"Inuyasha, Inuyasha!" Kagome dropped to the cold, hard ground. The thick, rich soil was so cold it made her bones ache. Arcs of power visibly hurt her husband. His dark hair alarmed her. His fingers curled in the soil.
"The half-demon?"
The two spirits displayed an inconsiderate disregard for Inuyasha's state. Kagome pushed down her answer while she returned his Robe. The forced transition into his mortal state rendered him extremely vulnerable to the weather – he did not even have shoes! She rubbed her hands together until healing reiki shone brightly. Inuyasha flinched when she touched him but his coloring improved.
The kagome on her chest burned. She pressed her palm against it when the mark rotated another quarter turn.
"Run, stupid." Inuyasha grimaced.
"As if I would abandon you! Oh," Kagome winced. The binding, burning sensation intensified. Inuyasha's human aura felt pale compared to his normal state. The two kami whispering ignored Inuyasha's withering glare.
"They're distracted. Get the fuck out of here."
"No!"
Sakuya opened her fan in a single elegant movement of her wrist. Kagome's heart dropped when her eyes narrowed. The dazzling, beautiful kami tilted her head while the wind deafened all else. It would not be long before another attack commenced.
"I'm the husband. Do what I say!"
"Excuse me, dog boy?"
"You heard me. Go home!" Kagome would have yelled back if not for pain. Searing agony disconnected her from her body. She rocked back on her knees while the protective mark turned! Glowing symbols appeared between the points.
"Little sparrow, this will not do." Female hands covered her shoulders. The pain subsided to a tolerable level. The dark-haired spirit had her hair pinned above her ears. Several layers of kimono rustled against the ground. Kagome leaned back against her chest. The comfort of her touch made her feel safe. "Your spirit yearns to balance with your husband; it is breaking through the father's mark."
"Can you help her or not?" Inuyasha snarled.
"Only you have the power to rescind the magic. You possess the Sight," Uzume continued. Her gold earrings swung delicately with her movement. "You and your prince are bound. The Weaver hath made it so!"
"Weaver?"
"Renounce your family name. It is written into the kagome. 'A blessing is granted to the bearer of this mark, this heir of Higurashi.' Your spirit will be free."
"But Inuyasha doesn't know his family name!"
"Sakuya has tested your husband's blood. We know his house. Are you willing?"
Grandpa had procured an identity for Inuyasha to register their marriage. The family name on the paperwork was false but it didn't matter to her. Mama had suggested off-hand making Inuyasha a Higurashi but since they would be living in the Feudal Era she had forgotten. Inuyasha blinked wildly; he seemed equally confounded. Inuyasha who had lost both parents at a young age. Inuyasha who did not know his father's name!
"Yes, I'll do it! What do I say?"
"Kagome, wait - are you sure?"
"To the house of my husband I pledge, that I should honor him all my days." Kagome repeated the softly spoken words. The protective mark on her skin rippled. Another quarter turn mystified her. Inuyasha looked ready to protest but she took his hands. "In the night or the dawn let my name be - "
"Kagome?" Her nervous husband squeezed. She stayed silent while she judged the sound in her head. It didn't ring a bell from her History class. For one last moment she cherished her family name, Higurashi! There would be paperwork to change her name at school. When Inuyasha's nose wrinkled in preparation to yell, she let it go. It was a small inheritance but it was his family name!
"Takahashi." The kagome turned. Reiki traced the lines in an ordained fashion until it was complete. In one moment the mark existed; the next it blinked out of existence. Its disappearance left her tired but strangely exhilarated. Space expanded in her chest until she felt faint. The aura of the Dawn burned like a golden halo. The red force of the volcano goddess clashed with the tempest of the First. The human boy squeezing her palms grounded her in the whirling mixture; she left the bosom of Uzume to hug him fully. The solid muscle under her cheek calmed her sadness.
"Kagome?"
"I've known you all my life. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved you. My father knew it; it scared him. A half-demon spirit pinned to the Goshinboku on our family grounds! There was an old scroll in the family records about the terrible dog demon who killed a priestess – he warned me. Still I would play under the tree every day hoping to see my sleeping prince. I almost woke you up, once."
"As a child?"
"Grandpa helped him install the shimenawa around the trunk, the one that doesn't exist in the Feudal Era! I begged them not to! Mama didn't understand why I was heartbroken. The next time I saw a demon was on my fifteenth birthday. Souta lost Buyo in the Wellhouse and I went inside to save him. Mistress Centipede broke through the seal on the Well and dragged me down!" The child in her heart cried in sorrow at the years lost. Hosting tea parties with Eri, Ayumi and Yuka without remembering her true love. A tingling sensation drew attention to her little finger. The red string tied around her skin flashed when she turned her hand. Inuyasha didn't react when the thin string around his thumb constricted.
"So the bastard had enough sense to keep you safe."
"In lover's dawn and lover's end, the promise will bring them back again. To find them once is the price renewed, the final vow is fate ensued!" Uzume recited. Kagome did not recognize the verse but the goddess beamed. Inuyasha's arms tightened around her. It was not a spell – only a poem.
"When we get home, I want to look at that shimenawa. If it's dangerous to youkai, I don't want it standing. I bet there's a ladder in the shed!" Many nights Inuyasha had slept on the roof but he loved the serenity of the Goshinboku. The last thing she wanted was another curse hurting her husband. Our children will have youkai heritage. Dad meant well but he couldn't see the future. What if they want to play in the tree and it zaps them?
A ball of sakura blossoms exploded in Inuyasha's face. He spit petals off his lips. The volcano goddess palmed another handful of pink fragrance while she prepared to attack again. The petals had adhered to his hair and shoulders. The next dissolved against her defensive forearm into a small hill.
"Hey!"
"Many blessings be upon you." The goddess pouted.
"Come now, no sense in being petty. A wish for the little princess!"
Kagome laughed when another avalanche of flowers blinded them. She swore she saw the goddess smirk. Awash in a sea of petals it was difficult to stand but Kagome managed. Inuyasha shook them loose from his hair but they were entangled.
"Sakura blossoms are a symbol of renewal, beauty and strength. They're lucky!" The boy choked and spewed while he shook the blossoms loose in dog fashion. She took a handful to press to her nose. The understated clean scent eased her soul. When she lifted her face a youthful face filled her vision. As pale and beautiful as the flowers she was named for, Konohanasakuya-hime studied her. When a stiff fan pushed underneath her chin she acquiesced. It was difficult to hold her neck straight with the weapon so closely. The delicate, wooden fan was enameled with golden characters; its aura was incredibly dense. It was doubtful that a normal human would even be able to lift the creation.
"I rather like your pendant."
"T-this?" Sakua touched her gift. The koi fish came to life in the resin. Together they swam around the tree in shadow. The blossoms fell from the tree until she could not see the matching pair swimming in their cycle. Kagome's eyes fluttered as a flash of heat washed over her skin. Although Mount Fuji had not erupted in several lifetimes as a mountain in stasis, she felt its potential. Lava would be pulled from under the earth to destroy what was, to provide the foundations for new life. Death and live and its inevitable cycle.
"Pure is impure, impure is pure / Good is bad, bad is good / Living is dying, dying is living..."
"A half-demon Takahashi and a reincarnated princess bound in marriage? The girl's soul is enormous. How can he hope to balance with her?" The First mused.
"He is the survival of his house. She is its restoration!"
The remnants of a palace blazed in the middle of winter. The flame burned so high that even the surrounding snow turned pink in its light despite the black orb blocking the light of the full moon. The bodies of soldiers scattered on the grounds only darkened the pink snow. Kagome moved towards the woman whose face was covered. The infant crying in her arms was hidden by its bindings. When she turned her head, a single tear rolled down her cheek.A beautiful face even in its sadness. Kagome reached out but the woman ran past her. They continued until the woman lost her strength and collapsed between the great roots of a tree which blocked the wind. She whispered to the crying baby. In the darkness they were almost invisible in shadow. The forest was eerily silent compared to the cracking and breaking wood of the castle grounds.
It is too cold! She doesn't even have shoes!
A fox darted across the snow. The creature froze when it saw the woman dying at the base of the tree. It chattered nervously as it circled. The woman was quickly slipping into a frozen sleep. Kagome tried to shoo the carnivore but it paid her no mind. The cries of the baby were replaced by weaker sounds. There was a flare of light when the fox changed shape; its limbs and back elongated from its crouched position. A female kitsune with sable hair checked the mother's pulse. She maneuvered the baby's wrappings to expose its face.
Inuyasha!
"Beginnings to beginnings, ends to ends." Sakuya released her.
"That was real?"
"There are many threads woven round you and your husband. The Weaver spins her plans to resolve her matches but few regard the fate of a mortal over centuries! The burden of your calling is not to be underestimated. Mind the training of your teacher carefully; you will be a leader of your people."
"A leader?"
"A miko is the gods' mouthpiece of healing and wisdom. Build up the glory of your shrine. The prosperity of those who dwell within the borders of Inuyasha's forest will invite others. Strength and prosperity invite trouble but you are well suited for battle." The goddess turned her hand and her fan glowed. Kagome extended her arms to catch the newly formed cloth - heavier than most. It was white with lovely flowers in dark thread as decoration. "Wife and shrine maiden, child and woman, warrior and healer. You should have attire to fit your status."
"Thank you, Sakuya-hime!"
"The fabric will not tear or be worn down by ordinary circumstances."
Kagome hugged the fabric to her face. It was soft as a kitten's belly yet carried the scent of blossoms. She went to show Inuyasha her gift. He also stroked the fabric and agreed. Her kimono would have to be cut and sewn and measured from the bolt but she could design her daily wear. If she wore it with the traditional red hakama of a shrine maiden it would be serviceable for the making of medicine and tending her patients. She ignored his snide comments about her sewing skills. Plenty of other women in the village could teach her to sew and make clothing. It wasn't as if Inuyasha were a great seamstress either!
"Why would I be? You're the girl!"
"Men can sew too! There's no law that says the wife has to fix all the clothing. Don't be so stubborn."
"Girls mend the family clothing. Everyone knows that. Can't your mother teach you?" Their squabble was contentious. She pinched his arm in punishment but her human husband barely responded. When he also insulted her cooking, she stomped her foot. If he didn't like her cooking he could find his own food; she would share hers with the birds first!
"Are their squabbles always so loud?"
"Have they eaten? I hear humans can be quite surly when hungry. Something about a weakness of the blood."
"You have a screw loose if you think I am going to stay at home, barefoot and pregnant, mending your tabi, you...you!" Kagome poked his chest poignantly.
"I don't wear tabi!"
They gathered together to watch the priestess chase her husband while he yelled. The boy seemed to have altogether missed the point of their argument. To amuse themselves, they investigated the contents of their mortal pack. Their journey down the mountain would not suffer them to hunger. The First conjured a gift from the cold winds that would surely please the young girl? The lovers continued to express their relief in the familiar way. Packed and wrapped and stored at the bottom it went. Inuyasha yelped when Kagome pinned him to the ground and insisted he apologize.
"The last son...really?"
"Neither death nor time could not stop her soul from finding him."
"But the girl does not know what she is. Will that not place her in danger?"
"Generations of warrior priests were bound to invite interest from Heaven. Her father may not have known her destiny but he sensed her power. A child born with a soul large enough to host the Jewel of Four Souls uncorrupted! A shrine maiden whose power will grow in marriage to a lost son."
"Oi! What does being barefoot have to do with it? Plenty of the villagers go without shoes in the summer! Hey - no biting!"
Through the pane glass, the green countryside passed in a blur. The falling sun in the distance touched the edge of the skyline. Inuyasha let the seat support his head while he waited for the onset of the evening. Descending the mountain as a human had been vastly more difficult than ascending. As the orange edge of the sun's rays faded into the oncoming storm, he closed his eyes. The familiar pulse from within his body brought power and information. At least those bastards didn't lie. It was only temporary.
Kagome was soundly asleep on his shoulder. He was careful not to snag his claws on the decoration when he prevented her purse from tumbling out of her lap. The tired girl nuzzled closer. Exhausted from the descent from the mountain, the rush to the hotel, mailing their luggage and hailing a cab to the nearest commuter station were enough to tire any human! It was lesser in his normal state but the temptation to sleep was heavy. He pulled the floppy hat out of her purse and forced it over his ears. It irritated him when the sensitive hairs flicked the inside lining but his family had deeply impressed on him the need for secrecy.
"Water, sir?" A uniformed girl offered.
Kagome's era was interesting with its contraptions but he was eager to return home. The Higurashi Shrine with its simple house and adherence to the 'old ways' put him at ease. Kagome's family would greet them with easy food and drink and a safe bed. Souta would pounce on them for his gift. Too bad – it's with the luggage, runt. You'll just have to wait. Retreating to his wife's childhood bedroom might be awkward even if Higurashi thought they were long-time lovers. He grumbled but the cold water cleared his worries. We're going home. Home!
A safe place to sleep. A warm fire. Kagome!
Humans retreated to their homes at the end of each day when the sunlight faded. Families gathered together for a shared meal. Kaede's fire had beckoned them many times to share stories of their adventures. Miroku could spin a simple demon slaying into a full-blown epic. Shippo would listen with wide-eyes until he recognized the story then scoff about his own part. No doubt their friends would insist to hear about their wedding trip. Kagome had to get the pictures 'enveloped' for transport so they would not be ready immediately. Her dark head shifted and she mumbled something about cake. He found the camera inside her purse. The little panel clicked.
I can carry Kagome's image in my wallet – like a cameo between lovers.
The purse also contained a granola bar which he ate. Curiosity drew him to open her little pocketbook. Beyond the money organized and tucked neatly into its slot there were her plastic cards. She had tried to explain the concept of offering one to the beeping machine in exchange for currency but he could not conceive such a demon. Her nursing school card made him smile. It might not be the education she aspired to but it was a start. The picture of her seemed happy enough. In exchange for the school card he picked out her main form of identification used to buy the train tickets.
Takahashi Kagome.
It had thrown her for a loop to see her name changed on her travel papers. The spirits on the mountain had made no mention of that! The contents of Kagome's purse had always seemed magical in nature; they never traveled in her world without it. To see his apparent family name attached to hers only confirmed his suspicions.
I am bringing home a wife. We are going home.
Inuyasha adjusted Kagome's posture to sleep against the seat; the purse took his place. The sign at the back of the train clearly marked the toilet. He rotated his shoulder as he passed another couple consumed with a new-fashioned listening device. A distance voice recited a story from a black box. The toilet was different than those in the buildings. He kicked the door closed while he considered the white bowl. The lever's depression forced the contents to flush away.
Bamboo piping. If he could get his hands on some good reeds, he could learn how to bring water to the house. He had a brief fantasy about an ofuro filling with water in its own room with the swing of a handle! Naked, happy Kagome wrapped only in a fuzzy towel rewarding him with freshly made ramen in the main room.
What more could a man want?
Inuyasha roused Kagome when the overhead voice called for the same station listed on the tickets. He grabbed their luggage from the overhead bin in back. The tunnels confused him but his modern wife led him down the right path. The familiarity of the buildings and signs set him at ease somehow.
"Tokyo! We're home. Are you hungry? I'm starving!"
"I thought your mother was making us a family dinner. Will she be expecting us?"
"We're a day early. Ooh, noodles!" Abandoned on the street, he sighed before entering the restaurant. Other evening patrons were ordering quick dinners before returning to university studies or professional careers. Kagome pointed out the differences in their attire. The luggage filled the seat on his side while the trays were delivered. Simple bowls of noodles and vegetables sent steam rising into the air. Neither of them had much energy for conversation but he shared his water when she finished hers too early. The busyness of the staff slowed the delivery of a new beverage.
Kagome ran up the steps of the Higurashi Shrine. She waved hello to her grandfather sweeping the path before bursting inside. Inuyasha paused to nod respectfully to the old man.
"You're back early. Is everything well?"
"Oh, y-yeah. The honeymoon was nice but we missed home. You need a hand?"
"The doctor says exercise is good for the knees. Run inside and put those bags away. Ask the women to get some tea ready, will you?" The grandfather began to sweep idly. "I want to hear all about Matsumoto. The news reported a quake!"
Inuyasha stepped forward before his conscious bugged him.
"Eh, um – thanks for the wallet. You were right. A man needs his own money and papers in this world."
"At least someone appreciates my gifts! Say – how would you like a monkey skull that once belonged to a famous priest? It is a one-of-a-kind blessed artifact!"
"Maybe later." Inuyasha nodded. The old man returned the gesture. The gentle sounds of brush-brush-brush followed him to the door. The lack of falsity to the exchange made him smile. Kagome and her mother were already bustling together in the kitchen when he dropped the bags. The little hallway with its smells and shoes gathered by the door felt good. He took a moment to examine the scattering of family pictures on the wall.
Kagome's right – where is her old man?
"Inuyasha. How good to see you. Tea is on. Would you like something to eat? Biscuits or cookies?" Higurashi was already looking through her cupboards. When he reassured her that he was satisfied, she stopped to look at him. Her smile made him feel like a child.
"Come sit! Why are you standing like a stranger? Have you energy for tea?" Higurashi stood behind an offered chair. He sank onto the wood. His wife giggled at him behind her hands. The mother pushed aside a newspaper to let three cups clink onto the table. A tray of candy-coated bread sticks was offered. Inuyasha chewed on one experimentally while Kagome chatted casually with her mother. Yes, they were having steak for tomorrow's dinner. The course schedule for her school had been sent in the post. Kagome poured over the attached list of books required for her first semester while making notes about price in the margins. Her mother assured her that there was enough.
"You should have more than enough. We should take the envelopes to the bank. I have been nervous having that much money in the house! Imagine if a burglar broke in," Higurashi sighed. She took a bread stick from the center. "Inuyasha can escort you tomorrow. They should process in ample time to buy your course work." A little notepad was supplied to her daughter; blue eyes widened. "To think that you doubted us! Grandpa has many wonderful friends. He has been bragging about his new son-in-law to the neighbors you know. The Suzuki family had a wedding a year ago, Inuyasha. The poor boy has no prospects in his field. Terrible grades."
"Not like Kagome!"
"No one is like Kagome." Their shared pride was ignored by Kagome. Higurashi lifted her cup with both hands. The little scratches on the notepad were beginning to fill the page while she calculated and estimated and considered. The pencil's sharp end snapped.
"I think it's enough money to get through school!"
Plans were immediately made for Kagome to purchase her schoolbooks to start studying early! When she described scrubs, Inuyasha assumed she meant cleaning. Higurashi showed him a catalog picture of the odd shirts and bottoms she would have to wear. The available courses excited her the more she described them: Geriatric Care, Mental Health Care, Maternity, Pediatrics, Infection Control, Disaster Nursing, Critical Care!
"As long as you have dinner for a family dinner now and then," Higurashi smiled.
"What if I could plan a clinical with Ayumi's mother! She's a doctor. I bet she would," Kagome mumbled. "She used to let me play with her stethoscope when we were little. We listened to the hearts of all the toys and their dog. Sometimes the nursing clinicals are very competitive; the registration assistant warned me. There are only so many positions per semester per office."
Inuyasha followed Kagome up the stairs while the girl continued mumbling to herself about school. Higurashi bid them good night before returning to the kitchen. The cases he set by the door. Kagome dropped into the chair at her desk to continue work on her papers. Yellow, green, pink – each colored paper had a meaning. Schedules. Maps. Course descriptions. It was overwhelming to him. Emotion coiled in his stomach about her lack of a desk in their home. She was going to need it!
When Kagome finally threw down her pen and turned, he was worried.
"What?"
"We can go back tomorrow, can't we? I have to check on the village. Will we have time for all those errands?"
"The bank should be quick. I cannot buy my books until I have the money. We can wake up early, get to the bank, then go home to start on the house! Mama wants to have a family dinner but that shouldn't be until late. Souta is sleeping over with his friend." Kagome spun her chair to face him. He was about to respond when a sharp pair of claws caught the back of his ankles. A fat, arrogant house cat pulled himself from under the bed.
"Buyo!"
"That hurt!" As Kagome cuddled her pet, his vengeance faded. The purring ball of food rubbed its face against her shoulder lovingly. Little sounds of love accompanied each stroke. It really did seem like the old feline had missed her.
"Don't be mean to Inuyasha." She booped his nose. The cat meowed. Eventually his sassy behind waddled out the open door to perch on the top stair. His tail swayed to warn the dog occupying his bedroom.
"We also have to pick up the luggage!"
Within a few movements of the long hand on the clock, Kagome was ready for bed. Her breath smelled of mint when she climbed into the sheets yammering nervously about their early day. They had to retrieve the presents for everyone before they jumped through the Well, her mother's art book and her brother's book on karate history and her grandfather's antique pocket watch. There was a half-considered plan to prepare boxes of food for all their friends but he convinced her otherwise. Another day would suffice after they were settled. Kaede would insist they call to have tea to discuss Kagome's schedule and their integration into the village life. The house was built but their belongings were stored in brown paper boxes! The futon might need airing, Inuyasha.
"The dusting," she mumbled in the dark.
"We'll get it done." Inuyasha patted her hip through the covering.
"We could have a cat."
"Not if you want chickens."
"We should take a box of food to the house. There is no food! We'll starve."
"Keh, no we won't. They promised us some of last year's crop. I can hunt. Miroku overcharges every village for his services. The last job we brought home two barrels of rice grains. It was heavy as shit! I had to carry them both while he whined about the weather." Giggles. There was silence but he could practically hear her attempting to find another issue. His claws delicately attacked her ribs. There were a few minutes of playful battle while he tried to tickle her to sleep.
"Your eyes see in the dark – not fair!"
"Should have thought of that before you married me."
Inuyasha held her still when he heard the stairs creak. Kagome's mother wished Buyo a good night. They both held their breath while waiting for her door to close with a soft click. Her grandfather followed several minutes later, interrupting Kagome from her sneak attack on his ears. Thumb and finger played with his ear mercilessly while the old man brushed his teeth. As soon as the distant door closed he pinned Kagome's wrist to her chest. The stubborn wench stuck her tongue out!
"Do you talk to your mom about spirits? The things you see?"
"Eh? I don't know if she can really understand. People in this era have no concept of real spirits."
"Souta talks about Mistress Centipede and the Noh mask. Your grandfather knew enough to protect himself with a sutra against that thing. Your dad saw things. Why doesn't your mom? She was face-to-face with one at that festival."
"We should look at the tree tomorrow. If Dad did something to my memory, maybe it affected hers? Kaede or Miroku might have heard of a spell."
Inuyasha rested his head on his palm while Kagome settled beside him. The girl stole his unused pillow and hugged hers close. The peaceful quiet of the house helped him rest. He could hear the gentle buzz of the ice box in the kitchen. The leaves outside rustled as a particularly strong wind pushed across the land. Buyo left his warm spot on the stairs to sit on the rug to push the unlatched door open. The bossy old male yawned wide. Inuyasha was trapped by Kagome's weight or he would have discouraged the pet from joining them. His eyes drifted closed while he kneaded the girl's hip. The cat's scent expressed made him frown.
"Oi - get your own human."
Buyo blinked his eyes at him slowly while his paws kneaded furiously with a very clear: my human. The cat claimed his spot against Kagome's soft, warm belly. Claws continued to knead reflexively while he purred. The girl's hands drifted downwards to touch his ear.
Not funny, wench.
