai who was always trying to take up her time. She enjoyed the younger female's company but she missed being able to spend time with her mate and not have to try and keep up with the rumors and events that were happening in Bai's life.

She was also feeling so very restless, she wanted to go hunting, to feel the rush of stalking a prey with her mate's proud gaze on her back.

Shuu nodded, his tail twitching in happiness, a large smile on his lips. "Okay miss Kagome, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Have a good evening." He was on cloud nine as he left, completely forgetting to ask the name of her mate as Rosa had asked him to do so if he saw her before she herself had the chance to.