Chapter 3 Soroban (Abacus)/Jigsaw puzzle
As the sun barely started to set, a blue glow bloomed then faded in the Bone Eaters well.
In the clearing by the well, Shessoumaru, Jaken, Ah-Un, Rin, and Shippou were waiting.
A voice called from the depths, "Inuyasha? Guys? Can I get some help, please? I can't lift everything by myself." It was Kagome's voice, echoing a bit from the bottom of the dry well.
Shippou and Rin raced over to the wooden lip surrounding the well. "Mama?" called Shippou, peering into the darkness.
With a small huff of impatience, Sesshoumaru, walked smoothly to the edge of the well surround. "Miko, what aid do you require?" He saw her pale face in the darkness, her bright yellow pack across her back, two large parcels on the floor next to her.
"Oh! Sesshoumaru! Ummm, here, could you, please, lift these bags up. I think I can manage the climb with the back pack." She raised the handle of first one, then the other parcel. With almost no effort, the daiyouki pulled up the bulging packages out of the well, then reached down with clawed hands to assist Kagome up and out as well. A small 'eep' escaped her lips.
"There is no need for you to exert yourself with climbing the walls, miko. This Sesshoumaru is able to lift far more than this meager amount."
"Thhhankk you, very much, Sesshoumaru," stammered Kagome, a bit startled. Usually, Inuyasha either bounced her up on his back, or left her to struggle out on her own. Certainly being lifted smoothly and with ease was a nice change. She looked around at the people gathered in the well clearing, spotting a camp site near the border of the forest, but no one else in its circle.
Catching her curious look, Sesshoumaru rightly interpreted her confusion. "The priest and the slayer stayed in the village to finish repairs to their weapons and other articles. The elder miko requested your presence when you returned. The hanyō is otherwise occupied. He did not say with what or where."
"Oh," Kagome said, softly, "I had told him, I mean everyone that I'd be back to this evening." She cleared her throat, awkwardly, then turned towards the Shippou and Rin. "Never mind that, I'm back and I brought new games, just as I promised. So, we can do a 'Make-up Family Game Night' this evening, if you're ready for it. Sound good?"
Both children nodded vigorously.
"Do we want to have game night here or back in the village?" Kagome looked over the present group, her eyes finally alighting on Sesshoumaru as the token adult and probable decision maker.
Pleased with the miko deferring to his authority, Sesshoumaru responded to her query, "We have been staying here in camp while you have been away. An area for games has been prepared. It is quieter than in the village and preferable for Ah-Un."
"Then game night here will be fine. Let's find a good place to set things up."
"This way. Jaken, bring the miko's bags," he ordered.
With that command, Sesshoumaru gracefully led the way to the camp site. A fire pit lined with stones occupied the middle. There was a large tree stump that looked as if it had been planed smooth and level to one side, an unlit paper lantern on its surface. Also on one side of it were a few sheets of rough rice paper with drawings, and small piles of colored pebbles. On the other a wooden box. On the ground at intervals around the stump were cushions made of sturdy materials, for seating. It wasn't the Higurashi dining room table, but it was evident that it was meant to serve the same purpose. Jaken lumbered over with her bags in tow, dropping them near the rustic table. He grumbled about bags of rocks under his breath.
"Wow," Kagome breathed, "you arranged all this while I was gone for Game Night? This is amazing!"
"Hnn"
Sesshoumaru ushered her to a cushion on the side of the table with the box, while Rin and Shippou raced past them to sit on the other side. Clearly the children were impatient to see what Kagome had brought them. With a giggle, she took off the backpack and set it down, then started pulling things out of the pack and bags. Coloring books with fresh boxes of crayons were joined by colorfully boxed jigsaw puzzles – one of a field of flowers, the other of a bunch of balloons. She then pulled out a wooden box, with rods and beads in different compartments. The beads were like two kasa hats back-to-back, and carved of different types of wood, light and dark. Then another box, similar to the ones for the puzzles. As she was taking this last one out of the bag, Inuyasha came loping into the camp, with Sango and Miroku not far behind.
"Oi, Kagome! It's about time you returned. What's all this crap you've brought? Did you bring ramen?", bellowed Inuyasha, without any greeting or preamble.
"Welcome back, Kagome-sama. I hope you had a successful visit with your family on the other side of the well," said Miroku.
"Kagome! You're back." with a hug, Sango slid onto a cushion next to Kagome. "I hope we aren't too late for games. Sesshoumaru taught us all to play 'luk tsut k'i' while you were away."
Answering them in reverse order, Kagome responded, "You aren't too late, I really just got here and we haven't started yet. Sesshoumaru, that was very kind of you to teach everyone a new game. I'll have to catch up, as I've never heard of that one. Miroku, I had a great visit with my family. Mom, Souta, Grandpa, and I went through the storehouses and closets to find appropriate games to bring through the well. Mostly stuff that we hope will pack easily for travel. Some stuff that is specifically for the younger ones, some stuff that is for all of us. Inuyasha, if you had stayed, we could have used your help. Sesshoumaru had to lift me out of the well, as you weren't here and I couldn't climb without help. I almost left your ramen at the bottom of the well, in the damp and dirt." Kagome couldn't keep the disappointment and irritation out of her tone.
"Anyway," Kagome continued, pointing at the jigsaw puzzle boxes, "inside these are puzzles. The picture on the box is the same as the picture on the puzzle pieces inside the box, only it's cut up into interlocking shapes. You just have to put the picture back together without forcing any pieces or leaving any on the table or having any holes. I thought you might enjoy working on these, maybe all together."
"This," she motioned at the compartmentalized box with the rods and beads, "is a soroban. It's probably a bit too advanced for Rin, but Shippou should be able to use it. Grandpa taught Souta and I how to calculate on this when we were younger and helping out selling charms at the shrine. I know how it's used and can teach you, though I'm not nearly as fast at it as Grandpa. Even if it's a bit old fashioned….I mean, ummm …challenging….to use, it is a point of pride in the soroban community to be able to count and calculate quickly and accurately. There are societies built around people who use them, and they sponsor competitions and challenges for it. I know that there are people who use them in this time, so I thought it might be a good skill to have."
Sesshoumaru turned his golden gaze to stare intently at Kagome. She was correct, certain merchants and a few others did use a soroban. His treasurer was one of the few who had one and could use it well. He used it to track expenses and tributes within the Western lands. That this miko, this young woman, knew how to use one was beyond astonishing. Even more, that she was generously gifting this invaluable knowledge to her adopted kit and to his ward. Literate, educated, mathematics basic and advanced, strategy skills, negotiation tactics, and on top of all of that, a powerful reiki wielder. She was learning herbal healing from the elderly miko, Kaede. Granted, she did not have many weapon skills, but she could learn. She did not seem to be able to hide her emotions, or control them very well. However, the sheer number of studies she appeared to be mastering that she claimed were normal for everyone in her time was nearly overwhelming, even for an aristocratic demon, much less a human female in this time. Did Inuyasha have even half a clue what a treasure his miko was? Sesshoumaru doubted the hanyō's ability to comprehend the wealth of knowledge Kagome possessed that he did not. Clearly, Inuyasha was incapable of appreciating her. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was definitely beginning to appreciate the many skills and advantages the miko represented. Now the question was what to do about it.
Before any other surprises could distract him, Sesshoumaru spoke, "perhaps the Rin and the kit might like to attempt the picture puzzles. Do they need supervision to do this?"
"Oi, runts, don't worry. I've done lots of puzzles with Kagome and Souta and the old geezer. I'll show you how it's done," Inuyasha bragged, opening the balloon puzzle box. The two kids drew close to the half demon, faces curious and determined. Sango and Miroku, also curious about the brightly colored shapes, also peered at the puzzle. In no time, Inuyasha had Miroku pulling out the flat sided frame pieces, while he showed the others how to interconnect two pieces together.
Seeing that the rest of the group was occupied, Sesshoumaru opened the box on the other side of the stump table. "Will you join me to play a game of Shogi?", he asked Kagome. Inside the box was a beautiful shogi board and pieces.
"Wow! That is a work of art! Yes, I'd love to play," responded Kagome.
Quickly, the demon lord set up the board between them.
Kagome hesitated a moment, before stroking one of the pieces on her side. "You're going to have to review the rules with me. Sorry, I know I said I knew how to play. But some of the rules have changed over the centuries, and I'm not sure what variations you're used to and which ones are different from what I'm used to. I may need a couple of practice games, as a review. Is that alright?" An embarrassed blush painted her cheeks and she looked down, as if studying the pieces.
"Of course, we can practice first," he said in his deep voice. "This Sesshoumaru will be pleased to practice with you. As much as you need, until we can truly play." Something about the way he phrased his response caused Kagome to glance at him. Her breath hitched in her throat as his amber eyes stared at her, his gaze piercing.
"You move first – Kagome."