Hanakotoba Matsuri 2025 Week 03: Cunning & Vigilance
Flower: Wood Anemone (anticipation), Dewberry (tenacity)
Kingdom: Forest
Trope: Secrets
Kagome squirmed in her chair, glancing discreetly at her phone even though she knew it hadn't vibrated since the last time she'd checked it. It was going to be fine. Everything was going to be fine.
The bar she'd chosen was warm and inviting, specializing in mixed drinks and smooth jazz, but suddenly, she wondered if it was inappropriate. Should she have chosen somewhere more private? Something with a more extensive menu?
Forcing herself to breathe, she reminded herself that her guest wasn't much for large meals and would likely be more interested in the dessert menu, not the savoury yakisoba or deep-fried karaage constantly coming out of the kitchen. She also needed enough of a crowd so they wouldn't draw attention to themselves.
Another breath had her shoulders relaxing, and when she checked her phone again, it was to send a quick confirmation text. The blue bubble at the bottom lit up immediately, indicating they were headed in her direction, and she was finally able to smile.
Everything was going to be fine.
She flagged down the server, ordering a bottle of Tokubetsu for the table before going over the key points in her head. A slight squeeze to her shoulder had her nearly jumping out of her chair, and she looked up into amused amber eyes.
"Darling, you look almost green. Why did you not ask to reschedule if you are feeling ill?"
Kagome shook her head, standing up to kiss the woman's cheeks. "I wouldn't dream of it."
"But we could have simply watched a movie at home instead."
Kagome latched onto that tangent, knowing she wouldn't be able to resist as she twirled around. "But then I wouldn't get to show off my new dress."
The woman stepped backward to inspect her, holding Kagome's arms out for full effect. "Well, there is that." She looked around the bar. "Is there someone you're hoping to impress?"
Kagome chuckled and shook her head again. "Only you."
She was rewarded with a graceful dismissal. "There is hardly a need for that. You have yet to not impress me since we met."
Hizuki Kimiko was a tall, slender woman with the air of ancient aristocracy that allowed for little argument and even less falsity. She oozed class and connection, always having inside information on the latest trends and gossip. Considering she was a hair stylist, Kagome often wondered where she got said information, but according to Kimiko, she was more of a therapist.
Highly regarded in her field and often hired for celebrity events, the daiyoukai preferred to work behind the scenes even though she always looked red carpet ready.
The gossip came from the comfort her clients felt with her, and the trust that came from never exposing their secrets to a tabloid. Kagome couldn't say it wasn't tempting, especially with some of the things Kimiko had told her, but there were never any names or specifics that narrowed down their identity.
Kagome preferred the stories themselves, and the thrill of guessing always added to the intrigue. She'd quickly discovered how trustworthy Kimiko was after hiring her to give her mother a makeover.
Now that Souta was out of school, Emiko Higurashi wasn't as much of a homebody. She still did the back end of the shrine, but with the growing success over the last few years, she'd been able to hire others to run it for her. It gave her the chance to travel and enjoy things she'd had to put aside while raising her children, and Kagome wanted her to have a fresh start.
A few calls had put Kimiko in her sights, and since it was the first time Mama had had anything close to a new hairdo, she'd begged Kagome to come with her. A few well-placed questions had turned the hairdresser's sights on the younger Higurashi, and she'd slipped Kagome her card before they'd left.
Kagome wasn't sure what to make of it, as she rarely did much with her own hair, but she soon realized Kimiko constantly changing her nail colour was more than fickleness.
She was a daiyoukai; the poison running through her veins ate through nail polish every week. Kagome had thought the silver hair was a statement, but a quick flash of her power had had Kagome gasping in recognition.
She was Sesshoumaru's mother.
She'd blurted out as much during her follow-up appointment and had expected Kimiko to come after her with claws and fangs. Instead, a deep-rooted sorrow had seeped into her aura, her eyes turning dull as she asked how Kagome had known her son.
After reassuring her that she wasn't dreaming, Kagome had offered to meet up at a more discrete location, unsure of whom Kimiko had working in her salon. The employees were few but a mixture of human and hanyou, and she hadn't known the daiyoukai long enough to start spilling her secrets on a first date.
She'd thought Kimiko would start pumping her for information, demanding details about how a human knew her son. However, she spent most of their lunch date listening to Kagome's recollection of her battle against Naraku, eyes shining every time Sesshoumaru was mentioned.
Every time Kimiko mentioned her son, it was in the past tense.
When the part about Mukotsu came up, Kagome's voice must have wavered as Kimiko's elegant hand covered hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "It brings me joy to know he was not as unfeeling as he pretended to be," she'd whispered.
"He cared about a lot of people," Kagome replied. "In his own way."
"Indeed." Kimiko described her encounter with Sesshoumaru and his demand for the meidou stone, her fingers tightening around Kagome's when she spoke of Rin. "She was such a whimsical child," she said. "I honestly could not see the connection." Then, some of the light returned to her eyes. "I thought he planned to eat her."
Kagome hadn't been quick enough to stifle her laughter, and they soon dissolved into giggles, their hands never once separating. A lifeline had been created, their bond cemented, and by the end of the meal, they were calling each other by their first names.
It had taken a month before she'd managed to ask Kimiko about the last time she'd seen him, had once again expected wrath and revenge, but Kimiko's expression had turned sombre, unable to meet Kagome's gaze. "I did something terrible," she confessed.
Kagome had tried to make light of it, but her new friend's melancholy was oppressive. It dulled her hair and markings as her well-manicured hands fidgeted with her napkin.
"The war came as a surprise to all of us," she continued, still looking out the window. "He'd established a small sanctuary, but we both knew it would not survive. I tried to convince him that taking shelter in my castle would be the safest, but he refused to leave those within the sanctuary without protection."
She'd relived the moment in real-time, knuckles turning white, and Kagome reached across the table, her silent support grounding her.
"I knew how much he'd changed, how much he strived to be better, but in a moment of panic, all I wanted was to protect him, and I called him a fool for sacrificing his own safety for those he barely knew." Her voice cracked, shoulders ramrod stiff. "I told him if he was going to risk his life, he might as well place himself in front of a firing squad and get it over with."
Kagome had tried to keep it together, but tears had overflowed as Kimiko continued to stare out the window, the patrons around them moving in a faceless blur. The daiyoukai never cried, but her sorrow had increased, the weight of her regret pressing down on Kagome's shoulders.
Sesshoumaru had never returned after that. Kimiko had searched until her fingers bled, the sharp edge of the markings on her wrists blurred with how close to the bombings she'd gotten, but she'd never found a sign of her son or any of those he'd fought to protect.
"If I had at least found one, it would have meant he was right," Kimiko had said, letting out a ragged sigh. "It would have meant his life had not been meaningless." They'd spent the rest of the night in calm silence, and Kagome had honestly thought it would be the last time she'd hear from her. The burden she'd been carrying had been lifted, so Kimiko could move on with her life.
As it was, getting the words out only cemented their bond, and Kagome found her phone filled with messages and pictures from recent clients. They never included any faces, and it was more for Kimiko to show off her work, but their connection continued to thrive until Kagome knew she had to bring up the topic again.
Hence, the bar and the bottle of wine.
"So," Kimiko drawled, clinking their glasses together. "What is so special about the occasion that we could not spend it on my couch?"
Kagome saw no point in beating around the bush. "I've met someone."
Kimiko immediately perked up. "Oh, do tell, little bird. You have been keeping me in the dark."
Kagome smiled wistfully. "Actually, I've been seeing him for a while, but things have gotten serious lately, and I wanted your opinion on him."
The daiyoukai placed her free hand on her chest. "Moi? Should you not introduce him to your mother first?"
"I have," Kagome said. "But she knew about him when I first met him. Sort of. Even though we weren't official until recently." She shrugged nonchalantly. "It's complicated."
Kimiko chuckled. "Meaning your lovely mother was well aware of your feelings before you were."
Kagome blushed. "Something like that."
"How delightful."
Clearing her throat, Kagome put her glass down, hands clasped tightly together. "You're an important person in my life, Kimiko. Your opinion means a lot to me, but I want you to know that I care about him a lot." An edge to her voice had Kimiko's brows raising, and she calmingly replaced her glass as well.
"So by 'serious', you mean—"
"He's asked me to be his mate."
The hairdresser clicked her tongue. "A pureblood, then. Why am I not surprised?" She sighed as she crossed her hands under her chin. "You never do things the simple way, do you?"
"I wouldn't be half as interesting if I did," Kagome retorted.
A feral smirk lit up Kimiko's features. "Naturally."
Kagome's phone buzzed, signalling his impending arrival, and she tensed. "So you're willing to meet him?"
Kimiko rolled her eyes, then motioned to the empty chair. "I hardly have a choice in the matter."
Kagome grabbed her hand. "You always have a choice. If it's too soon—"
Kimiko patted her hand before waving her off. "I have learned how to adapt over the years, little bird. I hardly think meeting your intended will make that much of a difference." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "As long as he behaves."
Kagome didn't get the chance to respond, spine straightening as a tendril of youki slid up the back of her neck. The chair next to her was pulled aside, a toned arm slipping around Kagome's waist before a kiss was pressed against her temple. "I apologize for being late," he said, slumping into the chair.
"Rough day?" she asked automatically.
His hand twitched as he stopped himself from loosening his tie. "There was a typo in one of the brochures, so now the event coordinator is scrambling to ensure we are set up at the correct venue."
She wanted to question it, the mundane conversation part of their daily routine, but she could feel the complete loss of power from Kimiko and knew she needed to get the meeting over with. The fact that he hadn't reacted proved he hadn't noticed their guest, and she steeled herself for the impending storm.
Sesshoumaru knew better than to leave his marks on full display, though his silver hair was still intact. He derived great pleasure in changing his style depending on which look his events called for, though he was most at home with his hair loose around his shoulders.
Today, it was pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail at the base of his neck, as was his usual attire when dealing with executives or producers, and Kagome reached behind him, freeing the moonlit strands from their bond. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, but Kagome swallowed slowly, then motioned to the woman across from them.
"Shou, I'd like you to meet my friend Kimiko Hizuki. Kimiko, this is my fiancé—"
"Sesshoumaru." His name was barely more than a whisper, the sound strained and filled with disbelief. Sesshoumaru immediately bristled, instincts on alert as he stared at the woman.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice dangerously low. Kagome tried to console him, not wanting him to do anything rash, but Kimiko reached across the table, her thumb tracing the place where his moon should be.
"My little moonbeam." The pet name had Sesshoumaru's mouth falling open, recognition dawning as they stared at each other. "How are you alive?" she asked, voice still hoarse.
"I could ask the same of you," he replied.
Kimiko shook her head. "I told you. I was protected. It was why I wanted you to stay."
The memory of the final encounter resurfaced, and Kagome saw the turmoil in his eyes. "Mother—"
Kimiko broke.
Launching herself at him, Sesshoumaru managed to keep his chair from tipping, one hand gripping the table as Kimiko's tearful apologies were muffled against his dress shirt. She was almost as tall as he was, but in her current condition, she looked tiny and not at all like her usual flamboyant self.
Sesshoumaru shot a panicked look at Kagome. "She looked for you," Kagome replied softly. "For years. The radiation almost burned away the marks on her wrists." Sesshoumaru had moved everyone to the mainland to get them out of harm's way. It was where he'd established himself as an artist—and where their paths had eventually crossed while she'd been on a trip during a break from university.
She'd never questioned him about his family—she'd never known anyone else except Inuyasha—but the chance meeting inside a hairdresser's salon had set a plan in motion to reunite mother and son.
Kagome still couldn't believe she'd managed to keep them both in the dark for so long. Sesshoumaru was meticulous with reading people, especially her, and she'd thought for sure Kimiko's scent would give her away. But it had been so long since they'd last seen each other that it had faded from his memory. The selection of products Kimiko used in her salon likely added to the subterfuge, but so far, Kagome had sensed no anger from either of them.
Kimiko's sobs finally ebbed as Sesshoumaru lay a hand on her back. Another apology escaped her lips, but Sesshoumaru shook his head. "I do not blame you."
Kimiko's shoulders dropped in relief, and she finally pulled back, grabbing his face with both hands. "You have changed so little in the last century."
Amber eyes flickered toward Kagome, causing a blush to break out onto her cheeks. "I would not say that."
Kimiko looked between them, which only deepened the colour on Kagome's face, and she finally straightened. "You have been holding out on me, little bird."
"Surprise?" she said meekly.
Kimiko smoothed the wrinkles out of her blouse, then returned to her chair, though it was pulled closer to Sesshoumaru's in the process. Grabbing a napkin, she dabbed her eyes. "Clearly, there is a large part of your story that you purposely left out." She pinned Kagome with an intense stare. "Start at the beginning and do not leave a single moment out. Then we will see if he has changed enough to warrant your affections."
There was a stagnant pause, but Kagome caught the twitch at the side of Kimiko's mouth, reaching for her hand at the same time Kimiko did. "I'll do my best."
"That has already been accomplished," Kimiko murmured. "But I am sure this will be a very close second."