Notes 'n stuff:

Azrial Saotome – I actually had an interesting way to bring Sesshoumaru back from the edge of death, and as said I am considering writing that in. However, the original direction of the story required his death to be final. While I've planned out the general plot completely, there is room for modification as the mood forms and changes. So the only thing I can say is, "we'll see". :-)

The haiku may have reeked, I don't know. I was going to use haiku written by famous Japanese poets but the ones I found dated back to the 1700s or later and since feudal Japan is in the 1500s, that idea didn't work. Regardless of your opinion of the poem itself, for the sake of the story let's pretend it's one of the more impressive haiku, ok?

Chapter Six

Sango's hand hovered hesitantly over the door to Kagome's room. Several minutes had passed since she bade the girl good night and originally she had intended to retire for the night. Could she be blamed for her curiosity? Steeling her nerve, Sango rapped lightly on the large wooden door and put an ear up to it.

"Come in?"

Kagome felt more than saw her late night visitor, as she was completely absorbed in the note she held in her shaking fingers.

"Something… wrong?" Sango watched the younger girl for an expression. Kagome was sitting ramrod stiff, clutching the small piece of parchment in her hands and staring at it in a mixture of awe and confusion. She was seconds from asking her about the offending note when Kagome spoke.

"I found this haiku on my bed. I have no idea who put it there."

"If you had Inuyasha's nose you could sniff out that mystery," Sango noted with irony that was lost on the girl. "May I see it?"

Kagome finally looked up from her poem and nodded slowly, handing the paper to Sango. The taijiya took it as quickly as she could without raising suspicion. She'd suggested the haiku to Inuyasha, but he'd refused her assistance in writing it. She wondered what kind of imagery the normally clueless hanyou had chosen to represent in his poem to Kagome.

Sango was struck first by the exquisite handwriting. She'd have to ask him later where he'd learned calligraphy. What shocked her more was the content of the haiku. "Wow," she breathed. "I expected…"

"Expected what?" Kagome shook herself from her stupor and turned to face her friend head-on. "Do you know who wrote this?"

"No, no!" Sango handed the paper back to Kagome as though the note had stung her. "I just don't know of many men who can write poetry," she lied. "The imagery really tells a lot about how this man feels for you."

Kagome blushed. "I'm not really that familiar with haiku," she admitted. "We learned about the basic form in class, as well as the history behind it. We even had to write them but mine were pretty pathetic. I guess I don't really understand the meaning in this one."

Taking a seat beside the girl, she took the note back and pointed to the first line. "Mind you I'm only speculating here," Sango warned, "but I believe this first line represents you. 'Orchid in the wind.' This person must have been at the dinner and noticed your kimono. The wind… could signify dangers in the world that bend you in many directions."

"The next line?"

"'Sheltered by the cherry tree'. I suppose that could be us, your friends. More likely the poet is referring to himself and his desire to protect you." This was getting dangerous. Too much explanation and she'd give Inuyasha away.

"And 'standing in the rain,' means together we're showered with good fortune?" Kagome looked up hopefully to her friend for confirmation.

Sango wanted to laugh. Perhaps it could be interpreted that way. After all, water nourished plants. "Hai, that sounds right to me." Her heart warmed at the broad grin that broke out on Kagome's face. "A little like those valentines you received in school, ne?"

Kagome shook her head firmly. "No – much better!"

I'll have to tell Inuyasha that, Sango thought to herself. He needed that kind of encouragement. "Well, it's late. I should return to my room. Oyasumi nasai, Kagome."

* * * * *

"…Fujimoto is minister of defense; he sits to my immediate right. Hatayama is in charge of foreign affairs and Hatoyama is my minister of trade."

Inuyasha sat back, folded his arms over his chest, and gave Sesshoumaru a supremely smug look.

"Wrong. Hatoyama is minister of foreign affairs, and Hatayama is minister of trade."

"Five out of seven isn't bad," Miroku offered in an effort to diffuse the rising tension. "It's an easy mistake to make."

Sesshoumaru growled. "These men are some of the higher ranking demons and lords in our country, Inuyasha. They will not take being forgotten lightly."

"Anyone weak enough to take personal offense to something so insignificant isn't worth my concern," the hanyou grumbled.

"You are welcome to appoint your own advisors later, Brother, but if you have any hopes of maintaining the peace this land has enjoyed for the last forty years then I suggest you take this a little more seriously."

"I think it's time for a break," Miroku suggested with apprehension. When the inuyoukai seemed to agree, he relaxed in relief.

"Yes, we must discuss your mating ceremony, Inuyasha."

"My what?"

Laughing, Miroku retrieved his staff from the wall he'd left it leaning upon. "Now that's something I'd like to see."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and took on a small tinge of red. Miroku stepped back a bit. "The mating ceremony is family only, Monk."

"Oh no you won't! There is no way you're watching me do THAT."

"Fool! Only the ceremony is for family. The actual mating is done in private."

Breathing a deep sigh of relief Inuyasha noted the leer in his friend's eyes. "You're not invited to THAT either, Bouzou."

A servant interrupted their discussion with the mens' late noon lunch. The young human female quickly deposited the tray onto the table before them and poured three cups of tea. Just as soon as she'd arrived, she shuffled out the door and was gone.

"Have you been preparing your woman?" Sesshoumaru asked his brother as he reached for a bowl of miso soup.

"Preparing?" Miroku looked from the demon to the hanyou in confusion.

Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't know what it is you expect me to do, Sesshoumaru. She's been practicing her archery, thanks to your subtle hints through Rin."

"That's not what I mean, Brother. When the fever of your heat overtakes you, there is a chance you will injure the girl. She may need the strength to fight you for self-preservation."

The houshi's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "Self-preservation? Just how rough are you demons?"

"I'm only half," Inuyasha reminded his brother, ignoring Miroku's question. "Besides, you talk as though this were a definite. There's no guarantee she'll agree to be my mate."

"She will if she's smart," Sesshoumaru warned in an ominous tone. "Even if Kagome left today, I doubt she'd get far enough to escape you. Your intent claim upon her increased the speed at which your heat is rising. If the mating is not completed within the next week, I doubt the choice will be hers anymore."

Inuyasha tried to school his features into a look of confidence. Inside, he was quaking with fear and self-loathing. "I'll control myself, Sesshoumaru. I will not rape Kagome." A thought occurred to him just then, and he turned to face Miroku. "Houshi, I need you to promise me something. If I start to misbehave, I want you to protect Kagome from me. Do whatever you have to do, just don't let me hurt her."

"Of course, Inuyasha. You have my word." Miroku smiled, "of course that won't be necessary if you get her into your bed before it's too late."

Not this again…

The monk continued, "I hear you took up poetry."

Sesshoumaru gaped at his brother with ill-concealed horror. "Poetry?"

Inuyasha cringed.

"Might I suggest a more alluring set of verses for your next venture? Something that will send her into a receptive mood?"

"I hate to agree with the monk, but the girl is human. Perhaps you should take his suggestions to heart." Sesshoumaru retrieved a pen and piece of paper from the conference table and thrust them at Miroku. "Get started, Houshi. My brother is taking far too long with this seduction."

"Kuso! I thought my sex life was my own damn business." Inuyasha growled in indignation at the two who sat opposite him.

Miroku started scrawling away at the paper. "We're just trying to help," he smiled.

* * * * *

Sango intercepted Inuyasha as he reached the door to Kagome's room. "Another haiku?"

He blushed, gripping the small paper tightly.

"May I see it? The last one you wrote was so lovely, Kagome was completely impressed."

After a moment's hesitation, Inuyasha handed the note to Sango and stood back. "She really liked it?"

Smiling brightly, Sango nodded. "Yes, she said it was much better than the valentines she got at her class celebration." She looked down at the paper and frowned. "What is this?"

"I got a little help this time," he replied defensively.

"Miroku wrote this, didn't he?" Sango didn't wait for his answer, crumpling the paper. "If you give this to Kagome you will scare the life out of her; and if she finds out it came from you, you will bet sat into your grave."

"That bad?"

Smoothing out the note she started to read aloud, "'Fertile young soil, Aching for the vibrant seed, Open to my plow.' Please tell me you weren't really going to give this to her?"

Shuffling his feet, Inuyasha was suddenly very interested in the wooden floor beneath him.

"Your last haiku was wonderful, Inuyasha. It held so much deep meaning. Please don't ruin your hard work with this dirty piece of trash." Sango lay a hand gently on the hanyou's shoulder, prompting him to look up at her. "The most poignant written works come from the author's heart. Kagome cares for you a great deal and it won't take much to make her yours, as long as you remain true to yourself."

With that, she dropped her hand and walked past him toward the dining room. "I'll feed this to the fire for you," she chuckled lightly.

* * * * *

"Should Rin draw Kagome-sama a bath?" the little girl asked Kagome when they returned from dinner. "Rin went to the market today to buy lavender soap for Kagome-sama."

Patting the girl's head in affection, Kagome nodded. "That would be wonderful, Rin-chan." As the girl ran off toward the bathing room adjoining Kagome's sleeping chambers, Kagome noticed another small piece of parchment on her futon. Her heart began to race as she approached it.

A light hint of cherry wafted from the small note, which Kagome drank in before sitting to read the increasingly familiar script.

Orchid greets the sun; Cherry tree sprouts its first blooms; Sweetness fills the air

She breathed out a long, soft breath and closed her eyes. The words echoed in her mind as she tried to find the meaning within them.

"Kagome-sama, Rin has drawn your bath."

"Thank you Rin-chan. You may go now. Sweet dreams little one."

"Arigato!" The little girl scurried behind the door and closed it, leaving Kagome to dream of her nameless suitor.