Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Inuyasha.
Educated
Kagome followed close behind Maiko as she led her through the palace. She wondered how she was ever going to find her way around when the palace was this enormous. Kagome moved stiffly and shuffled her feet. She was wearing the most elaborate kimono she had ever had the privilege to wear while it was slightly cumbersome to move in, Kagome was secretly excited to wear it. The kimono was made of silk, and altogether it consisted of four layers, with a loose outer robe draped around her shoulders, and a bright red obi with a small bow in the back completed the look. In the future, this kind of kimono would cost a fortune. Kagome had no doubt this is what Sesshoumaru had meant by "providing" for her.
Maiko abruptly came to a stop at the end of a hallway. Kagome stumbled clumsily in her kimono. She could feel Sesshoumaru and another youkai on the other side of the shoji door.
Maiko knelt and slid the door open with a crack.
Sesshoumaru looked up from his desk. "Ah, finally."
He eyed Kagome's new appearance as she shuffled into the room. The attire she wore reflected her new status, and her position in his household. The black kimono with bright red flowers adorning the sleeves, complimented her rather well. Her hair had been pulled up in a simple bun, revealing her slender neck. He appreciated the symbolism of submission, whether the miko realized it or not. Overall, he would have to admit that he found it pleasing.
"I take it you have eaten?" He asked.
Kagome flushed, embarrassed. "Yes I have."
"Hn."
"Sesshoumaru, you dog! You did not tell me how beautiful she is!" a gruff voice exclaimed.
Kagome's attention was brought to the far corner of his office. A rather ancient looking youkai rose from his cushion on the floor. He seemed hunched over, which was an odd sight for a youkai. His bushy grey eyebrows hid much of his eyes and his complexion was surprisingly rather tan.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Shikei no Miko."
Shikei no Miko? Kagome looked bewildered.
"Ah, you have not heard the nickname the palace has given you?" The old youkai chuckled. "I find it rather fitting considering your brilliant display a few days ago."
Her nick name was the Miko of Execution?! Kagome felt sick.
Sesshoumaru growled a warning to the youkai. The old youkai paid Sesshoumaru no mind and pulled at his long beard in thought.
"Ah yes, humans do not look upon executioners very favorably. Luckily for you, demons have quite a bit of respect for such a title."
Kagome frowned. Not very favorably was putting it lightly. People in this era saw executioners as more than taboo, they were outcasts and untouchable. She certainly hoped the nickname would not stick. Would other humans even allow her to heal them, if they heard?
The youkai shuffled closer. Upon closer inspection, Kagome realized that his hunch back was really a turtle shell.
"My lady, let me introduce myself, since this insolent pup will not do it for me." He bowed slightly. "My name is Tortuga. I am an advisor to his lordship."
Kagome smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Tortuga-sama. My name is Kagome." She thought he had a rather kind face, maybe because his facial hair reminded her so much of her own grandfather. The more she looked at him though, the more she realized that he must be a foreigner. All the youkai that had human forms that she had ever seen, had very Japanese like facial features, however Tortuga did not.
"You are not native to here, are you?"
"Oh ho ho. You are quite perceptive, Kagome-sama. I come from mystic faraway lands, you could not imagine."
Kagome stifled a laugh. "I bet I could guess. You have traveled across many oceans correct?"
Tortuga stroked his beard. "Indeed. I traveled quite a bit when I was a young lad."
Kagome racked her brain for a country name in Central America that would be old enough for him to recognize. "Is your homeland near Haiti?" She ventured.
He paused and looked at her in wonder. "My dear, you are correct. While I have mostly lived on the mainland, we often traveled to islands nearby, and the humans referred to it as Haiti. How could you know such a thing?"
"Well, I..."
Sesshoumaru looked up from his paper work.
"She's from 500 years in the future." He answered for her.
Kagome gasped. "Sesshoumaru-sama! How could you?! I told you that in secret."
How could he betray her so easily?
Sesshoumaru only narrowed his eyes at her in irritation.
"How were you going to explain that you knew that information?"
Kagome opened her mouth, but she had no excuse.
"Lying will not work here. Next time, do not divulge information so freely, if you cannot explain honestly how you knew it." Sesshoumaru said harshly.
Kagome felt humiliated, but this was a lesson that she had to learn the hard way. He was right, she should be more careful with her words.
Tortuga quickly realized how distraught Kagome had become.
"Kagome-sama, I would never betray your trust. You have my word."
Kagome found sincerity in his words and no disbelief. "Are you not surprised? You actually believe me?"
Tortuga laughed. "You are being honest, but also you are not the first time traveler that I have met in my lifetime, dear."
Kagome's mouth hung open. Truly? There are others like her out there? Her mind raced with questions to ask him.
Tortuga paused as if something just dawned on him. "This means you are very educated then?"
Kagome laughed, and her tension eased.
"Yes, I am very educated. Reading, writing, math, history..."
"Math?" Tortuga asked. Sesshoumaru looked at her, fascinated at this bit of information.
"Oh, uh, the study of numbers. I can do very complicated calculations with numbers."
"You are truly amazing, Kagome-sama, not only beautiful, but intelligent. What a rare find!" Tortuga gushed.
Kagome blushed. It was not often in this era that someone would appreciate her education, other than herself of course. She really couldn't tell if Tortuga was being genuinely nice, or just sucking up to her.
"Tortuga." Sesshoumaru growled in irritation.
~~~~~
A/N- Since I had someone mention Sesshoumaru's use of the suffix -dono, I feel the need to explain this a tidbit further. The use of -dono by Sesshoumaru is definitely marking a change in his attitude toward Kagome. He is addressing her like an equal. The suffix -dono can be used between colleagues who are both of very high standing. The suffix -sama is a very humble (and in a way, kind of groveling) way to address someone with extreme respect, and really draws attention to the fact that the person being addressed is of a higher social standing. The use of -dono (which can be also be considered another way of saying lord) is a respectful way to address someone who is off high social standing, but without drawing attention to the difference in rank and without the groveling. Dono is not really used much in modern language, except perhaps between business associates, however it is appropriate for this time period.
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