Protector

Chapter 15: Rocking the Court

"Kagome-chan, Yukiko-chan and I have come to help you get ready for the evening!" Rin appeared in the doorway, a wide smile pasted on her face and a flower in one hand. After all, was Rin not always with a smile, a flower, or both? Yukiko, the phoenix demoness who served as Rin's lady-in-waiting, stood behind her, carrying a folded gown for Rin and wearing a tolerant smile. Kagome turned and smiled as Shiruka silently slipped outside after bowing to Rin.

Yukiko was a tall phoenix demoness. Long, silky black hair liberally streaked with different hues of sienna and deep orange fell to her waist, perfectly straight. She retained an encumbering tail that trailed one and a half meters behind her, like the male peacock's did when its tail was furled. As a result, her crimson and gold feathers were occasionally scuffed, and Rin helped her care for the bent ones. Her eyes were a deep honey hue, with flecks of red, like stars against the velvety midnight sky. Her hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, and was presently caught up in an elegant chignon. She wore a pale purple furisode imprinted with violet flowers, to show that she served Rin. A minor noble in her own right, she had a knack for folding origami with nimble fingers that currently held a folded pink silk fan.

"I suggested that perhaps you would like help with your hair and makeup since you are presumably inexperienced in these things," Yukiko said smoothly, a small smile tilting her lips. Kagome held out her arms to embrace Rin. "I'm so happy you both came. I haven't even picked a dress yet. Why don't you help me?" she grinned, eyes sparkling as the two hugged tightly.

Yukiko shrugged. "I'll do that. Why don't you do Rin-sama's hair, then," she suggested casually, laying Rin's gown on the bed neatly, taking care to smoothen out wrinkles.

"Come on, Rin-chan. I'll do your hair for you," Kagome smiled. "Un!" Rin nodded enthusiastically, lips curving up. She settled into a chair as Kagome came up behind her. Rin tossed a mahogany jewelry box onto the dressing table and leaned back.

Kagome began to brush out Rin's hair leisurely, enjoying the easy task that involved killing or at least injuring someone. Then she began to plait two thick braids, while weaving a fuchsia hair ribbon through it. As Rin began to doze, she wrapped the braids around the top of the small human's head, twisting it into a coronet and pinning it in place. Flipping open Rin's box, she found jewelry of various types and selected a necklace with a pendant of pink quartz. Arranging the pendant in the center of Rin's forehead, she anchored the ends of the necklace chain in the braid, and stood back to admire her handiwork.

Meanwhile, Yukiko rummaged through the outer kimonos in the wardrobe, dismissing some as too elaborate, and some as too simple. The miko garb she rejected immediately, declaring that Sesshoumaru's demon court would not appreciate it if Kagome flaunted her miko heritage and powers, even if she was the protector of the Shikon no Tama. Kagome ignored her as Yukiko muttered gibberish non-stop under her breath like a person demented.

However, Kagome did look up as Yukiko exclaimed in triumph. She pulled out a flowing twilight blue gown with elegant lines and smiled. "Perfect," she pronounced, and held it out to Kagome.

Silver maple leaves were printed onto the dusky blue cloth, which felt like a silk and cotton blend. It was an elegant furisode with long trailing sleeves and a hem that dragged on the floor. "You'll need at least two layers underneath that," Yukiko noted. She laid out a silver silk under gown, finely spun as a spider's web, along with a black cotton one. "And an obi…" she murmured. Pulling a stiff silver sash out of the wardrobe, she tossed it to the miko. "And that completes your outfit." Yukiko said with a satisfied grin.

"Lovely. You're good at this, you know," Kagome ran a finger over the soft material of the outer dress, luxuriating in the smooth feeling. "I know." Yukiko nodded in the affirmative. "This is one of the reasons why I was personally handpicked by Sesshoumaru-sama to serve Rin-sama," she proclaimed, gesturing for Kagome to sit in a chair so she could do her hair. (A/N: Rhyme not intended.)

The phoenix demoness came over and began to run a hairbrush through Kagome's thick hair. The repeated brushstrokes were unexpectedly soothing. As the miko's eyelids began to droop, Yukiko's thoughts lingered on the deadly dagger concealed in her sleeve. She hesitated before shaking her head and focusing her full attention on the girl attempting to stay awake in front of her. Yukiko considered a moment before deciding to leave the curtain of hair loose for maximum effect. She rapped Kagome on the shoulder with the wood-backed hairbrush. "Wake up. You should change now, so I can put on your makeup," she said, gliding over to the dressing table. Her feathers rustled behind her softly.

Kagome pulled a face but obligingly ducked behind the screens provided with dress in hand. When she finally emerged, the kimono fit her perfectly, long sleeves trailing behind her. She swiftly tied the obi around her waist and smiled.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. "Come on in," she called.

Shiruka held a small cardboard box in his hands as he stepped into the room. "Kagome, a servant has delivered this, saying that it was left at the main gate for you by some male demon," he informed her, holding out the box. "I don't sense anything from it…" Kagome took it and flipped the top up.

A sparkling silver necklace with no pendant lay coiled up inside, reflecting light. It didn't have a pendant because it didn't need one. Tiny chips of diamond were embedded inside each chain link, and it was a beautiful work of art.

"Wow. Nice," Kagome enthused, running her eyes all over it. "And it matches my gown too! I'll wear it!" she caught it up and clasped it around her neck.

"Okay, fine, sit down and I'll do makeup," Yukiko rolled her eyes and waved Shiruka out of the room.

After about fifteen minutes, Kagome was ready to go. She packed the pots of powder and lipstick that Yukiko had used on her while the noblewoman woke Rin and changed her clothes. Pink powder was dusted on her cheeks and cheekbones, and her lips were covered with pale pink lipstick. (A/N: I'm drowning in pinkiness…) Her eyeshadow was a striking blue edged with silver, and the hair curling around her face was lightly streaked with silver hair glitter.

"Let's go, then," Kagome opened the door and held it as Rin and Yukiko walked out together.

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Kagome waited with Shiruka outside the gigantic room where the court gathered, the one that Rin had told her was nicknamed the Jewel Box. She could hear the herald of the court announcing that a visitor had come to stay with their lord for a while, and she took a deep breath and drew herself up to her full height as the three meter high doors swung open, a pair of demon footmen pulling them to let her enter.

Her first impression of the room was colors. The walls were painted with scenes from the forest, flower meadows, with birds and butterflies. In the middle of this large painting reclined a white dog demon in his animal form, with a paw raised as though to protect something. A small girl cowered against the dog's deep chest, and the demon snarled, poisonous saliva dripping from his mouth. A human who looked at it would say that the girl was about to get eaten. But Kagome and the other demons gathered here knew the truth – that the dog demon was protecting her. The flowers and butterflies were inlaid with precious and semi-precious gemstones that glittered and flashed in the flickering light that was produced from the torches on stands which were spaced out equally on the ground.

"Higurashi Kagome, the Protector of the Shikon no Tama and the one known as the Protector Miko!" The herald announced, his voice filling the hall. All murmured conversations drew to a halt abruptly as Kagome paced in slowly, Shiruka at her shoulder. She focused on the dais at the end of the room and glided towards Sesshoumaru with measured steps. Shiruka's eyes darted from side to side, hands hovering near his sword hilts.

"I am honored to be here today," Kagome sank into a curtsy once she reached the end of the carpet. Sesshoumaru nodded to her. He sat in an ornate chair, almost a throne, specially designed to let the ones gathered here know exactly who held the reins of power. Rin sat beside him, her part of the dais slightly lower than the demon lord's. The girl caught Kagome's eye and grinned, giving her a discreet thumbs-up. Yukiko, who stood to Rin's left, nodded slightly. Ikaru stood directly behind Sesshoumaru, eyes flying in all directions although his head was stationary.

"You may rise and take a seat," Sesshoumaru said, indicating the chair beside him. Kagome fell out of the deep curtsy, and walked towards him, her skirts brushing the floor lightly. She sat down gracefully, and as Sesshoumaru turned his eyes on the crowd of demons before them, soft conversation and movement resumed.

"Does anybody here wish to take Kagome here to wife?" Sesshoumaru asked, his quiet voice still audible to those who stood at the back. A stunned silence fell over the room. This question was traditionally asked at the end of a court session, when the males had had a chance to get to know the offered female a little better.

A demon standing in the middle of the crowd stepped onto the carpet, followed by another, and another. Before long, six demons stood before Sesshoumaru's throne, eyes downcast. It was forbidden to meet the eyes of the lord unless expressly bidden to do so.

"Kagome, will you pick any of these to be your mate?" Sesshoumaru turned to the miko who sat quietly beside him.

Kagome lifted her chin. "No."

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A/N: …and cut. Whee! Chapter 15 done. Haha. And what will Kagome do to get out of this? Answers will appear next chapter. Anybody suspect anything wrong with that necklace? Answered in the next chapter, or the next. Depends on how long the court thing takes. Right

Review replies were emailed to you directly, if you reviewed. Thank you again for doing so.

Those who don't mind reading NC-17 fics, read rinseternalsoul's As Death Gives Life, or A Universe of Illusions by biancaharl. I believe both can only be found on A Single Spark.

Please review for me, okay? And I will try to update soon. I'll be flying to Thailand on the 18th, and I won't be back til the 23rd so updates will be delayed. It's my holiday! Whee!

/winks/ Well, I've got to go now.

Kyasarinyume07 signing off. Ja ne!