Shopping
Sesshoumaru held on to Kagome as they traversed the thick crowds surrounding the vendor tables.
He watched her every move for any indication of interest. Perhaps he could find a unique gift for her here.
"I have not been a guest at a youkai wedding before. Is it usual to have merchants selling goods during the celebration?" Kagome asked trying to take her focus away from his warm hand.
His golden eyes slid to her. "No, this practice is uncommon. Inu youkai weddings are nothing like this."
Sesshoumaru's offhanded comment sent a hot scorch of adrenaline through her. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Her face flushed at the mere mention of a inu wedding. It was impossible for her thoughts to not immediately turn to a union of herself and Sesshoumaru. It wasn't fear that she felt but excitement. Why did she have to fall in love with him off all people? He was so unpredictable, that she had been surprised when he had teased her touching him. He had said that their marriage would be good for the kingdom, but he never said if that would be something he wanted. She craved that connection between lovers. She could not deny that she felt like she had a crush on him, but guilt ate at her for even thinking about it. What would Inuyasha say? He would be so pissed off. She should be so ashamed, yet things are so different now. The daiyoukai was not the same person who attacked her and Inuyasha all those years ago.
Sesshoumaru watched her chew on her bottom lip. What was she thinking about?
He gently pulled her in the direction of the merchant tables. Perhaps he could get her mind off what was bothering her.
"Most kitsune make their wealth by selling goods, so it is not surprising to see vendors here." He lifted the corner or his lip in disgust. "They enjoy haggling with each other."
Kagome pushed her troubled thoughts to the back of her mind and forced a smile at him. As if he knew her smile was a lie, his eyes searched her face for the real answer. Her small hand squeezed his, hoping to reassure him.
The reception reminded her much more of a festival than a wedding celebration. Tables piled with goods were set up in aisles around the right side of the field. Piles of fabrics, potions, spices, and trinkets filled the booths. Kitsune called to passersby trying to draw their attention.
Her eyes alighted on a particular booth full of toys, or at least that's what it appeared to be, but she knew better. These were not ordinary toys; they were magical items that youkai children could amuse themselves with. Shippo had often used toys to torture Inuyasha.
She darted ahead, pulling Sesshoumaru with her. The merchant gave a sly grin as he saw her interest. He rubbed his paws together in obvious glee.
"Good evening, my lord. May I interest you in some enchanted items?"
Sesshoumaru ignored him, but instead put all his attention on Kagome. Her eyes roamed the crowded table, examining all the different items. She could feel the youki emitting from each toy, but one in particular caught her eye. She picked up a small colorful ball. The swirling designs around the toy made it stand out.
Holding it, she asked, "What does this one do?"
The kitsune's eyes gleamed. "You have excellent taste my Lady. This is no ordinary ball. It changes shape depending on what the user wants it to be."
Kagome's eyes lit up. "Awesome! I bet Katsurou would love this!" She turned to her left to hold the ball out to Sesshoumaru. "Can you show me how it works?" She doubted she could get it to work without youki.
Looking down at her beautiful smiling face, he could not deny her. He took the ball in his hand, and allowed his youki to mold it, and give it shape.
Her mouth dropped open in awe as she watched the ball change shape and become soft like clay. The blob quivered before it snapped into the shape of a small replica of Bakusaiga.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Kagome exclaimed. She took the child-size sword from him, and waved it around before handing it back to the merchant. "Thank you for showing us."
"This is a truly marvelous gift for any youkai child and it can be yours for only 20 silver pieces." The kitsune waggled his thick eyebrows.
Kagome gave weak smile. "I'm sorry. I'll have to come back later. I left my money in our room." Embarrassed, she bowed and pulled her hand from Sesshoumaru before quickly moving on to look at other goods.
Both the merchant and Sesshoumaru watched her go with disappointment.
It was obvious she lied to decline his offer graciously, but he knew it bothered her not to have her own money.
Before following after Kagome, he turned to the merchant. Understanding crossed the kitsune's face, and he quickly pulled the toy from the table.
Kagome paid him no mind and continued to wander from table to table looking at the exotic items. It wasn't until she stopped at a jewelry vendor, did she feel Sesshoumaru come up behind her.
He peered over her shoulder to see what held her interest. "Hn."
She picked up a small red hairpin. "How pretty!" The flickering fire light gave the rubies on it a beautiful glow. Inspecting it further, she turned it over in her hand, feeling its weight.
The dark kitsune merchant smiled. "Ah you have a sharp eye. Press this latch here." He pointed to the back of the pin. As soon as she pressed it, a small blade shot out. "Wow! I bet Rin would love that!" She exclaimed, turning to show the unique hairpin to Sesshoumaru.
He had to admit, she was right, Rin would love such a trinket.
Kagome turned back to the merchant. "How much for the pin?"
The kitsune looked his customers up and down.
"200 gold pieces."
The miko's mouth dropped open. "What?!"
There was no doubt that he was inflating the price because he knew Sesshoumaru was wealthy, but 200 pieces? She could build a castle for that much. He probably expected her to haggle with him, but it didn't matter anyway.
"How ridiculous, it certainly isn't worth that much, but thank you for showing us." She said before dropping the pin back on the table.
Her attention turned to the spice dealer a few tables down. Maybe she would get lucky and find some cocoa beans to make chocolate. She almost drooled at the though. There was no way she could get that lucky. After a moment, she realized that her tall, intimidating shadow was not behind her.
Looking back to the jewelry table, she found him still there.
"My lord, I beg you, a thousand apologies!" The poor merchant groveled on the ground with his face in the dirt before the daiyoukai.
Alarm coursed through her. What had the merchant done to anger him?!
She rushed back to his side, and looped her arm around his. His youki flared around him and beat down on the kitsune without mercy. Thankfully, she had noticed before he did something more permanent to the merchant.
"Come on, Sesshoumaru-sama. I would like to see the rest of the celebration." Kagome pulled on him to get him to move with her, but she might as well been trying to coax a brick wall.
His gaze lifted from the merchant to meet her concerned eyes.
"Hn. Very well." He pulled her arm from his, and took her hand into his once more, and pulled her in the direction of the stage.
As they walked away, she couldn't help but look back at the vendor pulling himself off the ground.