Miko... Kitsune?

Disclaimer: Not owner of InuYasha... although Tsaisuki, Hotaru, Inari... and I guess all OC's be mine! Well, all of the OC's in this story that is... I don't own ALL OC's... Just... I'm rambling again, aren't I? Well, you get the idea.

Chapter 7: Impresions

To say that he was one to know his feelings completely was a lie. Even he, whom had been with quite a few women in his lifetime, could say that he had never really fallen in love. Love, he may never have experienced, yes, but he knew how to see it in others. Kagome was obviously in love with the Western Taiyoukai. He had grown accustomed to seeing Kagome in love, having watched her through her infatuation with InuYasha and her inevitable heartbreak associated with it. He hoped to the kami that she would not have to go through that again. For he loved Kagome, loved her as a brother loves a sister, mind you, but loved her nonetheless.

Sango, it seemed, was starting to show feelings for a certain indignant, red garbed, hanyou. A hanyou that seemed to be reciprocating, but had no idea what he was feeling. It seemed all of his dear friends were finding love, in one way or another. In the past, he may have felt a fleeting jealousy towards InuYasha, but not so now. Any feeling that he possessed for Sango had changed to that of plutonic caring. This, of course, did not curve his lecherous ways. Why would it? If anything it proved a source of amusement when InuYasha became jealous and made an outburst, before sputtering in embarrassment when he questioned the hanyou.

Things seemed to have definitely changed. Kagome was a kitsune, and heiress to the East. InuYasha was falling for Sango, whom seemed to be falling for him as well. And Shippo was in heaven, because his beloved mother was just like him. This left him feeling outcast, and a bit lonely. He had contemplated leaving for some time now. The hole in his hand was growing, he could feel his death approach every minute that passed. Should Naraku not be defeated soon, he would die, and without an heir to carry on his legacy. Life just seemed to have cast a strange and dark shadow over himself, causing those that he loved to shine all the brighter. For this, he could not be angry; it was fate’s way of telling him that his time was coming. That his life was coming to an end.

“Miroku-sama, may I inquire as to the nature of your curse?” Tsaisuki asked as she took a seat beside him.

Miroku turned to the strange and exotically beautiful kitsune. “Of course, Tsaisuki-sama.”

“Naraku was the caster of this evil, was he not?”

“Hai, he used the sutra of my grandfather and pierced his hand, causing a hole to appear.”

“As long as Naraku lives, you are cursed, ne?” she asked.

“Hai. As long as he lives.”

Tsaisuki cast him a sad smile and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Then it is my hope that his death comes soon. The world would be at a loss without you, houshi-sama.”

Miroku was shocked, to say the least. This woman was so kind in her words, though she knew nothing of him. “Is my death that painful to you, my lady?”

Tsaisuki nodded. “Of course, Kagome values you as friend, as does InuYasha. That gives me enough reason to feel saddened by your unnecessary death.”

Miroku suddenly had Tsaisuki’s hands clasped in his own, a solemn look on his face. “If that is so, my lady, would you do me the honor of bearing me a son?”

Several groans were heard from the camp, followed by Sango mumbling, “He’s at it again.”

Tsaisuki seemed in shock. ‘Well that was unexpected.’

“My dear Tsaisuki, I would be most honored if you were to agree to this proposal,” he said.

“Um… can I get back to you on it?” she asked. Miroku and the others all stared at the azure kitsune in shock. “What?” she asked again.

“You mean, you’d actually consider bearing this lecher’s child?” InuYasha asked.

“Am I not supposed to? He did ask.”

“Don’t bother, sis. He’s a monk, and a lecherous, cursed one at that,” Hotaru snorted.

“He asks every girl he meets, that,” Kagome stated.

“Has any woman ever said yes?” Tsaisuki asked.

“Um… no, now that I think of it,” Kagome said.

“Maybe that’s why he asks.”

“Either that or he’s just a dirty lecher,” InuYasha grumbled.

Tsaisuki turned to Miroku and smiled. “It seems that they do not hold you in high standing,” she said.

“Apparently not. I believe this is one of the only times I have not been accosted for my question,” he sighed.

Tsaisuki laughed and shook her head. “That is because I have said nothing about your hand on my rear.”

“I was wondering about that.”

~*~*~*~

Within a few weeks, much to the irritation of a certain pair of hanyous, the strange group had come upon the palace of the East; home to Tsaisuki and Hotaru, as well as Lord Inari. The building, as seen peeking over the great surrounding walls, was a breathtaking sight. The group trudged up a great many stairs to the inner gate of the palace, having passed through the outer gate with little problem. Kagome and the others had observed the city that surrounded the palace. A prosperous place, filled with human and youkai alike, living together in harmony. Miroku himself had nearly lost the group, trying to find the section of town that housed tea houses and brothels, only to be thwarted by a familiar boomerang.

Kagome had marveled at how humans and youkai acted so at ease with one another. She attributed this to being that most of the youkai were kitsune. Shippo had tried many times during their trek to run off and play with some of the other children. Tsaisuki had stopped him, promising him that there were children at the palace that he could play with. Some being the children of Lord Inari’s other wives.

“Other wives?” Kagome questioned.

“Lord Inari does not call them concubines. Some are youkai, some human. Only your mother was his mate. He has not taken another,” Tsaisuki explained.

“Oh,” Kagome said as they continued on.

The others had noted that Tsaisuki’s demeanor had changed dramatically, once within the city. Meanwhile, Hotaru seemed the same as before. Tsaisuki walked tall, paying little mind to those that bowed to her as she walked through the streets briskly. Kagome seemed thrown off at their revenant stares and deep bows to her. Meanwhile, Hotaru chatted with InuYasha. Whom, for the first time since… ever, was completely at ease in the city. No one made comment about him, nor did they to Hotaru. These denizens of the city seemed unalarmed at the sight of a hanyou, some of the higher ranking officers along the streets actually being hanyou themselves.

Now, however, the group was approaching the inner gate, the gate to the palace grounds. Kagome watched as a pair of red kitsune guards bowed deeply to Tsaisuki and pulled open the large, wooden doors. They then straightened their bodies as the others passed, giving Hotaru a slight bow, as one would their superior officer, before kneeling to Kagome as she passed.

The grounds were, in a word, breathtaking. Well manicured lawns, spotted with sakura trees and flowers led to small bridges over little streams connecting a beautiful lake to a smaller, lusher, koi pond. Kagome seemed breathless as they walked along the small stone path. Sango, Miroku and Shippo all seemed equally astounded. Only InuYasha seemed familiar with these grounds.

The group moved through the Eden-like grounds to the palace doors. These, like the gate doors, were massive and made of a thick, dark wood. Only these held upon them the sign of the Eastern Lands on each door in silver. A waxing crescent moon glimmered in the sunlight as they approached the guards. Again, like before, the guards bowed to Tsaisuki, gave a slight bow to Hotaru and InuYasha, and knelt to Kagome as they entered.

Kagome glanced abut herself as her eyes adjusted to the diminished light of the entry way. This was all too much to take in at once. Suddenly, without thinking, she wished Sesshomaru was by her side, giving her comfort from these overwhelming feelings within. As quickly as they came, she dismissed these thoughts. She still didn’t have a clue what to think of Sesshomaru. She had told him herself that she had only experienced and infatuation with InuYasha, and this was no infatuation. There was nothing about what she felt that was unrealistic. She cared for him, all of him, but was this love?

“Milady Tsaisuki, Hotaru-domo. You have come with guests to your most honorable uncle’s home. Milady Kagome, we are all most pleased to see you have returned to us,” a calm and jovial voice broke Kagome from her thoughts.

A young woman stood before the group, dressed in a simple, yet lovely kimono, signifying her place as a high ranking maid in the palace. Her copper red hair was pulled into a simple bun on her head, a few strands shadowing a pair of crystal green eyes. She smiled kindly to Kagome and bowed.

“Emiko, here, is housekeeper of the South wing, the guest wing, where all of your rooms are located. Hotaru, Kagome and I, hold quarters in the East wing, the family wing. Emiko will show you to your rooms, and introduce you to those that will serve you until you do choose to leave us. We shall all see one another at supper, until then, take rest and prepare yourselves to meet with his lordship,” Tsaisuki explained in a warm, yet courteous manner.

The kitsune named Emiko bowed to Tsaisuki and Kagome before leading the other shard hunters off to the southern wing. It was then that Hotaru turned to Kagome and grinned. “This is where I leave you, Kagome. As your cousin, and high officer of this city, I do pledge that you shall be safe as long as you stay in the Eastern Lands. I must now go attend to the reports that have no doubt been piling up,” she said as she gave Kagome a slight bow before hugging her. “Welcome home, Kagome,” she bid as she went off down another hallway.

This left Kagome, Tsaisuki and Shippo alone in the entrance hall. They stood in a strangely comforting silence before Tsaisuki turned to the miko-kitsune. “Shall I escort you to your rooms, milady?” she asked.

Kagome nodded and followed the azure colored kitsune down the halls to the eastern wing. As they traveled, Kagome stared in sheer awe of the beauty of the halls. The dark wood of the floor gleamed seamlessly, as though made of just one piece of wood not many slats. The walls, sparsely covered in various pieces of art and the occasional lamp, seemed to be just as seamless as the floors, although made of a lighter wood. She noted how quickly and assuredly Tsaisuki glided over the floor, her feet and dress making no sound as she walked ahead of her.

‘She looks like she’s floating,’ Kagome sighed mentally. ‘I could never walk like that, so refined and graceful.’

Tsaisuki paused in her steps, turning to Kagome. “Shippo must leave us now, Kagome.”

“No way! I’m not leaving my okkasan’s side!” Shippo cried.

“You are old enough to sleep in your own rooms, kit. Kuni shall watch over you,” she said as a young woman appeared from behind a heavy, sliding door. She was a small, with raven colored hair and a pair of black eyes that matched the black feathered wings on her back. “Kuni is a raven youkai. She cares for all the family’s pups. You are Kagome’s pup, so you need not worry about sharing with them, your own rooms lie here, not too far from Kagome’s. She shall act as your teacher and caretaker when you are not with Kagome-sama,” Tsaisuki stated, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Shippo pouted but then sighed and leapt out of Kagome’s arms, before walking towards the raven youkai. “Alright.”

Tsaisuki grinned softly to the young kit. “Worry not, you shall sup with us this evening. Kuni shall prepare you until that time.”

Kuni said nothing, only bowed to Tsaisuki and Kagome before ushering the kit within the room and closing the door. Kagome glanced to Tsaisuki. The blue kitsune only smiled before turning and once again heading down the halls, with Kagome at her heels.

~*~*~*~

Lord Inari sighed heavily as he looked over the scrolls before him. Emiko had come to report that his guests were situated and being prepared for supper. Kuni had brought the kit to him and he had given the boy an explanation of how he was to act in the palace. As Kagome’s adopted kit, he had certain privileges and responsibilities that his other children did not possess. He was allowed to sup with her and the other adults, but had to be on his best behavior. Kuni would teach him privately, but he was to be studious and respectful to the older youkai. The kit had taken it all surprisingly well, he seemed just so very happy to be considered Kagome’s kit. He also seemed glad to have a family once again. Inari was just as pleased to have the kit as an adopted grandchild. He was a smart boy.

“Kagome has been shown her rooms, and has met Kimiko, her maid,” Tsaisuki’s voice broke through his thoughts.

Inari nodded. “I see. I have made a decision, my niece.”

“A decision, my lord?” she asked.

“You shall become Kagome’s retainer. She is heir to the East now. She shall need your guidance, for I know she has only received miko’s training.”

“Hai, I shall teach her the ways of court, milord.”

“This also gives you a higher rank than as just the high sorceress. You are now her highest advisor.”

Tsaisuki grinned. “You just don’t want to be the one to tell her of the betrothal,” she chuckled.

“That as well. I know nothing of her relationship with Sesshomaru, seeing as how she is friend to InuYasha.”

“Sesshomaru is her betrothed? How interesting,” Tsaisuki mused.

“As it is youkai tradition, she is not to know until their wedding is announced to youkai society. She is to only know that he is youkai and highly respected.”

“Not to tell her that he is taiyoukai?” she asked.

“No, InuYasha shall figure it out. And he is menace enough without that knowledge.”

“Hai, uncle. I shall go to my lady’s chamber and inform her of this information, before escorting her to the dining hall.”

Inari nodded and waved the young female away, shooting her a hard glance before she left his sight. A look meaning that there was no room for play in this, she was to tell Kagome very little, and to not infringe upon tradition ‘That girl shall be the death of me, this I know,’ he groaned mentally as his study door closed.

~*~*~*~
Levii: Eheh! Sorry there guys! I don't know if it was the domain or just my forgetful tendancies but this somewhat important chapter didn't seem to be present. Sorry Again!