Chapter 14:

Summer's Last Rain

"Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet."
― Roger Miller

And that was how Sesshoumaru found them. Kagome sitting behind Ryura and finishing off the braid of his hair. They both looked at him like children who had been caught painting their parent's walls without permission. Kagome's flying hands came to a slow halt, and Ryura just stopped moving altogether.

"H-hey, Sesshoumaru! How's it going?" Kagome asked with a nervous, shaking tone to her voice.

Ryura was just as nervous as she was, but for a different reason which Sesshoumaru was more than likely going to say. "Yeah, Sesshoumaru! How's it going?" He parroted. "Inuyasha awake yet?"

A slender brow rose a fraction at the two's behavior. "Hn, 'it' is going fine. Inuyasha is indeed awake, and I see you, Miko, have finally roped one of us into letting you play with our hair."

"Hahaha..." the nervous laugh trailed off and Kagome ducked her head down with a blush.

Sesshoumaru turned his attention to Ryura. "Come, Ryura. Inuyasha is asking for you. I believe he does not wish to have your intended there, however. What he wishes to say to you is apparently private."

"Intended?" Kagome squeaked as her head snapped up. "I-Sesshoumaru! It's not like that!"

"Ho? I was under the impression that only intended mates tended to the other's hair. Unless you have adopted her as your child or as a sibling?" Sesshoumaru rumbled while sliding his gaze between Ryura and Kagome.

Ryura quickly rose to his feet and pulled the almost finished braid over his shoulder, his fingers working quickly to finish what Kagome had started. He eyed what part of the braid he could see and silently noted Kagome had done a marvelous job, almost better than he would have. Once he was finished, Ryura grabbed his swords as he went by to stand next to Sesshoumaru, gave them both a spin, and slid them home on his back.

"No, I haven't adopted her. She speaks the truth, Sesshoumaru. I can give into her human whims, can't I?" he asked with a frown.

The Daiyoukai of the West gracefully shrugged a shoulder. "Perhaps. Either way, follow."

Kagome quickly packed her stuff away, her cheeks still a bright red, and hurried to follow after the two. Human whims. Pfah. He was just as happy as she was!

The two males ignored Kagome's low muttering as they made their way. She was muttering about stupid youkai and their stupid, perfect looks and stupid, amazing hair. Ryura snickered once and Sesshoumaru gave the Miko a humorous glance over his shoulder. Her grumbling was just too much to ignore now.

All their humor left them as Inuyasha met them half way, and gave Kagome a curious glance. "I thought I said she doesn't need to be here for this?"

"I'm going to stay until you prove to me you're not going to try and kill him again, Inuyasha," Kagome blurted out before anyone else could speak.

"No, you're not. You're going to turn around and go back the way you came, got it? You'll get yours soon enough, wench, trust me," the hanyou rumbled darkly.

Kagome bristled and stomped a foot. Before she could subdue him, Ryura had him dangling from the ground with a hand around the hanyou's throat.

"Degrade her one more time, half-breed. I dare you," Ryura bit out.

Inuyasha eyed the markings on Ryura's face for a short moment then rolled his eyes, "Or what? You'll try to kill me? Worked wonders for you the last couple of times, eh?"

"Enough, both of you. Say what you wish, Inuyasha, and be done with it. However know that if you attempt to harm or degrade the Miko for her actions that led to saving Ryura's life, he will not be the one punishing you," Sesshoumaru said calmly.

Ryura dropped Inuyasha, who began rubbing at his now sore throat.

"You know what? Forget about it. He ain't worth this shit," he spat out then looked to Kagome. "Oi, wench. Whenever you're finished acting like a bitch in heat, let me know, eh? We sort of left the others behind, and if you don't remember, Naraku's still alive."

"Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru's voice came, dark and deadly. The hanyou looked to his elder half-brother and frowned.

Then Ryura snarled and backhanded him across the face, "What did we just finish saying!? Are you truly that stupid, Inuyasha? You insult your father and your mother both with your obvious lack of intelligence!"

His angry eyes watched as Inuyasha was forced to backflip in the air away from Ryura and Sesshoumaru, before the Inu Daiyoukai could step in and get his own hit on the hanyou.

"Feh, like you know anything! Just leave me alone!" Inuyasha snapped and took to the air, disappearing from their sight in a flurry of red and silver.

Behind them Kagome sighed haggardly and rubbed her forehead with both hands, trying to ease away the headache she felt coming in her skull. Leave it to Inuyasha to take a perfectly nice, calm moment and ruin it for everyone.

"He's right in a way, even if he can't word it right. I should probably get back to the others," Kagome said once she felt calm enough to speak.

"I will be accompanying you, Miko, considering your pack is far off and it would be dangerous for you to walk on your own," Sesshoumaru spoke up. Ryura nodded his head in agreement.

"Oh, alright. You probably have to pick up Rin too, huh?" She asked, and Sesshoumaru nodded. "Indeed."

Ryura held out a hand to Kagome and wiggled his fingers. "It would be faster to fly, and would possibly help dry our hair faster." He grinned.

The Miko chuckled softly and took his hand without hesitation. She was quickly resting in his arms and he was mindful of his armor as he adjusted his grip on her back and under her knees. With a nod showing he was ready, Ryura leaped into the air with Sesshoumaru following shortly behind him.

Laughing gleefully, Kagome had her arms raised up as high as they could go without getting in Ryura's way. She never knew flying could be so much fun! Normally she had a bumpy ride on Inuyasha's back, and this was far different than anything she had ever experienced.

Next to them, Sesshoumaru watched on with a spark of mirth in his eyes. "Never have I seen a human so comfortable with their feet off the ground. You are sure you are human, Miko?"

"Yup! I'm sure! This is just so amazing!" She yelled out so Sesshoumaru could hear her over the wind.

Ryura laughed loudly as Kagome settled down with a slightly embarrassed look on her face. The rest of their short journey was quiet until the trio were slowly coming to land off to one side of the pack's campsite.

"Kagome!" Shippou cried out excitedly. "I was so worried about you!"

"Me too, Kagome! I hope you're feeling better!" Sango said next.

"My, Lady Kagome, what an interesting position we find you in!" Miroku, without surprise, said suggestively with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Ryura set Kagome down on her feet gently. She hopped from one foot to the other, then back again, before quickly speeding her way over to her group and greeting them each with a hug. Except Miroku. He only got an awkward pat on the shoulder.

"Lord Ryura, it is good to see you return looking better off than before," Tsuyoshi voiced as he came to stand at Ryura's side. He was purposely eying his marks with a questioning brow raised.

Ripping his eyes away from Sesshoumaru glaring hard enough at Jaken to set the little gami into a verbal panic attack, spewing incoherent words, Ryura looked to the water Dragon and smiled softly. He flicked his eyes at Kagome still speaking animatedly with her friends.

Tsuyoshi followed his Lord's gaze, his other eyebrow raising. "I see. Interesting."

"Before I forgot. Tsuyoshi, I have an issue I have to speak with you about," Ryura said.

Tsuyoshi nodded understandingly and gestured off to the side, away from the main part of the camp. Only Sesshoumaru would be able to hear them at that distance. Together the two moved away, and Ryura began speaking.

"Kagome came to a revelation earlier, and I was hoping you would know a way she could dress as her station usually requires, yet in such a way that she would not resemble say... Another Miko?" Ryura's voice was low as he spoke.

"I was pondering her attire while you were away, to be honest. It seemed far too..." he trailed off, not wishing to say the word. Instead he went straight to the point, "I can think of a way, yes. If she would allow it, I could even help her hair grow to the length it should be."

"You can do that?" Ryura asked, surprised.

"The human body consists mostly of water. I can make it do quite a few things," Tsuyoshi admitted.

"Huh. I'd have to ask her," he said then looked up. "Oi, Kagome! Can you come here, please? Have something I wanna ask you!"

Kagome looked over her shoulder and gave the two Dragon youkai a smile. Quietly she excused herself and trotted over to Ryura.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Tsuyoshi has a thought in mind, about what we talked about earlier." He left it unsaid, but eyed her clothing to prove a point. Kagome flushed with a mix of horror and frustration, but nodded.

"My Lady, you might not be aware, but the human body is made up almost entirely of water," Tsuyoshi began.

"Roughly about sixty-five percent water, give or take depending on circumstances. Yes, I know," Kagome said with a smile. Tsuyoshi looked at her, shocked, then quietly chuckled when he remembered she was from the future.

"It is good you understand, then. It will make what I wish to do more easier to comprehend," he said as he reached out a hand, pausing just before touching Kagome's hair.

"May I?" he asked to be polite.

Kagome gave a confused nod and watched as his hand took hold of a small lock of her hair. Fog-like youki emitted from his hand and he ran it down that lock of hair, and as he moved his hand, her hair grew around three inches.

"Whoa!" Kagome exclaimed. "That's amazing!"

Tsuyoshi went to clip the now uneven lock of hair with his claws, but Kagome stopped him. "Waaaaait! Can you do that to all of my hair?"

"I can," he said, confused.

"Please! Ryura told me about the hair thing, how Miko and other people with political influence wear their hair long. He told me I look like a trollop, too," she said quickly.

Shocked, Tsuyoshi turned his now wide eyes to Ryura. "My Lord!"

"Hey! I didn't say it like that!" Ryura defended himself with an innocent wave of his hands.

Kagome giggled and apologized softly.

"Well, Lady Kagome, if you would turn around I can begin to work," Tsuyoshi said while paying close attention to his Lord and Kagome's light, back and forth banter. It ended with Kagome slapping Ryura's arm that was exposed, and he actually stuck his tongue out at her.

Kagome spun on her heel while laughing, and with a nod from Ryura, Tsuyoshi began to run his clawed hands through Kagome's hair, all the while the same fog-like youki drifted from his hands. While he worked, the Miko waved happily at the worried looks she was getting from her friends.

"It's okay! Tsuyoshi is just fixing an issue for me," she said merrily. But that didn't stop them from at least watching, curious as to what exactly he was doing.

After a few moments, Kagome's hair was down to her hips, and looked healthier than it ever had before. It was sleek and shiny, looking like it would be smooth to the touch. Tsuyoshi asked her to kindly turn around and began to work on the front parts of her hair, using his claws like someone from Kagome's era would scissors to trim her bangs until they were even and resting just a centimeter or two above her eyebrows.

Once he was finished, Kagome ran her hands through her now extremely long hair and almost purred. It felt just like Ryura's! So, youki in her hair did this, huh? Kagome thought she just found a new conditioner, and she hoped Tsuyoshi was prepared to either show her how to do this with her reiki if it was possible, and if it wasn't, he better damn well have been prepared to do this to her hair whenever it started to dry out. The Feudal Era was a wreck on her hair, after all. It wasn't that Kagome was a particularly vain person, but she lofted having soft and manageable hair. It just made her life easier.

"Ryura, look! Touch it!" Kagome said while holding it out to the Dragon Daiyoukai.

He ran his fingers through it with a chuckle. "You were saying about having your hair feel like mine?"

"I know!" she gushed as she brought the end of her hair and nuzzled her cheek against it. "It's so soft. My friends in my era are going to be so jealous."

"I am pleased you find it to your liking," Tsuyoshi said with a soft chuckle.

"Now, for the attire...?" Ryura asked.

"Ah, yes." Tsuyoshi nodded and focused his gaze on Ryura. "There is a way she can dress that would show her station as Miko, but at the same time without her having to look like Miko who might be the caretaker of a Shrine or village."

"And what way is that?" Ryura's head was tilted out of curiosity.

Kagome paid close attention when Tsuyoshi explained. "Miko who are sworn to Houses of nobility may wear hakama that are dyed the main color of that Houses' crest even, despite how rare it is for this to happen, if that House might be made up of youkai. For example, Lord Ryura, the House of Storm's main color is black, as you know. If she were to swear herself to you and your House, she could wear hakama of that color, and have your Houses' crest embroidered on to the right shoulder of her haori. With the crest on her haori, most humans will not question her purity and will possibly not end up calling her a dark Miko, so as long as her haori is white as well as the ribbon in her hair."

"Well, Kagome sure does have her pick of the litter then. There's my House, then Sesshoumaru's, along with someone she mentioned named Kouga," Ryura said thoughtfully. "Know any human nobility?"

"I do, actually... It's a friend of Sango's family. I forgot what his name was, though." She smiled sheepishly.

"You know Kouga of the Northern Wolf Tribe, Lady Kagome?" Tsuyoshi asked with his brows raised. That particular pack of wolves were known for their hostility towards humans, despite the recent rumors that Kouga's pack had suddenly stopped using them as livestock.

"I do, actually! I'm an honorary sister of their pack," Kagome said with pride. "...even if I could go without Kouga calling me his woman all the time – please, don't ask. You'll probably meet him if you hang around long enough, and get to see for yourself."

Ryura grunted at that.

"Yet again you prove to be more than you seem, Lady Kagome." Tsuyoshi smiled faintly and bowed his head respectively. "It would seem, since you are an honorary sister, that you speak with Prince Kouga about this."

"I don't know if that would be a good idea, with his thinking I'm going to mate him and all. I think it'd give him the wrong impression," Kagome said with a nod.

"Then how about mine?" Ryura blurted out. "I wouldn't make you do anything weird. At most, if you're still around when I retake my family's lands, I might ask for your help here and there."

Both Kagome and Tsuyoshi looked at Ryura with wide eyes, and Kagome was the first to ask, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am! You've saved my life, washed my hair for me and braided it too!" Ryura said with a laugh. "So, how about it?"

"Washed your...hair," Tsuyoshi's voice was skeptical, his mind instantly going to the same conclusion Sesshoumaru's had earlier.

Kagome bit her lip and Ryura growled in warning. "Sorry, sorry. But, if you're sure you wouldn't mind, and if you don't mind Tsuyoshi... I'd like that," she finished with a smile.

"I do not mind, my Lady. Even if I did, it would not be up to me, in the end."

"Sure it would, Tsuyoshi. You've been around longer than I have, and I didn't make you the Steward without reason. I take your advice seriously." Ryura gave the water Dragon a fangy grin then said, "Well, that settles it. You, Kagome, are now officially a member of the House of Storms. May the wind guard your back."

Tsuyoshi smiled softly at his Lord and Kagome. "Then I will leave to see to our new Miko's attire, with your leave, Lord Ryura."

"Of course. I'll be with Inuyasha's pack, so if we start moving, just sniff around for his horrid smell," Ryura grumbled out.

With a chuckle, Tsuyoshi was gone, disappearing with a small puff of icy looking fog.

Kagome laughed and ran over to tell her friends the news, a large smile splitting her face. "Hey guys, guess what?"

As Kagome excitedly told Sango and Miroku what was happening, Sesshoumaru quietly took a spot beside Ryura.

"Miko of your House, washing and braiding your hair... If I did not know better I would say that the House of Storms would soon have a new Lady, Ryura." Sesshoumaru's comment was stoic as the rest of him, but it did hold just a hint of mirth.

"Oh you shut your dirty mouth, Sesshoumaru. Kagome is a friend," Ryura growled out. "If you say that too loud you know what might happen."

He released a rare and soft laugh, "Hilarious. I remember my grandfather telling a story of my father saying much the same about my mother shortly before they married. Also, you should give the Miko more credit. In the future, should you want her as your mate, she will be able to fend for herself. You will have my support in the matter, of course. The Shikon Miko is not a person to brush off simply due to her humanity, after all."

He didn't give Ryura a chance to respond. He simply turned away and walked back to his own pack with his retainer's eyes growing to the size of grapefruits with each step Sesshoumaru took. Ryura shook a fist at his retreating back, then he flopped down to sit on the ground. His eyes darted around the camp and he began to notice it was a bit too quiet. Where was Inuyasha? He searched the trees but spotted no sign of the fire-rat clad hanyou.

"Is it normal for Inuyasha to run off?" Ryura asked loudly enough to gain everyone's attention.

"He will some times, when he is upset." Miroku said with a furrowed brow. "Did something happen?"

"Yes..." Kagome trailed off and looked to her feet. "Inuyasha said some pretty nasty things to me, and it upset Ryura. They started fighting and Inuyasha used the Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga on him. He cut his youketsu."

"I see. Is that why you yelled for Lord Sesshoumaru?" Miroku's voice was soft as he remembered Sesshoumaru saying Kagome's name and disappearing into the sky as a streak of red youki, only to transform into a massive silver-white dog. He knew Kagome pretty well after all this time of traveling with her and Inuyasha, and he understood Kagome was not the type of person to let a person on death's doorstep stay there if she could help, so to him it made sense she called for Sesshoumaru rather than anyone else.

"It is... I thought if he did die, Sesshoumaru could bring him back with Tenseiga, but he had to do a whole different thing to restore Ryura's youketsu," Kagome murmured.

Ryura grunted uncomfortably. "It seemed he didn't learn his lesson, however. He insulted her again after everything was over. I don't want to repeat what he said, not around the children, so please don't ask me to."

With a sigh, Miroku looked to the sky and whispered, "Inuyasha, my friend, are you ever going to learn? You are pushing her away. I only pray you are ready for the outcome of your actions..."

A day had passed and there was still no sign of Inuyasha. Not wishing to go too far without him, the group decided it best to return to the village. It would give Kagome time to go home and check in with her family at the same time as they waited for Inuyasha to return. The villagers seemed wary of Ryura when they entered the main portion of Kaede's village, and the Dragon Daiyoukai couldn't honestly blame them, not after what happened. Sesshoumaru had already set out after hearing a rumor of Naraku-grade miasma off to the north. Rin and Jaken, of course, went with him. With both Inuyasha no where to be found, and Sesshoumaru off tracking Naraku, it wasn't a surprise that Inuyasha's pack felt dejected.

When Ryura noticed the hut that he sent Inuyasha into was still destroyed he frowned softly and excused himself from the group. They watched him leave until he turned a corner, and together what was left of them entered Kaede's hut.

"Kagome, child. It is good to see ye are fairing well," Kaede said with a smile, then she greeted Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and even little Kirara.

As they settled down around the fire within Kaede's hut, the elder Miko squinted her good eye. "Kagome, thy hair!"

Kagome smiled. "I had help from a water Dragon Daiyoukai, Tsuyoshi. He's Ryura's Steward."

"Yeah, and Kagome's now Ryura's Miko," Shippou bubbled out as he focused on his latest drawing.

"His what now, Kagome?" Kaede asked with confusion while sliding her eye over to the younger Miko.

While Kagome lost herself in a fit of nervous giggles, Sango answered for her. "He means Kagome's sworn herself to Ryura's House. He's a Lord, Kaede-sama."

"Are ye sure that is wise, Kagome? Naraku is still among the living, and the Shikon no Tama still in pieces." The aging woman was worried. She knew Kagome would never skip out on her duties, but being the Miko of a youkai noble House would make it a bit tricky for her to do both at the same time.

That sobered Kagome up. "I'm sure, Kaede. He's just as worried about Naraku and the Shikon no Tama as we are. After all, Naraku's decided to take Ryura's lands for his own."

"He is Lord of the Eastern Territories?" Kaede hummed in her throat at Kagome's nod. This changed everything. "Perhaps we should focus on thy powers then, child. If ye are to be a Miko of nobility, ye should be able to perform the duties of one if he ever calls upon ye for aid. I am sure Miroku-sama will have no issue furthering your lessons while traveling, would ye?"

"I would not, no. I was actually about to suggest the same thing," Miroku said with a small grin.

Kagome clapped her hands together excitedly. "That's perfect! Idea stolen right from my head! With you two helping me and Ryura helping me with archery, I'll be a proper Miko pretty quickly!"

Sango went to ask what she meant about Ryura helping her, but her voice died in her throat as a few women passed outside Kaede's hut, stopping just within range of their hearing.

"He is extremely cute, is he not? The youkai over there. His blue hair is so exotic!" One woman said.

A gasp followed by a light slap came next with, "Haruka-chan!"

"What? It is true, Yuri-chan! Look at him, over there in the rain wearing very little, might I add, fixing Ito-san's home!" The woman apparently named Haruka said in her own defense. "It makes me honestly wonder why there are not more hanyou in the world. He, Inuyasha-sama, and Sesshoumaru-sama are extremely handsome men. It is enough to make a woman drop dead in a faint!"

Kagome choked on the water she was drinking. She coughed harshly and Shippou patted her on the back.

Miroku was up on his feet and very discreetly he poked his head out of Kaede's doorway. Sango followed after him like the curious woman she was. She ducked under Miroku's head and look a gander for herself. Kaede even stood up to join them!

Eventually a row of heads could be seen peaking out from Kaede's hut, including Kagome with Shippou's head just below hers, and Kirara's under his. None of them seemed to mind they were getting their heads wet due to the rain.

Like the woman had said, Ryura was across the way, fixing the hut Inuyasha had been tossed into during their fight. His armor and shirt were no where to be seen. Even his swords were missing.

"Well, Kagome-chan, I must say if you have to serve a Lord, I'm happy it's one who looks like that," Sango remarked.

Kagome could die right then and there of embarrassment. Come on, Kami-sama! Where's that random bolt of lightning? Normally the last rain of the summer would be more violent than this!