KAWAAKARI

"The river that glows amidst the darkness"

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Part I

Chapter VI

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The last curl of Kagome's hair was being settled by her mother, falling forward on her shoulder. She observed the picture in front of her, on the mirror she kept in her room, and felt happy and in disbelief before it. The dark-blue dress, with hints of green, was a stark contrast against her clear skin, with a square neck-cut, starting right on her shoulder line, and that wasn't able to hide her chest's swell, subtly peering above the brocade line. The necklace was of a fine fitting, and of the same color as the dress, creating a beautiful detail on her neck. Kagome had worn western styled dresses before, yet it was the first time she had seen herself as a woman. That idea left a thought in her, that made her cheeks grow hot; she wished InuYasha Taisho to see her that way, tonight.

Would he go? Would he keep his word? The flush on her features became more intense, her gaze lowering to a detail in her dress; a gray, pearled cloth peering underneath her blue, long skirt; but it was an excuse, a way to hide her flush from her mother.

"I don't really understand this new fashion that much; nevertheless, I believe you look beautiful." She heard her say, then lifted her gaze to find one just like hers, chestnut brown, yet filled with experience and wisdom.

"Thank you, okāsan," she smiled, referring to her mother, charging those three words with all the tenderness she had for her.

Since Kagome's father died, her mother had been the one to keep her family together, dignified and with a halo of joy, something that isn't easy, most of the time, after the death of the family head. Kagome's brother, Souta, would be the one to inherit the Higurashi name, yet he was still too young, and even though her grandfather did well the job of head of the family when practical things were related, it was her mother who organized their life. Before that sole fact, Kagome had a profound admiration for her; it wasn't easy to be a capable woman in a world of men.

"You need to wear this." Her mother was holding a shawl made of silk, and of the same blue color as her dress; it was delicately decorated with a chain of cherry blossoms, which represented the ephemeral beauty of life. These blossoms were of the same blue, and were visible thanks to the brocade they were made of, at the moment of sewing the cloth.

Kagome nodded, and the woman settled gently the shawl over the shoulders of her daughter, in away that sheltered her back, and part of her chest, from the cold and the gazes of those she would encounter on the way to the Taijiya's.

Kagome descended the few steps leading down the temple, to the jinrikisha's entryway carefully. Her mother and Hanae, a woman that had been working for the house almost since Souta's birth, helped her. At the start of that exit, that led to the other large stairs, also used as a regular path to reach the temple; Haruka, Hanae's husband and also a worker for the family, waited for her. The jinrikisha, made for two people, had some small steps at one side, which Kagome climbed with the same care she had made her way there. The dress she was wearing today was far more intricate than anything she had worn before, hindering the fluidity of her movements. Once she managed to sit down, her mother handed her a small purse, made from the same pearled gray cloth of her dress, where Kagome had stored a couple of things that she may need.

Kagome took a deep breath without much pose, hoping that the anxiety settling inside her stomach were to recede slightly.

"Haruka will take you there, and wait for you," her mother told her, and Kagome felt startled.

"No, don't please; I can't do that to Haruka-san," she asked, her gaze darting from her mother, to the man, "he can come for me a bit before midnight," she ventured, upon noticing her mother's silence.

The man, in his forties, nodded with a soft reverence before starting down the cobblestone road, which allowed him to descend with steady ease.

Kagome's gaze went skywards then, taking in the orange tone still remaining on the horizon. She wondered if InuYasha Taisho was already at the house of the Taijiya, recalling the intense golden of his eyes, and the dreams she had of him. She felt breathless, and brought a hand to her stomach as she pondered if that feeling were her emotions, or the corset, too tight around her waist.

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InuYasha had been standing a long while there, in front of the entrance to his brother, Sesshomaru's residence. The structure resembled a Torii gate, more out of arrogance than faith; for he knew the place was far from being a Temple. A grim sensation would settle inside him every time he was near it, bringing him too many bitter memories to his mind. His brow furrowed slightly before that thought, and like many times before, he threw aside any shred of emotion provoked by it, lifting his chin almost imperceptibly as he readied himself to cross the door, and walk through the long halls of that palace.

Upon taking but one step inside, he already noticed a weird sensation in the air. Many times, he had pondered if it was an effect of his own reticence, or if indeed the space within was different somehow. Before him, lay the numerous side-buildings that gave shape to that maze of structures; eight, to be exact. They composed a sort of small village where the servants lived, yet to InuYasha's eyes, there was a certain loneliness filling it, except for a few lamps illuminating the central path, surrounded by a well-tended garden in the traditional Japanese style. InuYasha knew, even before coming inside, that such a loneliness was but a façade, for he could locate and identify each and every guardian watching the entrance. He didn't bother acknowledging them, nor did they move from where they stood; nothing was out of the ordinary.

He started down the central path, until he reached a transversal one, twenty meters away from the entrance, and that connected two side-buildings. Once on the other side of it, he had a clear view of the main building, the residence of his half-brother and those accompanying him. InuYasha noted how his back tensed before the sight of the clan Taisho, tilting his head to one side to release some of the tension at his neck. He wished to just skip the rest of the way in one jump, reaching the stairs leading to the palace, yet, one of the earliest lessons he had learnt here was that there are places where one's inner beast, must remain caged. That memory took him to recall the dungeons, beneath a building at the back, past the main residence; the memory brought a smell, the rough touch of the walls and the cold stone, that had surrounded him for many moons before he was allowed to see a ray of sunlight. That had happened a couple of centuries ago, when the clan Taisho had decided he needed it.

"My lord InuYasha." He heard the voice of one of the servants, who fell into step by his side, as they neared the palace. "It has been a long time since I last saw you here."

"You know I avoid it as much as possible, Totosai." He didn't need to pretend with the old blacksmith, who had been the first person to approach him with respect when he had been brought here.

"I know. Even so, it is relatively important for you to check on your Tessaiga every now and then," the man pointed out, who had been the master to forge the sword.

"You can do it now," InuYasha drew the weapon from his belt, and extended it to him.

"Oh no, my lord. Although I do not expect you would need to face anyone, I do not think it wise to enter such a maw without something to defend yourself with," he warned him, with a courtesy that was a stark contrast to the tone of the message.

InuYasha looked at him sideways, a fang peering through his smile. Sometimes, he couldn't help wondering why a man with such knowledge and wisdom, was at the service of Sesshomaru.

"Why don't you come with me? To my residence?" He proposed then, without hesitation. It wasn't the first time either.

The old man gave him an enigmatic smile as sole answer, a gesture that only accentuated InuYasha's curiosity for the man's wisdom; however, he wasn't about to tell him that.

"I shall take my leave here, my lord InuYasha." The man bowed to him. "I hope we see each other again soon."

"For that you'd have to follow me; Myoga would feel satisfied," he expressed, honestly, for both elders had known each other for a long time.

InuYasha watched Totosai giving him one last smile, then another reverent bow, before starting away. Once he was gone, the place felt hostile to him again; and maybe such was the reason for the hurry in his steps; he wanted to finish whatever that deal was, as soon as possible.

He crossed the front gate, which was usually open. There, he waited for the guards on both sides of such a double door gate, to push it aside, giving him way. Solemnity was one of the features composing the Agatsu, the name of his half-brother's residence, and whose meaning coincided with Sesshomaru's thoughts; victory over oneself. InuYasha had to admit it was an interesting concept, one that he himself would wield when possible.

Once inside, he started down a wide wooden corridor, so polished once could see the walls, paintings and objects' reflections on them. He noted the scent of the youkais inside the building, and focused his mind in one in particular; the one he wanted to avoid. He located her on his right, many rooms away, down the main hallway, and felt content with the distance. InuYasha rarely would think about good and evil, yet Sesshomaru's mother often would make bring the latter to mind.

A few steps later, he found himself standing in front of the room where his brother would often receive him. He stood there, waiting for someone to announce his presence; he didn't need to exchange words with anyone, given that them all already knew why he was here, and who he came to see. An instant later, the shōjidoors slid open, their drawing of a cloud above the view of a village disappearing from sight. The shōji that opened right after, allowed him to see the picture of a horde of youkais, in their real, demonic form; a representation of a mythic battle, as was told in the books one could find in that very same palace. Once inside, he glimpsed upon the same picture from before, but with the great Inu daiyoukai tearing minor beasts apart.

The shōji doors closed behind him.

"You've taken your time." He heard the voice of his half-brother, who loyal to his own temperament, few things seemed able to perturb his otherwise cold personality.

"Get to the point, Sesshomaru," he replied, out of patience already. They were alone, and it was during these moments that he wouldn't bite his tongue, not bothering with feigning a relationship they didn't have.

"You've dressed for the occasion?" Sesshomaru gestured to his attire with a hand, sliding it up and down in that theatrical way of his.

"Not for this occasion," he clarified, and remained silent as he watched his brother, who was in his human youkai form, with pointy dog ears, a waning moon on his forehead, aside from two magenta marks on each cheek. He was waiting for him to slowly unfold the reason of why he had been called.

"Well, I see you are in a hurry," he accepted, as he served two plate-like cups of sake, "let's begin."

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Kagome had performed five out of the seven dances in her card, two of them with Hojō, who could not stop insisting in her giving him the last one as well. The party in Sango's house could be counted as a success in practically everything; the guests were entertained, there was a good orchestra playing western music in the background, and among the guests there were quite a few influential people in the young, new Japanese society. However, Kagome couldn't help noticing how her friend, Sango, had not smiled even once, not really, since the event began. She couldn't blame her; everything had been quite strange when she arrived, appearing by the arm of a young man, maybe one or two years older than her, who everyone understood to be her fiancé. Kagome became perplexed before that claim, even more so when her friend herself confirmed it when she neared her with Kyōfū Hakudoshi, who introduced himself as such to the group of friends, including Ayumi, Eri and Hojō.

"Your mind seems to be elsewhere, miss Higurashi," her current dance partner observed, and Kagome felt embarrassed for her lack of dexterity to dissimulate it.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kashi. It won't happen again," she apologized with all the courtesy she could muster, despite how his steps fell clunky at the music, and the fact that she barely knew that young-man, who apparently lived in another zone in the city.

At least, the song ended soon, which gave her the way of escaping she needed.

"Thank you," was their exchanged, unison good bye. It was probably that they wouldn't cross a word again.

Kagome's gaze sought Sango again, insistent, who was beautifully clothed in that intense pink dress they had chosen together, her curls reflecting the artificial light of the many lamps set around the place. Her friend was standing by Kyōfū 's side, silent, while he seemed to be holding a friendly chat with a nearby group. Kagome felt like she was boiling inside, so she walked up to her friend, hooking her arm around hers.

"Mr. Kyōfū, I need to take some fresh air, and need my friend to guide me there," she expressed, without really caring if she was interrupting their conversation.

The man didn't answer immediately, and for a moment she thought she hadn't been heard. However, a moment later his gaze fell on her with a stern intensity, and replied, "of course, Miss Higurashi." His voice was kind and confident, and also a stark contrast to the cold in his eyes.

Kagome smiled as an answer, and took Sango away, ignoring her whispered complaints. They strode down the main hallway, her friend's arm intertwined with hers; she would take her outside, and the interrogatory she was going to put her through would pale in comparison to her own anger; how could she not tell her about her engagement?

When the cold hit her skin, Kagome felt grateful for it. She needed the brisk night-air to calm her own indignation. She took a few steps with Sango to one side, in search of some intimacy in the middle of the beautiful garden circling the residence.

"Don't you dare say you don't know why I've brought you here," Kagome warned her, before her friend could voice a complaint.

She heard her take a deep breath; her gaze lost in the distance as she took in that same air in a sigh, seemingly gathering her strength to talk. But then, Kagome's mind stopped for an instant, isolating her from her surroundings. She had come to think Mr. Taisho had tricked her, and that he wouldn't assist the dance, despite how long she had been waiting for him, or how many furtive gazes she had thrown around. However, there he was, looking at her a short distance away, beneath a partial light from a lamp, which immersed him in a mystical dark-light that Kagome noted as purely aesthetical, and that, nevertheless, delivered a message.

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To be continued.

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A/N

I know, I know… why does it end there?

Well, because there is a next chapter xD

I hope you've enjoyed it, and that you have written down each and every detail in it.

A kiss,

Anyara

This text is possible thanks to the translation of: Dezart