Blessing
Kagome followed Sesshoumaru through the crowd lingering wedding guests to the courtyard where their palaquin was waiting. The wedding had been fun, but now she was eager to return home to her son.
"Kagome-sama!" A voice called, causing Kagome to pause and turn to look around. She saw Kiyomi pulling away from of group women, her hands pulling up her layered kimono so she could hurry to Kagome's side.
"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" She asked smiling, her sly eyes shimmering as she caught Kagome's hand.
"Oh, no!" To be honest, Kagome was so ready to be home that she hadn't even thought about saying goodbye to Kiyomi. She honestly had figured they would already be off enjoying their new marriage.
"Aren't you supposed to be carried away somewhere private by your husband?" She teased, plucking a stray flower petal from Kiyomi's hair in a motherly gesture.
Kiyomi laughed. "I wish. There's no time! We have too much to do to bring our clan together."
"Oh, that's right. Is everyone going to move to your territory?"
"Yes. My clan will be moving closer to join with Hajime's. Soon all of our people will be one big happy family!"
"Oh! That reminds me!" Kagome patted the front of her obi, pulling out a small silk bag. "I forgot to give this to you at the wedding banquet."
Kiyomi tilted her head in speculation before taking it from her. She pulled open the small bag and reached inside.
Kiyomi's sharp eyes widened in shock as she stared at the small, black gem that she held between her fingertips. It was about the size thumb nail and shimmered color when it was tilted into the light.
Kagome had no idea what was so special about it. It wasn't particularly pretty, and looked like a rather ordinary stone.
"It is a gift from my mother." Sesshoumaru offered as a way of explanation.
"I...I..." Kiyomi bowed deeply. "No words can truly express my gratitude for such a marvelous gift. A thousand thanks my lord. Please express my thanks to your honorable mother as well."
Kagome raised an eyebrow. What was so amazing about it?
Kiyomi noticed Kagome's expression laughed at her confusion. "Allow me to demonstrate for you what it does."
The beautiful kitsune closed her fist around the gem, and closed her eyes. Kagome could feel her youki swell and surround the stone. With a blink, Kiyomi was gone. Kagome jumped at her sudden disappearance. Not only was Kiyomi hidden from sight, but Kagome could no longer feel Kiyomi's youki.
"Where did she go?" She asked Sesshoumaru.
"Nowhere. She's still here."
Kagome looked back at him. "She's still here? Can you smell her?"
A small touch of irritation passed over his face. "No, I cannot."
With a small pop and displacement of air, Kiyomi reappeared next to her with a wicked grin plastered on her face.
"It works! How wonderful!" Kiyomi exclaimed, stowing the gem away back into its silk bag.
"It hides you from other youkai?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, but really...everything. It hides you completely, even in a..."she searched for the appropriate explanation. "It hides you spiritually. These are hard to make and very difficult to come by. Lady Manako has shown us favor."
Kagome smiled. "Imagine the tricks you could get into with that!"
Kiyomi laughed. "While that is true, this is far too valuable for simple tricks. This gem could ensure the safety of my family during a time of war."
Kagome had no doubt of that. It was common place for a raiding clan to take over another's territory and kill the ruling family, whether it be human or youkai.
"Kiyomi! Kiyomi!" A rough panicked voice entered the courtyard. Everyone turned their attention to a blonde kitsune who stumbled and fell to the ground before Lady Kiyomi. His clothing was torn and dirty, and possibly splattered with blood. The poor youkai gasped for air as droplets of sweat and blood tapped on the courtyard stones.
Kiyomi knelt down to him, placing her hands on his back. "Asaji! Are you alright? What happened?!"
"Water..." He croaked.
Kiyomi motioned for a servant and within moments she was holding a cup up to him to drink. He gulped desperately, excess water sliding down his chin. He pushed the cup away and then he sat back on his knees, taking a deep breath.
"The villages to the south are being attacked. I barely made it out alive. We need the clan's assistance!"
Kiyomi's eyes widened as she grabbed his shoulder, "Where is Shippo? He's supposed to be with you! Did no one survive?"
Asaji covered his face with his hands. "A few weeks ago, I sent him to a merchant village to retrieve some supplies for me, but he never returned. I went there a few days later to search for him, only to find the village gone! There's nothing left! I think the kitsune fled, but I couldn't figure out where they went. They must have hidden themselves well. I can only hope Shippo is with them."
Kagome felt ill and collapsed to her knees next to Kiyomi. With trembling fingers she reached out and grabbed a fist full of the filthy kitsune's robes. "Why would you send a child on such a dangerous trip by himself?!" Kagome shouted as she shook him, tears slipping from her eyes.
Asaji looked bewildered as he yanked himself from her grasp.
"He is hardly a defenseless child." He sneered. "Besides, who are you?"
Kiyomi put a hand on his shoulder. "Asaji, this is Kagome-sama." She said softly, brows knit with worry as she still tried to be cordial. "Kagome,this is Asaji, my brother-in-law."
The kitsune's demeanor changed, but he still stared at the miko sharply. He sniffed and righted his clothing. "Perhaps, you have a right to be angry with me then. I am sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but it is a pleasure to meet you regardless. My apprentice has told me much about you."
Kagome pursed her lips with agitation."Where do you think he went?"
Asaji fished around in his robes for a second before pulling out a battered piece of parchment. He carefully unfolded it on the ground. A small detailed map had been made, but now it was crumpled and the ink faded. He ran his finger across the page, passing faded trees and huts that represent villages. His finger tapped on an image of three huts near a forest. "This is the settlement that he was supposed to go to." His finger moved to the east of the village towards the forest. "If I were to make a guess, he went to this area. I didn't make it that far before I ran into trouble. Shippo is smart, and if I know him he's hiding, probably with survivors."
Sesshoumaru loomed over Kagome's shoulder, casting a shadow across the map."Give us the map." He ordered.
Asaji gazed up in awe at the gruff daiyoukai, as if just noticing him for the first time."Ah, of course my lord." The kitsune quickly refolded the map and handed it to him.
"Let's go." Sesshoumaru said abruptly before offering his free hand to Kagome.
She looked from his hand to his face, "But Shippo..."
"We will find him." He assured her.
Kagome nodded, and allowed him to help her off the ground. Kiyomi offered Asaji her shoulder as he struggled to stand.
Sesshoumaru headed for the waiting palaquin, already packed with their belongings, not offering a goodbye or another word.
Kagome bowed to Kiyomi then stood again, wiping the remaining tears of fear and worry from her eyes. "Thank you for such a wonderful time, although we are leaving during a troublesome time. I wish that you and your husband will be blessed in every way. We will find Shippo and that I can promise you." Kagome pressed a fleeting kiss goodbye on her new friend's cheek, and turned to hurry after Sesshoumaru.
Kiyomi felt the weight of her words settle over them. Kagome's words had power behind them, and it gave her hope for the future. She almost laughed. Would anyone believe her if she told them that a miko had actually blessed her family? Keeping a hold on her brother-in-law, Kiyomi reached forward and grasped Kagome's forearm, looking her in the eye.
"I know Shippo is like family to you, but he is our blood-kin. If you do us the honor of finding him and he is returned to us, our clans will be in your debt. Kagome, I feel as though you are the sister the gods never granted me, and if there is anything our clan can do to help you or Sesshoumaru-sama, please call upon us."
Sesshoumaru's ears twitched and eyes widened, turning when he heard the bold promise from the kitsune. How did Kagome manage to forge alliances without even meaning to? She gave them no grand offers of untold riches, or vague offers of protection.
"I appreciate your offer. I will send news of Shippo when I find him." Kagome said confidently, waving goodbye to Kiyomi as she hurried to Sesshoumaru's side.
"Do not worry," Sesshoumaru assured her as he assisted Kagome into the palanquin. She inclined her head, acknowledging his words as he entered behind her, closing the door.
"I only hope it isn't too late," Kagome whispered to him as the palanquin shook and began its ascent into the sky.
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Author's note: Thank you so much for all the reviews! I loved reading everyone's reactions to the last couple of chapters. Once again, a big thank you to my beta reader, Saruwarui.
I'm really sorry if everyone gets another notice for this chapter. A mistake was brought to my attention and I took it down to fix it!