[Author's Note: Crescent Dreams Winter Gift for HenshuRin. Thank you for all your encouragement, your art, your heart, and your enthusiasm. All the joy of the season to you and yours.]
Chapter 1
Twice a year they gathered to celebrate the defeat of the Spider Hanyō and to remember their combined victories. It also served as a time to remember the departed, to renew alliances and friendships. At Midsummer, they sat around a huge bonfire near Kaede's village, near to the Bone Eater's well. At Midwinter, as it was now, they gathered in the banquet hall of the Western Shiro, protected from the elements. This was the fifth such celebration since Naraku's defeat.
Kagome had missed the first three years of celebration as her wish on the Shikon no Tama had pulled her back to the modern era she had come from. Three years of her friends remembering her as if she had died when in reality she was just stuck, attending high school. Not quite a fate worse than death. Then, as soon as she had finished, somehow the well's magic had opened the portal one last time. Not fitting into the modern times, she had jumped, literally, at the chance to return to the Sengoku Jidai era to rejoin the friends she had made in the past. She had arrived just in time to celebrate the Midsummer festivities. By the time the Midwinter celebration had rolled around, it was increasingly clear that she and Inuyasha would be not be a romantic couple, but that they would remain best friends and chosen family. The last two years had allowed her to celebrate the hard earned victory as well as witnessing the other changes in the group's dynamics.
From her seat at the head table, Kagome looked about the hall. Lines of low tables, loaded with food and tableware, allowed the various merrymakers to eat, drink, and converse with one another. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shiori were playing a dice game while imbibing saké at the end of one table. At another, evidence of the burgeoning relationship between her heart sister, Sango, and the young wolf prince, Kouga was displayed as they sat next to each other and fed one another tidbits from the teeming trays. The wolf demon had finally let go of his crush on Kagome while she was gone, about the same time as Miroku and Sango had decided not to pursue a relationship. At the table nearest to Kagome sat Rin, Shippou, and Kohaku, laughing and whispering about some mischief. Other friends and allies sat in groups along the tables, chatting and eating, enjoying the celebration.
In the place of honor, their host, Sesshoumaru, sat at the head table clad in royal blue. Kagome, her kosode dyed the same blue, was placed to his left. She still didn't quite grasp the etiquette that placed her next to him, rather than at the other tables amongst the rest of her friends. Rin's explanation about her being the Shikon Miko was missing some nuance. However, this was her designated place last year as well. Still, the food was delicious, the warm saké kept the chill at bay, and her friends made sure to get up and come talk with her at various points of the evening. As they were going to be staying at the shiro for at least a couple weeks, there would be more than plenty of opportunities to visit. She just wished that Sesshoumaru was a better conversationalist at social gatherings. Though, to be fair, once the rest of the guests, other than she and Shippo, had left the shiro last year, she had been surprised how talkative Sesshoumaru was in smaller groups. They had discussed everything from trade talks and traditions to hobbies and household management. He had asked her opinion on several matters, listened to her answers, and even implemented some of her suggestions. She'd thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together. This year, she and her kit would again be staying a few weeks after the rest went home. Kagome was looking forward to more of the stimulating conversations as well as his attention. Maybe especially his attention, she acknowledged, the warmth she felt having nothing to do with the drink in her hand.
Shippou and Rin got up from their places and sat across from Kagome at the table. Seeing their respective adoptive offspring at the table, Sesshoumaru pulled his attention from the room at large. Noticing Kagome's cup was empty, he filled it with warm saké.
"Rin. Kit. Are you enjoying the feast? Did you get enough to eat?" Sesshoumaru rumbled in inquiry.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama", chimed both youngsters in tandem. During the three years Kagome had been missing, Shippou and Rin had become quite close, like siblings. Shesshoumaru had helped to oversee Shippou's training.
"Mama," said Shippou, "are you having fun? Isn't this great? Too bad you can't stay here all year long. You deserve more than just a village hut and Inubaka being a jerk when he's around."
Rin clapped her hands. "Rin thinks that would be a wonderful idea for Kagome-sama to live here. Then Sesshoumaru-sama would not be alone while Rin is at the village and Kagome would not be alone when Shippou is at Kitsune School."
"I'm fine with the hut in the village, Shippou. Thank you, Rin. But visiting once in a while is plenty," smiled Kagome, taking another sip of saké. She then shivered, feeling a sudden breeze.
"Miko, you are welcome to stay in this Sesshoumaru's home for as long as you wish," intoned the daiyoukai.
"Well, at least until you find a mate, Sesshoumaru-sama. But by then I'll have finished with school. Then I'll build a shiro of your own to live in, Mama. Or at least a big house," boasted Shippou.
"This Sesshoumaru needs no other mate while your adoptive mother is present. The miko is an excellent choice as hostess when in residence, as all can attest to from this gathering. This one is most content with his chosen one," Sesshoumaru drawled before drinking from his own saké filled cup, a glint of humor in his amber eyes. Kagome nearly choked on the saké she was sipping.
"I definitely can agree with you on that. My mama is the best of all," bragged the kitsune.
"Rin agrees, too," laughed Rin.
"It is agreed, witnessed, and approved," a woman's commanding voice rang out from the open door. Framed in the doorway an elegant, silver haired daiyouki stood. "Let Kagome, the Shikon Miko's name be added to the register of the Crescent Moon as spouse and mate to Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West."
The small, yet audible voice of Myoga, the flea demon, replied formally, "It shall be written, as witnessed."
"Wait! What?!" Kagome shrieked, dropping her saké cup on the table and jumping to her feet.
"Presenting Lady InuKimi, of the Cresent Moon and the West," wheezed Jaken, trotting up in her wake. His voice echoed in the room's sudden silence.
"My son, this one is pleased you have taken steps for the future of our house and demesne. Will you be consummating the mating now in front of these witnesses?" Inukimi asked pleasantly.
"Ccconsumate…wwitnnessesss…?!" sputtered Kagome. At which point her eyes rolled up and she began to fall. Sesshoumaru was able only able to stop her from hitting the floor with his quick daiyoukai reflexes. He lifted an unconscious Kagome up into his arms, cradling her to his chest with a gentleness seldom seen from the stoic lord.
"Mother, what a …pleasant…surprise," deadpanned Sesshoumaru.
Author Notes:
The full Shinto wedding ceremony with sipping sake fro cups in front of an officiant and family was not yet established in this time period. Marriages in Japan at the time were contracts, made official around a table with the representatives of the households hammering out the details, probably finalized by drinking saké or other alcoholic beverages. There might or might not be a celebration of some sort, depending on the social and economic status of the parties involved.
Often the persons getting married had little or no say over what was happening and, especially the bride-to-be might not even be told about it. Kagome, having been raised in a shrine in the modern era, would likely be familiar with the historic ceremonial aspects of a wedding, the legal requirements of adding names to the koseki from her government classes, and the western commercial aspects from hanging out with her friends in school. She would likely not be aware of the details of how historic transactional marriages were finalized, as it's a fairly niche set of information that isn't relevant to her more modern life.
The ancestor of the koseki or "Family Register" was present as early as the 6th century. Marriages, births, adoptions, and deaths were recorded, especially in noble houses. For story purposes, once the declaration of contract was approved by the heads of households and written in the register, the couple is married. Technically, Shippou is the "head" of Kagome's house, as her adoptive son, even though he is still ostensibly a minor. Kagome drinking the saké tacitly gives her approval, even though she doesn't voice it. Sesshoumaru is the head of his own house. However, Inukimi is the keeper of the family register. Rin has the same family status as Shippou, as an adoptive offspring, though not head of house. With all the members of both families in apparent agreement, by the standards of the time, the deed is done.
This is not a completely accurate depiction of marriage conventions in the time. Artistic license has been taken to make the story work. Pretend that this is due to the differences between human and youkai cultures.