Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.

Gifts

Dusk was descending as they walked down the stairs from Kikyo's grave. At the bottom of the stairs, a boy, one of headman Yasuo's nephews, was dancing in place. "Miko-sama, Kaede," he called when they were barely halfway down. "Oji told me to tell you, that he wants you over for supper!"

"Oji?" Kaede heard Suriya whisper under her breath.

"Yasuo-dono," Kaede whispered back, not surprised at Suriya's lack of recognition, once she realized that the new miko had been too busy since her arrival to meet everyone, especially most of the youngsters. "That's Kurokei."

"Ah." Raising her voice, Suriya called back. "Thank-you for telling us, Kurokei-kun. Will you please go back and inform your uncle, that we will be there when we have cleaned up."

He responded with a grin and a quick bow. "Sure! See ya!" He took off at a run.

Kaede tried not to sigh or grimace. She was not going to look forward to dinner at the headman's hut. She just knew that the occasion was going to involve an apology on her part, to that sneering, full-of-himself, Hajime. The evening was going to be horrible. And there was no way she'd be able to avoid it!

Suriya kept an eye on her as she scrubbed her face and hands and feet with a rag and sliver of soap, and then insisted on Kaede wearing her other—and heavier—kimono. Kaede argued, but Suriya pointed out the dirt and grass-stains on the one she'd been wearing. Kaede gave in to that, and also donned the stockings Suriya had purchased for her. The miko also scrubbed and changed, moving faster than the girl. She caught up a comb, and before Kaede could guess what she was going to do, had pulled out Kaede's hair-tie, and was combing her hair.

Kaede tensed and didn't move. It was unexpected, and uncomfortable. It reminded her that she and Kikyo had routinely combed each other's hair, especially in the evenings. She wasn't sure she ever wanted anyone else touching her hair, but what could she do?

She wasn't going to act like a spoiled baby.

… … …

There were more than a few villagers lingering in the vicinity as Suriya and herself approached the headman's house. Kaede did her best to keep her face still as she felt the eyes following her and the miko. What was going on? It wasn't the first time that they had eaten at Yasuo's, though it was the first time that the headman had explicitly invited them.

Yasuo was waiting for them on the porch of his house. He bowed as they stepped up. "Thank-you for coming, Kaede-chan, Suriya-sama."

They bowed in return. "Your invitation honors us, Yasuo-dono," replied Suriya.

"The honor is mine, Suriya-sama." Yasuo turned his attention to the girl. "Kaede-chan, I asked you and your teacher for dinner, that I may give you my personal thanks for all you have tried to do this past summer. I am confident that your sister is very proud of you. Please accept the gratitude of myself, and all the village, Kaede-dono."

He bowed, as Kaede's mouth dropped open. This was the last thing she had expected. The headman had mentioned his appreciation before, but doing it in such a formal manner, and in front of an audience? She was only, only—

Fingers tapped her shoulder, recalling herself. Snapping her mouth shut, Kaede bowed in return as Yasuo straightened. "I am, um, honored that my, ah, efforts have, um, are appreciated," she managed to stammer. "Yasuo-dono."

He smiled at her as she looked up, his eyes twinkling. "Shall we go inside?" he asked. "Satsuki has been working much of the afternoon; we should go enjoy her efforts."

Kaede followed the headman inside, followed by Suriya. Almost immediately she stopped dead, when she saw who awaited them.

Hajime!

Like his father, Hajime was dressed in clean clothes a distinct cut above every day attire, and he had obviously taken pains at his grooming. Kaede's stomach twisted, but she could not help but notice that he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

He met her eyes briefly, not without dislike, but then, to her surprise, he bowed. "Kaede-san," he said. "Please accept my apologies for this morning. I was rude, and spoke ill of the honored Kikyo-sama, your sister. My behavior was inappropriate, and I am—sorry."

Kaede felt stunned. Hajime, apologizing? She bobbed a bow in return. "I accept your apology, Hajime-san," she said. Sheer numbness allowed her to sweep into the next step, for which she'd been trying to mentally prepare herself since morning. "I apologize, too. I was also rude. Please accept my apology."

"I accept," he said curtly, before turning and apologizing to the miko. Bows exchanged, and the apology accepted, Yasuo brought the attention back to himself with a clap of his hands.

"Shall we see what Satsuki-san has prepared for us?"

… … …

Kaede was relieved when the adults made no effort to require her to join in the conversation over the meal. She concentrated on her manners, her stomach refusing to unclench enough for her to really appreciate the food, though it was very good. She kept one ear on the conversation, but it was mostly news about the latest mechanizations of the neighboring lords against each other.

Good food or not, she was secretly relieved when the dishes were cleared away. She wanted to leave, to get away, to forget about being formally thanked for what she couldn't help feel was a series of failures on her part. She was only a kid; why should a headman be thanking her and taking meal with her? It didn't feel right.

The other members of the family left, leaving only Yasuo and Suriya seated, along with Kaede. Yasuo turned his attention to the girl and smiled. "I've made you spend a rather uncomfortable evening, haven't I, Kaede-chan?" he asked.

She blinked, and then nodded. "I regret making you uncomfortable, Kaede, but I do want you to understand that I deeply appreciate your efforts, and I did not want those efforts to go unnoticed or unappreciated. And by the village, as well as myself. Losing your sister—the last of your family—and then striving to take her place: you honored Kikyo-sama and us, just by your effort. And I do not want your effort forgotten."

She gave him a slow nod, though she didn't understand.

"In a few years, when Suriya finishes her training, you will be a miko. I hope that you will be our miko."

Kaede nodded, firmly this time. She could not imagine leaving the village where her sister was buried, or leaving Inuyasha's sealed body unprotected.

Yasuo's wife returned to the room, carrying a bundle, which she set down beside Kaede. "For the memory of what we owe your sister, for my gratitude for your efforts, and for hope in a brighter future, please accept these gifts from myself and Satsuki."

Kneeling beside her, Satsuki undid the knot of the cloth containing the bundle. She pulled the unbleached cotton back, and Kaede's eyes widened. Lengths of white and red were neatly folded, the colors of a miko's outfit. Neat rolls of white leather and white ribbons were balanced on top, along with spools of matching thread.

"Will you accept our gift, little on one?" Satsuki put an arm across Kaede's shoulders as she murmured. "You are still young, but you have chosen to become a miko. And when you are ready to take on those duties, it would be our honor and our joy, for us to supply you with the clothes of your rank."

Kaede stared up at her, a knot in her heart releasing. Someone did think she could be a miko, didn't look down on her failures of the summer. Someone was willing to give her what she would need, without her having to earn it, to prove herself to them. They—believed in her.

She stumbled through her thanks, and dissolved in grateful tears.

Author's Note: This was written for the quote prompt "It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding." by Kahlil Gibran. It was posted on the LiveJournal community on February 25, 2012. It took second place. (12/26/2012)