Kagome wrote to Sesshoumaru at the end of winter. It was now autumn again, and he never responded. That didn't mean he never wrote, just not to her. Rin would sometimes receive two letters a month from her demon lord, and Kagome couldn't help but feel slightly jealous.
Taking a break from gathering eggs, Kagome tried to recall how long it had been now since Sesshoumaru left. Was it two years ago or three? The priestess sighed as she shooed away Momo and plucked her vibrant pink eggs from her nest.
"Mama, are you okay?" Rin leaned against the chicken coop gate, looking concerned as she watched her mother figure collect eggs.
"I'm fine Rin. Why don't you take these eggs inside so we can boil them?" Kagome handed a basket full of colorful eggs to the young teen. A few demon chickens had decided to nap in the most inconvenient spots, blocking her path. They reminded her of her cat Buyo, who was super lazy and refused to move, so Kagome would have to pick them up. Moving the last chicken, Midori, was difficult because she was heavy. The green chicken was the size of a small child and by far the most stubborn.
"Damn, Midori, time to go on a diet!" A side eye from the demon chicken as she relocated her said otherwise.
After a successful escape, Kagome took off her worn gloves and headed towards the hut when she saw Masaru breaking past the tree line carrying a large boar carcass, skinned and ready to be smoked. Smiling at the realization they would all be having a bountiful dinner, the priestess waved to the lieutenant and started to make her way to him. Her smile soon fell when she saw him freeze in place and look to his left.
From the far end of the clearing, a tall figure emerged from the forest's shadows. His aura was hidden, so Kagome never sensed his approach. Looking back to Masaru to gauge the level of the threat, she was surprised to see him smiling as he sat the boar down and ran toward the stranger.
"Father! What are you doing here?!" Stopping and bowing low to his father, he quickly stood back up when he felt a warm hand on his head.
"I am on my way back East with new troops and thought I'd surprise my son with a visit." The taller demon smiled at his son as his hazel eyes softened. "Lord Sesshoumaru informed me of your posting some time ago."
Masaru could hardly contain his excitement at seeing his father. He had prepared himself to not see any of his family again for some time, so this was indeed a wonderful surprise. He watched as his Father looked past him to the priestess awkwardly standing in a defensive position like she was unsure if she should attack the strange man near her home.
"Come, I'll introduce you to Lord Sesshoumaru's pack." Retrieving the swine once more, the two males headed to the hut.
Kagome heard her guardian call the new male 'Father,' so she decided he must be safe. It wasn't often they got to entertain guests, so she headed inside to alert Rin and prepare tea.
Removing their boots, the two blonde males stepped inside the small hut as the women finished setting the table.
"Lady Kagome, Lady Rin, this is my father, General Katsu Sakai and Military Advisor to Lord Sesshoumaru!" The pride the young demon felt for his father was evident in the way he spoke.
"Father, this is Lady Kagome, the Shikon Priestess and Destroyer of Naraku." The title never ceased to make Kagome blush. "And this is Lady Rin, Lord Sesshoumaru's ward and adopted daughter." Rin beamed up at the newcomer.
Katsu took his time taking in the two human women. The young ward was no longer the small child he remembered and had grown much since he last saw her. She had become a fine young lady and would do well with the males at court. Letting his hazel eyes slide over to the older female, he couldn't stop the grin from his lips. The woman was small, but he sensed the immense power radiating off her like a lightning rod. A thick fur-lined navy-colored robe covered her body, making her blue eyes stand out even more. Under it, he could tell she was full-figured and healthy, a drastic difference from the demonesses at court, who were all stick thin and caked in makeup. Katsu could see why his lord liked her, but he would still have to put her through the test.
"My, what beautiful woman you find yourself surrounded by Masaru. It's a wonder you get anything done around here." He gave his son a firm slap on the back and laughed as his face turned red from embarrassment.
"Welcome to our home, General; please make yourself comfortable! Can I take your cloak?" The priestess ignored the larger demon's remarks and stepped into the role of hostess. Reaching for the offered garb, Kagome took in his features. The General was nearly as tall as Sesshoumaru, and without his black fur cloak, she could see how broad his shoulders were. His face was masculine and handsome, with a hint of mischief behind his hazel-colored eyes. Like his son, he had golden blonde hair that was neatly pulled back into a high bun. Masaru's hair would soon be long enough to pull back, and she suspected he would be sporting the same look as his father once it did.
While Kagome hung up the heavy cloak, Rin wasted no time asking how Lord Sesshoumaru was doing and if he would return soon. The afternoon was spent with Katsu, giving them all updates on the coming war and the occasional embarrassing story from Masaru's youth. Overhearing Rin's stomach rumble, the priestess announced she would start preparing the boar for the evening meal.
"Just a moment, priestess; I want to speak with you privately. Do you think my son can handle getting the meal ready?" Kagome was shocked at Katsu's request to speak with her, but she was in no position to decline.
"Of course. Rin, will you help him find what he needs?" The teen was happy to help, and soon, a demon and priestess were walking outside.
While Katsu donned his heavy black cloak again, Kagome opted for a lighter white one lined with a wolf pelt. Sensing the need not to be overheard, she led them behind the hut toward the stream. Neither spoke for some time, and the silence made Kagome uncomfortable. She breathed in relief when the demon broke the tension first.
"I wanted to speak to you regarding Lord Sesshoumaru." The statement caused her to stop and look at him in shock. He continued, not waiting for her to catch up. "He thinks highly of you, Shikon Priestess, and your words hold a great influence over him- more so than mine."
Okay, Kagome thought, what was he getting at?
Once they reached a small clearing near the water, Katsu stopped and looked at her fully. "He was not… pleased after receiving your last correspondence and has been taking his ire out on his troops. I have never seen him react so strongly towards anything not combat-related."
Still unsure how to respond, Kagome said, "It wasn't my intention to upset Sesshoumaru. The whole point of the letter was to tell him how his actions were confusing and misleading. How did I mess it up even more!?" The more she spoke, the more upset she became.
"Well, to be honest, I don't even think he knows what he wants from this," he eyed her up and down. "Situation."
The look he gave her only turned her worry into anger. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Seeing her holy power begin to sizzle across her skin made Katsu grin inside; it was time to move to the next step.
Slowly, the General began to circle the priestess, "I'm sure you are aware of what happened to Lord Sesshoumaru's late father, Lord Toga?" She gave a stiff nod while glaring at him. "I met the princess once, wishing to see what she offered the Great General Toga that would cause him to throw away his honor and bring the downfall to his House." Stopping behind Kagome, he leaned over, nearly brushing her ear with his lips. "I was disappointed in what I found."
The priestess whipped around to face the demon, but he had already moved away and prowled around her again like a predator. "I failed Lord Toga that day. My test to see if this human princess was worthy showed how weak she was. When faced with my blade, she chose to fall to my feet and beg for her life." Standing in front of Kagome again, he removed his cloak, "Today, I will not make that same mistake, Shikon Priestess. I will not fail Lord Sesshoumaru."
Before his final words could sink in, Katsu lunged towards Kagome, his intent clear in his eyes. If she proved to be as weak as Inuyasha's mother had been, she would die.