A soft, warm rain poured down, like tears falling from heaven. The sky was a light, flocculent gray.
Shippo sighed as he peered out the window of the little wooden shack that served as dwelling for the time being. They've been living here long enough to take care of any demons that were causing the village any trouble already. And it's been several days when they have nothing to do but to sit and talk among each other.
"It's raining again." He said aimlessly, to no one in particular. Miroku looked up and said thoughtfully.
"It is. And it's getting harder. I rather like the rain, thought. It has always given me…a chummy feeling." His eyes shifted over to the demon exterminator. "Especially if two people are stuck together in some cozy, private, dark—"
"Don't even think about it, Sir monk." Sango's narrowed eyes and her slightly ticked off voice send Miroku back to polishing his staff in a hurry.
"I was just saying…"
"I love the rain." Kagome said as she sat by the little fire they made. Her stormy eyes were dreamy. "Back in my time, it always felt so cozy when you're inside your warm house and you can hear the raining beating softly outside. It's a nice feeling."
"It is, isn't it?" Miroku scooted closer to Kagome, who didn't even need to look over before she said,
"Forget it, Miroku." The monk sighed. The tiny fox bounded over to Kagome and clutched onto her shoulders.
"Yeah, you can try anything to Sango, just don't touch Kagome. She's Inu-Yasha's property. He would kill you if you touch her."
"Hey!" The dreamy look was gone from Kagome's orbs.
"Oh, thanks, Shippo." Sango rolled her eyes. "I can't believe we have to put up with this. It's been over a week. Doesn't your mind go anywhere else, Lord Miroku?"
"Not really." Came the helpless voice. A hand itched out. Sango mercilessly slapped it away.
"Inu-Yasha should be back soon, shouldn't he?" Shippo inquired, his green eyes round.
"He should," Kagome frowned and said slowly. "We haven't heard from him for over a week. I wonder what's going on."
"Didn't," Sango replied doubtfully. "Didn't he say something about a girl before he left. I could be mistaken." She added hastily, seeing how the other girl's body tensed.
"Yeah!" Not feeling the tension, Shippo chimed in excitedly. "Something about a maiden and a moon."
"A maiden and a moon?" Miroku echoed. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Sounds romantic. Maybe Inu-Yasha has finally cracked and is going head-over-heels over a maiden." He closed his eyes sighed happily. "Finally, we're on the same wavelength."
Feeling three pairs of burning eyes on him, Miroku opened his eyes, then slowly etched away. He can't tell whether the ladies' eyes were fire…or ice. He sighed again, with more remorse this time. He can never seem to say the right things, can he?
"When is Inu-Yasha coming back?" Shippo pulled Kagome's hair.
"I don't know. We're going to have to just keep waiting."
"You're walking too fast." Mikazuki's cries reached Inu-Yasha's ears as he turned back. "How do you expect me to keep up?" He scowled as the rain plastered his hair over his head.
"With your feet." Mikazuki peered up as the rain showered upon her veil. She glared at Inu-Yasha.
"You've been mean ever since Sesshoumaru left two days ago." She accused. "You can walk fast, but just slow enough so I can keep up!"
"We've already wasted enough time." Her brother said stubbornly. "With you and your visit to Kagewaki." He had not stop giving her a hard time about that ever since they left the palace once again.
"Why do you keep bringing that up?!" The maiden was loosing her short temper as well. "Tell me one thing I've done wrong by going back! You got Father's sword sharpened and polished there by our master swordsman, haven't you?"
"You lied with your expressions. I actually felt sorry for you."
"You're suppose to, that's what those expressions are for." Came in insisting reply. Then, a triumphant smirk. "I told you I lie better than you."
Inu-Yasha sputtered, not knowing what to say. Darn it! It's been less than two weeks and already his sister has him cornered. He turned back and returned to walking, her bundle in hands.
"Hurry up," he urged. "I've left my frien—I mean, the people I work with for too long. I have to get back to them. They have the tendency to get into trouble without me there to help them out."
"Really?" For once, his sister's tone was one of respect and admiration. "Can I help?"
He snorted. "Doing what? You can't even get a papercut without passing out. Literally." He added. "Besides, Kagewaki said he'd have my head on a silver plate if I don't keep you safe."
Mikazuki was quiet. So quiet that Inu-Yasha grew apprehensive after a while. His head turned around. "Mikazuki…?"
"I'm on my own now." She said firmly, staring her brother in the eyes. "I left the palace for one reason, Inu-Yasha. To be on my own. To take care of myself, to do what I want to do and what I don't. And I want to do a lot. But they wouldn't let me back at the palace. They always do everything for me. They always protect me from any harm."
"That's…good…is it not?"
"No!" His sister said fiercely. "I want to be in harm's way and to know that I know how to protect myself. I want to do everything I've ever wanted to do that they wouldn't let me."
"Okay…" Inu-Yasha pondered over that concept slowly. "So…what do you want to do?" Mikazuki beamed, under the rain.
"I want to be able to do my own laundry!" She said jubilantly. "I want to cook messes and do things to help people!" A sweatdrop as big as a fist appeared behind Inu-Yasha's head.
"Okay…"
Conclusion: His sister was nuts.
"But really, I want to help you with whatever you do everyday." The princess continued to insist.
"We fight and kill demons." The hanyou thought that would be enough to keep his sister off his back, but behind him came a delighted squeal, crushing his hopes.
"I've always wanted to fight demons! Kagewaki doesn't even let me watch when we have a demon exterminator over." Her voice was disappointed. Inu-Yasha chuckled.
"Well, you'll be living with a demon exterminator soon. Sango's the best demon exterminator in her village."
"Really?! How wonderful!" Inu-Yasha grimaced. All that blood and gore and internal body parts flying apart when they kill a demon? Not wonderful. But anyway, his sister could dream on, it doesn't matter to him.
"We're almost there," he finally nodded ahead. "They're staying just outside of the village, in a little cabin."
"A cabin? I'm so excited to meet them." Like any girl would, Mikazuki automatically patted the wet veil that covered her hair. "Do you think they'll like me?"
"I'm sure they would." Inu-Yasha replied agreeably. He knows that the girls will treat his sister like one of their own and there would be no problem with Shippo, he had always been a favorite to the girls. And Miroku would have absolutely no problem with a new female member in their group, except…
Inu-Yasha pursed his lips. If Miroku dared to try anything with his sister, even his usual greeting of asking the girl to bear his child, he was going to knock him senseless and string him up on a tree by his…
Never mind. He was getting way too enthusiastic.
The rain all of a sudden began pouring as if the sky had suddenly opened up. Mikazuki's silk veil was not protecting her well anymore. Along the horizon of the light smoky sky, Inu-Yasha could just make out a little brown shack. His nose twitched as he smelt ramen.
"It's right ahead!" He had to shout to be heard above the merciless hard beating rain that stung his skin. "Let's run for it before you get soaked!"
"I'm already soaked…"
"I swear I've been gaining weight." Kagome sighed as she dished out the ramen. "All we've been doing—with nothing else around to do—is eating."
"Eating is good!" The little fox demon licked his lips and reached for his bowl.
But before his chopsticks reached his mouth, the door was suddenly thrown open and two drenched figures rushed in. Shippo, who had been in the way of the first comer, was kicked all the way across the room, his ramen bowl overturned on his head as he sat dumbfounded on a patch of dried straw.
Kagome had been so startled that she dropped the bowl and the chopsticks she was holding. She stared at the soaked figure and then cried out,
"Inu-Yasha!" He looked up, his silver hair plastered on his face.
"Oh, hi." He said casually, shaking the water off himself and onto everyone else. He cocked his head. "Did I kick something when I entered?"
"Yes!" Came an indignant howl. "ME!!"
Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. That fox brat may be part of their group, but to him, Shippo was still a small, burnish-haired irritation.
Sango took this time and looked over Inu-Yasha at the timid figure behind him. "Inu-Yasha, this is…?"
"You knocked my noodles over me!!" Was all she got for an answer as the hanyou and the tiny fox youkai was already engaged in a heated argument.
"Well, that's your own fault, you fox brat! Who told you to eat by the door!" Inu-Yasha sneered.
"Fool!" Shippo screeched back. "Do you see much room in here!? There is too many people as it is!"
"Speaking of which," the monk cheerfully interrupted. "Who is that beautiful maiden over there?" Miroku looked curiously over at Mikazuki. Inu-Yasha noted a hungry gleam in his eyes.
"To you, she's off limits." He growled and bared his fangs. "Don't you dare pucker your lips at her, Miroku. Don't you even cast your gaze over to her. If I ever catch you even fluttering an eyelash at her, I'll kill you and escort you personally to hell." The hanyou looked mad enough to carry out the threat.
After making sure Miroku knows that he meant what he said, Inu-Yasha took his sister and led her to the others. "This is my sister, Mikazuki from the Kagewaki Palace." He introduced with—what the others recognized—as a touch of pride in his voice. Mikazuki gingerly lifted off the white veil that covered her face and hair. Her amethyst eyes, shining and curious, swept over the people in the room, then said softly with a small courteous dip of her shoulders,
"It is my honor to meet you all."
At first, Kagome didn't see the maiden's appeal. She lacked Sango's cool, confident, determined beauty. The woman's features seemed less finely chiseled under the silk that covered her hair and face, and she had none of Sango's noble stature. But the moment Mikazuki lifted up her veil and spoke, Kagome realized her error.
She is beautiful, Kagome felt the air go out of her at the sight of the young woman. In fact, she was so marvelously and spectacularly sculpted that Kagome couldn't find her voice.
Kagome knew Mikazuki was about her own age, but she looked so much more than that. She had the most dazzling elegant face she had ever seen on a girl…features of exquisite delicacy and refinement, framed in a halo of raven's wing black hair. Her mouth was delicious, being full without pouting, the crimson lips just softly touching and curving into finely finished little corners that narrowly escaped being dimpled. She had a sober, grave, meditative expression, as if her spirits were much older than her body. However, when the princess smiled softly at her, it vanished in a sudden answering smile, which seemed an illumination of her whole being, as if some lamp had suddenly kindled into flame inside her, irradiating her from top to toe. Best of all it, it was involuntary, born of no external effort of motive, but simply outflashing of a hidden personality, rare and fine and sweet. With that quick exchange of smiles Kagome and Mikazuki were fast friends forever before a word had passed between them.
A young priestess… she's really beautiful. Sango's eyes softened at the sight of the innocent younger girl.
How cool…a young priestess… She's so exotic and pretty… Kagome gave a soft sigh of at the fantasy.
And that smile… what a sweet smile… Miroku stroked his chin with an idiotic grin on his face. Her elegant face…flowering movements…and a priestess…
"We're heading out west tomorrow to search of Breath of Divinity, our destination is the Valley of the Crescent Moon. Sesshoumaru will be our guide." Inu-Yasha was saying, despite of everyone else's attention drawn upon Mikazuki.
"Breath of Divinity?" Kagome echoed, finally tuning back to Inu-Yasha's hurrying words.
"Sesshoumaru?" Miroku's face twisted into a look of disgust.
"The land in the west belongs to Sesshoumaru." The hanyou reminded. "He lords over all demons there. Besides, we know nothing about the Western Lands." He told them briefly about his journey, meeting up with Sesshoumaru, what happened at the palace, and the days it took to come back.
"So she's gotta be really careful during the night of the new moon." Shippo nodded thoughtfully. He had howled with laughter when Inu-Yasha described meeting his sister at a cat, which resulted in a swollen bump on his head where Inu-Yasha had bashed his fist in.
"So Princess Mikazuki is your full sister, Inu-Yasha?" Sango questioned.
"Please, just Mikazuki's fine. I don't need a princess in front of it." Her voice was velvety.Humble.
Kagome was thinking as she watched Mikazuki with admiration. Like a lovely flower. A true young lady. A true princess."You hair is remarkable." She added admiringly as she watched Mikazuki ran a brush through it.
"Thank you, Kagome." The girl smiled. "I like your hair too. It's so stylish and so deliciously short. I bet it feels wonderful in the summer. It must be easy to take care of."
"Yeah," the girl from the future agreed. "It is."
"This is an excellently made robe," The demon exterminator exclaimed over Mikazuki's clothes. "It reminds me of what the Water Goddess we encountered wore. The silk is very finely woven and the stitches are practically invisible!"
"It was made by our royal seamstress, Ketsuya. She is a amazing tailor—Oh, that reminds me. Kagome, Sango, I had brought something for you." Mikazuki's voice grew softer, her face timid and childishly excited at the same time. She reached for her pack and untied it. Kagome, Sango, and Shippo's eyes all widened with amazement as the heiress began to spread and lay out exquisite frocks of all color, design, and style.
"My goodness!" Sango gasped.
"Wow…" Kagome's vision were clouded with brilliant rosy pinks, sea greens, powder blues, soft violets, rich wine red, and shiny golden all mixed with elaborate patterns. Short summer yukatas, longer heavier kimonos, skirts of swishy gauze, vests of thick doubled silk, snow-white shirts made of the softest gossamer, and apparels of soft and rich colors all blended in to make the most wonderful collection.
"Pick one." Mikazuki looked pleased. Sango and Kagome both looked delighted at the generous offer. "I had asked Inu-Yasha about your measuring and I figured we could fit into each others clothing. Go ahead," she urged. "Pick a favorite to keep. And the rest we could share as we travel along. That's the reason why I brought so many."
"All this time, I've been carrying women's clothing?" Inu-Yasha looked appalled.
"Oh, be quiet, Inu-Yasha. These are beautiful!" Kagome was still enraptured by the lavish gowns.
"But—"
"Sit." Was the automatic answer. Inu-Yasha slammed into the dirt ground. Barely audible curses were heard beneath the dirt.
"I-I don't know which one to pick." Sango was stammering, her magenta eyes danced from one gown to another.
"Are they not to your liking?" Mikazuki was concerned.
"Oh, no! They are all so lovely that I can't decide!"
The girls pondered and examined all the frocks with giggles of delight at each item. Finally, Sango settled on a fine silk robe that was a rosy cherry pink covered with still pinker roses and butterflies.
The one Kagome finally selected was made of layered semi-sheer panels in blue and green, the color constantly changing, like the sea in the filtered light of clouds. Small iron weights were sewn into the corners at the neckline to keep the silky fabric from slipping of at the shoulders.
"You ladies look as sweet as an angel's kiss." Miroku sighed as if he was in heaven and etched closer to the female flock.
"This is so much fun!" Kagome giggled lightly and spoke up, her eyes shining with laughter though her eyes seemed just a bit wistful, "I wish I was a princess. It must be exquisite being a princess. With all those beautiful priceless items and the will to do whatever you want!"
"I am a princess. All girls are." Mikazuki looked up. "Didn't your father ever tell you that?"
"My father never called me that. He wanted me to be strong." Sango remembered.
"All girls have the same yearning, to be a princess, to be cherished." Miroku whispered to Inu-Yasha, who had a bewildered expression on his face.
"My dad use to call me princess when I was little." Kagome grinned. "He told me all girls are princesses and somewhere out in the world, there is always someone for every little girl who wears a tiara on her heart."
"Hey," Inu-Yasha finally interrupted. "Enough about this princess stuff, when and what are we going to eat?"
"All the ramen's gone, thanks to you…" Shippo muttered.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault!" Inu-Yasha was just about to began another heated conversation but Miroku tapped him on the shoulder and sighed.
"Let's go, Inu-Yasha. Unless we find some small game by nightfall, we're going to go hungry…"