Summary: Sesshoumaru reciprocates Kagome's gift to Rin.

AN: LJ Dokuga-Contest, Seven Treasures Challenge – Pearl

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~ooO Pearl: A Gift for Kagome Ooo~

Kagome gaped at the contents. When she had tipped over the small red silk bag, she had been given by Sesshoumaru, she hadn't expected this!

Lying in her cupped hand was a handcrafted pendant made of gold, pearls, and mother-of-pearl. The pendant was shaped in a two-inch diameter circle with small diamond-shaped blue-grey mother-of-pearl set around a large perfectly round black pearl. In-between the mother-of-pearl pieces were tiny cream coloured seed pearls, so many the gold could barely be seen. The pendant was reversible; the other side framed the back of the large black pearl, the flat gold surface surrounding was etched with kanji depicting her name, the Western Lands, and the House of the Moon. Around the edge on the same side were pink seed pearls.

Kagome knew large round pearls, much less black pearls, were worth a fortune, in this time and the future, because this pearl was natural. The technique for cultured pearls, for perfectly round pearls, it did not exist in this time. Carefully she extended her senses and caught traces of youki from the black pearl. It was from an oyster-youkai, the same breed that had created the black pearl in InuYasha's eye, a gateway into the Netherworld and InuTaisho's grave. Carefully she slipped the pendant back into its silk pouch and looked up at Sesshoumaru, ready to refuse the gift. It was Too Expensive, in the Feudal era and her time.

"I'm sorry Sesshoumaru-sama, I cannot accept this." And before he could speak she hurried to explain. "It is too valuable to be given to someone like me."

"Someone like you?" he inquired mildly.

Kagome made a face. "Human. Miko. Unimportant."

He frowned faintly. "Miko, you are unique. There are youkai, daiyoukai, lords, royalty, and mikos. But there is only one Shikon miko… You. The pendant is yours." His tone was resolute. "A gift for what you have given Rin."

Kagome opened her mouth to protest and shut it at his warning look. Slim fingers stroked the silk containing the pearl pendant. She made a mental note to leave it in the future at the first opportunity. She did not want to risk losing or damaging it in her travels.

"If you insist, Sesshoumaru-sama," she murmured bowing. "I will treasure it."

He nodded firmly.

A soft chime of brass rings hitting each other interrupted the silence. Kagome turned to their forgotten audience who were watching with awed (the children) incredulous (InuYasha, Jaken and Sango) and interested (Miroku) expressions.

It was Miroku who broke the suddenly uncomfortable atmosphere with a bit of trivia. "On the continent they say pearls fall from the sky when dragons fight. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma. Fresh water pearls are said to offer love, money, protection, and luck." He smiled before continuing. "Can you think of anything else to add Kagome-sama?"

Kagome blushed slightly at one aspect Miroku had left out of his spiel: Pearls were said to cement engagements and love relationships. She refused to believe Sesshoumaru had thought of that when he had this made for her. Frantically she struggled to think of something to say. Her eyes brightened as she recalled an old story.

"Actually I do. It's from a land in Africa a long time ago. I think it is called Khemet, or Egypt. It was a Kingdom of deserts and fertile oases ruled by leaders called Pharaohs. Most of them were men but there were a few queens. Cleopatra was one of the most famous and well-remembered ones: beautiful, educated, intelligent, cunning, influential. She ruled in a time when her country was being overshadowed by a foreign empire called Rome. Rome had sent several Generals to first conquer, then to occupy. She managed to put them off through diplomacy and other methods.

"Cleopatra made a bet with the Roman General Marc Anthony. She said she could give the world's most expensive dinner party. Marc Anthony accepted the challenge and ordered his servants and aides to organize a feast to challenge Cleopatra's claims. The meal his servants assembled was stupendous, with rare expensive delicacies. When the meal was over Marc Anthony challenged Cleopatra to do better. The next day she invited him for dinner. The food was simple, almost ordinary.

"At the end of the meal she ordered her servant to bring her a glass of wine. Then she removed one of her pearl earrings, crushed it and dropped it in the wine. The acids in the wine dissolved the pearl fragments and Cleopatra drank the wine and pearl mixture. That one earring was said to be worth a hundred thousand pounds of silver."

Everyone goggled.

"What happened next Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked.

"Marc Anthony admitted that she had won the bet; that she had served the most expensive meal."

"What happened to the other earring?" Sango wanted to know.

"I'm not sure," Kagome admitted. "The story doesn't say. It was probably re-set into another piece of jewellery."

She smiled as she watched everyone settle around the campfire for the evening meal, rabbits roasting over the flames and the soup being cooked in a pot.

She glanced at the daiyoukai from under thick lashes. He was not staring at her, but occasionally he did turn in her direction. There was something in his look that made her melt. He didn't have to give her pearls. He could have chosen something else, but he didn't. She wondered if he knew of the beliefs surrounding pearls… that they cemented engagements and love relationships. She blushed slightly. He probably didn't know that and was just trying to be nice, without saying anything.

Pointedly she ignored the grumbles and sulky glares from InuYasha. He had no say in what she chose to do. He might have a hate-hate relationship with Sesshoumaru but it didn't mean Kagome had to. Kagome wasn't ready to admit to herself just what it was she felt for the inuyoukai but it most definitely was not hate.

She smiled softly and stared into the flames wondering just how she was going to explain this to her mother. Oh, it's from Sesshoumaru, InuYasha's elder half-brother who tried to kill me when we first met. He's not trying to kill me any more and is travelling with us. He gave me this pearl encrusted pendant because I bought a coral necklace for his ward. Kaa-san would either throw a fit or accept it without question.

Either way Kagome wasn't quite certain of her own thoughts regarding Sesshoumaru's gift. One did not make and give away such a valuable piece lightly. There had to be a reason behind his actions; just what Kagome did not know, but she was certain Sesshoumaru would reveal it when he was ready.

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The End.

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