InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome: Goddess of Japan ❯ The House of Kagome ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kagome: Goddess of Japan

Chapter 2: the House of Kagome


Authors' note: when I was planning this story, I wanted to make
sure that I use traditional Japanese measurements/calendar, etc.
(and I forgot that with chapter 1)

So, when I said that the wall of shrubs that Hoshi and Kagome are
standing next to is three meters tall. I should have said that
the shrubs are a little less than 2 Ken tall (a Ken is approx.
1.8 meters.)

(FYI: when I write "week" do not assume that I mean 7 days. The
traditional Japanese "week" is 10 days.)


"Yori."

"Yes, Mother."

"The ghosts of the city have warned me that a suicide strike team
is in the city and is preparing to assassinate me today."

"Mother!" Yori calls out.

"Grandmother!" Hoshi calls out, as she almost drops the silk
kimono that was in her arms.

Kagome raises her hand. "Do not worry, either of you."

Yori asks, in a quick voice, "Where should I send some officers
to pick them up at, Mother?" he is, by his tone, sure that Kagome
has already captured or neutralized them, somehow.

Kagome sighs, "I wish I could tell you that, Yori. But, real time
and real space do not mean the same thing to some ghosts as it
does in real life. I used my powers to examine where I was told
they were at, but, nothing was there."

‘My magical powers allow me to see into different places, even
places far from here.' Kagome thinks, ‘but, there are limits. I
cannot see everything.'

She grins. "Just a couple making love. I'm quite sure the man was
related to the ghost, but I didn't take time to be absolutely
sure about that."

"What are you orders, then, Mother?" Hoshi asks.

"Shall I send additional officers to your house, mother?" Yori
asks.

"No." Kagome says in a firm voice. "Do not do that, Yori."

"I... I am sorry, Mother." Yori replies in a shaking voice.

In a soft but reassuring voice Kagome says, "I am grateful for
your concern, Yori, but it's not needed. If they had anything on
them that could truly hurt me, I would know."

Hoshi raises her eyebrows at that.

Kagome nods to her, "I would know, Hoshi. There are only a few
magical items on this planet that can truly hurt me." A thin
smile appears on Kagome's face. "And I know where they are at all
times. Archangels Michael's Sword has been moving about lately,
but, that's just an attempt to disguise its location, nothing
serious."

A pause. Then Kagome orders, "Yori."

"Yes, mother."

"My husband will find out about the suicide squad. I'm sure that
he's being told about it right now. He will order an increase in
my bodyguards."

"Yes."

"Place this order into the general net. I, the Goddess Kagome,
order that NO additional guards are to be added to my detail.
There are no exceptions, even if the Shogun says otherwise."

"Your husband will disapprove of that." Hoshi quietly says.

Kagome nods. "Send the order, Yori. My husband will yell at me."

She grins. "He'll be happy to yell at me. I'm sure. All the
attention and the parades this week are things that he hates. He
has never likes being forced to stand at attention for any length
of time. Yelling at me will calm him down."

"Yes, Mother." A pause. "It is sent, Mother."


"Today will be interesting?" Hoshi asks, as she hands Kagome the
thin, white, kimono that was on her arm. She thinks, ‘is
Grandmother thinking about that traditional Chinese curse about
living in interesting times.'

"As in the curse?" Kagome replies.

Hoshi nods.

"Very much so, Hoshi, very much so." Kagome replies in a low, sad
voice.

"As bad as that, Grandmother?"

Kagome nods. "Worse."

As Kagome places the kimono around her, it changes. The kimono
was pure white, but, now, flowery patterns appear on it. A simple
magical spell is woven into it, each time it is put on, a
different pattern appears on it. (Kagome prefers flowers and leaf
designs)


‘Lotus flowers, today.' Kagome thinks as she looks at the sleeves
of her kimono, then continues to think. ‘The queen of the Anansi
spider-demons will be at the Grand ball tonight. I will thank
her again for her gift of this kimono. The magical spider-silk in
it is unbreakable, uncutable, unburnable and invulnerable to
magic. The weave is so tight that it is the best armor in
existence.'



She hides a smile as she thinks, ‘then, I improved it, I've woven
my personal defensive spells throughout it. Wearing it, I should
be invulnerable to anything short of a personal attack by the God
of Abraham.'


Kagome hides a sigh, as she thinks, ‘The Anansi spider-demons
can't make this super high quality silk in large qualities, so
only my kimono, the Spider-queens clothes, and Rin's kimono are
made of the pure silk and super-tight weave. I've genetically
modified a species of silkworms, with spider-silk qualities, and
that is more common. My soldiers and police basic battlefield
armor is a modified spider-silk bulletproof weave. I've got to
make sure that the stockpiles of the silk are high.'

She sighs, "Hoshi."

"Yes, grandmother?"

"I will probably be wearing my kimono more often, so please give
my handmaidens a note that they should not be upset if I wear it
during the night, instead of letting them wash it, like normal."

Hoshi gulps, but nods. "That serious?" She whispers.

Kagome pauses, than reaches out and grips her granddaughter's
shoulder. "Eventually, Hoshi. I do not expect to change my habits
overnight." She says in a reassuring tone.

"Thank you, grandmother." Hoshi whispers. She straightens up and
shakes herself.

Kagome looks at her granddaughter and thinks, ‘She's Ok, just
shaken, not even during the worst of the war of New York, did I
wear my kimono all the time.'

Her eyes flick to the right, looking off in the distance. ‘She's
also not aware of the perversion of nature that has been placed
nearby. I've neutralized it, but, still, its presence tells me
all that I need to know about how serious things are getting.'


"What is next on my schedule?" Kagome asks, trying to begin the
day like normal.

"Breakfast, grandmother." Hoshi replies, instantly. She pulls out
a specialized hand-held computer. "Today, however, Your husband
the Shogun, The Lord of the Western Lands, and his wife will join
you."

Kagome purses her lips, "today, Hoshi, I must warn you that I
will be altering my schedule."

Hoshi licks her lips. "Given what you've just said, Grandmother,
I thought that might happen." She pauses, "can you give me some
idea about what the changes will be today?"

Kagome sighs, "I would if I could, Hoshi. I know that it would
help you out today. I would warn you that your assistants will
need to be on their toes today, and on later days."

Hoshi nods. She brushes aside her hair and taps a large pendant
earring. "They know, Grandmother."

Kagome grins. "No doubt they are waiting with baited breath."

Hoshi nods, as she grins.

Kagome sighs, "First, I think I'll visit my daughter, Sango."

Hoshi raises an eyebrow, delicately, so she doesn't ruin the
makeup on her face.

With a thin smile on her face Kagome replies to the unspoken
question in that eyebrow. "I know that she and I don't get along,
but, that will change."

Hoshi's eyebrow raises higher.

"I will visit her, Hoshi." Kagome replies firmly, "She is doing
her morning exercises now, correct?"

Hoshi's eyes flick to her computer. She nods. "Yes, she is in her
training room. Miroku, Fujiwara, Naghaiye, and Sanura are with
her."

Kagome nods. "As I thought. Shall we go?" She waves at the
shrubs.

The tall shrubs that are next to them shift, creating an opening
that both Hoshi and Kagome walk through.

After they pass through, the shrubs shift back to normal.

"Grandmother, I could have done that." Hoshi mentions, "If things
are as bad as you are indicating, you should conserve your
power."

Kagome grins, "If things get so bad that I need that little
amount of power, Hoshi, then, I'm going to be worried about much
more than that."

Kagome and Hoshi walk into Kagome's house.

Her personal quarters do not, on the outside, look all that
special. The house appears to be a traditional, if spread-out,
one-story Japanese house, although it is surrounded by a large
and magnificent garden. It is larger then most, with several
wings of rooms spread out throughout that beautiful garden.


Kagome conceals a head-shake, as she thinks, ‘tonight, no doubt,
as least one of the regional or provincial governors will hint
about increasing the size and luxury of my house.'

She grins, ‘Since nobody wishes to insult me by having a more
luxurious house then mine, if my house increases in size or
luxury, then, the governors can also increase their palaces.'

Hoshi, glancing at Kagome's grin, as they walk through the
garden, remarks, "what are you going to tell, say, the Governor
of Northern China, when he mentions about that if you add in some
luxuries, you will increase the efficiency of your staff,
grandmother?"

"Reading my mind for a change, Hoshi?" Kagome replies with a
small giggle.

"You have mentioned before about your distaste for some of the
luxury loving governors." Hoshi replies, also with a small
giggle. This subject is something that the two of them,
obviously, have shared many a giggle about it.


"I won't call it distaste, my dear." Kagome replies. "Just they
don't see that if you are the leader of the people, you must lead
in all things. If the people see me living in luxury, they will
want it for themselves. And while, as a rule, I don't have
anything against luxury I do prefer to keep things as simple as
possible."

She pauses, "not to mention that the factories aren't designed
for mass consumption of most luxury items."


Hoshi nods. ‘The arguments between her economic advisors that
want to increase to factory production to increase their profit
margins, her social advisors that tell her that people like
luxuries, and her own environmental concerns to limit the factory
output cause some of the nastiest arguments that happens inside
the household.' She thinks. ‘But, the Goddess Kagome's
environmental concerns win out, they always do.'

The couple of gardeners, already at work, stop and bow to Kagome.

Kagome nods her head to them, acknowledging their salute to her.

She glances at the sky, as she approaches her house. ‘The weather
spell is holding. Today will be a beautiful day, a perfect one
for the parade. The people of the empire deserve, at least, one
last celebration, before things begin to change.'

She walks up the couple of steps that lead to the front door of
her household, the painted, Oak tree design, sliding door opens
automatically in front of her and Hoshi.

Kagome, as she enters, nods to the camera that is set into the
ceiling. It follows her.

(see author's camera note below)

That camera, and the others in just about every room in her
house, is picking up her image and broadcasting it live, via the
computer net, to the world. She can feel the surge of power, as
people, who were watching the screen, pray to her.

‘And, tonight, the governors and their friends will delicately
complain about the cameras.' Kagome thinks. ‘I ordered cameras in
every room of all government agencies long ago. And the reason's
why have never changed. I want all the officials, mine, the
empires, the local officials in the government to be on the
screen as much as possible. The less time that they are off-
screen, the less time that they can make backroom deals. And,
since their every action is recorded, if they make a mistake, It
will be found out, and it will be corrected.'

Hoshi bows to the camera, and the people of the world that it
represents, as well, as she follows Kagome. ‘I wonder, will the
people that will complain about the cameras know, that she
wonders why you want to do something in private? And she will
find out why.'

Hoshi hides a grin, ‘most of the time, it is someone that wants
to fool around with their secretary, but doesn't want the sex act
broadcast so everyone can see it. Still, occasionally, new
governors are assigned, and the old governor apologies for
corruption.'

Kagome conceals a sigh, ‘Now that major military actions are in
the near future, I'll remind the security personnel about making
sure that the security screens for military meetings are in
place. That will conceal more of the day to day government than I
like, so, I need to tell Hachi to move some special inspectors to
look at the military bureaucracy, to try to limit the corruption
and waste that will happen,'


Kagome makes a short walk to a bank of elevators. The door opens
and she and Hoshi descend. Like most buildings in Edo, the bulk
of her house is underground. Most of the above ground parts of
her house are used by the servants/officials in her household.
They are used as break areas (picnics) and/or meeting rooms.
(Especially when the meeting is likely to be heated, that way
they can open up the sliding walls, and let nature in, to calm
people down.)

Kagome and her husband have a small private room, concealed in
the garden, as well. (Although, as time as pasted, Kagome has
needed less and less sleep. She doesn't really need to sleep, and
only does it in an attempt to appear normal to her staff. The
Shogun is, also, frequently out in the field, so that room is not
heavily used.)

After a quick descent, the doors open and Kagome and Hoshi walk
through the corridors.



To brighten up the walls, the corridor, and for that matter, the
rooms, have full length floor to ceiling traditional Japanese
rice paper paintings hanging on them. Each room and corridor has
its own theme (they change every so often.) The themes? Outdoor
scenes, of course. (Many houses throughout the empire, use a
similar scheme for indoor decoration.)

The paintings come from the art classes of the schools of the
Empire. Only the best are used in Kagome's household, and schools
take major pride in having a painting that is good enough to be
used. When the paintings are replaced, the old paintings are
returned to the original school for that schools use.

The floor is, of course, traditional Japanese Tatami mats.
(Kagome is still barefoot, and Hoshi has on thick socks.)

The corridors have, even at this early hour, many people in them.
Kagome's household never sleeps, there are shifts of officials
working at all hours.

As Kagome and Hoshi walk, all the members of her household, stop,
and bow to Kagome as she passes.

All of the members of her household have a distinctive kimono
pattern. The patterns, and each office have a different pattern,
combined with the jewelry and other accessories, allow
knowledgeable people to tell at a glance the office and
approximate rank of each person.

(See authors' note: kimono patterns)


Kagome nods to each, acknowledging their respect for her.

After she passes, though, a wave of whispers begins to circle her
household. Everyone knows her daily routine and she is breaking
it. The rumors about why, start instantly.

‘Before I get too involved with Sango, and then my husband, I'd
better take of this, now. And, while I'm at it, I can give a real
test to the telepathic technology. It is not as good as my
natural powers, but, if it is working correctly, it will give me
mental access to the supercomputer hundreds of Ken below ground.'
Kagome thinks.

She conceals a wince as she remembers the last time that she
tried to use her telepathic powers on a computer. Far too much
data hit her brain faster than she could deal with it, and she
had to stop.

Kagome reaches up and activates her telepathic earring. ‘Sayuri?'

‘Yes, mother? How can I assist you?' Sayuri replies, instantly.

‘How is the subway system holding up? Today it will move more
people than it ever has before.'

A few seconds pass, then, ‘I'm sending the raw data now, mother.
It looks good from what I can tell, though.'

Kagome hides a nod. ‘Good.' She thinks, ‘the computer link is
working properly. I am being fed the data telepathically, and the
data rate is superior to human norms. Although, some of the new
species of computer demons can still process data faster than
this. And, my computer people are experimenting with artificial
intelligence/life forms. Sigh. More things to worry about.'

After a few steps, as Kagome thinks about the data, ‘if you
could, please, get the maintenance chief on the line, Sayuri' She
asks.

A short delay, as Sayuri calls him with a regular phone line, and
then patches that line into the telepathic system. ‘Goddess,
this is the chief of maintenance for the subway system of Edo,
how can I help you?' a nervous sounding male voice with a strong
Inca Indian accent appears in her head.

‘Be at easy, sir,' Kagome replies. ‘I just wanted to congratulate
you on a successful start of the day.'

A huge, if telepathic, sigh of relief, sounds in her head, ‘the
boys didn't want to disappoint you, Goddess, they've been working
overtime, preparing for today.'

‘Pass along my congratulations to them. And, if the success rate
continues at the current pace, I will schedule a visit, so I can
thank them in person.'

‘We'd be honored, Goddess.' The maintenance chief breaths.

‘It will be, at least, at a couple of weeks from now. I know that
you'll need time to fix the problems that will occur as the day
progresses, and that will give your crews a chance to relax and
prepare.'

‘Thank you, My Goddess, I was thinking about that.' He replies.


‘Keep an eye out for your best people, so you can tell me about
them, sir. And either I or one of my aides will contact you,
probably tomorrow or the next day, with further details.'


‘Thank you, goddess.' The maintenance chief's voice is full of
happiness.

‘Good-bye, sir, I will see you in a couple of weeks.' Kagome cuts
the connection once he says good-bye.

"Was that anything I need to know about?" Hoshi asks quietly.

‘Kagome was using the telepathic earring, I could tell that, but,
I don't know for what.' She thinks.

"See what can be shifted on my schedule, Hoshi, I would like to
visit the subway's maintenance department in a couple of weeks or
so."

Hoshi looks at her computer, "it was already tentatively
scheduled, grandmother." She grins. "You've been worrying about
the transportation problems surrounding today's parade for the
last couple of weeks. I thought that, if successful, you'd want
to make your appreciation known."

"Anticipating me, again, hmm." Kagome raises an eyebrow at her
granddaughter.

Hoshi nods. "That is part of my responsibilities, Grandmother."

"Good."


Kagome and Hoshi have to stop walking, before they reach the
exercise areas. An Art maintenance team is changing out the
traditional rice paper wall sections. The team is half-a-dozen
people, mixed males and females.


Kagome's household frequently changes the scenes on the wall.
Normally this is done when Kagome isn't in the area, but, with
Kagome's change of her schedule, she is walking into one of the
maintenance teams.

(See authors' note: wall sections)

"That is a very nice forest scene. Which school?" Kagome asks, as
she looks at the new section. It looks, superficially, like a
traditional Japanese forest scene, but there are minor
differences.

The Arts' maintenance team leader, she is a pretty woman from
Bombay, India in her middle thirties, bows to Kagome and replies.
"Yes, mother. It is." She looks at her hand-held computer. "It
is from, ah, Gettysburg high school, North American Region,
province eight. At least that is what I think it says, my English
needs to be better."

Kagome nods. "Good. I thought the style was from a North
American school."

Hoshi, looking up from her computer, says, "the percentages of
new wall sections from North America, especially the northeast
section of the continent is increasing at a steady rate, mother."

Kagome nods. "They are almost finished adjusting to the empire.
The higher quality of the school's art, shows an increase in the
knowledge and appreciation of traditional styles. The number of
violent incidences in that province and its neighbors are down
as well. Which is too be expected, the fall of New York City was
close to forty years ago. Two generations have been born under
the empire that is the normal adjustment time."


"The people that were born under the flag of the European empire
are dying of old age. Most now, only remember living under you,
mother." Hoshi says.

Kagome sighs, deeply. "Yes, that is what happens. You might be a
rebel, you might even be a successful rebel, but sooner or later,
you die, and I remain." Her voice is full of sadness.

"Mother?" Hoshi whispers. All the art maintenance team is staring
at Kagome.

Kagome looks around and gives a calming hand motion to the
maintenance team and Hoshi. "Today is the anniversary of the
first time I arrived on this world, Hoshi. You know that I've
always gotten a bit nostalgic during this week of the year. This
year's anniversary is just hitting me stronger than most."

"A.h." Hoshi says and she bows to Kagome.


The maintenance team also bows to Kagome.

"We will be finished in a minute, Mother." The team leader says.

Kagome nods.


Once the team finishes, Kagome and Hoshi walk on.

A short distance, and a couple of turns, later, Kagome can see
Naghaiye, and Sanura. Those two are part of her daughter's
bodyguard team.

Naghaiye spots Kagome first.

He nods, respectfully, to her. He is a short, very hairy man with
distinctive North America Indian features. He appears to be
human, but his eyes are yellow, similar to Inu-yasha's. His
uniform is a very simple pattern. Other than what appears to be a
very plain pair of swords, he does not have any weapons on him.

"Naghaiye." Kagome says, as she nods to him.

He grunts.

Sanura, a young African woman from one of the Zulu tribes, starts
as soon as she sees Kagome, to go to her knees, only to have
Naghaiye reach over and grab her. "Nod." He grunts out. "You have
special permission not to bow or to prostrate yourself to the
Goddess."

Sanura, blushing very deeply, stands straight at attention. She
stutters out, "G-Goddess, I am sorry, I." Her uniform, like
Naghaiye, is also a very simple pattern. She brushes at it,
trying to calm herself. Like Naghaiye, other than a pair of
swords, she doesn't appear to have any weapons. The only other
odd thing about her is that she is wearing a complex-patterned,
metallic headband.

Kagome waves her, "I understand, Sanura. We've only met a few
times before. And this time I was a surprise."

"Once we get off duty." Naghaiye begins to say in a low, growling
voice, "we will go to an exercise area. And we will work on your
reactions to surprise attacks."

Sanura pales and gulps. "Yes, sir."

"How is she coming along, Naghaiye?" Kagome asks.

He shrugs. "She needs some live fire training. And I would like
to see her use her Ki powers in true combat."

Sanura licks her lips, but doesn't say a thing.

Naghaiye's lips twitch, "you are learning, girl."

Kagome nods. "Naghaiye may not be the best teacher in the world,
Sanura, but, listen to him." She reaches out and taps him on the
shoulder. "He is the one that saved Inu-yasha's life when the
Archangel Michael almost killed him."

"I couldn't let that bastard kill my father." Naghaiye growls.


"He's your father!" Sanura squeaks out. She blushes, again.

"He didn't tell you?" Kagome says with a laugh, "I'm not
surprised. Prying words out of him, is like squeezing water from
rocks. Naghaiye walked out of the wildness of the North American
rocky mountain about three hundred years ago, Sanura."

Kagome looks at him, her eyebrow raises, "And, to this day, I'm
still not exactly sure of the details, but, during initial
exploration of those mountains, Inu-yasha meet and mated with a
female wolverine-demon or, perhaps, goddess."

Naghaiye grunts.

A pause, but since he is not talking, Kagome continues. "Since he
came out of the wildness, looking for his father, he's been with
the family."

She looks at his clothes. "And, while he hates to wear all of his
medals and honors, the one thing that you need to know about him,
is that the last time Inu-yasha felt that he needed a real
bodyguard, for real combat, Naghaiye was the person that he
chose."

Sanura looks at him, with a new hero worship in her eyes.

He grunts. "When will you take me off this soft duty, Kagome?"

"Soon, Naghaiye, soon. Make sure that she is trained."

He sniffs. "She's got that Ki headband. There ain't any training
for that."

Sanura reaches up and rubs her headband. "I know. Every time I
meet with the scientists, all that they can do is throw up their
hands and say, ‘they don't know how I do it.'" She throws a
hopeful glance at Kagome.

Kagome sighs. "I'm not sure myself, Sanura. You have a
connection, probably magical, with the Earth. That allows you to
use the Ki headband in ways that no other person can do."

Authors' note Ki headband.


Kagome pauses. "Now, if you two would be kind enough to step
aside, I would like to visit my daughter."


Naghaiye and Sanura step back.

The door to the exercise area opens automatically and Kagome
steps into the room. As she does so, she turns off the cameras,
her daughter is not part of the government, and she is sure that
there will be some things spoken about in this room that should
be private.

Hoshi stays outside the room.

The room is a large twenty Ken by twenty Ken room with a five Ken
tall ceiling. The walls are padded and the floor has additional
padding.

Lining the walls are various exercise devices. Some with obvious
functions and some without out.

In the middle of the room two people (a young man and a young
woman) are engaging in sword practice.

Near the door, an older man, turns to Kagome.

He bows, "Mother Kagome." He says in a loud voice, obviously to
alert the other two people in the room.

They stop and turn to Kagome.

"Miroku." Kagome says.

The young man bows to her.

"Sango."

The young woman, who does not bow, growls out. "Why are you here,
mother? And my name is Kiyoko, not Sango."


The end chapter 2

Authors' note: spider-silk:

Even in real life, spider-silk is 20 times stronger than steel.
Kagome's advanced bio-engineered silk is 30 times stronger than
steel. It is about 4 to 5 times better than kevlar armor. Her
Kimono? Nothing has even penetrated it. (And she has tested it
against all man-made attacks.)

Author's note: cameras.

Why?

Government officials should be acting on their best behavior and
making decisions for the better of the group. If they are on the
screen, all the time, they will, at least, act on their best
behavior and act for the better of the group. (This doesn't stop
corruption, but, Kagome, at least, thinks it helps to limit it.
She, by the way, doesn't think that you can eliminate corruption
100%. Too many greedy/stupid people. So, she tries to limit it.
Plus, why should an official object to being on the screen? Are
you trying to hide something?)

Do some of them play to the cameras? Sure. But, that is
considered bad, embarrassing behavior, and, the official
will/should be punished for disrespect of the office he holds.

Beginning in 1850-60 decade, Kagome ordered all government
offices to have cameras in them, and all cameras would broadcast
onto the computer net. (Normally there is a small delay in case
some special security reason exists to prevent the broadcast from
going out.)

Kagome's household live broadcasts, is unusual, but, she can
signal when to cut the broadcast for security reasons. (People
want to see her, so she gives them that.) The signals from
rooms/corridors that she is not in, have a one hour delay for
security editing. (And while she acknowledges that some editing
must take place, she does watch the amount of editing that
happens, and if it is more than she thinks is needed, the
security officials will have to explain their reasons to her.)
How can the people follow her example, if they can't see her?

So, if you want to know what your local police are doing? You
just go to their website, and you can watch them. You want to
watch the decision making process on which company gets the road
repair contract? Go right ahead.


And if you see something that looks wrong? There is a site to
send a message. (And there are rewards, some very large, for
helping to fight corruption/waste . . . )

Authors' note: Kimono (clothing) patterns:

In real life Japanese history (and European, Islamic, everywhere
really . . . ) there were laws detailing the types/patterns of
clothes that should be worn by various classes.

Since the Japanese empire in Kagome's world is an outgrowth of
that culture, those laws still exist. The empire-wide laws are
quite general (and mainly military dress codes), each individual
province and, even, each city will add in details.

(Punishment, if you are wearing a type of clothing that you
should not be? These are basically minor laws, so, some fines,
but basically public humiliation type punishment. Ie wearing
since you can't wear your real clothes, you can wear baby or
children clothes for a week, that type of thing.)

These laws can, and do get, very very petty.

If you want an analogy, consider them similar to military
regulations on dress-codes, medals, rank badges, etc. Generally
speaking, as you walk down a street in the Japanese Empire, you
can tell at a glance what is the job of the people you see.

(He's a doctor, she is a teacher, he is a carpenter, she is a
government official.) And, if you're knowledgeable about local
customs, you can tell, pretty much, exactly, what the job is, and
the persons' reputation in his job is. (He is a doctor, but, his
clothing pattern is very simple, like that of a beginning doctor.
However he appears to be an old man, so, his ability as a doctor
may not be all that good. If it was, his clothing pattern would
be more complex, high quality, etc. reflecting his time as a
doctor.)

There are some general clothing patterns that everyone can wear
without any problems. And, especially for children and old
retires, if you want to add in a personal modification to your
clothes, that is allowed.

Authors' note: wall sections

The wall art comes from schools of the Empire. Kagome's officials
will send out basic sketches and each school's art class will
send, to the local priest, their best wall-art section. (Rooms,
since they are complete themes, are done as a group.) The wall
sections are judged, and the best ones are sent to Kagome's
household. (The lesser ones grace other government offices, until
new ones are made.) The school feels a huge amount of pride and
accomplishment, if their art is chosen.

Once they are removed from her household, the sections are sent
back to the school. The school can do with them as they wish.
Some treat them as trophies, some donate them to the local temple
(which uses them as holy relics), some sell them to collectors
that want something that was part of Kagome's house.

Authors' note: Ki headband.

Kagome's scientists, about 75 years ago, came up with a tech
device that allows a person (any person) to change their ki, or
souls, into energy and throw magical appearing fireballs/bolts.
The device is called the Ki headband.

It is the best attack method against magic or magic-based
monsters known.

But.

Once activated, though, most humans, can NOT stop it. It sucks
out your soul, changes it into energy and destroys whatever it
hits.

Trained (highly skilled martial artists and highly skilled
meditative monks) users can control it. But even they can only
use it once, twice, maybe up to three or four times, before they
collapse. It is so hard to control.

Recent improvements (making the fuses very, very delicate so it
short-circuits before it sucks out the soul) has allowed it to be
part of the military basic training.

It works, giving a strong attack, that burns out the device and,
it still causes the untrained/limited trained user to become
unconscious/very weak. But, it is the best attack against magic,
so the military, as part of basic training, tests everyone on it.
(Sometimes it's just got to be used in combat. There are times
when volunteers are asked for to use it, to save the unit.)

Sanura . . . Is special. She can use it, at will, with no
training, with no apparent limits. And, her ki-blast, at it's
weakest is equal to a hand grenade. At it's strongest, she turned
a tank into junk-metal.

Which is why she is part of Kagome's household. The scientists
want to test her to find out how/why. And so does Kagome. So she
was taken out of basic training and assigned to Kagome's
household.



And while she's part of the household, Kagome assigned her to her
daughters' bodyguard unit. (She is about the same age as her
youngest daughter, so Kagome thought that might help her adjust.)


Thank you for reading
jeff shelton