Tsukimi in the Old Hydrangea Garden final part

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Jaken exchanged glances between Sesshomaru and Milady with nervous energy and watchful eyes. They were seated on what could only be described as an outdoor deck as it wasn't connected to a housing structure. It was completely out in the open and led out to smooth blue-green grass and a small freshwater pond. Although there was a small building next to the deck, it seemed to be more of a storage unit than a bedroom or bathing room. This garden was entirely secluded, so no one had to worry about enemies finding them. The lavender, gold, and off-white lanterns made beautifully artistic decorum as either accent walls or string lighting. The addition of crystals made a nice touch as well. They took the appearance of glimmering stars. The table of food did have some meats on skewers for Milady to properly cook for herself if she wanted. Sesshomaru had forgotten that she used to cook from time to time in secret just so she "wouldn't forget" she often claimed. Choosing to eat a sauce-coated dango skewer, Sesshomaru picked one up and brought it to his lips before pulling it with his teeth and allowing the dumpling to dance in his mouth. He crunched down on it and was surprised that the dumpling was filled with meat, egg, and yam. It was savory. Jaken was beyond shocked. He had never seen Sesshomaru eat before! The situation in Shinju o Tateru was probably too tense for him to eat, but, even when it was him and Rin around, his lord never ate around them. He had assumed that his lord hunted for a specific kind of meal, but here he was eating something as simple as dumplings!

Milady was happily stroking a baby bunny that was curious enough to hop over to her table of food for scraps. She didn't seem to mind sharing a chestnut or freshly cut yam. The other rabbits started gathering over to her at the smell of sweet potatoes. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was probably more curious than the baby bunny. His mother hadn't been filled with peace and contentment in years. He would have thought she would be more distraught at losing the Meido Stone since she fought so hard to keep out of that woman's clutches. He expected her to be more like how she found her at his father's tomb: quiet, lonely, or something akin to downtrodden. At this place, on this day, and in this moment, she was returning to the person he remembered as a child. Should he even bother trying to find her beloved stone? She seemed happier without it.

"It's almost time," she said to herself.

"Eh? Time for what?" Jaken asked, attention fully gained.

"Nostalgic, wondrous

Freshly plucked the susuki grass, dreamy

Curious, small rabbit next to dango," Milady recited, seeing a swollen, gold moon appearing in the purple sky. "Couldn't have planned that twice, now could I? Purple and gold."

"... what is this place?" Sesshomaru asked quietly.

What is making you... smile again? Sesshomaru thought.

"A garden your grandmother and I built together in secret many years ago," Milady replied, making Sesshomaru perk up at this tidbit of information. "It was a lot wilder-looking when I found it. I had run off from a boring dinner party much like you used to when you wanted to play with your toys in the nursing room. I wanted to catch fireflies. Somehow, they led me here. This is my nursing room, you could say. I keep my 'toys' here."

"Your toys have lasted throughout the years? They must've been quite durable or of excellent quality," Jaken piped up, folding his arms.

"My toys are not limited to stuffed bunnies, little imp," Milady replied, lifting her head to watch the moon rise to its full radiance. "Mine are memories. My unfriendly son's haiku and squeaky bunny are precious treasures to me. This Tsukimi festival celebrates the harvest moon and season. I chose to celebrate a different kind of harvest... Throughout the year, or even just the seasons, I harvest times that are valuable to me. Before I left this place, the memories of my mother were here before she was claimed dead. I've kept every treasure linked to her here. For today... all of my son's haikus and his bunny friend are part of my treasure."

Several hundred years ago...

CRASH! A scream sounded from the kitchen. Toga and Milady were in the middle of cuddling when they heard the commotion. Once they heard pots dropping, they both looked at each other and ran to the kitchen at top speed. Their son got into the kitchen cabinets again. Crap... Toga flung the shoji door open while Milady sniffed the air for the bundle of baby powder fragrance that was her son.

"Pup, you in here?" Toga called, scanning the room.

A quiet tug on his hakama pants gained Toga's attention and Milady placed gentle hands on Toga's shirtless back. Both looked down to see Sesshomaru nibbling on a matcha waffle sandwich cookie. He was still in his green pajamas and slippers. Not understanding why his parents were upset, the little one looked in the large porcelain jar that was half his size and rummaged through it to find something of interest or value. He managed to find a yellow bunny butter cookie for Toga and a pink flower sugar cookie for Milady. He held both up as an offering until his cookie fell out of his mouth from the saliva softening the cookie sandwich too much for his teeth to hold onto his treat. Once the cookie fell to the floor, Sesshomaru looked down at it and huffed. He did it about three more times before he lifted his head and his eyes started welling up with fresh tears.

Toga flinched at what was coming next and panicked before he held a hand out and said, "Pup, no, don't!"

Milady was emotionless in the face as Sesshomaru started crying, but she kneeled in front of him, looked into his eyes, and took her flower cookie from his little hand. She broke it in half, kissed one half of it, dabbed it on Sesshomaru's cheeks, and held it out for him to take it. The little one bit his lip first, wiped his eyes with his sleeve and ate the cookie quietly.

"Man, you are a baby whisperer," Toga complimented, impressed by the exchange. "If it were me, he'd be screaming."

"He's apologizing for something," Milady answered, earning a hum of confusion. "Those waffle cookies don't go in that jar. They go in a case. That jar has our favorite sweets in them. What naughty thing did you do, little babe?"

Toga inhaled sharply and closed his eyes with a frown. He then said, "Please tell me he didn't go in his grandpa's room again."

"Why the shit are there so many chicks in here?"

"Hhhhhoooowwww did you herd chickens in the house so fast?" Toga asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You're very good at that, nibbler!" Milady complimented with a small laugh. "Grandpa doesn't care much for chickens, though. He prefers other animals. Come, come."

Sesshomaru walked into his mother's arms and looked up at her innocently to ask, "Where are we going, mommy?"

"Someplace very special to mommy," Milady said sweetly, picking up the boy as she rose to stand. "It's her favorite time of the year, and a festival that celebrates bunnies happens during that time. I think Jikomo would like a bunny instead of a chick. Bunnies are very difficult to catch or tame, though. Do you think you can convince them to come to you?"

Inspired by the new challenge, Sesshomaru nodded his head excitedly and smiled. He then said, "I'll get a big one for Jikomo! And put a cape on it. That way, he'll know it's his."

Toga was quiet at the exchange, smirking at the boy before reaching over to muss his hair. It sounded like he genuinely didn't mean to make such a fuss. He just tended to herd smaller animals and was a quiet boy by nature. He then heaved out a sigh and said, "You're too cute for your good, pup. I don't know what's worse: you screaming us awake or you scaring the maids."

"I say the maids," Milady remarked, turning to leave the kitchen with the boy in tow.

Toga chuckled then turned his attention to replacing the cookie jar in its rightful spot and taking the discarded cookie to feed the birds for later. It wasn't long before he was at Milady's side, watching Sesshomaru lead the way to this bunny farm that she knew of.

Meioshi was out on patrol for the night now that her tasks at the funeral home were closer to completion. She escorted her three grandmas back to their homes, respectively, and visited Kirameku Ha's home for a while before returning to her estate to pack some things for her journey with Sesshomaru. She did have some antidotes left in her clinic for poisoning, but she wasn't entirely confident about the effectiveness of them for Jaken's particular case. She would have to somehow convince Sesshomaru to allow his attendant to stay at the hospital ward for a day or so. Not particularly liking the idea, this was the best she could do short of just giving him medicine at random and hoping for the best. Checking on the barrier of Heiwa, she could feel that the shield had weakened due to her dormancy status but it was steadily returning to its previous strength. That was good news. Although she didn't rely heavily on her powers and doesn't have to with certain enemies, she preferred to be cautious and limit her fighting during recuperation times.

"It appears you've finally become the demon you were meant to be, Meioshi," a familiar voice said.

Her blood went cold at the sound of that baritone voice. Eyes widened, lips parted, peachy skin turning pale and clammy, Meioshi knew the source of that voice all too well. She didn't want to look. She knew her heart would burn at the sight of him. She knew her body would quake from the scent of his cologne and polishing oil. She knew her body would do everything in its power to run when she wanted to hold her ground. She knew her stomach would turn. She knew all of this but she turned anyway. He was still a finely built man nearing six feet in height if he wasn't evenly so. His pale blue dragon's mane was the most intricate addition to his helmet yet. His outer face was covered in leather straps, his eyes no longer the warm brown but a silver that matched the glint of a blade, and his hardened face was still and filled with hate like he was facing an enemy. His jinbaori gashira of purple, blue, and gold flowed beautifully as he stood there strong in his stance. Though his tabi and sandals seemed to be the most plain by appearance, she knew not to underestimate anything on his person. Those items alone contained immeasurable amounts of power in combat. Walking forward with a regal stride, the man dashed before her until he walked in front of her about half a foot away. They stood there, eyes locked for a moment until he spoke again.

"Where are my tears?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He measured her face from lips to eyes and then said, "You seemed so sure that I was your lover before. Have you come to your senses yet?"

"I suppose I have," Meioshi answered, returning the measuring gaze. "You hardly look like my Sojuro anymore. This Sojuro is more of what he wanted to be. Above the rest."

"Hn," Sojuro responded, seductively lowering his eyes. He bent down until he was close to Meioshi's lips and said breathily, "Perhaps, I can give you some mercy since you fought so hard to claim me. I'll give you my kiss before you die!"

Without hesitation, Sojuro the blue dragon took his katana and cut Meioshi diagonally across from hip to shoulder before catching her and giving her a chaste kiss...

Author's Footnotes: The Tsukimi ("or moon-viewing") festival originates from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and was introduced to Japan as far back as the Heian era (794 - 1185) to commemorate the harvesting season. It was mainly celebrated by nobles on the night of the full moon, typically August 13th or August 15th, according to the Japanese lunar calendar before it became a local event for the general public. On the day of the festival, susuki grass was used as the centerpiece for most decorations as this particular grass represented the harvest and was at peak harvesting condition. Other decorations such as little bunnies, paper lanterns, or flowers that bloom during the late summer to fall season are also used. Roasted chestnuts, dango (dumplings), rice cakes, moon cakes, sweet potatoes, udon, and oftentimes eggs were typical food choices during this festival because some of these particular crops were most bountiful during this time. Although the moon has multiple phases, spectators were prepared for such a thing and typically served chestnuts in observance of the waxing/waning moon phases. By this event being more casual, yukatas or the more laid-back kimono are typically worn by spectators.

Today, the festival will be hosted on September 10, 2022. McDonald's serves burgers with eggs as a filling to commemorate the Tsukimi festival, and cakes in the shapes of rabbits are also made nowadays. Paper lanterns are arranged to take the shape of the moon as well. Judging from photographs and videos of the tea-making ceremony for this occasion, it's a very beautiful event and super cute because of the little bunny cakes! XD

The rabbit is actually the focal point of this event. As the story goes, the moon had turned into a beggar to ask around for food. He spoke to a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit. The fox gave him fish and the monkey gave him fruit, but the rabbit sacrificed himself by leaping into a fire to feed the beggar. The moon gave the fox and monkey very gracious gifts, but the rabbit's sacrifice was highly honored. Instead of the moon having shadows of a man's face on its surface, the shadow of a rabbit harvesting becomes the new face of the moon. Because I like bunnies and wouldn't want them hurt, this crushed my soul a bit. :'( But I like the bunny's story and would encourage you all to read up on it for yourselves.

This festival is actually being showcased in this story project for a reason. It has nothing to do with the moon or the markings of the moon on our characters' foreheads. It's easy for readers to simply put two and two together because of this. The Tsukimi festival's use is bigger than that. There is another larger-scaled festival that our inu characters will and do celebrate in this story project, but that will be in between Season 2 and 3 as it is a winter event. Hopefully, I can make it to that point before the end of the year as that would be the best way to observe this story's anniversary, but I look forward to having Sesshomaru participate publicly in his own festival. I need to think of a good costume change for the occasion. XD We gotta make him stunning, right? ;-D It's only fair.

Readers' Guide

Filler Episode 07: Tsukimi in the Old Hydrangea Garden (Chapters 70 through 71)

Plot Summary: Milady prepares her childhood garden for the Tsukimi festival. Meioshi reunites with an old enemy...

** Estimated Reading Time: 15.25 minutes

Critics' Choice Award for Most Engaging Writing