A/N: hi I know its quarantine time but I work in a hospital *panic mode initiated* I've been working on this chapter for months. This was a turning point in which I could have derailed the story completely and wrote many different paths for it so pls be nice I know theres errors and shit. Also enjoy and wash your fucking hands.
Love and Clorox,
Archersploosh
"I'll be honest, I was expecting something more…" Kagome trailed off, taking in the sight before her. Standing at the base of many stairs, she eyed the fire cat statues that stood, framing each landing before the next staircase upwards. She couldn't even see the top of the last set of stairs. The temple was located deep in the heart of a mountain, she had been warned, but it felt surreal, surrounded by so much greenery. It was like walking into the past.
"Hn." Sesshou exited the car after her, coming up beside her petite frame, dressed traditionally. This was no place to dress in warrior clothing, she had decided. It was a temple, afterall. He, too, wore his traditional clothing, sans armor and weapons. He respected this was a place of peace and training.
"Hidden in plain sight, m'lady?" Jiyu's presence was accompanied by the fast approaching demonic aura of a fire cat. They rode down the mountainside over gusts of wind as his feline stead bound downward.
"Uh," She hadn't seen a fire cat in so long, her mind immediately went to kirara, "Something like that, I guess."
"Fear not, we are protected at all angles." Jiyu dismounted before the fire cat could come to a halt, which transformed gracefully upon landing. "It's how your friend here is able to present himself without a concealment anchor."
"We thank you for welcoming us here." Kagome bowed to the monk, dressed similarly in the same clothing Miroku once wore. She wondered how many of his descendants were working or studying at the landing above, all dressed as slayers and monks.
"It's an honor, Lady Kagome." Jiyu nodded his bow, and gestured with a wave of his hand upwards, "Now allow me to show you the Sakai school for monks and taijiya." His smile grew, "Hop on." The fire cat transformed on command.
Kagome didn't think twice and stepped to approach the fire cat, her body already familiar in how to mount and dismount the large cat, but her partner had other plans.
A simple hand to her shoulder kept her from going further. Peeking over her shoulder, she was curious over his interruption.
"Come closer." He offered a hand.
She complied, invading his space as he pulled her close enough to wrap an arm around her waist. Kagome had experienced flight with him before, in the rare moments he had come to her rescue, she had clung to his pelt as he flew through the air, but never had she experienced riding upon the essence of his demonic energy in the form of a cloud.
He grasped the indent of her waist and nodded to the monk before him. Jiyu nodded back. Mounting the fire cat alone, he led them upwards.
Kagome was amazed at the sensation of flight. She was more familiar with riding on Inuyasha's back, or bridal style upon capture. Even being thrown over the shoulder was something she was all too familiar with. Maybe it was the hold that was more secure in her safety. Nothing sat underneath her feet, and yet she felt like she was standing on solid ground. Even Sesshou's grasp on her person was loose. There was space between them, and yet she still held tightly to his clothing with both fists.
"Do not tell me you are afraid of heights." He kept his eyes trained to the firecat ahead of them.
"No, of course not," Kagome rolled her eyes, and relaxed her fists, smoothing out the silk on his chest, "I'm just used to being carried like luggage is all." She tried to joke, but he knew otherwise. She would have preferred to be carried by Inuyasha.
"We will land shortly." Sesshou clenched his jaw.
Kagome's stomach knotted at his tone. Had she misspoke? Shaking off the feeling, she focused instead on the scenery around them. The flight of stairs was endless, and she was beginning to think that maybe it was an illusion. Surely, no human would actually climb the stairs all the way up to the temple. There didn't appear to be any rest stops along the way either. It was almost like Mt. Hakurai when she had been caught in the illusion, chasing Kikyou. She shivered at the memory.
"Do not fall ill." Sesshou pulled her to his person, "We have very few days before the gala."
Kagome startled at his pull, but relaxed into his side regardless, grateful for the warmth. The wind whipping past them felt like it was pushing right through her clothes.
"Thank you." She whispered, knowing he would hear.
The fire cat bound upwards in a quick leap once more and dove forward, to a ledge. Sesshou's cloud sped up to follow. Coming to the top, they rose to see a high gate surrounding the perimeter, with a guard post, hosted by two slayers.
They landed, and Kagome stepped away the moment Sesshou released his hold on her. Jiyu held his arms out in display, his fire cat rested on his shoulder in her smaller form.
"This is it!" He was excited to show the legendary priestess his home. It was the deepest honor to finally welcome her back to their family. "See, since we're both a temple and demon slaying school, we keep both practices in place." He gestured to the gate, "So a protective physical barrier is a must."
"As well as a spiritual one." Sesshou added, eyeing the sheen of a barrier in the sky.
"Humans rarely take the stairs, and when they do, more often than not they turn back." Jiyu's grin never wavered, proud of the work done to protect their lands. "You wouldn't believe it, but Miroku's first born son was the one to establish the school, and first thought to retreat to the mountains."
They moved to follow Jiyu as he approached the gate ahead.
"Why is that?" Kagome asked, keeping pace with the monk.
"There was a fire." He continued, knowing the history well, "Bandits came through. The village took a nasty hit. Many stayed, but as generations went on, they came to the school. We needed protection. We needed peace to grow stronger."
"If the slayer village was the one that burned then who all died in that fire?" Kagome's fear was palpable in the air. Her heart was pounding in ways that made Sesshou wish he could reach for her without the action being questioned. Taking her up to fly was one thing. Grasping her hand for no apparent reason was questionable.
"Two of their children." Kagome's heart broke, "And two of their grandchildren."
"When was this?" Her voice was tight as she kept her gaze to their shuffling feet.
"Well they were grandparents by then. The oldest of their grandchildren being in their twenties. Miroku and Sango lived another fifteen years. They came to the school to retire and passed here, Lady Kagome." Jiyu's warm voice brought her eyes to his. He smiled in a way that reassured her she shouldn't be so sad. "You may visit their final resting place, if you wish."
"I do, please." Kagome held a hand to her chest, relief inside her at knowing her friends could be reached, even if it was only in prayer.
Standing before the gate, all three looked up at the guard post.
"Lady priestess Kagome and Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands have come to grace us with their presence!" Jiyu shouted, a grin wide across his face.
The slayer at the top peered down, a hand over his eyes to view the three visitors better.
"Oi!" He called from up top, "Then who the fuck are you?"
"Yuuki!" Jiyu blanched, "Come on! I have THE Shikon priestess with me! And The Lord of the West!"
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you!" The guard called back jokingly, "I'm gonna have to get reinforcements if you can't tell me your name, sir!"
"Jiyu Sakai," He shouted, "Your cousin!"
"SUCK-kai?" The guard continued to toy with Jiyu, "That's a terrible name, who ga-" The guard was quickly yanked back by a hand, and the gate began to open.
"I apologize for that," Jiyu blushed, bowing to his two guests, "That would be my cousin." Kagome could only hide her giggle behind her hand.
Once the gate opened enough for the three to pass, they were greeted by two slayers, dressed similarly to Sango and Kohaku, but with dark blue armor plates, which at a glance elsewhere, seemed to be the standard color for the slayer uniform. Many slayers and monks, priestesses, and children were coming and going. Kagome was in awe. Were these all descendants of Miroku and Sango?
"Welcome Lady Priestess, and Lord Sesshoumaru." The first slayer bowed, a tall brunette woman with a sleek ponytail and freckled face. She pulled the second slayer down by his shoulder to force him to bow. "We are honored to welcome you to our home and school. We have been waiting many centuries to see you, so please forgive my idiot brother for his rude behavior just now." Irritation was clear on her face, but she remained composed. The boy beside her was around Kagome's age, but clearly less interested in the events happening before him. His casual behavior was almost welcoming to Kagome. She hated to feel like a walking ghost; a legend in a book. She was just a girl, afterall.
"I'm sorry," Yuuki rubbed a clear bump on his head, "I was only fooling around."
"My Lady, and Lord, my name is Sakai Masami," The tall slayer introduced herself, and then gestured to her brother, "And this is Yuuki."
"We appreciate you taking the time to host us for the night." Kagome beamed at the two, but her attention was quickly drawn to a group of slayers with weapons in hand.
"We'll be giving you a tour of the lands shortly, m'lady," Masami noticed her wandering eyes, following whatever it was that interested her. "For now, allow us to show you to your rooms."
"This is where we part ways, my friends. I'll be overseeing some details for later, but please allow my cousins to guide you for the time being." Jiyu bowed to their guests, "Goodbye for now!" The monk sprinted off with his fire cat prancing behind him loyally.
Kagome and Sesshou followed the two sibling slayers across the courtyard between many buildings until they reached the furthest at the back of the barrier. The traditional style buildings were a welcomed sight compared to her city house, with siding and such. Everything was beautiful and historic. The school and temple felt very much like a small village of its own.
Entering the building, both guests followed their hosts', and removed their shoes. Coming onto the wooden floors, Kagome wanted to chuckle at her companions' socked feet. Barefoot in modern clothes she was used to, but seeing him royally dressed, without his shoes, only reminded her how funny the sight would be to her 500 years ago.
"Beyond these doors are your rooms. Left is Lord Sesshoumaru and on the right is Lady Priestess Kagome. Please, get settled in, and I'll be by shortly to show you around." Masami bowed deeply to her guests, elbowing her brother to do the same. "After the tour there is a feast in your honor."
Kagome bowed back to the slayers and tilted her head at the idea of anything in her honor. The whole concept seemed surreal. Before she could process it all, the two had turned the corner, but not before Kagome noticed the older girl tug on her brother's elbow, dragging him away like a petulant child.
"She reminds me so much of Sango." She said out loud, even though it was meant more for herself. Sesshou only nodded beside her in agreement. Shaking herself of the deja vu, she put her hands to the door and slid it open. "Shall we?"
They entered a main living quarter with a low table and cushions, the walls decorated with old ink paintings of demons, and a singular slayer's scythe mounted just on the opposite wall. The two sliding doors on each side led to their private sleeping rooms. Kagome went left first, looking into Sesshou's room to find a bedroll, a privacy screen, and a wardrobe. She stood in the doorway and shrugged to Sesshou, who had made himself comfortable on a cushion. She had a feeling he was uninterested. Taking the opportunity to resolve herself before the evening's festivities, she crossed into her own room.
"I'm going to meditate for a while." Kagome spoke softly to her companion as she slid the door shut. It was a mediocre lie on her part, but he accepted it nonetheless with a noncommittal, "Hn."
Once seated on top of her own bed roll, her room identically to Sesshou's, she felt his presence slip from her vicinity and she had a funny feeling he was a little uncomfortable being housed by slayers.
He probably wanted some fresh air, she assured herself. This was going to be a long night, she could feel it.
Outside, Sesshou kept himself far enough away from the household to allow Kagome to relax without his overwhelming aura, but close enough to keep her scent in the air. Wandering the temple grounds nearby, he paid no mind to the token mementos of their shared history and instead allowed himself to daydream. He acknowledged the impression the Sakai temple had on his demeanor. The air was so pure, even his own restless beastly instincts to transform were laid to rest. He could understand why coming here was right for their family.
Family. It was a strange concept to him long ago, when he was born of an arranged mating, son of a princess and her general, betrothed for the sake of strong offspring: him. And when his father had finally known love, then came Inuyasha. To think he had been the foolish teenager, dreaming of taking on his father and murdering his own brother. He could see how Kagome would be afraid of him, back then, coming from these modern times. Even to his own ears, he could easily identify the insanity of his pubescent goals.
And then there was Rin. His to protect, but not. Just like Kagome, but not. She was his daughter by claim alone, and Kagome was...he stumbled for the right words. A companion. A friend. His brother's almost mate and wife, the woman he would have called sister. It still irked him to think of her path without his involvement. Inuyasha died with a purpose, and gifted his own brother his most treasured possession; her love and friendship. He would not let that go to waste. Nor would he let her go to waste.
An hour had passed, he knew, and would have begun the trek back to the house, but somehow his thoughtless daydreaming had led him here.
Sesshou stood at the base of a cherry blossom tree, gazing into the barren branches, when he felt her approach.
"You know, a demon loose in a slayer's village and monk's temple is going to cause anxiety no matter how kind he is." Kagome joked behind him. He did not respond. "What's the matter?" He could hear her smile falter in her inquiry.
"Do you desire Inuyasha's presence when I am near?" He voiced his concerns before he thought to swallow them.
"Huh?" Sesshou could hear her heart spike in rate.
"Do you think of him more when I am with you?" He turned then, peering back at her to gauge her physical reaction. He had opened this can of worms and he would not back out now.
"Quite the opposite, actually." Kagome's chuckle surprised him, and he knew it was apparent by the blush that graced her features. It appeared that the female slayer had gowned Kagome beautifully for the celebration this evening. She wore the most detailed and fine silk kimono, fit for a princess. The discomfort she felt in the layers was obvious, but she was breathtaking in the royal and rich colors covering her body.
The pink overcoat lightened the entire outfit, with a burgundy top layer spotted with white lillies around the shoulders and edges, a navy sash with goldfish stitched in gold, and another lighter layer peaking through the top in violet and lavender. Her hair pieces were pink and teal, floral and tinkling with the movement of her head.
He was immobilized.
She crossed the clearing to him, close enough he could see himself, his own eyes widened in awe, in the reflection of her sapphire orbs. She reached for his sleeve, grasping his arm with her delicate fingers, and leaned into his hold.
When had his own hands reached for her?
She was daringly close. The aroma of her scent filled his senses until he was nearly unaware of the world beyond her reach. Her breath tickled his lips as she closed the distance between their bodies.
He dared not move, and allowed himself to give her every advantage by closing his eyes, losing himself in her touch.
Her lips pressed gently into his jaw, just shy of his cheek. He swore he died a little inside, and ignored every instinct inside of himself that screamed in rejection and rejoice. He held her tighter to himself, his arms wrapped under her overcoat, around her waist. He was at her mercy, dropping his head to her shoulder.
"You are my blessing, Sesshou," Her words were soft and sure in his angled ear, "I would be lost without you."
"And Inuyasha?" He damned himself further with his own sadistic curiosity.
Kagome saw the flurry of his emotions from the time she approached, looking into his aura full of turmoil. He was experiencing an endless rainbow of pain she knew all too well. Only, her time in the shadows of someone more precious to her love was over. It appeared even Sesshoumaru had his moments of inferiority.
"He has fulfilled his promise to me, with you." Her hands glided up his biceps, shoulders, and neck, settling on cradling his face in her hands. "Sesshoumaru, look at me."
His eyes opened to reveal the glossy honey colored hope, searching for the reassurance she had wished for so long ago.
"His promise does not pass to me," a resolve set in his gaze, "It is now my own."
"I know."
They joined their guide moments later, arms linked together as they emerged from the edges of the temple. Jiyu's relief was hinted in his aura and Kagome nodded her thanks. She had asked to venture alone to retrieve her friend, despite the protesting of slayers.
You'll ruin your dress.
You're too noble to do a servant's job.
She had shook her head, jingling the jewellery adorning her head. Nonsense. He was family.
"Welcome back, M'lady, M'lord." Jiyu bowed to the pair and began his tour of the grounds, "If you'll follow me, I'll show you every building and tell you every story. I have studied our history for many years, so feel free to ask me any questions about my forefathers."
"Does the cursed hand still follow the family line?" Kagome's sly smile implied more than the wind tunnel that once occupied Miroku's palm. With Jiyu just ahead, he didn't quite understand without seeing her expression.
"You should know the answer to that one, Miss Kagome." He lectured delightfully, "The wind tunnel dispersed shortly after Naraku's demise, thanks to you."
"She meant this curse, dummy!" Yuuki came up fast behind the pair, palm out and aimed at Kagome's rear, but his hand never made contact.
It only took a third of a second for the teen to be held high off the ground by his throat.
"Awfully bold of you." Sesshou's deep voice cut through the air with the intent it held.
"Sesshou!" Kagome gasped, reaching for his arm that held the boy high, "Let him down!"
"Not yet." He objected, watching the boy panic. At first there was surprise, and then there was terror.
"Our greatest apologies, My Lord!" Jiyu dropped to the ground, in a deep bow. "Please release my cousin."
Kagome's irritation spiked.
"Put him down!"
Sesshou ignored her demands and watched as the boy kept squirming, his legs kicking out as he searched for solid ground in his panic. He was by no means choking the child, but his grip was firm and his claws were sharp. The more Yuuki fought against the hold, the more he was certain this wasn't the child's true nature.
"Sesshoumaru I said put him down now!" Kagome yanked on his arm with both her hands, but he did not yield, nor did he budge.
"Look." He found what he was looking for. Kagome stopped her protesting as well, searching the boy's face, where she hoped to find reason to the severity of this punishment.
"What?" She gasped.
"What's happening to Yuuki?" Jiyu rose, inspecting his cousin's face. His eyes were glossy; clouded. "Is he-?"
"Possessed." Sesshou stated.
Kagome took it upon herself to inspect his aura. She had assumed the strange coloring, the emotions he was feeling earlier had to do with general teenage rebellion, frustration, and mischief. Now, she could feel more behind those emotions.
Yuuki continued to thrash in Sesshou's hold, trying to tear away the hand that held him.
"How could we have not known about this," Jiyu tried to piece together the possibility, "We're entirely safe in here and it's not like any one of us leaves very frequently." There was that cold crashing fear Kagome could recognize flooding Jiyu's aura. She needed calm to see past it.
"This spirit isn't hostile." Kagome kept her eyes glued to the teen suspended in air. Onlookers were wary and their own confusion was creating an uncertain, queasy onion coloring to take in the corners of her vision. She kept her focus on the boy. On his eyes. Seeing into the cloudiness, and then past them.
"Then who?" Jiyu's voice didn't register with her.
Sesshou glanced her way, awaiting an answer, only to find her own eyes clouded too. He held still, observing. Was she seeing inside him?
Kagome blindly felt for Sesshou's arm again, this time with soothing, soft palms. She glided her fingertips down his arm until she grasped his bare forearm, where his sleeve had risen up.
"Who are you?" She asked, eyes still unseeing, but Sesshou had a feeling she was. His own flesh tingled with her motive. She was communicating with this spirit. She needed contact, through him.
Yuuki went limp.
Jiyu stepped back, in awe at the raw power the Shikon priestess exerted. This time traveling priestess, destined to dispose of the most heinously powerful gem to exist, had surpassed the jewel's strength. He was sure of it. How could she communicate so effortlessly with a possessing spirit, one that took hold beyond centuries old barriers?
"Follow me." Yuuki spoke, voice rough from struggling against the hand that restrained him so effortlessly.
Kagome released her companion's arm and looked to him with pleading eyes, bright and blue once more. He nodded. She needn't ask. He would protect her should the child act out again.
Sesshou lowered the boy until his feet touched the ground and released his hold on his throat. Yuuki lifted his head to meet the eyes of the priestess before him.
"This way." They followed.
"Does she do this often, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Jiyu walked in step with the demon Lord, just behind the two teens guiding. Sesshou merely quirked an eyebrow at the monk's inquiry. "Perform such amazing exorcisms? Fend off evil? Purify the very air around her?"
Kagome's attention was focused elsewhere. Sesshou wanted to sigh.
"You mean, does she always find trouble?" His bland expression hid nothing from the young monk. "Yes." He trained his eyes forward, "Yes she does."
When they found themselves at a small graveyard, Sesshou and Jiyu halted. Kagome followed the boy religiously, still, until they were in front of a memorial statue. The stone read:
Master Miroku and Master Sensei Sango
"I was planning on bringing you both here at the end of the tour…" Jiyu thought out loud, "That's Master Miroku and Sango's burial site."
Sesshou hadn't involved himself too much in their lives, but that didn't mean he didn't have memories of them. Afterall, Sango was partially family. His chest hurt, recalling how she'd forfeited her slayer mask to Rin in Naraku's belly. It was the only way she knew how to apologize, and while he did not accept it at the time, he would later learn that she always made up for her mistakes. They became in laws, and by extension, after Rin married Kohaku, the slayers and monks were family too.
He shouldn't have kept his distance this long, but Kagome was right. Sesshou glanced back at the small gathering that had followed their party at a distance. Masami was there, watching her brother diligently. She was very much like Sango, he admitted. Overprotective older sister, natural born leader, and loyal to a fault, but her freckles weren't Sango's. He peeled his eyes away. Those freckles had passed to Rin's daughter, too.
"This is them." Kagome stole everyone's attention. She often did that, without meaning to, but this was different. This was coming home, fulfilling a destiny, and completing a journey all in one.
"It's an honor, Lady Kagome." Yuuki's glassy eyes glowed, "To finally welcome you to our home." The genuine joy that overtook the possessed teen was startling to some, but Kagome anticipated it. His emotions were familiar: jovial, playful, wise.
"Miroku?" Kagome gasped, eyes blurry with tears. The powder blue and rosey violet she had seen encompassing the boy before was blending in the tears blocking her vision.
"There, there, don't cry," His cheery sentiment was fatherly. She wondered just how small she must seem to him. "Sango isn't far behind now."
Sesshou's interest piqued when Masami stalked forward. Perhaps that's why she followed.
"Kagome," the familiarity in her voice washed away the stern demeanor she carried, "I'm so happy to see you."
The women embraced, and it was like a dam had broken loose. Both shed tears, petting away the wetness on each other's faces.
"Sango, Miroku," Kagome sobbed out, reaching for them both, and each grasping a hand, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you."
"We missed you terribly," Masami's entire being radiated Sango's heart. Kagome could see it in her aura, the same rosey violet of longing and love, and the ever so sorrowful grey blue of Sango's remorse. "But now we can say goodbye."
"Properly." Yuuki affirmed.
"Already?" Kagome's heart ached.
Many more slayers and monks began to gather at the edge of the graveyard, wondering where their starlet priestess had gone when they had a party waiting for her in the center of the school, and observed with wide, star struck eyes.
Sesshou allowed the invasion of privacy, if only for them to see just how truly magnificent Kagome could be. When he had first started training her, with her archery, sending an instructor to her home after class, he felt this endeavor might take decades to accomplish. He was fine with that. Kagome was young; they had time to hone her skills.
Something became unleashed within her, he realized. She was awakening in steps he couldn't foresee, but her powers were only growing. He wondered when Kagome would reach her limits.
He watched as the trio embraced, and he couldn't help but see two parents hugging their lost child. They had outgrown and outlived her, but they loved her all the same.
"You'll see us again." Masami whispered in Kagome's ear, "I promise."
When Kagome pulled away from the siblings, she was looking into the eyes of her friends' descendants once more. Gone were her spirited friends, and their souls from this earth.
Her heart broke at the loss of their company.
"What happened?" Masami clutched her head, experiencing a pounding headache.
"I think I'm gonna vomit." Yuuki bent over, bracing himself against his knees.
"Yuuki, Masami, are you both alright?" Jiyu approached the pair and inspected them with a once over.
"What was that?" Yuuki scrubbed his face with his palms.
"That was Miroku and Sango." Kagome's eyes were trained on the memorial. "They wanted to say goodbye."
Yuuki and Masami both shuddered at the idea.
"Come." Sesshou called out to the humans congregating.
They followed without question and he knew none objected because Kagome's feet moved first. She would follow her loved ones wherever they were, he realized. Even into harm's way, he knew.
Too many times he had witnessed her fall to the ground in the "sit" command she had cursed his brother with, to aid him. Too many times he had seen her falling through the air, determined to catch up to Inuyasha as he led certain danger away from where she was left to hide, safe and sound.
Sesshou wondered what it would take to truly make her stop. For a mortal, she was very daring.
What was supposed to be a joyous occasion felt somber. Everyone went about eating their dinners, and chatting amongst themselves, but the air was thick with tension.
"You all look like you've seen a ghost." Kagome tried to joke, but only the tweens nearby chuckled.
"Forgive us, Lady Kagome," Jiyu sat to her left in the dining hall, everyone seated at long, low tables in blocks of six. With his chopsticks still suspended in air, pinching a piece of fish, he continued, "But it seems our evening's festivities were sidetracked in a way we hadn't prepared for. None of us have ever seen a spirit."
"Well I for one am very pleased with my stay so far." Kagome's contentment stemmed from more than her friends' other worldly hello. Her eyes flicked to Sesshou on her right side, smiling with her next bite.
"Then we are pleased as well." Jiyu noticed.
"Perhaps it is your turn to tell stories, Kagome." Sesshou suggested, absentmindedly. So far Jiyu had prattled on about what became of everyone, and yet he was astounded by the likes of a normal occurrence for Kagome's own experiences.
"That's a great idea." Masami and Yuuki sat at the next table over, on Jiyu's side. "After all, Master Miroku and Sango are our heroes, and yet, you knew them." Masami beamed at the gowned priestess.
"Very well." Swallowing the last of her rice, Kagome straightened in her seat. "What would you like to know?"
The evening took a turn for the better as Kagome told story after story. Soon, nearly all the men of the Sakai family considered Miroku to be just like them, studious and wise, and yet silly all the same. The women had fallen for his vows to Sango and every child had clung to Sango's strength and loyalty.
Sesshou had watched as they celebrated Kagome's return to their family, with drink and music, food, and stories, and soon, he caught the honorary guest yawning into her sleeve.
"You should retire for the evening. We have to travel early tomorrow morning." Sesshou approached from across the dining hall, taking her elbow in his hand. Without resistance to the idea, Kagome nodded. The flush of her cheeks from wearing so many layers, the heat of so many bodies cloistered together, and without needing to validate the scent of sake on her breath, he knew even the alcohol had burned her up and the festivities had burned her out.
"Let me just say goodnight to Jiyu," Kagome pat his shoulder as she passed, "I'll be right back."
He watched as she made her way through the crowds easily, passing by with a palm to someone's back and a gentle murmur of "excuse me."
He noticed how her touch was more familiar with the monk now. She reached for his shoulders first, embracing the young man and pulling away. The way she initiated contact, or even taking control of the night despite being a guest, Kagome behaved like she was older. Or perhaps, a ruler. Gentle and firm. Jiyu wished her goodnight and nodded to Sesshou. He looked away.
"You ready?" Kagome asked.
"Hn."
The two walked side by side through the dark of night back towards the main house where their rooms were. Kagome's steps were short and confined in her fancy kimono, and she stumbled in the dim lighting of the dirt path leading to the dormitory.
"You worry." Sesshou observed aloud.
"This silk is far too nice for a simple girl like me." Kagome huffed her bangs out of her face, nose scrunched as she eyed creases in the garment she spoke of.
Sesshou only lifted a brow.
"Shh," He hadn't spoken a word, but she had seen the orange glow of his disbelief, like a reflective caution sign glowing in the street lights, "You know," She slurred, causing Sesshou to pay closer attention to her footing, "I don't know how I didn't see how expressive you were before."
"Before?" Sesshou inquired.
"Everything," Kagome grasped his arm in hers, leaning her cheek into his shoulder, and he immediately complied as her crutch. "Returning home. Even before I said goodbye."
"To Inuyasha." He filled in the blanks, and his chest almost didn't squeeze as tightly as it had earlier in the day. Almost.
"Yes," He could feel her smile into his sleeve, "To Inuyasha." His stomach turned. "I'm so grateful to have said goodbye," Sesshou remained silent, "Because he gave me this sight I never knew I had."
"The aura reading."
"I can see so much of you, Sesshou," Kagome paused her steps, holding his arm still to stop him as well. Sesshou turned to face her, realizing in the moonlight just how rosy her cheeks were; flushed with the sake she had drunk all evening. "I know how you feel."
He was just now realizing the depth of her ability to see the emotions, will, and intent within one's aura. She couldn't just see them, but she could feel them too. She was familiar with his feelings as if they were her own.
A distant memory of Kikyo flashed through his mind, watching his dimwitted brother fawn over the priestess from a distance. Perhaps Kagome could understand the sentiment personally.
Her blush deepend, and he was vaguely reminded of the night he first reunited her with the wolf pack, dancing her around the floor to rid the stench of wolves from her person. The flush of her skin against his palms, where he held her bare back. She had been drinking that night as well.
"Do you know how I feel?" She asked with a coy smile gracing her lips.
"Drunk?" He joked.
"Happy, Sesshoumaru." Kagome pouted.
"I've been told they are one in the same." Sesshou tugged on her arm to get her walking again. A few more strides and they would be climbing the handful of steps up onto the porch before reaching the front entryway.
Kagome watched with hazy eyes as his emotions changed with every thought that was crossing his mind. She wondered what he thought of, and if he was thinking of her. Sighing, she followed dutifully, hanging onto his arm as he led them successfully to their rooms. Sliding open the door, he brought her to her own room for privacy.
"I'll wait here for you." His breath brushed her face and she was tickled by the thoughts that flooded her sake addled brain.
Once he heard the shuffling of her clothes coming undone from behind her closed door, Sesshou turned to his own room and dressed in his pajamas of grey sweats and a soft t shirt. Even from his own room he could hear Kagome struggling. He approached her door.
"Do you require assistance?" Sesshou cringed when he heard Kagome yelp in surprise. "My apologies."
"Nearly gave me a heart attack!" Kagome held a hand to her chest. She calmed herself, continuing her struggle with the kimono, "No don't go waking Masami, I'll figure it out."
"I did not mean the slayer." Sesshou's voice was at her back, behind the door. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Don't be ridiculous, I can do this." Kagome stuttered, blushing deeply.
"I won't even come in. Keep your back to the door, and I will look away." He offered, and truthfully he wasn't all that familiar with undoing kimonos, but he had lived one handed long enough to understand dressing with a handicap. Drunkenness he deemed a handicap, and one Kagome was not familiar with.
"Okay." He knew she would agree.
Sesshou slid the door open just enough to reach his arm in and feel the silk knotted at her back. With his head turned the opposite way, he blindly groped the knots with sure fingers until he understood the death trap of a mess she had made on her own.
"The priestess can slay demons by the hundreds with a single arrow," He joked, "But cannot undress without strangling herself to death."
"The priestess can also purify on contact." She warned, feeling a knot come loose behind her. Still, there were others in more layers. His right hand, the more dominant one she presumed, followed her waist until it sat over a ribbon at her belly.
"And yet," Sesshou yanked the ribbon, and the last two layers drooped from her collarbone. His palm rested on the smooth surface of her belly, over the layers, "You do not."
She gulped.
"Thank you," Kagome peaked over her shoulder, looking at the perfect gentleman he was with his head turned away from her minutely open doorway. His hand left her person and held the door instead. "I'll be out in a minute."
He closed the door.
From the shared living space, Sesshou could hear her clothing fall into a heap on the floor. His fine hearing granted him a painted picture of her every movement. Situating himself against a wall, resting an arm on one raised knee, he did his best to clear his mind.
She was changing now, wearing something light that shushed with movement.
Breathe, he reminded himself. Closing his eyes this time, he tried again.
Her feet padded across the room again. His ears followed her every dainty step.
"Hi," Kagome tip toed towards him, whispering. "Thanks again, I feel so much better." She plopped down in front of him, sitting on her knees.
"You are welcome." Sesshou opened his eyes and failed to conceal the quirk of his lips in a satisfied smile. She was still rosy from drinking, her hair loose and bouncy around her naked shoulders, and dressed in a matching black tank top and pajama pants set. Oddly, she was holding a silver flask in her hands.
"I'm not tired," Her smile reminded him of centuries ago when the Cardinal lords' daughters would look his way after a sparring match that ended in his favor. "And you haven't drank a drop all night." Kagome raised the flask and shook it lightly as if to entice him with its shiny exterior catching the low lighting.
"It was unnecessary." He stated, unamused.
"What if I want you to?" Her smile only grew.
"For what reason?" He watched as she uncapped the container.
"Sesshou we came here to celebrate my return and you," She held it up pointedly, "Have not celebrated."
"Why did you bring alcohol?" Had he missed something? Sesshou was baffled and concerned all at the same time. Was she one of those party girls before falling down the well? Or perhaps she turned to drink after returning permanently?
"It was Shippou's idea. He said he knew you wouldn't want to have any fun so he asked me to bring this for you." Kagome held the flask out to him, "Is it your favorite or something?"
"You should sleep." He tried to dissuade her, ignoring her question.
"Come on," Kagome pouted, "Please? We could play a game to make it fun!"
His deadpan stare did nothing to dampen her spirits.
"Sesshoumaru," Her voice quivered, "Celebrate with me, please."
Sighing, he snatched the flask from her dainty hands and didn't even check the contents before taking a swig. Holding it out to her, he licked his lips. When she cocked her head in confusion, he explained. "You said it was a game, right?"
Kagome's grin was contagious and he found himself easing into her silly indulgence willingly. She was offended he hadn't celebrated her return properly, and he was willing to remedy that, knowing the contents of the flask would do little to affect his cognition.
She sniffed the flask and whipped her head away from the bottle. He was fully expecting her to cap the flask and call it a night after he had obliged with his sip, but was surprised to see her raise the flask to her lips and take a gulp.
Kagome smacked her lips with disdain and passed it back to him. Truthfully, she hadn't expected him to cave so easily either. She felt honor bound to hold up her end of the bargain.
"The game is two truths and a lie." She grinned when he peered down at her pointedly mid sip, "It's very self explanatory, you see," Kagome giggled, "All you have to do is tell two things that are true about yourself, and one that is a lie. Then I get to guess which one is false."
"What is the prize?" Sesshou kept the flask, knowing another sip and the poor priestess might turn green.
"To be determined!" She waved his inquiry away, "I'll go first."
It only took her a moment to come up with three statements, and he was pleased to see her behave like the girl she was, and not the lost time traveler she often felt like. Her youthfulness reminded him heavily of Rin when she had first married.
"I'm not artistic," Kagome counted a single digit off her finger, "I'm afraid of heights," She added another finger, "And I'm actually not that great at History!"
"You are not afraid of heights." Sesshou didn't even entertain the idea that she could have lied about the other two statements. He had seen her last history final and knew from Shippou alone that Kagome couldn't draw to save her life. "My turn." He drank from the flask again, mulling over what he was willing to share. "I read autobiographies, I would never have killed you, and my father once called my markings feminine."
"Oh, that one for sure!" Kagome laughed into her palm, "The great Inu No Taisho calling his son's markings feminine? Never!"
"You guessed wrong." He smirked. "Go again."
"Okay, okay," Kagome scooched forward to reach for the flask. Sesshou only held it further away. "Wait, I lost so I have to drink." She raised herself to her knees again and aimed to take the flask from his outstretched hand overhead, using his shoulders as leverage. "I can't take my turn until I drink, Sesshou!" Kagome reached once more, wobbling as she leaned too far right to reach his left hand. He steadied her with an arm around her waist, yanking her down into a sitting position once more. She braced herself against his chest and fell into him with a, "Hmph," Her delicate hands against his chest made his stomach flutter, "Alright I give, no more for me."
"Do you still wish to take your turn?" Sesshou allowed the drunken girl to rest against his chest, her head sitting at his collar bone. The softness of her hair tickled his chin, and he leaned into her sloppy embrace, wrapping both arms around her.
"Only one more," Kagome slurred, tilting her head up to peer past her fringe at his alabaster face, "This time with a prize, too." Sesshou could tell she was close to falling asleep if he kept her still long enough. Encouraging that, he rubbed circles into her back.
"What is the prize?" He asked, a genuine smile tugging at his lips as he gazed down at her.
"A kiss." She smirked, blushing past her drunken flushed appearance. He swallowed at her declaration. "My turn: I can see how you feel," Kagome pulled herself closer, resting her forearms into his torso, "You like me, like I like you," Her arms were sliding around his neck, "And I have three hands." The smile that quirked her mouth brought his attention to those pink lips of hers.
"You're not very good at this game," Sesshou teased, allowing her to roam his person and bring her face to his, their breath mingling together in the space between their wanting lips. "You do not," He paused, their noses brushing together, "Have three hands."
Kagome hardly waited for him to finish speaking before closing the distance between them. He hummed into her mouth, dropping the capped flask to hold her small frame to his person tighter. Their lips caressed and teased for many moments, with tongues brushing and breaths fast between lips locking together once more.
Sesshou had no desire to have their moment end, but he knew the priestess was inebriated. When he found that his hands had brought her into his lap, he knew he had to pull away.
"Kagome," Sesshou was muffled by her peppered kisses, covering his mouth with her own, "Kagome," he tried again, holding her face in his hands and kissing her deeply one last time, "You need sleep." His lips tickled hers, and she nodded her forehead against his in agreement.
"Sleep with me." She begged, her glossy eyes boring into his, "Please."
The next morning Sesshou had woken to her body curled into his, both his arms wrapped around her, and their legs intertwined. He had never woken up to a woman in his arms before.
His mother's words rang in his ears.
There can't be anyone else.
Could he bring himself to selfishly chain her to his person in mating, for all eternity? She was human. She only knew her seventeen years.
She had been drinking. It was a game. She didn't mean it. He tried to convince himself of all these reasons, but for every thought against it was countered by a feature of hers; her steady breath, the feel of her slender frame, her body heat, even the mutterings of her sleep talk.
Perhaps, he decided, recalling the way her own heart had battered itself against her ribcage when he kissed her. At the very least there was attraction. He would concede to that.
Kagome woke to a pounding headache and cottonmouth. Covering her eyes before opening them, she scrubbed at her face. It took her a few moments to recall that she had celebrated too heavily with the slayers and monks.
And Sesshou, she reminded herself.
Her complexion cherried and Kagome ducked her head under the covers of her futon. The embarrassment was overwhelming, and she wasn't sure how to face the stoic demon lord. Just remembering his mouth on hers, his deadly hands caressing her face, with his fingers in her hair, she wanted to die, happily.
Hearing the shushing of a sliding door, Kagome finally poked her head out from the covers and peeked at the incoming person.
"Good morning," Sesshou smirked at the sight of the priestess. She was probably the most unkempt he had ever seen her. A night of drinking would do that, he thought. Knowing she was likely turning over inside her mind trying to figure out how to approach their relationship, he figured he would break the ice. "You're a flirty drunk, Kagome." He teased, "Remind me to keep the sake from you at the gala. My mother would surely line up suitors if she knew."
"Shut it!" Kagome glowered, her voice shrill with humiliation, "You kissed me back you know!"
"Who would rightly deny you?" His gentle demeanor lessened her anger. Realizing he was giving her an out, she sat upright and shook her head, trying to flatten her erratic hair. "Dress quickly, we should be departing soon."
Kagome did as she was told and met with Sesshou at the front of the dormitory. The sun shining in the late morning made her head hurt, but she tried to ignore it, following their hosts out to the gate to say their goodbyes.
"So we'll see you at the gala, and don't forget you can bring a plus one," Kagome reminded Jiyu, hugging the young man the same she had the night before, initiating contact and wrapping him in her arms like he was the child of her friends and not a human man older than she was. "We'll send you all the details, and you can call with any questions."
Sesshou watched at a distance, only mildly interested in their conversations.
"Yuuki and I will let you know when our cousin returns. He'll be happy to help you train." Masami welcomed the girl into an embrace, "The Bushida slayers are always top of the class, so I have no doubts about your turnout." The two girls had worked out some details at the party the night before about Kagome returning for hand to hand combat training, finding that Sakai was just the link to Inuyasha's final wish: find Bushida.
Sesshou stiffened at the mention of their cousins. Some of the Bushida clan reside within the Sakai school, and while the scents over centuries had diluted, he was still able to pick out the children with a single glance.
Bushida were strictly Kohaku's offspring, and therefore Rin's, too. After the fire, he didn't associate with the grandchildren. They barely knew him anyhow. His connection to the Bushida family died when Rin, Kohaku, and their daughter burned to death.
"Thanks, I look forward to it." Kagome pulled from their hug and turned to Yuuki next, jabbing him in the ribs to get him to uncross his arms. "Come on, even you," She teased, pulling him in against his will while the teen boy tried to get away gently. "You little pervert."
"I told you, I was possessed!" Yuuki blushed, knowing she was referring to Miroku's influence when he tried to slap her across the rear before Sesshou had detained him.
"Mhmm," Kagome gave him an extra squeeze, with everyone laughing at the boy's expense, "Suuure."
Sesshou could tell they were wrapping up and approached the four, extending a hand to his priestess. She took it without question, and the Sakai family all bowed in thanks to them both before Sesshou took Kagome by her waist and lifted them to the skies.
As the mountain behind them shrank, Sesshou was keenly aware that Kagome was no longer gripping him for dear life, as they had on their ascent. Instead her eyes were glued behind them, her thoughts likely still with them.
"Do you miss them already?" Sesshou asked, trying to bring her back to the present.
"I miss Miroku and Sango." She admitted, finally turning her gaze from over his shoulder to his face. "I wonder when I'll see them again."
It struck him as odd. He had lived a long time and rarely crossed paths with ghosts, and yet, just in the past couple of months, he had encountered three. From his experience and knowledge, he knew it was unheard of that a ghost returns more than once. So what did she mean by seeing them again?