Author's Note: I lost a lot of inspiration, so I apologize for this chapter. My hours at work more than doubled, so I've been really tired and bereft of creativity. Hopefully it'll get better.
Chapter 39
News of the couple's coming mating was kept extraordinarily secret. Hand carried private missives were sent to Yoko and Takehiko's family. Matsu was still too new to his rule and not quite as trusted as the northern lord and eastern lady. They planned the ceremony for two weeks out, not wanting to rush things, though not wishing to delay them too much longer either, much to Sesshomaru's relief.
Sitting on her bed, Kagome sifted through piles of material that her overly eager neko servant friend had brought her, insisting she find the perfect one for her gown. The little miko couldn't help being caught up in the excitement. Not one to be bothered by the fact that it would be a smaller ceremony than she'd dreamt of as a child, she smiled dreamily as she looked over the fabrics, still incapable of making her brain acknowledge the fact that she was marrying Sesshomaru. She was really marrying him!
Giggling to herself, she realized what her reaction would have been so many years ago, if she had told a very battered and injured version of herself, as she was carried to the well by none other than her love, that this day would come. Akiko gave her a strange look as she continued to pile neatly folded fabric in the girl's lap.
"Oh, Akiko-chan!" she exclaimed, grasping her surprised neko friend's hands. "I never thought this would ever, even in my wildest dreams actually happen to me!" The demoness flashed a brilliant and genuine smile at her lady, sweeping her into a big hug.
"No one deserves it more, Kagome-san," the women embraced tightly for a few moments longer before holding one another at arm's length and giggling lightly.
Later that night the futuristic miko lay on her futon, staring at the dark ceiling, the moon playing its gentle light across her covers and shining off the floorboards. Her mind awhirl with all sorts of thoughts and dreams she found it impossible to think, her stomach a flutter of anticipation for the next two weeks to come. Repeatedly her thoughts returned to the years spanning her dubious friendship with the demon lord she had so fallen head-over-heels for.
With clarity she recalled the first time she ever laid eyes on the stoic lord, his unearthly beauty making him seem so far away from her; so inaccessible and cold. Then came the day she pulled the Tetusaiga from its resting place in his father's tomb, the day he lost his arm to hers and InuYasha's careless actions.
Lazily, her thoughts continued to roll forward in time, replaying the rare and touching scenes when he would show up with the little girl, Rin in tow, Jaken squawking his disapproval the whole way. The memory of the times he'd saved her life, whether purposefully or accidentally drifted through her thoughts; the final days before the battle and his acquiescing to bury her friends.
So clearly she remembered the feel of his arm holding her as she drifted in and out of consciousness during the trip to the well, her embarrassment when she awoke in the tub in her panties and bra; his first real words to her as an equal when he told her not to mock the memories of her friends with her guilt.
Their time in the future, the sword lessons, their time in school, the night club, shopping together at the mall; the intense feelings when he did things like scare her and make her hit her head on the desk she was crouched under. That particular memory brought an involuntary giggle bubbling out of her. Then shortly after was their first kiss.
Shifting onto her side and closing her eyes, she could still feel herself laying on top of him, looking down, his hair splayed out around him like a blanket of molten silver, his intense golden eyes regarding her with barely suppressed amusement. Then the feeling of their lips pressed together for the first time. Shivers ran down her spine and she smiled. The memory of her mother walking in on them gave her a bittersweet smile.
I wonder how they're doing? If she had stopped to think about the situation, it would have occurred to her that they didn't even exist yet. This fact was irrelevant to her however because her precious well spanned time. Oddly enough it always seemed to run parallel as well. Night time in the feudal era was night time in the future.
Rolling again to her back, she watched the shadows dance across the ceiling again, her vision faded, not even seeing anything in her present time. I wonder what they're doing right now? Despite the fact that he was annoying, she greatly missed her little brother, Souta.
Briefly, her mother's loving face flitted across her vision and tears sprang to her eyes. There wouldn't be any dress shopping together, no bridal plans, no cake shopping, no invitation design browsing, no mother-daughter bonding over coffee with full shopping bags next to them in the little café in the mall. Her mother wouldn't even get to see the ceremony. If she ever even saw her mother again she wondered if she would recognize her own daughter.
Sitting up, she curled her legs against her and hugged them tightly, resting her head on her knees and gazing out the window sadly. If I ever see her or Souta again, will they even know me? Will I have changed too much? I've been so focused on rising to the challenges of living here in the feudal era that I've forgotten all about trying to go home. A silent tear slid down her cheek.
She knew. She knew that no matter how much she would miss her mother and her home, her place was here, in the feudal era at the side of the most powerful taiyoukai in all Japan, for better or for worse.
Chances were she would never see her mom and brother again. Humans don't live long against the test of time. Demons fare better, but that simply meant that perhaps Sesshomaru would live to finally meet her mother… long after she herself was gone.
Picking up her head she gazed out the window intently. "How would that work even?" she asked the darkness. Surely if he even survived to the future he would hide his aura. Otherwise she would have felt someone so powerful during her forays home. Perhaps he watches over their home in secret? If he survives to the future, maybe that's why she never felt threatening youki. Perhaps he kept them all away?
Shaking her head at her thoughts she smiled. Doubtful. All history of demons stops after the holy wars. Who knows if youkai even survive at all? With the Seisenmin gathering in power the little miko didn't doubt that soon a war would soon erupt. How soon was another debate; it may not even be in her lifetime.
Then there was history itself. She knew the war would have to occur. If it does happen in her lifetime, who is she to stop the flow of history? To perhaps make a wrong decision and alter things?
A strangled hiccup accompanied a disturbing thought. What if history dictated that she outlive Sesshomaru? What if things accelerate and he dies in battle? Closing her eyes tightly she willed such thoughts away. No need to dwell on things yet to come.
Skirting such dangerous thoughts, she teetered back to safe ground, her wedding. He may call it a mating ceremony all he wishes, but DAMNIT! It's MY wedding! A giggle escaped her and she laid down, sleep continuing to run circles around her, taunting her in a most irritating manner.
Rubbing her eyes and glaring in indignation at the sun peeking over her balcony she couldn't help but wonder if Sesshomaru gave her this room on purpose. Sure, it was the one right next to his, but it faced east. Why in Kami's name would anyone want their bedroom window to face east?
Akiko smiled at the grumpy woman. Unbeknownst to Kagome, she had been aware of her sleepless night and had shooed Sesshomaru away when he had arrived at her door to take her to the training dojo.
Risking his wrath, she informed the taiyoukai of the west that her lady had endured a sleepless night in her excitement for the upcoming ceremony and would need her rest for the weeks to come. Grudgingly he had given in, much to the neko demon's surprise and glee. Kagome and the ceremony was his weak spot and she wasn't about to shy at using it to spoil her lady.
"Come, Kagome-san. Let's get you to the hot springs for a nice soak before breakfast," Kagome glanced up, her eyes still half open as her friend held out her bathing kimono, ready for her to slip her arms into. With a groggy grin the little miko complied. Akiko knew just how to make a bad day start out good.
Akiko practically dragged the sleep deprived woman to the hot springs, though the moment the miko sank below the surface up to her chin, her mood immediately brightened. With a smile Akiko pinned her sleeves up and tucked her skirt into her waistband and slipped into the water, Kagome's favorite soaps in hand.
The miko rose out of the water to her waist to allow the neko access to her hair. The youkai woman scooped her hair up to begin working out the tangles when she stopped short, staring at the ebon tresses filling her hands and spilling out luxuriously.
"Kagome-san…?" the younger woman looked over her shoulder at her servant friend curiously. "I know this will seem… a little strange… but will you allow me liberty to do something for a moment…?" Akiko asked hesitantly.
"Akiko-chan, you are my friend, of course, you may do what you wish," the little miko replied, smiling over her shoulder briefly before turning back forward.
Letting out the breath she'd been holding, the neko cleared her senses before completely surprising Kagome by burying her nose deep in her raven hair, sniffing in a most animalistic manner and making her giggle.
"Akiko-chan!" she giggled more, "what is it you're doing?" The younger woman giggled again as the neko continued to sniff around her hair, then the skin at the back of her neck and her shoulders. The soft blowing of air as she sniffed at her tickled and the ningen woman giggled more.
Finally satisfied, Akiko sat back and stared at Kagome, still holding her hair with both hands, a thoroughly astonished look on her face.
Turning around and pulling her hair gently free to float in the water around her shoulders she looked up at the woman above her.
"What's up, Akiko-chan? What were you looking for?" cerulean orbs gazed at her friend questioningly and the neko shook herself from her musings.
"Kagome-san, I don't know quite why or how, but you're missing something most ningen's have. Which is something that turns off most youkai from spending too much time with them." Kagome cocked her head curiously at her friend.
"You lack the stench of decay." The miko wrinkled her nose.
"Gee, I would hope so! I mean, I'm not dying or anything." Akiko was already shaking her head.
"No, my lady, you misunderstand. Every human has the stench of decay, because from the time of their birth, they are dying." The miko stared at her. "Ningen who are living obviously don't emit a strong smell of decay, but it's still there. Their life spans are so short compared to ours, however when a youkai sweats or exerts themselves overly, the smell is evident on them too, just not nearly as easily detectable.
"You, Kagome-san, have none. There is nothing in your smell that would indicate the natural break down of your body." Kagome continued to stare at her friend.
"So… what does that mean?" The neko shrugged. "Do I not have to exfoliate or something?" the miko giggled a little before sobering again and listening.
"I wish I knew, it was something I noticed about you when I first became your handmaiden, but I pushed it to the side as unimportant," she looked at her lady and friend. "It's possible that you are not susceptible to the onslaught of time. That you do not age." Kagome nearly guffawed at that.
"What? Akiko, you cannot be serious, not even youkai are immune to time," despite her response of disbelief, she couldn't help the butterflies that lodged themselves in her stomach. What if I don't age? That would mean I could live as long as Sesshomaru! Then doubts flittered in. All her thoughts from the night before came crashing down on her head.
With a sigh Kagome stared at her reflection in the pool, her thoughts a dizzying whirl of doubts, fears, possibilities and the tiniest glimmer of hope.
"Well, Kagome-san, there's no way to be sure, all I know is that you lack the smell that inherently makes you human. Neither are you mated to Sesshomaru-sama yet, so it's not like there was a transfer of power that made your aging process slow down." She considered her friend carefully.
"If my opinion means anything, I would say your story of your miko powers sustaining your youth would now be a valid claim." Kagome glanced at her guiltily. "You did say so, yourself, that Midoriko had a way of extending her life as well." The miko nodded, hesitation lodging itself in her eyes.
"Akiko… you know I said that out of desperation. There's no real evidence she was capable of that kind of power. She didn't live long enough." Guilt plagued the innocence behind her open expression.
"Well, no matter," she quipped cheerfully, rather abruptly dumping a container of water over her miko friend's head to wet her hair. Kagome sputtered and stared up at her neko friend. "We can have the doctor look you over and give his opinion. Until then though, we have a wedding to prepare for you!" Kagome grinned happily, ignoring the water streaming down her face.
Sesshomaru was sitting in his office, wading through paperwork that never quite seemed to ever reduce itself in size. At the current moment he was glaring at a document that stated one of the lesser noble's claim to a portion of his land. The fool has no idea who he's dealing with. The taiyoukai set the paper in his stack of 'to teach a lesson' for later days.
Abruptly he felt a swell in Kagome's aura and glanced at his door. Smirking slightly he began counting down. He had reached ten when he finally heard her soft, rapid footfalls.
Three…
Two…
One…
His door slammed open revealing a flushed and out of breath Kagome, her kimono had slipped off her shoulder slightly in her apparent rush toward his office. His golden gaze trailed her form appreciatively.
Blushing harder under his gaze she pulled her kimono back in place, missing the disappointed light that crossed his eyes.
"Why Kagome, dear, what is so important that you had to run all the way here? Did you miss training with me this morning that much?" He smiled inwardly as her blush darkened. Taking a deep breath and calming herself, she shut the screen behind her and seated herself on a cushion in front of his desk.
"Sesshomaru, have you ever noticed something… different about me?" He raised an elegant silver eyebrow at her.
"Little miko… that list is too long to even begin to try and document." Bingo, angry flush.
"That's not what I meant!" He grinned inwardly. "What I meant was do I smell differently than other humans?" she asked, gazing at him intently.
He was about to open his mouth and let loose another teasing remark when he stopped up short. Come to think of it, his little miko had always appealed to him because of the fact she smelled different than other humans. Even back when InuYasha was her protector.
Kagome was pleased to see him actually thinking over her question. Hope began to rise in her chest. Sitting back, he folded his hands across his lap and regarded the woman carefully.
"Yes, I do admit it is part of the reason I was able to adapt to your presence more easily than I would have had you been a different ningen. Is there a purpose behind this train of questioning?" he asked a little more stoically than he'd intended, relieved to see that it didn't put Kagome off in the least.
"You'll never believe this," she started in and went on to explain her conversation with Akiko that morning. After her bath, the two had perused more bolts of cloth, searching for the perfect fabric for her gown before heading downstairs to speak with the cook. Once that was completed, Akiko had asked for Kagome to humor her once again and led her to the Taisho family healer.
Akiko had to practically shove Kagome through the door to the youkai's office further disgruntling the already seemingly irritated, waist-high demon. Kagome had explained with frequent interjections and additions from her neko companion what their suspicions were. With each passing moment the lines of annoyance faded from his already wrinkled face and were replaced first with disbelief then intrigue. He had heard of the miko's wondrous powers of rejuvenation but had yet to put it to the test. From what he gathered of their proposal, that was exactly what they were asking him to do and it floored him!
Leaping to his oddly shaped feet excitedly he had scurried around the room dumping out various herbs and bowls and other odd shaped instruments he had decided he would need in the process, still having failed to voice is assent to help the ladies. Grunting he had unceremoniously taken Kagome's hand and dumped several foul smelling, gooey substances on her palm and told her to hold them for a while. The miko had wrinkled her nose but complied. The midget demon then proceeded to cut a chunk from Kagome's voluminous locks much to Akiko's chagrin. She knew she would need to find a way to hide the awkward cut when she styled the girl's hair. Afterward he scraped the dripping substance off Kagome's hand and into a bowl where he added a few more strange smelling substances.
Thrusting a needle like blade at the woman he then ordered her to draw some blood in whatever way she found most comfortable, informing her that he would need a good amount. The miko had gulped slightly and looked at her arms, not entirely liking the idea of becoming a 'cutter.' Choosing to take the diabetic method, she pricked and dragged a tiny bit on a small section of the side of her left middle finger, letting the youkai hold a bowl under it. After a few minutes of watching the crimson liquid drip out of her body and into the bowl the demon handed her a cloth and she bound it carefully.
The demon pronounced he had everything he would need and had waved the women off, telling them he would find them if he discovered anything. Shrugging the women had risen to their feet and returned to Kagome's rooms talking excitedly.
It wasn't long before Akiko looked up from their musings over dress pattern books upon hearing the patter of little youkai feet. The healer had booked it all the way from his studies on the other side of the palace to the family wing just to show them his discoveries. Kagome's skin, blood and hair responded in a more resilient manner than youkai.
"Wait, what do you mean 'resilient,'" the miko had questioned him.
"Exactly what I said," he huffed at her. "You are still a ningen, and therefore weak of body, however your skin and cells resist the onslaught of age. Or at least that's what my tests are revealing. Obviously nothing will be proven until you actually reach the age where it would start to show," he started rambling on about his studies and what led him to his conclusions.
Once Kagome's monologue was finished she folded her hands in her lap and watched her youkai carefully for any kind of signs, good or bad.
Sesshomaru's mind was awhirl with possibilities. If this were true, he would never have to worry about losing her. She could spend his whole life at his side. The thought was tremendous.
"Well," he said breaking the silence, "I guess we will know when the time comes. Until then, it is a simple hope, one that I would suggest we do not cling to." Kagome's face fell slightly. Wasn't he happy at the thought that they might be together longer?
Standing he came around his desk and sat down beside her. Taking her chin in his hand he lifted her face to his, studying her fragile features and seeing the slight hurt deep in those blue depths.
"Do you think it would matter, little miko? I love you for who you are and nothing will change that. Of course this Sesshomaru would be overjoyed if you were to remain beautiful by his side for centuries to come. Do not think for a moment however, that I would love you any less if your body did age. If you became old and grey, stooped and wrinkled. I fell in love with Kagome, selfless priestess, loving caring adopted mother, loyal friend and honorable woman."
He stroked her face as tears welled up in her eyes. "Your appearance as an amazingly beautiful woman is just a bonus." He leaned in and kissed her quivering lips, trailing soft kisses down her jaw to her ear. "A very nice bonus I might add," he whispered sending shivers down her spine.
Pulling back he touched her nose with one elegant clawed finger causing her eyes to cross slightly in the most adorable manner.
"Now, you have a dress to decide on and I have business to attend to with both the lands and the ceremony. Do not worry about the invitations, I will see to those. All I want you worrying about is what I will be taking off of you later that evening and what food you wish to have at the ceremony." She flushed a deep crimson. "The decorations and such are more of a traditional thing and will be taken care of by the servants. They already know what is expected of them."
Kagome nodded, her blush still not subsiding. Rising to her feet she headed to the door, feeling like nothing could ruin her day.
"Oh, Sesshomaru?" she asked turning to see him settling himself once more behind his desk.
"Hm?"
She shifted her weight, rolling her hips seductively and brushed her hair over her shoulder.
"I don't think a few centuries with you would be a bad thing." She grinned impishly before disappearing through the doorway leaving a very steamed Sesshomaru behind.
I would not mind at all either, my little miko.