A Sister's Gift
folder
InuYasha › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
12,203
Reviews:
16
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
InuYasha › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
12,203
Reviews:
16
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter 24 – Meeting the Daisaiin
Chapter 24 – Meeting the Daisaiin
Two days later...
The group could clearly tell that the palace was near, as the amount of travelers on the road had increased steadily in number. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were both uncomfortable with the amount of humans now surrounding them. The ningen’s either shied away in fear or just stared.
Kagome tried to ignore the looks as best she could. It seemed like it didn’t bother anyone except her. Kikyo just road along proudly, as did their male companions. They were probably used to the stares of strangers.
Kagome was thankful for the old smithy that they ran across the previous day. He happily shoed her mare, saving Kagome and Sesshomaru from ‘offending’ Inuyasha further. Try as she might, Kagome simply could not stop her body’s reaction to the close proximity of her mate, resulting in much groaning and bitching from Inuyasha.
“Sesshomaru, we need to report to the Saiin (high priestess) at the shrine of Kamo.” Kagome said. Kikyo said that she knew the way, so they all fell in behind her.
The huge shrine came into view ahead. The crowd around the building was thick with worshippers and the trademark red and white of the miko garments. It was too thick for the horses to go further, and Sesshomaru directed them to a nearby stable that he spotted.
The group dismounted, leaving their horses, as well as, some of their heavier belongings, with the well paid stable hand. Kagome once again sent thanks to Kami for Sango’s generosity.
Sesshomaru walked just behind Kagome. The thick crowd parted for the shrine maidens, bowing in their respect. Two miko’s with powerful Youkai Protector’s were considered of a higher class among the population, as Protector’s were only afforded by the wealthy.
Sesshomaru kept his keen senses on the crowd around his mate. He did not like the closeness of this mass of ningen. The smells were overpowering, weakening his ability to protect. He growled his discourse, and immediately Kagome patted his arm in a calming manner.
Inuyasha was feeling much the same way as his half-brother. Even though he was half-human, humans took a great dislike to his kind. It felt as if every single one of them were staring at him and saying... ‘Hanyou.’ He tried to ignore the eyes and focus on his Kikyo. She met and greeted the various ningen’s who bowed in respect. He patiently followed as they slowly made their way to the shrine.
Kagome was nervous. This is the moment they had been striving for. To make it to the shrine of the saiin, and now that they were here she thought her stomach would spill it’s contents with nerves. She made her way through the crowd, often stopping to bless a passerby. Several young miko’s passed her as well. A few were kind and greeted her, but others shunned her as if she were an enemy. How strange?
Just outside of the shrine Kagome turned to her mate. “Sesshomaru, please wait for me here. I will return as soon as possible.” Kagome turned to Kikyo, who had asked the same of Inuyasha, who chose to wait on the opposite side of the building than Sesshomaru. Typical.
“Shall we, Kikyo?” Kagome asked.
“Let us meet our destiny, my friend,” Kikyo replied.
The two women took one more look at their protector’s before entering the doors to the open shrine. Inside were rows of worshippers, and the young women pressed forward, skirting around the mass in search of the saiin.
“Are you reporting to the saiin?” A pretty young girl in miko garments called out to them.
“Yes. We have been summoned.” Kikyo replied.
“Please follow me. My name in Ani, I am a miko in training.” The young one said with a slight bow.
“I am Kikyo, and this is Kagome. It is a pleasure to meet you Ani.”
Ani smiled before she led them away. She briefly turned back, and asked, “Are you sisters?”
The young women giggled, as they already knew that their similarities would draw that conclusion. Kagome answered, “No, we are just friends.” The girl, Ani, looked surprised, but smiled and continued to lead them through the massive shrine.
Finally, they arrived in front of a huge white silk curtain separating the main assembly from the more private sector. The silk masses flowed majestically in the breeze from the open doors and windows. They slipped behind it and soon came to an elderly woman kneeling at an altar.
“This is the daisaiin (grand high priestess) Senshi.” Ani said respectfully with a bow. The old miko turned to the new arrivals and smiled warmly. Ani continued with the introductions, “Introducing the miko Kagome, and the miko Kikyo.”
“Kagome, Kikyo, it is indeed my pleasure to meet such strong miko’s as yourselves. Your power surrounds me with its warmth,” said Senshi.
“The pleasure is all ours, daisaiin,” replied Kikyo and Kagome with a bow. “We have come at your request, daisaiin, and we are ready to do your bidding,” Kikyo added.
The old daisaiin motioned for them to be seated, and young Ani shuffled off to tend to her duties. Senshi began to explain some of what was expected of them. “First, young ones, I am sure that you are weary from your journey. I will have Ani take you to your rooms, where you will find bathing facilities and then we will have your meals sent to you.”
“You are most gracious daisaiin.” Kagome replied.
Kikyo decided that now would be the best time to ask about their male companions. “Daisaiin, Kagome and I travel with Youkai Protector’s. Is it your wish that they remain by our side?”
“Oh yes, yes. There have been several other’s who have arrived with Protector’s. It will be arranged for the four of you to stay together. Foods will be available as well.” Replied daisaiin Senshi. “We await the arrival of three more miko’s, and in two days we will gather you all to discuss the reason’s behind your calling.”
Kagome suddenly remembered the morbid vision of a dead miko. “Um... daisaiin-sama, during my travels, my protector and I had the misfortune to come across an unfortunate young miko murdered by bandits. She was accompanied by two men, both dead as well.”
The daisaiin was visibly shaken, as was Kikyo. “How terrible! As soon as we make a count of the attending miko’s we shall have access to the missing girls’ name. I shall personally see to it that word is sent to her family. Thank you Kagome.”
Kagome nodded, “It was a sad crime against one of our own.”
The daisaiin replied, “Yes indeed.” She dismissed the young women, but noticed something, and reached out to Kagome. “Child? What is that mark upon your neck?”
Two days later...
The group could clearly tell that the palace was near, as the amount of travelers on the road had increased steadily in number. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were both uncomfortable with the amount of humans now surrounding them. The ningen’s either shied away in fear or just stared.
Kagome tried to ignore the looks as best she could. It seemed like it didn’t bother anyone except her. Kikyo just road along proudly, as did their male companions. They were probably used to the stares of strangers.
Kagome was thankful for the old smithy that they ran across the previous day. He happily shoed her mare, saving Kagome and Sesshomaru from ‘offending’ Inuyasha further. Try as she might, Kagome simply could not stop her body’s reaction to the close proximity of her mate, resulting in much groaning and bitching from Inuyasha.
“Sesshomaru, we need to report to the Saiin (high priestess) at the shrine of Kamo.” Kagome said. Kikyo said that she knew the way, so they all fell in behind her.
The huge shrine came into view ahead. The crowd around the building was thick with worshippers and the trademark red and white of the miko garments. It was too thick for the horses to go further, and Sesshomaru directed them to a nearby stable that he spotted.
The group dismounted, leaving their horses, as well as, some of their heavier belongings, with the well paid stable hand. Kagome once again sent thanks to Kami for Sango’s generosity.
Sesshomaru walked just behind Kagome. The thick crowd parted for the shrine maidens, bowing in their respect. Two miko’s with powerful Youkai Protector’s were considered of a higher class among the population, as Protector’s were only afforded by the wealthy.
Sesshomaru kept his keen senses on the crowd around his mate. He did not like the closeness of this mass of ningen. The smells were overpowering, weakening his ability to protect. He growled his discourse, and immediately Kagome patted his arm in a calming manner.
Inuyasha was feeling much the same way as his half-brother. Even though he was half-human, humans took a great dislike to his kind. It felt as if every single one of them were staring at him and saying... ‘Hanyou.’ He tried to ignore the eyes and focus on his Kikyo. She met and greeted the various ningen’s who bowed in respect. He patiently followed as they slowly made their way to the shrine.
Kagome was nervous. This is the moment they had been striving for. To make it to the shrine of the saiin, and now that they were here she thought her stomach would spill it’s contents with nerves. She made her way through the crowd, often stopping to bless a passerby. Several young miko’s passed her as well. A few were kind and greeted her, but others shunned her as if she were an enemy. How strange?
Just outside of the shrine Kagome turned to her mate. “Sesshomaru, please wait for me here. I will return as soon as possible.” Kagome turned to Kikyo, who had asked the same of Inuyasha, who chose to wait on the opposite side of the building than Sesshomaru. Typical.
“Shall we, Kikyo?” Kagome asked.
“Let us meet our destiny, my friend,” Kikyo replied.
The two women took one more look at their protector’s before entering the doors to the open shrine. Inside were rows of worshippers, and the young women pressed forward, skirting around the mass in search of the saiin.
“Are you reporting to the saiin?” A pretty young girl in miko garments called out to them.
“Yes. We have been summoned.” Kikyo replied.
“Please follow me. My name in Ani, I am a miko in training.” The young one said with a slight bow.
“I am Kikyo, and this is Kagome. It is a pleasure to meet you Ani.”
Ani smiled before she led them away. She briefly turned back, and asked, “Are you sisters?”
The young women giggled, as they already knew that their similarities would draw that conclusion. Kagome answered, “No, we are just friends.” The girl, Ani, looked surprised, but smiled and continued to lead them through the massive shrine.
Finally, they arrived in front of a huge white silk curtain separating the main assembly from the more private sector. The silk masses flowed majestically in the breeze from the open doors and windows. They slipped behind it and soon came to an elderly woman kneeling at an altar.
“This is the daisaiin (grand high priestess) Senshi.” Ani said respectfully with a bow. The old miko turned to the new arrivals and smiled warmly. Ani continued with the introductions, “Introducing the miko Kagome, and the miko Kikyo.”
“Kagome, Kikyo, it is indeed my pleasure to meet such strong miko’s as yourselves. Your power surrounds me with its warmth,” said Senshi.
“The pleasure is all ours, daisaiin,” replied Kikyo and Kagome with a bow. “We have come at your request, daisaiin, and we are ready to do your bidding,” Kikyo added.
The old daisaiin motioned for them to be seated, and young Ani shuffled off to tend to her duties. Senshi began to explain some of what was expected of them. “First, young ones, I am sure that you are weary from your journey. I will have Ani take you to your rooms, where you will find bathing facilities and then we will have your meals sent to you.”
“You are most gracious daisaiin.” Kagome replied.
Kikyo decided that now would be the best time to ask about their male companions. “Daisaiin, Kagome and I travel with Youkai Protector’s. Is it your wish that they remain by our side?”
“Oh yes, yes. There have been several other’s who have arrived with Protector’s. It will be arranged for the four of you to stay together. Foods will be available as well.” Replied daisaiin Senshi. “We await the arrival of three more miko’s, and in two days we will gather you all to discuss the reason’s behind your calling.”
Kagome suddenly remembered the morbid vision of a dead miko. “Um... daisaiin-sama, during my travels, my protector and I had the misfortune to come across an unfortunate young miko murdered by bandits. She was accompanied by two men, both dead as well.”
The daisaiin was visibly shaken, as was Kikyo. “How terrible! As soon as we make a count of the attending miko’s we shall have access to the missing girls’ name. I shall personally see to it that word is sent to her family. Thank you Kagome.”
Kagome nodded, “It was a sad crime against one of our own.”
The daisaiin replied, “Yes indeed.” She dismissed the young women, but noticed something, and reached out to Kagome. “Child? What is that mark upon your neck?”