Summary: Minato makes the first move and gains an unwilling ally in the form of one weary miko who eventually accepts him and becomes a true friend.
AN: Disclaimer in first chapter
...ooO Vows Ooo...
Sesshoumaru sipped his tea and wondered just when the ningen intruder would reveal his presence. If he did not make his intentions clear before the end of this meeting he would slaughter the male as an enemy spy.
One part of his mind listened to the mikos report on the kits health while the other part went through a list of options.
"Kagome."
"Yes Sesshoumaru?"
"What would you recommend? About Takashis litter?"
Kagome blinked, surprised that the taiyoukai would ask for her advice. Quickly she pulled herself together.
"I would suggest keeping a male, to take his fathers place in your household."
The inu-taiyoukai sensed she had more to say. "And?"
"A female, a daughter for your household since you have none of your own. A chatelaine and hostess when she is older. Perhaps even a bride if it is necessary to seal an alliance."
Sesshoumaru frowned and nodded slowly. He had not considered that.
Feeling emboldened Kagome continued. "I would recommend raising them separately so your enemies cannot get both of them in one shot. Perhaps when they are older they can be brought up in the same household."
Sesshoumaru absorbed her advice and began making plans of his own. "Very well. The eldest daughter and the second son. The other two will be brought up by Tomoes clan." Kagome bowed her head in acquiesce. "And I have something to ask of you Kagome." She tilted her head inquiringly. "I wish for you to raise the female kit in Ningenkai."
Kagome blinked. "Sesshoumaru-sama… I am honoured by your trust but it is a grave responsibility! I can-."
"You do not have to worry about assassins from Makai. Only those that are already here or Summoned by ningens. The few Summons Contract Holders have any knowledge of Makai or youkai. I want the kit to grow up familiar and comfortable with ningens, enough to act as an agent if need be. Since Shippo left my service it has been difficult finding youkai who can interact easily with ningens in Ningenkai."
Kagome frowned. "I swear I will protect Tamako-chan and do the best I can to teach her but I cannot promise anything. I am not trained to be a teacher."
"I don't want a teacher to impress preconceived notions on unformed minds. I want the kit to learn human mannerisms and interactions through observation. You do not have to live in a human community but perhaps a fortified structure few miles away. Visit the local village on market days or during festival days."
Kagomes eyes widened. "Ohhhh. Total immersion."
"Once she is old enough she can have youkai instructors in Makai."
Kagome nodded agreeably. "That is a sound idea. But I'm not sure if you are aware of this Sesshoumaru-sama but there are several Hidden Villages all across this continent with shinobi who can draw out and manipulate their energies in elemental attacks or to reinforce their bodies or trick the mind. They call these techniques ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
"Most of the ordinary humans hire these shinobis for dangerous or difficult jobs, mainly delivery, protection, retrieval, or killing. The thing is these shinobis travel all across the continent to and from jobs. If one of them stumbles across Tamako-chan and myself I cannot guarantee I can drive them all off. My powers are more geared towards opponents of youkai heritage."
Sesshoumaru growled. He had not considered the possibility of human threat other than the run of the mill bandits. There had been no 'holy' persons born in centuries. Sesshoumaru truly believed the Kamis had abandoned Ningens for their quickness to resort to mutual annihilation wars. At least these shinobis sounded like individuals who used skill not massive machinery designed purely for war!
Kagome shrugged. "This place has been quiet but there have been instances. Mainly a Kusa team of three teenagers and one adult, presumably their teacher crossing the grasslands and forests. Luckily the children were noisy enough I managed to get behind the sutra barriers." She made a wry face. "After that I went into town and did some gossiping and found out of these shinobis. There are no houshi or mikos but shinobis will be the next greatest threat."
"I believe I could help there."
Kagome stiffened and spun before falling into a low crouch gathering her power around her clenched fists. Who was this intruder? Surely Sesshoumaru would have sensed his presence long before now! A quick peek at taiyoukai confirmed her suspicions. Sesshoumaru had known of the ningen all along.
..oo..
Minato screwed up his courage and decided to make his presence known.
"I believe I could help there."
He forced himself not to move under the cold blue eyes of the miko Kagome. The taiyoukai was calmer. He had known of his presence all along.
"My name is Namikaze Minato. I am a jounin shinobi of Konoha. You mentioned you were looking for an out-of-the way hiding spot? Tea Country is pretty good. The only people who go there are tourists. There are several empty estates and vacation homes for rent. I am willing to enter into a contract provided we can both agree on the terms. If we don't I will leave and not tell anyone of what I've seen or heard. I am willing to swear and sign a contract to that effect right now."
Sesshoumaru Knew this ningen was telling the truth. Gold eyes gleamed. "The contracts can wait. Tell me more jounin, about your village."
..oo..
After two hours of conversation a bargain was hammered between the taiyoukai and the shinobi. Minato would rent one of the houses closet to a tourist town and then return to guide Kagome and Tamako to their new lodging. Thereafter he would make regular monthly visits to ensure they were fine. This would be an off-the-record mission with no reports filed in Konoha. In return Sesshoumaru would pay for all the expenses plus a generous stipend. And Minato would have the opportunity of asking questions and getting answers from the reluctant miko provided she felt like responding.
..oo..
Kagome glared at the spikey haired blonde. She hated the way he had hit all the points to get Sesshoumarus favour. The taiyoukai was not overly fond of humans but he recognized and respected competence and strength, qualities this Namikaze Minato was displaying in spades. Of course there was always the possibility he would betray them to his village but Sesshoumaru made the penalty for such an action very clear. Messy painful death for him and his allies, and oblivion for his entire village. Given how Namikaze did not flinch or recoil it led Kagome to believe he had no plans or thoughts to betray. For now that is.
Kagome tried to ignore the hot burning sensation in her stomach. Some part of her wanted to jump up and scream her refusal to cooperate, to hit the shinobi and make him hurt and bleed. The other part wanted to run away and hide knowing he was strong and much more capable of hurting her. A tiny almost non-existent part wanted to give in, to trust him and his vows to protect and never betray.
Namikaze looked nothing like anyone in her past with his not-too-short messy blonde hair, tanned skin and more masculine-chiselled features, polite respectful manners, but Kagome knew he could hurt her and it terrified her. Taking hard earned lessons of experience to heart she channelled that fear into aggression.
"Namikaze-san, just because I am agreeing to follow Sesshoumarus plan it doesn't mean I like you or what you choose to do for a living! So don't expect me to be very helpful or answer any of your questions!"
She pushed herself to her feet and stalked out of the room, slamming the sliding doors shut behind her.
Minato winced and looked at the taiyoukai who was more interested in his tea.
"She hates me."
Cool amber eyes lanced into the shinobi. "You must have had clients who disagreed with you. Work around Kagome. She is sensible enough she will not actively risk her safety or Tamakos."
Minato nodded slowly, his usually cheerful optimism coming to the fore. He had to struggle to gain the recognition of higher ranked shinobis since he had no clan history or family techniques. He needed to catch their interest in order to get their support for his future plans to be Hokage. He could never settle on just being good, he had to be the best and outshine the rest. Hard work, persistence, and patience helped him hone his skills and develop his personal jutsus. Minato was certain they would help him win over Hiragushi Kagome. It could be quite a few months before she softened enough to respond to his overtures but he was patient, he could wait.
...ooOoo...
Kagome smiled faintly as she sipped her herbal tea and remembered just how she had reached this point, soft enough to prepare for His visits in anticipation. He had refused to throw in the towel, to give up on her. His persistence and positive attitude reminded her of her teenage self, when she first passed through the Well. Even through the months of open war with Iwa he still maintained his upbeat air.
…ooO Begin Flashback …
"Hiragushi-san, I know it isn't much but the house is in a good spot. Easy to defend if you retreat to the cellar which has a tunnel exit into the forest. I can show you where it comes out after you get settled in."
..oo..
"I want you to practice these katas. If you do them regularly your body will react automatically without thinking. It will help if you are attacked and you don't want to use your powers."
..oo..
"Tamako-chan is growing very fast isn't she? She is just a couple of months old and already she looks ready to walk."
"Youkai infants grow very fast. They slow down after two-three years when they look about five or six. Childhood and puberty have different lengths depending on the species and clan."
..oo..
"I want you to call me Minato."
"Namikaze is your name."
"It is my clan name and a reminder that I am alone with no relatives."
"It is your name."
"Perhaps. But in my mind I am Minato before I am Namikaze."
"I will think about it."
..oo..
"Minato-san, tell me about kekkai genkais."
"What do you want to know Hiragushi-san?"
"Describe one to me. It doesn't have to be from your village."
"Okay. I heard of one from Iwa where the clan members have mouths in their hands. It chews clay and spits up explosive clay the shinobi can mold into different forms and animate using a special jutsu."
"What else?"
"There is a clan in Konoha that can absorb the chakra of other shinobis. And one who forms contracts with kikkaku insects. The Aburames allow the bugs to live inside them and feed on their chakra, in turn the insects help them defend against attackers and to drain opponents of their chakra."
There was a long silence.
"Your kekkai genkai abilities sound like something a hanyou would have."
"A hanyou?"
"An individual born of usually a youkai father and a human mother. Most youkai-onna are not very compassionate or protective regarding weak offspring and often have greater control over their own fertility."
"You mean…"
"I cannot say for certain without meeting a kekkai genkai bearer."
"One of my students is one. Uchiha Obito. His clan has the Sharingen kekkai genkai. It allows them to anticipate chakra flows and copy techniques by 'seeing' in slow motion."
"Ah. Speed camera and photographic memory. Most youkais have eyesight that is more reactive and sensitive than ningens. They have to since their opponents tend to be youkai with much greater speed and endurance. To survive their fights they have to be able to see quick enough to respond to potential attacks."
"Would you like to meet Obito-kun?"
"No. He might feel obligated to inform his clan. I would prefer if no one knows of our arrangement or Tamako."
..oo..
"Obito-kun is dead."
"Tell me of him. How he lived and how he died."
"You aren't going to tell me you are sorry? That he is dead?"
"Why should I? I have never met him. I regret your pain and sorrow but I cannot feel sorry because everything dies sooner or later. He was a shinobi like you. Your village fighting a war. Death is inevitable for at least a few on both sides."
"You are right. It's just that-."
"Don't. Regret. Mourn. Grieve. Then move on. Do not cling to the past."
"Then why do you cling to the past Hiragushi-san?"
"Because it is all I have left. I have nothing else to call my own."
"You have Tamako. And Sesshoumaru. And those other youkai you told me about."
"They are my friends but they are not Mine Minato-san. They have their own packs, lives, and concerns. I am but on the fringe of it."
"Don't you want more?"
"Of course I do. But I've given up on ever getting it."
..oo..
"It will be Tamako-chans birthday in two months. She will understand if you cannot make it with the war-."
"No. Keep this with you."
"What is it? It looks like one of your kunai. Isn't it unbalanced with three tips?"
"It is something I've been working on. A special jutsu called Hiraishin. It will allow me to transport from wherever I am to wherever there one of these is."
"Isn't that energy draining? I mean what if it was a hundred miles away?"
"I have a limit. I don't want to experiment with pushing it until the war is over but currently it is about five by five square miles."
"Then why are you giving this to me? You will be in Fire Country."
"True. But I've planted several of these along the way in various safe houses. I can use them as anchor points for a series of Hiraishin jumps. Hopefully one will be close enough to you for a direct jump. If not I can still sense it and do a triangulation to track your location. Or at least this tri-tipped kunais location."
..oo..
"Minato-san?"
"Yes?"
"You can call me Kagome."
"As you wish, Kagome-san."
... End Flashback Ooo…
"Tadaima Kagome-chan!"
"Minato-jii-san!" Tamako squealed and pushed herself to her feet to toddle over to the open doorway and the blonde jounin.
Kagome smiled as she followed the kitsune kit and watched Minato toss the squealing child up in the air before catching her under her arms and swinging her around in circles. Tou-san used to do that to her when she was young.
"Welcome Minato-kun. I have dinner is waiting."
She watched as he quickly consumed nearly a full platter of onigiri, then three bowls of red bean soup. She always tried to make sure she had something for him to eat. High level jutsus such as Hiraishin severely drained the reserves of the user.
While he was polishing off a small plate of dangos Kagome put the reluctant kit to bed and waited until she was settled down and asleep before returning to the kitchen. She was pleasantly surprised to see he had already finished most of the dishes.
"Thank you for doing the dishes."
"Thank you for the meal." He returned in kind.
Then Kagome noticed he looked faintly distracted, worried.
"What is wrong Minato-kun?"
"You know what I told you last time? That Sandaime-sama has nominated me as one of the candidates to be Yondaime Hokage?"
Kagome was confused. "Hai. What does that have to do with it? I thought it is what you wanted. You said it was your dream to be Hokage."
Minato reversed one of the dining room chairs and straddled it, resting his forearms and chin across the top of the backrest.
"I have been asked to do something. For the good of Konoha as all Hokages must."
"Do what?"
"They want me to marry a kunoichi from now defunct Uzi no Kuni."
Kagome frowned. "But why? I thought you were winning the war. You don't need any other allies."
"It isn't just that. Uzi had a lot of powerful shinobis, clans, jutsus and kekkai genkais. They would be a welcome addition to any Hidden Village. Right now they are being courted by several other not-too friendly villages. The Clan Elders are leaning towards Konoha but they want an indication that this will be a two-way lasting deal and that they won't be thrown out once they give up their secrets and jutsus to Konoha."
Kagome stilled. Her heart struggled. "Isn't there someone else? Someone more prestigious?"
"I might be an orphan with no clan but I am a Hokage candidate and my chances are looking pretty good according to Sandaime-sama. The Hiraishin has been increasing our position of leverage against Iwa and all the other villages know it. The Council is pissed but the shinobi clans support my desire to keep the actual details of technique a secret, to be a clan jutsu."
"Aren't there other more renowned shinobis?"
"There are the Sannin but they are much older than the lead Uzi clans heiress. Her name is Uzumaki Kushina."
"You seem to be set on this path. Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm not sure. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance."
"That I cannot give you Minato-kun. Nothing in life is guaranteed. The only thing I can assure you of is my continued friendship and support."
"Thank you Kagome-chan."
...ooOoo...
Kagome sighed as she studied the pale strained face of the man who had become her best friend. In the months after he had married and become Hokage he had lost weight, gained deeper creases around his face and quite a few strands of white hair.
Why wasn't anyone looking after him in Konoha? Surely a medic with brains would have the sense to recognize the symptoms of mental stress and emotional pressure! Or were they so in awe of the Kiroi Senkoi that they forgot Namikaze Minato was a man before he was Hokage?
He blinked blearily. His pupils took a long time to focus on her.
"Ohayo Kagome-chan." Even his voice was a papery whisper.
"Ohayo Minato-kun." Her voice was troubled. "What has happened to you? What have you been doing to yourself?"
He did not have the energy to even sit up in the futon. Kagome had to sit on the edge and help him sit up next to her and offer her shoulder as a brace.
She could literally feel something in him give as the spikey blonde head fell on her shoulder. Unheeding she shifted so she knelt on the futon before him, and then guided his head to the crook of her neck.
"What happened Minato-kun? Tell me."
There was a long silence. At the end of it he lifted his head and looked at her through empty dull brown eyes.
"It isn't working. All we do is fight with each other. Kushina wants me to send shinobis to reclaim Uzi no Kuni but it is not acceptable. The cost is too high." His firm mouth trembled. "She is absolutely furious. She wants to separate after a son is born."
Kagome frowned. "Did you talk to her clan elders? They might be able to knock some sense into her."
Minato shrugged. "I mentioned it to them. They agree with my decision as well. Kushina is one of a minor faction of young hotheads. They can make things difficult but they will not get their way in the end."
"If they knew she felt like this then why was she chosen as the Alliance Bride?"
"She is the only surviving scion of the most prestigious Uzi shinobi clan. And she said she was willing. It's only after she became pregnant that she turned on the pressure. She threatened to have an abortion."
Kagomes heart froze. "Was there a chance she would have gone through with it?"
"Not really. She knows it is her duty to have a child, so her lineage is not lost. If she went through with it I would have every right to divorce her without any penalty. And her own people would have supported me since there was no medical reason for the procedure. She would have become Outcast."
The ball of ice melted a tad. "Good. But what about you? How are you holding up?"
"Badly." He admitted honestly. "The paperwork sucks, the political machinations is driving me nuts, the alliances and treaties are so convoluted I have to go through six versions to figure out just what is being said!"
"But what of your personal life?"
"I don't have a personal life. I sleep in the office because it is less of a strain than going home to a cold angry wife."
"Have you tried talking to someone? Perhaps your old sensei? Or even Sandaime?"
"Yes. They tell me it is just pregnancy hormones. That she'll calm down. But I really don't think things will work out." He sighed. "I honestly think she is going to demand a separation after the baby is born."
Kagome did not know what to say. Assuring him everything would be all right would be a lie so she did the only thing she could. She drew him close and wrapped her arms around him.
"If she chooses her path it is her choice. You will survive as will your child. Just make sure she doesn't have the chance to run off with the baby. Make it very clear to her own clan elders that you don't trust her mental state. Tell them the hormones are probably giving her wilder mood swings."
Minato let out a shuddering breath. "I know I will survive. But I don't want to just survive! I want a family of my own! I want a wife who at least cares for me, and many children."
"The wife part you have to figure out for yourself. If you want children then adopt. I am certain Konoha has many orphans who need a stable adult figure and welcoming home. You'll probably need to hire a dependable woman as a nanny since the Bitch won't be around to help."
Minato made a choked sound, one halfway between a cough and a laugh.
"I'll take your advice into consideration Kagome-chan." He pulled away and looked at her through more lively eyes. "Would you like a job as my advisor? Someone to keep me on an even keel?"
Kagome snorted. "Not if it means moving to Konoha. If you want my advice just keep on visiting me."
He smiled more faintly. "Konoha is a nice place."
"All places are nice until things go wrong. Then they'll turn on the newcomer or those most vulnerable."
Minato shook his head. It was an old argument between them. Looked like she still needed more time.
But she did give very useful practical advice. He could start interviewing for a nanny or two when he got back. And perhaps adopt older children, ones who childless married couples tended to pass over. He knew what it was like, to be considered too plain, too skinny, too old, too quiet... He knew what it was like to be an orphan.
But first he had to get Kagome to at least visit Konoha.
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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