Amongst the various instances of pure shock she'd gone through in her life—falling down a well at the age of fifteen and travelling back in time being at the top of the list—being invited to tea by Sesshoumaru's mother was a very close second.
Inukimi was every bit the definition of a gracious hostess; every gesture, every swirl of silk a silent command for more. More tea, more pillows, more conversation. Though she was the spitting image of her son, minus a few stripes, she had a certain flair about her that Sesshoumaru lacked, though by the scowl on his face, Kagome was sure he didn't feel the same.
"No wonder you never talk," Kagome whispered to Sesshoumaru when his mother flounced away to the kitchens, dissatisfied with the spread they'd been given, "you can never get a word in edgewise."
The side of his mouth quirked, but he remained impassive. "You are as outspoken as ever, miko."
She shrugged, the quip having lost its edge almost a decade ago. "It keeps people on their toes. Plus, pretending to be prim and proper takes too much energy."
"It would not suit you, anyway."
She didn't get a chance to respond, Inukimi returning with a flourish. "The staff has been informed of your tastes and will be more selective in their offerings."
Kagome inclined her head. "Thank you, but I won't be staying long."
Inukimi dismissed the notion with a simple wave of her hand. "You will stay as long as necessary. You are injured, are you not?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"A healer shall be sent to your room once we have concluded our business here." Her tone left no room for argument. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru for help, but his eyes were downcast, focused more on the tea in his hands.
"Coward," she hissed, causing Inukimi's fan to flutter.
"Dear son, why have you never brought this lovely creature to my doorstep before?"
Golden eyes narrowed over the rim of his cup. "As you have said before, Mother, when complaining about the lack of visits from Rin, humans are incapable of setting foot here."
Laughter bubbled up in her throat, then instantly died when Kagome realized it wasn't a joke, both inuyoukai intense in their stares. She looked down at the floor, remembering the strange sensation under her feet when she'd first arrived. "Then how—"
"The entire grounds are infused with the scales of the eastern dragon clan," Inukimi mused. "The floor does not remain solid for those made up entirely of human blood. And yet here you are."
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru for confirmation, silks rustling with the slight shrug of his shoulder. Had the power of the Shikon changed her so much that she wasn't even considered human anymore? She shivered, the effects far-reaching. If she wasn't human, maybe she'd be able to see Mama again.
The wind encircled her, touselling her hair and easing the tension in her muscles. At least she knew she'd never be truly alone if she did manage to survive until the modern era.
"A friend of yours?"
Kagome smiled, raising her hand and letting a few sparks fly, reiki twirling around in a cyclone. "Something like that." The wind moved through the floor like a leapfrog, then blew across the table, knocking Sesshoumaru's teacup out of his hands and into his lap. The two females stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing as the contents soaked his clothing.
Kagome caught herself mid-hiccup, waving her hands at the irate daiyoukai. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It likes to play pranks on people." She didn't mention the reason behind most of its pranks, thinking back to her last encounter with Akitoki. "It's harmless."
"I would disagree."
Her gaze shifted to Inukimi as Sesshoumaru attempted to clean himself off. He didn't get very far, the wind whipping his hair around before flipping his pelt into his face. Kagome stifled another giggle, never having seen him as anything but pristine.
"Laugh all you want, little miko. This friend of yours will be your undoing." The breeze seemed to take offence to that, rattling the rest of the dishes as Kagome waved off the warning.
"It's always protected me." The statement was simple. Truthful. The incident with the fire youkai had been a close call, but in the end, the wind had brought her somewhere safe. She hadn't known it was safe when she'd first arrived, but that was beside the point. She was more than capable of taking on the two guards.
Kagome glanced over her shoulder, giving the two warriors a wave, the way Natsu bristled making her laugh all over again.
"Naturally," Inukimi mused, resting her chin on the back of her hand, "why would it allow its food source to perish?"
Sesshoumaru met her startled gaze, having to hold onto his pelt to keep the wind from stealing it away. He frowned, youki flaring as he tested his mother's theory, the wind immediately shifting to enclose Kagome in a protective cyclone. His eyes widened in realization.
"It's a parasite."
Kagome scoffed, not even having bothered protecting herself against his aura, knowing there was no real danger. "If it were, I would've felt something."
"Fascinating." Inukimi clicked her fan shut. "This friend is syphoning off your reiki in order to survive, and you are too powerful to even notice."
"But—" She looked between the two, shaking her head in denial. "When it protects me, it isn't just from dangerous threats. It's what's any of my friends would—"
"Now there is an intriguing notion," Inukimi cooed, leaning back on her pile of cushions. "There is an odd lifeforce to it, wouldn't you agree, dear son?"
A soft growl escaped Sesshoumaru's lips, his hair now a tangled mess. The wind was relentless, Kagome finally flaring her reiki to lure it away from him. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," she said with a chuckle, the wind swirling around her fingers.
"I am not amused."
"Have you ever been? I bet you've never actually laughed in your life." The shocked gasps from the guards that sounded behind her were ignored, raising her chin when he glared at her. The element was just having a little fun, and it served him right that it was at his expense.
"So entertaining you are, dear miko! I insist you come and visit me even after our business is concluded." Inukimi's eyes gleamed as she ran her claws through her hair. "Now, have you ever transferred your energy to another being before?"
Instantly distracted, Kagome turned to their host. "I've healed people before, replenished their energy, but this is totally different. You actually think the wind has a life of its own?"
"Indeed." She got to her feet, lavender silks swaying around her ankles as she made her way out into the courtyard. "Come along. We require a large space for this."
"We're going to do it right now?" Kagome asked, scrambling after her. "Don't you need to test things out—test me out? What if I was a spy?"
Inukimi chuckled, giving her a meaningful look over her shoulder. You have bested my most accomplished warriors, and the castle has allowed you entrance. What other proof do I need?"
"A second opinion?"
The demoness waved her off. "My son gave that almost as soon as you arrived. I have nothing to fear from you."
Kagome bit her lip, managing not to look back at the daiyoukai glowering at her, guilt creeping into her aura for giving him a hard time. Sure, he had a permanent stick up his ass, but he had nothing to gain by defending her—to his mother, no less.
Making a mental note to apologize to him later, if he still deserved one, she followed Inukimi into the middle of the open space, the blades of the guards' spears shining in the sunlight as they moved in behind her. She couldn't find fault in their actions; their loyalty to their mistress knew no bounds, and though she'd been on the receiving end of their ire, she internally praised their resolve.
"So, how do we do this? Will the wind even respond?" she asked, standing beside the daiyoukai.
"Considering it has been merely surviving until this point, I would assume it will be receptible," Inukimi replied. "And if not, neither of you are any worse for wear."
"Do you think this wise, Mother?" Sesshoumaru asked, stepping into the courtyard, pelt and hair back to their original state.
"You are welcome to get rid of her if you feel that strongly about it." His mother laughed off his glare, then grabbed Kagome's hands. "We must first create a space for the wind to grow, miko." Kagome felt the sting of her youki against her skin, her reiki instantly responding. The dome grew slowly, forcing the women further apart, their powers combining in a tango of energy.
The wind blew through Kagome's hair, then Inukimi's, before swirling between them, encased within the barrier. Youki spiked, and Kagome increased her power, silence descending upon them as the currents mixed together like fireworks. A sharp tug on her senses had Kagome gasping, feeling like a layer of skin was being pulled from her soul.
How had she not noticed this?
Their powers condensed, the cyclone pulling in all of the oxygen around them to form a small sphere of light. The ebb and flow of Inukimi's power slowed, and Kagome relaxed, her reiki slowly receding as the ball pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Kagome stepped towards it but was yanked back, the silhouette of Sesshoumaru appearing before her as the courtyard was bathed in light, the guards crying out for their mistress. Shielding her eyes behind his large frame, Kagome felt a familiar wave of youki wash over her, one that made her blood run cold and Sesshoumaru unsheathe Bakusaiga.
The air churned as the light took form, and she gripped Sesshoumaru's arm, disbelief written plainly on her face as she stared at the creature standing before them.
"Kagura?!"