A/N: thanks to all who reviewed and read my fic.
I OWN NOTHING but the OC's and some of the aspects of Japanese culture I took license with, considering I'm using as much canon about Kamakura and Japanese culture in general as possible and that I know or learn of. (so be nice if I mix something up by mistake)
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11.
It took three days for Takamaru to heal enough that he could finally leave the make-shift bed and walk across the cave. Koyuki stayed right by his side, ready to do anything Kagome required of her with Shippo doing his part while the women went out to forage for any supplies.
It was only when all the wounds were completely gone or pink scars that Kagome gave the okay to the now stir-crazy yokai that he could travel again.
Kagome did not expect what they had told her right after.
"You want to what?" she gawked.
"We wish to travel with you Kagome-sama. There is safety in numbers and we want to properly repay both you and your kit." Takamaru replied, complete seriousness soaking both crane yokai.
Shippo, who had foreseen this for days, had to hold back his laughter at the sight of his mother trying to be her usual Kagome-self in the face of two stubborn yokai. Kagome in turn was trying her best to explain that they didn't need to repay her at all without insulting them.
As expected, when they left the cave the two cranes followed with twin smiles.
12.
It was nice to finally travel through the countryside again Kagome thought absently. With the sparse towns and numerous landscapes unscarred by urbanization, Kagome could almost forget that this was not the feudal era but centuries before it.
However, all she would need to do was look to her two other traveling companions, who were quickly becoming close friends with both miko and kitsune, to remember that no matter how similar, the differences were still there.
13.
It was Koyuki who had finally put her foot down.
"Kagome-sama, we must get you some fresh and appropriate clothes to fit your station. Those rags make you look worse than a beggar." She spoke sternly, in a manner Kagome always remembered her mother using when answering 'no' was unacceptable.
Kagome for her part had enough pride to admit that her ragged-around-the-edges, patched-up school uniform, covered in stains that would not come out no matter how hard she had washed them, was just insulting to even look at anymore.
Still, the gleam in Koyuki's eyes, along with the pitying gaze Takamaru gaze her, sent sirens roaring.
14.
Koyuki, it turned out, was a master of bartering and getting people to sell her what she wanted for lower prices; she also seemed to go into cloud-nine when having someone act as a doll for her to play dress up with.
Which was why both Kagome and Shippo ended up in a small yokai village, with Koyuki going through shelves of clothes, Takamaru doing the smart thing and running off to get supplies, and they having to stand completely still as the crane became a whirlwind of clothes and chatter.
Koyuki finally settled on four sets of clothes for both miko and kitsune.
Shippo's were basically the same as his previous outfit, merely with different color and patterns; added with a child-sized blue haori with an added orange summer lilac within a golden circle signifying the Higarashi crest (1) at his breast.
Kagome had nearly cried in gratitude and grief when Koyuki had ordered that symbol added to her adopted son's clothing, memories of her forever out-of-reach family once more returning.
For Kagome herself, she now had three casual kosode with mo-bakama and a pair of fine-weaved zori sandals, and a beautiful blue kosode with white and lavender-shaded lotus flowers on her shoulders and trailing down her hip to her feet added with a gold hoso-obi(2). Her final piece of clothing was a haori like Shippo's, only it was enlarged to fit her taller frame, and also bearing her now family crest.
All of this was almost too much for the slightly humble miko and when asked by a teary Kagome, Koyuki had given her a sad smile, "Kagome-sama, you and Shippo-kun are worth all this and more. Never doubt that."
Kagome barely held back the tears as Koyuki's motherly tone brought back more memories of her own mother.
15.
When the group finally left the village Kagome and Shippo both now had new set of clothes, including the ones they were wearing, a new found and unspoken deep appreciation for Koyuki, and a silent promise to Takamaru that he would pay for leaving them behind to deal with the frightening aspects of Koyuki's shopping-mania.
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A/N: I hope you like it thus far!
(1): during most of Japanese history, and even today, a kamon, or in its general term mon, was used as emblems to decorate and identify an individual, organization or family; and there were no set rules for what a mon design could be so long as it did not copy the mon of another family. Virtually all modern Japanese families have a mon, though modern usage is rare. Many Japanese may no longer recognize their own family's mon. Using this and Koyuki's obvious desire for her new mistress to be seen as of noble birth, I wanted Kagome's new family to have some symbolic identification that would work in ancient Japanese society. A mon easily works.
(2) the clothing I took insparation from The Costume Museum: The Rebirth of the Tale of Genji, a website where dolls wearing period-specific clothing were listed with pictures, names of the clothing itself, and explanations about the clothing. You can find the Kamakura era one at: http: / / www. iz2. or. jp/ english/ fukusyoku/ busou/ index. htm
See you next chapter!