XXXVI.

Keepers Of The Past

Before the moon had set, darkness in darkness, the full count of youkai returned on hesitant feet. There was agitation in their movements, uncertainty; a ceaseless murmur of voices that built and receded like waves, never quite breaking the barrier that would let words carry.

Sesshomaru and Kagome knelt on cushions, and Kagome found herself glad to be off her feet; the Giving of Gifts was the last part of the rite, but it was very late now, closer to dawn than she wanted to think about...and there were so very many youkai!

They waited in a long line, ordered by family and by affiliation. First among them was Akira, his son and daughters beside him, and Kagome watched him come forward with a long box that smelled strongly of cedar. Inside were glittering bolts of cloth; it looked like spun silver, moonlight made into fabric.

"Sesshomaru-dono; Hime-sama. With good wishes for your mating, I gift you starsilk, woven by my daughters."

He bowed and stepped back, leaving the box behind. Behind them came another cluster of Inu; they carried forward a heavy chest, opened it carefully. Kagome almost gasped and barely restrained herself; it was full of glittering jewels, multi-faceted, many-colored.

"Sesshomaru-dono, Hime-sama – for the glory of your House."

There was another set of bows...and another group of Inu, a trio this time, two females and a male whose face was vaguely familiar. They carried a silk wrapped bundle that opened to show a gleaming sword, unsheathed, the blade brilliant gold and intricately carved in Dragon characters.

"An heirloom of the West Forest, Sesshomaru-dono. The one who holds this sword can be harmed neither by miko light nor priestly power."

Sesshomaru eyed this gift with amusement.

"An interesting choice, Katsu."

Youkai followed youkai, quickly and without pause. Kagome lost track of names and faces, couldn't tell which gifts had come from which hands, after a while – and there was so much, so many things beautiful and powerful both. Ornaments of gold and silver, rare furs from the most sought after of beasts; weapons and armor, both mundane and magical. She saw wealth, wealth beyond count; gems, jewelry, coins...bolts and bolts of silk, not Suzhou or Kyoto but cloth made by demon hands; starsilk, spidersilk, mist-woven damask.

There were robes, robes in many colors, embroidered with such intricacy and detail that they seemed alive – and others that were alive, with patterns that shifted and moved as she watched...

There were some among those giving gifts, however, who evoked a far more personal reaction.

Ginta and Hakkaku came forward slowly, unsure what Kagome's reaction would be to them. They had been astonished and terrified to see her during the Challenge, and had no way of knowing that it had been the Inu moving her, and the Ink, and Sesshomaru, and not her own feelings.

Looking at them reminded her of the battle, and she saw flashes of it in her thoughts, the great Beast-shapes moving, the rich smells of blood and mud and power. It brought a question into her mind that she knew she could not ask now, but -

Kouga...are you gone, Kouga? You are not here now – are you dead? Kouga, you idiot, you moron -

"Ka-Kagome-nee-san...and – and

"Kagome-nee-san and Sesshomaru-dono! Kouga-sama...intended to give you – this."

The pair of Wolves had brought forward an enormous leather case, jeweled and embroidered in patterns so intricate only youkai hands could have managed it. Easily, they lifted the lid, and showed dozens of wine skins, each one held in place in its own slot in the case.

"These are the finest Southern wines. And – they are yours, but -"

Ginta turned to Kagome.

"Because it is you, Kagome-nee-san – there is another gift."

And they held out a bloodstained strip of fur and leather that she recognized, and drew themselves up tall.

"This headband belonged to Kouga-sama, who wore it in his Challenge against your mate. Kouga-sama asked us to give this to you...so you would remember always that he does l-love you. By his blood that stains his gift, he swears his allegiance to you...Hime-sama."

Kagome looked momentarily pained at the title, and then saw how both Ginta and Hakkaku were grinning and couldn't help grinning herself, in amusement and in relief. Kouga had asked them to do this – so Kouga must be alive! The smile she shot Sesshomaru was quick and perfect and full of warmth.

"Kagome-nee-san, Kouga-sama and all his tribe will be here for you, if you need us. As you have always been there for us."

Sesshomaru's eyes were flashing at the familiarity of their address, at this second gift they were offering...at the fact that the others waiting in line were now whispering among each other – but it could not be undone, anyway, and Kagome had smiled at him...

Ginta and Hakkaku bowed and backed away, and the procession of gift givers continued -

Panniers of rich spices, the scents overwhelming; bloodwine, liquor, the promise of fine tapestries...treasures from strange lands, taken in battle, conquered through power – a staff of pale wood that radiated youki; the bones of a Korean demon who had once insulted Sesshomaru's father; the seed of a tree said to bloom once every ten thousand years...

Finally, there were only four left waiting; Kinawai with Kasuka beside him, Sesshomaru's own mother, and Eldest. The courtyard had grown quiet around them as the guests departed, and with a look at the other two, standing in conversation, Kinawai and Kasuka were first to step forward.

"Sesshomaru, my friend. You went mad for this one – don't look at me like that, it's true. Mad for her, and she's worth it. I speak only the truth. For your gift, I have brought something special."

He gave to Sesshomaru a relatively small box, perhaps two feet square. It was extraordinarily heavy for its size, carved from one whole piece of black, undecorated wood. The grain of the wood had grown smooth from years of handling.

"Open it."

Sesshomaru complied, his gaze questioning – and then blinked, astonished. The box was full of...metal. Ingots of steel? Carefully, he lifted one out. The metal shifted, warmed under his hands, began to move...to flow. Surprised, Sesshomaru flicked a sharp look in Kinawai's direction.

"What is this, Kinawai? What metal?"

"A very special metal, Sesshomaru. It has been an heirloom of my house for generations. Now, it is yours. It moves with thought and power; it responds to those who have the strength to inhibit its will. It is Living Steel, Sesshomaru. It would make a fine weapon...or perhaps an interesting armor. They say when it is worked properly, it can be made into a fabric stronger than adamant...and light as air."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened involuntarily, and he glanced at Kagome for a moment, having a sudden thought...and then was alarmed, seeing her apparently deep in conversation with Kasuka. His expression warned Kinawai into silence, and Sesshomaru turned his attention to Kasuka's voice, and Kagome's.

"You seem so reticent, Kagome-sama – or do you prefer Hime-sama?"

He heard Kagome laughing.

"Even just Kagome is fine. I didn't intend to seem rude; it's just that Sesshomaru...he doesn't...um..."

"Your mate despises me, Kagome. Don't look so shocked; he has certainly made his feelings clear enough. He has never liked me, though his reasons are unknown to me. He keeps his secrets close, Sesshomaru does. Or so Kinawai tells me."

Kagome smiled guilelessly, shrugged.

"I guess that's true. But I'll make up my own mind; I want my own reasons to like you or not. After all, you are Kinawai's mate; technically you are my kin, yes? I can't say that about many people -"

"Oh, we are family, Kagome, make no doubt about that – and more than technically. I was born to the House of Fire, to its oldest line of power. And Eldest calls you sister-daughter...so you could say we are...cousins, hmm?"

And she smiled. Sesshomaru shuddered, unable to restrain his disgust. He did not like thinking that his Kagome shared anything with Kasuka – not blood, not ancestry, not anything. A scowl darkened on his face.

"I have brought you a gift, Kagome, as Kinawai has brought one for your mate. Take these; they have protected the true daughters of the House of Fire for many generations."

Sesshomaru took a step forward, intending to stop Kagome from doing anything so foolish as wearing protection offered by Kasuka – but said protection was only a pair of bracelets, curves of shimmering, scarlet glass, Dragon-shaped, twining; they were quite beautiful, and power was evident in them...but Sesshomaru sensed nothing malevolent, and held back from interfering.

Kagome had asked him to allow her leeway with this...interaction. She had made her intentions clear, and he was interested to see if she could succeed with such a subtle deception. If Kinawai could find out nothing about his mate's intentions, such intelligence as Kagome might discover could be invaluable.

"They are beautiful, Kasuka-sama -"

"Please, Kagome; you must also call me by name."

"Then – I thank you, Kasuka. Please, help me to wear them?"

"Here – you'll find they wear themselves quite well..."

There was amusement in Kasuka's voice that Sesshomaru found irritating, and then he had to restrain himself from running forward. The bracelets struck forward like uncoiling snakes, darted around Kagome's wrists, and tightened. The Dragon-heads poised, hissing, fangs raised, over Kagome's skin – then settled against it almost tenderly, and became still and silent.

Even Kasuka was looking at the jewelry with surprise, but her features quickly settled into a mild expression. Sesshomaru strode forward and stood behind Kagome, one hand at her shoulder,

"Well...so you are, indeed, a true daughter of Dragons. Ah...I see that look. Your mate does not share well, Kagome. You must come visit with me sometime; after all, as the last two females of our line, we should...get to know each other."

Having maneuvered the entirety of this conversation to the point she desired, Kasuka waited almost breathlessly. This Kagome was nothing like she expected; there was naiveté and knowingness both in her – an unusual combination. She seemed honest...almost innocent. Wary, perhaps, but that was not surprising with Sesshomaru for a mate. The Inu would have filled her ears with dark words about her Dragon kin...and Kasuka herself, certainly. And then there was Eldest...

"Yes. I would like that. It will take time for me to settle in here, but I would be pleased to visit with you, and with your mate."

Kagome smiled, her features tight with unease. Sesshomaru's presence behind her was tense and poised. She sensed violence in him, just beneath the surface; as if it was only with the greatest effort of will that he restrained himself from taking Kasuka's life. Kagome resolved that as soon as this mess of Presentation was out of the way, she would make him explain his problems with Kasuka.

But with Sesshomaru behind her, the testing conversation dissolved, and Kasuka bowed herself away to Kinawai's side. Her smile grew steadily more vicious as she walked away; running over that little talk, Kasuka was sure she could make some use of this Kagome. And with the other plans she had set in motion...well.

The full moon was in two weeks time; that was not that long to wait.

When Kinawai and Kasuka had left, Kimitsukiko came forward, and looked Kagome over with an appraising glance. She ignored her son entirely, and instead of any elaborate gift or explanation, lifted a heavy pendant from around her neck. Sesshomaru's eyes widened for a moment; that amulet?

Easily, his mother dropped the pendant over Kagome's head and let it thump against her chest.

"Mate of my son, I give you power. Power to protect; power that may mean life, over death. Before he died my mate gave this to me, and bid me keep it for the day of my son's need...and then, once that time had come, to pass it on to his mate. This I have done."

She stared at Kagome for a long, silent minute, and then moved as if to turn away.

"Please – wait! Your arm -"

Kimitsukiko turned back, and paused, and then nodded once.

"Very well."

There was a splash of crimson, and then a bubbling of pink power...and then she was whole again.

Eldest watched, not commenting, just curious.

When Kimitsukiko had gone, she finally stepped forward, last of them all to leave, giving into Kagome's hands a leather-wrapped package whose contents she could not discern.

"Sister-daughter, you have had some training, you said. Tell me, the miko who taught you...did you learn any blood magic from her, or the ways of sensing and manipulating auras? Did you..."

But she trailed off, because Kagome was shaking her head.

"No...no, Kaede never taught me anything like that – she taught me how to heal with herbs, but never any blood magic, and not much about a miko's special power. She said that my power was tangled inside me – but she didn't know why, or how. She said that I was lucky I was able to shoot a miko's arrow, and that I should be content with that."

Eldest smiled.

"Your power was bound up in suppressing the youkai within you. It is miko power that restrains the demon influence in such cases. Regardless, human miko in general do poorly with blood magic; their blood does not possess the same inherent energy. You have noticed this, yes? I expect things have changed for your power since you took on your true flesh."

Kagome brightened considerably.

"Yes! I can – I healed Sesshomaru, with my blood - just like his mother. And.."

Eldest nodded.

"Yes, I have heard about that. Many have been wondering how Sesshomaru could have recovered so quickly from such a wound. There were rumors...and I expect Kimitsukiko will appear soon, also healed, and then the question in their minds will be only whether it was you or me who is responsible."

Kagome grinned.

"Good, they should have at least one question they can't answer. I was so nervous – and then they were all just...annoying! I understand now why Sesshomaru never wants to spend time with any of them – and some of them, just drooling over Rin! You know, when I'm from, there aren't any demons, and I don't understand, eating children...disgusting!"

Eldest only shrugged. She had lived far too long for such paltry offenses to have any effect. Someone somewhere was always eating children. Then she paused for a moment, caught on an idiosyncrasy in Kagome's speech. "You know, when I'm from -" but she shook her head, sure she had misheard.

"There's no accounting for the tastes of others, Still – you can see, I'm sure, why I have no desire for regular contact with that ridiculous body which calls itself a Council."

Kagome couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that.

"Calls itself a Council? What do you mean?"

"I have seen humans organize themselves into groups, in times of peace and in times of crisis, and get important things done. They work best with a leader, this is true, but especially when there is trouble humans are remarkably adaptable, and someone with the right skill to fit the need of the moment will usually appear to show his fellows the right direction. Youkai, however..."

She fixed Kagome with a stern glance.

"Youkai do not work well together. Without a strong enough leader, someone with the power to hold the violent desires of the others in check, nothing gets done at all, whether there is trouble or not."

Eldest smiled a strange little smile.

"Tell me, Kagome...have you wondered why, if youkai are immortal, ageless, there is one among us who is Eldest? Is it not strange to find that even I have not yet lived ten thousand years? Yes – I see that expression on your face, and I understand. To you, ten thousand years is time beyond counting; but consider: youkai have walked on these shores for thousands of thousands of years. Since the surface of the world cooled and forever put out the flames that bounded every shore, we have stalked here, in one form or another; spirits of the roaring newborn world, shadows of the fledgling life that arose here, now stalking beasts enfleshed to guard the withering remnants of the ancient days. Why – why is it that none have survived to tell us of those days; the days that are called the Days of Darkness...and the days Before?"

Kagome was silent. While she had been reading, the question had occurred to her, and she had come to her own answer; she thought it was the right one, because it was so obvious, and listening to Eldest talk she was even more sure of it. But now, with this intense female speaking at her with such passion, bringing it up here, of all places, of all times...

"I think - youkai do not live forever because they cannot stop fighting each other. And humans. And once it was kami – and the servants of kami. I read that."

Kagome grinned again, briefly, and then became serious again and shook her head.

"But you mean something more about it than what I was thinking."

"Yes."

"Something serious."

"Yes. There was a time when the fighting was a necessary and a natural thing. The strong preyed upon the weak, and the carnivore fed upon his chosen prey, and blood flowed and the moon reflected on rivers of red. Then, if there had not been fighting, the world would have been overrun with youkai in the span of a thousand years. But the times have changed, Kagome. You are new to the complexities of our world, but you know something of the House of your mate, yes?"

Kagome nodded.

"Then you should know that he is the last direct-line descendant of the ruling family of his House; in the same manner, Kinawai is the last male heir of my line, and he comes to that through his mother, and not his father – because there is no other male who can claim such direct descent."

Eldest wore a musing, distant look for a moment.

"Through my son and several generations to his mother, Kinawai bears my blood. But I digress; the point is, the great youkai Lines are dying out, fading away into lesser descendants of lesser power. Catastrophe has stalked our world for more than five hundred years, since the humans decided to face their fears, since the spiritual advisors among them all turned to darkness..."

Kagome looked at her for a moment with unmasked horror.

"All of them? All of them turned to darkness?"

"Can you name a single human, priest or miko, who would not destroy a demon on sight? For that is darkness, Kagome."

Eyes flashing, Kagome stoutly defended her former species.

"I can name two. Miroku, a houshi – and Kaede, the miko who trained me. Both of them know better than to judge on sight alone; they were my friends, and they are my friends, even now! Miroku traveled with me, while I was restoring the shikon no tama – while Inuyasha was with us, and Shippou too!"

Eldest raised her eyebrows at that. Humans were notoriously wary of Kitsune, more than many other more powerful youkai. They blamed everything on Foxes...though of course, they couldn't help but be occasionally correct. She bowed her head, partially out of respect and partially to hide a smile she couldn't suppress.

"I stand corrected, Kagome. You have the experience, of course; I should not be surprised."

Kagome nodded shortly, and then looked uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I – didn't mean to...um..."

"Do not be concerned; it is pleasant to find someone who will tell me when I am wrong. It does not happen often, sister-daughter."

Kagome smiled faintly.

"But if I may continue – the problem is that many, if not all, of those with the power to destroy demons now think it is their duty – their calling- to seek out youkai and destroy them. Those who were meant to be protectors of innocence are now murderers instead; and we – all youkai – have suffered for it. With holy powers to protect them, humans do not fear to form armies and come against us in number."

The words echoed something Sesshomaru had said to her; she was not like that, he had said. But she had killed many youkai...many youkai...

"I can see your worry on your face, Kagome dear."

The words, the tone of them – Kagome's eyes shot up to Eldest's face, startled. For a moment, she had been sharply reminded of her mother, and that was...very odd.

"You killed many demons on your quest, that is what you are thinking, yes?"

Slowly, overcoming that moment, Kagome nodded.

"But you killed only those who attacked you. Did you seek out the innocent young in their burrows, females pregnant and defenseless, tribes of youkai who had never bothered any human, who would run rather than fight -"

Kagome was shaking her head in horror, shaking all over in horror.

"No! No, never -"

"Then you understand. That is what is happening. That is what will destroy us. And while this happens...while power grows among men and is directed at us in violence, while armies form and muster and are sent against the ancient Lords of the great forests and their kin -"

Eldest's features crumpled in disgust.

"While this happens, we fight amongst ourselves. Some plot for dominance, ready for war. Others argue about right and power - and the few who see, as I do, the darkness massing on the horizon, threatening to overwhelm us...ah...we are so few, our voices are lost in the crowd."

And she smiled a tight smile leached of joy.

"Even your mate, sister-daughter. Even your Sesshomaru."

Her eyes flickered to where he was standing, cold and silent and still, and then back to Kagome's face.

"All this time he has only been one, but now you are two together. Make use of that; be strong in it. Now, my time with you is up...but first – Miho!"

Swiftly, the little Dragon appeared; even Sesshomaru looked surprised by this.

"Miho is part of my mate-gift for you; she has agreed to be yours, Kagome, if you will have her."

"M-mine? I -"

"You do not take her will, sister-daughter, only her allegiance, her bond. You must have females of your own."

Kagome sensed Sesshomaru simmering beside her, the pulse of his will. He badly wanted her to refuse this gift.

But...I wonder why? And how can I...but then, she did say "if I will have her".

"Oyume-sama, I am not accustomed to this place yet, to my new...status, to my new life. I can't...I can't own someone that way – or if I was to have someone's allegiance, it would have to come from them – because I've earned it from them."

Like...Kouga. Poor, dear Kouga.

"I – I'm so very sorry, but I must refuse your gift."

Kagome bowed swiftly. There was an odd little smile on Miho's face, and she took one step backwards. Eldest, too, smiled. She accepted Kagome's bow, and then pulled her into a tight embrace, hugged her with back-breaking strength.

"I thought Sesshomaru would be the one to complain and not you, sister-daughter – but I will abide by your wishes. And...Sesshomaru -"

His eyes bored into her stare, and she found herself on the edge of looking away, laughed internally, and found herself doubly satisfied to see the effect of her next statement.

"The last snow of winter will be followed by Heat. You know what that means. Prepare yourself, young Inu! A mate is one thing...but you have no idea what is going to happen to you."

While he stood, shocked, paling at an alarming rate, she left - at first walking, passing swiftly through the gate...and then blurring, out of sight and into nothing.

Kagome only shrugged, not understanding and with enough things to occupy her thoughts, and finally untied the package that Eldest had handed to her. Inside she found a strange collection of artifacts, none of which she recognized: an iron chain, an unlit lamp...and a knife of stone and crystal, a knife with an edge so fine it came to a point beyond even youkai sight.

I wonder what these are?

"Kagome!"

Sesshomaru's voice startled her, and she looked up at him swiftly.

"What... do you know what these things are, Sesshomaru?"

His fingers touched the objects one by one.

"The lamp...has powers rare and most untested. I have heard that it can illuminate the furthest corners of your vision, or the furthest corners of your heart...or it can do nothing. In many hands, it has refused to light at all – no matter the power, no matter the need."

"And the chain? The knife?"

"The chain I know nothing of, nothing definite. It is mentioned in the Record - a binding of some kind; perhaps a weapon. The knife I have seen the like of once before; a weapon of cursed crystal, many times blooded. It is a justice-seeker, that knife. Others have...other purposes."

"Why...why would she give these things to me?"
Kagome's question came out far more tremulous than she liked.

"They are heirlooms of her family...your family. Perhaps she felt it was time to pass them on, now that she has...found you."

Or perhaps it is dark times coming; dark times, and you will need all the weapons you can muster at your fingertips.

But he said nothing of his suspicion.

While Kagome readied herself for bed, Sesshomaru wandered through the many rooms of his fortress; a cursory inspection, after the presence of so many strangers. Last, he came to the Hall of Weapons, where he was at first enraged, and then confused...and then very pleased.

On a stand at one end of the Hall, he had kept Toukijin; broken now, a useless blade...but still full of evil energies and a souvenir of his...more foolish days. A reminder.

It was gone. His anger had been at the thought of theft; his confusion had come from his discovery of a pile of smoking ash.

The pleasure – that was from realizing, suddenly and completely, the only possible source for a power that had been great enough to reduce such youki to ash.

Kagome. The consummation of the Rite – her power.

And perhaps that was why Eldest had given into her hands the most ancient relics of her bloodline, artifacts that had come down to her from the Days of Darkness. He wondered, though, why it was that only three of the four heirlooms of the House of Fire had been gifted to Kagome. She possessed lamp, chain, and knife; but where was the mirror?

The Mirror of Names...

A/N: Woo! Sorry that took SO long...but I got badly distracted by Alpha! Bad me, bad me! :P Ahh...but it feels good to get this one out! The presentation is over, Sesshomaru is getting a brain, Kouga got a brain, and Kagome...well, she already had one. :snicker: Coming Soon: An Invitation, Some Bad Guys, and the Definition of Love!

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