The Courtship of Kagome chapter 2. The Harvest Festival part 1.

A.N. Ok so I don't really know a lot about festivals and celebrations in Japan in this time frame. I am guessing it was more like paper lanterns, tea ceremonies and those cool fan dances. But I wanted a celebration where people dance together so I am mixing in things from other cultures. Sorry if this bothers anybody. Oh and I still do not own Inuyasha.

(Flashback)

A mischievous smile crossed Sangos' face as she decided to play matchmaker. If Kagome and Miroku got married maybe, she would stay here with us. When Miroku caught up with Kagome and looping an arm around her waist pulled her into his arms and spun her around. She started laughing wildly. Maybe this will be easier than I thought. As soon as they stopped spinning there was a moment of peace followed by a loud slap. Then again they need all the help they can get!

Kagome growled at Miroku and walked several feet to the side of him giving him plenty of space so he wouldn't try fondling her again. Seeing Sango she ran ahead with a brilliant smile on her face. Together they hugged each other. Sango could see a little sorrow in the way she held her shoulders but Kagome tried to hide it so well. She is sad and lonely but...for some reason she doesn't seem as sad as she usually is when this happens. This time was worse than all of the other times shouldn't she be sadder? Can she hide her pain that well or is she possibly starting to move on from Inuyasha?

I will do anything I can to help her move on. Even if I have to beat that hanyou into the bloody ground. She remembered the day Kagome had become her sister. Sango broke down in tears. Losing her family, the destruction of her village and Kohaku being with their hated enemy; everything had combined to the point where she felt like she just couldn't go on anymore. She would have killed herself if it hadn't been for the teachings of her father. She had gone into the forest alone and collapsed to the forest floor completely crushed. She didn't know how long she had cried. She felt so empty and alone. She didn't have the will to do anything but lay there. If a demon had come, she would have been killed.

Then Kagome had come. She had sat with her and waited until Sango could find her voice to speak. She had told Kagome everything in her heart, or what was left of her broken heart. Kagome had held Sango and let her cry. She held Sango as if she were a little girl who had skinned her knee instead of a full-grown woman. Sango was amazed to realize that she wasn't alone in her tears. Kagome was crying for her.

At length Kagome had sat back and looked her in the eye. "Sango, I know that nothing can replace your father, brother and clan. I would never try to replace what you have lost. But could you ever accept me as your sister?" She had asked. Choking on a sob Sango had simply nodded.

Taking Sangos' sword Kagome deliberately cut a slit in her finger. Silencing Sangos' startled cry Kagome had simply indicated that she should do the same thing. Together they put their hands out to each other and joined palms allowing the blood to mix. "There now we are sisters. I hope this doesn't mean we have to start fighting?" Kagome had stated she was silenced by Sangos' fierce hug at that point. "Thank-you Kagome Chan." Sango had cried tears again but these were tears of joy. She had forgotten that she was not alone. It was so easy to forget even in a crowded room.

After that had happened, she felt that Kagome's blood had indeed stayed with her to become a part of her. She always had the ability to sense youki but now she could feel it even more. She could also sense Kagomes' miko powers. She knew whatever Kagome had given to her was just a drop in the bucket but she really felt that they were connected. She sometimes thought she could feel what Kagome was feeling. She was awed by the incredible power she sensed was hidden within Kagome. She has more power then any of us ever imagined. But the greatest thing was that now she really did feel like Kagome was her little sister. Inuyasha is not worthy of her. But is the monk?

For a brief time Miroku and Sango had been together. She fancied herself in love with him. She had eventually come to realize that she really only loved him like a brother. It took some time to come to this realization. For many reasons. She eventually realized that the reason she secretly enjoyed him touching her was because she felt so cut off from everything. That any connection to the real world was something she craved. Everyone needs to be touched sometimes; a hug, holding hands...something! She had been too long without a family to embrace. So when he touched her and she slapped him she didn't feel so alone anymore. She one day realized that the reason she got so angry with Miroku for flirting with other women wasn't because she loved him but because she felt like it was an insult. She decided that she wasn't being fair to him and talked to him about it.

Miroku too needed somebody... hence his desperate attempts to get attention. Any attention would do even if it was a slap in his face. Secretly Sango thought that it was also a defense mechanism. Honestly, asking a complete stranger to have your child is far more likely to have them running for hills rather than jumping into your bed! Miroku craved attention and yet he was afraid of it. He didn't want to hurt anybody. He didn't want anybody to get close. But like Sango he craved a connection, craved affection. He admitted that he had realized that he loved her but not in the way required for marriage so they had called things off.

Then one day she had noticed him watching Kagome and Inuyasha. They were having a rare tender moment. Mirokus' eyes were so sad. At the time she had thought that he was just craving that connection the same as she was. Now she wasn't so sure. Watching them walk together she realized that he had secret feelings for her. She would just have to find out if there was any hope there for him. If so; she would get those two together even if it killed her. That is...if he would stop coming on to anything in a skirt that moved. If he thinks he can treat Kagome like that, after all she has been through with Inuyasha, I will skin the monk myself.

"How are you doing Sango?" Kagome woke her from her thoughts.

"I am glad you came back today. The village is going to have a celebration tonight, the Harvest Festival. It looks to be promising."

Kagome's look turned skeptical. "Last year the Harvest Festival was a bunch of drunks sitting around and eating roasted boar."

"Well this year the village has a minor lord and his entourage visiting. There is also a traveling merchant. The entire village is getting ready." Grabbing her hand Sango dragged her into the center of the village where there were garlands of flowers decorating the village. There was a giant pile of wood ready to be lit for a bonfire and the villagers were making all kinds of food. Over in the distance was a cart that obviously belonged to the merchant. The entire town square was filled with hustle and bustle. There were men who were obviously soldiers for the young lord. There was even an area being set up for music and dancing.

"You are right Sango. I am glad I came back today." Even if Inuyasha isn't here. Together the ladies made their way to the merchant's cart to view his wares. They were followed by a smiling monk with a red hand print still embedded in his face.

The merchant had everything under the sun. Things for people from all walks of life. Including the most beautiful silk kimonos. Kagome and Sango sat and admired them for a long moment. They were obviously something for a princess of a castle. Nothing either of them would ever be able to afford. They simply couldn't help standing a looking at the beauty of the craftsmanship and the fine embroidery that went into them.

"Ladies. You two would look so very beautiful in them. Please forgive me but I must be allowed to make a gift of them to you."

Kagome and Sango turned to see what must have been the young lord behind them. He was battle hardened and yet so young and youthful. Together the girls blinked in surprise as he stepped forward and took the Kimono's a midnight blue one for Kagome and an emerald green one for Sango.

"I'm sorry we couldn't possibly accept such an expensive gift." Sango stated.

"Especially from a strange man." Miroku's unusually harsh voice echoed soon after. Seeing the surprise on the girls faces, he became the perfect image of a saintly monk. "One might wonder what you expected to get in return for such a gift."

The lords' eyes flashed for an instant but he turned a coy smile to the girls. "I assure you my intentions are honorable. I admire beauty and would simply delight to see such lovely ladies wear something lovely for the festival tonight. Although honorable my motives are indeed purely selfish. I could also wish that perhaps they would consent to dance with me tonight. It has been far too long since I was in the presence of two such lovely ladies."

Still Sango and Kagome hesitated. At last the young lord had declared that they should accept his gift or he would burn it so no one could enjoy them. This said he turned to go put the Kimonos on the pile of wood for the bonfire.

"Wait, you can't waist something so beautiful and expensive." Kagome and Sango had both cried out much to the consternation of the monk behind them.

Turning back the lord smiled to them both. "Excellent. Then you accept my gift. I look forward to seeing you two ladies tonight at the festival. My name is Lord Atakou Comatsu and I claim a dance with each of you lovely ladies tonight." That said he left without ever even getting their names.

Don't say anything. Don't say it. If you say it, you will look like a jealous man. You are a jealous man but don't say it. Miroku was chanting in his mind as he watched the girls stand numbly beside him looking at the retreating back of the lord in wonder. "You should have let him burn the things." Miroku growled. Realizing his mistake, he instantly transformed himself to an image of saintly goodness and wisdom. "A guy like that thinks he can take liberties with women if he buys them expensive gifts. Ladies of your virtue and honor need to beware of men of his type."

"What?" Kagome asked as they both turned to look at the monk in shock that he, of all people, would say something like that. As opposed to a certain monk who takes liberties with only the pathetic excuse of a cursed hand?

"We can defend ourselves Hoshi Samma, you have trained us well." Sango stated not sure if she should laugh at the irony of his statement or be angry. Turning to Kagome Sangos' eyes sparkled with fun. "Come on Kagome let go try on our new kimonos!" Together the two girls ran to Kaedes' hut to try them on laughing all the way.

Hmmm. The monk thought as he watched them go. I will have to stay close to the ladies tonight to protect them from the more lecherous of the men visiting the village. At least they will look incredible in those kimonos, only that will make my task that much more difficult. I will simply have to stay by their side the whole of the night. It's a dirty job but someone has got to do it. He thought with a smirk on his face and an evil grin. Then he noticed a group of village girls who were also preparing for the festivities. Of course...many of the women here will need my guidance and protection. As a man of the cloth it is my duty to protect all the women of the village from the impurities of the soldiers with that lord. Miroku smiled again as he turned to go join the young women to warn them of the dangers and offer his...guidance and protection.

Ok so this chapter is in two parts. Part two will be the night of the celebration. I wanted to establish what has happened with Sango and Miroku. It is going to be a little while before Inu shows up.