Disclaimer: This piece is based on 'Inuyasha', owned by Rumiko Takahashi. No copyright infringement intended or implied.
Honor
The bargaining over her dried herbs was fierce. Kaede paid no attention to anything but the intense discussion between peddler and Satsuki, until someone touched her shoulder. With a yelp of surprise, she jumped and whirled.
The headman Yasuo smiled ruefully. "Apologies, Kaede-chan--I didn't mean to startle you. The new miko has just arrived. If you'll trust Satsuki-san to finish the bargaining, I'll take you to meet her."
For a moment, Kaede froze. The moment she'd been dreading for days, since she'd first overheard his plans, had finally arrived. One part of her wanted to run away and hide, to pretend that the miko didn't--wouldn't--exist.
Instead, she gave Yasuo her very politest bow.
"Thank-you, Yasuo-dono," she said formally. "I am honored that you will introduce this one to the miko-sama."
To her utter surprise, he bowed to her in return. "It is you who have honored us, and your sister, in trying so hard to fill Kikyo-sama's sandals, this summer." Gently, he touched her head. "Never believe that you are a failure, Kaede-sama."
Shock swamped her, followed by the sense of a weight lifting away. Kaede breathed deeply; then nodded.
"I'm ready."
Author's Note: This was written for the iy_themes community on LiveJournal, for the theme "Away." It was originally published on December 1, 2009.