Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or his characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.
Metamorphosis of a Miko
Phase Four: A Courtship
Sesshomaru walked into the camp his small pack was camped in to see a fire burning low but steady. The children were asleep since it was fairly late and so were Jaken and Ah-Un. The miko was still awake sitting by the fire dressed in a pair of sweat pants, a sleeping yukata, and a pair of socks. He gazed at her for a few moments, taking in the pleasant way her skin glowed from the fire light, before he called up his youki and placed a barrier around the camp, drawing her attention to his arrival.
"Come." He said quietly. "I wish to speak to you in private." He added and watched her stand before he turned and began to walk off into the trees.
They walked a ways into the forest before they stopped and Sesshomaru assumed his true form and laid his large body on the ground. Kagome stared wide eyed, surprised and shocked at the giant dog in front of her. He had gotten larger since the last time she saw his true form. She blinked as she watched the large red eye that was visible to her land on her before he turned his large head in a gesture toward his back.
She shrugged and walked up to his large form and grasped his fur in her fists and hesitantly began climbing his side up to his back. When she reached his back she crawled closer to his head before sitting and settling in the warm fur.
Sesshomaru waited a few moments to make sure she was settled before he stood and jumped into the air, pushing through the slightly closed treetops before going higher into the sky.
Kagome gasped and held onto his fur and leaned into him until she was nearly lying down on his back as they moved through the sky in the cold night air. She tucked her feet into his long fur for warmth and wondered where they were going as she tried to see the view around them in the dark. The moon provided some light but not enough for her eyes to make out any details.
He took her far even though it seemed like a short ride, which she noted it probably was since he was so large in his true form and they were flying. Soon they started to descend and she was surprised when he landed on a sandy beach. She hadn't been there during her time in the feudal era yet, and hadn't believed she ever would.
She slid off his warm body and into the sand. She shifted on her feet and knew she would have sand in her socks but she would deal with it in the morning. She turned her attention to the ocean, noticing how calm it was, but also that the air seemed to be even colder now that they were so close to the open water. She shivered just as a bright flash of red flared, lighting up the sand and water close to them.
Kagome turned and saw her alpha walking toward her. He stopped in front of her and her eyes widened as he removed the ever present fur from his shoulder and wrapped it around her.
"Thank you." She said softly and watched him nod then moved along as he guided her to sit in the sand since there was nowhere else to sit before seating himself next to her.
"I brought you here because I wished to speak to you in complete privacy. I have something I want to ask you as well as something important to inform you of." Sesshomaru quietly informed her.
"Will you enter into a courtship with me?" He asked outright. He wasn't one to hesitate or speak in riddles. That was for those who were unsure or wanted to hide their intentions. He had no such problems.
"A courtship is for two individuals to get to know each other on various levels with the end result leading to a mating." He explained before she could ask.
"We have spent over a moon cycle exchanging information about one another and getting to know each other's personalities." He continued. "I find you attractive, intelligent, powerful, caring, and understanding. I feel affection for you which I know will continue to build, and I am sure you are the one I want to spend my life with." He stated clearly.
Kagome was surprised. She knew they were both attracted to each other, and he had said to not fight what she felt for him, which implied that he would do the same, but she never thought he would feel enough for her to want to spend his life with her.
Besides being attracted to him she really did like him. Spending time with him and getting to know him had made her feel comfortable around him and allowed her to learn his personality. She liked all that she had learned about him and especially the way he treated her. Not to mention the way he treated Shippo. He treated her kit the same way he treated Rin. Always patient and never violent.
As she looked at him she felt she could definitely see herself spending her life with him and having a family.
"I would very much like to enter into a courtship with you." She answered with a smile, not at all noticing the new addition that faded into view on her forehead. "What do we do during this courtship?" She asked.
Sesshomaru patiently explained that they would continue to get to know each other as they had been, but now they would become more intimately familiar with each other. He would show her affection and expected the same from her, and they would get used to being physically close to each other.
"Since you have agreed to a courtship a pale replica of my crescent moon has appeared on your forehead. It is an easily visible sign that I am courting you." He informed her and watched as she touched her forehead as if she could feel the mark.
"Do you think Kouga will respect it?" She asked as she lowered her hand.
"No." He answered instantly. "The wolf has made his decision and it is clear from our last encounter with him that he will not stop until he gets he wants, which will undoubtedly spell his death." He stated plainly. "I will not have you attacked and kidnapped because the wolf cannot take your rejection."
Kagome nodded. She didn't like it, but she thought she understood. Kouga was dangerous to her, and would not accept her decision. He wanted what he wanted and nothing would stop him. He would ignore the danger to himself because he couldn't see pass his own selfish wants.
"Are you warm enough?" Sesshomaru asked solicitously and watched her nod. "Do you recall my first trip through the well, and when I informed you of the status of your old pack and what they planned to do while you were away in your time?" He asked and watched her nod.
"I scented the half-breed on both the taijiya and the houshi. I suspected why that was but I did not wish to tell you without proof." He said before briefly describing seeing Inuyasha rutting with the dead priestess and seeing his mating mark on her, then went on to tell her of his discovery of the half-breed rutting with taijiya and houshi on his trip to and from his palace; that he actually saw him rutting with the houshi.
"It is clear they are all keeping it a secret from each other." He stated. "The only one of them that is aware of everything is the half-breed because he is involved with all of them."
"I decided to inform you as soon as I returned since I saw the proof with my own eyes. Although, I am unsure how to prove my account to you without you seeing it with your own eyes." He explained with a slight frown. "I have no problem with that course of action if that is what you want. However, we will obviously have to go during the night to catch them, and we will need to make arrangements for the children's care while we are away."
Kagome was speechless. She believed Sesshomaru's words, and had no wish to see any of the parties in the act. She had never suspected something like that was going on. She didn't even know what to think.
What eventually came to mind were questions. How long had Inuyasha been mated to Kikyou? Did her alpha actually see Sango and Inuyasha together? How long had the three of them been sleeping with each other?
She frowned as it occurred to her that they all believed that she loved Inuyasha, and yet it didn't stop them from sleeping with each other behind her back. She wondered if they had cared how she would feel about it.
At one time she had thought of Sango as a sister. She had told the older girl everything she had felt about Inuyasha, and it made her wonder how Sango could do that to her.
She briefly wondered how Sango could do that to Miroku, but then she pushed that thought right from her mind since Miroku was doing the same to her. They were most likely sleeping with each other as well. She hadn't even known their relationship had reached that level. She wondered how they would feel when they learned that they both had been sleeping with Inuyasha.
She also wondered how they would feel when they learned that he was mated to and sleeping with Kikyou. It was one thing to sleep with a living person, but to also sleep with one who was dead?
Kagome shivered in disgust, and then again from a cool breeze. She shifted her alpha's fur closer around her and briefly wondered if it could be call necrophilia if the body wasn't real and was also animated.
She felt a warm touch on her leg and looked over to see Sesshomaru looking at her, concern clear in his golden eyes. She smiled lightly as reassurance, and happy he was letting her see his emotions.
"I'm okay, but I'm shocked." She said as she shook her head lightly. "I wonder how long it's been going on, and how they could do something like that when they all believe that I love Inuyasha. I wonder how long Inuyasha and Kikyou have been mated, and how long he planned to keep it a secret."
"And now that I'm thinking about it I wonder how he could mate someone who's dead." She said with a frown. "He did mate her so he obviously planned on spending his life with her. Does that mean he intends to let her take him to hell as she said she would, or does he plan on trying to bring her back to life?"
"Do you think that's why he's so intent on finding the jewel shards? Does he intend to wish her back to life? Surely he would realize such a thing would mean my death since we have the same soul." She finished.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her words. That thought hadn't occurred to him. He doubted that the half-breed would allow himself to die just because the dead priestess wanted him to go to hell with her. But then it really depended on what the dead priestess wanted, if she still intended to go to hell or if she wanted to be alive again. He knew the half-breed was foolish enough to follow the dead priestess in whatever she wanted to do, and use the excuse of a promise of protection when it was really his infatuation with her.
"The dead one in all likelihood will not wait for the jewel to be complete if she is intent on being alive again, especially since there is no guarantee that the wish would be to her benefit." He cautioned after telling her his thoughts. "She might very well come to you and try to take your soul directly. After all you admitted that the dead one always pulls on your soul when you're in close proximity."
"I agree." Kagome said with a nod before sighing heavily. "I think it would be best if I don't go anywhere near Kikyou until I'm confident in my ability to use my power effectively to defend myself from her, and take back the rest of my soul."
"Although, I wonder why she thinks taking my soul will bring her back to life. The others who were brought back the same way she was had their complete soul and they were still dead." She wondered.
"It is possible the dead priestess is not aware of that or she plans to use some other means to restore her life once she has a complete soul." Sesshomaru said and watched the miko nod.
"Thank you for telling me what you discovered." Kagome said gratefully. "I don't need proof, especially since the only proof would be to see them in the act."
"It was something you needed to know." Sesshomaru said with a nod.
They sat there on the beach in silence listening to the sound of the water. Eventually Kagome started to fall asleep so Sesshomaru decided it was time to leave. He took on his true form and once Kagome had climbed on his back and was settled he flew them back to the area near their camp.
Once he landed they made their way back to their camp where they found everyone accounted for, safe, and asleep. Kagome gave Sesshomaru back his fur and said goodnight before going to her sleeping bag and going to sleep.
The next morning after everyone was dressed, had eaten, and was ready to leave Sesshomaru presented Kagome with a necklace he made during the night. It was a simple silver chain with a golden tint and a crescent moon pendant the color and size of the one on his forehead.
"Since I made it with my youki it will let anyone who senses the power of it know who you are being courted and protected by. Your hair covers the mark a bit and there are bound to be some out there that cannot tell by just the mark alone." He explained.
"It will be attached by my youki," He explained as he moved to put the simple piece of jewelry on her. "so it will have no clasp and I will be the only one who can take it off."
Everyone in the pack watched on silently. They had all seen the crescent moon on Kagome's forehead when they got up, but witnessing the placement of the necklace confirmed that the two were courting.
Rin had to have it explained to her and when she understood she was very happy. Shippo was happy as well since he thought they fit nicely together. He had done as Kagome asked and gotten to know the demon lord and he liked him, and thought he was a great alpha. He had learned so much from him already. Even Jaken was pleased after witnessing their interactions and learning more about Kagome. He thought she would make a great Lady of the West.
"It's beautiful. Thank you." Kagome said shyly.
Sesshomaru nodded, a soft look in his eyes, then gave her the second practice sword he had retrieved. Once he was sure she had it secured they set out on their way to Totosai.
It took a couple of hours but they arrived in good time, and when they did Sesshomaru and Kagome entered the cave to meet the fire demon. They could easily tell he was surprised to see Sesshomaru, and even more so to see Kagome with him.
"Hello Totosai. It's good to see you." Kagome greeted softly yet sincerely. She really was happy to see him.
"Kagome! Good to see you." Totosai said happily. "What are you doing with a dangerous demon like Sesshomaru? And where is Inuyasha?"
"I'm a part of Sesshomaru-sama's pack now, his alpha female." She answered. "I decided that I no longer wished to travel with Inuyasha's group, and I would appreciate it if you keep your silence about seeing me since they have no idea that I'm traveling, let alone travel with Sesshomaru-sama."
"Sure, sure." He agreed with wide eyes. Why doesn't she want them to know? He wondered as he watched the demon lord and miko. "So why are you two here?" He asked and watched Kagome look to her apparent alpha.
"I want two swords made for the miko to use." Sesshomaru explained and watched as she pulled out the two practice swords she was using from her obi.
"I need swords I can use with my powers." Kagome explained as she showed him the practice swords she was currently using.
Totosai nodded as he looked at the practice swords and the way she held them. Suddenly they heard Rin calling her and she excused herself and walked toward the children as she put her swords away.
"In addition to the swords I want a bow and arrows made for her." Sesshomaru said once Kagome was gone. "They are to be a surprise courting gift."
"You're courting Kagome?!" Totosai asked in surprise and watched him nod once.
"She wears my mark on her forehead and around her neck." Sesshomaru stated.
Totosai nodded thoughtfully before he turned and rummaged around his workplace before pulling a large pair of pliers out. He went back to Sesshomaru and told him to open wide. Once the demon lord did he quickly snatched out two fangs; one for the swords and the other for the bow and arrows.
He put the pliers down and held the fangs as he looked them over, nodding and humming reassuringly as if they were talking to him.
"They'll be ready in about three weeks." He said as he looked away from the fangs, and watched the demon lord give a short firm nod.
"I will return then to retrieve them." Sesshomaru said before he walked away. Once he rejoined his pack he informed them that they were leaving, and watched his alpha female nod and jog back into the cave.
"Bye Totosai. It was nice seeing you again." Kagome said, unknowingly giving him the opportunity to see the marks the youkai lord spoke of. He saw them right away, the crescent moon in a light tint on her forehead and the necklace around her neck.
He realized that he had obviously been distracted by the surprise of seeing them together to not recognize the hint of Sesshomaru's power was not coming from him but from her. And that that was all that was coming from her. There was no hint of her own power, aura, or her scent. He wondered if the necklace did that or if she did.
"Goodbye Kagome. Take care." He said as he waved to her.
"I will." He heard her say with a smile and watched as she headed back out to join her pack before shaking his head lightly and getting to work. He was still surprised that she was traveling with the western lord and was his alpha female let alone in a courtship with him.
He idly wondered why she wasn't traveling with Inuyasha anymore and what he had done to lose her. If he recalled correctly she had been quite smitten with him. Always close and willing to defend him.
I'll find out sooner or later. He thought as he focused on his work.
After leaving Totosai's mountain cave the small pack once again began to travel. They headed deep into the west, into what Kagome learned was Bakuseno's forest, and set up camp.
Sesshomaru announced that they would be staying there and not traveling for a while. He then informed Kagome that he would be continuing her training and getting the children started as well.
Kagome was happy and completely agreed with his decision. It would be like how it was at the well clearing. No traveling, just learning and spending time together.
**MoaM**
A few weeks had passed since the pack had settled in Bakuseno's forest. Currently their alpha was away picking up Kagome's swords while the rest of them occupied themselves with their own activities.
Kagome looked around the camp as she took a break from her homework. Ah-Un was resting in a patch of sun that was shining through the canopy above them, Jaken was sitting on a small log watching over the children while she studied. The children were busy with their own studies
Shippo was standing still, his face focused in his concentration, wisps of blue fire moved around his feet as he practiced making a demon cloud. Sesshomaru had been teaching him to make a cloud to travel on like he did. They had seen him accomplish it once about a week after he started learning. It had been a small barely stable blue cloud of his fox fire. Both she and Sesshomaru had been proud when he managed it.
Rin was sitting in another area surrounded by different herbs and flowers whispering to herself as she touched one and then another. She had decided to teach Rin what she learned from Keade about herbs, and that gave her the thought that Rin should learn about poisons, something she thought Rin could use when she was older to help defend herself.
She had asked Sesshomaru if he knew about poisons, which he very much did. He explained that with his own poison he had to learn all about various poisons when he was learning to use and control his. So he had no problem teaching Rin and her as well.
With her Sesshomaru had continued to train her to use her practice swords and she was slowly but surely getting better. He had also continued to teach and help her practice her physical fighting skills. Along with that she was learning to channel her reiki into purifying whips similar to his.
Kagome liked the whips she had managed to produce but she had quickly realized her alpha made using them look easy. It was definitely harder then it looked.
She had also been experimenting with different ways to use her reiki. She was taking inspiration from anime she had seen and manga she had read. It seemed like forever since she had seen or read any, but she remembered some and was pleased at the success she was having.
Still, it wasn't all training for her. She and Sesshomaru were courting and they spent a lot of time alone together continuing to get to know each other. Kagome had learned quickly what Sesshomaru meant when he said he would start showing her affection.
She was greeted in the mornings with light caresses to her face, clawed fingers stroking through her hair and nuzzles to her neck when she succeeded in a task or just because, hugs were given here and there, and light touches and caresses. She was shy about it, but she returned his affectionate gestures. She kissed his cheeks, ran her fingers through his silky hair, held his hand, caressed his face, and stroked his stripes.
The two of them talked more then before about things they hadn't talked about before, going into detail and expressing their feelings. One of which was Sesshomaru telling her about his life before his father died, and another explaining youkai court so she could understand and know how to navigate in youkai society.
These conversations had her thinking more and more about Sesshomaru and their courtship. Once again she thought about the things she liked about him. He was quiet, stable, reliable, honest, considerate, strong willed, strong physically, powerful, and smart.
Kagome liked that she could have conversations with him and have him pay attention to what she said and not tune her out if he didn't understand. She liked that he asked her questions to clarify her stories and statements, and that he took an interest in the time she came from. It let her know that even though he had no interest in being shown her time outside of her shrine home, he still wished to know the intricacies of what had shaped her personality and behavior.
In their efforts to continue to get to know each other he had taken her to meet Bakuseno, for whom the forest was named after, and introduce her as his hopeful mate-to-be. It had definitely been interesting to meet the magnolia youkai. He had already known who she was, but he had been interested to hear her story from her point of view.
Beyond that she also appreciated how caring Sesshomaru was of her. If he wasn't anticipating her needs he was quietly asking if she was warm enough when the weather was cool, if she was still hungry after everyone had finished eating, or if she was well rested.
When he was anticipating her needs he was finding hot springs for her to bathe in and soak in after a hard day of training, providing her extra furs when it was cold, taking her back to her time when she needed to go for tests and turn in homework.
She was also very aware of how attractive he was, and that she was definitely attracted to him. She loved his long silky hair and never wanted him to cut it. She liked how tall he was, how put together he was. He was always clean and neat, and now she had been close enough to him to appreciate how he smelled. He smelled fresh, like nature. His golden eyes always drew her in, and the more she heard his baritone voice the more it sent shivers through her body.
She also found she enjoyed spending time with him in his true form. Even though they couldn't talk he still expressed himself to her. He provided her warmth, comfort, and made her feel safe.
Kagome realized that the more time she spent with Sesshomaru, working closely and alone with him, the more time she wanted to spend with him. She wanted to hear him talk, and wanted to bask in his affection.
She was coming to realize that her attraction and affection for him was quickly escalating to adoration and she was sure it wouldn't be long before it was love.
**MoaM**
Sesshomaru returned to his pack a few days later with a few packages. He walked into their camp and saw the children working on their studies, which he was pleased by, Jaken was near Ah-Un polishing his staff.
He looked around for Kagome and saw her at a slight distance between the trees, flashes of light showing that she was practicing with her reiki. He moved toward her, pausing briefly to allow the children to greet him as they finally took notice of him, and stopped as he watched her form her purity whips. She was still struggling to get them to move how she wanted, but only practice would help that.
Once the whips disappeared he stepped forward and was greeted with a large smile before she stepped to him and hugged him and nuzzled his neck and cheek.
"Welcome back." Kagome said, looking curiously at the packages he was carrying as she stepped back.
Her alpha silently handed her the first package and she took it then knelt down and laid it on the ground. It was slightly long and a bit heavy, so she guessed it was her swords. She unwrapped the package and saw two brand new swords. The hilts were black with a blue swirl pattern, and the blades were a crisp shiny white. She was amazed that a blade could be made to be such a color.
She picked up one as she stood up and held it and lightly swung it around, and was happy at how comfortable it was in her grip. She also noticed that it was light when she held it in one hand and realized that the two of them together had made the package heavy.
She then tried to channel her reiki into it and watched the blade start to glow a light blue and soon it looked like the blade itself was light blue. Her eyes lit up as an idea came to her and she tried to change the color like she did with her barriers and such, and watched the blade switch to purple, then to gold, red, black, and green.
Kagome picked up the other sword and channeled her reiki into it and changed its color, and was very happy that it worked. She would have to practice and see if she could make both swords different colors at the same time. She thought it would be a good way to confuse anyone she was fighting and make them think it had multiple abilities.
"Thank you." She said to Sesshomaru. "They're beautiful and I can't wait to practice with them." She added and watched him nod.
"We will get sheaths made for them, but I want you to wear them from now on." Sesshomaru stated.
Kagome nodded as she switched out her practice swords for her new ones. They weighed differently so that was something she would have to get used to. She then wrapped up the practice swords but before she could stand Sesshomaru placed the largest package on the ground in front of her.
It was actually a bag so she opened it and reached in to find silk clothes. Hakama pants, kimonos, short knee length kimonos, obi sashes, and long sleeve mini cheongsam dresses of various colors with different designs. They were beautiful and she noticed the colors all went with her skin tone, hair and eye color.
"You require clothing." Sesshomaru said simply as she looked up at him questioningly. "I had these made so you will have something comfortable to wear for every occasion and still look respectable."
"Thank you. They're beautiful." She said as she put the silks she had taken out back into the bag and closed it.
"This is my courting gift to you." He said as he placed the last package on top of the bag.
Kagome blinked in surprise. He had never said anything about a courting gift. She unwrapped it and gasped as her eyes landed on a beautiful bow and arrows. The bow was white with blue swirling designs on it, and the arrows were white with white feathers.
"The arrows have a spell on them that will call them back to you after they have completed their task so you will not lose them in the heat of battle." Sesshomaru explained as he watched her touch the feathers.
Kagome smiled. She was incredibly happy about the gift. She liked using swords and was good at it, but the bow was her primary weapon as a miko, so this gift was particularly touching to her.
She picked up the bow as she considered the swords he had made for her and the clothing he had made for her. Either one of those could have been her courting gift, but he chose something that was not only practical but showed that he understood her and her calling as a miko. Even the clothes he had made for her showed his understanding of her since even the designs were simple and not something that would cause her hesitation to wear.
"Thank you." She said once again before she stood up, hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"You are welcome." He said as he carefully ran his claws through her hair. "I will have a new quiver made along with the sheaths for your swords." He added as she stepped back and watched her nod.
From there they took the packages to their camp and Sesshomaru went to see Bakuseno to get some wood for the quiver and sheaths that needed to be made. While he was gone Kagome put the clothes and practice swords in the saddle bags then showed the children her swords and the bow and arrows.
While they were exclaiming over her weapons Kagome thought about what she could give Sesshomaru as a courting gift. He didn't say she had to, hadn't mentioned gifts at all until he presented the bow and arrows and maybe he was doing it just because he wanted to, but she wanted to give him something to display and convey her feelings for him in return.
She considered getting him a necklace or making him one and infusing her power into it to protect him against purification, but she couldn't see him wearing one, the same with a bracelet. Not to mention no one would be able to see those things.
She thought about a sheath for his swords but she didn't know how to make one. She supposed she could do like him and have one made, but it wouldn't have her personal touch to it. She then thought of making some kind of decoration for his swords, maybe something to hang off the hilt, but dismissed that idea since it could be lost or damaged during battle.
All of those things would provide him with her protection from other priestesses, like she wanted, but they weren't good enough nor demonstrative enough to show the strength of her feelings for him.
As Kagome put her arrows in the quiver with her old arrows she continued to think on what to do. When she finished she moved to sit against a tree and continued to think while absently manipulating some of her reiki to form various shapes.
Eventually she came up with an idea she thought could work. She would make Sesshomaru protective clothing. Now that she knew what she wanted to do she just had to figure how to do it. She considered getting the material from her time and trying her hand at making a pair of clothes, but she doubted she could make something of the quality he would wear, not to mention silk was expensive and she didn't have the money for it.
She pictured his white silk outfit and gasped lightly as it occurred to her that she might be able to use his own clothes. She honestly had never seen him change into a different set. She knew he bathed in the hot springs, but he never took anything with him so he obviously just changed right back into what he had been wearing.
Still, she wondered if he had more just in case his were damaged or dirty. She got up and moved toward Jaken and quietly consulted with him and was happy to learn that he did have extra sets. He retrieved them for her since he knew which saddle bag they were in, and she put them in with her clothes to work with when she would have privacy from her alpha.
Now she just had to figure out when that privacy would be.
**MoaM**
The little pack spent a few more weeks in Bakuseno's forest continuing their set routine. Sesshomaru began teaching Rin and Shippo simple physical fighting moves so they could use it to surprise an enemy so they could get away, since they were too young and too small to really use it in a serious fight.
Aside from that Sesshomaru began instructing Rin on which of the flowers and herbs she was learning about were used in poisons, and he began to slowly teach Shippo how to focus his fire into narrow streams for fire whips since he was good enough with his cloud of fox fire to practice forming it on his own, and he had shown an interest in learning.
Kagome for her part continued her training with Sesshomaru with physical fighting and sword fighting, and she practiced with her powers on her own with her alpha's quiet support.
Along with that she continued working on her school studies. She was still doing well which she was happy about, and which was also a plus in Sesshomaru's favor. He had been supportive from the beginning and was still supportive about her education. He was even able to help her when she got stuck or confused.
It was also her education that had allowed her to get her courting gift for Sesshomaru ready. She had homework to return and a test to take so her alpha had taken her back to the well and to her time. She had had three days to get her gift ready before he would return to pick her up and bring her back to their camp.
So, after school she would sit on her bed and meditate with the white silk and allow her power to flow from her hands into the silk, creating what she wanted with her will. She would sit for hours filling her mind with her desired goal of protection and let her reiki sink into the silk and weave into and around the strands.
Today was the day her alpha would be picking her up and she had just finished dressing in a light gray short kimono with a navy blue tree branch pattern, a navy blue under kimono, and light gray hakama pants with a black obi.
After putting on her black shoes she placed her swords, now housed in black sheaths, in her obi sash and made sure her bag had everything she would be taking with her. She then grabbed her bow and placed it on her bed next to Sesshomaru's wrapped courting gift, then slung her new white quiver over her back and adjusted it so it rested as comfortably as it could.
Kagome placed her bag on her bed next to her bow then headed out of her room and down stairs to see what her mother was doing. Halfway down the stairs she heard a knock on the front door, and paused as she watched her mother walk by to answer it.
Who could that be? She wondered. It couldn't be Sesshomaru since he wouldn't knock; he'd just come in since they didn't want anyone to see him. Not to mention she would have sensed him before that.
As she listened she could hear a male voice and knew instantly that it was Hojo. She closed her eyes warily and grimaced, but then she snapped her eyes back open and thought it was time she set him straight. Clearly the plain truth was the only thing that would get through to him.
Her mother came over to the stairs and raised an eyebrow, silently asking her what she was going to do.
"I'll see him." Kagome said softly with a firm nod.
"Are you going to take off your weapons?" Her mother asked as she eyed the twin swords.
"No. I'm going to tell him the truth, and seeing them will hopefully let him know that I'm telling the truth." She answered quietly.
Her mother nodded before she left and made her way back to the kitchen while Kagome finished going down the stairs and moved into the living room where she easily spotted Hojo sitting on the couch, still wearing his black school uniform.
"Hello Hojo." She greeted him as she walked closer, watching as he stood automatically and his eyes widen as he turned to look at her.
Hojo could not believe his eyes. Kagome looked so different then when he usually saw her, good but different. His eyes raked over her taking in the kimono and hakama she was wearing, the necklace with a crescent moon pendant he had never seen her wear before. He couldn't even be sure she was wearing it at school earlier.
His eyes skipped up and saw the same crescent moon on her forehead that he knew hadn't been there earlier at school, and then down to the arrows peeking out over her shoulder and further down to the swords at her hips.
He didn't understand why she was dressed that way, and was alarmed as he wondered if the weapons were real.
"Why are you dressed that way?" Hojo blurted out, skipping the greetings. "And are those swords real?"
"Of course they're real." Kagome answered as she took a seat in the side chair next to the couch, not wanting to be close to him and give him the wrong impression. "I'm dressed this way because it's comfortable, it's appropriate, and I'm now used to dressing this way."
"Comfortable? Appropriate? Used to it?" He repeated. "I don't understand. I've never seen you dress in traditional clothing, and why are you carrying real swords around?" He asked.
"Have a seat." She said with a light sigh as she gestured toward the couch since he was still standing. "I'm going to tell you a secret. A secret only my family knows. You can't tell anyone. Swear to me you won't tell a single person." She said.
"I swear! I promise I won't tell a soul." Hojo said as he slowly sat down.
He then listened as Kagome told him a secret she had been keeping from her friends for the pass few years. His mind spun with the tale of being pulled down an old well on her fifteenth birthday, meeting Inuyasha- who he learned was a half-demon, learning she had been pulled five hundred years into the past, that she was a miko, and her quest to find the jewel shards to restore the shikon jewel and get rid of it.
The story was unbelievable. There were dozens of details that made it believable, but he was still having a hard time actually believing it.
"Are you really a miko? The kind from the legends with power?" Hojo asked in disbelief.
Kagome silently lifted a hand and summoned a solid light blue ball of reiki. It appeared instantly, floating just above her upturned palm. She watched his eyes widen and she nodded before she released the ball of power.
Hojo was stunned but even with the display he was still having a hard time believing her story. He decided to move on to something else and asked about the crescent moon on her forehead.
"What's with the mark on your forehead?" He asked. "It wasn't there earlier today." He added because he knew it hadn't been. He had taken a good look at her, worried for her health.
"It was there. I just had it concealed. It's actually the mark of the demon who is courting me." She answered.
Hojo was shocked. Courting?! He thought with wide eyes. "Is that like dating?" He asked weakly.
"It's more like dating and being engaged at the same time." Kagome responded.
"I don't believe it." He said, shaking his head after a few stunned moments. "All this talk of demons, magic, jewel shards, and traveling to the past is beyond ridiculous! It just cannot be possible. And that means you can't be dating a demon. I've never seen you involved with anyone in a romantic sense." He stated with a firm nod, convinced she would see things his way and start talking sense.
Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head at Hojo's stubbornness. Even with the truth he was refusing to give up his interest in her.
She was just about to open her mouth and try to convince him when she felt a brief flare of her alpha and mate-to-be's youki. She got up without a word and went to open the door just before he arrived. She smiled and stepped back to let him in before closing the door. She then turned and kissed his cheek before nuzzling his neck which he returned.
"I just told Hojo about my travels through the well and about you, hoping that he would get over his infatuation with me, but he doesn't believe me." She told him quietly as she basked in his returned affection. "Now that you're here I'm hoping seeing you will make him a believer."
Sesshomaru hummed lightly in acknowledgement. He remembered her telling him about the human male that refused to take a hint. He was like the wolfling only he didn't have the power to take her by force. He would make sure the young male understood clearly that the miko was his.
"Hojo." She said as they moved into the living room. "This is Sesshomaru-sama, Lord of the Western Lands, my alpha and the male courting me." She said as she stood next to her demon lord.
Sesshomaru looked down at the human with his usual cold gaze, smelling the familiar scent of fear wafting off the male. He thought that was good. The male should be afraid, and it would make it easier to get the male to stop lusting after his miko.
Hojo stared wide eyed at the male Kagome had just introduced as the Western Lord and the one courting her. He was dressed as Kagome was, including swords, but he also wore armor and a fur pelt. He was clearly a demon. There was no denying it with his pale skin, pointy elf-like ears, silver-white hair, golden eyes, unusual markings, and claws. The crescent moon on his forehead made it even more clear that he was the one Kagome said was courting her.
Kagome went back to her seat and Sesshomaru followed and stood beside her, continuing to stare at the male that had intruded in her life for far too long now.
"Do you believe my story now?" Kagome calmly asked, breaking the silence, and watched Hojo nod silently looking from her to Sesshomaru and back again.
"I'm sure you stopped by to check on my health and then to ask me out yet again." She stated as she held in a sigh. "You should understand now that I was obviously never sick, just busy in the past. As for the date well, I'm not interested since you can see I'm involved with someone else, so you should move on." She added, happy to have finally said she wasn't interested.
Hojo didn't answer, just frowned unhappily, but then jumped as Sesshomaru spoke.
"Why the hesitation boy? Do you still find her story hard to believe, that the miko could be interested in someone else, or are you upset that she is no longer available to you?" He demanded coldly. "You need to understand that she is off limits. You will never have her. From what I understand you have never had her. You would not be able to understand her regardless of if she was involved with me or not. I believe it is time you move on and bestow your affections on a willing female."
Hojo turned red from a mixer of anger and embarrassment. This couldn't be it. He couldn't lose his sweet innocent Kagome. Maybe she's just afraid to go against this guy. That must be it. He thought quickly.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but you really need to move on to another girl." Kagome said with a frown, not liking the look on Hojo's face. "There are plenty of willing girls at our school that would be happy to go out with you. Sesshomaru's right. You wouldn't be able to understand me since you've never experienced the things I have. You need to listen to my alpha and move on or risk being maimed or losing your life for even giving the impression of trying to take what's his." She stated firmly and watched Hojo's eyes widen in alarm.
"Did you not understand when I said he was a demon?" She asked him as she shook her head slightly. "He's not a human that you can try to fight to try to win me over. He is a very dangerous predator that would have absolutely no problem killing you at this very moment." She explained seriously.
Hojo sighed heavily and looked back and forth between them before nodding slowly. He then got up and left the house without a word.
Kagome didn't know if he would be visiting her again or if he would even speak to her at school or if they saw each other on the street. And she found she didn't mind as long as he didn't tell anyone what he had learned.
"Did your tests go well?" Sesshomaru asked, wanting to get her mind off the human male.
"I think they did." She answered as she looked to him. "I was able to answer all the questions confidently, so I hope I got them right." She added and watched Sesshomaru nod.
"Are you ready to leave?" He asked and watched her nod before she stood up and headed up the stairs, presumably to her room.
Kagome slipped her bow over her shoulder, grabbed her bag, and Sesshomaru's gift and headed back down stairs. Once down stairs she approached her alpha and handed him the wrapped gift.
"Your courting gift." She said simply.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise before he sat down and unwrapped the gift with his miko's instruction since he didn't want to tear into it and risk damaging what was inside.
Once the paper was off he opened the box and moved a different type of paper aside and found a set of his usual clothing. He frowned slightly in confusion and idly touch the silk as he wondered why she would give him a set of his own clothing. Then he gasped as he felt the purity beneath his claws. He picked up the silk and realized that her reiki was weaved deeply into the silk as if it had been used to make the garment.
"It's protection." She said with a shy smile as he looked at her. "Protection from any priestess or monk less powerful then me, and any youki attacks less powerful then I am." She explained.
"Thank you." He said quietly. "I would like to wear this now." He added. There was no way he wanted to wait. This was his miko's courting gift to him. Not only was it unique, but it smelt heavily of her and would continue to as long as her power was weaved into the silk.
"You can use my room to change." Kagome offered with a happy smile, pleased that he liked it enough to wear it right then and there, and watched him silently head up the stairs.
Once he was changed he came back down and informed her that he was leaving the other set in her room in case he ever needed it or if she wanted to wear the haori when she was there for any length of time.
Kagome nodded and, having already said goodbye to her mother, they headed out to the well house and back to the past. They traveled in his sphere of light back to Bakuseno's forest and their pack before leaving the forest and continuing their travels.