With roughly an hour until dusk, she convinced Kujaku that their best course of action was to split up. Kagome made sure to remind the guard that she would be taking her bow along. The weapon convinced Kujaku to agree with the plan.

Hina circled back toward the village, in case her son had returned home. Kujaku headed into the forest. With her heightened sense of hearing, she could differentiate between the local wildlife and a visitor. That left the fields for Kagome.

"All of us will meet back here before sunset, regardless of the outcome," Kujaku stated.

Hina and Kagome nodded.

"We'll find him," Kagome told the woman, patting her on the shoulder reassuringly.

Hina muttered words of thanks as she brushed tears from her eyes.

As she walked away, Kujaku stepped closer to Kagome. "It is a difficult path to travel— born of both worlds but not belonging to either."

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.

"The majority of yokai and humans do not associate with each other. Those who do are typically considered traitors to their kind. It can be alienating. For the rare few who go even further and choose to mate, they are outcasted," Kujaku explains.

"That's horrible! Why should it matter who you love?"

"It should not," Kujaku agreed, "but fear is a powerful motivator. Being alone, for example, is a fear shared by both yokai and humans. It can convince you that the love you feel is not true or even wrong. I've only seen a few dozen mixed mated pairs in my lifetime. My lord is one of them."

"That's right! You said Lord Touga's second wife was human. That means their son is a half-demon like Jinenji."

"Yes," Kujaku confirmed. "Lord Sesshomaru's younger brother, Inuyasha. You'll meet him at the reception."

"Reception?"

"When we arrive at the Western Palace, everyone will be present to greet you and welcome you into the clan," Kujaku informed her.

Kagome swallowed nervously. The weight on her shoulders increased. "Right," she tried to feign confidence, "of course. Well, we can't leave until we find Jinenji. I'm going to head out."

She marched off the side of the road, entering a wide, grassy field. It extended out to the mountain peaks in the distance, the ones that reached above the horizon line. What she saw looked like something out of a travel catalog. With crystal clear skies, lush foliage, and virtually no buildings, the scene was the complete opposite of the view from her bedroom window.

Tokyo was in a constant state of motion. From the towering skyscrapers that kept appearing to the flashing neon lights, it could be overstimulating. Living at the shrine had always offered her a quiet space to decompress. She imagined Jinenji also needed a sanctuary.

Kagome scanned the tall grass. If the boy was here, he was being careful about hiding. Her heart ached at the thought of why he felt the need to be so cautious. No child should have to suffer the way Jinenji had. After all the hurt the neighboring humans in his village had put him through, he wasn't going to trust her. She had to find a way to show him that she was different.

Though she had promised to keep her bow and arrow with her, Kagome set them aside. The weapons wouldn't inspire trust. She needed to be vulnerable in front of Jinenji. It was the quickest way for Kagome to prove she wanted to help. She didn't call out for him. If he ran, their chances of finding him before night fell were slim. Kagome didn't like the thought of him wandering around alone. What if he came across another bully or worse, someone like Tsubaki?

No, Kagome shook her head, she couldn't risk frightening him.

She stood in the field, trying to decide which direction to go. He could be anywhere between here and the village. This place was as unfamiliar to Kagome as the time period. She had no knowledge of what existed beyond the forest, or on the other side of the mountains. She didn't even know which mountain range it was. Why had she thought she could find Jinenji?

A vibration rolled through her, as though someone had pulled a violin cord within her. It thrummed down the center of her chest and bounced between her ribs. Kagome blinked. When she opened her eyes, her vision tunneled to a point in the distance.

Kagome wasn't sure how she knew this was where Jinenji was hiding. Kaede said her spiritual powers were awakening. Maybe it was her reiki that sensed Jinenji's demon half. Regardless of whether it was intuition or something more, Kagome allowed the sensation to guide her across the field.

The farther she traveled from the road, the stronger the pull became. Kagome brushed through the patches of tall grass. She didn't care if her silks became stained. No one's opinion mattered, least of all down stuck up daiyokais. Kagome hoped they said something snotty so she could test her fire skills. That was sure to make her reception interesting. Maybe she could practice on the brats who insulted Jinenji— give them a taste of their own medicine.

She heard muffled sobs and broke into a run. The chord in her chest was plucked sharply. A second later, Kagome rushed through the other side of the field to find herself on a riverbank.

A hulking form sat by the water's edge. He had his arms wrapped around his legs, which were drawn up to his chest. His forehead rested on his kneecaps. He kept his face angled down, shielding himself from his surroundings. Even from a couple of meters away, Kagome could see fresh cuts along his arms. She chided herself for not grabbing the first aid kit out of her backpack.

She knew this was Hina's son. It was no wonder the villagers were intimidated by him. Though he was half her age, he was more than twice her size. As she stepped closer, he hunched over in a vain attempt to appear smaller.

"Jinenji?"

The boy jolted.

Kagome lowered herself to the dirt so they were at the same level. "Are you Jinenji?"

He wiped a wide palm across his face, staring up at her with impossibly large eyes. "W-who are you?"

"My name is Kagome. My friends and I were traveling the main road but our carriage broke. I was walking into town and met your mother, Hina. She's really worried about you. She told me you've never run away before."

"She'd be better off without me," he insisted.

"What makes you say that?"

"Look at me," he muttered mournfully. "I'm a monster."

Kagome pursed her lips. Slowly, she straightened up. It took her exactly twelve steps to close the distance between them, and almost twice as long to reach out. When her hand fell onto his shoulder, he flinched but didn't jerk away.

"I don't see any monsters here."

Jinenji stared at her. "Y-you….y-you're not afraid of me?"

"Are you going to hurt me?"

He shook his head back and forth.

"Are you going to make a face and try to scare me?"

His eyes widened. "No."

"Are you going to chase me around with bugs?"

"Never!"

Kagome smiled. "Then why would I be afraid of you? You're a person, same as me."

Jinenji studied her as though he'd never seen a human before. In a way, Kagome supposed that was true. He hadn't ever seen a kind human before, other than Hina of course. She thought about what Kujaku had said. Was this how all hanyos grew up?

She took a seat on the riverbank beside him. "Do you want to tell me what you're doing out here by yourself?"

He sighed, his shoulders sagging on the exhale. "The people in the village hate me. They call me names, throw things at me, and upset Mama."

Gently, Kagome placed her hand on his arm. "Sometimes people struggle to accept others who are different. That isn't your fault, Jinenji. It's a result of them not being comfortable with themselves. They lash out because they are afraid."

"Because of how I look," he lamented.

"No," Kagome argued, shaking her head. "No, it's because they are afraid of themselves. Instead of learning to accept what they don't yet understand, they react. They let their own insecurities rule them. That doesn't make their behavior excusable. It makes it cruel."

Jinenji was quiet for a time. Kagome waited as he considered her words. She could see the sun beginning its descent over the valley but she didn't press him. He had to come to the realization on his own. This moment couldn't be rushed.

A robin dipped over the river, stealing a beak full of water before flapping his wings and soaring away. Kagome watched the bird's effortless flight. She wished Jinenji could escape this place as easily as the bird. He deserved to grow up in a world that celebrated his heritage; not one where he was punished for it.

It was too bad the only other hanyo Kagome knew of was a full day's ride away. She imagined meeting Inuyasha would help Jinenji. Though she suspected Inuaysah's experience was different, considering who his parents were, Kagome was sure he'd faced his own issues. Perhaps the two could bond over their shared struggles so neither felt alone. Hina and Inuyasha's mother could speak too. Kagome was certain both women were shouldering burdens of their own. It couldn't be easy watching your child go through such hardship.

"Kagome?"

She tilted her head back to look up at him. "Yeah?"

"You don't find me repulsive?"

"Not at all," she replied. "And anyone who says otherwise will get a punch in the face, courtesy of me." She slammed her fist into her palm to emphasize her point.

His cheeks flushed. "You don't have to say that."

"I'm not just saying it. That's a promise!"

Jinenji's mouth quirked as though he wanted to smile but can't quite figure out how.

The sight caused a pang in Kagome's heart. With arms almost the size of her torso, Jinenji had the raw strength to be the monster the villagers claim, yet he showed no signs of having ever retaliated against his attackers. Kagome was proud of him. If their roles had been reversed, she wouldn't have allowed the villagers to ridicule her or her family. She would have retaliated. Just thinking of it made her mad.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Kagome glanced down to see pink sparks ricocheting between her palms. "Ah!" She scrambled forward, dunking her hands in the river. "Sorry about that," she apologized sheepishly. "I'm still getting used to my powers."

"You're a miko?" he realized.

"Yeah, it was a surprise to me too." Kagome wiped her hands on the front of her kimono. She didn't care if the water ruined the silks. The grass stains had already made the garments unacceptable for the reception.

Jinenji scanned her outfit. "Are you the one betrothed to Lord Sesshomaru? The Shikon Miko?"

She bit her lower lip. "Can I tell you a secret?"

He nodded.

"I've thought about running away too. The stories I've heard about Lord Sesshomaru make me nervous about meeting him. I thought it would be easier if I just disappeared, but if I do that, then I'm no better than the bullies in your village. My motives would be selfish. I'd be acting out of fear and judging Lord Sesshomaru before getting to know him."

"What if the stories are true?" Jinenji asked.

Kagome looked down at her hands. "Then I guess I'll have to improvise."

Jinenji gestured to her hands. "Does it hurt?"

Kagome shook her head. "No, but I bet those do."

His arms were covered in lacerations and bruises. There was a mixture of old scars and fresh cuts. Without her first aid kit, Kagome couldn't treat his wounds but she could stave off infection.

She found the hem of her kimono sleeve and pulled. The stitches popped as the fabric came free. Kagome proceeded to rip it into separate sections and then soaked them in the cool water.

"You need to wash these," she told Jinenji, gently dabbing at his cuts.

Kagome went paced between her new friend and the river until all the dried blood was removed from his skin. She had to tear off her other sleeve to dress the wounds.

"There." She tied off the last wrap and stepped away to assess her work.

"Thank you," Jinenji said softly.

"It's getting dark. Should we head back?" Kagome suggested.

"Alright."

By the time they rose to leave, the last of the sun's rays were stretching across the field. Dusk painted the valley with golden light. The sight was warm and whimsical. It reminded Kagome of being under the shrine's great tree, listening to Gramp's stories.

She wondered how her family was and what they were doing. Was it nighttime in Tokyo too? Were they sitting down to dinner together? She used to take their routine for granted but now Kagome missed the simplicity.

Her foot collided with something. Kagome paused, glancing down to discover her quiver. Oh, I almost forgot, she thought, kneeling to retrieve her bow and arrows.

"Are those yours?" Jinenji asked, eyeing the weapon.

"Yeah. Kujaku thinks I'll need them when I meet Lord Sesshomaru." Kagome tried to laugh off her growing anxiety.

"Are you still afraid to meet him?"

"A little bit," Kagome admitted. "Even if the stories I've heard about him aren't true, this is the first time we will see each other. I'm nervous about making a good impression. It sounds silly, but I'm more worried about what he'll think of me. What if he doesn't like me?"

"He'll like you," Jinenji reassured her. "You're brave and kind."

"Thanks."

As the road came into view, Kagome saw two figures waiting for them. One stood stationery, hands clasped behind her back. The other was pacing in circles, head tilted down, and hands flexing at her sides.

"We're back!"

The second Hina spotted her son, she rushed over. "Jinenji! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mama."

"Your arms!" She gasped, grabbing his wrists and rotating his limbs to inspect Kagome's wrappings. "Did those brutes hurt you again?"

"I'll heal."

"That's it! I've had it with this place. The villagers have gone too far this time. We're moving. I don't know where we'll go but anywhere has to be better than here," Hina snapped.

"Wait," Kagome cried, a smile blooming on her face. "That's actually a great idea." She turned to Kujaku. "Do we have time for a quick stop?"

The soldier smirked. "What did you have in mind?"


Sesshomaru knelt on the floor, head bent over the piles of scrolls Jaken had delivered to his study. He had been reading for hours. All of his research had led him to a conclusion. The legend of the Shikon Jewel's creation had been embellished by the humans in an attempt to deter yokai from confronting them.

He scoffed. Sesshomaru did not fear the jewel or its bearer. However, a sound battle strategy was a result of understanding one's opponent. Sesshomaru planned to uncover the details of the miko's past so he could prepare for her arrival. He did not enjoy surprises. He would ensure none came out of the reception.

Halfway through a passage on the taijiya village where the fabled priestess's remains were said to be housed, a commotion in the hallway caught his attention.

A second later, Jaken burst into his chambers. "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru! The envoy approaches."

She was here. Anticipation hummed in his veins. Though it had barely been more than a day since he had encountered her, Sesshomaru found himself eager. He convinced himself that his interest was in seeing her reaction. There was no cause to rush the inevitable. What he told his mother had been true. The miko wanted this mating no more than he did. Perhaps together, they would be able to convince his father and the daimyo that it was a worthless pursuit. After which, Sesshomaru would be free to pursue her as an ally.

Sesshomaru suspected she would be impressed with his physical attributes. Humans were quite predictable in that sense. They preferred beauty, wealth, and power. A clever tongue and attractive form were proven methods of procuring human favor. Sesshomaru knew he'd be able to command the miko's attention the same way he did for the female daiyokai in court. And once he had her attention, he would persuade her to agree to his plan.

He stepped over the imp and out into the corridor. Servants were scurrying out to the main gate, their arms ladened with gifts. The females held baskets of flowers and fresh fruits. The males carried trunks of fine silks, embroidered sashes, and jewels. Standard luxuries were not necessary for this union yet Touga intended to uphold the tradition.

Sesshomaru walked at a leisurely pace, unconcerned that his father and mother were already outside. If they deemed it appropriate to wait for the woman, that was their choice. Sesshomaru did not think her arrival warranted such an extravagant reception. This was all a farce. The sooner his father accepted that, the quicker Sesshomaru would be free of this obligation.

As he neared the entryway, his ears picked up on the whispered murmurings of the palace attendants.

"Is that her? I guess the tales about her beauty were true."

"I can't believe she arrived like that."

"What do you think happened?"

"I've never seen Kujaku smile. Do you think Seiten is jealous?"

Their chattering halted the moment Sesshomaru passed through the throng. He did not abide by palace gossip, especially the rumors circulated by his mother's handmaidens. Regardless, some of their comments piqued his interest, particularly the one about his father's guard.

Kujaku had dedicated her life to serving Touga. Amongst the other soldiers, she was second only to her mate, Seiten. Many underestimated her. Sesshomaru was not one of them. He had learned from a young age that the female warrior was to be avoided. It had taken him over a year of sparring with her to secure victory— twice as long as it took him to best Seiten.

Kujaku was as agile as she was adaptive. Though she was shorter and slimmer than the other guards, she used the size differential to her advantage. Her weapon of choice was a tessen, which lended itself to her swift attacks. Kujaku kept the war fan tucked in her belt, opposite her sword sheath. Her opponents rarely anticipated her strike because their focus was on her blade.

It was a critical error, one that had cost more than one adversary their life.

Sesshomaru had never known Kujaku as anything other than a soldier. The inuyokai cared for two things— her mate and her lord. Her days were devoted to either training or fulfilling her duty. Sesshomaru had never seen her show an ounce of personality.

But as he stepped forward, he saw what the handmaidens had been twittering about. Kujaku was practically beaming. Sesshomaru followed her gaze to the woman riding next to her.

Now all the whispering made sense.

She was not clothed in traditional professes garb, nor was she wearing lovely white silks associated with being a bride. The miko was outfitted in a guard's uniform, most likely Kujaku's spare. Her lithe form was encased in black fabric that clung to her like a second skin. Armor plates covered the areas most often targeted, such as her joints and torso. She wore leather boots to protect her feet. A bow was strung across her back, along with a full quiver. If it were not for her hair hanging freely over her shoulders, she would have been indiscernible from a real soldier.

Sesshomaru appeared to be the only one aware of this flaw. Everyone else was completely captivated, including her host.

His father bowed. "I am Lord Touga Taisho. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Western Lands." He moved forward and extended a hand to help the miko dismount.

"Thank you." The demure voice she used was rather convincing. Had Sesshomaru not heard her speak at the village, he might have believed the act.

"I trust you had a pleasant journey," Touga prompted.

"I prefer riding a horse to that carriage," she returned, jutting her thumb over her shoulder.

A few eyes widened and several whispers were exchanged, yet his father remained unphased by her comment. Touga chuckled. "I believe my wife, Izayoi would agree. Wouldn't you, darling?"

The former princess nodded and graced the miko with a smile. "I will never understand why men seek to keep us caged like rare birds instead of allowing us to operate as freely as they do."

"Well said," Sesshomaru's mother remarked, stepping forward. "Greetings, Shikon Miko. I am Arisu, Touga's mate."

"Kagome."

Arisu stared at the young woman with surprise, which quickly morphed into amusement.

"She prefers to be addressed informally," Seiten clarified.

"I will allow it. We shall soon be one united clan after all," Touga responded.

"How delightful," Arisu purred. Sesshomaru got the sense that his mother was masterminding a scheme. Plotting was her favorite pastime and one that she was quite gifted at.

"You must be exhausted from the journey. We will have someone escort you to your chambers so you may freshen up before the banquet," Izayoi offered.

"That would be great," the miko replied.

Izayoi signaled a pair of handmaidens forward. The two female inuyokai bowed to the miko, then circled around the carriage to retrieve her belongings.

As they passed, his father took the miko by the arm. "Ah, but before you go, there is one other member of our family who I would like to introduce you to. Sesshomaru?"

The moment his name left Touga's lips, time was suspended. Each second drifted by as slowly as a cloud in the sky. Sesshomaru was aware of the entire assembly's focus on him. None of their opinions matter, not even the favor of his father. The one person Sesshomaru saw, the one person whose heartbeat he heard, the one who concerned him above all others was the miko.

The course of a relationship was typically directed based on initial impressions. He aimed to make this one count. Sesshomaru had completed his research, outlined his strategy of attack, and even dressed in the appropriate garb to receive his family's honored guest. However, he had failed to recognize a piece of crucial information.

This was not his first interaction with the miko.

And while he had forgotten, she most certainly had not.

The miko's smile faded the instant her attention turned to him. He watched the warm light in her gaze grow cold. The brilliant cerulean color morphed to ice as her eyes narrowed.

"You."