Disclaimer: don't own Inuyasha.
AN: Wanna know a secret? Promise not to tell? Every time I get an email saying Our Love is a Forbidden Love, has been added to someone's story alert or favourite list, it makes me smile just as much as a review does. Hey! I still like reviews, but a story alert makes me happy as well.
Gift From Me to You
"Thanks for coming with me Sango, but you know I could have handled it all by myself right?"
The two females were heading to the village to pick up the items Kagome had ordered a few days ago. "Yeah well it's fine Kags, I wanted to come along." Sango responded as she smiled at her friend from across the cart.
"Alright, if your still sure about it."
"Stop fussing Kagome, we left the okiya a good while ago, its not like I can turn back anyways."
Laughing sheepishly at what was probably true, Kagome nodded her head. "Your right." Looking around at their surroundings, which was a lush green forest, Kagome sighed with contentment. The weather lately was absolutely wonderful. It hadn't rained at all in the past moon cycle, every day was sunny and there was never a cloud in the sky. Birds were chirping around them, flowers sprinkled the grassy path they walked, and little forest animals bound in and out of the trees, showing her a glimpse of them every once in a while.
"I love spring so much. The warmth, the not too hot sun, the blooming flowers. Its all just so… I cant even think of a word for it." Kagome sighed, her stresses at the okiya leaving her with every light brush of the wind.
"I know what you mean, the scent of all the blooming flowers just has me purring with contentment." Sniffing the air and breathing in the fragrances of the plants around her, she purred in example. Giggling at Sango, she swatted the air and quirked a brow. She sure looked like a cat at that moment.
Patting the horse on the head, she absently thought over some things for a moment. What type of youkai was Sango anyways? She'd known the demon geisha since she first entered the okiya but had never bothered to ask any questions. Sango was her friend, had always been her friend actually. The first time they'd met was when Kikyou was bullying her and Sango had come to her rescue.
Flashback!
!#$%^&
Quietly following behind the demoness who had saved her the day before, Kagome let her eyes sweep over the large hallway. There were portraits lining the wall on the right, straight down the hallway. Each portrait held a painting of a previous okami-san for the okiya. They were travelling in the opposite direction, so she was seeing them in the order of when each had run it. Reaching the end of the hall and standing before a large wood door, above it was the portrait of the demoness she was following.
The demoness who had yet to give her a name, easily pushed the heavy doors open and swept into the room. Walking hesitantly behind her, she slowly entered the vast space. Her eyes roamed the room and with little difficulty found it to be some sort of tea room? There was a beautiful miniature waterfall in the far corner, with koi swimming within its depths. The clearing of a throat stopped her mental description of the room and brought her attention to her saviour standing in front of a long line of demonesses. She'd never been in the presence of so many demons before, and to say she was a little intimidated was an understatement.
Her saviour smiled brightly at her, motioning her to come deeper into the room. Sniffing the air, said demoness frowned lightly at the approaching girl before sweeping her into her arms and giving her a light hug. "Do not worry Kagome." She whispered lightly into the little ningen's ear. "They will not hurt you, they are your new family. Be not afraid child." The demoness brushed a light kiss against her fore head before straightening herself and loosening her grip on the little girl and turning her attention to the demonesses lined up.
Clearing her throat again, she began the little meeting. "Geisha. This is Kagome. You all must be wondering why I have brought a little girl, especially a human girl to the okiya. I feel that no explanation is necessary to be given since I am the okami-san of the okiya and my word is law." Her saviour paused for emphasis and waited for any sounds of disagreement, she didn't take kindly to disobedience. "Moving on, I would like to inform you all that Kagome will be our first human geisha at the okiya. She will begin her training at the stage of minarai" Gasps filled the room at her words and a few growls of displeasure. "QUIET. You all will accept this fact. I care not for your words of disapproval, must I mention again that I am the okami-san of the okiya."
Kagome who had been silently listening within the arms of her saviour, paled at all the stares she was receiving. Some of them were filled with curiosity, others with anger, some with blatant disgust, and some with happiness? Two demoness in the far left of the line caught her attention the most, they looked… nice? One demoness had long dark brown hair with red streak that was pulled into a high ponytail and pitch black eyes; she held a friendly smile on her lips. The other demoness beside her with copper red hair and two high pigtails and green eyes that glimmered with amusement; she gave her an open mouth smile, one fang peeking out. Kagome relaxed slightly and breathed a slight sigh.
Her saviour who had noticed her sigh, took it for the wrong meaning. Staring down the demonesses that gave open disobedience, her eyes flashed red before returning to their brilliant light blue. "Whoever gives me disobedience will be reduced to the work of a shikomi for a week. If you keep this up girls, a lot of you will be out of work quickly." Guiding Kagome towards the far right of the line, she began to introduce all the geisha to little pet.
"Now Kagome, these are the names of the geishas who are senior to you. You will be working with a couple of them during the minarai stage, I will decide who at a later date." Stopping in front of a demoness with long dark purple hair and light purple eyes, her saviour introduced them. "Kagome this is Chiho." The demoness nodded to the ningen briefly before averting her eyes from said person. They continued to the left and stopped in front of another geisha, this one who looked almost the duplicate of the previous. "This is her twin, Chiyo." Chiyo didn't even bother to acknowledge her. The demoness holding her bent forward to whisper into Chiyo's ear. Moments later the whispering ended and a pale demoness was left nodding, she dragged her attention from her saviour to her and bowed slightly.
They continued down the line, her saviour named all the geisha for her. They were about to reach the two demonesses who had caught her attention earlier, but there was one demoness left and she seemed worse then the rest. "Kagome this is Kikyou." Glancing timidly at Kikyou, she was gifted with a scowl. Kikyou had long straight black hair and dark, very dark brown eyes. Her skin was pale, she would probably describe it as ivory, but it didn't seem so. What struck her most about this Kikyou, was the strong resemblance she held to … someone she knew.
Ayame who was silently watching what was transpiring between the two, couldn't help but notice the resemblance. Leaning slightly towards Kikyou, she whispered but a bit too loudly. "Hey Kikyou, did you notice the little girl looks a lot like you?" Kikyou growled deeply at the insinuation and narrowed her eyes at the little filthy ningen. The wench did look a bit like her, but was obviously just a fake little imitation of her beauty. Sneering at both Ayame and the ningen, she bit out. "That thing looks nothing like me. Even if she did, she would be a pathetic copy."
Kagome who had heard Ayame's not quite whispered words, almost fainted. So that's who the demoness reminded her of, herself. Then when Kikyou sneered and growled, and those… evil? Narrowed eyes stared her down, she almost cried in terror. She could see so much dislike in those dark eyes, so much disgust. It made the looks she used to get seem pale in comparison.
Sango who never did like Kikyou, stepped forward intent on coming to the little girls rescue. The human girl being held by her okaa-san made her feel something she hadn't felt since her little brother. That feeling alone would make her protect her. Snarling at Kikyou, she hissed. "If you don't know what's good for you Kikyou, you will close your mouth and fast." Stepping forward to barely cover the little girl from Kikyou's gaze, she snarled in the demoness's face.
"Back down Sango, I will not hesitate to hurt you." Kikyou sneered, the audacity of the bitch. She would show her where she stood in the okiya. Sango who saw the challenge in her eye, strode forward to stop directly in front of her, their faces were but inches way from the other's. "I fucking dare you bitch." Grabbing a fist of black hair, she ripped Kikyou's head back away from her face, growling in victory at the submissive position Kikyou's body was in.
Kagome's saviour released her, pushing her behind her and shouted at the two demonesses to stop. The two slowly released the other and back away from each other, both giving the other death glares. Kikyou though felt immense shame at being put into such a submissive position by Sango, the wretch would pay. Sango glared at Kikyou, just willing her to come for another piece. She would rip out every last strand of her dead hair.
"Kagome this is Sango." Sango bowed deeply to the little girl before moving to her side as if standing guard over her. "And the red-head troublemaker is Ayame." The demoness named Ayame moved forward and bowed to her, she rubbed her head sheepishly as she mumbled a few gomens. Her saviour dragged her into another bone crushing before releasing her and smiling brightly into her face. She was almost relieved when the demoness let her go, she was quite afraid of dying from broken bones. "You must be wondering my name? I am Akira, the okami-san of the Chinatsu-okiya. Your new home."
Kagome stared back into the eyes that faintly reminded her of her mothers. Hesitantly she smiled back at her sa… Akira-sama. Her eyes filled with tears. Maybe things weren't as bad as they had first seemed.
Flashback End!
!#$%^&
Ripping herself from the flashback, she returned her attention to Sango. "Hey Sango, you know I've never thought to ask you, but what kind of youkai are you?"
Glancing at Kagome, then turning back to the path ahead, she answered proudly. "I'm a mix between dragon and panther."
Her mouth formed a small O. "Wow really? That's so cool. I cant say I'm too surprised, you are pretty fierce so it does suit you." Giving Sango a once over, she was surprised she didn't see the traits from both clans before. Sango's hair was a dark brown almost black with a single streak of red, held up in a high ponytail with a parted eyebrow cut bang. Her eyes were a pitch black and around the irises were chocolate brown, they were more cat then normal. Her eyelids were coloured magenta, and between them on her forehead was the symbol of three claw marks. On her left cheek were matching claw marks as well. Her friend was tall, at least six inches taller then her. Her body was slim and toned. Where Kagome was curvaceous, Sango was athletic with soft curves. She really did have the body of a warrior, and her attitude matched it as well. The girl was a fighter through and through.
Chuckling, Sango shook her head. "Your one strange ningen Kagome, but I like yah like that. So what are you picking up from the village?"
Putting her finger to her bottom lip, she thought over what she had ordered. "Well if I remember correctly, I ordered… a western style bed, a small stand for his shoes, a large chest to hold his clothing, a table and a few cushions to sit on and… what was the last one?" She paused as she thought over the items on the list she'd given Jineji. "Oh! And a desk for any scrolls he brings with him from the castle."
Counting all the items as Kagome named them, she then gave the cart a critical eye. "Damn, that's a lot of stuff. I hope the cart can fit all that. Weren't you going to renovate the room, what happened to that?" She asked.
"Kikyou happened and because of her and her inability not to steal from the okiya, I've had to put the renovations off 'til the next moon cycle count. Since the missing money would have paid for it." Kagome winced at letting that slip and to Sango of all people. She'd bite her head off for not saying something sooner, then she'd probably gut Kikyou.
"Oh shit, that's just like the bitch. Never liked that Kikyou myself, always thought the demoness was trouble. I told Akira-okaa-san, may her soul rest in peace, but she never did listen to me. Now look, the bitch's causing the okiya problems." Sango cursed. Kikyou had always gotten on her nerves and she didn't like the fact that she was causing Kagome trouble. Kagome was like a little sister to her, even if she didn't know that, and it was her responsibility to take care of her. Kikyou had one coming, that's for sure.
"Come on Sango, calm down! Don't get worked up over her!" Kagome pleaded. Sango was worse than Akira-okaa-san had been.
"But Kagome, this is just the beginning I've known Kikyou longer then you have. That girl is trouble in the form of a demoness and if she's set her sights on you like I think she has, there will be problems." Sango fumed, the girl was just too naïve sometimes.
"I doubt she has some huge personal vendetta against me, Sango. Your overreacting." Moving from the other side of the horse, to the side where her friend was walking, she looped her arm into Sango's. Eyeing the human on her arm warily, Sango relented. "Fine. But if she causes you any trouble Kags, I swear I'ma be all over that bitch in seconds."
"Sango... I can take care of myself you know." Her reassurances fell on deaf ears.
"Kagome your strong, I understand that, but Kikyou is sneaky. She will hit you from behind, if she can't get you from the front."
Struggling to reassure her friend, Kagome nodded her head in acceptance. Kikyou did seem the type to do that. "Sango, I promise I'll try to stay away from her as much as I can then and if anything happens, I'll tell you right away. Let's just move off that topic, k?" Bobbing her head in compliance, Sango changed the subject to a better topic. "I bet you cant wait you see your lord?"
Groan. "Sango stop that. You and Ayame are just blowing this whole thing out of proportion. This is strictly business, alright?"
"Hey! Don't give me that tone young lady. Is it so bad that Ayame and I want to see you happy? Ever since you came to the okiya, you've stayed as far away from males as possible. What's with that anyways?" She asked.
Sighing sadly, she shook her head. "That's my past Sango, and that's also something I don't want to talk about." Sango kept silent. "Thanks for caring and wanting to see me happy, nevertheless a male companion is not something I want. Let's just say I'm content with being single."
"Well you know you can tell me anything, so if you do ever want to talk to someone 'bout it. Just holler. I'll hear you." Patting the head of the horse beside her and brushing her claws through the strands, she gave Kagome a thumbs up.
"K." Kagome agreed. A comfortable silence filled the air after their agreement. The two continued on their journey to the youkai village. Only once in a while did one of them break the silence to say or point out something of interest. When they finally came upon the village, none other then Hojo was standing on the edge of the village, waiting to greet the pair. Kagome spotting him before Sango, almost groaned in irritation. Whispering softly to her companion, hoping the demon waiting ahead wouldn't hear her, she warned her friend.
"Hey Sango, you see that demon over there?" Sango looked ahead to see a tall demon waiting on them, she nodded her head. "His name's Akitoki Hojo. He's constantly trying to hit on me."
Frowning down at Kagome, Sango cut her off. "And you turn him down don't you? Kagome what is wrong with you?"
Swatting her friend on the arm as an answer, she continued. "Distract him for me, so I can stop off at Totosai's. Then when I'm clear from the immediate area, ditch him and meet me at Jineji's hut. Can you do that?"
Raising a brow, Sango whispered harshly back. "Why? Convince me why I should help you, since this does involve a male… who wants you."
With pleading puppy dog eyes, and a wobbly lip, Kagome did her best Rin act. "Please… Sango. Just this.. *sniff* once?"
"Fine I'll do it." Sango bit out. "Just don't try that ever again."
Chirping happily, Kagome smiled. "Sure, Sango. Whatever you say."
Finally reaching the edge of the forest that connected to a path into the village, they came to a stop in front of the tall demon. Hojo stepped forward to grasp Kagome's hand and brush a kiss against it. His honey brown eyes bore down on her and he smiled his most charming smile.
"Welcome back to the village Kagome." Hojo began.
Removing her hand from his, Kagome slipped around him before running off and yelling behind her. "Talk later! Have to go." Hojo stood dumbfounded at how easily he'd been ditched. Intent on going after the girl of his dreams, he was stopped when an a soft arm wrapped around his and pulled him back. Turning his attention from Kagome's quickly disappearing form, he brought it to the demoness snuggled against him. "Hi?" He said meekly.
Sango smiled up into his face and bashfully batted her lashes. "I'm Sango, what's your name?" She purred. Swaying her hips slightly and moving her hips closer to his, when his attention momentarily left her to search out where Kagome left, she brought it back to her. Hojo couldn't have fainted at the attention he was receiving at the moment.
He blushed lightly from the attention. "Hojo."
"Wow what a nice name. Hojo…" she drawled seductively. "Has a nice ring to it. So Hojo, how 'bout you show me where your village's seamstress is, and while were on the way tell me about yourself." She stated more then asked. Hojo bobbed his head in agreement as he walked them in the direction of the hut and began to speak about himself.
Sango looked away after a few minutes, growing instantly bored by his talking. Shimata, no wonder Kagome turned this guy down. Boring doesn't even begin to describe him. She mentally gagged a few times, before turning back to him and plastering a really fake smile on her face. Kagome, you owe me BIG time! "Really! Oh my that's so interesting, tell me more Hojo-kun."
#*-
Grumbling impatiently, Kagome waited for Sango to show up. She had clearly told the demoness to meet her at Jineji's hut, so what was taking her so long? Stomping her foot into the ground, she shifted from foot to foot, growing irritated. There was a lot of stuff to be loaded into the cart and carried back to the okiya. Lord Sesshoumaru would be arriving in a few suns and she wanted to have to room ready for him, but at this rate, it never would be. Growling under her breath, she spun round and re-entered the hut.
"Jineji." She called. Her eyes searched out the hanyou located behind a large work table. "Will you help me find Sango?"
Jineji looked up at her from his work, which was a stool for one of the villagers. "Can't." He stated, bringing his eyes back to his work as he moved his nimble hands against it to carve out designs.
Whining to herself, Kagome pouted in defeat. "Why?"
"Because, she's just outside the hut Lady Kagome." Kagome paused in her whining to whisper an "oh" and sped back outside. Running so fast she almost crashed into Sango, she tried to skid to a stop but failed miserably. The girl tripped over her feet and went face first into Sango's waiting arms.
"Seriously Kagome, what would you do without me?" Sango laughed, the little ningen was certainly entertaining if nothing else. Grabbing her shoulders, she straightened out her friend, before brushing her hands across the messy kimono. Clucking like a mother hen, she lightly reprimanded the little klutz for her carelessness.
Kagome balked at the treatment and snatched herself out of Sango's arms. "Hey! You're the one who's late. I wouldn't have tripped if you hadn't taken so long Sango." Crossing her arms she glared at her friend, who laughed at her.
"Nice try Kagome, you cant intimidate me like you do others. Hurry, let's grab your stuff and get going. I have a session with Miroku-san today."
Giving Sango a sly wink, she went to pull the cart closer as her friend started picking up the items. "Oh Miroku-san? I like how you've become so… familiar-" She wagged her brows. "-with him. This is sooo very juicy, Ayame will have to hear about this."
Dropping the wood desk into the cart, Sango spun on her heels and walked over to the pile of furniture that sat waiting for her. "Kagome, that is unnecessary of course. He just merely wished for me to drop the -sama and replace it with -san, there is nothing of importance there." Picking up a wood chest, she repeated steps 2 through 5, then started all over.
"Oh please Sango! Don't be so modest, of course I must inform Ayame. Since she was kind enough to inform me of him in the first place. It is only my duty to inform her of the developments. Compared to when he'll wish for you to start adding -kun at the end, which he will might I add, this will seem so insignificant." She preached while sitting at the front of the cart and waited for Sango to finish packing up the items.
Dropping the last item into the cart and slightly amazed that every fit, the cart must be way bigger than she originally thought, she jumped in beside Kagome. "Whatever Kagome." Seeing a long, narrow bundle in Kagome's lap, she peered into her lap. "Hey, what's that Kags?" She asked.
Spying where Sango was staring at, she beamed with pride as she picked up the bundle and untied the rope. Removing the rope at last and the brushing away the cloth, she revealed a beautiful sword. Holding it out to Sango, her smile only grew at the shock on the demoness's face. "Your new blade. Sango say hello to Hiraikotsu."
Sango became teary-eyed at the sight of the gorgeous sword in Kagome's hands. Hesitantly reaching forward, she took a hold of the blade gently and brought it closer to her. The blade was tinged a slight brown, which was odd in itself, maybe it was made with some type of bone? The hilt was bandaged brown leather with two dangling red jewels that spouted gold strings at the bottom. There was even an large engraved character of slayer (Satsugaisha) and underneath were three smaller kanji characters of soul (tamashii), man (battosai), demon (youkai). Dragging her watery gaze from the blade she brought it to Kagome who sat next to her. On her lips was a smile and for once a true smile. This smile was nothing like the once she always gave others, and it was at that moment she realized how little she knew of the ningen. That moment when she realized the way Kagome's eyes were always dark and saddened, and her smile haunting and never real.
Wrapping her arms around the little human, she dragged her into a fierce hug. She hugged her with all the friendship, compassion, understanding, caring and… love she felt for her. She tried to give her just a little bit of the happiness she felt everyday even though she herself had a bad past. Releasing her just enough, to brush a loving kiss against Kagome's temple. She rested her chin on the ningen's shoulder. "Thank you Kagome, I'll forever cherish this blade and I swear to protect you and the ones you love by it." She whispered.
Kagome rubbed a hand over her friends back, and hugged her back. Her once brilliant smile, dulled and became saddened because she saw when Sango realized the truth. When Sango finally saw the constant darkness holding her heartbeat still as a whisper. Sango for once saw a true smile on her lips and in that moment, when compared to all the other smiles she'd given, saw the truth. The truth that she had never even let them in, that the barrier they thought to have broken down somewhat, was still there only fortified. The hug Sango gave her, warmed her heart a little bit more, but the dark coldness of it didn't change. The warmth of Sango's love wasn't enough to make it live again, wasn't even enough to make it beat for only a moment.
Pulling back, she brushed away the tears on Sango's face, and smiled her fake smile again. "Let's go Sango, I haven't decided where to place this stuff on my Lord's room and I bet you a lot of coin I'm going to spend my remaining days before his arrival rearranging it to perfection."
Nodding her head, Sango straightened herself in the seat and brought the sword to her lap. "Alright, onward Kags." The cart moved forward and they were on their way again, this time back to the okiya. Sango glanced every few moments at Kagome from the corner of her eye and couldn't help but feel worse than before. The aura surrounding the girl was that of old sadness and grief. She never met to see so deep into Kagome's soul and find what shouldn't have been known. The darkness she saw in Kagome's eyes was realized and she couldn't help but weep softly inside at the pain that engulfed her friend everyday, the pain she had never noticed 'til now. Not only that but, now that she saw that pain, she couldn't help but feel ashamed. Maybe because she had seen the forbidden? Maybe because her seeing it had only made things harder for Kagome? Whatever it was made her heart constrict painfully, she felt horrible.
Wrapping her hands tightly around the clothed blade, she brought it to her chest and hugged it fiercely. Right now it would be her strength. She only wished there was something she could give Kagome to be her strength at this painful moment.