end only to begin again

'…'Thoughts
"…" Speaking
*actions*
Italics and bold - Writings
Italics - flashbacks

Youkai - Demon
yokai's - Demon energy
Houshi - Monk
Taijiya - Demon Slayer

Hakama - pants
Haori - Shirt


:: Tessaiga Sword talk::


Chapter 12
Arrival Of The Tailor


Kagome was sitting behind her desk looking over papers that were littering the desk top, when she smelled the scent of Asiko and Kina. By the sound of their steps they were coming down the hallway. Sure enough a moment later a knock was heard. "Enter." she said in a confidant tone.

Asiko entered first followed by Kina. Asiko bowed. "Lady Kagome may I present you with the tailor Kina-san." she said moving out of the way so Kina could step forward.

Kina took one look at Kagome and smiled. 'I knew it!' she thought as she said, "Lady Kagome, I knew you must have been the new lady of the Eastern Lands. Lord Taski made it obvious he was interested, when he saw you he practically drooled!" she said with a light playful chuckle.

Kagome nodded slightly, "I hope you are not too much of a Lord Taski follower. Because he is dead." she said looking disinterested.

Kina looked at Kagome, "Dead!? You where mated one day and now he is dead!?" she asked with incredulity.

Kagome took a tip from /The Guide to Sesshomaru/ and lifted a single brow. "I never mated him. I killed him for daring to touch my person without my permission. He had the unfortunate belief that because I was a female he could force himself on me and I could not overpower him."

"As if that weakling ever knew true power. I killed him before he could even scratch me. Men, seem to think because we are females we are easily taken advantage of. Males seem to think that because we are females and our skin is not coarse that we have not seen battle. They seem inclined to think I carry swords because they look pretty… But enough talk of the uselessness of some males. We have business to attend to." she said signifying the cushion in the front of her.

"Asiko get some tea for the three of us." Kagome said while clearing her desk.

"As you wish Milady." Asiko said while bowing then exiting the room to do as her mistress bid.

Kina looked at Kagome, "You killed him, really!?" she asked pushing closer to the desk. Reminding Kagome of a gossiping teen and she inwardly laughed.

"Yes. But that is not the reason I have called you here." Kagome stated getting down to business.

Kina nodded her head in agreement. "I had a feeling you were the new lady, though I had no idea you were not the lady under the lord. No pun intended! With that thought, I brought you all the kimonos I had finished in your size for you to choose from." she said picking up the kimonos from where Asiko placed them.

"That is good. I will also be getting a few for Asiko; her new position requires them. I will not have a representative of my mine look poorly. That should not be a problem because she looks about my size." Kagome said while turning to see Asiko enter the study with the tea.

"Thank you Asiko" Kagome said while Asiko poured them all a cup. Asiko blushed, not used to the kind treatment she had been receiving.

"Now, let's see those kimonos." Kagome said while taking a sip of her tea.

The kimono where laid out in front of her, they were all very beautiful. Walking over to the kimonos Kagome chose five and put them aside. "I will have these. Now for Asiko." she said while looking at the remainder.

Asiko watched her mistress look through all the finest kimonos 'Thank Kami she has good taste!' she thought kind of nervous about being stuck having to wear something horrible. Taking a step forward she heard her mistress call her name.

Kagome looked to Asiko to see what colors would look good on her. Black hair, fair skin, and bright blue eyes, she had a figure like her own. "Lets see what colors?" she said scanning the kimonos. 'Ah this one would look nice.' she thought while pulling out a pink kimono and black obi. 'And this one.' while pulling out a yellow kimono and green obi. 'This one too' she thought while pulling out a purple kimono and yellow and blue obi.

She turned towards Asiko and held up the three kimono. "Do you like these?" she asked wanting the girl to at least like them since she had to wear them.

Asiko looked at the kimonos. 'They are nice! This will be the first time I wear silk!' she thought excitedly. She nodded her head yes.

Kagome saw her nod and handed the kimonos over to Asiko, "These should fit since you are about my size. Once we finish, go to the bathing house, bathe and dress in one of your new kimono. Bring what you're wearing to the servants' wing in case any of them can use it. You will no longer need them; starting now you will dress your station."

Kagome turned to Kina "I also want five hakama and five haori made, for Asiko I want you to make two of each. I want three fighting kimono and one for Asiko. I shall expect them in a week. I will also need one formal kimono for me and one for Asiko. If any males need formal clothing I will send them to your shop to be fitted. That will be all, thank you." Kagome said while waving a hand of dismissal. "Now if you don't mind I have a lot of work to get to. Asiko accompany Kina to the gates and return here. You can leave the kimonos until you come back." she finished as Kina and Asiko left the study.

'Now that that was done, what next?' she thought while tapping a finger to her chin. 'Ah, yes palace control.' she thought while sitting back down looking over some papers on the desk.

A few minutes later Asiko came back to the study "Asiko, go to the bathing chambers, bathe and change. Also do not forget to wash your hair. Return once you have finished." she said dismissing Asiko.

Asiko walked down to the bathing house and saw two guards standing there. "Excuse me." she said softly, trying not to look at them.

When she was about to enter a guard stepped in front of her. "I don't think so servant. This is not the servants' bath house." he said crossing his hands over his chest.

Asiko looked up at the very intimidating man. "Milady wished me to bathe here. I am the vassal of Lady Kagome. Please step aside." she said trying to sound confident.

The guard just laughed, "Is that suppose to frighten me girl? You're shaking with fear. I am not afraid of a woman." the guard boasted.

Asiko looked at the guard. "I my not be intimidating, but I do know a women that can kick your butt. And she will if I am not allowed to do as she says." standing tall because she knew she was speaking truth.

The guard looked at the woman and knew she was telling the truth. If he denied her she would have to go to the lady and inform her of why she could not bathe. That would insight a visit from the Lady herself. Not wanting the repercussions of denying her he stepped aside to allow her entrance in to the bathing house.

Asiko nodded to them and walked in. 'That felt good!' she thought to herself silently celebrating their reaction to the problem. She did not cower in fear she stood tall.

Quickly bathing and changing into the pink kimono and black obi she walked out of the bath house and back into the castle with her old rags in her hand. She walked to the servants' wing and put the servant clothes on a table for someone to take, then walked back to the study after putting the remaining Kimonos somewhere safe.

Kagome heard Asiko knock at the door "Enter." Kagome said to Asiko while looking at the shoji screen and waiting for Asiko to enter.

Pushing the screen aside Asiko entered the study and bowed to her mistress. "I hope this is to your satisfaction?" she asked nervously.

Kagome saw her walk in, she looked like a completely different person now. Walking towards her to gauge the new look she discreetly sniffed; she smelled clean and looked nice. "Yes Asiko this is satisfactory. You are to dress like this all the time. To look lower then your station reflects poorly on me. Get used to people calling you Asiko-sama. Because it is demanded of those of lower rank, especially while in court. A quick lesson to learn… You are my vassal and take orders from no one but me, unless I tell you otherwise. Understood?"

Asiko nodded her head in understanding and in agreement.

"Go and tell the General I wish to speak with him about those stationed within the castle grounds as guards. Also find me a layout of the castle I wish to know of the building plans. See to the General first." Kagome said dismissing her vassal.


Objectives Complete : 9 and some of 8