Shaman King

by The Amazing Sakumachan

For Higurashi Kagome, moving to Tokyo was supposed to be a fresh start. But little did she know that she was walking a similar path that was walked before. A fateful encounter. A promise that transcends time and space. A gift that keeps giving. What path lends a Happy Ending? [SPOILER-IFIC]

12. House Guest! — Are We Becoming Friends?

Authoress' Notes: This chapter has been remastered! Hip, hip, hooray!

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House Guest! — Are We Becoming Friends?!

'Well, all of that priestess studying is finally coming in handy…' Kagome thought idly as rolled a stick between her hands. She used the remnants of daylight to create her nest of kindling, all that was left was to channel grit into enough friction.

Due to her peculiar upbringing, Kagome ended up part city-girl, part survivalist. While she was partial to a warm bed and hot bath, she also learned to appreciate and thrive in nature. It wasn't easy, but manipulating the land and elements for her needs wasn't foreign to her. Although her mother allowed her to ease up on her training after her sister and father disappeared, there were still years worth of traditional Higurashi priestess studies crammed within her head. These studies included survivalist-like training.

Kagome's eyes sparkled when she spotted the distinct orange glow of an infant flame. She placed her stick aside and quickly dropped on all fours. She blew on the embers. The last time that she created a campfire was on one of her yearly training camps that she went on with her sister and cousins when they were children. She blew some more. She would be lying if she said that huddling around the kotatsu with her friends wasn't preferable to this.

Blow. Blow. Blow.

The priestess spied Sesshomaru's black boots from the corner of her eyes. When he was silently by her side, it was easy to forget that he was once a fierce, aristocratic demon. 'I have to show him that I'm serious about this…!'

Blow. Blow.

Long ago, Kagome had convinced herself that there was no chance in trying to compete with Kikyo. Kagome was only younger by seven minutes, but it felt like she was eons behind her sister. Kikyo could predict the weather and restore life to wilting plants at age three. Kikyo could purify tainted water and create barriers by age four. Kikyo could channel and harness her spiritual energy into weapons at age five. Even now, at thirteen years of age, Kagome struggled with controlling her energy. Even now, she was the laughing stock of the Higurashi family.

Blow. Blow.

Kagome and Kikyo were six years old when they and their cousins were hoarded to Meiji Shrine in Shibuya for a Shinto priest meet. It was there that she and other young priestesses of her generation individually showcased their abilities. They were watched by the board of high priests and priestesses and an audience of aristocratic shamans. The tests were uniform. The first test was one of the senses: a line of items was arranged before each priestess and she had to identify which object was cursed. The second test followed the first immediately: purify the cursed object. The third and final test was open-ended: display one's spiritual control.

Kikyo, of course, shocked and awed the audience by passing each test with flying colors. Momiji and Botan also displayed Higurashi pride by excelling at each task. Kagome, on the other hand, couldn't recall the memory of her tests without being haunted by shame. The girl easily passed the first test but failed the following two. She was like a chicken with its head cut off, flailing about fruitlessly and with no direction. Even now, as she tried to breathe life into her campfire, Kagome could feel the heavy stares and hear the judgmental murmurs of the adults as she failed at focusing. She could envision her aunt Tomoyo, her father's sister, patting her on the head. Her aunt wore a sympathetic smile as she squatted down in front of the teary-eyed, rosy-cheeked Kagome.

[ "It's okay, Kagome-chan. No one expected anything from you anyway." ]

"Yes!" Her embers began blossoming into a roaring fire. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked towards her partner, "I did it, Sesshomaru!" Kagome wasn't expecting praise, but she couldn't help but deflate a bit from his response.

"Nutrition," the demon reminded her. "You'll need ample sustenance to thrive."

Kagome, who was pulling a bag of potato chips open, froze mid-motion. With a half-smile, the girl was like a deer in the headlights. From her spot near the fire, she felt smaller than usual as Sesshomaru stared down at her. He didn't need words to communicate that he disapproved of her choice of food. His condemning gaze said it all.

"Eh, but…" Kagome was confused. "Earlier, you told me not to grab any of the stuff in the fridge."

"I did," Sesshomaru confirmed. His eyes told her everything else. "Show me your resolve."

'Oh.' Kagome rolled and rolled the open, top end of her snack bag and set it aside. 'This is another test.' She stood up, turned around, and shimmied out of her denim shorts. 'If I have to catch my own dinner, my best bet is that river we passed a while back.' Her shirt was quickly pulled over her head before she pulled a scrunchie from a small compartment on her backpack. The girl pulled her hair into a high ponytail and smiled confidently.

Kagome was in nothing but her panties, so she couldn't help the shiver that ran up her spine. But between forest ambiance and the glow of the campfire, there was something oddly liberating about being bare in nature. Her smile was bright and refreshed as her hands rested on her hips. "Alright, I'm rea—."

Blue eyes caught onto golden ones.

Kagome's face turned beet red as one arm rose to her chest and the other protested to Sesshomaru, flustered, "You don't have to keep watching me. I can handle it from here!" She was even more embarrassed when she realized that her spirit didn't care about her state of dress, or that she cared about his disinterest. But to her relief, the demon lord still disappeared and left her to her devices.

The priestess then plucked a thick branch from her campfire and held it tight within her hand. The glow of her improvised torch lighted her way as Kagome backtracked through the bunches of trees and shrubs. She followed the strengthening burbling of the river until she arrived at the rushing water's edge.

'Hmm…' Kagome shined her fire over the sleek surface. She scowled, apprehensive of how the dark of the night obscured the depths. But she felt an internal momentum building since the birth of her fire, and she wouldn't let it stop here. The priestess jammed and steadied her torch into the moist soil.

'If I stay calm and focus, then I should be able to sense whatever lives in there…' The girl told herself as she prepared her body with a few stretches. 'It could be movement or energy… Just focus on life.' Kagome reminded herself before positioning her body and diving into the cold darkness.

It was easier said than done though. Despite being summer, the water was much colder and the current much stronger than she anticipated. Her body was immediately carried away with the racing river. 'Focus!' Her inner voice called as her head buzzed with hundreds of thoughts, some berating herself for pulling this stunt and others brainstorming how to survive. 'Focus! You have spiritual power, don't you? Use it to resist!'

It was do or die. Kagome willed her energy to encase her skin like armor, forcing the current to rush around her the way it would a boulder. The light emitted from her body illuminated a small area below the surface. The priestess opened her eyes and marveled at her surroundings. She recognized several schools of juvenile tuna. If she could afford the time to celebrate, she would have cheered at how surprisingly well things were turning out. Especially because she was taking a page from Yoh's book and completely winging it, hoping for the best.

With a shining, current-proof body, Kagome quickly went to work, swimming towards the schools. She would soon need to return to the surface to breathe and ideally, she wanted dinner in her hand by then. Her vision was focused on the navy blue tailfin that was just out of reach. The girl propelled herself as she chased a straggler around a slight bend. As she rounded the dip in the land, she certainly was not expecting to come face to face with a skittish octopus.

Just as startled as the girl was, the cephalopod spewed its ink into a dark plume.

The girl gasped.

The involuntary reaction invited inky water into her mouth and lungs. The liquid invader stung. Her body convulsed in response. Shock and panic reigned over rational thought as her arms and legs flailed. Her nails clawed towards the surface. Kagome's eyes were as heavy as they were blurring. They opened, and closed, and opened, and closed again; each time, there was less and less light.

Waterlogged and confused, all she could feel was terrified of being alone in this cold, dark place…

Death was not a concern.

It was this place: an arctic with no sun.

As her body sunk, frozen, all she wanted was—.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

On the shore above where Kagome sank, a small girl and her cloaked companion stood. They had been watching over the priestess since she first wandered into the forest. With masked auras, they stayed hidden within the top branches of the trees above. But they landed when the child pointed out that it had been a while since the girl had resurfaced. "Hao-sama, will she be alright?" the girl asked as the shaman next to her restored the life of Kagome's dying torch.

"I'll guarantee it~" Hao promised with a wide smile. He then aimed his hand towards the river. The shaman willed the rushing waters to cease their natural course and part. "See?" He aimed his pride towards the exposed riverbed where Kagome lied unconscious and a few unlucky creatures flopped around. On either side of the girl were walls of water: both acting as if they were frozen in time. But Opacho was in awe as she could spot the silhouettes of living creatures swishing about. "Nothing's impossible for me, Opacho."

"Hao-sama is the greatest!" the girl cheered as she threw her arms in the air.

Meanwhile, Hao calmly leapt over the edge and graciously descended the six meters until he landed on the moist ground. He walked the divide between the water walls to the girl. "You're quite the troublemaker, my little canary," He whispered to his rescuee before swooping her into his arms. Not a minute later, Hao had Kagome lying on her back onshore and the river running its course.

Opacho toddled closer and gently patted the priestess's cheeks. "Is she dead…?" She frowned at her guardian.

"Let me take a look," Hao chuckled, thoroughly pleased that his ward cared so much. She quickly moved away and made space for her Lord to hover over the girl's body. He placed his ear near Kagome's lips and waited for the sound of breathing.

When he heard none, the shaman got to work. He placed a hand on her bare chest and stacked the other on top. Opacho watched with bated breath as Hao delivered compressions to the priestess's chest. A gloved hand tilted Kagome's head back slightly before he leaned down and covered her mouth with his own. The child beside him was cheering him inwardly as he continued giving the unconscious girl a rotation of chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Finally, the priestess's body responded. Her eyes snapped open as her back arched inward. She spewed out murky water followed by wet coughs. Kagome's eyes were half-lidded and dazed as she stared up at the face peering down at her. "...Yoh?" Was her first thought as she looked grateful. "Is this a dream…?" Without waiting for an answer, the girl's eyes closed as she slipped back into unconsciousness.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

There was a void.

Its mouth was an endless gape that consumed anything and everything long ago.

She was boxed in this dark, cold place.

She was trapped in this icebox for so long.

But suddenly, slivers of light burst through the cracks as someone opened a door from above.

And her rescuer was...

"Yoh!" Kagome screamed as she shot up. Sweat ran down her forehead as she panted heavily. She was gripping something soft and warm. 'What happened?!' Her thoughts were still frazzled and frantic from her odd dream. 'I was at a river, and…!' Her fingers raised to her lips. 'Yoh saved me, right? Or was that a dream…?' It was then that she noticed that she was grasping bubblegum pink blankets that she didn't recognize.

'Where am I…?' Kagome's head slowly turned as she examined the room from right to left. The ivory walls were set far apart and its ceiling was abnormally high. The room was easily thrice the width and height of any bedroom at Higurashi Shrine. In the far right corner, long gold curtains were draped and stopped just shy of the hardwood floor. The room also featured two closed doors: one single and one set of double doors, a dresser with a stool and rectangular, wall-mounted mirror reminisce of an actress' changing room, a fine armoire, and a nightstand next to the bed.

Soft morning light slipped in through the thin crack of the delicate curtains. The radiance was enough to bask the room in a splendid glow that made everything appear to be made of gold. Accents of silver and gold could be spotted everywhere from the doorknobs to the dresser drawer handles. The priestess didn't know if she should have been impressed by the frivolous extravagance or not.

Kagome then looked down at her body and gasped sharply when she noticed her state of dress. She finally recalled that she had undressed for her aquatic hunt. And now, she was clad in a two-piece, silky gold pajama set. The reality of what had transpired while she was unconscious slowly sunk in, growing a deep red blush across her cheeks. 'I was...I was only in my panties…' Against her better judgment, she peeled the blanket away and exposed the lower half of her body.

She looked down at the scallop-hemmed pajama shorts framing her hips. Her shaky fingers dared to grab the waistband and pulled it away from her body. The blush spread to her entire face at the sight of her nude nether regions. In that instant, the room door opened, "Kagome-chan, are you awak—?"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" In her flustered craze, the priestess threw a pillow at the person that stepped through. "Eh, whoops," Kagome sweatdropped when she came to her senses. A moment later, the pillow slowly slid off the person's face in a comical, cartoony fashion. The priestess gasped at the revealed, shocked face. "Tao Jun-san! What are you—?!" She shook her head. "What am I doing here?!"

The green-haired teen, embarrassed at being caught off guard, almost laughed at her own expense. Instead, she recovered the soft projectile and smiled cordially, "Well, you were found out in the forest preserve late last night so we brought you in." The Tao sat on the edge of the bed then reached to part Kagome's bangs. The younger girl blushed when Jun placed the back of her hand against her exposed forehead. "You had a fever last but it seems that you're all better now." Her smile softened, "Thank goodness."

"So you guys saved me…" Kagome said absently. 'Guess my mind just imagined that it was Yoh,' she mentally noted. "Thanks a lot," her head bowed with gratitude.

"You're quite welcome," Jun responded warmly. She then got up and walked over to the double doors. She swung them open and revealed a walk-in closet. "We collected all of the belongings that we could find nearby," she gestured towards the items. "I hope this is everything."

Kagome couldn't even focus on the yellow backpack on the closet floor. She was too surprised by the strange article hanging amongst the clothing that she shed before swimming. "Eh? What is that…?" The priestess finally crawled out of bed and made her way to the closet. Jun turned and watched the girl step inside the space.

Kagome pushed the hangers of her clothes aside. The article that she didn't recognize was folded in half, hanging from the lower part of a hanger. The priestess was curious as she removed the clothing and held it up, allowing its entirety to unfurl. It was a body-length, beige cloak with a high collar. "Um...is this...yours…?" Kagome questioned.

Jun shook her head and replied, "Oh no. I assumed it was yours because you were dressed in it when we found you." She touched her cheek tenderly and wondered, "Could it be that someone else found you before we did?"

Once again, Kagome's face warmed up. Jun was confused when the priestess slapped her cheeks and shook her head. "Maybe…" the younger girl smiled uneasily before placing the cloak back on its hanger and hanging it up once again. "Anyway, Jun-san," she shuffled her feet bashfully. "Who..changed my clothes…?"

"Why Ren did, of course," Jun answered with a brilliant smile.

"WHAT?!" Kagome squeaked with a cherry-red face.

"I'm only teasing," the Tao confessed with a light chuckle. Kagome almost fell over. She then explained, "I hope you don't mind, but I had my servant clean you up and change your clothes. She's taken care of me for years so I can guarantee that she was gentle~"

'Honestly, that choice of words doesn't make me feel any better,' Kagome groaned inwardly as her shoulders slumped.

"I'd like you to make yourself comfortable here," Jun told her gently. "You can freshen up before breakfast. It'll be ready in about an hour," The Tao headed for the door, but stopped at the entrance. She peered over her shoulder and offered a smile. "Your room has a private bathroom so you can rest easy." She gently shut the door behind her, leaving the priestess to her thoughts.

'My room…?' Kagome was caught on Jun's choice of words. "Sesshomaru," she called to her spirit guardian. "Are you there?"

The demon manifested to her right, next to the curtains. "Priestess." It was his version of a friendly greeting. Kagome secretly liked to imagine that he actually meant to say "Good morning" or "Hello".

"Jun-san called this my room," Kagome's brow raised and lips pouted up as she shot Sesshomaru a suspicious look. She strolled to the curtains and parted them. Her eyes squinted from the flood of light that rushed in. "Oh, wow…" Despite the abnormal size of the curtains, she wasn't expecting the exquisitely designed set of glass doors nor the small, ivory balcony that they led out to. Due to the compound's location, her only view was of a blue sky and an expanse of trees, but it was breathtaking nonetheless.

But with so many questions that she needed answers to, Kagome didn't spare the view any more of her time. She walked back into the closet as she spoke to Sesshomaru, "So, do you know what happened to me last night?" As she hoped that her partner would fill her in the fuzzy details, the girl searched through her bag to mentally check off her possessions. There were her clothes, her personal care products, her snacks…

"I do," Sesshomaru's answer was simple as usual. "You were rescued by two shamans: a boy and a girl."

"That helps," Kagome chuckled as she continued reremuggaged through her bag. "Ugh," She groaned and glared down at her items. "I can't find my phone anywhere!" She semi-whined but still began a third search. When she discovered no sign of the device, her head dipped in defeat. "Now I can't mail Yoh or Manta-kun…" She sighed. 'Oh well, I better get ready and see how this pans out.'

The girl figured that the last door was her private bathroom so she started for it. She twisted the shining knob and pushed the door open, revealing wide darkness. She stood in the doorway and blindly fished for the light switch. Her fingers quickly found it and flipped it on. The bathroom was just as impressive as the main room. It was massive with a jacuzzi-style tub that could easily accommodate four people. There was even a separate, walk-in shower boxed in by glass walls. The white tiles were just as immaculate as every other surface in the room.

Kagome's eyes sparkled in wonder. All of her troubles and inhibitions melted away with the luxurious bathroom. She cooed with cupped hands, "T-this is bathing heaven!" With no delay, she stripped and placed her pajamas in a wicker clothes hamper near the door. The girl then showered to cleanse her body before climbing into the bubbling waters of the tub.

"Ahhhhhh~" She sighed with contentment, her cheeks flushed with warmth. "This is the life~"

Kagome soaked in peace and bliss for a while. She hummed and lightly kicked her legs, almost forgetting where she was.

"Kagome-sama," a feminine voice called from behind the door. "I brought a change of clothes and a hot towel for you. May I come in?" the young woman asked politely.

Not wanting to appear rude after being addressed so formally, Kagome sunk further into the water before calling back, "Yes, come in~!" The doorknob turned before a teenage girl, a couple of years older than Kagome, stepped into the steamy room. 'She's really pretty…' Kagome thought absently as the girl bowed to introduce herself.

"Good morning, Kagome-sama," the girl regarded the priestess with a customer-service smile. She placed a palm over her heart and bowed again, "My name is Tao Sango. It's a pleasure to serve under you." Sango's waist-length chocolate hair was pulled into an intricate, high bun, her violet eyes were shaped out with pink eyeliner, and she sported a pink cheongsam accented with golden butterfly embroidery with matching slippers. "Breakfast is almost ready. Would you like me to dry you off, Kagome-sama?"

"Ah—" Kagome blushed and waved her hands, not expecting the question. "There's no need for that! Thanks for helping me out, I can definitely take it from here~!" She supplemented her claim with a bright smile.

"Very well," Sango stepped forward only to pass the priestess the fresh, hot towel. The Tao stood rooted in place, eyes staring at the wall as the younger girl wrapped her body up. She only took a step back and out of the way as Kagome stepped out of the tub.

"Hey, Sango-chan," Kagome noticed how startled the older girl looked. "You're a Tao, but...why are you acting like a servant?"

"Servitude is my duty because I was born insignificant," was Sango's disturbingly nonchalant answer.

It was concerning how the Tao's face did not betray a tinge of emotion. "Insignificant?" Kagome questioned, the word tasted bitter on her tongue. "What's that even supposed to mean?"

"Nothing to be concerned about," Sango dismissed as she held up a yellow dress to Kagome's frame. "It looks like this should fit you just right," she noted. "I'll be right outside to escort you to the dining room once you're ready, Kagome-sama."

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Kagome emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later. She was clad in the ankle-length yellow cheongsam that Jun rushed to purchase earlier that morning. The vibrant, delicate fabric was adorned with embroidered lotus flowers. "Sango-chan, this dress is so soft~" The priestess marveled as her hands glided across the pleasant material.

Sango took in the girl's appearance before nodding her approval, "Only the finest quality clothing for our esteemed guest, Kagome-sama. It suits you."

Kagome blushed modestly and scratched her cheek, "Well, I don't know about all that… I'm just a stray priestess." Sango didn't argue. Instead, the Tao raised her arm to gesture towards the door. Sango certainly didn't expect Kagome to suddenly hook and lock arms with her. "So Sango-chan, how are you related to Jun-san?"

Sango was not used to small-talk, but she could recognize it when it was slapping her in the face. She would have preferred the girl to leave her to her thoughts, but there wasn't a chance that Sango would voice that desire. The Tao led her guest out of her room and into the hallway. "I am Jun-sama and Ren-sama's cousin," Sango replied simply. "Our mothers were half-sisters."

'Were, huh?' Kagome thought silently. 'Maybe, Sango-chan is kind of like me…' But she didn't dare ask a potentially stinging question, not when they just met.

The two walked the halls in silence for a minute, passing many doors, paintings, and decorative plants along the way. "Say, Kagome-sama…" Sango suddenly found herself saying, normally she wouldn't speak to a guest without being addressed first. But the chummy manner in which the priestess greeted her made Sango want to gamble and take her chances. "May I ask you a question…?"

"Of course, you can," Kagome replied simply as she took in her surroundings. She hadn't expected such a long walk to reach the dining room. Every room, every hall was so spacious that it made her absently wonder how many people actually inhabited the apartment.

"What are you to the Tao family?" the older teen was straight to the objective.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, her scrunching with an uneasy confusion.

"The Tao family is an ancient clan of shamans," Sango answered. "Over the centuries, they've amassed vast wealth and property. To welcome foreign entities without business or political connections is unheard of, and even then, they only deal with the elite."

Kagome looked thoughtful as she tapped her chin and flashbacked to her first encounter with Tao Ren, "Oh wow… I never would have imagined that a guy like that would hail from a prestigious background."

"Kagome-sama…" Sango's voice was a grave whisper. "Please keep in mind that the Tao family is as infamous as it is wealthy. This family..." The young Tao's hands clenched into fists as her eyes narrowed. "...is unlike any that you've met before. You'd best not become involved with them."

Sango continued looking straight ahead as Kagome stared up at her face worriedly. 'Sango-chan…refers to her own family as 'them' and 'they'... I wonder…' Kagome wanted to know more, she wanted to find out what it was about the Tao family that Sango disapproved of so much. It must have been something momentous to make the girl deny her affiliation with them. But again, the priestess refrained from prying for the time being.

The silence was thick as Sango begrudgingly led Kagome to the dining room. They passed several rooms and hallways that led to other hallways along the way. To distract herself from the unnerved feeling that Sango's secretiveness instilled in her, the priestess opted for admiring the traditional Chinese decorations that embellished the corridors. She even caught a glimpse of a collection of ancient scrolls and weapons aligning the walls of one room.

"We're here," Sango announced while unhooking Kagome's arm. The priestess's startled, confused eyes were met with a pleading, wistful smile.

Sango pushed open the door before them and stepped inside with Kagome following close behind her. Not far off, Jun and Ren sat on opposite sides of a rectangular, marble table. The tabletop was already aligned with an array of classy breakfast dishes and was complete with a fine, crème table runner and lavish china.

Kagome blinked and felt lost when Sango bent at the waist and exaggerated an arm gesture towards her, "Jun-sama, Ren-sama… I now present to you… Higurashi Kagome-sama!"

Ren, who had been sitting with an elbow on the tabletop and the side of his head in his hand, merely side-eyed Kagome irritably, "It's about damn time." The priestess could have sworn that he muttered something about how ridiculous it was for 'the Tao heir to have to wait on a common girl'.

'Why, you little!' Kagome huffed indignantly and placed her hands on her hips, "As if it's my fault!"

Sango straightened up and interjected calmly, "My apologies, everyone. It is my fault that Kagome-sama is tardy to breakfast."

Kagome patted Sango on the shoulder and shook her head, "Sango-chan, we both know it's not your fault either. So you don't have to apologize to anyone." While staring up at Sango, the girl didn't notice how her words made Ren bristle. "Anyway, let's eat~"

"You are too kind, Kagome-sama," Sango whispered. She bowed to her cousins and offered, "If you need anything else, I'll be on standby. Please, enjoy your meals."

"Thank you, Sango," Jun responded politely. "You are excused." Sango nodded before exiting the room, and leaving the two other Tao's and Kagome to their dining.

Kagome looked between the Tao siblings and the door that Sango fled through. 'What is going on here?!' She was beyond lost on the dynamics of the Tao family. When her own cousins came and visited, they always ate whenever and wherever she did, whether it was in the dining room, in front of the television, or in her bedroom. That was what family did, right?

"Kagome-chan, come sit! Eat with us!" Jun requested warmly. Pushing her confusion aside, Kagome obliged and took a seat at the head end of the table. Jun watched the younger girl with a pleased expression as Kagome looked between all of the dishes with brightened eyes.

"Woah... They all look so good," Kagome marveled beneath her breath.

"Please, help yourself," Jun urged while lightly gesturing towards Kagome with a single hand. "We insist that you take the first pick." She looked across the table at her younger brother, his expression was as sour as usual. She couldn't help but chuckle as she asked, "Right, Ren~?"

Knowing that he wouldn't win this battle with his tenacious older sister, Ren opted not to answer.

"Oh~" Kagome took that as her cue to take Jun up on her offer. "Well, thanks. Don't mind if I do~" Jun adored the priestess's brilliant smile as she scanned the table. Her eyes settled on an omelet that looks fluffy and sumptuous. "I'll give this a try!" she announced.

Jun gladly passed the platter to Kagome. The girl sliced a modest portion for herself and placed it onto her plate. The three then began their meal, plucking and pouring then munching and slurping whatever they saw fit.

Despite how delectable each dish was, today's breakfast was the most awkward one that Kagome ever had. It easily topped the first time that her middle school friend turned up at her house early one morning before class. Between Jun's winning smiles and constant checking in on how she liked the food and the contrast of Ren's occasional silent glares, Kagome almost shrunk into her seat.

Time elapsed and the food slowly but surely began disappearing, plates, platters, and bowls emptying. All that was left was a lone, cold slice of omelet. The priestess looked at Jun, who was dagging at her mouth with a handkerchief, and Ren, who had long stopped eating and sat back, arms folded. She then used her chopsticks to reach for the last bit of eggy goodness that she may have enjoyed a bit too much.

Ren's glare was honed in on how Kagome's smile grew as her chopsticks edged closer to the egg. Like a cobra striking its prey, Ren's arm shot into action in a blur. He attacked Kagome's chopsticks with his own, using the sticks to parry hers. In the instant that the girl lost her grip on the omelet, Ren's utensils caught it then popped the morsel into his mouth.

"Oh, dear…" Jun touched her cheek, feeling worried as the girl's eyes closed and her brows furrowed. The hand that grasped her chopsticks shook as her temper simmered.

'No, Kagome,' the priestess told herself as she tried to steady herself with a deep breath. 'Don't give in. Don't let a petty guy like this get to you…' She forced her best smile, but froze when the Tao siblings spoke to each other like she wasn't there.

"Ren, you should be more courteous to Kagome-chan," Jun's admonishment sounded more like a plea than chastising. She touched her cheek and added, "She's our beloved guest after all~"

The younger Tao gracefully patted his mouth with his handkerchief. "If there was someone beloved here, then they'd be treated accordingly," he quipped.

"Oh, dear," Jun sweatdropped as her smile twitched at the sight of Kagome's fist snapping her chopsticks in half.

"Tao...Ren…" The priestess seethed under her breath. "Do you have a problem with me…?"

As if he had been waiting for her to ask, Ren easily told her, "That color—it's reserved for powerful authority figures, like me, future head of the Tao clan." His climbing gaze was predatory in a judgmental, not titillated, manner but that didn't stop Kagome from being flustered and riled up from the blatant gawking. "It doesn't suit you."

"Kagome-chan," Jun scowled as she sent the priestess an apologetic look. "He doesn't mean that."

"Pretty sure he does," Kagome deadpanned before shaking her head with a shrug. "Guess he still has a grudge from getting his butt kicked last time."

This time it was Ren's turn to fume, "What?"

Jun raised her hands and tried soothing her brother's temper, "She's only teasing." She ignored how Kagome and Ren sarcastically chorused 'Right' and continued, "Who doesn't like a girl with a sense of humor?"

Ren grimaced at his sister's implication. He had a feeling that she was plotting something detestable ever since she came back defeated by Asakura Yoh, but he only confirmed it today. Having Kagome wear a dress with lotus patterns wasn't the least bit subtle. "Tch," the Tao heir swallowed the majority of his agitation for his sister's sake. But that didn't stop him from eying the priestess again.

As if sensing his gaze, Kagome looked away from Jun and immediately returned his displeased expression with one of her own. "What is it this time?" the girl questioned with a deep scowl.

"No matter how flat you are," Ren's impertinence dropped Jun's jaw. "A true lady would be wearing a bra."

"Eh."

Kagome paled, and froze.

A cold wind suddenly swept through the dining room…

Kagome's hand slammed on the table as she leaned towards Ren, "TAO REN, YOU LITTLE CREEP! WHERE DO YOU GET OFF SAYING THAT?!"

Arms folded and demeanor cool and collected, Ren rebutted, "There's no license for speaking the truth, Braless Wonder."

Angry ticks appeared on Kagome's forehead as her glare darkened. "You little—." Her eyes fell on Jun's uneasy face. The priestess then sighed and resigned to her seat. After all of the trouble that the elder Tao went through with making her feel welcome, Kagome would feel guilty if she allowed petty comments to ruin her efforts. No matter how much she wanted to throttle Ren, the priestess decided to be civil.

Jun's face immediately brightened up when the younger teens quieted down. "Ah, Kagome-chan, I almost forgot," Jun almost sang, changing the subject with a sweet smile and a clap of her hands. "You left Yoh-kun, right? Do you need a place to stay~? We have plenty of rooms."

Inwardly, Kagome blanched at the thought of cohabiting with Ren. He made something as simple as breakfast into a fiasco. On the outside, the girl smiled as politely as she could, "Thanks, but I really don't want to impose..."

"Like I said, we have plenty of space for you," the Tao was nearly glowing as she reiterated. "And don't worry, room and boarding will be sans gratis~" she added.

The tiny devil on Kagome's shoulder reminded her of the wonderful bathroom that she could use for free. But the little angel quickly swooped in and kicked the devil and reminded the priestess, 'When you're training to stay alive, comfort is not an option!'

But the little devil reappeared and whispered into her ear, 'Who says hard work and comfort are mutually exclusive~?'

Kagome shook her head at those thoughts and raised her hands, "Well, thanks for the offer but that's not really my concern…"

Within the blink of an eye, Jun was out of her chair and kneeling before the seated priestess. The older girl took Kagome's hands within her own and leaned forward, "Then what is? Tell me!" Jun was determined to sweeten the pot until it was to Kagome's liking.

The priestess faltered and sweatdropped, part of her feeling awkward and part of her feeling weak to the Dàoshì's charms and earnest generosity. "E-Eh, well, I'm actually on a training mission to prepare for the Shaman Fights…" she admitted with a weak chuckle.

"Tch," Ren's scoffed. "A weakling with no discipline is as good as dead."

Kagome twitched, 'Just ignore him, Kagome.' She then added, "So I'm searching for the perfect place tra—."

"That's perfect!" Jun's eyes began twinkling as she leaned closer. "We have just what you need! You'll find no better training facilities within Tokyo!"

"J-Jun-san…" Kagome sweated uneasily while fighting the urge to slip away from the oddly eager Tao. "I'm not sure if Sesshomaru would approve of this…"

Jun leaned back and stood up, smiling confidently. "Actually," she seemed to have an answer to every protest, "I've already spoken to your guardian." On cue, Sesshomaru appeared on Kagome's other side. It was in that moment that the priestess learned the depths of Tao Jun's tenacity and craftiness. "He left the decision to you."

'Huh?'

Kagome's head immediately turned to the demon for confirmation of Jun's statement. His nod was subtle with no words to supplement it. 'Sesshomaru...wants me to decide?' When her brief shock wore off, the girl felt moved at the display of trust and confidence. She couldn't fight her smile as she faced Jun once again. 'Sesshomaru, thank you. I won't let you down.' "Before I decide, can you show me your training facilities?"

The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of wood scraping against the hard, marble floor as Ren stood up from his seat. "Tao-kun," She ignored the sickened look in Ren's eyes at the way she addressed him, "Where are you going?" her brow raised.

"Tch, I have no interest in this conversation," Ren was blunt and cold, but Kagome was used to such behavior after living with Anna and Sesshomaru. "Nee-san knows what I think," he muttered as he exited the room.

"Don't mind him," Jun told the priestess warmly. "He's just not used to having company~"

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Needless to say that after Jun gave Kagome a personal tour of the complex, the priestess took her up on her offer. The prospect of having free access to a dojo with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, a warm bed, amazing food, and a lavish bathroom was too amazing to pass up. She would have to be a fool to let something as trivial as jibes from a grumpy teenage boy dissuade her from such a rare opportunity! And although he didn't voice it, Sesshomaru seemed to approve of the training facility and other accommodations. It certainly beat roughing it out in the mountains and meditating under waterfalls like she and the other Higurashi priestesses used to do as children.

After the tour, Kagome was eager to begin her training for the day. She changed into a simple white tank-top and breathable blue shorts and tied up her hair. The girl then sought out the dojo, which she easily found thanks to Sesshomaru's guidance. The demon foresaw that the girl would be lost in the maze-like halls so he took the initiative and led the way.

Training here began similarly to training at the Asakura residence: with extensive stretching. But this time, there was no encouragement and small talk from Manta, nor was there any Yoh to tease or chastise for slacking. As Kagome ran on a treadmill, tested how much she could bench press, and utterly failed to perform pull-ups, there was nothing but the sound of her booming heart and Sesshomaru's watchful eyes.

Hours later, Kagome was practicing her balance. Eyes closed, she stood on one leg with her arms extended outwards. After focusing on training for hours on end, her mind naturally began to wander, 'I wonder what the others are up to right now…'

Before she could think more on the matter, the girl suddenly found herself weightless, then plummeting.

[THUD!]

Kagome was lying flat on her back with the back of her head pounding intensely. The lights above her were fuzzy for a moment. She moaned in her daze, "What… happened...?" The girl slowly sat and rubbed the back of her head. "Hm?" She blinked when suddenly the light was blocked as she was swallowed by a shadow.

The moment she looked up from her unceremonious position on the floor her blue-gray clashed with Ren's molten golds. Kwandao in hand, he looked as displeased and unwelcoming as that morning. Part of Kagome decided that this was his default expression. Nonetheless, the girl returned his glare as she realized what happened. In an instant, she was on her feet and pointing an accusing finger, "You jerk, you tripped me!"

"I was confirming if your stance was as weak as it looked," Ren replied without a hint of shame or remorse. He continued past her and headed for the strength-training set, "If it's that easy to make you fall flat on your back, then you'll surely die in the Shaman Tournament."

Kagome's eye twitched as she whipped around, "Why, you little—!" Ren wasn't daunted as the priestess shouted after him, he merely began testing the assortment of dumbbells. "You're literally going out of your way to get on my nerves! How about you tell me why you hate me so much instead of being so immature?!"

"Immature?" The Tao scoffed before replying coolly, "This is coming from Higurashi Kagome, the Braless Wonder."

Kagome's face quickly dyed scarlet as she crossed her arms over her bosom defensively. "Why do you keep bringing that up, perv?! It's none of your business!" Kagome shouted back. 'What's with this guy?! Literally, no one else cares about it!' Just the sight of Ren's satisfied smirk got under her skin. 'Ugh, I can't focus like this!' She whirled around towards the door—.

And smacked face-first into something rock hard with so much force that she lost her footing. But before her butt could become reacquainted with the floor, a pair of strong arms wrapped her waist. Kagome's eyes widened, "Ba-Bailong?!" She couldn't control her blush from his gentle smile and nod. It was a stark contrast to Ren's goading. He pulled the girl into an upright position. "Thanks for the save~"

Bailong shook his head, "It's nothing, Kagome-sama. It's the least I could do."

The priestess merely chuckled before asking, "So, what are you doing here? Are you going to develop some techniques for Daodan Do~?" A light bulb went off in her head and she beamed, "Maybe you could teach me some moves! You were so cool in those movies~!"

It had been a long time since he received such open admiration so Bailong couldn't help but blush, an action that Ren didn't miss, even from across the dojo. "A-Ah," He scratched the back of his head as he admitted, "Actually, Jun-sama sent me to retrieve you."

"Jun-san is looking for me?" Kagome looked surprised. "What for?"

Bailong's eyes met Ren's for a moment, but he returned his gaze to Kagome's face. "She wishes for you to accompany her on an errand," he replied.

"An errand, huh?" Kagome whispered. She looked over her shoulder at Ren, who went about his training and paid her no mind. 'I'm sure running an errand with Jun-san would be one hundred times better than another moment around this jerk.'

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"Erm…" Kagome shifted uncomfortably on the fine, leather seat she and Jun were situated on. They were parading through downtown Tokyo in a limousine through stop-and-go traffic. It left pedestrians and other motor vehicle drivers enough time to gape and curiously eye the luxury vehicle. Being caught at red lights was frequent, and each time, some people had the audacity to attempt to peer through the tinted windows in hopes of spotting a celebrity. "Jun-san…"

The Tao clicked her tongue and waved her finger. "Ah, ah, ah~ That's onee-san to you, Kagome-chan," Jun corrected the priestess.

"Eh heh…" Kagome chuckled nervously. As grateful as she was for Jun's generosity, she wasn't exactly sure about addressing the older girl with so much affection yet. It had been a long time since she called anyone 'onee-san', but that wasn't the reason for her discomfort. The girl simply couldn't interpret Jun's intentions. The last time that Kagome saw her, Jun was misguided, ruthless, and arrogant.

The Tao Jun beside her was a completely different person.

That thought hit Kagome like a ton of bricks. 'She's…' Kagome took in Jun's sweet demeanor with silent awe. 'changed so much…' The girl's uneasiness melted away like a lump of sugar in warm tea. 'For the better~'

"Don't tell Ren, but I've always wanted a little sister~" Jun admitted, practically glowing as she fanned herself. She then cupped her cheek with her free hand and almost squealed, "And with you around, I can finally have one~!"

'That would make me Tao Ren's sister too,' Kagome shuddered at that initial thought. But afterwards, she couldn't fight the instant disarming mixture of warmth and sympathy that she felt from the confession. 'That's too cute…!' Her inner voice told her. She empathized with the feeling of longing for a younger sister. She understood that one could yearn for one while still loving their younger brother with all their heart. Within the course of one car ride, Tao Jun was winning Kagome over more and more.

Meanwhile, Jun wasn't aware of what was going on inside of Kagome's head, but she still smiled. By Kagome's loosening body language, she figured that she was at least building rapport with the priestess. The young woman then hid the lower half of her face with a paper fan. "So Kagome-chan…" the girl looked curious, "you and Yoh-kun...what's your relationship exactly?"

The curiosity dropped into a tender smile accompanied by soft blush, "Oh. Yoh is my best friend actually~" She squirmed in her seat as her inner voice added, 'And my inspiration, my goal. Yoh,' she stared up at the sky, darkened by the tinted windows, 'I'm aiming for you.'

Before Kagome could become lost in thought, the limo pulled over to the curb. "Oh, is this it?" They sat just outside of a structure with distinctly pristine, creme paint that contrasted the grays and blacks of nearby buildings. The building had large display windows with mannequins dressed in bikinis and other swimwear. "Chiba's Sexy's" was written in golden letters.

'Sexy's…' Kagome sweatdropped, 'Why do I have a bad feeling about this…?'

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

'This.' What Kagome originally thought was simply a women's clothing store turned out to specialize in intimate apparel. 'This is why.' The priestess's cheeks flushed as she looked down at her feet. By contrast, Jun was absolutely beaming with determination as they stepped further inside. The latest designs in lingeries were on display on well-endowed mannequins. There were numerous shelves aligned with boxes and boxes of panties, and racks upon racks of bras and corsets.

"Jun-san, what type of errand is this supposed to be?" The younger teen questioned the older one with flushed cheeks.

Jun chuckled and replied, "Well, it's imperative for a classy, young lady like you to be properly equipped." Her eyes then narrowed as her smile became knowing, smug, and enticing—one befitting of the Tao name. "Besides, you don't want to be made fun of you anymore, do you?"

Kagome's lips pursed as her fingers gripped the front of her cheongsam. As much as she didn't want Jun to be right, the older teen saw right through her. The priestess didn't enjoy having the spotlight put on her about such an embarrassing topic. As the girl mentally debated with herself over the benefits of caving into expectations, her mind wandered back to the incident that triggered her aversion to the undergarment.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"Kagome-chan, I'm gonna go on a bread run!" Yuka called from the classroom doorway, she prepared her legs by jogging in place. "Do you want anything~?"

"Some melon juice would be nice~!" Kagome chirped in response. Class 1-A, their homeroom class, was now in the middle of their lunch hour, where most kids unpacked homemade lunches made by their mothers. Yuka, who never knew her mother, was one of the few children who brought money to buy food from the school cafeteria and vending machines. And every day at their lunch hour, Yuka would make a "bread run". Additionally, she was a giving person who bought odds and ends for classmates, without asking for anything in return.

It was only after accompanying Yuka a few times that Kagome learned that her friend enjoyed making the trip on her own. 'I appreciate you but it gives me a chance to breathe~!' Yuka told her once.

"Alright! I'll be back, everyone!" Yuka announced before disappearing from the doorway with a dash. The call of a staff member chastising the girl about running in the hallway made the class collectively laugh and giggle.

A moment later, Eri turned so that she was sitting sideways in her chair. With a sly grin, she leaned in closer to her friends. "So Ayumi-chan, Kagome-chan, have you noticed something new about Yuka-chan lately~?" was her excited, hushed inquiry.

"Oh, yeah! I have!" Ayumi piped quietly with a girlish giggle.

Puzzled, Kagome looked between her two friends and leaned closer, "Wait—. What did I miss?"

Ayumi's head dipped as she sighed, "Figures you wouldn't notice, Kagome-chan."

"Notice what?!" Kagome urged with her mounting anxiousness to be in the know.

"You know how Bankotsu-kun and Renkotsu-senpai were checking us out the other day?" Eri asked Kagome. When Kagome nodded twice frantically, Eri raised a knowledgeable finger into the air and explained, "Well, Yuka-chan was really mad about some of the things they said so she went home and told her father. And you know what he did…?"

"No. What?!" the priestess's whisper rose as she leaned closer.

"He made her start wearing a bra!" Eri answered before she and Ayumi squealed.

"Oh…" Kagome blushed at the mere thought of her friend's step towards maturity. She clandestinely felt a small disconnect with her peers. It was like a switch was flipped the moment that classes reconvened after winter break months ago. Small talk changed from homework, extracurriculars, and club activities to crushes, relationships, and who was hot versus who was not. Without anyone who sparked her interests in such a way, the priestess found herself unintentionally left behind.

"I wish I could wear one!" Eri admitted while sighing and slumping in her seat a bit. "But my mom said she's not going to waste her money on buying something smaller than an A-Cup. I feel insulted."

"Wow, harsh," Ayumi briefly sympathized. The girl was suddenly glowing as she divulged, "I asked my mom about it last night and after she looked at me, she said that she would take me in Friday after school to get my measurements taken so she can buy a nice-fitting bra~"

"Ugh! No fair, Ayumi-chan!" Eri pouted. "Your mom is cool like that! Yours don't look that much bigger than mine!" She remarked while openly glaring at her friend's chest.

"Well, I'm not sure about my size," Ayumi admitted with a gentle smile. "But you know who definitely should start wearing a bra too~?" Her usually mellow voice became sly as she shared teasing smiles with Eri.

Still feeling slow-paced, Kagome blinked and asked, "Who?"

"You do!" Eri and Ayumi piped while simultaneously pointing at their friend, prompting her to look down at her budding bosom and blushing intensely. Kagome quickly looked down her lap and squirmed in her seat, biting her lower lip.

Eri pouted at the maidenly reaction then remarked, "Kagome-chan, I don't see how you don't notice but you've got the biggest knockers in our class!"

Kagome's face fell into her hands as she cried, "Jeez! Don't call 'em that!"

Ayumi's smile became sympathetic as she concurred, "She's right. That's kind of crude." But again, the girl switched gears quickly, "But Eri-chan is also right. You're way ahead of the game."

Eri cupped her hands as her expression became dreamy, "You and Yuka-chan were blessed by the maturity gods since we got back from winter break~!" She sighed and shook her head, "I wish they'd bless me too…!"

During their chat, the girls didn't expect their seat neighbor to be eavesdropping on the conversation. With him sitting behind Kagome, they certainly didn't notice how the topic sparked his interest.

And that was when it happened: a pair of arms snaked up from behind Kagome, followed by matching hands cupping the girl's bosom. Caught off guard, the priestess froze for a second as the hands gave her chest a tentative squeeze.

"Wow, Higurashi! I never noticed how endowed you are!" A familiar voice remarked.

Kagome whipped around, face red up to her ears, and swiped at the offending hands. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" The priestess's voice was shrill as she glared at her classmate.

"I wanted to confirm if you had the biggest boobs in class," Bankotsu nonchalantly answered with a shameless shrug. "I couldn't tell before but I think they're right. Yours are the biggest."

"Shi-chi-nin… Ban-kot-su…" Kagome seethed as her fists shook silently.

The boy grinned from ear to ear as he sat down, "Your Ban-kun can't wait to see what you look like with your bras, Higurashi. Pick a cute color~" He seemed unbothered by the priestess's screams that the only Ban-kun he was, was a perverted one.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Admittedly, the close friendship that Kagome once had with Bankotsu was strained ever since that incident. It was also then that she swore that she wouldn't give him satisfaction so she went without the undergarment for longer than her peers. She had to insist to her mother that she was fine and comfortable numerous times, but she got by. But that was a couple of years ago when she was new to puberty. Now, the priestess considered herself a different person: more mature and resilient.

Kagome felt a sense of embarrassment for how she reacted to the incident for so long. She allowed one person to influence the way she viewed a staple item for a long time. 'I'm a new person. No more shame or hiding from anyone,' the girl told herself. She took this as another step of freeing herself of inhibitions.

It wasn't wrong to embrace your growth and development, right?

"J-Jun-san…" The girl's voice came out small and bashful, despite herself.

"Onee-san," the Tao corrected again before smiling, "What is it, my dear~?"

"I don't…" the embarrassment of her ignorance was unavoidable, but Kagome bore with it. "...know much about this," she admitted with a pink blush. "Could you help me out…?"

Jun nodded as she took Kagome's hand, "Sure. Let's find an attendant to measure you."

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

By the time Kagome and Jun returned hours later, the girl was feeling elated. What Tao Jun called "errands'', Kagome called a fun outing. First, the priestess was treated to an array of matching underwear sets that suit her tastes. Then after learning that Kagome couldn't find her cell phone, Jun promptly purchased the latest model for her. While she was grateful for the gift, Kagome paled when she saw the price tag that accompanied the device.

No matter how much the priestess tried to insist that she didn't need such an expensive device, the Tao would hear nothing of it. "Nothing is too good for my Tao Kagome-chan~" Jun would coo every time. It was her mantra in her every store they visited, from the lingerie shop to clothing stores and even a cafe.

Similarly, with her bath, Kagome was taken in by the decadent parfait placed in front of her by their waitress. The Dàoshì across from the priestess was pleased when one bite made the younger girl glow. 'Whatever I've done to deserve such indulgence—thank you, Kami-sama!'

Sango dutifully buzzed the pair up to their complex and met them at the door with Bailong. The subservient Tao and kyonshi greeted them in unison, but Bailong with a warmer cadence. Without a verbal cue, the man immediately grabbed as many bags from Kagome and Jun as he could. Sango followed suit and ended up with her hands gripping several paper shopping bag handles. "At least let me help," Kagome insisted as she took a few bags back. After being assigned their next duties by Jun, the three were dismissed to deliver the items to Kagome's room.

As they trudged onward, a thought occurred to Kagome, "By the way, Bailong~" She sent a smile up at him when he looked down at her. "It's nice to finally meet the real you."

"Ah," the kyonshi's own smile became sheepish as he responded, "Thank you. I'm actually grateful for the opportunity to meet you as well. I've heard wondrous things about you from Jun-sama. And..." his voice lowered and laced with guilt. "I apologize for what I did to you back then..."

'That's right... Bailong wasn't in control, but his heart still knew what he was going...' Kagome thought as the image of the enslaved Bailong's tear-stained face. With her hands full of handles, the girl was unable to act on the desire to place her hand on his shoulder, so she settled for lightly bumping his muscular arm with hers. She was largely unaware of how sweet and adorable the man found her. "There's no need to apologize for that," she told him. "It wasn't you after all."

Sango merely listened in as the priestess and kyonshi chatted for a few minutes. Kagome readjusted her uncomfortable grip on her bags. "Oh, and sorry for the extra work. We kind of went overboard with the shopping," she smiled apologetically.

"You needn't worry about me, Kagome-sama," Bailong was the first to reply. He wore an easy-going smile as he replied, "I don't have much to do around here anyway so I appreciate the opportunity to help."

Sango nodded, "Mm. And as I said before, this is my duty so it's not a problem, Kagome-sama."

The priestess's smile became meek as she sweatdropped, "You know, you don't have to address me so formally just because I'm a guest…" She paused then clarified, "It just feels a little strange since I'm younger than you two."

"I can assure you that you're not esteemed simply because you're a guest, Kagome-sama," the Tao responded cryptically, making the girl beside her blink.

But before Kagome could press Sango for more information, they rounded a hallway and had to halt mid-step when Ren came into view. Kagome was the only one startled by the sudden encounter.

Ren was immediately peeved by the three obstacles that blocked his path and congested the hallway. "Step aside," he commanded icily.

Sango and Bailong, who stood on either side of the priestess, were quick to comply. They turned sideways and pressed their backs against the parallel walls. A few moments passed as Kagome and Ren remained in place. The girl and boy stared each other down with respective vexation and contempt. Kagome huffed and snapped, "Would you move already?!"

"What?" Ren hissed incredulously, his eyes narrowing at the girl in front of him.

"There's plenty of space for you to just go around!" Kagome remarked irritably.

The scion scoffed as his eyes closed for a moment, no doubt thinking that the girl in front of him had a lot of nerve. When his eyes reopened, he placed a place on his hip as his face and posture exuded haughtiness, "You must have been living under a rock all of your life. You have no clue who you're dealing with."

Kagome instantly deadpanned at the boy, "The future head of the Tao clan, right?" Her tone caught him off guard. She would have shrugged to emphasize her indifference if her hands weren't gripping so many bag handles. "I don't really care."

"What?!" Sango felt helpless as Ren's infamous rage became unbridled. Kagome was forced to drop her bags when the scion forced her back into a wall. "Care to run that by me again, Higurashi?" pure animosity was laced in his hushed fury.

"B-Bochama—!" Bailong wanted nothing more than to put an end to the altercation before it escalated. But he found his voice caught in his throat.

Even as she looked ferocity in the face, Kagome remained uncannily calm. It was as if the priestess instantly found her center, conversely to the Tao who had slammed a hand near her head. "Tao Ren this, Tao family that," the girl spoke firmly. "You carry your family name like a badge or a weapon." '...or a shield…' part of her noted inwardly. "But I don't care about the Tao family," she told him.

Ren's glower strengthened and he looked as if he wanted to strike her.

"Because they're not here," Kagome's voice lowered but she didn't break her stare. "Right in front of me…" her next statement caught the shaman off guard. "...Ren is all that I see."

"...tsk," the Tao finally retracted his murderous glare. "Of course I am," he grumbled before peeling away from the girl. He ignored Bailong's audible relieved sigh as his eyes fell onto the spread of fallen undergarments. "Tch," he continued on his way, but not without commenting, "They're tiny by the way."

Kagome's collectiveness was shattered as she twitched and shouted after him, "Not as tiny as you, Ochibi-chama!"

News of the altercation reached Jun through Sango. To Sango's surprise, however, her cousin delighted in the tale. "Kagome-chan will be good for my Renny, don'cha think~?"

"...yes…" Sango deflated and whispered submissively as her eyes reflected doubt and uncertainty. As she spied on them during dinner, the subservient Tao was at least grateful that this meal was relatively peaceful. She didn't regard the glares that Kagome and Ren shot at each other as significant.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

It was two o'clock in the morning when Kagome awoke with a rumbling in her belly. "Taiyaki," is what her mouth craved. In her sleepy daze, the girl slowly climbed out of bed with no regard for the sheets and blankets that messily hung from the mattress. She padded through the halls, following her instincts and hunger pangs towards the kitchen. "Taiyaki…" she chanted, swaying side to side in her semi-sleep state. "Taiyakkiiii…" It was a marvel how she navigated the dark, labyrinth-like complex in her sleepy trance.

Her fuzzy slippers dragged along the carpet as she crossed the threshold into the tiled room. "Taiyaki," she repeated as her feet carried her to the refrigerator. She reached for the handle and gasped. Her body jolted from the sensation and she was snapped into complete consciousness when her hand landed on top of someone else's. In the dark, she could only make out a menacing silhouette. It was a creature not of this world: relatively slim but armed with a horn on top of its head.

With incredible strength and speed, the creature retracted its hand from the fridge handle and grabbed her wrist. But Kagome was a fighter, she shrieked and swiped at the creature with her other hand. The clasp on her wrist was released and followed by a thud. The girl dashed towards the door and hastily flipped on the light switch.

[Flick]

Kagome's panicked expression fell into one of disbelief at the sight of Ren picking himself off the floor. "OChibi-chama, what are you doing creeping around in the dark?" Kagome's face contorted with a scrunch of suspicion.

"That's what I should be asking you, flatty," Ren countered coolly.

Flames burned in her eyes as she glared at the Tao, "You're such a—!" Her anger instantly subsided after her eyes strayed away from Ren's face to his left hand, or rather, what he was holding in his left hand.

The teens froze on the spot.

Kagome was flabbergasted because she never would have expected the proud shaman to wake up so early to do something, so—.

Embarrassing.

Ren bristled. He had been caught by the last person in the world he wanted to discover his secret. Blood rushed to his cheeks, forcing him to glare at the wall to avoid the priestess from witnessing his humiliation. He was oh so tempted to hide the freshly opened milk carton behind his back, but knew it would be futile. She already saw it.

"H-Have you been drinking straight from the carton?!" Kagome looked horrified as she shakily pointed at the shaman.

Ren blinked, his blush instantly faded from hearing her reaction. His embarrassing secret was that he made a ritual of drinking half a carton of milk every morning to stimulate his growth. The Tao was proud of almost everything about himself: from his lineage to his toned muscles. There was but one trait that he lacked and desperately wanted to improve: his height. Initially, he expected that the annoying girl would learn of his secret insecurity and use it to humiliate him. But no, this girl. She was more concerned about his method of consuming the liquid than the reason.

Kagome made a show of tapping her foot and crossing her arms as she waited for Ren to answer her. "Well?" She pressed while raising an eyebrow. When Ren did nothing but deadpan at her expression, the priestess smiled cattily while hovering a hand over her mouth, "Ohhhhh, so you're suddenly tongue-tied because you've been caught in the act, right~?" Her tone was overtly knowing and smug.

Ren was quiet for a moment as he scrutinized the girl, who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat.

She was cut from an entirely different cloth: one that fell to Earth from space.

The Tao masked a stifled chuckle beneath a heavy "tsk". Neither teen was expecting his amusement. And despite his attempt at hiding it, Kagome recognized the involuntary tightening of his diaphragm.

The action caught Kagome off guard and her teasing was muted into silent awe. She didn't know that Tao Ren was capable of anything besides excessive elitism and that sour expression. "You know…" He began as he turned his back to her to hide the blush that developed after he almost let his guard down. Little did he know but the priestess was still entranced by his chuckle and she clung to his every word. In her stupor, she didn't expect his next statement. "You're a complete moron."

Kagome twitched but quickly recovered. She rolled her eyes at the insult, but oddly, found herself more amused than offended. "Yeah, yeah, no one's intellect could possibly measure up to OChibi-chama's."

"Ch," Ren mumbled while moving away from the girl and towards the china cabinet. He opened the thin glass door and pulled a large, shiny glass away from the front of the compartment. He could feel Kagome's unwavering stare as her eyes followed him across the room. He carried the carton and glass to the marble-topped kitchen island and settled on one of the tall, bar stools. His golden eyes remained focused on his filling glass, even as the priestess took the stool on the opposite side of the island.

As Ren lifted the rim to his mouth, Kagome openly watched him and asked lamely, "You, uh...like milk a lot…?"

Ren only paused to shoot sarcasm at her, "What was your first clue?" He chugged the rest of the glass like a professional.

"Okay, but why so much at once?" Kagome questioned as the Tao began refilling his glass.

"Because." He immediately began downing his second serving.

Kagome asked, too curious not to be blunt, "Is it because you're short?"

Ren gagged then spat out of his mouthful of milk. Milk and saliva sprayed all over the countertop. His first instinct was to glare at the obnoxious girl, but his aggravation was interrupted by the sound of her laughter. "S-Shut up, dumbass!" The Tao barked when Kagome chortled and didn't show signs of stopping. Her laughter was uncontrollable, forcing her to stand and hold her sides.

The Tao was mystified by her many failed attempts at regaining composure. "I-I'm…!" She hoarsed between bouts of laughter. "I'm sorry!" She managed to squeak out with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry! But—!" More laughter. "I just can't stop! The look on your face was priceless!"

Ren huffed then clicked his teeth, "Oh no, don't let me stop you." So he said with much sarcasm, but deep down, the sound of the priestess' laughter wasn't unpleasant. As her giggle fit began dying, the Tao inwardly questioned her choice of words.

The Tao family was in possession of countless priceless items: primeval knowledge of shamanism, antiques, an arsenal of spirits to use, social and political connections, and one-of-a-kind treasures. No one in their right mind would consider something as fleeting and inconsequential as a facial expression to be priceless. But then again, this girl certainly wasn't in her right mind.

Higurashi Kagome, the priestess of low social and political standing that his sister had her eye on: she was indeed a moron. Ren thought that no one could derank Asakura Yoh's foolish ideals, but this girl was next-level stupid.

She disregarded those of higher social class.

And she arbitrarily assigned value to worthless things.

But as Kagome panted for air and remained hunched, for a moment, Ren wished that he had the luxury to be so free, to not have the shadow of familial obligations and schemes constantly looking over his shoulders. "Oh, Tao-kun…" she sighed. "That was hilarious."

"Hmph." Ren huffed again, regaining his cool and aloof demeanor. "Why did you wander in here anyway, Higurashi?" he questioned, his tone naturally gruff.

An invisible light bulb lit up above the girl's head. "Oh yeah!" She beamed after remembering why she had nearly fallen out of bed to find her way to the kitchen. "I woke up with a sudden taste for taiyaki!" she explained with a raised pointer.

"Well, you're never going to find anything like that here," Ren told her flatly.

Kagome stifled an embarrassed chuckle, "Yeah, I figured. Do you think we could get some?"

The scion was blunt, "I don't even know taiyaki is."

"WHAT?!" Kagome slammed her hands on the counter and cringed when they landed in some of Ren's milky saliva spots.

"Keep your voice down, idiot," Ren commanded, resisting facepalming.

Kagome ignored the insult as she walked towards the counter and reached for the thick roll of paper towels. "How do you not know what taiyaki is?" She asked incredulously as she pulled on the disposal towels. She wiped the counter as she stated, "You know, it's shaped like a fish but it's actually a pastry that can be filled with different stuff?

"Again, I've never had taiyaki," The Tao repeated. "And I probably never will."

Ren grimaced when a sudden expression of newfound determination and resolve appeared on Kagome's face. She gripped the damp paper towel and declared valiantly, "No! I can not allow this to stand!" Without waiting for a response, she balled up the paper, "There's no way that I can let you live your life without tasting taiyaki!"

The priestess half-turned and tossed the paper ball at the garbage bin. Her eyes widened and lips puckered into an 'oops' expression when the ball bounced off the rim and landed on the floor.

"You suck," Ren deadpanned as he walked around the island to retrieve the fallen paper ball. To Kagome's surprise, the Tao didn't simply dispose of the trash. Instead, he returned to his spot across the room and overhand tossed the ball. Kagome's eyes narrowed and she pouted when the ball easily landed inside the bin's mouth.

The priestess blushed when Ren turned a stoic expression to her. "Shut up," she muttered as he gloated without words or a smirk. "More importantly," Kagome diverted attention from her failure, "After training, we're going out to get Taiyaki." It was a statement, not a proposal or request.

"No." Was Ren's simple response as he headed toward the door, hyper-aware of the girl trailing close behind him.

"Okay," Kagome's hands clapped together as if she just closed a deal. "Be ready to leave around two~."

"Did you even hear what I just said?" Ren's asked flatly while he looked ahead.

"Oh, loosen up~" The priestess chuckled and patted his shoulder. "By the way," her hands cupped behind her back. "Tao-kun, you have a cell phone, right?"

Ren sounded exasperated, "Of course I do."

"Perfect~" Kagome's voice brightened behind him, almost illuminating the dim halls. "You should give me your email so we can always contact each other~!" she proposed.

"Tch. I'd rather die," Ren replied bluntly.

Instead of playing into his hand, Kagome took on a haughty tone, "Ohhhh~ I get it. You're shy because you have no experience mailing girls~."

The Tao's brow twitched but he kept his cool, "You hardly count as a girl."

"Uh-huh," Kagome half-smiled. "You can change your mind anytime~"

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Kagome was practically skipping as she and Ren trudged through downtown Tokyo. She didn't remember the last time she was downtown on foot. The buildings felt taller, the small shops looked even more welcoming, the bustling crowds seemed wider, and the animals were friendlier. The topping on the cake was the beautiful, blue sky and warm sunlight. It was a wonderful day to be alive and outside. "Tao-kun, we picked the perfect day to go out~!" the priestess exclaimed.

Ren wholeheartedly disagreed. He definitely did not share the girl's enthusiasm for the city. Everything from the filthy humans to toxic air pollution to the abundant industrialization ticked him off. Thanks to all the damned humans around him, and billions more, a once beautiful world was now becoming corrupt. Just being out there, surrounded by the epitome of world destruction was sickening. It reminded the young shaman why he fought in the first place, and why he hated humans… Every single one of them…

Ren could feel his fists shaking as he silently fumed. He had to leave, or he wouldn't be able to control himself. The Tao looked over his shoulder at Kagome, who was admiring an intricate water fountain across the street. 'Tch, she'll be fine,' he told himself as he turned around.

Suddenly a firm grip on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. "Hey, Tao-kun," Kagome's whisper was uncharacteristically eerie. "You weren't planning on ditching me, were you?" her sweet tone was offset by a dark aura.

"And if I was…?" he questioned while turning around to face the displeased girl.

The Tao stood his ground as Kagome stepped into his personal space until they were chest to chest. She leaned her head slightly over his shoulder so that her lips were hovering near his ear.

"If you do anything to embarrass me or ruin this outing, I'll tell Onee-san Onii-san, and Bason-sama…" she paused for a moment to create tension. "Your se-cret," She whispered.

Ren instantly took a step back as if he was burnt. His cheeks lit up as he hissed, "You sneaky little flatty." He crossed his arms and scowled, "Let's just hurry up and find that taiyaki stand you were talking about."

Kagome clicked her tongue and wagged her finger, "Oh no. We're gonna take our time and enjoy the moment~. It'll be fun~." She told him as she began continued walking at a leisurely pace.

"Fun…?" Ren raised an eyebrow.

Kagome instantly deadpanned, "You do know what fun is, right?"

"Of course I do, dumbass!" The Tao retorted.

"I was just asking," Kagome pointed out with a shrug. "You're the one who doesn't know what Taiyaki is."

"This is coming from a thirteen-year-old girl who's never worn a bra until yesterday."

"Again with the bra thing, huh?" Kagome was unimpressed. "I bet you enjoyed seeing my unmentionables yesterday," she accused teasingly.

"Believe me, anything of yours is definitely mentionable."

"Hmph!" Kagome huffed as she walked closer to Ren to roughly poke his forearm. "For your information, I have plenty of potential boyfriends lined up!" So she claimed, but not without lying through her teeth.

"Riiiiiiiiight," The Tao drawled. "And every single one has exceptionally bad taste."

"Oh yeah?" Kagome challenged, "Then what type of girl do you like?"

"One that isn't annoying," He easily answered. "And definitely smaller than me."

"I don't think that second one is possible~" Kagome snickered behind her hand.

"Shut it," Ren scoffed at the jab. "Your size is no better."

Kagome blushed. But she quickly forced a proud smile as she placed her hands on her hips, "I don't care! I'm almost one-hundred and forty-five centimeters! It's the perfect height for me~!"

Damn.

Ren hated to admit it but he and this annoying girl were the exact same height. But that just cemented that, contrary to what Jun thought, Kagome would never be the right girl for him. She was beyond obnoxious and definitely not the right size.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"Here it is!" Kagome announced as she and Ren arrived at an inner-city park area. It was an expanse of land dedicated to recreation. Buildings gave way to grass outlined with a cemented path around its perimeter. Cherry trees, lamp posts, and park benches aligned the sidewalk. A decorative water fountain sat in the center in the square of grass while small snack carts and stands were dispersed throughout the area.

Ren took in the scenery and felt somewhat satisfied. The cacophony of millions of voices and car horns faded into the therapeutic blurbing of water.

Kagome smiled softly and admitted, "I've always wanted to come here, but I've never had the chance to since it's completely out of the way when I'm going to and from school."

"Let's just do this alrea—" Ren's impatience turned into shell shock when he noticed something new about this park. The people that hung around were all young couples. Many of them were too preoccupied with holding hands, flirting, and devouring each other's mouths to bother with the food vendors. With his strict upbringing and cold family, gestures of affections were foreign to him.

And to see such actions in public was unheard of.

Sure, he understood the process of courting and the mechanics of procreation. But this—. This atmosphere was beyond repulsing, unnerving, and unbearable.

"He-lllllllloooooo?" Kagome called while waving her hand in front of Ren's face. He responded by slapping it away. "Stop spacing out on me! The stand is right over there!" She pointed at the furthest stand.

'Of course,' Ren inwardly cursed his luck. The last thing that he wanted was to be seen with Kagome in an area overrun by couples. He'd be damned if someone mistook her as someone important. The Tao stiffened when the girl suddenly took him by the hand and dragged him towards the stand. 'Ooooooof course,' his eye twitched but he didn't resist, resistance meant more delays.

As the Tao wondered what he had done to deserve such torture, Kagome also took notice of the number of couples that they were passing. 'Huh, looks like a hotspot for dates,' She noted mentally. 'Tao-kun probably hates being seen with me,' the priestess giggled delightfully at the thought, not knowing just how right she was.

Once they were standing in front of the minuscule shop, the vendor, a middle-aged man with kind, brown eyes greeted the girl who stepped forward, "Good afternoon to you. What type of filling would you like for your taiyaki, little lady?"

Kagome smiled and answered immediately, "Chocolate, please!"

The man nodded at the girl before looking at the boy standing behind her. "And for the young gentleman?" he asked.

Ren frowned and averted his eyes from the man, "Tch." The shaman found the human's assumption to be impudent, but he opted for ignoring him.

Kagome caught onto the Tao's body language and answered politely to save face, "He'll have one with custard!"

The man chuckled and nodded, then got to work. He started by pouring his liquid pancake into the fish-shaped mold. "So… is he shy or something?" the man inquired to create small talk while he prepared the treats.

Ren flinched at the question, but Kagome beamed brightly. "Well, I wouldn't say that," Kagome replied with a gregariousness that matched the vendor's. "But he is a bit rough around the edges so he doesn't know how to act around people outside of his family. He's a bit socially inept."

"I see, it must be tough…" Ren didn't like the knowing smile on the man's face. "But you seem like a kind soul so I'm sure it'll work out."

"It was at first," Kagome answered again. "But it's actually becoming more fun to be with him."

"Fun?" The man echoed, the smile plastered to his face never left as he began filling one side of the mold with the requested chocolate filling.

Kagome nodded and happily chatted with the vendor, "Yeah! It's kind of like playing one of those dating simulators!" She expounded, smiling never falling, "Say or do the wrong thing and he completely bites your head off. Say or do the right thing and you're rewarded by seeing him do something really cute!"

The smile that the priestess shot over her shoulder made Ren stiffen and avert his eyes. She giggled as she refaced the stand, "Just like that~."

Ren was too finished with the undesirable scenario to even quip back. He merely glared off into the distance and waited.

"Sounds like fun," the man smiled as he placed the pastries into separate bags and marked them accordingly. "That'll be six-hundred yen~."

"Sure~!" Kagome nodded as she reached into her circular, denim purse for her wallet. She fished around blindly for a moment. "Eheh, one sec~" She held up a finger before shrugging off the purse and holding it in front of her one-handedly. Her heart stopped and she went deathly pale. '...Kagome, you really are a moron,' her inner voice mimicked Ren's jibes.

Ren, observant and intuitive, immediately caught on to the girl's plight. He begrudgingly reached into his pocket and slammed the first bill he felt on the counter. "Keep the change."

The man looked down at the yen note and his eyes instantly widened from shock. He looked back up at the boy, who was no longer paying him any more attention. The man snatched the note and stuffed it into his pocket. He looked around to make sure that other vendors didn't spot the young man's generosity. This boy was the first, and definitely the youngest, to drop a ten-thousand yen note like it was nothing. And the last thing that the man needed was competition for his patronage.

Meanwhile, Kagome was glowing as Ren passed her the bag labelled "Little Lady" in black marker. "Thanks, Tao-kun~" She then pointed towards the nearest, empty bench and proposed, "Let's go eat over there."

Ren inwardly groaned but followed the girl's lead nonetheless. The last thing that he needed was to make his sister upset because he decided to leave her precious priestess high and dry.

As soon as she was seated, Kagome eagerly unwrapped her fresh taiyaki. She went in for a bite but instantly flinched from the scorching hot filling. But she was determined, the girl opted for alternating between blowing cool air on her snack and light nibbling. It was after a few minutes of silence that Kagome finally looked over to the teen next to her.

As he glared down at the innocent taiyaki, Ren's mind was somewhere else entirely. His expression was fixed into a troubled scowl, as if the treat was the source of his woes.

'I never noticed before, but Ren's eyes are…' She found her smile fading. 'So sad.' It was in Kagome's nature to nurture others when they were in need of emotional support. But Tao Ren was a special case: he was overtly guarded and out of touch with his heart. She genuinely couldn't imagine the shaman next to her taking her sympathy well.

So, she settled for being a distraction. "Don't tell me the Tao Ren is afraid of a little commoner food~?" Kagome teased with a cheeky smile. She did indeed succeed in grabbing his attention; Ren looked as if he was going to roll his eyes. Any distraction was better than none in her book. The girl then pointed towards a couple and asked, "Wanna just follow their lead?"

Ren stiffened and turned beet red when his eyes landed on a couple that was in a passionate lip-locking session. He snatched his eyes away and questioned, "What are you thinking, dumbass?!"

Kagome blinked innocently before pointing at the fading backs of a couple leaving the area, "What's so wrong with taking our food on the go?"

The Tao never wanted to disappear more than he did now. "Nevermind…" he grumbled.

"Ooooookay," Kagome didn't understand what was going on Ren's head, and she didn't try to. She turned back to her Taiyaki and took her first full bite. Her eyes lit up at the taste and texture of the smooth and creamy chocolate filling. The chocolate flavor blended in well with the slightly sweet taste of the crispy, warm pastry. It was pure heaven!

Ren glared down at his taiyaki, cursing the descendants of whoever invented it. He slowly opened his mouth and took a tentative bite. To his surprise, the snack was quite palatable. The contrast of crispy outer shell and creamy, semi-sweet custard was especially appealing. Kagome merely smiled as she spied at Ren from the corner of her eye every so often. The pair sat there in silence, munching on their taiyaki and caught in their own worlds.

Once both finished their snacks, Kagome broke the cozy quiet and asked, "So, how did you like it~?"

Ren glanced between the crumpled packaging in his hand to the hopeful priestess. It wasn't his favorite treat, but it did pass his taste test. "Che," he'd be damned if he told her that though. "It was edible."

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Yoh seemed more spaced out than usual. His reaction time was more delayed than normal as well. When he wasn't training, the Asakura's default state was kicking back and enjoying the moment. But even at dinner, he wasn't as talkative as usual. The cool shaman didn't openly appear depressed or distraught. But his mind wandered more often. In the midst of conversations, Manta would catch his friend staring out into the distance, just as he was now as they say beneath the stars on the back porch.

"Yoh-kun," the sound of his name on Manta's tongue brought the brunette back to the present. "I was wondering, did Kagome-chan mail or call you yet?" He pulled out the cellphone that used to embarrass him and smiled sadly, "I know that she's probably busy, but I miss her already, you know?"

"Ah…" Yoh's surprised expression melted into a soft smile. "She didn't, but I know that she's doing just fine, wherever she is."

Manta noticed how the shaman's face became dreamier, more pleasant than when he was simply spaced out. "But…" He was curious, "How can you tell…?"

"Because," Yoh's eyes warmed like freshly brewed sweet tea. He smiled up at the celestial lights, "We're friends, all of us, we're connected by the stars. If Kagome was in trouble, we'd feel it."

Unbeknownst to Asakura Yoh, somewhere in Tokyo, a figure watched over him and Higurashi Kagome.

He smirked, his gloved hand gripped a white mobile device.

It was his trophy for his good deed.

Higurashi Kagome was going to be his.

---

Authoress' Notes: This chapter underwent many changes to detail but the overall gist of the events are the same~ Also, while researching colors in Chinese culture, I learned something very interesting. The color black is considered unlucky so people who wear black are often associated with underground or illicit organizations like the mafia. Then I look at how Jun and Ren are often in mainly black outfits. Not sure if the mangaka designed them this way purposely or if it's an interesting, happy coincidence.

Additionally, for those who didn't catch my attempts at nuances: Kagome's yellow cheongsam was embroidered with lotus flowers. And Ren's name means lotus, so… Yup. That happened. Jun is a shipper in this fic.