InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon Should Act Like A Demon ❯ The Lady Demon in a Blue Kimono ( Chapter 3 )

A Demon Should Act Like a Demon

By Ericedwyn

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and friends were created and lovingly brought to life by Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: I am still pondering Inuyasha's next dream visit, so I'm posting this first. A glossary for Japanese terms is included, and my responses to reviews follow the glossary. BTW, text in `___' are thought expressions. _^,,^_ REVISED 02/20/03.

Chapter Three: The Lady Demon in a Blue Kimono

~* At Sesshoumaru's fortress *~

Kagome woke to the sound of a soft rap and the sliding of her bedroom door. An elderly woman in a brown kimono, who looked about Kaede's age, entered the room sporting a warm smile.

The woman bowed low before sliding the door closed behind her. She made her way to the side of the bed closest to where Kagome perched. "Ohayou, my Lady. My name is Tsumi. I hope I did not disturb your rest."

Kagome smiled as she got out of bed, careful not to wake the kitsune cub. She watched as Shippou curled tighter into a ball at the loss of her warmth.

Although the Miko sensed that the newcomer was a hanyou, the woman's gentleness and warmth was comforting, and at first glance, she knew that they would be fast friends. "Iie, Tsumi-san. It is very nice to meet you. Onegai… call me Kagome." She reached out a hand to the elderly woman in greeting.

Tsumi beamed, her gray eyes dancing, as she grabbed the younger woman's hand in both of hers. "My Lady, I hope you will not think me rude if I do not. It is just my way." Tsumi smiled wider. "I have come to ask if you would like to bathe."

"Hai!" The Miko proclaimed excitedly. "I would love a bath. It must have been days since I've had one." Pink tinged Kagome's cheeks.

Tsumi nodded, crossed the room again, and opened the door to a troop of servants carrying large jugs of water. They disappeared through the door of the adjoining room. When the servants returned and departed from the bedroom, Tsumi slid the door close after them, and then gestured for Kagome to follow her.

Kagome trailed behind Tsumi. When she crossed the threshold to the next room, she was assaulted by the refreshing scent of lavender flowers. She gazed hungrily at the steaming water of the small circular furo that dominated the room. `Oh, it's soooo inviting! I can't wait!' But Tsumi didn't stop in front of the furo, but walked around it to a stall at the corner of the room. Inside, a tall jug of warm water sat on the floor with a small hand pail hanging from its mouth. A small bucket with greenish liquid and floating lavender flowers sat on a shelf by the jug. Beside it was a small pot with purplish substance. The floor of the stall had what appeared to be a small drain.

"You may wash here first, My Lady." She touched the little pot with the purplish substance. "This is a body salve you can use to cleanse. It is made from lavender flowers and other herbs." She touched the bucket with the greenish liquid next. "This is a rinse for your hair. It is made from the extracts of young leaves of green tea, chamomile flowers, and lavender flowers. Please leave it on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing it fully." Tsumi instructed as she moved to stand behind Kagome. She waited for Kagome to untie the sash that held her yukata closed, and helped the younger one slip out of the garment. Kagome blushed at her state of undress, but went inside the stall.

Tsumi folded the yukata over her arm. She walked around the furo to the other side where a bench carried towels and a white yukata robe. She grabbed the basket of dried lavender flowers from the bench and sprinkled two handfuls into the steaming water of the furo. Afterwards, Tsumi rounded towards the door that leads to the young lady's bedroom. "I leave now, My Lady, so you may enjoy your bath." She bowed and closed the door in front of her. After a moment, Kagome heard the sound of her bedroom door slide open and then close.

`Wow, Sesshoumaru must be really well off…' Kagome let her thoughts drift before placing a slightly clawed finger into the purplish concoction. She retracted her finger suddenly when she glimpsed her claw, and brought her hands up to examine them. She stared at them curiously.

Last night, after abruptly waking from her dream, she had immediately checked her fingers for claws. She had played with her "claws" noting only a small difference from what she remembered her human nails had looked. Compared to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's claws, hers were quite blunt and short. She had wondered if they were just retracted or if she is still changing.

After apologizing profusely to Shippou and after he had fallen back to his slumber, Kagome had opened her yukata to examine her wounds under the bandages. She had spent an undetermined time caressing the slightly puckered skin over her heart, then at the nearly healed stomach gash that Sesshoumaru had cleaned and re-bandaged a few hours before.

In the stall, Kagome attempted to remove the bandages on her torso using her "claws." She struggled a little bit with them. But once they were discarded, she looked down at her torso and was amazed at the effect of her new factor of healing. Aside from some redness and slight bruising, her skin was almost flawless.

The two purple stripes on her lower arms just an inch shy from her wrists caught her eyes. She remembered them being a lot fainter a few hours ago, but they have become more prominent especially in the richness in color.

Kagome ran the tip of her tongue over her canines and noted that they have grown since last night too. She noticed the sharpness, and decided to stop exploring her mouth before she punctured herself.

She dipped a finger into the purplish concoction again and brought it to her nose. She sniffed it and enjoyed the delicate scent. She doused herself with warm water from the jug until her hair and skin were soaked before applying the salve-like substance over her skin and dark hair. The Miko wondered why she didn't have silver-white hair like Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. When her fingers reached her ears, she traced a finger to check if they were pointed. It did not surprise her when she found them to be so.

She took more of the mixture into her hands and began to apply it over her face. She wondered what markings she had. Were they the same as Sesshoumaru's? She had tried to find out last night, but failed to find a mirror in her bedchamber. She looked around the small furo room and found none there either.

She continued washing until all of the mixture had been removed. Then she slowly poured the hair rinse on her dark tresses. She leaned on the wall of the stall as she waited for a few minutes before rinsing her hair with water thoroughly.

Once her cleansing ritual was complete, Kagome stepped out of the stall and lowered herself into the steaming water of the furo and sighed happily. `This is sooo nice.' Then she tensed suddenly. `Tail! Am I going to grow a tail?' She fidgeted nervously in the water at the thought of it, but the soft rapping on the door pulled her attention away from dwelling more on it.

Tsumi slid the door open, crossed the threshold, bowed, and slid the door shut. "Does My Lady need more time with her bath?" She asked gently. Kagome shook her head "no" and began to climb out of the furo.

Tsumi held out a large towel for her to step into, and she wrapped it around her body. The other she took to dry her hair. Once dried and ready, she slipped into the crisp yukata.

The servant indicated for Kagome to sit on the bench, and after doing so, Tsumi began to brush her hair. Kagome marveled at the result of the hair rinse she had used. It had acted like a conditioner. The bristle of the brush nary encountered a single tangle.

Once her hair had been brushed, Kagome followed Tsumi into her bedchamber. She watched as the older woman opened the armoire that stood against the wall by the door to the furo.

The armoire was almost half filled with furisode-sleeved kimonos and yukatas, each intricately decorated with a different floral design. The garments, she noticed were either of blue or deep purple in color.

"Tsumi-san. Where are my old clothes?"

"I am afraid your old `kimono' was ruined beyond repair, My Lady. The Lord had them thrown away." The elderly lady responded quietly.

"Oh…"

"Would you care to select a kimono to wear today, My Lady?" Tsumi prompted with a smile.

Kagome nodded, returned the smile, before picking a dark blue kimono with a spray of cherry blossoms that began on the right shoulder and ended at the very bottom of its furisode sleeve. She chose a solid colored obi of a darker shade to go with it.

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Glossary: (If I am using the Japanese terms wrong, please let me know. I'm already butchering up English… I don't want to butcher up Japanese too. Arigatou! _^,,^_ )

Arigatou - Thank you

Furisode - Young, unmarried Japanese women wear this type of kimono with long flowing sleeves that reach almost to the ankles.

Furo - bath

Hai - Yes

Hanyou - Half-demon, half-human

Iie - No

Kitsune - Fox

Miko - Priestess

Onegai - Please

Tsumi - The name I gave to Kagome's hanyou servant. It is the Japanese name for the Japanese Lesser Sparrowhawk.

Yukata - A thin kimono; can be called a bathrobe

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Responses to Reviews: Arigatou, Reviewers! I really appreciate your input. _^,,^_

Meamiko: I have been following your story, "Voices at Midnight," and can't wait for the next chapter. If only the couple weren't interrupted. Arigatou for your high praises though! Arigatou, arigatou, arigatou! Did I say "arigatou" already? :)