Very heavily influenced by the 2008 BBC series.
Kagome let her fingers trail over the keys of the small piano that stood in the foyer, wincing at the sound. It was obvious the piano had been left unattended for a time for the notes to sour like that. She sighed, thinking of the tuner she had to leave behind at Shikon, hoping that she would be able to properly prepare this new piano.
Kagome pulled herself away from the instrument; there would be time to try and prepare it later. After all… what else would she have to do so far from everyone? Her nose crinkled at the marks her touch had left through the dust that coated the piano.
'How long has it been since anyone made this cottage a proper home?' she found herself wondering as she wandered through the rooms, before a new thought struck her…'how can we make this a proper home?'
Coming from the splendor that was Shikon, the cottage seemed... cozy at best, confining at worst.
"Sango, can we really live here?" Kagome heard her mother whisper, the soft sound carrying through the small home.
"Of course we can," Sango responded. "We must."
Kagome had to smile even as tears threatened. In a world that had been turned on its head, the one constant was Sango, ever-practical Sango. No matter how bad the situation was, no matter how dire Kagome and their mother thought things were, Sango would find a way to hold them together, to keep them grounded.
"Hello!"
A male voice pulled Kagome out of her thoughts as she turned, eyeing the strange man who stood in the doorway. Small black eyes blinked back at her from under a straw hat, his gray mustache drooping under a red nose. His eyes darted around the entry before landing on Mai, and he broke into a wide smile.
"Cousin Mai, it is good to meet you at last!" His voice boomed through the room. A second man scrambled through the door behind him, arms laden with baskets of vegetables and what appeared to be a goose. The first man turned to take one of the baskets, holding it out to Mai, who had no other option but to take it. "Something for your larder to welcome you to Devonshire."
It was the first time that Kagome had seen her mother, ever the perfect hostess, stumble in her reaction. It took Mai several seconds to gather her wits about her and give the man a small curtsey in return.
"We cannot thank you enough for your kindness, Cousin Mushin."
"Oh no no no, none of that!" Mushin drew his hat off, clutching it against his chest. "We are all friends and family; I am delighted that you are here. I am quite fond of company you see, and I could not help but see your carriage as it passed the house." He turned his head to look at Sango and Kagome with a nod. "And these must be your girls. How are you, my dears?"
"I… yes." Mai stood, unsure of how to act, as Sango stepped forward to take the basket out of her mother's arms. With a small sigh of relief Mai turned to her. "This is my eldest, Sango, and my youngest, Kagome."
Kagome dropped into a small curtsey, her eyes darting to Sango to see her sister shrug back at her.
"Delightful, simply delightful," Mushin beamed. "My mother-in-law Mrs. Kaede will be thrilled to meet you all, as well. I insist that you all dine with us at Kazaana today, and every day, until you find yourself properly settled here."
"Oh, you do not need to troub…" Mai began.
"I insist, I absolutely insist! Family must watch out for family, after all," Mushin interrupted, a twinkle in his eye.
Kagome had to hold back the most unladylike snort at that, and the glare Sango sent her was proof she hadn't been quite as successful as she had hoped. If Hojo had believed that, they would not be there at that moment, but then again, it was not as if his wife actually saw them as "family," merely a barrier to her rightful place as Lady of Shikon.
"...four o'clock, sharp." Kagome caught only the last of their cousin's words before he whirled out of the cottage as quickly as he had entered it.
"I… well… oh." Mai stuttered, her gaze turning to her daughters with a helpless smile. "It appears we are… invited for dinner?"
"But mother, there is so much to do here," Sango protested, knowing it was in vain.
"I know, my dear, but it would not do to upset our cousin, not after he has done so much to help us."
"I for one am glad to go," Kagome chimed in, shrugging when Sango turned to her. "It's not as if we are truly prepared for an evening here; we don't even know how to light the fires."
"I can light the fires," Sango insisted before her expression turned thoughtful, "...maybe."
"It is most generous of Mushin to invite us, and far more than I had ever expected," Mai sighed. "If only Hojo had been as generous."
"But he was not." Sango wrapped her arm around Mai's waist, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. Mai held out her other arm to Kagome, drawing her close as the three women lost their thoughts to the sudden changes that surrounded them.
Kagome peered out the window of the small, but elegant, carriage that Mushin had sent for them as they approached Kazaana. The estate was… well, it could not be called grand in the same way that Shikon was, but there was a charm to it, she supposed. The gray stone stood out against the lush greenery, its walls draped with ivy and cream roses. As she lit from the carriage, the soft salt of the sea, so near in Devonshire, teased her senses, and she closed her eyes just to take it in.
Despite the circumstances that had led them there, there was a certain romance to it all: the stormy cliffs, the bright green landscape, and the blue skies so different from the ever-present gray of Shikon. All that was missing was the dashing young man to sweep her off her feet, to care for her and her family. While a small part of her had hopes for her sister and the charming Miroku, she could not help but dream of her own whirlwind romance.
There had been none that were worth her attention at Shikon; the men who had come courting had seemed drab, dull, almost clones of her dear (well, less dear now) brother.
Men that had absolutely bored her. The careful tones, the cultured facade, never a hair out of place, so uptight and proper, looking for an equally proper wife to know her place.
She shivered at the thought.
Kagome had dreams: dreams that were beyond the bounds of what society deemed proper. She would never be a proper, demure wife, doting on her husband, waiting for his attention like a puppy. She wanted what her parents had known: a true, deep partnership as equals. Few had known that Mai had helped Kenji with his business and investments, proving to be as shrewd a businesswoman as he was. Her mother had been an instrumental part in restoring the Higurashi fortune, a fortune Hojo and Yura now benefited from.
Perhaps this was a chance to start anew, outside the expectations of the Higurashi name. To meet someone that knew and understood her, rather than her family connection.
She trailed her mother and sister towards the doors, nodding to the butler that led them through with a smile. The interior was as charming as the exterior: a blend of strong wood with soft creams and colors, the obvious hints of a woman's touch.
"Welcome!" Mushin rushed towards them, his arms open wide. Kagome giggled; it seemed their cousin had only one volume… booming… when he spoke. "Welcome to Kazaana!"
Mushin offered Mai his elbow, waiting for her to tuck her hand into the space to escort her through the manor, Sango and Kagome following behind. Kagome's eyes lit up as she spotted a piano in a sitting room, the instrument gleaming, tempting her.
Music was food for the soul; anyone who did not agree was not worth knowing, in her opinion. Her esteem for their cousin increased as she eyed the piano.
"I must apologize. My wife is unable to join us; she has taken to bed ill," Mushin was explaining as Kagome caught back up with the entourage. "However, we will be joined by my… Ah, there is my mother-in-law now. I do believe you nearly kept us waiting, Mrs. Kaede."
Kagome turned to see an older woman emerge from a side door, her gray hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. She was a striking figure: small in stature, but commanding attention nonetheless. Kagome could tell her face was kind, one eye sparkling as she took in the guests, the other hidden behind an eyepatch.
She was officially the most interesting woman Kagome had ever met.
"Oh, do behave, Mushin." Kaede clucked her tongue, though a smile tugged the corner of her lips. She turned her eye over the women standing before her, and Kagome swore she saw a twinkle as Kaede's gaze lingered on her. "Well now, who do we have here?"
"My cousin Mai and her daughters," Mushin beamed before the women could speak. "Sango and Kagome. Have you ever seen such lovely girls?"
"You are most welcome." Kaede reached out to take Mai's hand, drawing her away from Mushin as she moved towards the ornate doors at the end of the room, Mushin following close behind. "Come come, it must be so difficult to settle in! Mushin has told me many things about you, and I am sure only half of them are true."
"Well… I…" Mai shot a glance over her shoulder at her daughters, a plea plain in her expression.
Sango gave a small sigh as she hurried after the two women, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts, a reprieve Kagome was grateful for. It wasn't that she did not do well with company; oh, no, Kagome thrived on it, but this… with all the changes, their well-meaning cousin was just a bit… much. Her eyes came back to rest on the piano longingly as she moved slowly through the room, delaying her entrance to the dining hall as long as she could.
"We see what we can do for them Mrs. Kaede, husbands, lovers, that sort of thing."
Kagome started as she came through the doors, her eyes wide as they met Sango's embarrassed face. There were some things that were just not talked about in mixed company, or those with whom one had so short an acquaintance…
Devonshire was certainly different from Sussex. Kagome steadied her shoulder and moved to the open seat beside Sango, sliding in as Kaede continued the discussion.
"Come come Mushin," Kaede scolded, "for all you know, they have left their hearts behind in Sussex."
"Oh, well, Sango has." The words left Kagome's mouth before she had realized she was speaking, and her cheeks flushed pink as Sango and Mai both glared at her.
"Well well, now we come to it." Kaede leaned forward as the servant placed a plate before her. "I thought that I recognized a certain blush on your face: the young flush of…"
"Mp, really…" Sango interrupted with a strained laugh, her eyes darting between Kagome ant Mai.
"My dear, consider nothing settled," Kaede smiled as she began to slice her food, "for a certain gentleman is coming to visit us here at Kazaana, who may very well make you forget all your fancies. Do you agree, Mushin?"
"Colonel Inuyasha…" Mushin sat back in his chair, his hand coming to his chin in thought before a smile turned his lips. "Yes.. yes indeed, a long-time military hero, recognized by the crown and given lands for his loyalty and leadership to the Country. Though they say that he had his heart broken once, many many years ago, and he has yet to look at a woman since." He paused… "Well, not in that sort of a way, that is." His eyes flicked between Sango and Kagome several times before he nodded. "But when he sees the Miss Higurashis, I do believe that he may change his mind."
"Oh yes, he very well may," Kaede agreed over her wine goblet, her eye once again twinkling.
"A man who stayed faithful to his first love…" Kagome whispered, thinking it over as she smiled. "I like that; it is, of course, as it should be. When I fall in love, it will be forever."
"That is very proper, very… romantic," Mushin responded. "Just what a young lady ought to think, I do believe." He lifted his glass as if to toast Kagome, but Kagome could see a glint of humor in his eyes, as if he did not believe her.
"Colonel Inuyasha is here, Sir."
Mushin's wine nearly sloshed out of the glass as he hastily put it down, turning to nod at the butler. "Bring him in then, bring him in."
Kagome bit back a groan as her head fell forward for a second, only to pull it back up when Sango's foot hit her ankle.
"But Sango…" Kagome whispered softly.
"Behave, Kagome," Sango grit out before turning her attention to the door.
Kagome wrinkled her nose at her sister, but nonetheless turned to the door…
Bright amber eyes met hers, and she felt the room slip away for a moment.
Colonel Inuyasha was definitely not what she had been expecting. A "long-time war hero" was surely an elderly man with silver hair, wisened and twisted with age, not the handsome man who stood in the doorway. True, his hair was silver under his hat, but it glistened in a way that told her it was a natural color; its hue due to nature, not time. His face was strong, lean, the amber of his eyes nearly glowing as he held her gaze. He stood tall and proud in the doorway, and she quickly estimated he stood a head taller than her, and could not help the quickening of her heartbeat. After a moment his head shook as if coming out of a daze and he quickly lifted his hat to hand it to the butler, two silver triangular ears lifting out of his hair to twitch at the sounds in the room. Now the "long-time war hero" made sense: the man's ears a testament to his yokai heritage. Kagome had met a few yokai before in Sussex, and knew their lifespans far outlasted humans.
She had never seen a yokai with features such as his, however…. Specifically his ears… they were… they were adorable. Kagome's breath caught as she realized she had the strange urge to pet them, to see if they were as soft as they looked, and his eyes darted back to hers.
"Inuyasha, come in come in, we were just speaking of you." Mushin rose, gesturing to the table and the unoccupied seat between Mai and Kaede.
"I am sorry; I did not mean to intrude."
His voice was a smooth tenor, polished and proper, much to Kagome's disappointment. Amber eyes shifted to her as she let out a small sigh, and she saw the man stiffen.
"Not a bit of it; you could not have arrived at a better time. Sit, sit, join us," Mushin insisted.
"You have been away far far too long Inuyasha," Kaede scolded, a light tease in her voice.
"I had some… necessary business," Inuyasha responded, his voice cool and composed.
"Now where are my manners," Mushin said as he turned back to the table. "Mrs. Mai Higurashi, Miss. Higurashi," Inuyasha nodded to Mai and Sango in turn as they were introduced, "Miss Kagome Higurashi."
Inuyasha's eyes met Kagome's again, and for a moment she could have sworn the cool consideration of his eyes had given way to a fire that could take her breath away, but in a moment it was gone, leaving her to believe she had imagined it.
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance." Inuyasha's gaze lingered on Kagome as he spoke, before turning to Mai with a small nod.
"Well, what do you think Mrs. Higurashi? He would certainly do for one of your daughters, now wouldn't he?" Kaede grinned as Sango choked beside her and Mai began to stammer.
"Well… I… that is…"
Kagome stole a glance at Inuyasha, noting the resigned amusement on his face as he watched Kaede with fondness. As if he felt her attention, his eyes shifted to capture hers. His lips curled slightly into a faint smirk as Kagome's cheeks heated, shocked at herself... why was she watching his lips… and why couldn't she look away…
As quickly as the smirk formed though, it was gone, his face becoming a mask of cool composure that left Kagome reeling as he took a seat between Mai and Kaede. Her face flushed as she ignored Sango's questioning look, and Kagome turned her sole focus back to her dinner.
Sango knew something was troubling her sister when Kagome fled to the piano as soon as dinner ended. It had been Kagome's escape for years, losing herself to the music to channel her emotions. The notes soared through the room, the tempo slow, almost haunting, and it hurt Sango's heart to hear. It was a tune she had heard hundreds of times from Kagome's hand; however, it was usually faster, a song of jubilation, lifting the heart rather than drawing one to tears. She glanced quickly around the room, her gaze meeting her mother's for a moment, before landing on the newest addition to their gathering.
Colonel Inuyasha was sitting back in his chair, his hand raised to his lips. His eyes were closed, but his ears seemed to stay at attention, occasionally flicking as a strong chord played. His fingers were swaying slightly, as if directing the music. As the song drew to a close, his eyes opened, fixed on Kagome at the piano, his figure still as the others applauded the artist.
"Well done!" Mushin explained, his face bright. "Well done indeed! What do you think, Inuyasha? I know you greatly enjoy music."
Kagome lifted her gaze from the keys to meet amber, Inuyasha's eyes glowing in the firelight.
"Yes… it was... remarkable."
Kagome raised an eyebrow as she held back her scoff. She had not been able to keep herself from glancing at him while she played, his eyes shut as if he could not be bothered to give even the courtesy of attention.
Mai crossed to the piano, her hand resting on her daughter's shoulder as Kagome shook off her thoughts, rising to yield the seat to her mother.
Sango turned with a smile on her lips as her mother began to play, a sound she had not heard since her father had fallen ill. She let the music wash over her as she rose, crossing to a small table laden with pastries.
"Your sister plays with great feeling for one so young." Sango paused with a biscuit halfway to her mouth, turning to face Inuyasha.
"Kagome is quite proud of her playing; I would be pleased to tell her of your compliments, but why should you not tell her them yourself." Sango turned, facing Kagome as she continued. "We were just discussing your performance, Kagome."
"Oh?" Kagome faced Inuyasha, scanning his face for a hint of his thoughts.
"It was…" Inuyasha cleared his throat, his eyes darting away from Kagome's, causing her to frown slightly, "remarkable."
"Yes, so you said," Kagome sighed, her head tilting to the side. "I cannot quite tell if that means you approved of it or not."
"I…" Inuyasha began before pausing. "You played the last movement appassionato, I believe, though the composer I think had marked it as allegro for the tempo."
"Oh, so you disapprove of that?" Kagome's voice had a chill to it that had Sango's eyes widening.
"I did not say that…" Inuyasha turned now to meet Kagome's chocolate gaze. "Indeed, I found it… quite original, I must say."
"Original…" Kagome repeated, a brow raising as if in challenge.
"Quite." Inuyasha straightened, and Kagome was mildly pleased to note she had been right: she barely reached his chin when he stood at full height. "But I have taken enough of your time with your family, I shall take my leave." He motioned for the butler to bring his hat, causing the occupants of the room to turn towards him. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Higurashi," he nodded to Mai, "Miss Higurashi," to Sango, "and Miss Kagome Higurashi." His nod was deeper, slower, as he paid his respects to the host, his silver hair gleaming down his back as he spun and strode from the room.
"Colonel Inuyasha has been a fine and upstanding…" Mushin's words to Mai faded into the background as Kagome stepped to the window to watch Inuyasha's figure disappear into the night. "...yes, he would be a fine match for one of your girls." Kagome's brow twitched in irritation.
"Kagome." Sango pulled her sister out of her thoughts with a hand on her elbow. "Come, it is time we take our leave as well."
Kagome curtsied to Mushin and Kaede, going through the motions of proper etiquette, her mind working over the puzzle of Inuyasha. She was uncharacteristically silent during the carriage ride back to the cottage, a soft line between her brow alerting her mother and sister as to the cause. She held her tongue until she reached the room she shared with Sango, the chill in the air finally loosening her from her thoughts.
"Are they to be like this every night?" The words burst out of Kagome as she carefully removed and laid out the dress she had worn, shivering in the night air.
"Kagome, do not be unkind," Sango chided as she took the warmest sleeping shifts she could find, passing one to Kagome before drawing hers on. "Mushin is very kind, and both he and Kaede seem to be delighted to have company."
"But Sango, their teasing? It was relentless and almost...vulgar...at times."
"Kagome," Sango's tone was exasperated, "yes, of course I was embarrassed, but they meant no harm. We are not in Sussex anymore; we cannot compare everything to those we knew before."
"But Sango, they have no appreciation for music; none of them truly listened to it or really cared for it."
"Colonel Inuyasha seemed to care for it; he was listening with great attention as you played."
"Only because he found fault with it," Kagome groused, her cheeks flaming at the memory.
"He may have a more… cultured and refined ear than those you are used to playing for, Kagome. I can imagine sound would be of great importance to a yokai such as him."
Kagome thought that over for a moment. Sango did make a good point: his hearing might be more sensitive than others, but that did not excuse his comments or his attitude.
"No, Sango; I do believe he is the type of man who would find fault with everyone and everything."
"You do not even know him, Kagome. How can you say something like that?"
"I don't have to know him, Sango." Kagome sighed as she pulled the blanket close to her to ward off the chill in the room. "I have met many many men just like him: the prim and proper lord, never a hair out of place, never showing any emotion. Bland, boring, despite how interesting he appears. He is no different from the men who came to court us at Shikon, and you know how dull I found them all."
"Mushin and Kaede seem fond of him."
Kagome laughed. "That isn't necessarily an endorsement. I am not sure they would be the most reliable to judge a character."
"I for one thought he seemed quite nice," Sango said as she lay down, pausing to blow out the candle. "I think there is more to him than meets the eye."
"There never is, though," Kagome grumbled. As her eyes closed, her mind turned back to one moment, a second where Inuyasha's amber eyes had blazed hot like the sun, scorching her, before cooling, hiding behind a veil of propriety. "No," she repeated sadly, "there never is."
It took far too long in Kagome's mind to make the cottage truly feel like home. Once their manservant Jonathan had arrived with the last of their belongings from Shikon, it had taken them three days to unpack everything and to try and find a location to store or place them.
It had become abundantly clear that neither Kagome nor Mai had truly been prepared for just how much smaller the cottage was from Shikon, the bedrooms bursting at the seams to hold the cloth and clothes that Kagome and Mai had deemed irreplaceable in their move. Sango had merely shaken her head at them, then helped them fold and store the extra clothing.
After securing the bedrooms and packing them all properly, they had turned their attention to the main floor of the cottage, working with Jonathan and his wife Martha to clean every space. When Mai had despaired that the curtains did not fit the new windows, Sango once again stepped to the rescue, altering the curtains to fit with needle and thread as Mai and Kagome looked on with fascination.
"Sango, dear, would you help me?" Mai held out the edge of a curtain to her eldest before placing the thin rod that would hold it up over the window. Kagome grabbed a wet rag and moved to the piano, carefully wiping down the instrument as Sango and Mai placed the curtain.
Sango took a moment to breathe, looking out the window at the view of the ocean. She was beginning to love the cliffs, the sound of the water hitting the stone, so unlike the quiet of Shikon. There were few trees around the property, giving a clear view of the road leading to Kazaana…
And the rider that was now making their way along the path.
"Mama," Sango gasped, turning with wide eyes, "Colonel Inuyasha."
Mai looked over with a start before turning to Kagome. In a moment all three were moving in a panic, grabbing the rags they had used for cleaning as Jonathan took the bucket of water out the back. Kagome pulled the apron she had been wearing off, looking frantically at the pale blue dress she wore, brushing dust off the skirt and sleeves as she threw the apron into a trunk and grabbed the pillows it contained, hastily throwing them onto the sitting couch they had just arranged earlier that day.
Mai scanned her daughters, tapping near her forehead as she looked at Kagome. Kagome hastily tucked a wayward curl behind her ear as Mai hissed at Sango, who frantically pulled the apron she still wore off, bundling it into her hand as her eyes darted around for a place to put it. Kagome reached out a hand as Sango tossed the fabric towards her, before she turned to hide it in the blanket draped over the piano stool.
"Colonel Inuyasha, Ma'am," Jonathan announced.
Kagome quickly straightened, turning to hide the blanket from view as Inuyasha stepped through the door, a thin book in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Kagome dropped to a curtsy as he bowed to them, but her eyes never left his figure.
There was no denying he was the most beautiful man she had ever met. He looked even better in daylight than he had in the romantic flickering of the fire, his silver hair shining in a long tail down his back, his red coat vibrant against the cool pastels of the cottage walls.
"I… I had the opportunity to go by my estate Tessaiga this morning," Inuyasha stated, his amber eyes darting to Kagome and then back to Mai. "I took the liberty of bringing you some of the flowers from its garden, Mrs. Higurashi."
Mai's cheeks turned pink as she took the flowers, a mixture of pink and cream-colored peonies. Kagome smiled—she couldn't help it—the fact that he had brought flowers for her mother went a long way to improve her opinion of him. Sango shot her a glance, the look in her eye clearly going 'SEE?', and Kagome responded with a mock glare.
"Thank you; they are lovely," Mai gushed as she held the flowers close, gently breathing in the light fragrance of the peonies.
"And, I brought some music that I thought may be of some interest to Miss Kagome."
Kagome's jaw dropped at the statement… no… no one had ever thought to bring her music before. She had made do with the sheets her father had owned and those brought in by her instructors, but she had not had anything new in ages.
Inuyasha stepped forward, his ears almost quivering as he moved closer, the music held carefully in his hand. Kagome took a moment to admire the delicacy of his hold. She had not seen the claws on each hand when they had met before, and if he were like some of the other yokai she had met, the music would have been full of holes, but the book in his hand was pristine.
Inuyasha held the music out to her, and after a moment's hesitation that caused his ears to lower, she reached out to take it. Her finger brushed against his and she saw him freeze, his ears dropping to his head, disappearing into his hair as he hastily pulled away, his posture now stiff. An unexpected… and unwelcome… pang went through her at his motion. Granted, it was partially her own fault for being so bold, but she had not been able to control the need to touch him, just to see. With a sigh of disappointment, she turned her attention to the music she now held, her eyes flying over the notes and complexity of the music.
"I think you overestimate my abilities, Sir," she whispered as she scanned the sheets.
"No, I think not." Kagome's head flew up to see a faint smile on his lips that soon faded. "You do have an instrument here, do you not?"
"Well, yes… of sorts," Kagome admitted, stepping to the side to reveal the small piano she had stood before.
Inuyasha considered the instrument for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "I have a fine piano forte at Tessaiga that deserves to be played more often than it is at the moment. You are more than welcome to come and try it one day."
"I… ah… Thank you." Kagome's voice softened, causing Inuyasha's ears to finally lift from his head, the two triangles focused fully on her. His eyes shifted to meet Kagome's, and she felt a strange fluttering in her stomach. She looked to Sango, who recognized the near panic in her sister's eyes.
"Would you like to sit down, Colonel, and join us for some refreshments?" Sango interjected, drawing Inuyasha's focus to her, breaking the spell that seemed to hold him as he had watched Kagome.
"No, thank you; I must be going and shouldn't intrude on you any longer. I am sure I will be seeing you all fairly soon at Kazaana. I bid you all a good day." His eyes turned back to Kagome to linger before withdrawing from the room.
Mai turned to her daughters as she held the flowers fully to her nose to take a deep breath, her eyes twinkling over the bouquet. Sango bit back a grin as she winked at Kagome, a giggle breaking through despite her attempt to stay silent.
Kagome fought back nerves as she looked at the complexity of the music. She thought… she had thought he had not been paying attention, that he had found her playing lacking, but this… she looked through the three movements of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. The first movement she had heard before, and knew she would be able to follow it, but the second and third movement, with the speed and complexity of the notes…
Yet, somehow, he thought that she was capable of playing this. She slid towards the piano, arranging the music before her as she lifted the cover from the keys. She shot a look over her shoulder, the consideration on her mother's face and the humor on Sango's had her turning back to the piano. She took a deep breath and placed her hands on the keys, letting the beauty of the composition surround her as she began to slowly follow the music, wincing as she heard the sharp sound of a wrong key, stopping and starting again.
She started to bring the music with her to Kazaana, practicing on the first movement with Mushin and Kaede each night after dinner, tackling the more difficult movements at the cottage; it would be a bit before she was comfortable attempting those around anyone but family. The music was so beautiful, capturing her complete attention, just as it did every night. She started, her playing faltering for a moment when a hand reached out to turn the page, and Kagome looked up to meet Inuyasha's amber eyes. She smiled at him as he returned the gesture, his eyes uncharacteristically soft as he watched her.
Somehow, his being near gave her more confidence, her hands more sure on the keys as she played. Had she thought his eyes were cold and uncaring? There was such depth and emotion in his eyes if one knew where to look, that was revealed to her with that one glance. His hand rose, moving as if he were to touch her shoulder, only to pause, his hand a breath away from her skin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hand close and drop away as he took a step back. She glanced up at him, sighing internally as his eyes shuttered, the cool mask back in place.
Her hand faltered for a moment on the keys before recovering, Inuyasha's ears lowering at the sound. As she came to the end of the movement, she gave a subtle nod and Inuyasha turned the music back to the first page, stepping back as she began again.
Sango watched the exchange with mixed emotions, unsure of what lay between her sister and the silver haired man who stood at her side.
"Kagome has certainly made a conquest with Inuyasha." Kaede's words startled Sango out of her musings. "I had nearly given up on him, worried that he would never move on from his past." Kaede saw Mai's shocked expression, mistaking it for concern. "Oh, do not worry, Mrs. Higurashi. It is a fine, fine match; he is a man with such a good heart, he just needed someone to unlock it."
"I… well," Mai swallowed before continuing, "I believe that 18 may be a little young to be married, don't you think?"
"Nonsense," Kaede smiled at the oblivious duo. "I was married at 17 myself. What do you say, Miss Sango? I do hope you did not have any designs or intentions for the Colonel for yourself, he appears quite besotted with your sister."
"Has he spoken to you of his feelings for my sister then?" Sango asked, her face puzzled.
"Inuyasha is not a man of many words, but look at him: it is written clearly across his face. Oh, he is a fine catch for any girl, I can only imagine it will be a matter of time before he comes to speak with you, Mrs. Higurashi."
Sango chewed on her cheek as she listened, concern growing. While Kagome was friendly towards Inuyasha, Sango didn't know if there was any more than that. When Kagome shot a glare over her shoulder at the man, Sango's unease grew.