InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Price ❯ Perseverance ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha; Rumiko Takahashi and a large publishing conglomerate hold his leash.

 

A/N: So sorry for the long wait for this chapter! Thanks very much for your patience!

 

Bouquets to my lovely betas, Ranuel and SilverOnTheRose; without their help, this chapter would still be languishing in the Hutch.

 

Warnings: Coarse language

 

The Price

Chapter Seventeen: Perseverance

 

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About forty minutes later…

 

“`What could go wrong?' he says… `It's been sealed for 500 years,' he says… `How tough can it be?' he says….”

 

“Shaddup, brat.”

 

Nursing his shoulder wound, Tenmaru shot his uncle a mutinous look. “If Aunt hadn't been there, this encounter could have had a very different outcome.”

 

“I know,” Sha muttered, picking a glistening thread of mucous out of his black hair and tossing it into the bushes, where it promptly slithered to the ground in a squirming heap.

 

“How're the ribs?”

 

“Tolerable… unlike a certain nephew.” Both hanyou carefully watched the brightly glowing young woman trudging silently ahead of them, her clothing glazed with slimy ash; by unspoken accord, they made up for her lack of participation in the conversation. “Hope the old geezer doesn't notice this thing's gone bust,” Sha said, hefting one of the broken halves of the wooden hibachi, its corroded copper lining resembling a worn layer of green paint.

 

“We'll have to ask Mr. Sota to remove it from the inventory lists,” Tenmaru suggested.

 

“Finding a replacement might be easier.”

 

When they reached the fence, Kagome slid through the crossbars without a backwards glance. Sha winced and held his breath as he followed suit, his injured ribs bitterly complaining. Just as he straightened up and stepped aside for Tenmaru, Sota appeared around the corner of the house and loped towards them, sword in hand. Intercepting his sister, the teen stooped to peer under her concealing bangs.

 

“Are you okay?” he softly asked. When Kagome clenched her fists at her side and shook her head, Sha and Tenmaru stopped in their tracks. Casting the two spell-concealed hanyou a quick glance, Sota moved closer. “What's the matter, Sis?”

 

Kagome raised her hands palms upward, displaying the vivid red grooves dug into the pale skin. “I wanted to use these hands to save people's lives… but all I've done so far is destroy,” she rasped.

 

“That's not true, Aunt,” Tenmaru interrupted, taking a step forward. “You saved Lady Buyo's life.”

 

“If I tried that now, I'd kill her,” she mumbled, and then the storm broke. Sota caught the sobbing young woman in a fierce hug, holding her tightly as if to shield her from the pain. Tenmaru closed his eyes and bowed his head, but Sha watched with a shadowed expression as someone else comforted his distraught wife.

 

Sota whispered gentle words into Kagome's sticky hair as he soothingly rocked her in his arms. It was a long time before she pushed away and wiped at her face; he brushed her bangs out of her eyes and asked, “What can we do to help?”

 

“Nothing… I have to figure this out on my own.”

 

“All by yourself? Forget that; there must be something,” he argued.

 

Smearing at her eyes, Kagome tried to think past the helpless static filling her brain, but the effort was too much. “I-I'm so confused right now,” she admitted. “I was so sure I had found a path earlier this morning, when I talked to Lord Nishiki… but now….”

 

“You're not alone, Sis,” Sota declared. “Let us help you carry this load.”

 

“I wish you could,” she morosely replied.

 

“What changed?”

 

“That frog-youkai… we assumed that he was evil, but maybe if we'd given him a chance….”

 

“The slippery creep was sealed away because he'd been devouring young women's souls,” Sha growled. “He wasn't exactly the talking type either because he went straight for you!”

 

Tenmaru cleared his throat, shooting Sha a warning look. “I agree that this situation might have been handled better, Aunt, but consider this; what if the seal had broken while you were elsewhere? The Tsukumo-no-Gama's targets might have included your lady mother… and imagine the mayhem if he had escaped the shrine grounds and begun attacking innocent women in the neighbourhood!”

 

Sota pulled Kagome close. “It doesn't matter whether an evil youkai falls to a sword or to your spiritual powers… in the end, you're saving lives, Sis.”

 

Sniffling loudly, she murmured, “When did you get so smart?”

 

“I dunno… must have had a good example or something,” he grinned before turning serious. “I meant it when I said you gotta let us help you.” Jerking his head in the direction of the two hanyou, he added, “Put these guys to work.”

 

“Just us, whelp?” Sha demanded. “What about you?”

 

The teen drew himself up, a glint in his eye. “I've been assigned to Miss Karin as Lord Nishiki's `liaison officer'.”

 

“No way.”

 

“Yes way,” Sota smirked, then sobered again as he addressed his sister. “Remember when I suggested that you talk to Lady Kikyo? Maybe you could try meditation.”

“How's that going to help?”

 

“Well, they say it's good for reaching `enlightenment',” he said. “Getting in touch with your `inner being' and all that. If you think of Lady Kikyo as your `inner being' and work on `enlightening' her with the truth about the day that she died, maybe she'll stop freaking out over silver-haired youkai and the Jewel will settle down.”

 

“It's worth a try,” Sha encouraged.

 

Tenmaru suddenly smacked his fist into his open palm. “I just figured out a way that I can assist, Aunt. I will ask Father's secretary to scan the contents of the scrolls that we're taking home, I can look for clues to the `right wish' tomorrow while we attend your classes.”

 

Sota nodded, then gave Sha a challenging look. “Any ideas, brother-in-law?”

 

Sha arched a dark eyebrow. “I'm a fighter, not a thinker, but if you tell me what you need, I'll do it.”

 

“Thanks,” Kagome said, managing a watery smile at her hanyou. “How's your grasp of the human nervous system? I just remembered that I have a project due on Friday.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

Upon their return to Western House, Tenmaru carted the crates of scrolls into the main building while Kagome and Sha made their way through the garden to Wisteria House. They'd barely removed their shoes and coats in the foyer before a runner galloped up the stairs and brightly informed them that dinner would be served shortly.

 

“I have so much reading to catch up on… and that project,” Kagome muttered unhappily.

 

“Dinners during the week aren't elaborate; at least, they weren't the last time I lived here,” Sha amended, carrying her backpack and book bag into the main room and dropping them next to the kotatsu.

 

“Mrs. Nishino did say that she'd accommodate my schedule; besides, I don't really feel up to cooking even miso soup tonight,” she admitted as she followed.

 

“You can have the bath first,” Sha suggested. “That frog-youkai slobber you're covered in is really starting to smell.”

 

Kagome pulled forward a clumped handful of hair to inspect the now-crunchy strands and grimaced. “That was easily the most disgusting experience of my life so far; thank goodness I only experienced the inside of his mouth instead of his stomach, too!”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

Dressed in clean yukata after their baths, Kagome and Sha followed the runner into the main house. “Wouldn't it be more convenient to just phone us?” Kagome wondered in an undertone as they took off their sandals in the foyer.

 

“Tradition,” Sha replied, making sure the magatama on his concealment anchor was centred on its cord. “There's quite a bit of it around the place.”

 

“I'm afraid I'll do something wrong,” she fretted.

 

“Don't… they cope with me,” he assured.

 

In the main room, they were seated on thick cushions around the kotatsu; Kagome gratefully tucked her legs beneath the silken quilt, mindful to leave a buffer between herself and Sha. They were shortly joined by Sesshiro and Tenmaru; as they exchanged greetings, the cushion next to the youngest hanyou remained empty, and Kagome swallowed hard. “How is Tsugane?” she managed to croak.

 

“He is steadily improving,” Sesshiro answered.

 

“We have begun scanning the documents, Aunt,” Tenmaru announced. “I'll load the first set onto my laptop and we're set for tomorrow.”

 

Mrs. Nishino arrived at that moment, along with several servants bearing trays of food and drinks. As platters of meat and bowls of vegetables were set on the table, she served the rice. Neatly mounding a scoop of the steaming grains into a bamboo frond-adorned bowl before handing it to Sesshiro, she directed her first question towards Kagome and Tenmaru. “Shall I make bento for you tomorrow?”

 

“Probably a good idea,” Tenmaru said, sniffing appreciatively at the meat before adding several slices to his plate. “Patronizing the izakaya is risky, since I am Aunt's sole guardian until Brother recovers.”

 

“You will have backup,” Sesshiro interjected. “Extra units have already been assigned.”

 

“Including me,” Sha declared. Turning to the housekeeper, he flashed an engaging smile. “Save the bento for the hanami picnic in a few weeks.”

 

“Very well, Lord Sha,” the dog-youkai beamed.

 

Kagome and Tenmaru exchanged glances. “Uncle, are you sure? Aunt's classes are fairly mind-numbing for the non-medically inclined,” he objected.

 

“I didn't say anything about hanging out in her classroom, did I?” Sha coolly replied, helping himself to a plate of green beans sprinkled with sesame seeds. “My schedule is flexible.”

 

Tenmaru blinked several times, but instead of pursuing this line of conversation, he instead addressed his father. “What are the plans regarding Miss Mifune?”

 

“The president of her college was easily persuaded to permit extra security on the campus,” the taiyoukai said. “The promise of a new library wing did wonders for his compliance.” Looking directly at Kagome, he added, “Your brother will also have bodyguards upon his return to classes.”

 

“Thank you, Elder Brother,” Kagome earnestly replied just as Tenmaru frowned at his dinner.

 

“When does Grandmother arrive?” he asked.

 

“After her Mediterranean cruise, she's off to cooking school in Tuscany,” Sesshiro answered. Noting Kagome's curiosity, he added for her benefit, “My lady mother is quite the world traveller; she will return to Western House in about five weeks' time.”

 

“We'll have moved out by then!” Sha declared emphatically.

 

“Uncle exaggerates,” Tenmaru said dismissively. “Grandmother isn't that bad.”

 

“Says her favourite grandson,” Sha sniffed. “Don't you get tired of being called `darling Ten-ten'?”

 

“My lady mother has always accommodated my wife's incarnations, Brother, and you must admit that she has mellowed towards you.”

 

“Only took her seven hundred years,” the hanyou retorted. “Hurry up and court Miss Mifune, already; might as well give the haughty old bitch two things to howl about.”

 

Sesshiro's eyebrow might have twitched over the less-than-flattering term applied to his parent, but instead he contemplated the middle distance. “Five weeks or less will be a challenge,” he said, half under his breath. The other three stared at him.

 

“Father?” Tenmaru nervously asked. “You surely aren't considering…?”

 

Sha jabbed a long finger across the table. “You don't want your mother taking over!” he barked. The taiyoukai suddenly looked shifty, and Kagome was startled by what appeared to be a faint blush staining Sesshiro's cheekbones.

 

Tenmaru drummed his fingertips on the table. “There would be some advantages to presenting Grandmother with a fait accompli… and make it easier from a security standpoint if Miss Mifune were to move here….”

 

“The old bitch wouldn't know whether to crap or go blind!” Sha crowed, looking far happier about the prospect of the lady's return than he had only a few moments before.

 

“Having Miss Mifune here would also assist Aunt,” Tenmaru mused. “Companionship, study partners, etcetera.”

 

“I don't have that much in common with Miss Mifune,” Kagome protested. “She's an heiress and I'm definitely not.”

 

“She has also suffered the traumatic loss of family,” the young hanyou quietly pointed out. “You are both reincarnations who have been reunited with your destined partners, and you are both humans entering a youkai household. I'd say you have some fairly significant things in common.”

 

Kagome gave him a weary look. “Quit being so right all of the time, Nephew.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

After dinner, Sha and Sesshiro settled down to a game of Go that included far more conversational trash-talking than Kagome was positive would be permitted in a serious salon. I guess I'll go back to Wisteria House and start my reading… and figure out how to complete that project before Friday.

 

“Lady Kagome? Would you be so kind as to accompany me into the kitchen?” Mrs. Nishino asked and she obeyed, only to be pumped for information on her favourite foods and flavourings. The genial interrogation continued for several minutes, until the housekeeper abruptly changed the topic by saying, “Lord Tsugane has asked for you, my lady.”

 

“Er….”

 

The dog-youkai's dark eyes twinkled. “Don't worry… we've solved his lack of a concealment spell the old-fashioned way.”

 

Old-fashioned way? Following Mrs. Nishino down a long, wooden-floored corridor and through a room furnished with a large sectional couch and an enormous flat-screen television taking up much of one wall, Kagome didn't have long to wonder.

 

A fusuma decorated with a poster of scantily-clad `race queen' posing next to a flashy sports car made it fairly obvious which brother inhabited this particular room. Mrs. Nishino slid open the door and beckoned her inside. “Lady Kagome to see you, my lord,” she announced, then slipped between the semi-sheer panels of a room-dividing screen hanging from a framework.

 

Kagome squinted, but was unable to make out anything more than silhouettes on the other side of the obscuring panels. This'll work! Glancing around the visible part of Tsugane's room while the housekeeper fussed over her patient, she couldn't help but grin. This is so totally `him', it isn't funny! Traditional pale tatami mats contrasted with boldly coloured Western furniture, and the walls were adorned with more large-format posters of customized cars draped with pretty girls in provocative poses.

 

Partially obscured by the hanging screens, a lone ink painting mounted on embroidered silk depicted a beautiful young woman framed by flowers. That's… Miss Mifune? Moving closer to the artwork, Kagome admired the way the artist had brought his subject to life with a few simple strokes. This must be Tsugane's mother; she looks older in this picture, but it's definitely Miss Mifune.

 

“Isn't that a lovely piece? Master Kiyone truly captured the Lady Rin's very essence.” Lowering her voice, Mrs. Nishino added, “Lord Tsugane is still very weak, my lady. Even if he insists, please do not remain over-long.”

 

“Dammit, woman, I heard that!” rasped a barely-recognizable voice, and Mrs. Nishino gave Kagome a pleading glance before whisking out of the room. Once she was gone, Tsugane grated out, “Hey, Mishi… how's it going?”

 

“Ichiko.” Dropping to her knees, she bowed her head to the tatami. “I'm so, so sorry….”

 

“Knock it off, Auntie,” came his rough admonition. “It wasn't like you were in control of the Jewel.”

 

“But….”

 

“This wasn't your fault, Mishi. Don't make me come out there and harisen you.” The effort cost him; Kagome winced at his wracking cough as she sat upright.

 

“Okay, okay,” she hastily agreed, mainly to stop Tsugane from becoming more agitated.

 

“You're still glowing,” he commented a few moments later. “You sure about going back to class?”

 

“If I don't, we're both toast,” Kagome pointed out. “Term-end exams are just over a month away and I've missed three days already. That human nervous system project is due on Friday.”

 

Tsugane chuckled deep in his throat. “Now that sounds more like my Mishi.”

 

“Are you in pain?” she softly asked.

 

“The Jewel packs one helluva punch,” he sighed. “It doesn't hit as hard as Father during training, though. I've been in worse shape, believe it or not.”

 

“I find that very hard to believe.”

 

“Are you telling Aunt fairy stories again?” Tenmaru asked as he entered the room, two parcels under his arm.

 

“At least mine are true.”

 

“Of course they are, Brother,” the younger hanyou glibly agreed. “Why are you kneeling on the floor, Aunt? There's plenty of seating.” She didn't have time to respond before he dragged two bean-bag chairs across the room.

 

“Did you find the right one?” Tsugane hoarsely demanded.

 

“Yes.” Tenmaru rolled his eyes for Kagome's benefit as he plopped into the other chair. “I even found the all-important decals to put on it, as per your request.” Handing the puzzled young woman one of the parcels, he said, “This is for you, since Brother has plans to turn you into his personal assistant.”

 

Kagome wriggled deeper into the rustling chair before opening the cloth-wrapped bundle and discovered a shimmering metallic pink laptop inside a cushioned sleeve, its lid patterned with familiar floral crests. “Wow!” she exclaimed as the screen came to life.

 

“It's ready to go, Aunt,” Tenmaru said. “Here… let me disable the webcam until Brother is back to normal. We don't want to find out if the Jewel is touchy enough to react to images of silver-haired youkai!”

 

She frowned lightly as he toggled off the visual option. “I hadn't thought of that. Um… why pink? It's pretty and all, but isn't your house colour dark blue?”

 

“Yes, your house colour is blue, but the pink matches your aura,” Tsugane said before he erupted in a coughing fit. When he could speak again, he added, “I figured that this way I can listen in on lectures through the microphone and instant message you if I want to ask a question. How's your typing speed?”

 

“Um, fast enough… I guess?”

 

“If you can type the notes instead of writing them out, then they'll be easy to transfer onto my computer. Beats hauling around that over-stuffed backpack, you have to admit.”

 

Kagome smoothed her hands over the laptop's slick casing. “This is great… thank you very much.” Inspecting her softly-glowing coating of spiritual energy, she asked, “Do you think this is going to work tomorrow? We have quite a few hanyou classmates.”

 

“Who will all keep their distance as soon as your presence pings on their senses,” Tsugane scratchily assured. “The family crest on both your jacket and the laptop reinforces the `hands off' message.”

 

Tenmaru rubbed his chin. “I agree with Mr. Sota; I'll bet that as soon as you find inner peace, so will the Jewel.”

 

“Do you think meditation might help?”

 

“Can't hurt to try.”

 

“I've never been very good at the whole `emptying your mind' thing,” Kagome confessed. “Coach Sagara insisted that we all meditate before practise, but I could never seem to find a `happy place'. Instead, I'd be planning on what flavour of mochi ice cream to buy afterwards with Abihime.” She drooped for a moment at the mention of her friend before clapping her hands to her cheeks in appalled surprise. “Omigosh! I missed practice today! Coach is gonna skin me!”

 

“He'll have to go through Uncle first,” Tenmaru commented.

 

“On Saturday, Sha told Coach Sagara that we were in negotiations for him to become my `corporate sponsor', but three days later, he'll be identifying himself as my new husband? How's that gonna work?”

 

Tsugane coughed painfully again before croaking, “The death of your closest friend on the team gives you an honourable excuse to step back for a while.”

 

Her expression clouded, and Tenmaru hastily inquired, “Which reason would you prefer that Uncle or Father give when they speak to him? Your recent marriage or Miss Tekkaido?”

 

Sighing deeply, she murmured, “It really doesn't matter, because he would have called the shrine when I missed practice; he's a stickler for attendance and I not only skipped today but left the competition on Saturday without permission. We'd better check with my mother to see if he's contacted her… not to mention find out what she told him.”

 

“I'm looking forward to the day when our lives become less complicated,” Tenmaru said, then immediately smiled to take the sting out of his words.

 

“Speaking of that, what about those reporters who showed up here on Sunday?”

 

“Our communications officer gave out a press release stating that the House of the West's only connection to Miss Tekkaido was through our repair company, which was called in to deal with a malfunctioning air-conditioning system.” Tenmaru cocked his head towards the hanging screens, listening intently. After a moment, he held a finger up to his lips and motioned that they should leave.

 

As quietly as possible, the duo gathered their things and tip-toed out, the young hanyou guiding the fusuma closed on well-greased tracks. Ushering Kagome across the entertainment room, he stopped at the hallway entrance. “Brother's improvement is remarkable, Aunt. He was only able to acknowledge your brother's presence earlier today, not speak with him.”

 

“I'm scared that his wounds will be permanent,” Kagome whispered. “He was so badly burned by my spiritual power….”

 

“The Jewel's spiritual power,” he promptly corrected. “We all know that you would never, ever harm Brother if you were able to exert any control over it.”

 

Kagome lifted her chin. “I'm going to do my best to make sure it never happens again.”

 

“That's the spirit, Aunt. Good night.” He bowed and crossed the room towards another fusuma, this one also decorated with a car poster… but this one was minus the neon and half-naked women. Instead, a sleek, steel-coloured sports car posed on a glacier.

 

I wonder if he has a portrait of `his' mother on the wall, and how the subject differs in appearance from Ichiko's? Kagome filed that question away as she padded down the hall, pausing to wish Mrs. Nishino and the kitchen staff good night. A few moments later, when she hesitated on the threshold of the main room, both Sha and Sesshiro immediately looked up from their game. Bowing, she said, “Please excuse me; I'm going to do some reading for class tomorrow.”

 

“I'll walk you over.” Sha was already half-way to his feet when she flapped her hand.

 

“No, no; it's only across the garden. I'm sure that I won't get lost!” At his concerned look, she added, “I'll be fine… besides, I don't want to interrupt your game.”

 

“Especially since you are winning… for once,” Sesshiro drawled, and Sha plunked back down.

 

“I'll be there shortly,” he said, his eyes already on the game board.

 

“No hurry. Watching someone read a textbook is about as thrilling as paint drying,” she wryly commented.

 

“You are interested in traditional medicine?” Sesshiro abruptly queried.

 

“Er, yes?”

 

“Miss Mifune's housekeeper has a son who is a specialist in the field. A position in his clinic may be possible.”

 

“Thank you, Elder Brother. That would be most appreciated!” Bowing again, she made her exit, but not before Mrs. Nishino intercepted her in the foyer and insisted that she don a shawl over her lined kimono jacket for the short trip.

 

“I've sent Hana on ahead to set up your futons; if you have homework to do, don't let her stay and chat your ear off!”

 

“All right… good night, and thank you.”

 

“Sleep well, my lady,” the housekeeper said gaily. “Breakfast will be served at 7:00 am; I believe that your first class is at 9:00?” At Kagome's nod, she added, “See you in the morning.” As the young woman stepped out onto the veranda, Mrs. Nishino muttered, “I think it's time to connect Wisteria House to the main pavilion; running across the garden in the rainy season will become old rather fast!”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

Kagome met Hana in the foyer; the dog-youkai bowed, a laundry bag under her arm. “Good evening, my lady. If you would like the futons set up differently, please let me know.”

 

“Um… thank you. I will.”

 

Hana flashed a cheerful smile, stepped into her shoes and disappeared through the carved wooden door, leaving Kagome alone in the suddenly-echoing house. Shivering, she deposited the laptop on the kotatsu's wooden top before hastening down the hallway to inspect the futon layout and came up short in the doorway of her room. Her quilt-covered futon occupied the centre of the tatami mats in solitary glory, looking very small in comparison to the size of the room. A boxy floor lamp, made to resemble an antique candle lantern, bathed the colourful bed covering in soft light, and her alarm clock had been placed on a small tray near her pillow, along with a carafe of water and a cup.

 

It's so different from home.

 

A thread of acute loneliness wrapped around her; she hastily stripped out of the yukata and donned her kitten-adorned pink pyjamas. Folding the discarded garment more-or-less neatly, she left it beside the chest of drawers and rooted around for her fuzzy socks and a sweater. Donning the warm items, Kagome sat on the edge of the futon and considered her new surroundings. This room is so big; I wonder if I could ask for some folding screens? I'm not used to all this space!

 

Acknowledging the other differences, tears stung the corners of her eyes. Right now I'd be bugging Sota, talking to Mom and saying `good night' to Grandpa. I'd pick up Miss Buyo and go upstairs to study, but even when my door was closed, the house was full of life. Somewhere overhead the ceiling creaked, and Kagome hugged herself. Making an instant decision, she darted out of the bedroom and down the hall to the main room, where she quickly located the telephone. Punching in the familiar number, she hopped from foot to foot while it rang.

 

“Higurashi residence.”

 

“Mom?”

 

“Kagome? Hello, dear!” When the young woman completely choked up and was unable to do more than emit a strangled whimper, Yayoi immediately asked, “What's wrong?”

 

“N-n-nothing,” she managed. “I just….”

 

Her mother's tone instantly softened. “Yes?”

 

“I really needed to talk to you.” Kagome hated how desperate and childish she sounded, but couldn't help herself.

 

A little light went off in Yayoi's head. “Your first night in your new home is a bit overwhelming, isn't it?”

 

“Y-yeah.”

 

“I remember my first night here at the shrine… new people to get used to, new smells, new sounds… your father did his best, but it didn't feel like home.”

 

Kagome let out the breath she hadn't realized that she was holding. “I really miss you,” she said wistfully. “It's nice here, and everything, but it's so quiet and I don't know where anything is….”

 

Yayoi's voice was full of warmth. “Oh, sweetie… it'll get better, I promise. It takes a little time, that's all. Where's Sha?”

 

“He's playing Go with Lord Nishiki in the main house. I came back to study, but….”

 

“`Main house'…?”

 

“Wisteria House is a separate building inside Western House's gardens,” she replied. “It's really beautiful.”

 

“You'll think of it as `yours' soon enough.” Yayoi's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “I miss you, because if it weren't for Miss Buyo, I'd be outnumbered!”

 

“Mom….” Just as a tiny sob threatened to slip past her lips, the receiver abruptly changed hands.

 

“Hey, Sis! It's only been four hours since you left, an' you're already lonely?” Sota teased. “Want me to send your panda yutanpo over with one of the guardsmen?” Before she could respond, he said, “Hang on a sec; Miss Buyo wants to say `hi', too.” A moment after that, Kagome's ear was vibrated by the sound of enthusiastic purring.

 

“Thank you, Miss Buyo,” she croaked. “I really wish I could hug you right now.” There was a querying meow before Sota came back on the line.

 

“Gramps is in the tatami room, so she can't transform,” he whispered, then more loudly said, “Why don't you invite us over for tea on Sunday and show off your new place to Mom and Gramps?”

 

“That's a great idea!”

 

“Of course it is, because I thought of it,” he smugly retorted. “So… about my suggestion…?”

 

“I need to find someone who can teach me how to meditate, first.”

 

“Funny you should say that, because I just might have a solution… but you'll have to wait until Sunday. Hey, have a good day tomorrow!”

 

“I'll do my best… and don't you slack off in your studies even though you're home all week!”

 

“I'm ready to go back tomorrow, but Mom won't let me say that I was attacked by rogue ninja, so I have to wait until the cuts are healed up. That ointment of Mrs. Nishino's is really great stuff, by the way. She could market it and make a bundle!”

 

Yayoi reclaimed the telephone. “Shall we visit on Sunday?”

 

“Yes, please. Oh! I was able to speak to Tsugane tonight!”

 

“That's wonderful, dear. How is he?”

 

“Much better, thank goodness. Um, did Coach Sagara call tonight? I missed practice.”

 

“He did; your grandfather fielded the call.”

 

“Uh-oh… what did he tell him?”

 

“That you were on your honeymoon and he couldn't say when you'd be returning.”

 

A strong sense of loss welled up inside Kagome. “It just wouldn't be the same without Abihime….”

 

“I'm sure that you could return to the sport once you feel ready.” After a pause for Kagome to mull over her words, Yayoi continued, “I'm also sure that in a day or two, all the strangeness of your new situation will have disappeared.”

 

“I hope so, Mom. Thanks… love you.”

 

“Love you, too. Good night, dear. Sweet dreams!”

 

Kagome listened to the line crackle for a moment longer before replacing the receiver, feeling slightly better but still terribly missing the warmth and familiarity of her own bedroom in her own house. Mom's right, though. This is my home now, and I have to get used to it. Squaring her shoulders, she went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea, then carried the steaming brew into the main room. Turning on the heater beneath the kotatsu, she arranged the insulating quilt over her lap and sorted through her textbooks until she found the one she wanted. Settling in to read and practice note-taking using the laptop's word processing program, she successfully distracted herself from her lonely thoughts.

 

Sha still hadn't returned by the time Kagome wrapped up her homework a couple of hours later. Lord Nishiki must be making him fight for every point. Organizing her backpack for the next day, she debated the wisdom of retiring her bulging binder. There'll be diagrams to copy, so I'd better take some loose paper anyways. Flipping open the laptop with the intention of shutting it off, she discovered that her new email icon was blinking. Opening the message, she shook her head at the cheeky message.

 

I'm counting on you to get `A's for both of us, Mishi.

-Ichiko

 

 

Snickering, she typed:

 

I'm not doing your project for you, buster, so get to work!

-Mishi

 

Hitting `send', she powered down, carefully zippered the machine into its sleeve and then slipped it between two textbooks for safety. As she contemplated Tsugane's gift, she had a small epiphany. I haven't really lost my family; in fact, I've gained… and the new bunch is pretty awesome.

 

Turning off the heater under the table, she left the light on for Sha and put her cup in the sink. After brushing her teeth, she resolutely closed the fusuma behind her, doffed her sweater and tucked herself into the comfortable futon… and promptly discovered the welcome presence of a yutanpo. Pulling the covered hot-water bottle into view, she grinned at the button eyes, perky ears and pink tongue of a fuzzy canine countenance before hugging it close. Checking her alarm and switching off the light, she snuggled into the pillow. Not much point in waiting up for Sha, since I can't even give him a good-night kiss. As she listened to the night noises of the wooden house, and felt mildly sorry for herself, something else occurred to her. Sha and I barely know each other, so maybe this `do not touch' thing might not be so bad? We can spend some time getting to know each other while I figure out how to control the Jewel. Shifting around in the warmed bedding, she pouted lightly. Not being able to even hug him really sucks, though. Only twenty-eight more sleeps until I can… for at least a few hours, anyways!

 

Sha arrived almost an hour later, toeing out of his sandals in the foyer, his senses immediately caught by the warm spark of Kagome's aura emanating from the second bedroom. There's gotta be some way we can be together that doesn't involve acute bodily harm to either of us. Turning off the light in the main room, he padded down the hallway and into his softly-lit room. While changing out of the yukata and into a pair of flannel pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, he considered his futon. The bedding was invitingly turned down, the pillow plumped, but he only contemplated their comforts for a moment before moving towards the dividing wall panels and quietly opening one.

 

Kagome was curled up into a ball under her quilt, only the crown of her head showing, along with a dark sweep of soft hair trailing over the tatami mats. Faced with the choice of sleeping alone or staying by his wife's side, Sha hesitated for only a moment before collecting his quilt and Tetsusaiga from its display stand. Dousing the light, he slipped into her room and took a seat beside her futon. Wrapping the quilt around himself, he propped Tetsusaiga against his shoulder and prepared to sleep sitting up. Haven't done this in centuries… not since the last time I had someone to protect.

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

Wednesday morning…

 

The alarm went off far earlier than Kagome would have liked; she groped clumsily for a moment before the shrill noise was silenced. However, her head had barely hit the pillow before her hair was gently pulled.

 

“Rise and shine,” a welcome voice rumbled at close range, accompanied by another tug. “You don't want to be late.”

 

“Mmmrrrmmmph,” she grouched, burrowing further under the quilt. “Too cold out there.”

 

“I agree; this room definitely isn't cozy. I'll deal with it today.”

 

She peeked out to see Sha smiling down at her, a blanket draped over his shoulders with Tetsusaiga's hilt poking out of the wrapping. “Did you sit up all night?” she demanded.

 

“Yep,” he replied, twirling a silky curl around his fingers. “Watching over you is part of my husbandly duties.”

 

“I don't feel right, knowing that you're losing sleep over me,” she fussed.

 

Sha smirked. “I'll enjoy a leisurely nap this afternoon while you're sweating over your textbooks.”

 

“In other words, I should save my sympathies for someone more deserving,” she grinned, then realized something. “You can touch me? My hair, at least?”

 

He held up the lock he had been fondling. “I wouldn't try this if you were standing up, though. It's apparently far enough away from your body when you're lying down that your aura doesn't reach the ends.”

 

“It's a start,” she softly murmured. “I should be able to return the favour.” Sha merely nodded agreeably, but didn't take the hint and lie down beside her. “How was your game?” she yawned, rubbing her eyes.

 

“I ended up losing. Sess' grasp of strategy is amazing, but now that we're living here, I'll have more opportunities to kick his butt.”

 

“Aside from plotting your brother's defeat, what are you going to do today?” Kagome asked, reluctantly sitting up and stretching as Sha rolled up onto his feet and moved towards the panels separating their rooms.

 

“I have some business to attend to before I join you for lunch.”

 

“Business…?”

 

He gave her an amused look. “`Adamant Antiquities'… remember?”

 

Kagome turned pink. “Right. Wow. That entire conversation seems like it happened a hundred years ago instead of last week.”

 

“Keh. D'you want me to find a replacement `haunted hibachi' for your grandfather's benefit?”

 

“Without a bonus youkai tenant, please.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

An hour later, Sha and Sesshiro saw the pair off from the gravelled courtyard. As Tenmaru's car purred out of the gates and the rake-man sprang into action, the taiyoukai inquired, “Why didn't you go with them, Brother?”

 

“I have some things to do first, including attending a private pre-sale viewing of an estate auction. One of the lots is supposed to be a Heian o-tachi sword in mint condition.”

 

“Do you have a buyer for it?”

 

Sha flashed a toothy grin. “A very wealthy weekend warrior.”

 

Sesshiro curled his lip. “Gods preserve us. Another Minamoto-wannabe, no doubt.”

 

“One of the Fujiwara shoguns; gotta give him points for authenticity.” Sha's expression suddenly changed; narrowing his eyes, he gave his sibling a thorough once-over. Sesshiro's back stiffened, but he said nothing. “You're fucking with your concealment spell,” the hanyou finally decided. When the taiyoukai remained silent and stone-faced, Sha snorted. “Just make sure that you don't age down so far that you could pass for the brats' older brother.” Scowling, he added, “Miss Mifune's seen you without your spell, so what's the big deal?”

 

“I merely wish to make her feel comfortable in my presence.”

 

“Better work on your charming personality instead of your looks.” Ignoring Sesshiro's frosty glare, Sha shrugged. “Glacial silences aren't going to pique Miss Mifune's interest. Do you even know the latest music? And I sure as hell don't mean that `Greatest Enka Hits' CD you have playing in your study.”

 

Sesshiro flinched. “Tenmaru downloaded something atrocious the other day; it sounded like two panther-youkai being eviscerated.”

 

“Keh. That should've been music to your ears!”

 

“The infernal screeching is why they should be decapitated first.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

“Today went very well, Aunt,” Tenmaru said with a satisfied air as they exited his car in Western House's parking garage. “Despite the amount of youki in the room, the Jewel's reaction was remarkably restrained. You admirably maintained your composure.”

 

“Except when Sha nearly gave me a heart attack when he showed up outside the classroom window!”

 

“He must have been up on the roof, because even he can't jump that that high without taking a run at it… and that courtyard is too small for decent acceleration,” the young dog-hanyou scoffed, retrieving an overstuffed manila envelope and his laptop from behind his seat. “I truly hope that tomorrow will be more productive in terms of researching this `right wish' business.”

 

“I admire your tenacity; some of those old documents made my eyes hurt just looking at them, never mind trying to decipher them,” Kagome commented as she shifted her bag into a more comfortable position on her shoulder.

 

Tenmaru grunted non-commitally before waving the manila envelope. “Brother should be mightily entertained by all of his fan mail.”

 

“That was absolutely unbelievable! I can't believe they all assumed that Tsugane and I were dating!”

 

“You were together nearly all the time,” he pointed out. “It's lucky that he didn't know exactly how many ladies were envious of your apparent conquest, because his ego wouldn't have fit in the room.” Riffling through the selection of small envelopes decorated with feminine handwriting and brightly coloured stickers as they crunched across the gravel, Tenmaru remarked, “It's just as well he was assumed unattainable… there's a very good reason why Father insisted that Brother anchor his concealment spell to his belt buckle.”

 

Kagome gave him a sharp look. “Are you saying that my favourite nephew is a real dog where women are concerned?”

 

Tenmaru pulled a mock-pout. “He's your favourite? I'm wounded, Aunt.” Opening the gate for her, he shrugged. “He's good-looking, intelligent, well-mannered and can afford to spoil a lady that takes his fancy… thereby achieving legendary rates of success with members of the fairer sex that allow themselves to be charmed.”

 

“I had no idea… he was always a complete gentleman with me.”

 

“He is a gentleman when he decides to protect someone as opposed to pursue them. On that note, I also noted several downcast young men in the room when the professor announced your marriage.”

 

Kagome made a face. “I totally wasn't prepared for that. Who do you think told him?”

 

“More than likely Father, when he had your absences excused, or perhaps Uncle… hullo, what's this?”

 

Piles of lumber were neatly stacked on the other side of the pond, and a wooden framework was rapidly taking shape. Wisteria House was obviously being connected to the main building via a raised, covered walkway, judging by the fluttering lines of surveyor's tape. Kagome pursed her lips. “Mrs. Nishino works fast… she only mentioned the idea last night.”

 

“She tried for a hundred years before that to convince my revered great-grandmother of the practicality of the idea,” Tenmaru supplied.

 

“Er… won't the lady mind that Sha and I are living in her house?”

 

“No. The Lady Yukishina passed away nearly a century ago; Wisteria House has been used as guest accommodation ever since.” When she followed him up the steps of the main house, Tenmaru stopped. “Aunt?”

 

Surprised, Kagome said, “I thought I'd see if Tsugane is up to a little brainstorming on that nervous system project.”

 

Tenmaru shook his head. “You should spend some time with Uncle,” he said, herding her back down the stairs.

 

“I really need to work on this assignment,” she protested.

 

“Dog-youkai like to have their pack members nearby, and Uncle's short visit at lunch was constantly interrupted by Brother's admirers,” he answered. “I also think that his fur was ruffled by all the young men who made a point of congratulating you.”

 

“Sha surely wasn't jealous… um, was he?”

 

Tenmaru smiled quietly. “Another thing about dog-youkai is that they're rather territorial when it comes to their spouses, and I suspect that it's driving Uncle crazy that he can't scent mark you.”

 

The young woman blinked rapidly. “P-pardon?”

 

“Physically leave his scent on you for the benefit of other youkai. Perhaps you could wear one of his shirts or some other item of clothing after your bath so that his scent could transfer to your skin?” The dog-hanyou grinned broadly when he saw her suspiciously relieved expression. “You thought I meant urinating, didn't you!”

 

“That's how a typical dog marks its territory, so how was I supposed to know?”

 

Tenmaru cackled gleefully as he bounded up the steps. “Wait until Brother hears this!”

 

A couple of hours later, when Kagome arrived in the main house for dinner, Tenmaru gave her an approving nod when he noticed that she was wearing a t-shirt which obviously belonged to his uncle under her yukata. Sha also looked quite pleased with the situation as he seated himself next to his wife. “Thanks for the suggestion, brat.”

 

“Anything to keep you sweet, Uncle. Pass the teapot?” When Sha complied, Tenmaru added, “Brother is eager to talk to you, Aunt… but I think he's more interested in discussing your female classmates than your homework.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “I'll bet. He'd better put his libido on a leash, because this project is worth thirty percent of our mark.”

 

That night, after she successfully badgered a rather-perky Tsugane into working on the assignment despite his best attempts to change the subject, Kagome further endeared herself to Sha by wearing his t-shirt to bed. “It's not as good as being in your arms,” she mumbled self-consciously as she tucked herself under the covers, “but I can pretend.”

 

The hanyou smiled crookedly as he closed the curtains of the old-fashioned canopied frame that now surrounded her futon and seated himself beside the mattress. “I used to hate the night of the new moon… now I can't wait until I can hold you again.”

 

Rooting around under the quilt, Kagome retrieved the yutanpo with its doggish cover. Displaying it, she said, “Here's your place-holder.” Sha's gaze both softened and intensified; she blushed furiously as she easily followed the direction of his thoughts. We could be together that night. As husband and wife. L-lovers….

 

“Only if you're ready, Kagome.” Sha captured a dark curl and slowly rubbed his thumb over the gleaming strands while her stomach did flips… of excitement or nervousness, she wasn't exactly sure… while he merely looked thoughtful.

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

Two days later, late afternoonFriday…

 

“Thank goodness that's over!” Kagome proclaimed dramatically, dropping her backpack next to the kotatsu and flopping onto the tatami mats.

 

“Handed in your project?” Sha asked from his vantage point in the kitchen, admiring her slim figure as she stretched her arms up over her head in a full-body stretch.

 

“And endured a pop quiz on the same topic. I think he was making sure that we really had done the assignment instead of copying it off the internet,” she sighed, loosening the narrow scarf knotted at the neck of her long-sleeved t-shirt. “We were also given a new project on the skeletal structure of the hand due next Wednesday.”

 

“What do you feel like doing tonight?” he asked, silently crossing the room.

 

“After the last two days of brain-frying homework? A long, hot bath followed by a nap. Eating. More sleeping… eep!” Sha crouched over her, his hands and knees bracketing her body but remaining safely outside the boundary delineated by her aura, his face only inches above hers. “You like to live dangerously, don't you?” she finally managed to say, her heart thumping madly.

 

“You're worth the risk,” he replied quietly, his voice low and intimate.

 

Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome noticed his black sidelocks brushing her shoulders. “The Jewel isn't reacting… to your hair, at least,” she observed, sifting her fingers through the swaying strands.

 

Sha lazily toyed with the skinny tassels decorating the ends of her scarf as he purred, “So… is there any chance that I can convince you to come out on a date tonight?”

 

“Do married people `date'?” she teased, while she tried to fathom his somewhat-unnerving dominant position and unreadable expression.

 

He laughed easily, but his spell-darkened eyes remained pensive. “We kinda did things backwards, so I thought we could spend some time together, doing what normal couples do.”

 

“Such as…?”

 

“How does dinner and a movie sound?”

 

“Really, really wonderful, but….”

 

“But?”

 

“What about the whole `out in public' risk? `Shikon Snack', remember?”

 

“Taken care of. The guardsmen have their escorts organized and reservations have been made. All you have to do is say….”

 

“Yes, I'd love to!” Mischievously pulling on his sidelocks, Kagome lifted her head off the tatami, but remembered just in time that kissing was impossible. As her face fell, Sha rolled to the side and reclined next to her on the springy mats, propping his chin on his fist. Pulling a small box out of his pocket, he set it on the mat between them. “What's this?” she asked.

 

“Open it,” he urged. Kagome inspected the lacquered case, embellished with tasteful golden swirls on a dark red background. Lifting the lid, she let out a surprised but appreciative noise when a pair of matching rings was revealed. Sha closely watched the young woman's reaction as she picked up the smaller of the two chased golden bands and inspected the inlaid mother-of-pearl design. “What do you think?”

 

“They're beautiful,” she breathed. “Are they for us?”

 

The way Kagome said `us' went a long way to easing the tightness around Sha's heart that had been there for the past three days. “I found them while I was waiting for the hibachi to be fixed up so it looked more like the original,” he said, nudging the box closer. “Try yours on.”

 

Sliding the dainty band onto her finger, Kagome admired it for a moment. “This somehow makes our wedding more real,” she said, then chuckled. “Are we officially `baka' now, since we match?”

 

The hanyou chortled as he put on the other ring. “Seems appropriate.” Giving voice to the concern that had been eating at him ever since his wife had returned to her classes, he grumbled, “Now maybe those fucking cow-eyed classmates of yours will back off.”

 

Kagome cocked her head, wondering at his sharp tone, then clued in. Plucking at the t-shirt she wore, literally taken off his back that morning, she softly ventured, “Isn't this enough to declare my choice?”

 

Sha glowered. “For youkai, sure, but the humans don't seem to be taking the hint.”

 

“I'll always be at your side,” she said with such firm sincerity that he moved to kiss her, just before it was his turn to pull back with a disappointed grimace; Kagome put on a bright smile. “Now, I believe that my handsome husband said something about dinner and a movie?”

 

Rising to his feet and waiting for her to do the same, he said, “Should I also mention that we have Sess' blessing for this expedition because Miss Mifune's coming over?”

 

“I'm surprised he didn't want to double-date with us.”

 

“Keh. Don't give the asshole any ideas!”

 

 

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

Just before midnightFriday…

 

“Lie down with me?”

 

Sha considered Kagome's pleading expression before reluctantly nodding. “All right, but only for a few minutes.”

 

As she moved over on the futon Kagome suggested, “We could do this every night, so long as we have separate quilts.”

 

“The Jewel doesn't like my youki to be this close,” he said, keeping an eye on the fluctuating thickness of her glowing aura as he eased onto the mattress. “I've watched over you for the past three nights and you might start on that side of the futon, but within a few minutes of falling asleep, you're heading my way. I have to switch sides at least a couple of times over the course of the night to make sure you don't end up in my lap. Sometimes your aura flares up when you dream, so I also have to be ready to bail at a moment's notice.”

 

“I had no idea,” she apologized, worrying the edge of the quilt.

 

“S'okay; I'll deal with it. Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”

 

“Very much.” Laying her hand on the futon, as close to his as she dared, she contemplated their matching rings gleaming in the dim light. “The more I know about you, the more I want to learn,” she said shyly. “You're a pretty amazing guy, what with the things you've seen and done in your lifetime.” The hanyou blushed, and Kagome knew she would've been thoroughly kissed under other circumstances.

 

“The bruises on Miss Mifune's face were almost gone,” he noted, changing the subject. “Did I hear her say that she and your brother are heading back to their respective schools on Monday?”

 

“Yes. Sota said that Mrs. Nishino's salve really accelerated his healing, so it must have worked for Miss Mifune, too.”

 

Sha chewed his lip. “I thought Sess seemed kinda tense; did you pick up any vibes?”

 

“How can you tell, with that poker face of his?” Kagome replied, her eyelids growing heavy. “I've been meaning to ask you… is it my imagination, or is he looking younger?”

 

“Keh. The idiot's messing with his concealment spell. I told him not to bother, but he's worried that Miss Mifune might by turned off by his `old guy' appearance.”

 

“It definitely isn't his looks….” The young woman yawned into her fist. “If her previous incarnations managed to see past his chilly attitude, he doesn't have anything to worry about.”

 

“Do me a favour and tell him that?”

 

“I'm not brave enough; I'll have Tenmaru do the honours.” Yawning more widely, Kagome smiled sleepily. “G'night, Sha. I hope that I don't, er, chase you around the bed tonight.”

 

As her eyes slid closed, his expression darkened. Reluctantly moving off the futon and sitting up in his now-customary posture, Sha sighed deeply as he settled down for another night of keeping watch. Not being able to touch you is fucking torture, but at least I can enjoy your scent. A lopsided leer crossed his face. Only twenty-five more sleeps until I can chase you around the bed… if you're game, that is.

 

In the pre-dawn darkness, Sha was jerked out of a light doze by an abrupt change in Kagome's scent. Instantly awake, his blade half out of its sheath, he scanned the enclosed space under the canopy as well as the room outside before he registered the power building up inside the young woman's body as she whimpered fearfully and struggled in the bedding. Shit! She's having a nightmare!

 

Diving through the curtains surrounding the futon, he burst through the fusuma and raced down the corridor, trying to put as much distance between himself and the Jewel before it erupted. Behind him, brilliant pink light flooded the hallway with deadly energy that made his skin crawl even as a frightened scream fired all of his protective instincts. Dammit! Torn between bolting for the front door and returning to Kagome's side, he noted that the interior walls muted the power's full force. I need to wake her up, so the dream doesn't become cyclical, like last Saturday… but how? Fuck!

 

Kagome clawed her way through the terrifying images inside her mind, her heart pounding violently. Sitting upright, she looked wildly around in an attempt to reorient herself. Exhaling loudly when she recognized the patterned hanging curtains, she wiped cold sweat off her brow. Just a dream... thank goodness. Her relief only lasted a few seconds until she noticed Sha's discarded blanket crumpled next to her futon. “Sha? Sha!” she shrieked, her fear returning anew.

 

“Quit squallin', girl. You didn't even singe me this time,” the hanyou called from outside the draperies. She heard him pad across the tatami towards the bed before he parted the curtains, peered in and gave a low whistle. “You're lit up like a signal flare.” At that moment, they heard Sesshiro calling from the foyer. “C'mon in; excitement's over,” Sha bellowed.

 

The taiyoukai appeared beside him in a heartbeat. “What happened?” he demanded without preamble.

 

“Not an attack… well, not by an outside force, anyways,” the hanyou replied. Hooking his thumb at Kagome as she dragged her quilt up around her shoulders, he said, “She had a nightmare.”

 

Sesshiro looked distinctly appalled. “Has this happened before?”

 

“Yep. The night before the wedding… but it was safer then for me to wake her up.”

 

The elder youkai's expression became stern. “This is unacceptable behaviour.”

 

“Whaddya mean, `unacceptable'?” Sha snarled. “It isn't like she can control it!”

 

Sesshiro drew back. “The Jewel's behaviour must be changed, not your wife's; I meant no offence.”

 

Still ruffled, the hanyou muttered, “Kagome's nearly been killed three times in the past two weeks, so if she wasn't having flashbacks, I'd be worried!” Turning to the silent girl he asked in a gentler tone, “Was it Miss Tekkaido again?”

 

The pale young woman looked stricken as her throat worked. “Tentacles,” she finally managed to rasp. Both dog-youkai shuddered.

 

“This must be dealt with sooner rather than later… because one of these nights you will not escape, Brother. Your wife does not need to bear the guilt of another inadvertent injury to one she cares about.” Adjusting the neckline of his kimono, Sesshiro added ominously, “The Jewel will be brought to heel… by whatever means necessary.”

 

Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж

 

A/N: hanami - Cherry-blossom viewing, often enjoyed with a picnic lunch packed in multi-tiered jubako bento boxes. In the Tokyo area, the prime blooming period is around March 31st.

 

harisen - A folded paper fan used by Japanese comic Beat Takeshi to thwap the hapless butt of his jokes; sort of a Three Stooges-type prop that makes a loud noise. Also used by Genjyo Sanzo in Saiyuki: Reload, particularly against Son Guko and Sha Gojyo when they annoy him.

 

yutanpo - Sleeping all night under a kotatsu isn't really recommended, nor is running your kerosene-fuelled space heater in case of accident, so how do the Japanese stay warm in their beds if they lack a significant other to snuggle with? Hot water bottles buttoned inside kawaii covers, of course! The oval plastic (or traditional metal) bottles are slipped inside soft, cuddly fabric wrappers and become a safe heating method for adults and children alike.

 

`baka< i>' - A classic Japanese pun lifted straight from Takahashi's new Rin-ne manga, wherein a pair of Sakura and Rinne's schoolmates declare their affection for each other by wearing matching (and initialled) rings. Some couples take it all the way and wear matching outfits, right down to their socks and shoes… in other words, they're completely baka for each other in the usual sense of the word. The `ba' is an alternate pronunciation of the kanji for `horse', and `ka' is the final syllable from the word for `stag' - ojika - and the relevant panel in Rin-ne shows the giggly couple framed by a wreath made up of alternating horse and stag heads. (Source: Rin-ne Vol. 2, pg 146 & translator's notes)