Kagome had declared it was time for Spring Cleaning. Writing up a list of chores and repairs to be done, the priestess set out to assign them to everyone in her household. It was currently a full hut with herself, Rin, and Shippo, who decided to take some time off from school after obtaining his third tail.
Wiping sweat from her brow, Kagome hung up freshly washed blankets and sheets to dry. Hearing the destressed clucking of a few chickens, she looked over to the coop Shippo was cleaning. It seemed Midori was again taking a nap in front of the gate, frustrating the kit holding a shovel full of soiled debris. If that giant green chicken hadn't laid such delicious eggs, they would have cooked her up years ago.
Looking to her right, Kagome observed Masaru kneeling in the garden, pulling weeds. The lieutenant wore her pink apron while he worked with his blonde bangs tied back high on his head to keep hair from falling in his face. It was an amusing sight that had the priestess pondering what color fabric he might like for his own smock.
Heaving another winter blanket onto the line, Kagome was securing it in place when Rin called out to her from the hut.
"Mama, look what I found! I look just like you when we first met!" Turning her attention to the teen behind her, Kagome dropped the damp sheet she held.
Rin stood in the doorway and twirled around in a circle while giggling. She had been tasked with going through trunks of old kimonos and sorting out ones that no longer fit or needed mending. During her exploration, she found a few relics belonging to Kagome and couldn't resist trying them on. It led to Rin smiling at her mother figure while dressed in her old high school uniform.
Kagome was stunned into silence when she saw Rin wearing the green skirt and white sailor blouse. It was surreal to see someone in her futuristic clothing, and the fact that the teen now fit into them made her feel…old.
"I-I um." Coming back to her senses, Kagome sprinted over to Rin and shuffled her back into the hut before the males saw her in such a state. She should have burned that outfit years ago.
"Are you mad?" Rin asked as she observed her mother slam shut the shoji doors.
"Yes, I mean, no." Untying the tasuki that held the sleeves of her green robe back, Kagome smoothed the wrinkles from the fabric. "I'm not mad, just shocked. It's been a while since I've seen this outfit."
Rin could see the unease in her mother's eyes. She gripped the skirt hem and looked down. "I'm sorry for taking it without asking first. I had hoped it would be a fun surprise."
Reaching out, Kagome removed the girl's hands from the skirt and held them. "I appreciate the gesture, Rin. Why don't you show me what else you found."
That brightened the teen back up, and she pulled the priestess into their bedroom. Garments were spread over the floor, and storage trunks were left open with clothing and silks hanging out. Rin weaved across the mess and sat beside a worn yellow backpack she had unearthed during her dig.
"I recognized this as the bag you used to carry when you traveled with Uncle Inuyasha." Hearing the half-demon's name made Kagome wince; Rin didn't notice and burrowed into the pack.
Seeing Rin dressed in that uniform and going through her old backpack was bizarre. It felt like Kagome was witnessing her past self preparing for another shard hunting trip. She pushed aside discarded kimonos and sat next to Rin.
"What is this?" The young girl lifted a hardcover book from her backpack and handed it to Kagome.
"This is a photo album. It contains portraits captured with a camera. Like tiny realistic paintings." Opening the burgundy cover, she showed Rin the pages filled with Polaroids she had taken during her travels.
The teen was mesmerized by the small images. Turning each page revealed more photos of beautiful landscapes and heartwarming scenes. When Rin reached the past page, she let out a gasp.
The last photograph pinned in the book was of Lord Sesshoumaru. It showed the great demon sitting beneath a large magnolia tree in bloom. He was leaning against the tree with one leg bent, the other stretched before him, and a clawed hand resting on the raised knee. Golden eyes stared off in the distance as silver hair flowed across his armored body and mokomoko.
"Wow…" Rin's fingers traced over the demon lord's face in wonder. She had seen paintings of him back at the Shiro, but none compared to the lifelike picture before her.
On seeing Rin's reaction to the photograph of her father figure, Kagome made a decision. "Would you like to keep this photo of Lord Sesshoumaru?"
Teary brown eyes looked up at the priestess before arms wrapped her in a tight hug.
"Yes! Thank you so much, Mama!"
Kagome returned the embrace, and blue eyes lowered to the open book. She couldn't deny the fluttering in her belly at seeing the demon lord again, even as a Polaroid. It had been a long time since she had opened that yellow pack and had forgotten about the album. Removing a hand from Rin's back, she reached out, removed the photo of Sesshoumaru, and closed the heavy book. There were still memories it held that she wasn't ready to face, including images of her family back in the future.
Pulling away from Kagome, Rin wiped away the happy tears clinging to her dark lashes and took the picture her mother held out to her. "I wish we could send something like this to Lord Sesshoumaru. That way, he can look at us whenever he wants."
That reminded the priestess of another treasure hidden in the yellow monstrosity. She dragged it into her lap and poked around until she found the cardboard box she was searching for.
"I think we can make that happen!" She took out the old Polaroid camera from the box and an unopened package of film.
Letting out a squeal of excitement, Rin tackled Kagome to the floor and into another bone-crushing hug. The ruckus from inside must have alarmed Shippo because he was now stepping into the disorganized room.
"Mama, what's going on-" The fox took in Rin's form and the green skirt that had risen over the back of her thighs while she lay on top of Kagome. His face burned crimson at the sight, and he immediately shut the bedroom door.
The two girls burst out in laughter at the kit's reaction.
Sitting back up, Rin looked around the disheveled room and asked, "Can we play dress up before I finish my chores?"
"Sure. We can pick out something fetching for you to wear for your portrait." Eyeing the green and white clothes the teen still wore, she added, "We definitely do not want Sesshoumaru to see you in that. He would murder me."
The comment gave Rin an idea and a mischievous glint flashed in her large, doe-like eyes.