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Flowers Drenched in Happiness

She slept and dreamed as gloriously as only a queen can do on her wedding-day.


Kagome had been heading West for two days.

There was a forest a few feet ahead, and it didn't look quite safe for her to enter it alone. The river was much wider by that point than it had been on the outskirts of her village—she couldn't possibly cross it by swimming.

Now what?

Dropping her yellow satchel to the ground, Kagome sat down with a huff to rest her hurting feet.

Afraid that someone from home might have been following her, she'd made a point of traveling at a fast pace until sunset the day before. The nights in the beginning of spring were still cold, so she had had to build a small fire, but Kagome wanted to draw as less attention to herself as possible.

She'd picked a path that the searching party hadn't, walking by the river in the opposite direction of the main road. Knowing she wouldn't find Inuyasha in any of the neighboring villages, she'd chosen to keep following the riverbank—inadvertently into the wild, it seemed.

Looking up at the sky, the girl saw it was already blood red.

Sunset.

"I need to cross to the other side," she mused out loud. She could see the small houses over there from that distance, which meant shelter.

Unbelievably tired, Kagome hugged her knees to her chest and dropped her head, taking a moment to close her eyes and think.

A gurgling sound came from the water, making her snap her head back up.

Oh, God, something's there.

A pair of enormous eyes in a bald head emerged, and every hair on the girl's body stood up. It swam toward her so fast, its pointy hat making tiny swirls in the water, that she didn't have time to scoot away from the bank.

"Hello, princess."

A catfish demon smiled up at her, too close for her taste—even though he definitely wasn't frightening. His pupils were incredibly small for such big eyes, and his barbels, which resembled whiskers, gave him a humanoid appearance.

"Um…" Kagome hesitated.

"I am Nushi, my darling," he purred, not needing any more invitation to speak. "I'm the guardian spirit of this river. I heard you wish to cross it, correct? What is your name?"

Guardian spirit? He seems to be just a demon.

Deciding it was best not to risk offending him, Kagome mentally shrugged. She was hardly an expert in demons to tell the difference, she supposed.

The girl cleared her throat. "I'm Kagome, master Nushi. Would you be so kind as to help me cross?"

He chuckled, black pupils shining under the setting sun.

"I certainly would, my dear, but I'm not one to do favors. What would you give me in return?"

His tone sent a shiver down her spine.

Deciding not to ponder on it, Kagome mentally went over the few things she was carrying. She couldn't give him her food—what if she didn't find any on the long run? She couldn't give him her extra cloak—what if it got too cold? She couldn't give him her shoes, and she needed her satchel to keep the supplies.

Sighing dejectedly, Kagome disentangled her red scarf from her neck and extended it toward him. Nushi took it with one of his viscous fins, bringing it to his nostrils and taking a deep sniff.

Kagome did her best to mask her revulsion.

"I guess it will do," Nushi mused with an exaggerated sigh. "At least it's covered in your scent—very enticing, if I might say so."

Of course you might not, you pig!

If the demon hadn't sounded so utterly pathetic, she might've been scared. As it was, Kagome just wanted to cross the river faster.

Seemingly sensing her thoughts, Nushi eyed her and smirked before plunging. In his place, a small wooden boat emerged. It was covered in sludge, and Kagome was momentarily afraid it wasn't safe, but she swallowed her unease and entered it.

Slowly but surely, the boat took her to the other side of the river.

Once out of the craft, she didn't look back to see what had been pushing it. Judging by the shadow she'd seen underneath the water, it was something big.


Kagome entered the deserted village and made to knock on the closest hut, but a gasp stopped her mid-motion.

An elderly woman stood on the pathway with a startled expression on her face. She was wearing a simple cotton kimono, and there were red flowers nestled in the crook of her left arm.

"Poor little thing!" The woman said as she walked toward her. "How ever did you cross the great rushing stream?"

Kagome blinked a few times and opened her mouth to speak, but the woman grasped her shoulder lightly and pulled her forward.

"Come and tell me who you are, and where you come from," she urged, turning her face to the other side and sneezing.

"I-I'm Kagome," the girl started, a little overwhelmed by her approach. "I come from a small village two days from here. Do you know a place where I can spend the night?"

"Absolutely! I'm Grandma Shippo, by the way," the woman said cheerily. "Sorry—it's just that Nushi is a moron, and I wanted to know if you're all right."

"I met your… guardian," Kagome laughed a little, not knowing how else to call the demon catfish.

The woman rolled her eyes and sneezed again.

"He's a low-life demon, that's what he is," she hissed.

Do people here live in peace with him?, Kagome mused. Although Nushi was disgusting, she suspected he was also harmless, and the girl couldn't help but admire this village for letting him be.

"Grandma, I was wondering… Have you seen a half-demon with white hair and puppy ears passing by?" Kagome asked hopefully. "I mean, you seem to be less prejudiced on this side of the river, so—"

"I'm sorry, Kagome, but I haven't seen anyone like that," Grandma Shippo interjected, smiling sadly at her.

Kagome thanked her and returned the small smile. She hadn't expected it to be easy.

"But why are you looking for a half-demon?" The lady asked curiously.

Seeing no problem in telling the woman her story, Kagome talked about Inuyasha, their somewhat isolated life, and his disappearance in the beginning of winter.

"I see," Grandma Shippo murmured. "You must really like this friend of yours—I mean, not many people would do what you're doing."

As they kept walking, Kagome looked down at her own hands and let the woman's words sink in. She didn't see herself as particularly special; she simply wanted him back, and from the few people who cared, the girl was the most suited to do this.

"Well, sorry you didn't find him here—but you gotta sleep somewhere", Grandma Shippo said with a wink, obviously trying to cheer her up. "I work at the castle of the village nobleman, lord Kaou. He'll welcome you, I'm sure."

These flowers smell so good, the girl thought suddenly. Eyeing them, she felt her smile spread. It soothes my soul.


The castle was easily the most beautiful construction Kagome had ever set eyes upon. It had a single level surrounded by a wooden porch—and it was big. Red flowers grew everywhere around it, and the girl was surprised she hadn't spotted the outside walls from across the river.

Grandma Shippo brought her immediately to the lord's presence. The women kneeled and bowed, and Kagome stayed silent while the elderly lady asked Kaou to let her stay the night.

"You can sit back, child," the man said in a soft tone.

Lord Kaou was sitting on a mat in the middle of the room, richly dressed in a white silken kimono. He had a pointy hat like Nushi's over his wavy black hair, and his features were the most delicate Kagome had ever seen on a man's face.

"Poor thing, you must be so tired," he guessed with a smile—but it didn't reach his eyes. "This village prides itself on being a safe place, my girl. You can rest here. Lay down your burdens."

Kagome tried to smile back at him, but something was bothering her. Grandma Shippo sneezed again, and the girl realized the smell of roses was getting unbearably stronger.

"You're suffering a great deal for your lost friend, aren't you?" Lord Kaou asked, eyes glinting as he waved his fan. "I feel so much pain inside you—winter old pain."

How does he-

Kagome felt something touching her feet. Looking behind her, she saw two green vines tangling themselves around her ankles. They pulled, making her fall forward on her chest and knocking the air out of her lungs.

"Spring has come, Kagome," Kaou said gleefully.

She screamed and struggled viciously, but the lord—and the vines—seemed unfazed by it. If anything, Grandma Shippo was the one looking guiltily at the girl.

Her vision swam, and everything went black.


"Hey, sleepyhead."

Kagome slowly opened her eyes to find herself looking into golden, sparkling ones.

"I-Inuyasha?" She blinked, lifting a hand to touch his tanned face.

The boy had been smiling when she woke up, but now he seemed a little taken aback by her behavior.

"Why you staring at me like I'm the last rice ball in the plate?"

Dropping her hand, Kagome looked around in confusion. She was sitting on the Goshinboku's roots, reclined against its bark. The landscape was green and filled with flowers, the sky was blue, and she could hear Sota's laugh in the distance.

Two plain—and dearly loved—huts stood not too far away.

Am I home?

"Kagome?" Inuyasha called, bringing his face closer to hers and sniffing. He put his calloused hand on her forehead to feel her temperature. "Are you feeling well, wench?"

Overcome with emotion, she hugged him close and sniffled. Inuyasha froze, probably smelling her tears, but she didn't care to stop.

Kagome took her time to run her fingers through his silver hair, enjoying its texture against her hands. She breathed in his smell—earthy, wild and all things good—and felt like her heart would burst.

"I-I missed you so much, Inuyasha. It was such a long winter…"

"W-What are you t-talking about?" The boy stammered. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Releasing him, Kagome shook her head and wiped her tears away. She couldn't recall why she'd felt so vulnerable a moment ago, but her heart was hammering in her chest, telling her something had happened.

"I-I remember a snowy day," she said suddenly. "I remember screaming and screaming your name until my throat hurt!"

The girl started trembling, and Inuyasha hugged her in spite of his burning cheeks.

Is he blushing?

Kagome didn't know why she was paying attention to something so trivial in the middle of a breakdown, but it couldn't be helped: she started giggling.

"Keh," he scoffed near her ear, but it had come out too soft. "You really are crazy, y'know."

She felt his nose ghosting over her cheek in a featherlight touch and went limp against his chest. Although Inuyasha didn't touch her all the time, he was never shy about it when he did—he really had no reason to be.

When Kagome felt his butterfly kisses on the side of her face, her eyes snapped open in surprise.

That was something he'd never done.

"I-Inuyasha?"

"Shhh," he whispered, and she felt his smile against her warming skin. "It's only me."

Her blood was singing in her veins. Impulsively, she buried her face in his neck, letting go of all the hurt and heartache she'd been feeling before.

"I have something to tell you," he murmured, still not releasing her. Kagome felt the vibration of his voice coming from his throat to her nose—and it made her smile. "I know what the village people say about us, even if you don't tell me. I know they think you're a 'demon's whore' just 'cause you walk around with me."

The girl started lifting her head to tell him exactly what the village people could do with their opinions, kindness be damned, but his hand on the nape of her neck stopped her.

"I don't want them talking shit about you like they did mother, Kagome, so I thought... Well, I thought I should marry you."

She jumped out of his touch to make eye contact.

Inuyasha was looking everywhere but her face, red tinging even the skin on the insides of his ears.

In an eyebat, Kagome surprised herself by blurting, "yes."

The look he gave her was both doubtful and earnest. It was the look of a boy and a man at once; of someone who'd taken some hard blows to their self-confidence in life.

Sota laughed—the same sound being carried by the breeze over and over.

She frowned.

Her brother was laughing, but Kagome couldn't see him anywhere. There wasn't any sign of her mother and Old Kaede, who should have been doing their chores at this time of the day. There was no noise coming from the forest behind them—not a bird, not a squirrel, not a damn rabbit demon.

Inuyasha would never toss their friendship to the wind and ask her to marry him like this, out of the blue.

She would never simply say 'yes' without giving it any thought. Kagome loved him too much to do that.

Her vision was blurring again. Using Inuyasha's shoulders for leverage, she slowly started standing. Stopping mid-move, Kagome brushed his bangs away and kissed his forehead, lips wet by her tears and his sweat.

"H-Hey, w-where are you going?" He stuttered.

Standing the rest of the way up, she smiled down at him tenderly.

"After you, stupid."

Then, Kagome bolted.

I'll do what I do when I want to wake up, the girl thought as she ran.

Inuyasha wasn't coming after her, which also attested to the fact that none of this was real.

If this were real, he would never let me go after something like that.

Reclining against the side of the Bone-Eater's Well to catch her breath, she looked at the darkness below. Kagome had always been afraid of it, knowing that they used to toss the remains of demons down there to rot.

She climbed on the sturdy wood, sweaty hands grabbing the sides of her green kimono. Closing her eyes, mind, and heart, she jumped.


Kagome was momentarily blinded by morning light.

Lifting her chin from her chest, she felt the muscles in her neck protest. The girl squirmed, realizing she had been immobilized by the vines—stuck to a wooden pillar on the porch.

Did these things drag me from inside?

"Hey, you're awake," someone whispered from the ground.

Looking down, Kagome saw a small redheaded boy sitting by her feet. She blinked owlishly at his fox paws and tail.

Her green cocoon shook when he lunged on it, coming face to face with the speechless girl.

"Good," he murmured, green eyes regarding her with barely contained admiration. "I knew you'd wake up—and just in time, too!"

"Are you a demon?" Her voice cracked.

"I'm a fox demon," he promptly informed. "Name's Shippo. I brought you here."

Kaede told stories about them! They can—wait a minute...

Seeing her gears were turning, the kit resumed, "Look, Kagome—I'm sorry, but we have to hurry. The flowers feed from your happiness, so they'll start withering, and he'll know it!"

"Where's Kaou?" Kagome asked bitingly, unable to control herself. She felt tears were coming down her cheeks, and the girl tried not to panic when she saw they were red.

"He's busy," Shippo said darkly. "Locked up in his room—that's why you're just in time—and don't worry, you won't die from that little bleeding!"

With Shippo's help, Kagome got rid of the already dying vines. Once she was free, she took the kit by the scruff of his neck and brought him nose to nose with her.

"You're coming with me, mister, because I can't leave a child behind with an insane plant charmer—no matter how wicked the child," she rebuked. "You'll help me get out of this hell hole, then you'll explain yourself!

Shippo's eyes were as big as saucers, and Kagome couldn't help but think he was adorable. She let him down gently, keeping her serious expression in place.

He regarded her guiltily and took a deep breath.

The girl almost jumped out of her skin when he turned into a pink balloon.

"Hop on!" He called urgently.

Kagome's hands were shaking, but she grasped her satchel strap and quickly complied.

They were halfway to the outside wall when she heard a hissing sound coming from the castle. Turning her head back, the girl was met by the most frightening sight she'd ever seen.

Kaou's body was coming through the sliding doors, and it was completely made of vines. If she hadn't met the man before, she wouldn't have known it was the same creature. Only his clothes and his face remained—which she saw was actually a wooden mask.

"SHIPPO," he barked angrily, and his voice made each vine tremble.

Kagome's panic was growing proportionally to his stretching.

"Go faster, Shippo, faster!"

The boy started swallowing air, lifting himself higher. Kaou tossed a few vines at them, making Shippo's balloon form sway dangerously. Kagome was hanging on for dear life.

"Why are you leaving, girl?" Kaou questioned. "I merely showed you the dreams you wished to see!"

The dreams I wished to see?

"You—were—happy," the lord insisted, stretching himself closer with each word. Kagome could smell his sweet scent right there, and it made her empty stomach turn in knots. "Your flowers were growing so beautifully!"

For a short moment that surprised even herself, Kagome's anger surpassed her fear.

"Does it amuse you to look inside the heart of other people?" She cried. "My happiness isn't yours to consume!"

Shippo sneezed a few times in a row, and the balloon shook disturbingly.

Luckily for the duo, Kaou's body stopped elongating when they were just past the wall. Hissing irately, the flower demon kept contorting himself, gradually shrinking back down.

"Don't worry, he can't leave the garden!" The kit yelled from beneath her. "That's why he needed me to get you!"

Shippo made a sharp turn left and went into the woods, dodging tree limbs and barks. When he deemed they were far enough from the castle, the kit made a violent landing, obviously having ran out of strength. They both fell to the ground, and Shippo returned to his natural form with a puff of air.

Kagome sat down against a rock and put her hand to her chest, breathing hard. Feeling the dried blood trails on her cheeks, she quickly wiped them with her sleeve.

"Why did you work for Kaou?" She managed between pants, looking at the child's profile.

"I asked for shelter during a storm, so I had to repay him by bringing him a victim," Shippo explained. "You were it, but I didn't know I'd feel so guilty!"

The girl took a moment to study the fox demon, noticing how his bushy tail swayed nervously under her perusal. Was he considered old enough by demon standards to roam about alone—with that blue bow on his ponytail?

"Where are your parents?" Kagome muttered.

"Dead," he returned in a heartbeat.

"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered pitifully, deciding not to ask about it yet.

"S'okay", Shippo mumbled. "At least they didn't leave me or something."

The pregnant pause brought her mind to Inuyasha, and the dream she'd had while under Kaou's influence.

I always knew I loved Inuyasha, but am I in love with him? She mused.

The girl sighed wistfully. If I am, that was the wrong way to find out.

"Forgive me, Kagome," Shippo pleaded, putting his small hand on her bent knee. "Don't be sad—you don't know if he left you!"

Kagome smiled at his mistaken attempt to cheer her up, deciding she'd have all the time in the world to analyse her feelings once Inuyasha was home.

I'm still here to find my best friend. This changes nothing.

"Kaou told me once that his victims take months to wake up, when they do," Shippo commented. "I wonder if they were looking for someone, too."

Kagome was pondering on it when he nudged her and resumed, "But you did it in only two weeks! How can you be so strong?"

It was the wrong thing to say.


A/N: Phew, this one was longer! Sorry, guys, but I couldn't find a good place to cut it.

I altered the nature of Kaou's flowers to better match the Flower Sorceress' ones from the fairytale. She was a gentle kidnapper who just wanted a child, which obviously isn't the case here lol. Also, Gerda spent months in her house, but that would be a bad move in this story.

I don't mean to beg, guys, but I could use some reviews for this one! It's getting harder to mix a Danish fairytale from 1844 with a manga/anime set in Feudal Japan, so pretty please? Lol.

As always, thank you so much for reading! I've pratically memorized the words you've left for me! :)