Now I know that I did something wrong.
Being a good girl, Kagome wore the heavy navy Kimono his mother insisted on. Keeping her mother's words tucked, she stood tall, hands folded and her face set as three women and their chaperones made their way.
His mother stood slightly behind her, symbolic to most, not to Kagome. Baba stood several steps down, waiting as well.
The three women bowed their heads to Kagome, then turned and bowed deeply to Inukiki while the chaperones bowed to Baba slightly.
"Why do you bow to me so?" Imukimi asked,
"My Lady-" A woman started to say,
Inukimi slightly laughed, "I am no longer the Lady of this place,"
All three women looked up with confusion; then their eyes moved to Kagome. If they were shocked, they did not give it away, nor did they correct themselves.
Inukiki glared at them, turned, pointed her chin up and huffed and began to walk away.
Kagome wasn't sure what to do, and in moments like these, she decided that his mother knew best. At least she hoped so she to turned and followed suit.
His mother slowed and smiled.
"I am going to assume that smile means I did something right,"
"For once," His mother noted, "They look down on you, and so you look down on them,"
"You got all that from a bow?"
"Indeed, little Miko, pay attention,"
Baba grumbled but ushered the woman along.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Kagome asked,
"Not we, girl, you," His mother corrected as they walked,
"Ok, what am I supposed to do?"
"You are doing it,"
Kagome raised an eyebrow, and his mother sighed inwardly. "You are to do as you wish; they are the ones who are supposed to be doing something,"
"Till he gets back,"
"Correct,"
"What if he asks me about them,"
"There is a thought,"
A light bulb went off in Kagome's head. "He's gonna want a secret report, isn't he,"
"Perhaps,"
"Have you been giving secret reports?"
Now, the Miko was getting it.
In the days that followed, several other women arrived with chaperones. There was enough room, of course. Kagome did as she thought his mother would do. She kept enough distance without being out of eyesight. She listened more and talked less. She went about her day, careful of her moves because as she was watching, so were they, and apparently, they didn't like her.
But she was a Miko, after all. She could not blame them for being slightly confused.
One day, Kagome was looking out over the gardens, and she could finally feel him.
"He will return soon," His mother walked in,
"What if he doesn't like any of them?"
"Then he will choose the one that has the most to offer the West,"
Of course.
"Being a princess doesn't sound fun anymore,"
His mother was slightly confused by her comment.
The next day, Kagome was sitting by a pond within the gardens, watching the fish through crystal clear water. She must have been in deep thought, for she didn't even realize he was back.
Sesshomaru stood next to his mother, high above, and was watching.
"Has she faired well?"
His mother crossed her arms. "She is smart,"
Didn't really answer his question.
His eyes moved to one of the women. She was standing and had her demonic eyes locked on Kagome till, finally, she made her move.
Sesshomarus's mother held out her hand, not that he had moved yet, but it had crossed his mind.
"Leave her to deal with it," His mother said. "But watch,"
The woman rushed to Kagome but was met with a barrier and skitted back.
Kagome turned and looked at the girl. "Something wrong?"
The woman's eyes shifted up,
Kagome knew the moment the woman moved that he was back and watching.
"Did you think he would save me?" Kagome asked, standing. "I have my own power,"
The woman knew right away she had done something wrong, but it was too late now, and she wasn't backing down.
"Show me,"
Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "Ok,"
Kagome lit up full power, and the woman took a step back; now she knew she had done something really, really wrong.
High above, his mother smirked. "Well, that happened faster than I thought it would,"
"What?"
"Her showing them just why you have her,"
Sesshomaru wanted to roll his eyes at his mother's choice of words. He didn't have Kagome; she wasn't land, and she would tell you that in a second.
"By the way, did you bring her back a husband,"
At this, he did roll his eyes and walked away.
"Did I say something wrong?" But she was talking to the air, air that was filled with holy power. "Enough, Lady Miko, before you purify us all!" His mother snapped.
Her power vanished, and the demoness bowed deeply and moved back as Sesshomaru made his way not to greet them but to greet Kagome.
