Hanakotoba Matsuri 2025 Week 01: Devotion & Reverence
Flower: Pansy (loving thoughts), Petunia (resentment), Zinnia (lasting affection)
Kingdom: Garden
Trope: Gods and goddesses
The only drawback to immortality was boredom. Well, and his brother's attitude, but that wouldn't end any time soon.
Sighing, Inuyasha shifted the bow on his shoulder. Spring had sprung, flora of varying colours bursting through the frost-covered ground in a bid to reach the sky. He wasn't sure what the humans saw in it or why they viewed it as a sign to mate, but his job always became more complicated this time of year.
Even now, he felt the pull, fingers twitching with the need to let his arrows fly—to lure some poor sap into the arms of another. Most of them enjoyed it, some more than others, but blaming him for any and all failed relationships was getting old.
Did he have some fun with his job sometimes? Of course. Which god didn't? But not all the fights were his fault. His arrows sparked interest—maybe an initial bout of lust—but it was up to them to make the connection work.
Unless they were soulmates.
A frown wrinkled his brow. He wasn't a fan of the concept, especially since it often led to obsession from someone outside the pairing. The outsider could never understand why the person of their affection paid them little to no attention when someone they'd never met showed up out of nowhere and swept them off their feet.
His brother always sneered at his power, assuming he had little to do with the pairings in the first place. A little prick with his arrow, and suddenly, the pair had an undying bond that defied the gods? Inconceivable.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Sesshoumaru was just jealous of all his downtime. Being the god of death was a full-time job, whereas Inuyasha could finish all his work within a few hours. It wasn't his fault the world wouldn't end up in chaos if he took a break. Souls didn't depend on him. Not after they were dead, anyway.
Rolling his shoulders but knowing the twinge wasn't from a pulled muscle, he secured his bow, wings sprouting from his back. Something big was pulling him toward Earth today, so he might as well get it over with.
The pull landed him outside a major village, the small oasis a balm to his weary soul. Bundles of pansies and petunias lined the wooden fence as if by magic. Inuyasha hadn't encountered any other deities on his journey, but there was a quiet murmuring of power beneath the surface—as if they constantly visited the simple hut.
Tapping his claws along the posts, he waited for his target to emerge. Mortals never spotted him—they were too busy trying to stave off death—so he wasn't worried about being discovered, but a ripple of power had him groaning. "What are you doing here?" he grumbled.
"I could ask you the same question," his brother replied.
Inuyasha scoffed. "I actually have to travel around to do my job, ya ice prick." He waved at Sesshoumaru. "Aren't you afraid Jakotsu will get pissy you're doing his job?"
The God of Death glared at him. "I will remind you, it is not my job to kill people, little brother. I merely—"
"—guide them through the afterlife, yeah yeah." Inuyasha crossed his arms. "Still doesn't explain the vacation." It would be one thing if Sesshoumaru actually enjoyed his job, but he never seemed to enjoy anything. Inuyasha wasn't sure if he'd ever smiled, often asking him if the scowl was permanently glued to his face.
"I am allowed to go on walks now and again," Sesshoumaru replied, flipping long silver hair over one shoulder.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "And you just happened to show up at the same house as me?" A dismissive shrug had his jaw clenching, and Inuyasha crossed his arms. "This target is mine. They're not on the Fates' list for a while." He still didn't know who the human was, but he didn't like the thought of his brother encroaching on his territory.
"It is purely coincidence that we ended up in the same area," Sesshoumaru replied, looking down his nose at him.
Inuyasha bared his teeth. "Then find somewhere else to go on a damn walk!"
Amber eyes flashed, power rolling off Sesshoumaru's shoulders as Inuyasha felt his knees go weak. He knew he wasn't as high up on the food chain, but he'd love to put his brother in his place just once.
A different kind of power sparked inside the house, startling them both, and Inuyasha flew into the nearest tree. Most humans couldn't see them, but there were a few who were blessed by the gods from birth. Their inner eye—or holy power—was akin to the lower-level deities, which meant it was harder to hide, and he didn't feel like explaining why a half-naked man with wings was on their property.
Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru didn't move. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. The bastard probably thought he was so far above everyone that he was immune to even the most powerful humans, and Inuyasha's claws dug into the bark. Just once, he wanted to cut his brother down to size.
To prove he was just as important as the rest of them.
The door to the hut opened, and a woman with dark hair stepped over the threshold. Inuyasha blinked, momentarily confused. Had he gotten the wrong house? He'd never seen a human with eyes so blue. He kept himself hidden but let his aura wander, clicking his tongue when their powers collided.
She was human. She was a priestess, and a very powerful one, but still human.
His power retreated, not wanting to give himself away, and he watched her for a few moments, waiting to see if any of the other gods suddenly appeared. If she was under their protection, they'd feel the flare and intervene immediately. Even the less powerful ones hated their territory being invaded.
When she remained alone, he glanced down at his brother. He still hadn't moved, and an idea struck. Inuyasha's mouth curved up into a smirk as he readied his bow. She was the target, but that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun first.
A golden arrow appeared between his fingers, the fletching brushing his cheek. Breathing slowly to calm his heart, he blinked slowly, took aim at his brother's back, then let the arrow fly.
Sesshoumaru hissed, looking down at the arrow now protruding from his chest. The whelp had dared to shoot him? He'd enjoy rendering him unconscious until the next moon cycle. As he wrapped his hand around the tip, preparing to break it in two, the soft flutter of cloth had him looking up into a pair of sapphire eyes.
Warmth spread through him, power curling around his wrist before floating along the breeze toward her. Her arms were crossed loosely, fingers tapping against her elbows as she eyed him carefully, and he straightened briskly as she looked him up and down.
"I didn't think you'd be coming today," she said, kneeling down to rid a patch of daikon from some overgrown weeds.
"You can see me."
She sighed. "You say that like it's changed from the first time."
Sesshoumaru pursed his lips. Perhaps it was because he was still in shock. Or perhaps it was that he'd gone out of his way to conceal himself today. Either way, he still couldn't get over the fact that this whisp of a woman could see him.
The true him. Not the dark-haired human guise he used to walk amongst mortals, but his other self, markings and all.
He could never understand why she never stank of fear.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" she asked. "Or are you going to help me?" She held a small shovel up to him expectantly, raising an eyebrow when he didn't take it. Clicking her tongue, she moved to the next patch of earth, pouring water from a small bucket over the plants.
Sesshoumaru watched her work, meticulously picking specific leaves off some while replenishing the soil of others. Everything she gathered was placed in a basket next to her, sorted into small piles. Her hands were tanned and dirty, the small callouses on her fingers proving how hard she worked.
Yet each movement was purposeful, graceful, like a well-rehearsed dance, and Sesshoumaru remained mesmerized until a soft chuckle tickled his ears.
"You should get that looked at."
A pale eyebrow rose.
She leaned back on her heels and motioned to the arrow sticking out of his chest. He scowled, finally breaking off the tip. The rest of the shaft disintegrated in a cloud of golden dust, leaving the point in his palm. "A parlour trick, nothing more."
She chuckled again. "I don't think Eros would appreciate it being called that."
He shouldn't be surprised she could see him, too. Sesshoumaru had come by this woman's house a few times, though he usually left before she could engage him in conversation. Finding his brother here had stirred something in his gut he wasn't familiar with.
He typically avoided the other deities, keeping to himself even in the mortal world. However, he still hadn't discovered the woman's secret, so he constantly found himself standing outside her abode even when he'd promised himself it would be the last time.
"Besides," she said, finally straightening, "it won't do anything to you."
"Because his power is nothing compared to mine," he stated.
The edge of her mouth twitched, lips curving into a secret smile that had his stomach churning for a different reason. "Because you've got a soulmate." She stepped closer, picked up the arrowhead, then pricked his palm. A drop of blood oozed down the side of his finger, turning a deep crimson before coiling around his wrist and floating through the air toward her.
The string spun around her head before snaking down her arm to wrap around her wrist. As soon as it touched her skin, it turned as silver as his hair. Sesshoumaru had never witnessed his brother in action, but he'd certainly never seen that reaction before.
The woman continued to smile, holding up her hand. "See?"
"How could you possibly—"
"My power has many perks." She plucked a zinnia from her garden and brushed it against his face. "And you're not as sneaky as you think. I know how long you've been watching me."
Sesshoumaru felt heat seep into his ears. It had been curiosity at first but had quickly morphed into something else, something he hadn't been able to name, and he'd been trying to resist ever since.
The presence of their soulbond meant he would not be punished for pursuing her, but something still had him hesitating. He'd made sure his visits were erratic, not wanting to give away he'd been captivated from the start, but there'd always been something that had caused him to linger.
If she'd known he was watching, then she had to know the extent of his power. Had she done all these things just to gain his favour?
His eyes narrowed, and he took a step backward. "Was this your intent from the start?"
Instead of sparking anger or denial, she tucked the zinnia behind his pointed ear. "No. I chose you on purpose."
He wanted to believe her, wanted to believe the honesty in her voice, but centuries of guiding dead souls into oblivion had taught him that humans would do anything to gain power. He caught her wrist, pulling it away as he inspected it for poison or something worse.
"You are human," he accused.
"Mostly," she countered.
He pinned her with a glare. "You would be much better suited with a human partner."
"Would I?" She gave a noncommittal shrug. "I think they'd be quite boring."
"If you are only seeking a thrill—"
"What I've been seeking—" She pulled free from his grip, fingers tracing the markings on his cheek, her expression softening. "—is for you to notice me."
He melted into the touch, resistance dissolving against his will. "I have always noticed you." The light that shone out of her face was blinding and far sweeter than ambrosia, and Sesshoumaru knew, soulbond or not, he was sunk. "I have been trying to resist you."
Her smile widened. "And here I thought gods were supposed to be smart."
His hand covered hers before he nuzzled her palm, inhaling the sweet scent of flora and soil that was unmistakably her. "I have my moments."
"Do you?" she said, tapping her chin. "Because I just told you how long I've been waiting for you to make a move, and you still haven't asked for my name. Or kissed me." He was on her in an instant, mouths moulding together as her lilting laughter turned into something far more decadent.
She kept it light, refusing to give in to temptation, but he saw the heat in her eyes—the promise of what was to come. Behind them, the petunias seemed to wilt, pansies sprouting up from the ground to take their place.
It was a kaleidoscope of colour, weaving up and around fence posts, petals taking flight as balance was restored. The sun was warmer, brighter, and all around them, spring danced.
Kagome. Her name was Kagome.