Chapter Six

~Three years later~

"Look how've you grown up, Rin!" Kagura noted, seeing that yet another yukata became too small for the girl.

"But we can buy lots of new ones at the festival, can't we, Kagura-chan?"

"We can, but you must wear something there, right?"

"Well, I can ask Kiroko to lend me one, she is my height."

"I have a better idea." Kagura went to her room and brought a casket where she kept her wardrobe. She opened it and picked out one of the kimonos. "I remember you really like this one."

"But, Kagura-chan, it is one of your best kimonos!" Rin protested.

"I'll wear something else, and as you said, 'We can always buy new clothes at the festival'."

"But we must look our best! The whole family will be there!"

"That's why you must accept my present. I'll make something for myself."

"Okay, but I'll help you with yours. Promise?"

"Promise."

The household was wild with preparations for the harvest festival at Inuyasha's village. The festival happened every year, but every five years all Rin's descendants gathered together as one family. To Kagura's understanding, it was the time to show how well off you'd become in five years since the last festival, introduce new children and spouses. She also couldn't help but wonder what her place was in the gathering. How will she even introduce herself?

Those thoughts were put on hold however by Rin, who made it her mission to find the perfect kimono for Kagura. They had been walking the market for hours, but their search was fruitless. And then Kagura saw it – the most perfect garment ever. Its whiteness instantly reminded her of the snow white outfit of the youkai who hadn't visited six months already.

It must've been his long absence that made her do what she did. But it was pointless to dwell on the past, she had to move forward, to a better life. And she certainly couldn't do it without the creamy white kimono with black flower patterns.

Due to the presence of children ordinary means of transportation were used to get to Inuyasha village. The whole ride Kagura was listening once again about who was who in the family. Came out that humans were only the founders of the lineage – Rin and Kohaku. All others had youkai blood or their spouses had it. She also wondered how she would interact with Tanaki and his new family. She definitely didn't want a scandal of any sort, especially one involving Rin.

On the fourth day of the tiring ride, they'd finally reached Inuyasha village. Naruki headed the wagon towards Inuyasha's house right away. They reached it only several hours later however, since they had to stop to greet numerous acquaintances, friends, friends of friends and relatives. Kagura felt really awkward among that mass of complete strangers. She was introduced as Rin's caretaker and tried to remember everybody whom they met not to embarrass herself during the festival which was to begin on the next day.

…

"Common, Kagura-chan, just one more stand!" Rin shouted over the crowd, dragging Kagura through the rows of festival stands.

"Okay, but this is the last one," Kagura conceded. "It is past your bedtime already, Rin. If you don't get enough sleep, you won't be able to visit all the remained stands tomorrow."

"I promise it will be the last one!"

But of course it wasn't the last one. Kagura had been dragged around for at least two more hours till Rin was only stopped by her exhausted legs and hurting stomach from all the food she consumed during her food stands' spree. Rin securely tucked in on the futon in the room provided in Inuyasha's house, Kagura headed to the family dinner.

At times Kagura wondered what position Inuyasha and Kagome held at their village. She knew that the village's name was not connected to anything Inuyasha did, the name just stuck as he was stuck to a tree for half a century. Their house was as large as the house of the head of the village, if not bigger. Did they accumulate wealth from the abnormally long life they live? Or did the house have other purposes? Like housing the whole clan of Sesshomaru? Technically, they were not related to Inuyasha in any way, as far as Kagura knew.

"I really don't care about this stuff right now. No doubt I will be asked a lot of questions the moment I step through the door. And I don't really have the answers."

By the time she had gotten to the right room it was already full and the only available place was… She wasn't exactly surprised.

"How did you find the festival?" Sesshomaru uttered the moment Kagura got seated beside him.

Kagura raised her eyebrows in surprise. It sounded as if he couldn't wait anymore to say those words. As if he was waiting the whole day to say something to her. "Thanks to Rin, I've managed to see all the stands. I wonder what we will do tomorrow. I doubt I will survive the repetition of today."

"Tomorrow is the day for games."

"That must be lovely."

"Indeed."

"It is a full moon tonight. Must be quite a view from the hill outside the village," Kagura remarked sounding nonchalant, but her trembling chopsticks gave away her nervousness.

"Indeed."

Meanwhile on the other end of the table…

"Mum, can you tell me what is going on between Oji-san and that woman?"

"What could you possibly mean by that, Yasha?" Kagome asked in return, but still threw a glance at Sesshomaru and Kagura who seemed to be having a casual conversation.

"Because whenever I come for Kagura, he is always in the vicinity. Moreover, she insults him, even dares to hit him, and Oji-san doesn't move a finger against her. And when you asked to bring her to help with delivery, he didn't allow me to carry her. And look at them now – their clothes freaking match!" Yasha exclaimed in hushed whisper.

"So what? Are you perhaps jealous, my son?" Kagome asked, her glance full of amusement.

"Of course not!" he heatedly protested. "You know that Youko is the only one for me. I just want to know what's going on. Oji-san's never acted like this, I just know it."

"Let your Oji-san be, Yasha. He is just struggling not to have a good time."

"This makes no sense, mother."

"You'll understand only when you lose something truly dear to you and then receive another chance to gain it back."

…..

The moon was indeed beautiful that night. If one was standing on the hill, then it seemed to be so close one could touch it. Kagura watched the moon too, but not the real one. The moonlight flickered in some amazing ways when ascending onto Sesshomaru's forehead.

"I saw Shippo today. And his… mate, I presume," Kagura finally said to fill up the silence. She just couldn't work up the courage to bring up the subject why she called him out. Of course, she didn't even hope for the taiyoukai to show up. "They look lovely together. How do youkai find mates for themselves? Is it easier than with humans?"

"Do you ask because you can't make your choice?" Sesshomaru asked back.

"And what if I do?" Kagura blurted, instantly going onto defensive.

"Does it concern the matter that Hitomi told me to ask you about?"

"What could you possibly be talking about?"

"Something happened to you two months ago."

"It isn't this Sesshomaru's business," she mocked, but certainly standing her ground on not disclosing anything about the incident.

"Was a man involved?"

"How do you know?"

Sesshomaru smirked. "Humans are so simple. All men's problems enroll around women, and it's backwards with women. What man decided to cross your path, Kagura?"

Kagura draw her gaze to the ground. She didn't want him to know. For the sake of all parties involved. And also because she was ashamed of allowing it to happen. On the other hand, she couldn't fight him, somehow Sesshomaru made her do or say anything he wanted without applying any pressure.

"Four months ago, a man approached me. One of the slayers that frequent Naruki's house. I remembered him as kind and joyful, not to mention, rather handsome. I accepted his courting. For two months it had been rather pleasant, but one evening he got drunk and… and he… forced himself on me. He didn't hit me or hurt me in any way. Apologized profusely in the morning too. Of course, I had to end it. And told nothing to anyone for his sake and mine. And you are not going to do anything to him!"

"Why should this Sesshomaru care for correcting your mistakes?"

"Because there is this fire in your eyes right now. As if you are out for blood. And no blood must be shared on such petite issue."

"So you forgave him?" Sesshomaru spat, his low, trembling voice, betrayed his attempt to hide his anger.

"Yes, because I was partly at fault too. While he was drunk he told me, I was a tease, belonging to no one and looking down on the men around me. And that is the truth. What really hurt was that he pointed out that since I am not a virgin anymore anyway, it was pointless to guard my reputation. He basically called me a whore. Yeah, that was what hurt the most. My past will follow me whenever I go and however I live," she finished with a tired sign. Despair and misery were the last feelings she wanted to drag out on such a beautiful night.

"Youkai find their mates by instinct. From the very first moment they know that the other youkai is suitable for them."

"With humans it is much more complicated. Humans seem not to be as simple in love affairs as youkai are," Kagura remarked with irony, referring to Sesshomaru's earlier statement. "And yet I envy them. It is like love at first sight, you only need to find the one for you. Are you still looking or was that wind youkai the one for you?"

Instead of responding, Sesshomaru turned around and started ascending from the hill.

"Wait! I want to give you something!" That made Sesshomaru stop, but he remained facing Kagura with his back. Thankful that she managed to grab his attention, Kagura took from her sleeve a long handmade braided ribbon. "It is a tradition to exchange gifts on festivals. Will you accept this? I doubt your hair bother you or anything, but-" Her babbling was stopped by the clawed hand reaching out and relieving her of her burden.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Sesshomaru remained, towering over her, searching for something in her eyes. Kagura gazed back, amazed once again by the depth of the golden orbs. And then he was gone, leaving Kagura trembling from head to toe, recalling the feathery brushing of his nose against hers.

….

The second day of the festival was indeed devoted to games and competitions among men. Kagura encouraged Rin to go and play with other children, thus leaving her alone, but Kagura had to keep Rin's interests at heart. The girl managed to make some new friends after moving into the new home, but still was unusually socially unadapt for her age.

Kagura was looking at some textiles for the kimonos she and Rin planned to make after returning home, when she was approached by Hitomi.

"Did you manage to talk to Sesshomaru-sama before he left?" Hitomi asked without preamble.

"So he left, hm?" Kagura sighed, still engrossed in the cloth assortment. "You shouldn't have told him."

"I should've stopped it from happening," Hitomi retorted.

"No. I should've. But I couldn't. I didn't fight at all, only waited when everything would be over. I must learn to fight my own battles."

"Sesshomaru-sama will fight your battles, you know."

"Even if I am a mere human, I can do it myself," Kagura proclaimed heatedly.

"Your choice. Well, I'm going to root for my husband in the fighting competition. Moreover, Yasha promised to finally bring his future mate over."

"Future mate?"

"Well, he is of age. The problem is that she is only fifty years old. So he is waiting. That's we, with youkai blood, can do very well – wait for the time being just right."

"So she is a hanoyu?"

"Not in the common sense. Remember the blue haori he wears? It was made from the fur of bear youkai. Humans can't handle magical items, therefore make anything from them. And since Yasha not only wanted but needed a protective garment like his father's to be a successful youkai exterminator, he found the material and began the hunt for someone who could work with it. I don't know the details, only heard that it took him at least ten years to find a practitioner somewhere on the swamp, a mere girl back then."

"Love at first sight, ha?" Kagura said under her breath.

The girl was indeed a sight to behold with light blue hair, almost transparent skin and large blue eyes, shining like sapphires. Yasha carried her on his shoulder, for her delicate figure not to be hurt in the crowd. She looked not older than sixteen! Kagura was amazed by seeing the usually rough Yasha treat the girl as if she was Kami herself.

"The love of the youkai can be boundless, but only if their hearts are open for it. Do you see her, when you look at me, Sesshomaru?"