Pilgrims arrived in the village to pay their respects at the shrine. Some were penitent and seeking forgiveness from their deeds in war. Others were men looking for salvation before their death. Several new families arrived looking for shelter. Inuyasha was put to task clearing more wood to raise new shelters for the homeless. Old Tadaaki came with a young wife and son; Kaede embraced the merchant with a wagon of goods. A distant cousin with connections, he made a sizable donation to the village. Inuyasha had no trouble with these humans.
A band of monks had descended upon the village to meet the famed priestesses of Musashi. When she had freely introduced him as her husband, not her pet demon, they had tried to free the possessed girl! Even after learning their lesson, they stared at him. The fools had even approached Sesshomaru! Idiots...but harmless. They had no qualms joining Kagome in prayer! They even had gifts for her new little sister.
The ceremony had been restricted to the girls but publicly announced on the shrine steps. Rin was still sitting on the grassy hillside in her brilliant purple kimono showing Sesshomaru her clever little music box after Kagome had shown her how to wind the gears with the lever to make the music. It was almost interesting enough to draw him closer. Kaede had presented her with a new pair of tabi and geta. Sango had crafted a pair of wooden kanzashi stained black to put her hair up.
"I never had any sisters. Are they different than brothers?" Rin asked innocently.
Inuyasha watched carefully when more visitors drew Kagome away. Everyone wanted his wife to bless their children or pray for their dead. Some even wanted her to heal them through faith. The incident with Hatsuo had traveled far. Even the bandits had certainly spread the tale of the celestial maiden in residence who did not wound, spreading blessings and wisdom through the village, the Bodhisattva. Some even thought her a spirit of Musubu-no-Kami because she had blessed baby Hisashi and was there ever born a sweeter, healthier baby boy? Young girls wanted her advice on picking a faithful husband! They all wanted an audience with Kagome-sama, not the Monk Miroku.
"Kagome may end up the local matchmaker if she is not careful," Kaede chuckled.
"Is there such a thing as a faith-healer?"
"If ever there existed one, perhaps Kagome has the gift. Sister Kikyo had the healing touch, t'is true, but her days were spent in strife defending the Shikon Jewel. It may be that Kikyo never achieved the peace Kagome knows, a peace which deepens her soul."
Sango giggled at her husband's despondency while he declined on the grassy hill. Everyone in the village knew he was married to the fearsome, beautiful slayer. His ego was hurt that none of the young girls cared to listen to the opinion of the handsome young monk! She sprinkled plucked grass on his forehead. It was a wonderful summer day. Miroku cheered when she reminded him that their baby was kicking. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at their lovebird attitudes, no matter Kagome's story.
"The seventh day of the seventh month is the luckiest day of the year! It is a day for people to unite." Kagome clasped her hands together dreamily. All of the young girls followed her lead. "One day every year, for all of time, the lovers are able to cross a bridge to be together! Tanabata was a celestial princess and her lover was Kengyu. But her father denied them! To curse them, he brought Kengyu to the stars and trapped him on the other side of the star bridge."
"He did?" The unmarried girls held their breaths.
"But their love is stronger than her father's hate! In one version, she cries the entire year to flood the Heavenly River with her tears to raise the bridge for only a single night. Isn't it romantic?" Kagome had her eyes closed. All of the girls were swooning over the idea of 'true love'!
"Kagome is a way better storyteller than Miroku!" The clay pot announced. Shippo gave up his transformation and popped onto the grass. "They love her because she is good and pretty and honest."
"Do you have true love with your husband, Kagome-sama?" Inuyasha froze. The girls giggled at him. They all fawned over Kagome's affirmative answer. The way she turned to gaze at him was too much. He mumbled some excuse to his friends before disappearing onto the nearest rooftop. Maybe it was their upcoming venture into her village or their friend's baby. Hell, Kagome had already bought the new baby too many things. She found him hiding in Kaede's hut.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome dropped by his side. The happiness in her deep blue eyes sucked him under their surface and left him speechless. The posse of little girls who followed her were loudly calling for their Princess. They waited silently until they passed. The love pouring from behind her eyes was overwhelming. Kagome seemed to understand. Her head ducked down to rest against his shoulder.
"It is almost time for the harvest. Even Sesshomaru is in a good mood. Don't pout."
The barrels were cleaned and ready for another year's rice. The men were almost ready to settle down for the winter. Their own storage was overflowing with goods and seeds and precious things saved by the old women. They had oil enough to last the winter but he knew Kagome would share. A visitor had even offered them his horse for her goodwill. Kaede was in good health. Their friends were deranged idiots obsessed about names for their baby. Shippo was doing well in his training. The village was enthralled to have Kagome no matter her husband.
"So this Tanabata is really romantic?"
"The festival is beautiful and colorful and wonderful! I cannot wait. My family hangs purses in the shop for visitors. We hang streamers in the limbs of the Goshinboku. It makes the tree look like its from another world. There are lanterns, costumes, food! So much food. We can play carnival games together – it's so much fun!" Kagome squirmed impatiently. "I usually go with my friends so they might come along. It would be nice to see them. Maybe we could get lunch together?"
Agreeing made her squeal but earned him grateful kisses. He checked before palming her hips. The girl giggled and slapped him playfully for being a pervert. After all of the arrangements to prepare the shrine and their home for Rin's ceremony he fucking missed her. Kagome seemed equally eager to touch him. Slender hands reached inside his coat to stroke his chest. Her breathing hitched.
"Home?"
"Too obvious. Here?"
"Disrespectful," Kagome shook her head. Forceful hands turned his jaw to access his neck. It took him a moment to order his thoughts. Fuck she's good at that. Inuyasha scooped the girl into his arms. He jumped before the humans could object. Kagome teased him while she sauntered up the wooden staircase. Her family was outside decorating the grounds. She jammed the bedroom doorknob with her chair. He chuckled while Kagome struggled to get free of her clothes; he caught her before she could trip on the long fabric of her hakama. "We don't have long."
The Goshinboku was filled with colorful streamers and cranes for good luck. The grounds were swept perfectly clean. Inuyasha helped the old man hang lanterns in the little shop's clean windows to advertise charms for love and loyalty and luck. Tanabata was lucky for lovers! Many young girls would be coming to the Higurashi Shrine to purchase the trinkets. The elderly would come to ask the kami to be reunited with their departed spouses in the afterlife. The shop ledger was brought out so Inuyasha could see how many sales the grandfather expected to make.
"The kids help me manage the shop before the festival but we let them go in the evening. I met my dear wife on Tanabata. Yes, indeed. So lovely. It was different in those days after the war when there was not much to celebrate."
"You fought in a war?"
"I walked right up to her and introduced myself. I said to myself, I cannot let her pass! I looked handsome in my uniform in those days. What do you think? Isn't she a beauty?" The old man brought out an ancient picture. The hue was black-and-white but the dark-haired girl with big eyes was attractive. He barely recognized the young man standing akimbo. It was obvious how much he adored her.
The Higurashi Shrine did receive visitors. Plenty of girls and shy men and couples came to offer prayers and tour the shop. Inuyasha was rather proud of his clever wife who approached the younger girls to recommend the proper charm. The beautiful miko was equally dazzling in her own era. Men seemed awe struck while she accepted their yen and wished them a wonderful day with her smile. A few lingered in the shop to stay in her company longer. Inuyasha was annoyed until blue eyes peered out the window to find him.
Kagome was relieved in the afternoon to change into a beautiful blue yukata with red obi. Inuyasha watched curiously from the doorway while Kagome smeared on one lipstick, removed it, then reapplied another color in the mirror. Sometimes she would even remove the same shade twice! Souta made a joke but he was fascinated. His wife used her smallest sponge to smudge the rouge on her cheeks into perfection. An ink stick shaded her eyes to make them enormous. So many little jars for one female! The strange little expressions made him laugh.
"Kagome!"
The three girls were all dressed in similar yukata. Inuyasha was propeller forward by the group to look at the pretty stalls. The streets were crowded. At least one of the girls would try to stop to browse and fall behind regularly. They made little jokes about their shepherd. It was exhausting. The best part of the ordeal was the food. All of them piled their resources together to sample a little of everything. Kagome made him carry her soda but he happily shared. He pulled Ayumi aside while the others were cooing at baby animals in a shop window.
"Yes, Inuyasha?"
"Can you help me with a gift?"
Ayumi clasped her hands together. Inuyasha kept an eye on his wife while the kindest girl of the group reviewed the jewelry on display. A simple bracelet woven from many soft threads passed female scrutiny. The vendor wrapped it in shiny silver paper.
"Present it to Kagome when we're all together...trust me," Ayume whispered. "Girls love receiving presents in front of other girls!"
Inuyasha emerged the victor from the strength competition to present Kagome with the plush toy she picked. As if he would let some other guy walk off with Kagome's nekoyoukai! She cradled the little orange-and-white cat against her chest while they switched streets to view the parade of balloons. Yuka asked his opinion about some other guy's behavior in a way he didn't understand. What did he know about flirting? Eri shared her cotton-candy. Kagome also paused to investigate the strange not-child standing outside a restaurant.
"Name is Momo," it repeated. Kagome accepted a sample from the Tofu Boy. The demon seemed happy enough offering food to humans. Her friends noticed nothing different about the employee in the street. Weird but harmless.
They gossiped about people at university. He waited while they took their time sampling different stains at a market stall. Camera photos were shared with Kagome to ask her opinion on different boys and their attributes. They told her about their classes, campuses and teachers. The way the friends simultaneously ignored him and included him was novel. The way they giggled in his direction unsettled him. Kagome fell back to link her arm through his elbow.
"They like you," she whispered.
Somehow Inuyasha became the guardian of multiple little wallets and clutches so the group could pose for pictures. He switched burdens with Eri so Kagome could have a couple's photograph with him. Kagome smiled happily at the flash.
"So sweet!"
"I wish I had a cute boyfriend," Ayumi sighed.
The streets were extremely colorful. Lanterns. Balloons. Stalls. Streamers. Costumes. Kagome's friends ducked into a store to shop but they agreed to meet later at the diner. In the chaos, it was easy to blend into the crowd. No one paid mind to them walking arm-in-arm. Plenty of other pairs wandered around in a blissful haze writing poetry or pushing paper into a massive Wishing Tree.
"Tanabata is known as the Star Festival or sometimes the Festival of the Loom. Many years ago, a cowherd prince fell in love with a weaver princess. His herd fell to shambles in his distraction! The Lord of the Heavens saw the mismanagement of his house and turned the lovers into opposing stars doomed never to meet." Performers on a stage acted out the tragedy with dramatic gestures and swirling ribbons against a starry backdrop. The mooing of a cow cutout made children laugh. Kagome gripped his elbow excitedly. "But their sorrow was infinite! The Lord could not undo his actions. Instead he amended their curse to permit the lovers a single night, what night?"
"Tanabata!" The children answered.
"So we wear beautiful kimono for the weaver and her cowherd as offerings of promise! The promise that love conquers all. I see many lovely kimono!" The actor dramatically hooded his eyes. Music gave a dramatic queue. "Should we let the lovers reunite?" The other performers reached for one another across a gap.
Inuyasha led Kagome to a quieter avenue with pink shrubs and colorful trees. She sat down by the little pond with her plush in hand to rest her feet. They watched another couple loitering under a grand oak whispering love words. Instead he simply took Kagome's hands. It was only a band of interwoven colors, soft to the touch. She offered her wrist for it but he could not maneuver the little silver hook-clasp with his claws.
"I hope we are never separated," she blushed.
Inuyasha squirmed when she cuddled under his arm. It was fun to watch the strange girl get mad at her boyfriend. Their fight made Kagome giggle with its silliness. What kind of idiot courts a girl AND her sister?
"Baka," he scoffed.
"There are Mirokus in every era," Kagome giggled.
The spike of energy interrupted their happiness. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's forgotten purse. It was easy to follow her through the park's bramble. Atop the tallest building in the area he waited for the wind to direct their battle. The insane amount of color and people in the streets made it impossible to identify a demon in the crowd. Inuyasha gave up. How many humans can occupy the same space?
"Do your meditation thing!"
Kagome huffed but she clapped her hands together.
Inuyasha followed her gaze when she pointed up. Playing between the dark clouds was a silver shadow, weaving between the clouds, creating a vortex of wind behind it. It wasn't easy to follow its massive shadow jumping between earthbound rooftops. The girl on his back guided him when the beast disappeared above the cloud layer. Like the Noh mask, the humans on the streets seemed impervious to its existence. The closer they followed the stronger its aura became. Kagome was practically holding her breath; he could feel her heart race against his back.
The silver streak crashed in a park beyond the festivities. Kagome jumped off his back without hesitation to kneel beside the yowling furry creature. It was some variation of nekomata but it was luminescent white with dark stripes. It was severely damaged. Claw marks had carved deep indentations on its back. His wife touched the demon's head larger than her own body with soft strokes.
"Who did this to you?" Brilliant blue eyes opened tiredly, blue suns against a night sky. Inuyasha noted the demon's enormous fangs poking over its maw. Kagome pushed him off when he tried to intercede. The cat paid him no mind.
"We are here. Can we help you? Oh, Inuyasha." Kagome's teary eyes pleaded with him. The cat purred sadly when she rested her cheek on its neck. Despite the size of the demon's paws, his wife showed no fear. The character on its forehead gleamed suspiciously. King of Beasts?
"Beware the August Star, Suzaku. The August Star," it rumbled. "In the year of one-and-twenty it shall strike. Crane and Genbu have already fallen."
"This August, Byakko-sama?"
"You know this cat?" Inuyasha uncrossed his arms. He kneeled down by the creature's head. The way its abdomen clenched and twitched was a familiar sign. The aerial attack had left this demon on the edge of death. Kagome tried to investigate the wounds but it snapped at her. The warning was heeded. The bubbling black mass burning in the wound tracks smelled like poison.
"If I die in this mortal plane, my stars will also fade. Will you purify this Byakko so that I may return to the West? There is not much time, little Suzaku. Only you can remove this tar from my wounds that prevent my ascent. I cannot be bound to the earth when Amaterasu rises."
"Of course." Kagome scooted away from his head. The blackness oozing from its back had the consistency of oil. Inuyasha stayed at the cat's head while Kagome assumed a meditative position. Reiki shone freely onto the Lord Tiger's flesh. The cat drew back his mouth to expose fangs the length of his forearm. Blackness stained the cat's teeth where it had struck at its foe. The putrescence sizzled under the power of Kagome's holy light. The tiger's fangs came dangerously close to his leg when his head turned in pain. Slowly but surely his girl purified the black ooze.
On its feet, the Byakko was impressive. It bowed its front legs in a graceful bow. Clouds billowed underneath its claws when it kicked off the grass with powerful hind legs. Kagome leaned into his side while they watched the spirit fly into the western sky. There was a white flash when he disappeared into the atmosphere.
"The Byakko is the celestial guardian of the Western skies and the autumnal season. I wonder what could have attacked him? Tanabata is the Festival of Stars. Maybe the bridge isn't just between the lovers? Can there be a bridge between Earth and Heaven?"
"You're asking the wrong person, wench."
The food cart was rather plain but the food was fresh. The stone wall gave their group a good vantage point to watch the festival. Kagome was having a wonderful time gossiping with her friends. They teased her mercilessly but she laughed. They were loud when Kagome reluctantly admitted that not every absence from school was due to an illness; their insinuations about what they were doing on school hours made his ears burn. They were still asking questions when her cell phone rang persistently. Kagome flipped it open and pressed it to her ear.
"Grandpa?"
Kagome pressed her finger to her unoccupied ear to discern the buzzing words. Inuyasha could not overhear the conversation over her friends. The little dimples around her nose deepened when she agreed to whatever question was asked. The sudden seriousness of her demeanor alarmed him. Her eyes cut to him when she snapped it closed.
"We have to go. Call you guys tomorrow?"
Inuyasha heard the story while they hustled through the streets but he didn't quite believe it. Kagome's grandfather was standing at the bottom of the Higurashi shrine steps. The scent was true. Worse, the scent lead down the steps into the busy streets of a city in riot. It was difficult to pick out the individual trail that would lead them to their distraught visitor. Kagome thanked her grandfather before they set off.
"How? I don't know how! The Well is on your family's land!"
Despite the strange looks, Inuyasha crouched on the ground to follow the scent. If only there weren't so many people! Kagome waved off a curious policeman who thought something had gone missing. They followed the scent to a shadowed corridor not too far from Kagome's school lined with trees. On a stone bench, a single person sat.
"Rin! Oh, Rin." Kagome kneeled down. The girl sobbed into Kagome's shoulder. On any other night, the ornate purple kimono might have looked out of place. The teenager cried and cried. Inuyasha sat on the bench with her. She tried her best to coax the story out between Rin's hiccups. Inuyasha stayed out of the conversation. It was difficult to interpret the day's events. Kagome cleaned her up and calmed her down. She sent him to buy sugary drinks and candy from a stand across the street. The promise of chocolate and soda seemed to help.
Kagome's mother seemed surprised but she opened the door. His 'cousin' Rin was invited to stay. The girl sank unhappily onto the couch while she focused on her soda. She seemed entirely exhausted. The guest bed was prepared with clean sheets of blue. Rin accepted a pair of freshly laundered but too-large pajamas for the night. Distress had soaked the cotton of her inner kimono. Kagome led her to the bathroom to clean up.
Inuyasha crossed through the Well. Sesshomaru was waiting in the moonlit field.
"Rin made it through to Kagome's family. The kid is safe. Is everyone alright here?"
"Indeed."
"I have to let Kaede know where she went. Kagome has invited her to stay for a few days. Did you see her go through? No one else has been able to all these years." Inuyasha paused on the trail. No matter how badly Shippo had wanted to see Kagome's world, the rules of the Well permitted it. Souta had been able to call him through the bottom to save his sister but had not made it through.
"If Rin desires to dwell there, so be it."
Inuyasha left his brother to brood alone. Kaede welcomed him with kind words. She plainly told him what she knew about Rin's sudden departure. More than one person had seen the unworldly light flare from the meadow. The children knew what the purple-pink flash meant, no matter how often he warned them about waiting out there unprotected. Sesshomaru had already warned her Rin was gone.
"Fuck," he sighed.
"Rin's young pride has been injured but she will heal. Kagome can guide her in the interim. Some time separate from the village might help her decide her future. It would certainly be better than waiting around this village for him to appear. Kagome tells me how many distractions exist in her realm."
Kagome was sitting at her bedroom desk pretending to study when he returned. He had already stopped to confirm Rin was deeply asleep. She swiveled in her chair when he stepped through. Empathy was bursting through her chest. Inuyasha joined her in the floor.
"Did you see him?"
"The bastard was waiting at the Well. I think he wanted to know she was safe."
"I think Sesshomaru does love her in his own way but she is only thirteen. How else could he have responded? Now she's heartbroken. We will just have to be extremely nice to our guest. Perhaps tomorrow we could plan a trip to distract her. I bet she would love the gardens! Since my friends are still in town, we could plan a girl's outing! It is exactly what she needs. We can go to the stylists and go shopping and talk about how annoying boys are!"
"Do what now?"
"I am glad she is here. I can be the big sister and help her. My friends have lots of stories about getting their hearts broken. It is practically a right of passage when you're thirteen! Do you think Sesshomaru still wants a relationship with her? It would devastate her to lose his friendship." Kagome fiddled with the hem of her skirt. "Mama can watch her while I'm at school. Maybe you could take her to the park? Some of my old things might fit her."
Inuyasha went downstairs to fetch Kagome a glass of water and check on their guest. The door was slightly ajar. Kagome's mother had plugged a small light into the wall so she would not be left in the dark. The teenage girl was firmly tangled in the dark blue sheets. No matter how she had slipped through the Well's defenses, she was here now. Inuyasha made sure the small window to his former room was firmly locked. As a guest from his world, he promised himself that he would protect her. This modern era was safe in many ways but Rin was still vulnerable.
Kagome woke bright and early to help Rin. The girls went upstairs. When they came down for breakfast, Rin smelled like soap. The girl joined him nervously at the wooden table. There was a crash when Souta came downstairs. Kagome introduced him to his 'cousin' Rin from the other world. There was not time for much conversation while Kagome poured fresh juice into their cups. Her grandfather politely welcomed the young girl and sent Souta to fetch the extra wooden chair.
Beautiful slices of thick toast were served covered in powdered sugar and butter with plentiful servings of berries. Big brown eyes swept between them until he took a bite. He showed her how to hold the weird metal implements. "French toast."
The prospect of seeing Kagome's magical world seemed to cheer Rin. Apparently Kagome's friends had already agreed to meet up that morning for 'girl-time'. Inuyasha didn't understand the magical process of 'makeover' but it seemed to distract the kid. They found an outfit in storage that Rin agreed to wear. Inuyasha waved from the top of the shrine steps when Rin looked back.
"So Rin is really from your world? That's so cool! How do you know her?" Souta became his second shadow. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at Kagome's mother when she served him another round of toast. She smiled. "Is she like you?"
"Rin's as human as they come. Pass the syrup?" The boy gave him the jug. More questions came to pester him about the girl. How old was she? Where did she live? Did she go to school? What did she like? Kagome's mother settled at the table to review the social section of the newspaper. He occasionally answered a few of the inquiries being made. Souta only paused when he learned Rin's parents were gone.
"I will be kind to her, Inuyasha. I promise!"
"Maybe Souta could take Rin to his school as his guest. No one would think twice about a visiting cousin. It might be nice to meet other children her age." Kagome's mother reached for the scissors to clip something. She frowned when he told her the kid was an orphan from a poor farming village; she was illiterate. The thought of attending Souta's class gave him anxiety! Souta dragged him upstairs to look through the wooden chest in his room that contained any number of toys. The kid's generosity impressed him. This whole family...none of them think twice about taking in a stranger. Souta is ready to share his possessions.
Kagome called the house to update them. They were still with her friends having lunch. Inuyasha took a long nap in the limbs of the Goshinboku. The previous night he had listened carefully for any sign that Rin was distraught. The rustle of paper bags awoke him. Kagome and Rin were both carrying shopping from the city. Color highlighted Kagome's lips when she came to kiss him. A sparkly blue butterfly clip decorated Rin's brown hair. She blushed when he remarked upon it.
"No, really. It looks nice."
Rin sat with him in the family room to have tea. He listened while she told him about Kagome's village and the magic lights and the metal demons in the street. He agreed – Kagome's friends were nosy but kind in their way. Inuyasha stayed silent while she talked about nothing. The pain in her eyes made him sad but confessing to Sesshomaru was ill-conceived. Humans considered her on the brink of adulthood but she was a developing child. The kid adored his brother for being her savior; some debt drew him to be her guardian. His brother was many things, but he had learned to honor women and children.
They looked through Kagome's picture books of cuddly animals and family albums and magazines that he deemed appropriate. Kagome swept downstairs to sit on the couch behind him with her brother's hoard of candy to share. Chocolates and sweets and salty chips potato were their sworn secret. Rin seemed to like the little doll figure that came from one wrapper. It moved and bent despite being no larger than her longest finger.
Inuyasha scratched his brow when Souta returned home from school with a bouquet bought from the street. Rin accepted the bright pink flowers. Kagome's kid brother abandoned his school pack in the middle of the hall floor to tell her about his friends. He invited her to his room to listen to music on the radio.
"Why don't you bring it downstairs, Souta? I wouldn't mind a bit of music." Kagome's mother smiled. She dried her hands on a towel.
A peaceful evening was spent fighting over board games, betting with candy, letting Rin play with the dials on the magic music box. It was only when he was left alone with her after the dishes were cleared that she sighed tiredly. Inuyasha kept his piece. From an earlier excursion he knew that Sesshomaru had returned to the village a second time but the sting of rejection was powerful. He could imagine the torrent of bad feelings she was carrying. From a young age, he had learned to stay away from human villages and demons alike. Nothing hurt worse than hoping.
"Just say the word if you can't sleep, yeah? It can be hard in a new place. Kagome taught me how to use the stove. I'll make something." Inuyasha shrugged against the doorway to her temporary quarters. Rin giggled. The image of him in the kitchen provided endless amusement to his friends. Kagome liked to tease him with her grandfather's ducky apron. I'm a demon not a cook!
"Goodnight, Inuyasha."
"Night, kid."
