Dance
Kagome followed behind Kiyomi as she led her towards the bon fire in the middle of the clearing. Kitsunes circled around the roaring fire, dancing wildly, while stomping their feet and swaying their arms. The movement was mesmerizing and graceful. A flute began to play, and the lilting tones weaved together with the beats of the drum, signaling a change in dance.
"I'm sorry. I don't know any of these dances..." Kagome said nervously. Kiyomi laughed. "It's alright. I'll teach you."
They walked to the far outside of the circle, where several children were gathered together. Each of them danced differently, completely out of sync with the other adults. Their eyes brightened with excitement as the bride approached.
"Hime-sama!" They chorused together.
Kiyomi knelt down and children of various ages swarmed around her. She smiled broadly and hugged each of them.
"We need some help learning the steps. Would you dance with us?" She asked them.
Grins covered every face as they all nodded with enthusiasism
Kagome smiled at all the happy children. They reminded her so much of Shippo when he was younger.
"Kiyomi-san, would you happen to know of a young kitsune named Shippo?"
"Oh yes, your Shippo right?"
Kagome frowned. "Do you know him? Would he have been invited?"
"Hajime's brother, Asaji, is his tutor. They are both supposed to be here tonight, but I have yet to see them. Shippo talks about you all the time, which is why I was eager to meet you."
Hope filled Kagome. Shippo was here! She hadn't seen him since she moved to the Western castle.
A slow thumping drum beat started and new song began. The children looked to Kiyomi for guidance as they followed her lead.
"Follow our steps. It starts out slow, and will pick up pace." She waved her arms in an arc over her head, and then spun right. "That's it. Now take a few steps forward, then pivet left. Good, now grab the hand of the person next to you and spin around."
Kagome laughed, and grabbed the hand of a young girl and spun her around. The children didn't hestitate to dance with her, despite being a miko. Their easy-going attitude put to rest any reservations she had.
The dance started out easy enough, but quickly picked up pace. The children stumbled and fell over themselves to keep up. Eventually, they gave up and sat on the ground. Kagome stopped dancing to watch Kiyomi move fluidly through the dizzying dance steps. The song ended with a dramatic bang of the drum. There was a moment of silence before the deafening roar of the crowd began again.
Kagome grinned, feeling happy. The dance was fun and exhilarating. She loved watching the kids try to follow the steps. It made her feel like she wasn't such an outsider.
A small kitsune boy's ears perked up before lying flat against his head. "Mom's calling us. Come on, sister." He said sulking. The child Kagome had danced with, bowed. "Thank you, Hime-sama."
Together the children dispersed, leaving Kagome and the bride alone.
"So, tell me of your relationship to Sesshoumaru-sama." Kiyomi said, her voice barely heard over the music.
"There's not much to tell. My late husband, Inuyasha, was his brother. My son and I needed help, and Sesshoumaru took us in." She said loud enough to be heard.
"I know it has to do with the approaching war with the snake tribe. You have my condolences on the loss of your husband. I've heard many tales of his greatness." The sharp kitsune's face softened with sympathy.
Kagome felt the familiar gut-wrenching twinge of pain at the thought of Inuyasha, but a small bit of happiness and pride crept in behind it. This youkai remembered her husband for the wonderful things he did in his life. It went a long way to assuaging the pain she felt. It was important to her that he would be remembered.
"Thank you…I appreciate that. It has been a very difficult time for us." She said honestly.
"I take it our lord has been taking care of you."
Kagome smiled. "He has. I was sick with exhaustion, and he helped me regain my strength."
"From the looks of it, you have helped him too." The bride's eyes gleamed.
Kagome tilted her head to the side. "Oh?"
"Trade relations within our territory have improved vastly. Rumor has it, that the Shikei no Miko has taken over certain delegations."
The miko frowned. "I am not very fond of that nickname, but yes I admit that I have offered some suggestions…"
Kiyomi chuckled. "It's a powerful name, but not exactly flattering for a miko." She pulled Kagome close. Her face softened, losing its mirth. "You have done much to improve our lives here, even if you didn't mean to do it. For that, you have my gratitude." Her eyes narrowed. "I would like to help you in return."
Kagome's mouth hung open in shock. "Help me? How so?"
The bride leaned in close to make sure she could hear. "Your love life."
Kagome rolled her eyes."I don't have a love life."
Kiyomi grinned and grabbed her hand. "Exactly! That is why you need my help. Let's sit for a moment."
She pulled her to a nearby table and plopped down on a cushion. Kiyomi took her hand and turned it palm up. "I will do a palm reading for you."
Kagome scoffed and pulled her hand away. "I don't believe in that stuff."
Kiyomi raised an indignant eyebrow. "You would reject a reading from a kitsune?"
The miko leveled a stare at her.
The bride laughed. "Okay, I understand. We tend to be tricksters, but I would just like to give you some insight into our Lord's behavior."
Kagome looked at her skeptically before placing her right hand before Kiyomi.
Her sharp but delicate claws traced over the lines across her palm. "Our lord has always been very reserved. I have never known him to take a lover. I wonder why?"
Kagome shrugged. "He hates everyone? Who knows? He has plenty of willing women, who would jump at the chance to be with him." Even as she said it, it made her ill.
"I doubt he hates everyone, especially you. Why does he not mate with any of those women?"
"He doesn't have the highest opinion of those women. He seems to think they are gold diggers."
Kiyomi's eyebrows furrowed. "They like to dig for gold?"
Kagome laughed. "Sorry. What I mean is - they just want his lands and riches."
The bride's eyes widened. "Ah, I see. So our stoic lord is a romantic at heart."
The miko scoffed. "Sesshoumaru is romantic? Please."
Kiyomi gazed down at Kagome's small hand. "Why is that so unbelievable? If he didn't care whether they loved him or not, why would it matter if they wanted him for his title?"
"I…don't know. Maybe he doesn't want to share, or perhaps the marriage wouldn't be as advantageous to him." Even as she said it, Kagome knew it sounded weak.
"Your palm is very telling." Kiyomi traced her finger over a crease in her hand.
"Huh?" Kagome leaned closer to look.
"This top line is long and curves to the side of your hand. It means that you express your feelings freely."
Her finger moved to another line, tracing it from her thumb to the other side of her hand. "This line is straight, but has some small creases across it. It means that you are having some emotional crisis."
Kagome shook her head. "That's not surprising."
Kiyomi moved to the line extending from her thumb to her wrist. "This line is diagonal from your thumb. It means that you are cautious when it comes to relationships." Her eyes lifted from her palm.
"It's not a bad thing to be cautious." Kagome said defensively.
"No, it's not, but perhaps it is keeping you from seeing the truth."
"The truth?"
"If any other male were to treat you as Sesshoumaru has tonight, would you assume he was interested?"
"I don't know…" Her mind went to his actions earlier. He had teased her, and maybe even flirted. He had followed her around the market, taking an interest in what she was looking at. He respected her wish to handle Hatakeyama, and then defended her. Her stomach churned with butterflies at the thought that he had insisted on holding hands, and keeping physical contact with each other. Was Kiyomi right? Was he really attracted to her? She had just dismissed his actions as anything but suggestive since this was Sesshoumaru they were talking about.
The miko looked bewildered. Her face was flushed, and her eyes stared off into the distance.
"I see I have given you something to think about." Kiyomi released her hand.
"I…yes, you have." Kagome's heart pounded in her chest.
"Do not think too deeply on it. Tonight we party, so relax and enjoy yourself." Her eyes wandered over the dancing crowd. " I believe Hajime is making a fool of himself dancing. Let's go join him."
Kagome gave laugh. "Alright." She couldn't deny that she wanted to dance.
Together they rose from the table, and made their way towards the throng of dancing kitsune. Before getting lost in the crowd, Kagome turned around, her eyes searching.
Disappointment filled her as she didn't see Sesshoumaru anywhere.
"Kagome?"
She turned her attention back around to Kiyomi, who was waiting on her.
"You never told me why your father allowed you to marry."
Kiyomi stepped close to Kagome, and leaned in close to her ear.
"I'm pregnant."
Kagome's eyes widened, and Kiyomi howled with laughter.
"Well...that is one way to go about it. There is much to congratulate you on tonight."
Kiyomi's eyes gleamed with mischief. "So scandalous, I know."
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Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thank you for all the reviews. llebreknit guessed it! I should have another update in the next few days.