The Beauty of the Moon

"Speech"
'Thought'

Chapter Two: Meeting the Taishos

Saturday July 13th, 1811 Tournesol, Louisiana

‘Oh no,’ Kagome thought frantically. ‘I sincerely hope that he doesn’t connect me to that little girl he saw. Better yet, I hope he doesn’t even remember seeing her.’

‘Curious,’ Sesshomaru wondered as he looked into her startled sapphire gaze. ‘She looks very similar to that brat I saw the last time I came through here. Perhaps…’

“Hello, Mother,” Kikyo said calmly as she swept serenely into the room, followed by a smiling Ayame who lightly pinched the frozen girl while Kikyo blocked the small movement from the myriad of curious eyes of the people standing and sitting about the spacious drawing room. “I hope you don’t mind that Ayame will be staying the night with Kagome and myself.”

“Oh, I have no problem with that,” Mai Higurashi said with a benevolent smile. “The more the merrier after all.”

“More demons,” Kenji Higurashi muttered under his breath. “What is this world coming to?”

“Grandpa!” Kikyo and Kagome cried out, mortified at his rudeness toward their guests. Ayame just rolled her eyes in habituated amusement.

“Hey! How come he hasn’t tried purifying her?!” Inuyasha called out indignantly, still clearly miffed about having sacred sutras fixed to his forehead. The only response he got for his outburst was to have his head cuffed by Sesshomaru and a collective soft sigh from his parents. “What! It’s a valid question.”

“Ayame has already proven to be immune to my prodigious powers of purification,” Grandpa proclaimed, clearly miffed, before muttering to himself. “There must be something about canine blood that renders holy powers useless.”

“Then how do you explain how come Kirara isn’t purified,” Sota said, “or Naraku, Hiten, Souten…”

“Hmm, I must have used a bad batch of purification salt,” Grandpa murmured thoughtfully. “I am going to mix up a new batch. Come Sota, it is time you start learning your duties.”

“Aww, but I don’t want to be a priest,” Sota whined as he followed his grandfather out of the room.

“Nonsense, it is a dignified occupation that every male in our family has proudly been a part of,” Kenji was heard to say as the withered man hobbled out of the room followed by the sullen youth.

“Perhaps introductions are in order,” Toga said.

“Oh right, I do seem to be getting a tad bit forgetful. Girls, this is Toga Taisho, his wife, Izayoi, his sons, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, and his daughter, Rin,” Mrs. Higurashi said, gesturing to each person in turn before turning to her guests and indicating her daughters. “These are my daughters, Kikyo and Kagome, and this is a dear friend of the family, Ayame Shuzoku.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the twins chorused as they swept into demure curtsies and smiled lightly, followed by Ayame who mimicked them gracefully.

“Charming,” Toga said. “Perhaps my sons would like to escort all of you lovely ladies for a walk in the gardens?”

“I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for Sesshomaru and Kagome to get to know one another, and I’m sure Kagura and Inuyasha will appreciate some time together also,” Izayoi said with a smile, “but what about a chaperone?”

“I would be delighted to go along as a chaperone,” Toga replied, appearing somewhat hopeful at the potential reprieve from the women’s plotting.

“Oh, but Mrs. Taisho,” Kagura spoke up with a fake smile, “they will have these next few weeks to get to know each other. I think it would be a splendid idea for us girls to have some alone time, after all, I’m sure everyone will be so busy after tonight with wedding preparations that we won’t have time to chat anymore. I’m sure Inuyasha wouldn’t mind sacrificing spending time with me so that we girls have a chance to talk before the wedding.”

“Yeah,” Inuyasha quickly agreed, “I really don’t mind.”

“Well, that does make sense, I suppose,” Mrs. Higurashi said slowly. “What do you think, Kagome?”

“Kagura’s right, Mother. This probably will be one of the last chances for us to get together and chat,” Kagome said with a forced smile. ‘And thank goodness for that. I’d almost rather spend time with my soon-to-be husband. Just keep smiling and I’m spared for the moment.’

“Very well,” Mrs. Higurashi said hesitantly. “I will send Mitsuchi out to get you when it is time to change into evening attire. Enjoy your chat.”

“Of course, Mrs. Higurashi,” Kagura said, her indulgent smile still pasted on her face as she shooed the three newcomers back into the hallway. “Are you coming, Rin darling?”

“Yes!” Rin said, filled with enthusiasm at being included with the young ladies as she scampered after the departing teenagers, closing the heavy door behind her.

“Now, as I was saying before,” Izayoi said animatedly to Mai and Kaede, ignoring the despondent sigh coming from her husband, “there is this delightful spot down by the river surrounded by these gorgeous weeping willows that I think would make the perfect place to hold the wedding.”

“Oh yes, it does sound beautiful,” Mai said, her brown eyes sparkling.

Inuyasha slid down in his seat and gazed longingly out the window, staring off into the distance with a glazed expression in his golden eyes. ‘They’re going to go on for hours and I’m stuck in here listening to their prattle. Damn you, Kagura,’ he thought pensively, glancing at his brother and father. ‘At least I’m not the only one suffering though.’

Sesshomaru stared thoughtfully at a painting of the sunset over the ocean, never once noticing the beautiful scene that he looked at. ‘I do not understand why they bother making a fuss over this wedding. The sooner it is over with the better. She is such a dull girl, and most likely socially inept. I do not know what Father was thinking, having me marry such a child.’

***

“So, Kagura,” Kagome said as she watched Rin looking at the pink and white roses before running further into the gardens and further away from the group of women, “since we all know that you don’t like us…”

“A feeling that I assure you is quite reciprocated,” Ayame interrupted.

“…why were you so adamant about us having this little ‘chat’,” Kagome finished.

“Humph, I just thought I’d offer you a bit of advice,” Kagura said snidely with a disdainful glance up and down Kagome’s body clad in its rumpled riding habit.

“Who asked for your advice,” Kikyo snapped coldly as she leapt to her sister’s defense.

Kagura glared at her before continuing, “You’d be better off to just break off this farce of an engagement while you still can. It’s not like it’ll ever amount to anything anyways.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Kagome asked stiffly.

“Sesshomaru is a great demon and you are merely a lowly human. You are lower that the dirt on which he treads,” Kagura jeered. “No self-respecting demon would ever want to have any kind of relationship with the likes of you, let alone feel any sort of attraction.”

“Nobody asked for you opinion,” Ayame growled.

“I bet you are expecting some fairytale ending where he falls in love with you,” Kagura hissed viciously, “but that could never happen between a human and a demon, let alone some pathetic, ungraceful twit such as yourself. Sesshomaru would never want to sully his pure blood with the filth of humanity.”

“Kagura, that was uncalled for,” Kikyo reprimanded, her voice hard with suppressed fury. “Apologize, now!”

“Why would I apologize,” Kagura scoffed, “when it is obvious that I feel no repentance.”

“You are a guest,” Kikyo said quietly.

“But not by that silly, little chit you call a sister’s invitation,” Kagura said haughtily. “Neither of you have any authorization to revoke my right to be here; besides, you’re not acting like a good little hostess.”

“You are not acting like a good little guest,” Kikyo retorted.

“Learn your place, human!” Kikyo shrieked quietly. “Demons are the superior race, and you obviously need a lesson on respecting your betters.”

“Shut your mouth, Kagura,” Ayame barked furiously. “I’m tired of hearing your shrill voice yammer on and on about such nonsense! Demons are no better and no worse than humans, and you had best learn that soon. If you can’t do it on your own then I’m sure our two lovely miko here would be glad to oblige you with an attitude adjustment, and if not them then me!”

“Hah! You are a weak demon, and they are just a couple of simpering humans whose lot in life is to serve us,” Kagura stated heatedly. “If you…”

“Enough!” Kagome interrupted. “Kagura, you have overstepped your bounds, and if you do not shut up, I will go to my mother right now and have you thrown out.”

“Oh, did I destroy your dream of a perfect life,” Kagura cooed maliciously.

“Hah!” Kagome laughed coyly. “You are not very observant, are you?”

“What do you mean?” Kagura demanded, confused by the woman’s nonchalant attitude.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kagome said in the same tone Kagura had used on her a moment ago, “did I throw you off balance? I never expected much from this relationship, certainly not a fairytale ending, but I’m not going to back out of this marriage and dishonor my father’s last wishes. I will make this work if it’s the last thing I do!”

“It may very well be,” Kagura hissed, her ruby eyes slanting dangerously.

“Is that a threat?” Kagome demanded.

“Miss Kagome, Miss Kikyo” a quiet, young woman said as she approached the quarrelling ladies, “it is time to prepare for dinner.”

“I’ll be along in a moment, Mitsuchi,” Kagome said quietly.

“We’ll finish this conversation later, Kagome,” Kagura spat.

“No, I don’t think we will,” Kagome replied as she walked away with her maid.

“If you make any trouble for Kagome while you’re here, Kagura, you won’t live long enough to regret it,” Kikyo said coldly as she followed after her sister and their maid.

“Just remember, Kagura, that Kagome has a lot of friends who care deeply for her and wouldn’t like it if anything bad were to happen to her,” Ayame said softly with a glare as she spun on her heel and ran after her friends who were already entering the manor once more.

“Hey, Rin! You have to come in and get ready now!” Inuyasha called out as he appeared from behind a tall lilac hedge dotted with soft pink cones that permeated the air with their heady scent. He stared thoughtfully at Kagura before turning to the young half-demon girl who was running up the path towards him. He caught her as she jumped and spun her around in a circle before setting her down and ruffling her thick black hair.

“Hey!” she cried indignantly. “Now Chiyo is going to have to do it all over again!”

“Hate to break it to you, kiddo, but she was going to torture you again anyways,” Inuyasha said as Rin pouted. “And you’ll also have to change your dress and put on face paint.”

“Oh, that is so not fair!” Rin whined. “Urgh! Why couldn’t I have been born a boy?!”

“Because Fate decided it would be amusing to watch you get stuck with pins and strangled with corsets,” Inuyasha laughed.

“Very funny,” she mumbled.

“Tch, I don’t know why you are complaining,” Kagura admonished. “Being female is so much better than being male. Why would you want to be one of them?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Because then I could be with my brothers forever,” Rin lectured, “and I wouldn’t have to leave them when I got married.”

“You may say that now, but your opinion will change sooner or later once you get a bit older,” Kagura said lewdly with a patronizing smile before she turned and headed into the manor.

“Keh, just ignore her, Rin,” Inuyasha scoffed. “You don’t want to be like her.”

“I know,” Rin answered quietly.

The two siblings lingered in the garden a few moments longer and then slowly walked back toward the mansion, Rin chatting animatedly about some of the new flowers she had seen while exploring part of the Higurashi’s extensive gardens. They split up once they had reached the second floor, Inuyasha going into his room and Rin going into the room directly across the hall.

***

The Higurashi family, the Taishos, and Ayame stood outside the doors to the dining room waiting impatiently for Kagura to arrive so they could go in and eat. Inuyasha began tapping his foot impatiently on the floor and Kagome had to suppress the urge to tap her own foot, which apparently wanted to harmonize with Inuyasha’s in annoying the other members of the not nearly small enough congregation.

“”What could she possibly doing up there?” Ayame whispered incredulously to her friends.

“Maybe she suffocated from overuse of perfume,” Inuyasha suggested, not sounding the least bit upset.

“That wasn’t very nice, Inuyasha,” Rin scolded half-heartedly.

‘Although it is a nice thought,’ Kagome’s mind supplied as it slipped into a pleasant daydream about a Kagura free world. ‘Glad to know that it isn’t only us who can’t stand that witch.’

Kikyo sharply elbowed her sister in the ribs and when Kagome turned to her to demand to know why she was accosted, she gestured for her to look up the stairs. Kagome, still irritable about her aching side, spun and glanced quickly at the stairs, turned back to berate Kikyo about keeping her hands to herself before what she saw registered in her mind. She slowly turned back around and stared incredulously at the sight Kagura made as she pranced smugly down the polished wooden staircase. Inuyasha’s ears were pinned flat against his silver hair and there was a pink stain across the bridge of his nose as he discreetly backed away and slouched down behind his father.

Kagura was dressed in a crimson silk gown that was cinched tightly at the waist with a hidden corset that pushed upward on her breasts, nearly causing the ample cleavage to nearly spill out of the already low cut bodice. The only thing saving her lacking modesty was the frothy black lace that trimmed the edges of the scandalous gown. Her ruby red eyes were thickly lined with kohl, rouge tinted her cheeks, and a blood-red stain decorated her lips. Her mass of black hair was swept up high on her head and picked out with feathery red plumes. A single black ribbon was wrapped around her sender, white throat.

Kikyo and Kagome gaped in silent shock at the demon’s brazenness while the others gazed in twisted fascination as Kagura approached the group. Muffled giggles escaped Ayame, despite trying desperately to stifle them.

“My, what an interesting dress, Kagura,” Kikyo said in a strained voice.

“It is the latest fashion in New Orleans,” Kagura said smugly as she glanced under her eyelashes at Sesshomaru, who was looking anywhere but at her.

‘Yeah, in a brothel,’ Kagome thought.

“Well, now that everyone is here,” Mrs. Higurashi said politely after clearing her throat, “why don’t we go in and eat.”

The thirteen men and women entered the spacious room decorated in muted shades of red and gold. They gathered around the fourteen-chair, rectangular table covered in a pale gold tablecloth and set with silverware, porcelain vessels, and golden candelabra. Grandpa and Toga sat at the ends of the table, and Sesshomaru sat to his father’s left with Kagome sitting beside him. Ayame sat between Kagome and Inuyasha who was sitting next to his fiancé. Kikyo was sitting beside her grandfather and across from her grandmother who was sitting beside Sota. The next seat was open. Mai Higurashi sat beside her friend, Izayoi, who was sitting beside her daughter. Rin sat beside her father and across from her favorite brother.

Once everyone was seated, the servants silently drifted in and brought platters of food that were carried around the table so everyone could take what they wanted. A quiet din filled the room along with the savory aromas of the victuals. The servants left the room after the hors d'œuvres were served to await the next course. Everyone bowed their heads and clasped their hands as Kenji said grace with only minimal inclusions of anti-demon propaganda. The moment he was finished everybody started to eat, striking up conversations with those who were sitting closest to them.

“So, Kagome,” Ayame said. “Are you going to be coming with our family to New Orleans for Carnival next year?”

“I don’t know, maybe,” Kagome answered, listening with one ear to the conversation between her fiancé and his father about the rising demand of cotton in Europe.

“I hope you can,” Ayame said. “Koga has already invited Naraku along and I don’t want to be the only girl there.”

“Won’t Kikyo be going?” Kagome wondered.

“Probably, but it just won’t be the same without you,” Ayame sighed. “I like Kikyo, but she is so serious when you’re not around. Carnival is not meant to be serious.”

Sesshomaru glanced sideways at Kagome at the mention of Koga’s name as his father turned away to answer a question of Rin’s. ‘Koga? That is one of the names mentioned by that blue-eyed girl I saw ten years ago, along with Kikyo, Naraku, Ayame, and Hiten. Now the question is what their relationship to each other is. This Koga claimed the girl, most likely Kagome, as his,’ Sesshomaru felt a slight twinge of unease but ruthlessly smothered it, ‘but she denied it and the other girl, Ayame, said that he was betrothed to Kikyo, which she then said would make the blue-eyed girl their sister anyways. Shin Higurashi said that his daughters, Kikyo and Kagome, were visiting the Shuzoku family, of which Koga and Ayame are a part of. This is all either a really strange coincidence, or there is more to this little miko than meets the eye.’

“Is there any particular reason why you’re staring at me?” Kagome asked sweetly. ‘It’s rather unnerving.’

“What makes you think that I would be staring at you?”

“So what were you doing then?”

Sesshomaru chose not to answer her, instead opting to resume his conversation with his father on potential cotton sales. Kagome turned back to Ayame, and they continued chattering on about trivial things of no interest to men, while Sesshomaru steadfastly ignored the small human woman. The remaining courses of the dinner proceeded in this fashion. The sun had sunk in the sky by the time everybody was finished eating and socializing. The adults began to filter out of the dining room to return to the drawing room, and Kaede shuffled Rin and her grandson up to their respective rooms to prepare for bed.

“Would you care for a walk in the gardens, Kagome?” Sesshomaru asked, his amber eyes daring her to refuse.

“She’d love to,” Ayame said as she walked toward the doors, sticking her tongue out at Kagura behind Sesshomaru’s back and infuriating the female demon.

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow at his fiancée.

“Like Ayame said, I’d love to,” Kagome leveled a glare at the retreating wolf demon as she took Sesshomaru’s proffered arm. ‘Traitor.’

“I don’t believe that it’s appropriate to be wandering about at night without a chaperone,” Kagura gritted out through her phony smile. “People might consider your virtue to be compromised, Kagome.”

“And this coming from someone dressed as a harlot?” Sesshomaru sneered as he steered Kagome away from the fuming wind demon.

‘I like him better already,’ Kagome thought.

“Aren’t you going to do something about him insulting my honor?” Kagura demanded of Inuyasha.

“It can not be considered an slight to your honor if he is merely stating a truth,” Inuyasha drawled as he walked away to retire to his room. “You look like you belong in a brothel, not in polite society.”

“You’ll regret that, Inuyasha,” Kagura hissed.

“It’s your own fault,” Kikyo said as she left the demon’s presence. “If you weren’t dressed like that then you wouldn’t have this problem.”

“Bitch,” Kagura hissed quietly to the empty room. “You’ll pay. You’ll all pay.”

***

Kagome and Sesshomaru strolled peacefully along the garden path, the soft gray luminescence of twilight surrounding the two with its muted beauty. The scent of the night blooming jasmine as they flowered filled the air with their aromatic fragrance and created romantic ambience that was utterly lost to the couple.

Kagome sighed, “So why did you insist on my coming out here with you?”

“Do I need a reason?”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her sapphire eyes, taking in the ethereal beauty enhanced by the dim lighting that caused his pale coloring to stand our more brightly as he practically glowed in the hazy light. ‘He is beautiful. Maybe Kagura was wrong and he could care about me eventually.’

“You remind me of someone I had seen when I was passing through the town on my way here ten years ago,” Sesshomaru commented absently. ‘I wonder if she will slip and substantiate that it was her present in the alley.’

‘Or not.’

“I remember that she had the most extraordinary blue eyes. I am rather curious as to who she was, perhaps you know of her?”

‘Did he just compliment my eyes?’

“Why ever would you think I know her?” Kagome asked. ‘Pity I can’t mention the compliment without giving away that it was me.’

“I am sure you spend more time in town than I do,” he answered, a smirk hovering about his lips.

“I have never come across a girl such as you described,” Kagome said demurely. ‘After all, I can’t come across myself.’

“Pity. I was rather looking forward to meeting her,” Sesshomaru sighed. “She seemed to be a rather interesting creature.”

‘Interesting in a good way or a bad way though.’

“Hmm, I had best be returning now, or my sister will begin to worry about me,” Kagome said. ‘And before I err and reveal it was me. That would be embarrassing.’

“Well now, we wouldn’t want that,” Sesshomaru drawled as he turned around and led her back through the darkness to the white manor.

***

Kikyo, Kagome, and Ayame were sitting in the twins’ lavender room dressed in their white silk night shifts. Kagome was leaning against the pillows on her bed with Ayame sprawled out next to her. Kikyo was weaving a barrier to prevent any of the house’s inhabitants from listening in on their conversation.

“Finished,” Kikyo said as she flopped down on her bed, her black-brown hair fanning around her. “Now talk.”

“Huh? About what?” Kagome asked.

“About what happened in the gardens!” Ayame cried exasperatedly.

“Oh, that,” Kagome said. “Nothing much really.”

“‘Nothing much really’,” Ayame mimicked. “What does that mean?! Didn’t he kiss you or anything?!”

“Well no,” Kagome said. “We just walked and he asked me a question.”

“About what?” Kikyo demanded. “Elaborate. We want to know all of the details.”

“Well, you know how romantic the gardens can be in the evening,” Kagome said as she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her ebony hair around her finger. “It was even more beautiful tonight. Perfect for a lovers’ tryst.”

“Pity you aren’t lovers,” Kikyo sighed.

“I know,” Kagome whispered, “but then he asked me a question and completely ruined the atmosphere. If he had just kept silent I could have continued ogling in peace and good conscience.”

“Can I jump you?”

“Ayame!” Kagome shrieked. “No, he did not say that!”

“But you wanted him to,” Ayame said.

“No!” Kagome blushed. “Do you want me to tell you or not?”

“Alright,” Ayame conceded, “I won’t interrupt you again, no matter how far into denial that you are.”

Kagome glared at her, “Do you remember ten years ago when we were replacing the face powder at Gatenmaru’s store with that powder that caused an itchy red rash?”

“How could we forget that?” Kikyo laughed heartily as her mocha eyes glazed in fond commemoration. “It was one of our more devious pranks.”

“Well, when the three of us and Koga were leaving the alley with Miroku, I looked back and saw some people riding by. My eyes connected with one of them. It was Sesshomaru.”

“Do you think he recognizes you as that girl?” Kikyo asked.

“When we were in the gardens he asked me if I knew who she is,” Kagome hesitated, “but I think that he already knows it was me. What I don’t get is why he would bring it up if he already knew.”

“To make you squirm?” Ayame suggested.

“I thought that too, but then why didn’t he come out and confront me about it.”

“Oh, who knows,” Kikyo said, rolling her eyes. “He is a man and nobody can figure them out. What we should be more worried about is Kagura.”

“Why should we be worried about her?” Kagome asked.

“She threatened you, Kagome,” Ayame said.

“Kagura may be a bitch, but I don’t think she would dare carry out her threat,” Kagome said.

“She’s jealous, Kagome,” Kikyo sighed. “We don’t know what she’s capable of.”

“Why would she be jealous?” Kagome asked, bewilderment showing on her face. “She made it pretty clear how lowly she thought of me.”

Ayame smacked her forehead and sighed, “You mean you really haven’t figured it out? Are you truly that naïve?”

“Figured what out?”

“Kagura is jealous of you because she desires Sesshomaru,” Kikyo said.

“Well, that explains that dress,” Kagome commented. “So you think she would try to get me out of her way?”

“Maybe,” Ayame said, “but we aren’t going to take any chances with her.”

“What are we going to do?” Kagome wondered.

“Not let her get to you,” Kikyo said, “and we are going to have an emergency meeting of the AST with all members present tomorrow night. Until then, you are not to be alone at any time.”

“Okay, but how are we going to make sure everyone is there?” Kagome asked.

“I’m going to go tell Koga what is going on tonight and then he’ll make sure the word is spread,” Ayame said as she stood up. “Do you have anything I can borrow?”

“There is a pair of trousers and a shirt in the back of the wardrobe,” Kagome answered as Ayame began to rifle through the fine silk clothing to find what she was looking for balled up in the back of the armoire.

“Right, there’s no point in you two waiting up for me since I won’t be back for a couple of hours,” Ayame said, her voice muffled as she pulled the cotton shirt over her head, “so make sure you leave the window open.”

“We will,” they answered as she leapt out the window, stirring the diaphanous, lace curtains in her wake.

The two girls blew out the candles in their room and climbed under the covers of their respective beds. Kagome stared out the window at the golden moon that was climbing in the bejeweled night sky and casting its wan light across her face.

‘I do hope she stays safe,’ she thought as the quiet chirping of crickets lulled her to peaceful slumber.