A/N: Since tomorrow I am not sure that I will be online, I decided to release that day's entries early. Enjoy!
From the diary of Princess Higurashi Kagome of Musashi
Date: ninth day of the first month of summer. Year XXXX
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I spent the whole day with Inuyasha in the village, visiting the people living there. It was a traditional day of giving foods and other useful items to the poor by one of the lords, and it seems that this task falls heavily on Inuyasha's shoulders.
I was so happy to help him with that, giving away baskets with cloth and edibles. It is so kind of the clan to provide those gifts for the poor - it is certainly some help to those who suffer bad luck. And it helps to endear the folk to the lords. As I learn more about them, I can see how kind and honorable they both are, their followers truly loving them as leaders and protectors.
I was a bit anxious about invading them with my presence, but with Inuyasha close by I was not afraid and the villagers were most kind to me. I felt so happy and curious. Everything was so new and interesting. I made new acquaintances and was almost stolen by a bunch of kids planning to play tricks on me, but Inuyasha and Shippou came to my rescue - the latter pranking the other children by pretending to be me while Inuyasha carried me away before I ended up in a puddle.
When we came back to the castle, Lord Sesshomaru summoned us to his study and gave me the letter from my mother. The messengers came back when we were out. I was so excited to get a word from home and excused myself to my room to read the letter. Oh, I did well to go be alone because when I saw what she wrote my cheeks flushed with hot redness.
Oh, my good, caring mother… Does she know how much I am fond of Inuyasha? Does she know how much I think about him? How he makes me feel safe and at the same time can annoy me in a few careless words?
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Addendum
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I got a note from Inuyasha to meet him to go for a walk in the moonlight since the rain relented. I was out of my room when Rin exited her room and asked where I was going.
I was so flustered that I pretended that I was sleepwalking like I used after my dad passed on. Then I fled to my room.
Oh, Inuyasha, don't think that I rejected your invitation! I was so embarrassed and surprised by Rin's question that I panicked.
From the diary of Miss Higurashi Rin
Date: ninth day of the first month of summer. Year XXXX. Night
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I am concerned about Kagome.
I was spending my days mostly with Roku, reading to him and playing games so he wouldn't feel sad and bored. He was always so active, finding joy in working outside.
The time I wasn't visiting with Roku I spent in the library. Once or twice Lord Sesshomaru was my silent reading companion, leaning over a scroll or a tome of ancient texts.
The lord is most fascinating. He is an enigma, a mystery, a secret so tempting that I often catch myself daydreaming about uncovering all of his secrets. He is a challenge, a tempting mountain peak one cannot help themselves from wanting to scale and conquer.
He speaks sparsely, but always to the point. He does not indulge in idle talk, always presenting the truth in precise, elegant words. He moves with effortless grace and controls his every gesture. Simply observing him engrossed in reading or interacting with the few house servants that come to the rooms I am allowed to visit is such an entertaining pastime.
And… well… Is it strange that I started to dream about him? From all the time I spend thinking about him, trying to figure him out, to peer under that icy mask of indifference? The more distant and cold he seems during the day, the more intriguing he is, and the more my dreams center around him.
At first it was simple dreams, innocent and somewhat foolish. I dreamed of him letting me brush out his long hair, not that he needs it; he always appears immaculate in his dress and looks. Then I dreamed of him standing next to a horse, holding the animal's reins while inviting me to climb onto the saddle so we could go for a ride in the mountains that surround his castle like a natural wall.
But tonight… Tonight my dreams were nothing like before. I dreamed of him coming to my door and inviting me to go outside with him. I pointed out that it was night, but he said that the moon was almost full and the scenery was so beautiful that he wished to share it with me. I was enchanted by that offer and accepted his outstretched hand, allowing him to lead me down the corridors and winding staircases. The moonlight and shadows played tricks as they often do in dreams, strange shadows dancing around us as he led me out of the castle perimeter and into the forest that seemed at the same time serene and full of excitement. Creatures straight out of the imaginations of painters and poets waltzed around, weaving paths between the ancient tree trunks, half-obscured in the night. I looked at them in wonder, feeling no alarm as my hand was held in the surprisingly warm, strong fingers of the silver-haired lord, who led me with no hesitation into the woods, as if he knew and feared not the entities parading around us.
There were people with horns, with scales and tails, with animal snouts and ears. They wore colorful clothing to match their bizarre hair and skin color. They made all sorts of noises: some barking, some whistling, some others hissing. They all bowed as the two of us passed among them, reverent and eerie like a host of youkai from old wives' stories about a parade of a thousand youkai. I felt my head spin from the multitude of singular individuals, Lord Sesshomaru's grip on my hand my anchor.
At last we came to a circular meadow and I saw that in the dream, there was Lord Inuyasha with Kagome at his side. They both smiled at me and waved their hands.
"Hey, Rin," Kagome giggled, standing so close to the young master of the castle that I would have been shocked, if not for the fact that it was a dream. Of course, I wanted them to end up married; they seemed to compliment each other.
"When the full moon rises in the middle of the month," intoned the older of two brothers, the creatures gathered around us all falling silent when his clear, measured voice rang in the moonlit air, "that is the most auspicious time. You have this one's blessing and the blessing of the mother. Let it be heard and let it be known, this family shan't be teased or disturbed in any other way as it shall become entwined with the house ruling the West."
"Thank you." Kagome bowed at that formal and strange speech, as if it was the most natural thing to do.
"Oi, don't bow to him; you don't have to," Lord Inuyasha scolded, his voice warm as he gently pulled Kagome to stand straight again. Then he looked at me. "You fine? You seem to be cold."
"Oh, well…" I managed, realizing that I was shivering in my thin clothing, the crisp night air and dew on the ground easily cooling me through the silk robe I wore.
Suddenly the fur pelt that Lord Sesshomaru wore moved of its own accord and wrapped around me, pulling me close to him, providing me with warmth and protection. I ran the fingers of my free hand through the luxurious fur, my other hand still clasped in his. A quick glance up told me that he was still looking at my cousin and his brother.
"Be silent, foolish half-breed."
"Feh." Inuyasha turned away. "Come, Kagome."
"See you soon!" And with that they were gone, along with the entities in the trees, the moonlit meadow quiet as the lord sat down and pulled me to sit next to him on the piled-up tail of fur. He leaned in, peering at my face, and I smiled, rejoicing in the closeness of this man, in the blaze of his golden eyes. I felt plenty warm, warmer still when he pressed a kiss to my cheek.
"This one apologizes for bringing you out here without allowing you to put on proper attire. It is unusual for this one to be near beings so fragile and vulnerable to the elements," his voice was a whisper.
"Oh." I blushed at that soft apology, so strange in his mouth, so warm despite how cool and emotionless he still sounded. "It's okay. I… I like it here. Can we watch the stars?"
He nodded and tilted his head to look upwards, tendrils of his hair dancing on the soft breeze.
The stars above swirled and danced before my eyes, and I slipped down back into sleep without dreams.
When I awoke the next morning, I was extremely tired and somehow, at the same time, happy. Happy and wishing I could dream more of him sitting with me in the starlight, watching the moon sail overhead.