Inuyasha's mother helped her prepare, and Kagome took her crown of flowers off and laid them down. Soon the drum sounded, and a hush fell over the crowd. Then, slowly, her on one end and Inuyasha's mother on the other came out holding the tea trays.
Kagome knelt beside Sesshomaru, placed the tray down, bowed all the way down, and then sat up and placed her hands in her lap. He watched her every move.
"Let us begin." His father spoke out,
Kagome chose the leaves and began to crush them; then she picked up the tiny knife, which looked like a mini sword, cut the cinnamon, and nicked her finger. She hisses and goes to pull her hand away as the blade falls, but Sesshomaru grabs her hand and looks at the finger, which is now slowly bleeding.
He drew her finger in and placed it in his mouth, sucking up blood.
She blushed.
He removed the finger and looked at it; the bleeding stopped.
He tore and piece of fabric off the tied it around her finger. "You may continue."
"Hia, thank you," She bowed her thanks and poured his tea, and slowly handed it to him. He drank, and she wiggled her finger, bending it, looking it as if it was foreign to her.
Beside them, Touga smiled in his cup.
The party went on, and Touga poured his wife tea, and Sesshomaru poured Kagome tea, they drank, and the drums sounded again, cheers erupted.
"KAGOME!"
They heard a yell through the crowds and playing music. Kagome was still sitting with them when the wolf demon came flying in. He rushed past Lord Touga with a quick bow and almost knocked over the tea trays, and he quickly grabbed Kagome's hands "Kagome, tell me it's not true!" He demanded,
"Kouga? She wasn't following his half-asked question.
"I heard, I heard your grandfather is offering you off with Kikyo tomorrow, to the matchmaker!" He whines like a sick puppy.
Kagome half-smiled. "Hia Kouga," She said slowly,
"Oi, Kagome, is it true?" Touga asked she was due to be sent next year, he thought,
"Mm, yes, it's true."
"NOOOO Kagome, you dont have to do that; you can run away with me!" Kouga offered, she giggled, and Sesshomaru thought for a moment that she just might.
"That's a sweet offer, Kouga, but I can't do that."
Kouga looked at Touga. "Can't you do something?"
Touga looked at her "Kagome; you know you dont have to let fate decide?"
She took her hands from Kouga and bowed. "Thank you all for caring."
"Is there someone you would prefer?" Touga asked he could help her,
She sat up and shook her head no. The wolf's ears went flat "Oh Kouga, it's not like that, you know you are already due to marry another, and I love you like a brother."
"My poor Kagome!" He hugged her, pulling her over the tea-tray; Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.
Kouga then stood and bowed and then fled, going as fast as he came.
"Kagome," Touga said again, all smiles gone,
"It's ok really, I knew it would happen one day, a little sooner than expected, but fates not so bad, right?"
Touga looked at Sesshomaru; they both knew for her, that wasn't true.
That girl was cursed.