Hello. Once again, I have come to add more angst to my already heavy list. Sorry about him not putting the shard in his haori. I would've thought it would just get lost that way because it's soo small...
But anyway, I only have one thing to say. It's informational,just in case you get confused. I dunno how many people know their Japanese...
Haha-ue-(formal) Mother
Sesshoumaru glanced around in pure curiosity. A small, neutral smile adorned his face as he observed the goings-on of Kaede's village. There were children playing in the streets and humans doing all sorts of jobs.
"Sesshoumaru, focus!" Inuyasha yelled. Miroku tapped him on the shoulder warningly with the staff and his eyes stared straight forward.
For about three seconds.
How can one ignore such a bustling village? He wondered. Sango, Kirara, Rin, Shippo, and Miroku soon went their own ways, leaving Sesshoumaru with Kagome and Inuyasha.
He glanced around and took in the sights as he walked.
"Inuyasha, is this your village?" he asked.
"Yeah, so?"
"It is a nice place to be…"
"Yeah. A lot better than all the places we have to go," Kagome interrupted. "Especially when Inuyasha isn't welcome because of his horrible attitude."
"What! Say that to my face, Kagome! They just don't like hanyou is all!"
"Sure, whatever you say, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha's ears tweaked, but he gave no other indication that he cared any longer.
"Um…Kagome?" Sesshoumaru began.
"Don't worry about Inuyasha. He's just being stubborn."
"Inuyasha?" he tried once more. "I think…"
"Oh, so you're taking her side!" Inuyasha snarled. "Figures!"
"Ano…Isn't that the shop we need to go to?" he insisted, pointing 20 feet away.
Kagome and Inuyasha face-faulted before anime-falling on the spot. The popped up and looked up apologetically at Sesshoumaru.
"Sorry!" they both told him.
Sesshoumaru's head tilted once more in puzzlement before he began to walk back to the shop.
"Hello, sir, what may I do for…ahh! A demon!"
The young man at the door ran into the shop, irritating Sesshoumaru.
"I am not here to cause trouble. I merely want a new set of clothing," he said.
"So sorry for my son's behavior," an older looking woman said. "All the stories he hears of youkai, you know. I've seen the good in all races, and youkai are not excluded. So what is it that you need, my good sir?"
"I require a new kimono."
"That's what we got. Do you have any preference of style?"
"No. Do it as you see fit. Are you going to need my measurements?"
"Yes I will, if you please…"
Sesshoumaru gave her the measurements just as Inuyasha and Kagome walked in.
"What manner of cloth would you prefer?" she asked politely.
"Silk. I do not require much. Just a haori, one undershirt, and typical field hakama shall suffice."
"Very well. You may pick up your kimono in forty-five minutes. In the meantime, would you like to browse for something to wear now?"
"What's wrong with what he's wearing now!" Inuyasha snapped.
Sesshoumaru sighed. What an embarrassment…
Quicker than the eye could see, he punched Inuyasha in the stomach.
"Do not be rude, little brother. You dishonor me."
"Screw you! You don't have any honor anyhow!"
He stormed out and Kagome followed him.
"I meant no harm in what I said," the woman apologized, bowing.
"It is no fault of yours. What you say is true. This haori is ill suited for my purpose. It is very small…by the way, do you sell sashes here?"
"Oh, yes. They're in that corner over there."
"Arigato."
Sesshoumaru walked to the corner of the store where many obi were set out on the table. He found the longest ones and compared the designs. There was a beautiful orange and yellow one that looked like flames, and yet another lavender one embroidered with beautiful blue crescent moons.
"These are very beautiful…" he murmured. "But I need a short one as well…"
He picked a plain blue obi for that, and held onto the other two. He held onto the lavender one and remembered his yellow and blue obi.
Well, it wasn't actually his obi, now was it? No, it had been his mother's obi. He carried it around with him since he was a child because he missed her scent. He was a young man by now, and yet he still kept it near for it carried her scent very faintly. He never washed it unless he had to, and when he did, it was softly, so the smell would be there for him, whenever he needed it…
He blinked, his elegant lashes coming together delicately. A tear formed in the corner of his right eye, just a single tear, at the thought of his irresponsibility. He had forgotten about the obi when he was being tortured. He had forgotten to keep his mouth quiet about its significance to him, and they had taken it.
Sesshoumaru took the three obi to the front of the shop and prepared to pay for them.
"That comes up to…"
"Here," Sesshoumaru said, paying her with a large piece of gold.
"Oh, my! This is far too much!"
"I have plenty. Take it," Sesshoumaru said softly.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!"
Sesshoumaru walked out, still clutching the three sashes. His bangs shadowed his eyes as he saw Inuyasha and Kagome outside.
"You bastard! Good, that means I can beat ya up!"
Inuyasha punched Sesshoumaru on the jaw. The taiyoukai's head reeled, but he didn't move otherwise.
"Aren't ya gonna fight back?" sneered the hanyou.
"Inuyasha, stop it!"
"He embarrassed me in there, he deserves this!"
Suddenly, a drop of something fell onto the ground. Another drop fell, but of a different liquid. The first was blood, the second…
"Are you crying, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked.
Sesshoumaru's bangs hid his face.
"Who cares!"
Inuyasha punched him in the gut and he gave a very neutral "oof," but when the hanyou tried once more to punch Sesshoumaru, he was blocked by the taiyoukai's arm.
"Inuyasha, stop it!" Kagome snarled.
Sesshoumaru coughed up a mouthful of blood, then collapsed to his knees. Inuyasha had reopened the wound in his stomach.
"I deserve it. I lost her sash. I lost it, it is all my fault…"
A line of blood dribbled from Sesshoumaru's lips as he looked up.
"I did not take care of it enough."
"Who…?"
"Haha-ue…"
R & R pretty please!