A thousand colorful cranes had been attached to petite ladders and strung in the limbs of the Goshinboku. Kagome clasped her hands over her heart. The wind made them swing elegantly as if the tree were congratulating her on the wedding. The wedding between the girl that had grown up underneath its branches and the boy who had dreamed against it.
"Oh, Mama!" Kagome felt tears threatening to fall. Her mother stood beside her. An arm wrapped around her. Souta and Grandpa were waiting nearby.
"It took us ages," Souta pouted.
"Thank you." Kagome turned to kiss her little brother. He squirmed but didn't complain. Her grandfather smiled. The effect really was amazing. The fading sunlight fell on the ancient tree. Shadows cast light on the cranes underneath. One thousand shifting cranes swaying in the breeze, swaying on the ground.
Inuyasha had been gone for days. Kagome looked towards the well-house again but it remained silent.
"The wedding is tomorrow. Perhaps you should go check on things?" Kagome's mother hinted.
"Inuyasha promised that he would be home tonight. I told him it was important." Her legs were actually weak with nervousness. It would be just like Inuyasha to be late to their wedding. His clothes were waiting in the groom's preparation area. Her clothing would arrive in the morning with Shizuka. A lifetime of wedding disasters meant that she was territorial about her creations. No wine, rain or mud would be allowed to ruin it.
"Perhaps he is nervous." Grandpa nodded.
Kagome played with her hair. Conditioned and styled, it would be tucked under her bunkin-takashimada for most of the day. Mama's treat to the day spa had been a welcome distraction from her wedding jitters. Grandpa had taken the luggage to the hotel. Souta had carefully swept the path from the shrine.
"Come on, Buyo." Her brother bent down to pick up the cat. The family pet had been watching the cranes for hours. He growled as he was taken away from his entertainment. Souta disappeared into the house.
"Don't wait too long, Kagome." Her mother touched her arm as she moved. Grandpa made a sound as he passed her. The wind blew again and the cranes flew. It stirred her hair.
Kagome went to sit on the little bench underneath the Goshinboku. She felt the cool stone underneath her. The aura surrounding the tree was always comforting, like coming home. Morning would be here before she knew it. The rapid schedule her mother had set left no time for delay. It would take forever to put on her attire. Inuyasha only had to change once during the entire day. She had to spend hours putting on the shiromuku and the iro-uchikake. It was probably better that way. Inuyasha wasn't very patient. Dressing him would probably require some work.
The hotel banquet hall was pale and large. Her iro-uchikake would look beautiful against the backdrop. There would be a beautiful sushi table and sake. Her friends would probably embarrass her with school stories. She only hoped that Hojo wouldn't talk about their movie date. It would upset Inuyasha. Still, there would be sticky rice and daifuku! A course of carved steak for Inuyasha. Kazunoko and datemaki. Her mouth watered as she remembered the samples.
A heavy thump startled her. Her feet were already on the ground when the door to the shed opened. A swathe of white hair shone in the sun. He 'oofed' as she practically tackled him to the ground. He landed on his backside but cushioned her fall. Their kiss was passionate and sloppy. Kagome gripped onto his hair.
"What took you so long, baka?"
"Sorry." Inuyasha let his hands rest on her thighs.
The love in his eyes warmed her soul. Her nerves faded. She was still nervous about the ceremony but Inuyasha would be there with her. A happy day with her favorite guy in her world. Two weeks together in her world.
"You are so lucky you're not late." Kagome kissed his cheek. The horrible ache she'd felt during their separation still waited in her breast.
"I ran all the way back. I wouldn't be late." Inuyasha shifted. His arms wrapped around her waist.
Kagome kissed him. The past few days of separation poured out of her. Wide, warm hands held onto her hips. He smelled like sweat and sunshine and Inuyasha. She'd been wondering where he was, what he was doing, what he was thinking about the wedding. She'd imagined him showing up during the night at her window. She'd imagined him showing up during dinner or breakfast.
"I have gifts," Inuyasha exhaled during a break. "From the others."
"Gifts?"
"Totosai sent you a gift, if you want it. Rin collected red feathers for your arrows." Inuyasha kissed her bottom lip lightly, unable to resist. Her right hand found his ear. It twitched inside her hand. "A barrel of sake from Mushin. A special fan from Sango."
"Oh, Inuyasha!" The fan drawn from within his robes was gorgeous. A white fan with silver roses. She instantly recognized the handwriting of the characters painstakingly added to the thin silk. Miroku had written a blessing for them both.
"Kaede said to wear it during the ceremony. For good luck."
"I will." Kagome carefully closed the fan and held it against her chest. It would be tucked inside the layers of her shiromuku unseen. Her adopted sister could craft the deadliest of weapons and the most delicate woodwork. It made her feel slightly inadequate. She would have to force Sango to teach her. The woman was simply too talented.
"Sango let Shippou make the tassel."
"I hope you told him thank you." Kagome let her fingers stroke the soft silk chords. The sweetness and hopes behind the gift were heavy on her heart. The kindness of their adopted family was unmatched.
Inuyasha pulled another package from his haori. His clawed hands carefully unrolled something wrapped in cloth. Her eyes widened when she recognized the craftsmanship. The most delicate kanzashi. Two parallel arms of silver topped with a round decoration. She brushed her thumb over the ancient metalwork. The look on his face told her it was important. Special.
She desperately wanted to ask him, but she waited.
"I went to my mother's castle. I had almost forgotten." The words were soft. His eyes strayed to the cranes waving in the Goshinboku. The skin of his throat moved as he swallowed. "We've gone there before. Her grave is nearby. I was just a kid when she died. Before she got sick, she took me outside. I helped her bury a box under her favorite tree. I marked the spot for her with my claws. I remember being proud of that."
"Inuyasha..."
"A lot of the things were gone. It's a bit tarnished." The kanzashi had a spot on the back of the round top. Water had probably worn away the box with time and damaged it.
"This is the most thoughtful gift I've ever received." The effort involved in retrieving the artifact touched her. Inuyasha had returned to his childhood home. It hurt him to remember his mother. Yet he had suffered to bring her the most precious thing he owned.
"You like it?"
"It's perfect." She kissed him softly.
"Mother would have wanted you to have it."
"The damage really isn't bad. It's amazing." Her grandfather might have terrible taste in antiques but he was an expert at restoration.
"You don't have to wear it. I know it's old-fashioned."
"Are you kidding? It's beautiful. I have to wear it!" Her enthusiasm cheered him up. She grabbed his face and kissed him thoroughly to prove it. Any residual sadness from their separation disappeared. Inuyasha was home with proof that she was marrying a kind, thoughtful man.
A whistle cut through their reunion.
"Kagome, Inuyasha!" Her mother's voice called.
"We should go inside." Kagome retrieved the fan from her lap.
"I'll be there. I left something in the shed." Inuyasha patted her leg. She used his shoulders to stand up. One more kiss before she headed for the stairs.
"Grandpa?" Kagome found him with a cup of tea at the table. She showed him the irreplaceable little hairpin. His eyes lit up as he estimated the artifact's age. At least seven hundred years! In good condition, nevertheless.
"Can you fix it? It belonged to Inuyasha's mother." She showed him the tarnished metal. He held it carefully in his long fingers. Her mother was admiring the beautiful fan.
"I want to wear it during the wedding. Please?" Kagome sank into the chair beside him.
"For my granddaughter, I shall do my best. This is a fine wedding gift. Quite rare." His fingers gently touched the metal lattice work. The old man's pleasure was plainly displayed.
"It's one of a kind. Please be careful."
"I will do no harm. This once belonged to a noble clan here in Edo. See the smith's initials?" She bent forward. Her grandfather was practiced in finding small details. Sure enough, there was a pale flourish in the silver. The man's fingernail hovered above another pattern. "I do not believe you will be the first bride to wear this pin. Was there a mate to this one?"
"I'm not sure. Inuyasha's mother passed away when he was a child."
"His mother's hairpin? That's quite romantic." Her mother seemed intrigued. A hand pressed to her breast, she stepped around the table for a closer look.
"I'm sure there must have been a mate. Pity."
The door opened. Inuyasha stepped inside. He gently lowered the bag strapped over his shoulder. They waited as he removed another object from the interior. A black sheath decorated with golden flowers covered a very small sword. Inuyasha cleared his throat. Souta rushed to her side. He bowed and offered her the weapon.
"A kaiken. From Totosai." Inuyasha let her take the little blade. Her grandfather's eyes widened when she gently pulled the double-bladed sword free. Longer than her hand, the blade was sharp enough to reflect the light. A shimmer of partial patterns flashed against the wall.
"Sango offered to show you how to use it. A woman should have something to protect herself." Inuyasha watched her family's reactions. Inuyasha doesn't know. Wearing a blade has become a harmless tradition in our time. It hails from the Feudal Era when a female samurai married. A more dangerous era.
Kagome nodded and pushed the sword back into its sheath. Its dark beauty shimmered.
"That's so cool!" Souta whispered.
"I'll wear it." Kagome nodded. The seriousness in those amber eyes calmed a bit. The beautiful details were nice underneath her thumb. She owed Totosai a sincere thank you. It was a good idea to keep a blade at hand in the Feudal Era. Sango would have to train her to wield it properly.
"Souta." The boy snapped to attention. His mouth opened when Inuyasha reached into the bag again. His finger pointed at himself briefly before he grinned. Kagome pushed his shoulder. The overjoyed expression on his face was worth whatever journey Inuyasha had dragged Miroku through. Having something from his new big brother would make him proud.
"My friend is a monk. Who knows, you might have your sister's gifts." Inuyasha shrugged. "If you train well, I'll bring you something better. If you promise not to use it against your friends. This is a man's promise."
"I promise!" Souta nodded his head.
Inuyasha pulled a bō staff from the bag. The fabric relaxed around another shape without the rod. Her betrothed showed Souta how it was made of bamboo. It could snap back hard if needed. Inuyasha rotated his shoulders and made a slow, gentle strike against Souta's knee. Not enough to hurt the kid. Her mother nodded slightly in approval.
"Only outside. It's not a toy." Inuyasha held up a clawed finger.
"That is the coolest gift! You're really going to teach me?"
"The first time he met Miroku, Inuyasha was held off by a khakkhara." Kagome bent down. The boy's eyes widened. His hero worship of Inuyasha was extreme. "They ran through the whole town. Miroku knew how to block Inuyasha's attacks. It's a really cool gift."
"Thanks, Inuyasha!" Souta grabbed him around the neck.
"It's your heritage, kid. I can't teach you the reiki but you should be able to protect yourself."
"I'll practice every day after school."
"It doesn't interfere with your schoolwork." Inuyasha met Mama's eyes. She nodded gratefully. "Your education matters. You have to be smart to get along."
"Yes, Inuyasha." Souta grinned at her. It wasn't as cool as the little sword but Inuyasha had promised to spend time with him. He stuff his tongue out at Kagome and watched her huff.
The hanyou's shoulders hunched. Her mother seemed nervous when Inuyasha met her eyes.
Did Inuyasha bring back a gift for everyone?
"How did you do all this?" Kagome broke the expectant silence. "You weren't exaggerating when you said you ran all the way home. Just the sword must have taken a day or two."
"Kirara gave us a lift. It was faster than running to Totosai." A solemn vow was made to bring the little cat an entire fish for herself.
"You're completely mad," she grinned.
"I know." Inuyasha gestured. He pulled back a chair for Kagome's mother. The matron looked wobbly in the legs. She used his arm to lower herself into a seating position.
"I don't need a gift, Inuyasha. You needn't have troubled yourself."
"Are you kidding? Course I did." The hanyou bristled. He rested on his knees but gently grasped her mother's right hand. His thumb rested against hers. The nearness of his long, sharp claws didn't bother her at all. A knife could have cut the tension in the air. Inuyasha's attention was utterly focused on her mother.
"I'm not good with words." Inuyasha's left hand dipped into his coat. His head dipped forward; his left ear was flat against his head while the other spun. Kagome's curiosity doubled when he removed a folded square of paper. It was fairly plain. Her mother accepted the little thing. It opened with one hand. She remained rooted to the spot while her mother consumed the dark scratches. Her hand gripped Inuyasha's possessively.
I have to know what he wrote.
"Mama?"
"I know it's not a proper gift." Inuyasha ignored her. "I didn't have much tutoring."
"What is it?" Souta tried to see what was written. Her mother closed the little square.
"I didn't know what to offer. Nothing seemed enough." Inuyasha shook his head.
"You wrote a letter?" Kagome heard her own surprise. Never in their relationship had she seen the boy pick up a brush. He despised the smell of ink. The smudges on the page had been too messy; it wasn't Miroku's writing. Inuyasha had given her mother a heartfelt message. His discomfort meant that it was something important. Deeper emotions still eluded words most of the time.
"Mom!"
Inuyasha flinched when her mother touched his head. She only leaned forward to kiss his hair.
"Aren't you going to read it?" Grandpa prompted.
"Yeah, Mom. Read it!" Souta brightened.
Kagome saw the fear on Inuyasha's face. A silent exchange between her betrothed and his mother-in-law was happening. The little square of paper was tucked into her mother's front pocket with care. The boy's shoulders dropped with relief. She gently shook her head.
"Keh. Next, then." Inuyasha moved away from her mother. The object in the bag was heavier than the others. Larger. The delicate little objects were moved away. Her hairpin and the fan. Her grandfather shifted a bit in excitement. The bag was removed from one end. A beautiful samurai sword rested on her family's normal wooden table. The ornamentation was exquisite. Grandpa leaned back in his chair. The katana had been created for a larger man. It was a carved blade with a gilded hilt.
"Awesome!" Souta cheered.
"It's not possessed like the Sō'unga. It won't give you any trouble. I made sure before I brought it here." Inuyasha shrugged. "An antique for your shrine. It's a decent blade. I hope it's a good replacement."
"How did you acquire this?" Grandpa seemed afraid to touch the seal. Kagome leaned closer to examine the brass metal. It wasn't an ornamental sword. It was the sword of a daimyo. A real blade to be wielded by a known samurai. She didn't immediately recognize the signs but her grandfather did.
"Kagome mentioned that jerk was somebody important."
"What is it, Papa?"
"That is the seal of Oda Nobunaga." Grandpa stated.
"You traveled to Owari?" Kagome turned on the hanyou.
"Oda Nobunaga?" Souta repeated.
"Do you know how much that sword is worth?" Grandpa was having a fit.
"Oda Nobunaga!" Kagome grasped hold of Inuyasha's haori.
"We met that idiot Nobunaga when we banished that stinking toad. You seemed impressed. Sango knew where the family lived." Inuyasha seemed a bit perplexed by their celebration.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome laughed and hugged him around the neck. Her grandfather was openly crying. Souta jumped up and down.
"What's the big deal?"
Trust Inuyasha to carry around a priceless artifact like it was nothing.
