A Distant Promise – Drabble #14
A mini-Sesshoumaru.
Really, the resemblance was remarkable. Kagome felt startled every time she turned around and he was there. She would surreptitiously stare at him over the rim of her cup, if they went out for food. She would dart little glances his way, whenever she thought he wasn't looking. Luckily, Satoshi didn't seem to mind the extra-attention.
After finals, she had returned for winter break, excited to be home after living in a dormitory for the past few months. Shippo visited the shrine often too, adding to their little family and charming her brother Souta with tricks. But the one who snared her attention was Satoshi. It wasn't the poor kid's fault, she knew; he simply resembled his Father so strongly that she couldn't help drawing comparisons. Invariably, when he smiled or frowned or acted surprised, her heart would flutter, reminding her of a face long ago which never did any of those things.
Home for the holidays, just like Kagome, Satoshi told Shippo all about his studies in Europe, as the kitsune mocked whatever the clueless Europeans must be teaching him. Their easygoing relationship showed every sign of being a long-term friendship. But still, she could not get a straight answer from her fox-child. When had he joined Sesshoumaru's group? How long had he known Satoshi? Was Sesshoumaru still alive? Who was Satoshi's mom?
Shippo grinned impishly and explained that life was better with a mystery in it. Selfish, perhaps, but he needed to monopolize her time for a few weeks, after missing her for so many centuries. When the new year began, he promised that he would answer all her questions.
Meanwhile, she satisfied her curiosity by interrogating Satoshi. The boy didn't seem to know anything about her old companions from the feudal era, and he was prohibited from talking about his Father or their business interests without permission, but he happily told her anything else she wished to know. She learned his favorite foods, songs, colors, and his favorite animal (the dog, of course). He told her about modern-day Europe, living through the Boshin War, and about fighting for his life against a sea-dragon once, on a merchant ship with lots of helpless humans to defend. In turn, she told him everything she could remember about his Uncle Inuyasha, their adventures in the feudal era, and fighting against Naraku.
Between the two of them, she never did get around to searching for Inuyasha during the break, as she had planned. Besides, Shippo said he knew where her flighty ex-hanyou was hiding. For the time being, it was enough to know he was safe. It was also good to hear that he was gainfully employed. Relaxing into the winter vacation, she lavished attention on friends and family, both old and new.
As the days went by, Satoshi reminded her less of his impenetrable Father. There were traces of Sesshoumaru in his posture or the elegant arch of a brow, implying he knew things that you could never fathom. But there were also hints of mischievous fox-demon inside him, and Shippo clearly held a great deal of sway over the boy's opinions and actions. The boy had his own charm and character, and she was glad to know him.
Finally, the New Year approached. Ringing the temple bell at midnight on New Year's Eve, Kagome laughed gaily and felt all her worries lifting away from her. She had done many things in her short life already, but for a moment, instead of enfolding herself in the trappings of the past, she watched her future unfold like a spreading fan. The next day, the shrine was flooded with visitors. They sold a boatload of fake Shikon no Tama key-rings, and her grandfather claimed it was a sign of the coming year's prosperity. For once, she smiled and reinforced the old man's dreams rather than correcting him.
She wondered what Inuyasha was doing, while the rest of the country celebrated. When she thought about him now, some of the hurt was gone. She hoped he was happy.
And at last, the appointed day arrived. Shippo sat down with her privately after the start of the year, and told her whatever she wanted to know. But by now her first thought was not to ask after Inuyasha; she wanted to hear about Sesshoumaru and Satoshi instead. So, that was where he began.
