InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Art of Tea - ON HOLD ❯ The Art of Tea - Chapter 12 - Leaves of Tea ( Chapter 14 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

DISCLAIMER - The ownership and general brilliance that is the original Feudal Fairy Tale remains the property of its honored and rightfully revered creator Rumiko Takahashi without whose brilliance, we would not have fodder.

Reviews are fuel.

Namaste

By: ElegantPaws

Edited by: Meara the Celt

Chapter Twelve is dedicated to Rainjoyous, who does not write in the Inuyasha Fandom at all, but the FMA world. The woman writes love so excruciatingly beautiful that it brings tears. She understands balance and has a gift with words. One of the most stirring final paragraphs I have ever read by anyone that touched my heart is written by her and about, of all things, peanut brittle, a faded sunset and the restful sleep of two lovers. I beg you indulgence with the following:

“The autumn touched the glass of the window with cold hands, breathed her breath of memories, smoke and burnt sugar, the distant shrieks of the laughter of last year and the year before and always the year before. And when she left the lovers to sleep, she walked frosty footprints over the grass and breathed brittle cold into the veins of the leaves, as delicate as the lines on the palm, and hugged her aging arms around herself and turned her face to the sky, to wait for the winter.”

This marked the moment… I fell in love with Rainjoy's writing.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

" ~ The best quality tea must have creases like the leathern boot of Tartar horsemen, curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine, gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr, and be wet and soft like a fine earth newly swept by rain.~ "

--- Lu Yu ---

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Chapter 12 - Leaves of Tea

A ghostlike puff of smoke left Kagura's lips as she stood beneath the moonlight's glow. She hurriedly dropped the cigarette and crushed its remains under her boot when the dark-haired male drew nearer.

She still could not see him fully, but knew the gait. The wind sorceress breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar figure bore down on her. He looked confused.

Inuyasha's movements were staccato - frenetic by comparison to that of his elder brother's unhurried and deliberate saunter. Where Inuyasha's spoke of raw, as yet untutored strength and virility, Sesshoumaru's stride was that of a seasoned predator, lethal in its quiet sensuality and pace.

It spoke volumes of their respective characters the simple act of walking from A to B. Kagura instantly recalled the reunion with the brothers Taishou on a mountainside just before dawn.

Again to character, Inuyasha had heard her desperate screams. So had Sesshoumaru, the difference being their respective reactions to the plea.

Inuyasha giving it no further thought had scrambled over the side, oblivious to the fact there was no way back up.

She had been left for dead by Naraku.

By choice Inuyasha now shared her peril. Both dangled precariously by his right arm, human nails bloodied with the effort of holding them aloft. The arm she held on to was useless and probably broken, but he insisted she hold on to it nonetheless.

The Taiyoukai had looked over the narrow, rocky outcropping indifferently. Cool, citrine eyes gleaned at the information that at any moment the female below and possibly his brother would fall to the rocky surface beneath to their ultimate death before dawn's light.

There was with very little in the way of interest in his expression as he looked up to the sky.

Kagura had never thought to see the handsome visage of the western lord again and for the second time in their respective existence, she felt small, fragile and no more than fodder beneath his exalted feet. She had tried desperately to remove her hand from Inuyasha's then, preferring to fall to her death than bear the cold dispassionate gaze above.

If death was the price, she would owe the Taiyoukai nothing. She would die with honor; but that was not to be.

Amidst the echoes of suppressed groans, dripping sweat and blood, a cool, deep baritone spoke from above.

Sesshoumaru crouched at the edge, turning his head speculatively from side to side, arms extended over his knees, and a malicious grin on his lips as he pondered.

“Hmmmm… definitely inferior,” he mused aloud as he shifted his foot, releasing loosened rocks which tumbled over the cliff's unstable edge. The debris caused Inuyasha to lower his head, taking the brunt of the falling rocks, one sharp shard grazing Kagura's brow with a gash.

“Step back! If you're not going to help, move the fuck back,” snarled the dark-haired male, spitting coppery blood. His arm was trembling from the strain and he did not know how much longer he could hold them both. `The pain… how did humans stand this weakness?'

The western lord gazed impassively at the two struggling beings in the darkness.

“It took centuries to grow this arm back and I managed quite ably with one. Your inferior bloodline is telling, Inuyasha. This Sesshoumaru can see that any moment you will fall, thereby negating father's wishes.”

Inuyasha roared. “You son-of-an-unfeeling-bitch! When I get up there, you are going to regret you were ever born!”

Sesshoumaru quirked his brow and blinked. “Did I hear you correctly, half-breed? Get up here? How exactly do you propose to do that? As it stands I can sense your fear and smell it too. When was the last time you showered? You offend this Sesshoumaru.”

It is said that real strength is not of muscle, bone and sinew, but of the heart. Inuyasha found his residual strength in that moment as his growl echoed across the mountainside and his arm was wrenched with a force of will, dislocating it from its socket as his legs trembled from the strain of climbing upward.

The pain was so intense he could not see. Still, he moved and he moved and he moved, ever upward toward the offending low murmurs. He inched ever closer to his goal of retribution, uncaring now that he could no longer feel the arm that held the sorceress. Golden eyes peered at him from the edge as dawn broke and he lunged with renewed strength at the Taiyoukai, taking Kagura with him back up and into life.

Sesshoumaru lay flat on his back and continued to look impassively at him, citrine eyes blinking sporadically as the sun's rays enhanced their glow to a rich honey.

Only then did Inuyasha recognize what his elder brother had been doing with his taunts.

“I think tea, don't you?” said the Taiyoukai, easily dislodging the hanyou from his youkai, before giving the female a cursory look. “Bring her back to the house. Have Jaken see to your respective hygiene. This Sesshoumaru intends to patrol his new property post tea.”

With that he strolled casually down the hillside, leaving the two beings in his wake to fend for themselves, a new allegiance having been formed.

The gravel beneath his boots crunched bringing the sorceress from her reverie to the present.

She blinked removing the requisite sunshades, which, though impractical at night, did much for the outfit overall and disguised the natural vermillion of her eyes from human curiosity.

“Where have you been?”

“Don't start, Windy.”

“The Taiyoukai…I, we have been worried.”

Inuyasha snorted. “Him? Worried about me? Nah…too selfish for that,” he chuckled as the wind's direction suddenly changed, and the toothy grin froze on the hanyou's face.

“Oh shit! Here it comes!” he moaned, steadying himself as he planted both feet and folded his arms, ready for the inevitable contretemps.

“INUYASHA!”

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Kagome signed with relief; the bill did not appear to be as formidable as she originally thought. In for a penny, in for a pound; she left a generous tip, well pleased he had not argued the point. For a moment there she saw the obstinacy in his eyes and then before she could look around, he had disappeared.

She looked about her, then toward the restrooms. He had to be there.

Tapping the Maitre'D on the shoulder, she spoke ingratiatingly. “When the gentleman returns, could you tell him I'll be out front, please?”

The portly little man returned her winsome smile with a deep, chivalrous bow and fussed with her shawl, tutting as he adjusted it.

“Of course, Miss.”

“Thank you,” Kagome said trying to suppress a giggle, remembering the little man's face when he overheard the dark-haired woman ask for the check. The uncharitable and disappointed glare he had given Sesshoumaru was priceless.

She had to give him credit. Sesshoumaru had surprised her, pleasantly so, by not saying something cutting which she knew was on the tip of his acerbic tongue.

The closer she came to the large doors that lead to the portico, the louder the voices became. One was definitely female and the other a male, clearly irritated.

Kagome looked nervously about her, unsure if perhaps she should wait on Sesshoumaru after all. Whatever was going on out front probably needed the attention of the owner. Just as she decided to fetch help, she heard a familiar growl. The very same one she had heard in the tea house a matter of a day before.

Sesshoumaru was growling at someone and there was an even stronger likelihood he was the cause of the ruckus.

The other male was snarling.

“Oh Kami,” Kagome sighed and set off at a trot, only to be stopped by an out-stretched gloved hand, the hand that belonged to the female chauffeur.

“What the hell?”

The chauffeur removed her cap, but not her shades and bowed to the dark-haired woman apologetically.

“They do this at times, Miss Higurashi. You need not concern yourself. The car is this way,” Kagura indicated in a deferential tone, grasping the petite woman's upper arm in a vice like grip.

Kagome tugged her arm away violently and turned on the driver as the dark-haired man yelped and let loose a rather vulgar oath accompanied by a back flip.

Excited cheers were heard from within the restaurant as various patrons stared out of the tall windows and others came out onto the portico with bottles of wine and critiqued the various holds. One older man in particular almost put out an eye with a fork full of pasta in the general excitement at the spectacle provided free of charge. It gave a new meaning to the term dinner and a show.

“You're just going to let them kill each other?!” she said to no one in particular, marching toward the fray.

She had no idea how exactly she was going to break it up, but if none of the others had the balls to, she would.

The smaller of the two with dark hair was struggling valiantly but it was obvious he was outmatched by the lunatic with the silver mane, who hadn't even broken a sweat. For some reason they both reminded her of rather vicious puppies at play; all teeth and snarls.

Her little growl was lost in the background of more cheering and some colorful expletives with respect to interfering women, as Sesshoumaru pinned the dark-haired male to the gravel, his knee in small of his back.

“This is not the Roman forum people! Get back to your dinners!” she yelled, suddenly less fearful and now just plain irritated by the embarrassing spectacle. It hit her in a cold wave then and she stopped moving, instead turning to take a gander at the men in the portico.

`Naaahhh, not possible.'

She had been watching too many mob movies of late.

They all thought this was a show.

So money was changing hands and it was her imagination that when one man in particular reached for his wallet in his jacket pocket she only imagined she had seen a revolver. Of course, that was it. Something in their respective countenances brought to mind that perhaps, just perhaps, the police had been seriously remiss in their duties for not sending out an all points bulletin for their immediate arrests.

The fact that it had suddenly become deafeningly quiet behind her did not register as she continued to stare unadvisedly at the men. The glee with which they watched made her blood run cold as she backed into a hard, warm surface.

“Sessh-Sesshoumaru?” she squeaked involuntarily, hoping against hope she was right.

Insane, and quite possibly suffering from anger management issues, he might be a danger, but at least he was a danger she knew.

Violet eyes looked down at her through dark, sweaty bangs and insanely thick lashes. He looked a bit like Sesshoumaru, the difference being his features were malleable and lacking the stoicism and cold calculation always prevalent.

“Nah, that's jerk face, I'm Inuyasha, his half-brother,” the craggy voice said, spitting sand and gravel on his formerly pristine white shirt. He then brushed it off distractedly, spotting a rip.

The tall male sniffed and adjusted his cuffs. “Unfortunately.”

“Oi! You're paying for this shit, by the way. I just bought it yesterday,” Inuyasha pointed at the offending hole, before adjusting his sleeves and tucking one side of his shirt in.

Kagome noticed he did not seem to feel the other side required his immediate attention as he strode like a young cockerel toward the chauffeur and the open door.

Sesshoumaru adjusted his lapels in a dignified manner, as though nothing untoward had occurred.

“It was ill-fitting anyway. This Sesshoumaru did you a favor.”

Inuyasha stopped at the car's door and waved a hand dismissively.

“What-the-fuck-ever. See ya at home.”

“Not if I see you first, importunate whelp,” Sesshoumaru murmured under his breath as he strode toward the shell-shocked female.

“I heard that!” were the final words as the car hurriedly sped off, effectively ending the floor show for all the patrons but the four who remained in the portico.

“Kagome? May I escort you home?” Sesshoumaru asked politely.

She blinked, her mouth opening and closing as she pointed in the direction of the slowly dimming rear lights of the car cresting the hill.

Sesshoumaru followed her little digit with a serious contemplative expression, but not before giving a long, lingering look at the four in the portico, who suddenly felt the need to retreat into the restaurant quickly.

“Ahhh…that…uuuummmm…” she sputtered as she was gently led toward a dark Jaguar, whose lights flashed as he opened the door via remote. Kagome was carefully lifted into the plush seat, the scent of fine leather the color of churned butter and his cologne wafting to her nostrils. The seatbelt was next as he carefully tightened it about her, his hair tickling her face as she moved forward into the spun silk and closed her eyes. His lips quirked upward as he traced a run in her hose with one digit, stopping short of her dress' hem with a leer.

“Don't even think about it, Mister Taishou. You have much explaining to do,” Kagome said crossing her legs in a puritanical manner, exposing even more shapely leg and a well-turned ankle.

The smirk had yet to leave his face.

“As you wish, Miss Higurashi,” he said, carefully closing the door.

It was pure instinct that made her do it, as she unfastened her belt and reached for his door to open it.

He paused. She saw his fingers work in thought as he opened it and eased his long form in and gave her a querulous, almost frightened look. However, like before, he kept whatever thought he had to himself.

“Buckle up.”

She did in silence.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

The slam of a car door caused Sango to start as she sat up in strange bed, alone. She clutched soft sheets with a white-knuckle grip as her eyes became dark accustomed and she could see in the dim light. She heard hushed voices below, footsteps and a familiar chuckle of greeting.

It was Miroku's voice.

Quietly and carefully she climbed out of bed and padded across the plush carpeting to peer at the beings below. The evening came back to her in a flash.

Long fingers passed frantically through her loose hair. “Oooohhhh Shit! Shit! Shit! Sango, you moron! What have you done?”

Three sets of eyes, two suspiciously mauve looking, turned up toward the bedroom window.

Sango hid behind the curtains, uncomfortably aware of her nakedness as she wondered about the three below, particularly the woman.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but her eyes, they looked so odd in the moon's light. Very eerie.

Inuyasha's gaze returned to his friend's face. “Can't help yourself can you?” he snickered.

“Gentlemen, if you will excuse me.” Kagura bowed, handing the keys to Inuyasha before tripping up the stairs to the main door, her duties done for the night.

He glowered at her uniformed back. “I'm tired too, ya know?”

Miroku shook his head. Some things never changed.

“I'll do it. Make some tea and meet me in the kitchen. You have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Make your own damn tea. I'm going to bed,” Inuyasha retorted mid-stride. He threw the key in the general direction of his friend, sniffing the air suspiciously.

“Where is everyone?”

“Long story; make the tea.”

He watched the vehicle head for the car port with resignation. It didn't look like he was ever going to get sleep tonight. `Cause knowing Old Starch Drawers, he would be home soon and round two would begin without prying ningen eyes.

Then again, it would be dawn soon and he would be no worse for wear.

A wickedly impish smile came over Inuyasha's face as he touched the tender spot on his lower jaw and passed his tongue over his cut lip.

“Your ass is mine, Lord Fluffy.”

~~~~TAoT~~~~

“It's like pulling teeth talking to you. Do you know that?” Kagome said in frustration as she turned the key in the door. “Wait here. I have to turn off the alarm,” she said, bending in an attempt to take off her shoes.

“Woooooo! Put me down!”

A set of gilded eyes looked back at her blankly as strong hands scooped her up and adjusted her pearls. “Why ruin the other hose?”

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. You're just attempting to cop a feel,” she said winding her arms around his neck as she was lifted over the threshold of the shop's doorway and carried towards the alarm… too late as it happened.

She grimaced. Grandfather had not changed it after all to a silent alarm.

Fortunately, the cacophony was short lived as Sesshoumaru stepped into the breach to silence the offending electronic device, but not before half the side street was awoken from sound sleep and windows were opened looking for the source of the noise.

Kagome, currently from the vantage of the tatami covered floor, glared at the back of the silver menace's head with intent to kill as he extricated a large fist from the newly formed hole in the wall.

She continued to rub her abused butt cheeks while she levered herself to her knees in silence and carefully padded over to the counter and speed dialed the security company.

The dark-haired female spoke in a hushed, patient manner (that truly she was not feeling) before replacing the receiver with shaking hands.

She had yet to lift her head to look at the insane life form that stood in front of her.

Her spine tingled as she began to shake with suppressed rage, just as she heard rapid footsteps coming down the inner stairs.

It was Mrs. Lee with her trusty bat and the worst case of bed head Kagome had ever seen.

Sesshoumaru snarled at the elderly woman, who raised her bat higher and squinted at him.

His right brow lifted a fraction at her sheer audacity and a modicum of respect as she placed Kagome behind her and continued to narrow her eyes at the dog demon in threat.

“You go now!” she said in a cracked weathered voice, pointing the bat's tip at the western lord.

The white prince was of two minds. It would not do to act on the first, so he took the latter course and easily removed the bat from her hands, breaking it in two with a menacing glare reserved for the elderly woman, who tried to push Kagome toward the inner doors in terror.

“It's okay, go to bed, Mrs. Lee. I'll be up shortly,” Kagome assured tiredly, looking up at the western lord for the first time.

Sesshoumaru saw fatigue and resignation in her face as she quietly stepped past him and moved toward the door.

“At least you haven't damaged that,” Kagome chuckled without mirth as she held the handle of the door and waved him out. “I think we are even?”

“Even?”

“Yes.” Kagome removed the chopsticks as her hair cascaded down her back in waves.

Sesshoumaru was mesmerized by the shimmering waves of onyx that settled in the small of her back. His fingers twitched.

Kagome raised her long fingers to her lips and began to count.

“By my reckoning, Mister Taishou, the cost of fixing the wall, getting a new system and having it done on a Sunday, double-time, makes us entirely even.”

“This Sesshoumaru hardly thinks, ” he began as she raised her index finger.

“That is quite obvious. If you would please leave. You've done quite enough for one night. This Kagome is very tired and in need of sleep.”

His heart raced as an unfamiliar feeling hit him that had nothing to do with his pride and he brushed past her as the door practically closed on his heel and the shutter was drawn.

Sesshoumaru looked up at the star-filled sky as the moon he could no longer see beneath silver grey clouds mocked him in her vigil, aware he could not risk flight.

He knew she was pressed against the door awaiting his retreating footsteps, confusion and anger in her heart.

Stiffening his back the western lord walked away in meditative silence.

A small figure, spray cans in tow, looked confusedly up to the second floor, then back at the Jaguar in anger. `No one is ever to make his Kagome sad.'

He began to shake the can with a mischievous grin. It was time to find a new canvas for his art.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Dawn came to the pastoral peace of Taishou Estate. All remained at rest but for its owner. Clad in denim and knee-deep in his sounding pool, he adjusted rocks in the stream, a thin sheen of sweat covering his exposed torso as he rested and sipped his morning Darjeeling.

He closed his eyes listening to the flow of water over rock and gravel. It remained dissonant to his elfin ears.

Placing the cup down, Sesshoumaru crouched, adjusting the second boulder a fraction of an inch; moderately better but for the sudden intrusive opening of the shoji that lead out to his private garden.

The Taiyoukai closed his maroon lids in annoyance at the frenetic aura that stood above him on the deck.

The sound of claws scratching and the crack of a spine foreshadowed speech.

“You're nuts. You know that right?” the hanyou said around a yawn and a stretch before crouching and looking toward the early morning sun.

“Have you nothing better to do?”

Inuyasha snorted. “I could ask you the same thing, brother. How long have you been doing this? Sixty years give or take maybe? Has it occurred to you it will never sound good to your stupid ears cause that ain't the problem?”

Another yawn.

Sesshoumaru pivoted but remained crouched. He was not going to give the wretched whelp the satisfaction.

Eyes the color of the sun at its zenith looked back at him with amused warmth.

“So, who is she?”

“Higurashi Kagome, the new proprietress of the Art of Tea.”

Inuyasha's speculative gaze darkened as he watched the almost imperceptible shift of his brother's jaw muscles in profile.

“Ooooooh, now that makes sense. She's human, I think.”

“How observant. Your time on earth has not been an entire waste.”

A single lotus blossom caught the Taiyoukai's eye in the middle of the pond in the terrace below the stream, the intensity of its color and velvety texture reminding him of her lips.

Sesshoumaru abruptly stood and faced the crouching male with his imposing height.

“Where have you been?”

Inuyasha shrugged.

“Around. Tentacle Boy is back, as you know. I think he is after your woman and the book.”

“Again, not completely lacking in intelligence. I've underestimated you.”

Ignoring the comment, Inuyasha rose to his full height with a smirk on his lips.

“You want her and it has nothing to do with the book.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. “Miss Higurashi is not my woman.”

The shoji opened, revealing a fully dressed Miroku in dark trousers and black silk pull over.

“Not yet.”

Inuyasha snickered as he winked at his friend and looked at his brother's midsection dispassionately.

“Ya think it still works? He's kinda out of practice.”

It was one thing to put up with his brother's inane and rather juvenile sense of humor, it was quite another, seeing the same speculation reflected in the premiere Man-Whore Mouth Piece's face.

“It'll come back to him. It's like riding a horse,” Miroku assured with a smirk.

Inuyasha did not look in the least bit re-assured.

“I'm telling ya. Should'a kept a concubine or two. She deserves more than a two min-”

Miroku covered his eyes. If there was one thing Inuyasha had apparently not learned, it was when to leave well enough alone. Perhaps he should have told him last night the word concubine was a no go until his boss had won his fair maid.

The water wasn't really that deep and Inuyasha had great lung capacity as a hanyou. He would leave them to it. There was the minor issue of Naraku to attend to. That is, if he hadn't gotten out on his own with the help of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Kagome awoke with a dry mouth and a throbbing head. The sound of a high-pitched clarion in her ears; a clarion that apparently kept moving up and down on her bed with fragrant cups of Darjeeling.

A bleary bloodshot eye opened and took a minute to focus. It turned out not to be a clarion after all, but Sango with two cups of tea and frantic eyes.

“You won't believe what I did last night. No wait, you might,” Sango said somewhat flustered as she glanced around the room. She looked suspiciously at Buyo who appeared asleep, having spent the night “birding” and now slept with an innocent expression on his double-chinned feline face.

Sango leaned forward conspiratorially. “I slept with him,” she whispered, pressing her fingers to Kagome's lips.

Now fully awake, Kagome's stomach sank at the revelation. “You WHAT?!” she bellowed in Sango's face, not realizing she was clutching her friend by the neck with a preternatural grip.

“He's mine!”

The coach's eyes bugged as she strained to tear the fingers from her throat. “Kag-kagome, plea…ase…you're chok-chok-ing me.”

Her grip slackened. This had to be a dream, she thought as she looked at her hands, then burst into tears.

Sango carefully rose and backed away from her friend, nearly tripping over the book at her feet. Something was terribly wrong and she was sure it had to do with that prematurely gray menace.

She knew no good would have come from this.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Jaken bustled about the kitchen with a cold compress tied in an undignified manner about his chin, barking orders at the kitchen maid. Things had gone down hill in his absence by the looks of things. There were three half-eaten cheesecakes and more chocolate milk containers than was expressly decent for a growing child to consume, and in every cupboard candies of all description.

He inspected the scrambled eggs, bulbous eyes checking the portion of buttered toast with suspicion before waving the help toward the door.

“Fine, take it through and absolutely no marmalade. She is impossible on a sugar high.”

The kappa rolled his eyes, placing a clawed hand to his chest.

Rin would be the death of him.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

“So that's why the alarm guys are here? I came through the back and Mrs. Lee handed me the cups and shooed me upstairs.”

Though it had been a clear misunderstanding, Sango took no chances and sat on the stool in the far corner of the bathroom as she spoke to her friend in the shower. She could still feel the pincer like grip about her neck.

There were times she seriously wondered about her friend who could go from calm to near apoplectic in under thirty seconds.

Kagome moved the shower curtain and smiled sheepishly at Sango who jumped.

“Don't worry. I won't bite. Hand me the towel.”

Sango reached for the folded towel and snapped it. The diary, the same one that she had nearly tripped over tumbled out.

Both women froze.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Sesshoumaru peered over his paper, Rin was toying with her food, very little of it making it to her lips as she sniffled and coughed.

“Eat.”

The little girl placed the smallest morsel between her lips and chewed protractedly before swallowing. She grimaced.

“Is something wrong with the food?” The Taiyoukai inquired, carefully refolding the paper and placing it by his plate.

She shook her head and placed another morsel of scrabbled egg to her lips, repeating the ritual with pained swallow, before offering a gap-toothed smile.

“Come here immediately, child,” Sesshoumaru commanded imperiously, cold citrine noting the lethargy in her movements.

`The tiresome little human is ill.'

Rin stood in front of the Taiyoukai, head lowered. One clawed finger lifted her chin as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

`She is burning up; Jaken's fault entirely for neglecting his charge.'

“JAKEN!”

A loud crash from the kitchen followed the call.

Though deep, pleasing and resonant, Rin always found it slightly unnerving when the western lord chose to bark for his retainer so close to her ears. Still, he had kissed her and that brought a small smile to her face as she looked up at him affectionately.

Sesshoumaru blinked down at the little human like a dead codfish before sliding his gaze to the door. He was having none of it.

“You will sit on this Sesshoumaru's lap until the reptilian deigns to make his way here and take you back to your room to rest. He will serve thin soup; you must have nourishment.”

“Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru.” She sniffed into her sleeve and sat quietly.

“Hnnn.”

They both waited silently for the appearance of the kappa. Rin leaned back against the Taiyoukai's chest with a sigh, his chin inclining a fraction toward her little head.

`Tiresome… these humans. If it isn't one thing, it is another.'

~~~~TAoT~~~~

`This was tiresome,' Kagome thought as she stood outside the shop. So far today she had spent close to $2,000 dollars on the new installation, opting for state-of-the-art.

Now this. It didn't help that Sango was in near hysterical laughter as she took off down the alley on her bike; so much for commiseration and the bonds of friendship.

Of course it would be his car. The tow truck hoisted it, having released the break, that is, after having broken the window to do so, another expense. Thank the Kami for Oshi and his colorful past.

Don't ask. Don't tell.

Sesshoumaru, with luck, would be none the wiser when the car was returned in the promised hour, fresh and spanking clean, devoid of spray paint.

Knowing Mister Taishou was growing inordinately expensive.

Then there was the matter of the diary and the Tansu and the gift that lay on the counter as yet undelivered. She would deal with the little `artist' later. There was the matter of the morning ritual of tea as yet undone.

With slumped shoulders Kagome walked through the door of the Art of Tea.

She had an appointment to keep, come rain or shine, with a rather large shrub.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

“Summon the healer and be quick about it.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

The kappa scurried from the room, leaving the Taiyoukai with the little girl.

Sesshoumaru stood uncomfortably by Rin's bedside keeping vigil with a stony gaze at the far wall.

A little hand tugged the tip of his linen shirt.

“Do not pull, tug, or otherwise interfere with this Sesshoumaru's youkai without his permission, Rin. We have discussed this before.”

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is sorry.”

He gave the child what he hoped was a condescending glare.

“Hmmm, what is it?”

“Will you read to Rin?” she asked in a small apologetic voice, pointing at the diminutive bookshelves by the window.

He knew which book she wanted: `Little Red Riding Hood'.

The child had an unhealthy obsession with wolves; curious, he thought while retrieving the book and sitting in the over-sized rocker.

Rin sneezed.

“Rin is sorry,” she sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

Sesshoumaru shuddered, uncoiling himself from the rocker and placing the box of tissues on her lap, then hesitantly sat beside her on the bed, wiping her nose efficiently.

“Cover your mouth in future and the correct phrase is I am sorry.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Excellent, shall we begin?”

Rin grinned from ear to ear.

Sesshoumaru released a long suffering sigh and deposited the wet tissue in the bin by her bedside.

Apparently it was to be a very long Sunday. He had never looked forward to work more. And then there was his car's retrieval. The Lord would see to that himself, perhaps later in the afternoon.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

“Oshi, a bonsai?”

“Hai.”

Kagome quirked her brow in confusion. “But it isn't Friday. I thought I only did this on Fridays?”

The older man gave a sheepish smile to his mistress. “What did the book say, my lady?”

“Well, it didn't actually say anything. It was just a drawing of a stylized moon and the ink drawing of a bonsai, today's date and his name.”

“Anything else?” Oshi pursed his lips in thought.

Kagome's jaw stiffened as she eyed the small man across the kitchen table.

“No and if you want me to be honest, I'm not sure you didn't write it yourself. Please tell me you aren't playing matchmaker like Mrs. Lee?” Kagome furrowed her brows and slumped in the chair. This was too much. “I don't understand how it works. Grandfather was a Guji, but it doesn't explain the book, or its contents. The pages move by themselves and it doesn't matter where I look, it says or shows the same thing.”

Oshi nodded. “Yes, yes. It is your guide, Miss Higurashi.”

They both heard the toll of the bell; someone had entered the store. She heard Mrs. Lee's quiet greeting.

Kagome knew instantly it was Houjo before the door had closed. It was funny, but from childhood she could sense the auras of those she cared about. It was another oddity of her life that was not easily explained.

“Houjo's here,” she offered, getting up to pour more tea for the new guest who would eventually make his way to the kitchen.

Dark eyes stared up at her with trepidation. “How much do you really know of your family, Miss Higurashi?”

This marked the first time Oshi had ever spoken to her this way and it caused chills to course up and down her spine with a sudden memory of her grandfather walking in the fields of a grand estate, his companion a tall, graceful looking being dressed in white.

Kagome might have been four or maybe five and she had only seen them from behind, but something about the man did not look of this world. She saw his profile fleetingly. He looked like an angel with his strange markings, noble bearing, and long silver-white hair blowing in the gentle breeze...

“Higurashi-sama!”

A loud, resounding crash and wet heat at her socked feet and the worried call of her name caused Kagome to blink in stupor, finally registering the dashed teapot on the kitchen floor.

Her fingers had faltered, releasing the porcelain teapot, which smashed on the ceramic floor, loose tea strewn in the design of a crescent moon.

It was Sesshoumaru.

Oshi stood; in his hands was the open pages of the book and a single word etched in bold hand.

“Yes.”

~~~~TAoT~~~~

“It is a simple cold, my lord. Nothing she will not pass through,” Kaede said tiredly. When Jaken had appeared at her home in the woods, she had assumed something far worse. Time had not been kind to the ancient healer who practiced an art long forgotten in this world. She was, to her knowledge, the last of her kind, a miko. None would come after her. Their existence was merely myth in the modern world, or figure heads devoid of true powers.

“Her breathing is erratic and she sweats,” Sesshoumaru said accusingly.

“She has a chest cold,” Kaede answered the Taiyoukai patiently.

“Do something,” was the imperious command.

Kaede's good eye looked down on the sleeping child. “I have left instructions for her care. The attendant need only keep her warm, keep fluids in her at all times and simple modern aspirin. Her fever will break soon. She is a healthy child.”

A weathered hand passed over the pale, damp forehead.

“Let her sleep. She will be fine, Lord Sesshoumaru. Surely she has had a cold before?”

“Not to this Sesshoumaru's knowledge.”

Rin's bedroom door opened a crack. “That's cause you're never home to see it.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes swiveled to the door frame's occupant. “Leave, Inuyasha.”

The hanyou rolled his eyes. “Relax, you got a phone call. I think it's that hot little number you've been sniffing.”

Kaede blushed beneath her weathered tan. “Inu-Yasha-sama.”

The western lord gave a perfunctory bow to the healer.

“If you will excuse me, I must take this call,” he stated and exited the room, practically tripping over his own feet in his haste.

Inuyasha stooped, passing his fingers over the plush rug with a questioning look.

“Lord Inuyasha?”

He looked up at the elderly woman, still confused. “He tripped. Sesshoumaru actually tripped.”

Kaede smiled, she knew the signs. It was about time too.

`So his granddaughter had come of age.'

There was hope; she mightn't be the last Miko.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Sesshoumaru's hand hovered over the cradled phone in the hallway, its light blinking impatiently.

“You gonna pick that up any time soon?” Inuyasha asked propping up the wall with folded arms, golden eyes quietly observant beneath his bangs.

“Privacy means nothing to you, does it?”

“Not a damn thing,” Inuyasha said with fanged grin. “Not a damn thing.”

The hanyou scratched his right ear and pursed his lips, keenly observing his brother in a new light. “Whatchya waitin' for anyway?”

“Thinking things through has never been your strong suit, Inuyasha.”

“And you do nothing but, Sesshoumaru.”

“Has it occurred to you, brother, demons live here?”

Inuyasha snorted.

“No shit, Sherlock,” Inuyasha responded sarcastically then paused, large, expressive golden eyes finally awakening as to why Sesshoumaru was stalling.

“Oh fuck! She doesn't know!?”

“No, she does not.”

Biting his lower lip, the hanyou spoke. “Plan on telling her? Kind of hard to hide this shit, especially while-”

“Not now, Inuyasha,” snarled the western lord impatiently. He didn't need reminding. Right now, his sole thought was how to best protect their respective lives in a world prone to ignorance and lack of acceptance of anything that challenged their understanding of reality.

In this era, they were outnumbered and a vanishing species.

Inuyasha raised his hands in surrender. “Do the illusion thing. You're good at it. For fuck's sake you do it every year when we have that Pansy-Assed Ball here.”

Sesshoumaru turned to face his brother. Inuyasha blinked and averted his gaze, his older brother looked tired, and confused. It was rare to see any form of actual emotion on Sesshoumaru's usually blank face.

“This Sesshoumaru had help then. It requires much concentration.”

He knew his elder sibling would not appreciate seeing worry reflected in the hanyou's eyes, so Inuyasha offered an olive branch of sorts instead.

“I'll put the word out a ningen is on the property and no one is to go strolling on the grounds, especially not Jaken. It'll be okay, Sesshoumaru.”

Cold citrine assessed his statement and picked up the receiver.

~~~~TAoT~~~~

Though large and foreboding, the main gates opened slowly, revealing a green and pleasant mist covered landscape of rolling hills, meandering streams and the most magnificent Japanese gardens Kagome had ever had the good fortune to see. There were even cranes, elegantly unfurling their wings to catch the sun's light streaming through the moisture laden air.

She gasped, clutching the red lacquered box to her chest in wonder, her legs refusing to move as she stood transfixed. Her eyes moved towards the main house. It too was traditional in design; simple, quietly opulent, it was a throw back to ancient times in its luxurious appointments and pristine refinement.

`Appropriate,' she thought, `for a feudal lord,' and chuckled.

He saw her, a small dark clad silhouette in the mist as yet unaware of his presence.

Sesshoumaru knew why. Her pearlescent aura danced with unabashed joy as she continued to look about her, thoroughly enraptured and for the time being speechless.

The western lord stealthily approached, parting the mist in his wake on silent feet. Each stride took him ever closer to his destiny. His eyes caressed her lithe form and the red box she clasped to her bosom protectively.

In that moment Kagome saw him; a tall figure in pale shirt and jeans, long legs striding powerfully toward her with purpose, his eyes unreadable from this distance. He glowed in the eerie light.

She knew then who that vision had been so many years before.

Kagome began to walk toward him slowly, meeting him stride for stride.

It was then he saw it, his pride and joy, hoisted by a thick rusty chain attached to a filthy, decrepit, equally rusty vehicle. His eyes narrowed. There was something equally wrong with the driver's side window. The tint was entirely off. They had replaced it. Sesshoumaru exhaled, willing himself to be calm as his gaze returned to the object she held out to him.

Of course, his eyes moved from her face to the object she held, then her inviting cleavage, or more accurately, the quote in red satin that emblazoned her one size too small t-shirt:

"Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.

Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

Kagome followed his gaze with a raised brow.

“Groucho Marx, if you're that interested. I tend to agree with the sentiments, don't you?”

The western lord pointedly ignored her attempt at levity, taking the box she held. He pivoted and proceeded to retrace his steps towards the main house.

“Follow,” echoed the commanding baritone as his figure was once more absorbed by the eerie mist.

“Control issues,” she murmured under her breath as she made a dash to catch up to the ghostlike figure before her.

As to be expected, she was met with the usual glare at her impudence, but with one small difference.

A large hand was extended to her and she took it without hesitation.

And so their Sunday began…

Author's Note:

This puppy is writing itself and I will no longer promise specifics in each segment. This is where and how it wants to go. It is my job to follow. I sincerely hope you enjoyed.

Until next time…the only thing I can promise is that it will be revelatory.

Namaste