A Tale For The Holidays

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With thee' angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

Hail! The heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail! The Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With thee' angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

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Sango and Miroku tried their best to keep up the Spirit of Christmas within the village, but many people took down their decorations since it just wasn’t the same without Lady Kagome there. The people of the village had indeed hoped the young miko and her hanyou mate would be living out the rest of their days there, but as long as Lord Sesshoumaru had power over the couple the village would suffer without a proper priestess to take over for Kaede.

Kaede was still nursing that nasty cold she had due to the fact that she had no one else to assist her with the miko duties to the village.

The frail old woman had delivered another child to a young couple that was living in the village and had to wander all the way to Jinenji’s farm to gather an antidote for one of the villagers who was suffering from pneumonia. That home had to be put on quarantine until the young man was better.

“Do you really think Kagome and Inuyasha will be back for Christmas?”

Sango asked Miroku as she cooked their evening meal of rice and fish.

“I do not doubt Kagome’s ability to persuade Lord Sesshoumaru to celebrate with us. I just wish the people of this village would not give up on hope so easily.”

Sango sighed.

“Well you can hardly blame them. Kagome was to be the new priestess although we know Rin will be close by to provide miko care once we start the rebuilding of the Taijiya village.”

Miroku sighed.

“Problem with that is Lord Sesshoumaru may not allow Rin to just be a miko. She has been trained to be a Lady for the courts. I have no idea on how this situation will be of any use to this village. Perhaps if Lord Sesshoumaru would allow one of the young women in this village to learn from Kagome the villagers here would feel more at ease.”

Sango nodded and prepared the bowls of food for the children and her husband.

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Kagome spent the whole day squished between the two males as they made love to her several times before falling into a deep slumber. Her body was completely exhausted and was a bit concerned that if she moved they would start up again.

It wasn’t that Kagome couldn’t handle the two men, but she needed to be able to walk normally and she had to finish their gifts for Christmas. There was also time she needed to share with Rin so that the young woman would understand why Sesshoumaru did not wish for Rin to be kissed in the way she and Kohaku had been doing until they were properly wed.

Figuring it was now or never, Kagome inched her way out of her lovers’ embraces so that she could get dressed again and start working some more on her embroidering.

Sesshoumaru awoke to the sounds of Kagome putting her clothing on.

“Why are you up little one?”

Sesshoumaru asked softly as he too slid from Inuyasha’s side to pull his ningen mate into his arms for another kiss.

“I need to go explain things to Rin. She has been waiting all day for me to come and talk to her the poor thing.”

Sesshoumaru then yawned and proceeded to dress as well.

“Is Inuyasha going to get up? I thought you two were going to check on Kohaku’s progress.”

Sesshoumaru nodded as he fastened his armor on and tied his obi.

“I will wake him soon.”

Sesshoumaru stated as he watched Kagome leave their room to go and take care of things with Rin.

Kagome walked down the hall feeling a bit of an ache between her legs. Darn those two insatiable men and their voracious appetites for giving her a good pounding. Did they not know ningen were a bit more fragile than demons? Kagome was certain she would develop some bruises from the two men being so rough with her.

Finding Rin in what Kagome labeled as their sewing room she was surprised at how far along Rin had come with Kohaku’s new kimono.

“You have been working quite diligently Rin. You almost have Kohaku’s haori finished.”

Rin smiled. She was glad Lady Kagome was there since it had been almost too quiet in the room.

“Yes, I also have something I am making for Lord Inuyasha, Lady Sango, Master Miroku, and their children.”

Rin pulled out some hand painted shoes she had made for the twins and the little boy that she had helped Kaede bring into the world. Then Rin pulled out some scrolls with some poetry on them for the adults.

Kagome pulled the two obis she was working on for the harakara out of the basket that was next to Rin.

“Sorry I was gone so long Rin. I am certain you have questions you would like answered.”

Rin smiled at Kagome.

“Yes I do, but not very many. I know that kissing is allowed when one is being courted, but Lord Sesshoumaru seems to find the way that Kohaku kisses me disturbing. I know what I am getting into since my Haha explained some things when I was a child so I know about the relations between married couples. I do not think Lord Sesshoumaru realizes that I am not a little girl anymore.”

Kagome smiled softly.

“So you know of what men and women do. Why don’t you tell me what you know and maybe I can fill in the blanks.”

Rin explained what her Haha had explained to her as a child and Kagome was surprised that Rin would know as much as she did after being told at such a young age. Kagome then realized that this was indeed the Feudal Era where young women married at the age of 12 in some places. In Kagome’s time most people did not marry until after high school or college.

Kagome did realize that people in this Era died early in life, but Rin was not in danger of such a thing and Sesshoumaru was surprisingly allowing Rin to wait, however now that Rin was 17 years old she would be considered an old maid if she did not marry soon.

“Where I am from people do not marry until they are 18 or older Rin. However I understand what you are saying, but think of Sango and Miroku. Both waited until they were older to have children so you will not be the only one who must wait. I believe Sesshoumaru is doing the best for you both by having you wait until you have a more solid foundation. Kohaku needs training and Sesshoumaru is going to help you both with building a proper home as well as invest Kohaku’s wealth so that you will not need for anything.’
”You also have to realize you are the ward of a Lord. You are very lucky that Sesshoumaru is allowing you to marry your true love rather than a Lord you do not know. He has also set you up with a large dowry so you need to be grateful that Sesshoumaru cares about you this much to think about your future.”

Rin sighed.

“I know that I should be grateful and patient, it is just hard since I don’t get to see Kohaku other than looking out the window and watching him train when all I want to do is hold him and never let go.”

Kagome smiled as she embroidered the other half of Sesshoumaru’s obi. Kagome had painted a fan already for Sango, got a handmade prayer book for Miroku, a scarf for Kaede, and some small toys for the children that she had bought from an old peddler who came to their village.

“I do understand that feeling Rin. Perhaps you may spend time with him at Christmas. Sesshoumaru agreed that we could go visit Kaede’s village for Christmas so that he could listen to Miroku tell the story of Christmas to everyone.”

Rin thought about the shoes the villagers could use in this bitter cold weather.

“Do you think that instead of giving me a dowry that Lord Sesshoumaru would consider giving the villagers shoes to get through the winter?”

Kagome thought about it for a moment.

“I doubt Sesshoumaru would allow you to use your dowry to buy shoes for everyone. I think though that perhaps we could talk him into sending his shoemaker to the village to fit those who do not have shoes and perhaps pay for those who cannot buy them for themselves.’
“You have to realize Rin that although we both wish to help people and would love to save this world from pain that we are only mikos deep down inside. Our purpose is to give people hope and to heal their wounds inside and out. We do a lot for people and will continue to do so even without our Otto’s consent since it is our calling in life, but since we are also Ladies we have many other duties on top of our priestess duty. What I am hoping to do is to train you with all I know and then have you train another to take Kaede’s place.’
“Sango, Miroku, and their family will not stay forever in Kaede’s village. We all must move on with our lives so know that is just the way of things. Sacrifices are inevitable.”

Rin nodded to Kagome. Kagome was right. There had to be sacrifices in order for good things to happen and not everyone stayed in one place forever.

Both young women finished their work in silence.