The wind whipped through Kagome's hair as she clung to the mane of the two-headed dragon. Behind her, Kimiko sat with the grace of someone born to this surreal mode of travel, her legs neatly tucked under her. Kagome, in contrast, held on for dear life. Just as she was beginning to adjust, the dragon made a sudden, jolting dash into a thick cloud. Mist clung to her face and hair like morning dew.
As they plunged through the masses of mist, Kagome felt as though they were being buffeted by both air and water. The cold adhered to her skin, forcing her to shut her eyes against the wind that made them sting and water.
The air around them grew increasingly dense, making it difficult to breathe. Behind her closed eyelids, the flickering sunlight dimmed, and the roar of the wind subsided. Kagome sensed they had passed through some kind of boundary—a gateway from the mortal world to another existence altogether.
Once the crushing sensation around her chest eased, Kagome took a deep, much-needed breath and opened her eyes. The dragon had slowed, and what loomed on the horizon left her dumbfounded.
An enormous, cloud-like structure hovered in a void—essentially a city in the sky.
The dragon roared impatiently, eliciting a firm tap from Kimiko. "You will get your supper in due time, beast."
The creature continued at a steady pace, ultimately stopping at a massive iron gate at the city's edge. The entrance radiated a powerful, impenetrable youki, demonic energy, that made even the fine hairs on Kagome's arms stand on end. It called out to her holy powers, challenging them and fighting for dominance. Many had come there, seeking for victory but stumbled right at the gates. It was as if the ancient powers of the strongest youkai guarded this city. Kagome knew her mortal presence was less than welcome here.
The gates creaked open with a deep, metallic groan. Only then did Kagome realize that all must enter this way; an impenetrable barrier shielded the city from above. It was an ancient defense, like it had guarded the city and the dwellers within as long as time had stood, one that no amount of her priestly energy could penetrate.
A fully-armored guard directed them through the gates. As a respected member of their society, Kimiko passed without scrutiny, even with a human in tow—a most unusual sight.
Once they landed, Kimiko gracefully dismounted, gesturing for Kagome to do the same. As they stepped onto solid ground, the guard summoned another soldier to take the dragon away. Kimiko spoke briefly to the soldier, too softly for Kagome to hear. The soldier returned from a small storage room with a black shawl, which he handed to Kagome before taking the dragon's reins.
"The Lady wants you to cover your face with this," he said, gripping the reins more tightly, offering no further explanation.
Kagome glanced toward Kimiko, but the young demoness had her back turned. Eager to avoid any complications at the start of her visit, Kagome obediently draped the musty-smelling shawl over her hair and face, leaving only her eyes visible. The group then moved forward.
Four guards escorted Kimiko to her quarters. It wasn't for safety; her high status simply demanded that her return be a spectacle for the general populace. Kagome followed closely, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings.
The architecture was unlike anything she had seen, even in the modern world. The techniques and materials were of fantastical origin. The grand scale of the city stood in sharp contrast to the humble camp she had stayed in among the youkais. Here in the demon realm, they seemed to live like gods. Even a beggar here would outshine a human king in luxury.
Every building was accompanied by gardens, fountains, and temples. Intricate engravings adorned gates, doors, pillars, and roofs, while colorful origami cranes decorated the trees. Gold and precious gems were as common building materials here as wood and stone were in the human world.
"Keep up, will you?" Kimiko's voice snapped Kagome out of her reverie. She realized she had lagged behind, so caught up in her observations that she hadn't noticed the growing distance between them.
Equally astonishing were the residents. Elegant Inugamis with pristine white hair wore the finest silks and satins, accompanied by an array of other demons decked out in dazzling armor and accessories. Children darted past the guards, their laughter filling the air.
Self-consciously, Kagome tucked a stray hair back into place. She felt completely out of her element, dwarfed by the majesty around her. A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks under her disguise as she quickened her pace to catch up with Kimiko.
After a relatively short walk, they arrived at another gate, this one surrounding what Kagome could only describe as a feudal fairytale palace. In contrast to the more flamboyant structures they'd passed, this building had a muted white exterior. It spoke to the restrained aesthetics of the Sesshoumaru clan, a family who didn't need to flaunt their wealth through showy exteriors. Kagome was beginning to grasp just how important Kimiko's family was within the Inugami community, something akin to royalty.
As they approached, the finely crafted metal gates swung open silently, admitting them into the care of the awaiting house staff. The young women were guided indoors, and the guards returned to their posts.
The house staff was an eclectic mix of toads, ferrets, tortoises, and other beings Kagome couldn't even identify. Everyone bustled about, one shouted something, another was easing Kimiko of her shoes while someone else was barking orders at lesser servants about baths, food and a fireplace. It struck Kagome that she had never seen an Inu Youkai in a servile role; all the attendants, vendors, and messengers were of different demon breeds. She loosened her shawl, grappling with a new understanding that the haughty demeanor of Sesshoumaru and other Inu Youkai was rooted in a strange social hierarchy. Among demons, it seemed, Inu Youkai were considered the elite, and Kimiko was crème de la crème.
A pang of sympathy struck her. How ironic it must be for Inuyasha, born of a demi-god and a human, to be lower in status than even the least of these youkai servants. In this atmosphere of opulence, Kagome fully grasped the heritage that Inuyasha had been deprived of due to his mixed lineage.
She didn't have long to mull on those thoughts as a busy-looking older amami rabbit demoness ushed her to move.
"Through there." She simply said and nudged Kagome forward.
"Wha-" Kagome tried to protest and search for Kimiko in all the hustle of swirling servants to no avail. Helplessly surrendering to the rabbit's guidance, she walked out of the entrance hall through a smaller, vacant room, through another room, and another and another until they had arrived to, Kagome assumed, to the servants' quarters. The demoness walked past Kagome to a sliding door closet at the back of the room. She pulled out a similar uniform to hers. She glanced at the uniform and then eyed Kagome from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Displeased with whatever mental measurements she had taken, the rabbit tossed the uniform back to the closet and dug out another one, then she grabbed a pair of geta footwear and placed them neatly on top of the folded uniform.
"Follow." She once again concisely commanded and exited the room. Kagome followed suit and tried to keep up with her guide's pace while they nearly ran through rooms and hallways. Sometimes they would pass by other demon servants who were stopped in their tracks to openly stare at Kagome and some even turned their backs to her to whisper and laugh. She mentally cataloged their rudeness for later consideration.
Soon, they reached a robust sliding door at the building's rear. Kagome, having grown up in a temple and being the granddaughter of an imperial architect enthusiast, identified it as a lavatory. The older demoness ushered her into a dim, damp chamber. Light emanated from a small window above a wooden ofuro, a bathtub. Next to it were a basin and a rack containing bottles and coarse cloths.
Kagome was instructed to disrobe. Eager as she was for a bath, the idea of undressing in front of a stranger was uncomfortable. "Could I have some privacy?" she asked timidly.
The rabbit's expression shifted from confusion to a scowl. " You do realize this facility is usually shared by at least five servants at a time? You are as lone as you will ever be, so get in the ofuro, princess." The snarky retort was like a bucket of cold water, enhanced by the swift hands that made quick work to remove the shawl from Kagome's shoulders. Not wanting "help" undressing, Kagome submissively walked to the darkest corner of the room while the demoness heaved the sliding door shut. Kagome quickly undid her clothes and tried to hurry to the tub without being exposed to that scrutinizing gaze of her sour companion.
As Kagome eased herself into the tub, the earlier mental remark of bucket of cold water realized as a tub full of icy cold water. Goosebumps erupted all over her body, and her teeth chattered uncontrollably.
The older servant returned to pour soap over her and began scrubbing her vigorously with a cloth that felt like it predated sandpaper. Kagome's discomfort didn't go unnoticed; the demoness only hardened her demeanor.
"Get used to it, princess," she said, showing Kagome the same level of hospitality she'd come to expect from demons.
After getting rid of most of that stench that the human was encased in and burning those abominations of clothing of hers, the amami rabbit, Fuyuki, knelt in front of her mistress' bedroom and announced herself. Sliding the shoji open, taking one step inside the room, kneeling again and turning to shut the shoji, she finally faced her mistress and gave a deep bow.
Kimiko was sitting beside a sliding door that opened a view to a blossoming garden that splayed beyond her patio. Though the view paled in comparison to its mistress' beauty, anyone would have thought.
"So. What do you think of her?" The fluttering soft voice asked the amami rabbit.
Fuyuki straightened her back, adopting a formal stance. "She'll need significant training. It's clear she's not from a servant lineage and unaccustomed to labor."
Kimiko nodded, having drawn similar conclusions. Whatever this human was, she was not a commoner. A mortal of great latent spiritual powers, someone who drew in the attention of Toga who usually gave no interest in anyone. The human woman even had managed to pique interest within Kimiko herself, something she could not even recall happening for a long time.
"Fuyuki, speak of her presence here to no one. If I hear any gossip about her, I'll have your tongue."
Fuyuki touched her left hand, which was missing a finger, in a reflexive gesture.
"She's not here to replace you; you've served my family well for centuries. She's here because I felt compassion for her plight. Consider her your assistant. If she proves troublesome, I'll have no issue disposingof her."
The rabbit demoness knew Kimiko's good graces were not easily achieved but very easily lost.
"Yes, milady," she replied.
With a wave of her hand, Kimiko dismissed Fuyuki, who exited as quietly as she had entered. Alone, Kimiko stared at her lush garden and the castle's perimeter. 'He deserves to squirm a little,' she mused, revealing a smile of small, sharp teeth.
"What do you mean 'nothing'!" Toga bellowed to a toad servant that was huddling his shoulders upwards in a defensive gesture at his master's rage.
"A human can't simply vanish from all realms!" Frustrated, Toga seized the toad by his armored collar.
"Find her," he hissed through clenched teeth before shoving the distressed servant away.
The toad gulped loudly, nodded, and scurried out of sight, leading a group of additional servants. Left alone, Toga's posture slackened, and he exhaled a woeful sigh.
'Kagome.'