You've Always Belonged in the Home in my Heart by kaoruhana

Part I

First, I would like to take this note to thank my wonderful partner emeralddarkness.  Besides being a great source of inspiration and feedback with this story, she worked with me the entire way.  What started as a three-sentence plot I sent her, morphed into 6 pages of scenes that she helped me create.  And then this story that we created (and I do say we because we both contributed to the actual contents).  

This was supposed to be a oneshot of somewhere around 30-40 pages.  And then, the characters kept becoming more interesting, the scenes more delightful to write, the plot a lovely thing that I found myself drawn into.  So, now it’s become a three part story of 126 pages.   Thank you to the mods over on the SessKag Tumbler who were wonderful in organizing this Big Bang.  Thank you to the mods who read over excerpts and gave me their opinions (and a title suggestion or two).  

***I disclaim anything and everything I need to.  This is a blanket disclaimer because I will forget to disclaim something if I don’t do this.   *** As usual, the historical references are as accurate as I can make them.  

*** Go check out the art for this, psoted by emeralddarkness.  I have the link to it on my tumblr (kaoruhana08).

I hope you enjoy this story, just as much as emeralddarkness and I did while creating it.

And Thank you Mitharus and Wiccan for working to get this site up and running so I can share this story here!  I've never NOT posted a story since I joined Dokuga, and it makes me so happy to have my story posted here finally :)  

* * * * * * * * * * 

PART I

* * * * * * * * *  

Early June 2001

Mrs. Higurashi paused in her daily task of sweeping the large courtyard near the wellhouse.  Her eyes darted to the trees behind it and the grove and pond that were found there, hidden behind some of the ancient trees that fenced in the shrine property.  She wasn’t nearly as gifted as her daughter, but time spent living on the shrine and listening to her father in-law’s ramblings had made her realize some things.  Or rather, she should say, they had made her pay a higher degree of attention to her feelings and intuition.  

And right now, there was something, or rather someone, out there in the grove behind the wellhouse.  She didn’t know who that person was--or if that person was actually a being or a youkai--but she knew that the person came to visit regularly.  The person never stayed long and was always gone before she could think to investigate further.  But, he came religiously every few weeks and left just as mysteriously.  

Until recently, she often wondered why her daughter had never thought to investigate this stranger’s presence.  It had taken her some time, but after an entire dinner spent wondering about it she realized that she never felt the presence around when Kagome was home from her trips to the Feudal Era.  If she really thought about it, while she knew about the visits from whoever it was in that grove, it wasn’t until Kagome’s trips through the Well that she actually paid attention to them because suddenly her feelings and hunches of a strange visitor seemed more realistic than not.  

Mrs. Higurashi straightened her broom and walked towards the wellhouse.  She set her broom leaning against its side wall and wiped her hands on her apron.  Then, she moved, following the border wall that separated the wellhouse from the main house courtyard, and approached the gate at the far edge.  She unlatched it carefully, the hinges squeaking a harsh sound from their age and disuse.  After all, hardly anyone in the family had used this gate in the two decades since her husband’s passing.  

The path that she had once walked with care was now overgrown with weeds and an array of other plants, but the stones that her husband had laid were still there, and she walked over them tracing their path to the grove settled into the copse of trees.  It took her a few minutes, and she had to move at least a few branches out of her way and avoid stepping on a plant or two, but she finally arrived at the tiny little clearing surrounded by the sakura trees.  

It was early summer, so they were past their bloom, but their branches provided more than enough shade for the person who sat hunched at their base working on something in the soil.  For a moment, Mrs. Higurashi just watched.  There was something about this man, clad in a traditional summer yukata, that made her pause.  

She stood there watching him work in silence--planting some flowers she realized--and feeling like an intruder.  

“You can come forward.”  

Startled, Mrs. Higurashi found herself moving nonetheless and made her way towards the man.  Now that she was closer she thought she recognized him.  Or at least, she recognized that familiar shade of hair.  She didn’t know much about Inuyasha’s family or whether youkai like Inuyasha lived this long, or any other information of that sort.  She did know that she had a feeling this man was related to Inuyasha for some reason, or at least connected to her daughter.  

Even away and living in the Feudal Era her daughter had always found ways to surprise her.  

“You must come here often.”  Mrs. Higurashi stated, squatting on her feet next to the  man.  She picked up an extra spade next to him and without prompting began to dig in the ground.  “You never come to the shrine however.  May I ask why?”  

The person next to her didn’t respond, but then again, he didn’t stop her from asking either.  She chose to not let it bother her.  There were many things she’d seen in her long life, and many more things that she’d never thought she’d see but had become familiar with due to her daughter’s travels, and she just put this aside as one of them.  At the very least, she’d finally found out who it was that visited the small flowering grove of trees behind the wellhouse.  

They worked together in silence for a while longer, the morning sun slowly creeping towards unbearable afternoon heat.  It took a moment for Mrs. Higurashi to realize what she was seeing when it was all done.  Around the feet of a few of the trees were numerous flowers: marigolds and pansies, violets and daisies, dahlias and zinnias.  It was beautiful, and though they were all planted in a haphazard way that meant this area was going to resemble a little wildflower meadow in the upcoming months, she could see that this area was something taken care of with love.  

She didn’t understand the story behind the flowers or the trees or the reason why they had been there for years, even before her husband was born apparently.  But, if this was the person taking care of them, she wondered why he did so.  

“Will you come by the house for some tea?”  She asked at last, standing up and wiping her hands on her apron.  “I feel it’s the least I can do for all the work you are doing.”  

The stranger sat down on the ground, his legs going beneath him in a proper seiza.  He shook his head, a small movement that was hardly noticeable unless one was looking closely.  

“No, thank you.”  A very small smile graced his face, once again, barely noticeable.  “But I appreciate your help.”  

Mrs. Higurashi stood for a moment longer, lingering because she wasn’t sure if it was proper to just leave.  Some part of her felt that she ought to provide this man with something other than the occasional help with planting.  Perhaps, she mused, it was just that she wanted someone to take care of again now that Kagome was away in the past and Sōta was too busy with high school.  

Sighing, she sketched a small respectful bow and made her way out of the clearing.  She would have to think later about what to do regarding the man.  

And respect his privacy when she did so.  

When Sesshomaru arrived a few weeks later, a note was left for him thanking him for the care he gave this grove of trees.  

A while later, as he made to leave, he heard footsteps approach.  They didn’t venture further.  Curious, he made his way towards where he heard them and found a small tray of tea things and snacks set out a little ways from the grove.  

“So this is where you learned it from Kagome?”  He wondered out loud his hands reaching for the food and drink.  

When Mrs. Higurashi came back to pick up the tray a few hours later, she found it empty and the dishes stacked neatly on it.  And nestled among the dishes, but far enough apart to not be touched by the tea things, a small bouquet of flowers.  

* * * * *  

Mid March, 1503 

Kagome busied herself with sorting the sophora root leaves and stems apart from each other into two separate piles for use in different medicines.  Both were used as emetics by Kaede-san and other mikos who practiced some version of kampo .  Kagome helped the other woman make the medicine, but she often wondered why the emetics were useful in the first place.  

She’d told Kaede once that perhaps vomiting whatever disease was in someone likely didn’t help, and the elderly woman had ignored her.  Later, she’d cornered Kagome and quizzed her on why she would bother with such an age-old tradition and what suggestion she had, if any, since she thought it was a problem.  Stunned by the woman’s words Kagome hadn’t broached the subject with her again.  

And then she’d wondered if she had wasted her time in the future by not studying more about modern medicine techniques.  It wasn’t that the men and women here weren’t making things work on their own.  It was just that modern medicine, the last of which she had used last winter when Rin came down with a bad cold, was better at some things.  And more accurate at treating the disease itself.  

“Is this enough?”  Rin asked shuffling closer with the black sesame seeds that she was grinding into a powder in a mortar and pestle.  “I don’t know if I can get it to grind to a finer powder.”  

Kagome examined the powder carefully.  She inwardly winced. It was a little too fine, but not so much that it couldn’t be used for whatever purpose Kaede wanted it for.  It would just need less water to make the paste to eat.  

“Fetch a pot would you Rin-chan?”  Kagome requested, setting the mortar aside and gently shaking off the pestle so that any sesame powder residue left on it would fall into the mortar.  “And you can go ahead and place this in there.  Make sure you etch the date and subject matter on the side.”  

The last part at least was something that Kaede had acquiesced to after the fifth time Kagome had spent hours looking for one herb in one pot.  Her new dating and subject matter system worked wonders when trying to find herbs to make their medicines.  And it also let Kaede know which herbs she should use first before their value faded.  

Rin did as told and it was only a few minutes later that she sat next to Kagome again, reaching for some stems to help Kagome with her task.  Her hands made quick work of separating the leaves from the stems.  

For a while the two women sat in silence until Rin finally spoke up.  

“Kagome nee-san?”  Rin softly queried in a whisper. 

Kagome’s fingers fumbled for a moment, but she picked up her task again.  She knew what Rin was likely going to ask about whenever she spoke as softly as she did.  

Rin knew that she was from the future, the girl having figured something was odd about Kagome’s sudden return to the Feudal Era.  And when Kagome had begun to question Kaede-dono and had all kinds of unique things that Rin hadn’t seen before, the girl knew something was up.  

She had cornered Kagome one day, when the two were alone, and everything had come spilling out.  

But, just because Rin knew didn’t make things better for Kagome.  

When she was eighteen, naive and still innocent to so many things, Kagome had jumped in the well with barely a thought to her life in the future and everything she was going to miss.  She had so foolishly believed that love and romance would be enough to make up for all the things she was giving up in the future and had set all her hopes and expectations on a romance that she now realized wasn’t meant to be.  

A modern woman like her, no matter how much she tried to fit in, would never be at home in this village known as Edo.  

The first few months had been decent, good even.  She and Inuyasha were giving their relationship a go, Sango’s children were utter joys to be around, and catching up with friends that she missed made things bearable.  But there were still the occasional bouts of homesickness that snuck up on her.  And there were always the questions that followed her when the village women shot gossiping looks her way.  

At eighteen, Kagome was of a suitable marrying age in the Feudal Era and everyone wondered why she and Inuyasha had failed to tie the knot after a whole six months of courting.  Kagome pretended that the comments didn’t bother her and pushed them aside, choosing to immerse herself in the work that Kaede-san had given her.  Inuyasha however, had other plans.  

When she had rejected his proposal citing her age and her need to grow adjusted to life in the Feudal Era, and the fact that she and Inuyasha had only been in a relationship for six months, she thought he would understand.  Instead, the fight that followed was ugly and bitter and left many harsh words and truths spilled out in the gap that Kagome had always known was between them.  She had thought that over time whatever issues they had, issues based on their ages, upbringing, and personalities, would be mere trivialities.  She had thought they could come to understand one another.  Instead, that fight had shown her just how different and unsuited they were together.  

At the end of that night, she had been left alone in the hut in tears.  She laid there feeling so alone and devastated in the middle of that tiny hut that she had once thought would be theirs and wishing more than anything for her mother’s advice.   

Kagome had spent a good two days wallowing in her grief post-breakup.  It was on the third day that Rin was the first to brave Kagome’s ire to come check on her instead of leaving after depositing the meal Snago had prepared.  The teenager stayed with Kagome for a few days helping Kagome move on.  Eventually, after an entire month or so of Rin’s constant presence, Kagome asked her to move in, wanting someone to fill the silence and void that Inuyasha had left behind.  

Rin never questioned why Kagome wanted her to stay.  But, she moved in with Kagome, leaving Kaede alone in her hut once more.   On Kagome’s part she was grateful for the companionship.  With Rin around, she was happier.  Rin’s presence filled that awkward void that Inuyasha left behind, but also helped Kagome not feel so alone.  In the teenager’s presence, Kagome could pretend she was back home with her family and the pain she felt at missing them lessened some.  

Sango and Miroku helped, but with their own family to worry about, it was different.  Besides, Sango, who at twenty-two was now already a mother of three couldn’t understand Kagome’s feelings as well as she had before.  For all that Sango was a warrior and a fighter, and an independent and strong woman, she was still one who craved acceptance in the small Feudal village she and Miroku called home.  And this was the life Sango had expected for herself one day: being a mother and wife and someone for her husband to come home to at night.  

It wasn’t something Kagome however was ready for just yet after her upbringing in the future.  

Rin learned about Kagome’s home and her time-travelling escapades shortly after she moved in when she found Kagome crying silent tears over a photo album one day.  She had sat with her and listened as Kagome spoke fondly of the people in the album and the memories she shared with them, curious to learn more about the woman who was her mentor and new guardian.  

Rin was fascinated by these stories and all the other things Kagome felt comfortable telling her about the future, even the simple stories that Kagome told of Sōta chasing Buyo around the Goshinboku.  It soothed Kagome to be able to share these stories with her.  Even if not everyone agreed with the stories and information Kagome shared with Rin.  She’d honestly been surprised at being told off by Sango when she explained the proper mechanics of periods to Rin earlier this year.  

“Kagome,” Sango had stated, her toddler son perched on her hip, “I understand that you come from a different place, but please, you must keep in mind that Rin is from here.”  

“Here?”  Kagome had asked confused.  

“Yes, here.”  Sango hitched the child higher on her hip, glaring at the twins who stopped their running around her legs and went back to passing the ball instead.  “Rin is going to live in this village.  She is going to marry someone in this village.  She is going to have be a part of this village.  And while I understand that you think about certain things differently, you have to keep in mind that Rin is not.  And if she is to make a comfortable life for herself here, then she needs to be accepted here.  And that means she needs to not be…”  Sango trailed off her face taking on a grimace.  Kagome understood what she meant though.  

She’d seen that look on so many faces while in the past, and the last person she expected to see with it was Sango.  She had thought that Sango understood.  As she took in the uncomfortable stance Sango sported though, Kagome acknowledged what her friend was saying and felt a little lost and alone again.  

Leaving the future and settling in the past was always going to be hard, but it was times like these that things really hit home for Kagome about the differences between the eras and the difficulties that she would have in the past.  

“Kagome nee-san?”  

Kagome paused in her task, blinking her eyes once and coming back to the present.  “Ah, sorry, Rin-chan.  I guess I was lost in my thoughts there.”  She moved some more of the leaves and stems apart from each other humming thoughtfully.  “You wanted another story from the future hmm?”  

Rin beamed.  “Yes please!” 

Kagome smiled at the teenager’s enthusiasm, thinking about what to tell Rin.  She didn’t want to be told off for telling Rin something too radical again.  Perhaps she was being a bit harsh, but she didn’t want to have another awkward conversation with Rin again.  

“Did I ever tell you about the sakura trees behind the wellhouse that houses the Bone Eater’s Well in my time?”  

Rin shook her head, and Kagome nodded as she continued.  “Right, well, let’s see.  I don’t know when the trees came to be planted, but I know that they were always there since before my father was even born.  I was born shortly after the hanami and my mother told me that one of the first places my father took me to was that grove.”  

“I’ve only seen sakura once before.  They’re quite beautiful.” Rin interrupted before widening her eyes and looking down.  “Sorry!”  

Kagome waved off her words, a few stray leaves still clinging to her fingers and landing on her shoulder.  Rin reached over and plucked them off as Kagome continued her story.  

“It’s fine.  But they were beautiful.  My father would take me there to help take care of them.  It was something that the shrine was contracted to do apparently.  I’m not too sure of the details, but there was a promise made between a spirit and the priests of the shrine where the priests promised to take care of the grove.”  Kagome lost herself in the memories, a nostalgic smile on her face.  “I admit, back then, I was young enough to not really understand or pay attention.  I was just interested in the pretty flowers you see.”  

Rin and Kagome giggled for a moment.  Then, Rin stood and made her way to the empty jars and pots.  She plucked a few off the shelves and made her way back to Kagome.  The two began to sort the leaves and stems into the pots.  

“Is it still there?”  Rin inquired as they finished up their task.  Kagome paused in her actions for a moment before shrugging her shoulders.  

“You know, I’m sure the trees are there even if the flowers I planted with my father aren’t.  We haven’t really been back since his death.”  She cleared her throat.  “I mean...my family hadn’t visited that area yet by the time that I came back.  I don’t know what they have done with the grove now.”  

It was silent for a while after that.  Rin knew better than to speak or try to prompt Kagome further.  She had been living with Kagome long enough to know that when the melancholy hit it was better to leave Kagome alone.  So, she remained quiet.  

It was only later, as the two were getting ready for bed that Rin began to wonder.  Kagome nee-san had said that the grove had been there when she was growing up.  But, Rin knew there was no grove of that sort in the current forest surrounding the Bone Eater’s Well.  She wondered who had planted it and when they had done so. And she hoped that one day she could see it herself.  Or at least something like it.   

* * * * * 

Late March, 1503

Rin poured tea for Sesshomaru as she always did whenever he visited.  It was their own tiny little ritual: Rin poured the tea, he drank it, and she told him about the things that had happened in the village since he last arrived.  This was her own time with the closest person to a father figure in her life, and she cherished it.  

“And Kagome nee-san was telling me about a grove of sakura trees she had seen growing up.”  Rin continued as Sesshomaru drank his tea.  “It seemed quite beautiful as she described it, and it reminded me of that time we saw those trees on our travels to find Naraku.  Do you remember them?”  

Sesshomaru inclined his head in acknowledgement.  She smiled softly as she poured some tea for herself.  She knew that he would never admit it, but he admired the trees too.  And she was always a little grateful for the gift he had given her then.  

It had taken her a while to figure out, but she had later realized that the week-long deviation from their path to look at some blooming trees had been solely for her benefit.  It was a wonderful week, camping in random forests and near some of the prettiest groves and gardens of sakura trees she had ever seen.  As she poured, she resumed her chatter knowing that no other words needed to be said.  

“Anyway, Kagome nee-san’s reminded me of that time.  Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen any since then Sesshomaru-sama.  For some reason it seems they don’t have any near this village.  Sango-san told me she had seen a tree or two near the waterfall, but Kagome nee-san doesn’t let me go there by myself, and it’s too busy right now to travel to see them.”  

She sighed wistfully as she took a deep sip of her tea.  Sesshomaru didn’t say anything to her, leaving the two to drink their tea in silence.   He knew Rin loved flowers, it was why he always tried to bring her some when they were in bloom.  He supposed that he didn’t mind if the younger miko--Kagome-san--was telling stories of them to Rin even if the sakura blooms would be later this year due to the longer winter.  Flowers were one of the few things that brought Rin true joy, and he was happy to see that she was enjoying her time in the village while living with the younger miko.  Though he wondered if he had to do some inquiry into the nearby area.  

As far as he knew there were no threats in the area for Rin to be worried about. He would have to speak with Inuyasha or the miko Rin lived with to see what the matter was.  It would not do if Rin was in danger from something or someone, and he could prevent it.  

“Where is the miko?”  He asked at last, putting down his now empty cup of tea down to his right.  He had to get going shortly.  There were some things he had tasked Jaken to look over in his absence, and the kappa would be expecting him soon.  

“Kagome nee-san or Kaede-san?”  Rin queried, putting her cup down too.  She frowned as well knowing by now what Sesshomaru’s signal meant.  

It hadn’t been a long visit this time.  Sesshomaru-sama had visited for shorter visits before, barely staying for tea, but she had hoped that he would spend some extra time with her today.  Sesshomaru saw her frown and reached over, laying a hand on her shoulder.  

“I will be back soon.  Jaken is expecting me.”  

Rin looked up at him and smiled.  “I know you’ll be back Sesshomaru-sama.  Thank you for visiting.  I hope you liked the tea.”  

He tightened his hold on her shoulder before letting go.  “You will tell me if anything happens.”  

Rin grinned.  “Of course I will, Sesshomaru-sama.  And you don’t need to worry.  I have lots of people in this village taking care of me including Kagome nee-san.”  

“Hn.”  

He turned to leave the hut, Rin quickly rising to walk him out of the door and the village.  She followed him to the end of the village proper, as close as she could to the forest bordering the area of the village she and Kagome nee-san lived in.  Kagome was walking back from the forest, her arms full of kindling for them to use later.  Rin rushed over to help her.  

“You’re leaving already, Sesshomaru-sama?”  Kagome inquired, letting Rin take a little of the load.  Sesshomaru noticed that she allocated the load quite favorably in Rin’s favor.  The miko was quite considerate towards his ward.  

“Sesshomaru-sama said Jaken-san is expecting him.”  Rin answered in his stead.  “Oh, but Kagome nee-san, I think Sesshomaru-san wanted to speak to you about something.”  

Kagome rebalanced her burden.  “Sesshomaru-sama?”  She didn’t make a move to send Rin away, but Sesshomaru nodded to his ward.  Rin gave him a smile and walked back into the village towards the hut that she shared with Kagome.  

“The mountain,  is there a problem there?”  

“Problem?”  Kagome asked, realizing this conversation would take longer than she expected.  Making a quick decision, she dumped the wood on the ground in front of her.  

Sesshomaru eyed the pile for a moment but then ignored it. “Rin has told me you do not let her go near the waterfalls.”  

“Oh, that!”  Kagome leaned down and began picking up the wood, surprised a bit when Sesshomaru reached down and picked some up.  “I don’t let her go alone there because it’s steep and there’s no clear path.  Even I don’t go alone- I always take Inuyasha...or I used to go with him.  Nowadays, I  usually take Kirara-chan with me.  Or Shippo-kun if he’s visiting.  It’s more for her safety that I say that.”  

“I see.”  

Sesshomaru turned to head back into the village.  Kagome followed him, having to stretch her legs to keep up with his stride.  He walked around towards the back of her hut when they reached it.  Rin stood by the pile of kindling they had already stacked in a small corner.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  She exclaimed, surprised to see him again.  He didn’t say anything to Rin and instead dumped the wood on the pile.  Once that was done, he turned back and began walking away calling to Rin over his shoulder.  

“Rin.  Stay safe, and listen to the miko.”  

Knowing that this was his way to saying goodbye, the two females watched him leave.  One did so waving and with a smile, while the other dumped her own stack of wood on the pile and simply stared at his back.  

It seemed that Sesshomaru’s March visit to the village was over.  

* * * * * 

Late April 1503

He was a little early to visit Rin this time, but he had felt unsettled at seeing her disappointment with his early departure during his last visit.  Besides, he had new kimonos to give her, sent to him by his mother, for her to wear during the slowly warming months to come.  He had a suspicion that she would enjoy the one that was pale yellow which his mother had made sure to place on top of the pile of clothing with a note.  

His mother might never admit it, but she had taken an interest and liking to Rin. He decided to let it go for now since she had no ulterior motives for Rin.  For her, Rin was just a way to indulge in human fashions.  As long as it remained that way he saw no need to change it.  After all, he could hardly be expected to know what a teenager like Rin might fancy.  

He paused suddenly, balancing carefully on a large branch in the forest.  There, only a few paces in front of him, close enough to a well marked trail that someone had created a while ago stood a few sakura trees.  The pale pink petals from their flowers swayed and fluttered in a stray breeze, a few making his way to him even.  They were fragile things, but even he could take the time to admire their fleeting beauty. 

Rin would appreciate this he thought, his eyes softening slightly.  

Before he could rethink his decision, he found himself jumping from his position on the branch.  In sure, swift steps he walked over to the trees.  It took him mere moments to find the branch he wanted and thought appropriate.  For Rin, he thought, his whip coming to life in his hands.  

It was far easier to cut a branch of the tree than he had imagined it to be, and much cleaner too since he used his whip.  He had chosen a branch with some buds yet to blossom hoping that in the coming day or two, those too would bloom and give Rin some more time to enjoy the flowers before the branch would fade and die.  

It was fleeting and foolish, and he knew that there was no real reason to gift Rin this branch when he could give her something else.  But, he looked forward to seeing the smile Rin gave to him when he presented her with them.  He tried not to think of why he was giving her this branch, so shortly after her story.  

Perhaps, he mused, sometimes he missed those simple times when Rin was still young and traveling with him around the countryside, and he could afford to take little detours off their path to put a smile on a little girl’s face.  

He tucked the branch into the folds of his outer haori carefully, lest he damage the fragile blooms.  Frowning, he realized that perhaps this was a foolish thing to do.  Would the blossoms even last until he made it to the village? They were so fragile that perhaps they would all disappear by the time he made it to the village.  

Sesshomaru eyed the branch for a moment before sighing.  A moment later, he formed his orb and disappeared. 

When he reappeared, he was in the forest on the outskirts of the village.  It was, he could admit, a frivolous reason to use his power in this way.  But, there was no other easy way to get the branch intact to Rin.  Checking it’s secure hold, Sesshomaru then made his way into the village proper, ignoring the stares of the villagers as he did so.  

He was used to the slightly discomfort they had and the wary glances thrown his way.  But, as long as Rin was safe and the villagers didn’t harm her, he would ignore these glances from them. 

The miko appeared in the doorway to the hut she shared with his ward.  She greeted him with a welcoming smile standing to the side of the door.  He inclined his head towards her respectfully.  Rin stuck her head out, and upon seeing him her eyes widened with joy.  She disappeared moments later, but Sesshomaru wasn’t worried.  

Knowing Rin, she would be starting on the tea.  

The miko moved inside when he neared, and Sesshomaru followed her.  She sat by the fire clearing up some drying herbs which he realized the two were in the middle of organizing.  He stood watching for a moment, before crossing the few paces towards Rin and taking a seat adjacent to her.  

He waited until Rin’s attention was on him and not on the tea she was boiling before presenting her with the branch.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  Rin’s voice was loud, pitched higher than she usually used in his presence mindful of his sensitive hearing.  “Oh, it’s beautiful.  Kagome nee-san, look!” 

Rin thrust the flowers at Kagome, a few petals drifting to fall into the fire and into the tea being boiled.  Rin moved to take them out, but Sesshomaru stilled her hand.  

“Leave it.”  

She took her hand away from the tea and nodded, her other arm still extended towards Kagome.  The miko gently took the branch from her with a smile.  She stood and made her way to a corner of the hut, digging through some items before settling on a large container.  He narrowed his eyes as he recognized that the container also housed some other materials--judging from the scent some dried beans.  

He would have to see about procuring some larger storage containers for Rin and the miko.  Gifts were not meant to be housed with the food storage.  

“I’ll take my leave now.”  Kagome stated standing again and brushing her hands down the front of her kimono.  “I was going to visit Endo-san to check on him again today.”  

“Should I come meet you there Kagome nee-san?” Rin inquired.  

“No, you should spend your time with Sesshomaru-sama.”  Kagome bowed to him, and he inclined his head towards her again.  “It was nice to see you.  Please, enjoy your time with Rin.  She’s perfected a new tea recipe which I am sure you will enjoy.”  

Her words said, Kagome left the hut and made her way down the narrow village lane toward Endo-san’s house.  

Kagome knew that it was quite common of Sesshomaru to bring gifts to Rin.  But, it was seeing him go out of his way to procure things like the branch that showed how much he cared for his ward.  There was no real reason or purpose to bring Rin that branch.  Rin knew that and so did she.  

He had done as he had merely because he wanted to put a smile on Rin’s face.  

And that, Kagome thought, as she climbed the steps to Endo-san’s hut, was rather sweet of him.  

* * * * * 

Late Summer 1503

“Bokuseno.”  

The old tree youkai opened a wizened eye to look upon his visitor.  He assessed Sesshomaru for a moment, then opened both eyes to properly regard his guest.  

“Would it bother you to address me properly for once pup?”  The elder youkai asked in amusement.  Sesshomaru ignored him and took a few steps back so that the youkai could see him more fully.  “Very well then Sesshomaru-san, what is the matter now?”  

“You have heard nothing troubling?”  

The wizened youkai sighed.  “No. Is that the only reason you visit now?”  He rustled his branches causing a bird or two to tweet at the sudden movement.  “Never mind.  How is that girl- your ward?  It has been some time since you have brought her to see me.”  

“She is fine.”  

Bokuseno frowned.  It was quite a feat to pull any words out of his friend’s son.  For all that Toga was friendly and conversational, his eldest took after his mother and preferred silence.  Sometimes, Bokuseno wished his friend was still around just so he could have someone to converse with.  

“She likes the village then?”  Bokuseno finally demanded, trying to engage into some sort of conversation with Sesshomaru, who, despite his age, would always be the pup that Toga had once introduced to him.  A pup who, more than once, had enjoyed scrambling along his branches and sniffing out all the animals that called them home.  

“The miko takes care of Rin- the younger one.  She is a good mentor.”  

“Ah, yes, she is a rather special human.  Not many are touched by time like her after all.”  Bokuseno didn’t expand on his statement, but then again he didn’t need to.  Nor did he think Sesshomaru would care if he did so.  But, it was better to bring the conversation towards other topics nonetheless.  

“Your ward, she still enjoys flowers?”  Bokuseno never forgot the wide smile on her face when Sesshomaru had brought her during the Spring.  He could never quite recall which Spring it was, the seasons so numerous in his life that each was a mere blip in his long life.  

Unbidden, Sesshomaru’s eyes softened.  “Yes.”  

Bokuseno nodded, then rustled his branches again resulting in even more chirps of indignation this time.  He lowered one branch down until it was nearly level with the ground and tapped it in front of a few sakura saplings.  Sesshomaru watched it all, wondering what the old youkai wanted from him.  

“Take these to her.”  Sesshomaru made no movement, but the tree youkai continued speaking.  “She enjoys flowers so I know she will take good care of these sakura.  They need a proper home.  My forest is too dense for them to grow properly.  Nor is it a good place for their beauty to be enjoyed.”  

“Sakura?”  Sesshomaru inquired approaching the trees.  They reached his waist, just about, and were still young trees.  

“You heard me pup.” The tree youkai barked.  “I trust her with these saplings.  They fought hard to survive, and at least some of them deserve to be planted somewhere they might have a better chance of growing.  Take them.”  

Sesshomaru didn’t act as Bokuseno wanted causing the elderly tree youkai to tap the ground impatiently.  Finally Sesshomaru moved, though back towards the other trees in the glade this time.  He looked at his father’s friend for a long moment before bowing his head.  

“I will return tomorrow.”  

With his words said, Seshsomaru stood and made his way out of the small clearing.  It was only after he was sure that the pup was far enough away that Bokuseno smiled.  Toga’s pup had become a different youkai in the past few years.  He wondered what his old friend would think of his eldest son now.  

When Sesshomaru arrived at the village the next day, he didn’t enter the village proper immediately upon arrival as he usually did.  Instead, he stood on the outskirts, Ah-Un’s reins held in his hands and Jaken by his side, and flared his youki.  His half-brother arrived shortly after eyes arrowed, arms crossed in a weary stance.  

“What do you want?”  

Inuyasha’s hostile tone was nothing new, but it wasn’t something that Sesshomaru was interested in dealing with today.  He ignored his brother, taking no note of the silent anger that was growing, and waited.  He knew that Rin and the younger miko would be along shortly.  His business was with them.  

“Tch.”  Inuyasha glared at him, before leaping into a nearby tree and standing on a stable, sturdy branch. 

Jaken, next to him, looked ready to speak and disrupt the silence.  Not wanting any conflict, Sesshomaru leveled a glare at his retainer subtly shifting his stance to show Jaken his boot.  The kappa gulped but understood the warning and stood down.  

Kagome and Rin arrived a few minutes later, both breathing a little harshly.  Sesshomaru frowned.  He hadn’t meant to cause them alarm or for them to run to him.  Perhaps, he should have sent Jaken to fetch them instead.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  Rin gasped.  She saw Jaken and ran forward a few more steps, engulfing the kappa in a hug.  His retainer balked at the display, but Sesshomaru knew that Jaken, for all his complaining, didn’t really mind.  

“Jaken-san!  It’s been so long since I’ve seen you!  How are you?”  Rin let go and moved to pet and stroke Ah and Un.  “How are you two?  Not giving Sesshomaru-sama too much trouble I hope?”  

“Rin.”  He addressed catching her attention and the miko’s as well.  “Come here.”  

His ward followed him obediently to where Jaken had already unloaded Ah-Un’s burden.  The miko moved tool, her eyes going wide at the sight of the trees laid on the ground.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?” Rin asked in confusion approaching the trees.  “What are these?”  

Sesshomaru ignored Jaken’s squawk as he explained.  “Bokuseno wanted you to have sakura saplings to plant.”  

Rin now moved eagerly towards the trees, Kagome following behind her, and the two carefully inspected the trees.  They spoke in hushed tones, but Sesshomaru heard them nonetheless with his heightened hearing.  He knew his brother likely heard as well, but kept quiet.  Not that he minded.  

“Sesshomaru-sama,”  Rin called out standing and walking towards him, “are these really for me?  Can I plant them?”  

Sesshomaru inclined his head in acceptance.  Rin squealed and clapped her hands, bursting with glee.  She resembled the little girl who had followed him years ago instead of the teenager she now was.  

“Jaken,” he addressed his retainer, “help her.”  His retainer sputtered, but acted accordingly nonetheless.  Satisfied that he had finished his task, Sesshomaru walked towards Rin and laid a hand on her shoulder.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  She inquired.  

“I will come tomorrow.  Jaken will help you today.”  Rin grinned and nodded while her mentor stood, wiping her hands on the hakama of the miko uniform she wore today.  

Pleased, Sesshomaru made to move deeper into the forest to depart, when he heard the miko running behind him.  He paused in his walk wondering what she wanted.  She nearly tripped over a tree root as she barreled to a stop near him.  

“Thank you for the trees Sesshomaru-sama.” 

“They are for Rin.”  He explained wondering why the miko was thanking him for Rin’s gift.  

“They may be for Rin, but I’m sure that quite a few of the villagers will be able to enjoy them too.  So, thank you.”  She bowed low, much lower than she usually did in his presence. “I know that Rin will be really excited to show you the trees tomorrow after they are planted.”  

He watched her in silence for a long moment before replying.  Even then, his response was simple.  

“Hn.”  

And with that said, he turned again and made his way deeper into the forest and away from the village.  

* * * * * 

Winter 1503-1504, Spring 1504

The first snow came in early December according to the mental calendar that Kagome kept.  Rin had been worried about the trees that they had planted so she and the teenager had gone to visit them.  The trees had seemed to be doing fine, but it was hard to tell.  Kagome herself was not knowledgeable about trees, so she wasn’t able to provide Rin with more than a fleeting shrug and words of hope.  

It was late February, as the first few plum blossoms in a farmer’s field began to bloom, when Rin grew excited.  Kagome herself was excited too as she thought of the trees they had planted the year before.  

As March came with milder weather and some rain, Rin made it a daily chore to go check on her trees.  She continued this, despite Kagome’s insistence that she not go in the rain, for nearly three weeks.  And then one day, she ran into the hut, out of breath, with a bright grin on her face.  Kagome, startled by her abrupt entrance, nearly knocked their dinner kettle off the fire.  

“They’re blooming, they’re blooming!”  

For just that moment Kagome saw in Rin the little girl she had known years before instead of the teenager she now was.  And she smiled at seeing the younger girl’s enthusiasm.  It was infectious.  

“Spring must be here then.”  Kagome remarked, stirring the rice.  

“Yes.”  Rin’s smile fell as she sat down near Kagome.  “Kagome nee-san, only two are blooming though.  Do you think something’s wrong?”  

Kagome frowned.  “Only two are blooming?  Perhaps the others need some more time?”  She suggested trying to cheer the other girl.  “It is only the beginning of Spring after all.  We should give them some more time.”  

Except more time was apparently not enough.  Rin visited daily, and she came back daily with the same news.  After seeing this for a week straight, Kagome finally came to a decision.  She couldn’t do anything to force the three bare trees to blossom, but she could at least let Rin enjoy the two that did bloom.  

So, after a week of planning, and cooking, and trying and failing spectacularly at making some delicately shaped mochi, she woke up Rin early one morning, told her to get ready, and bundled them both off to the grove.  

“Kagome nee-san?”  Rin inquired huddling into her warm hanten decorated with Sesshomaru’s family crest on the sleeves.  “What are we doing here?  The sun has barely come out.”  

“Hanami!”  Kagome exclaimed, setting down the cloth bundle she had been carrying carefully.  

The cloth came untied to reveal all of the things that Kagome had packed earlier that morning, with only the dawn’s light for company.  There was a large box filled with her artfully misshapen mochi that resembled pointy spikes more than the sakura they were meant to mimic (she had realized too late that mochi dough was not easy to shape).  A few onigiri also lay there, packed with all of the flavors Rin loved such as the small pieces of salted fish that Rin had helped preserve earlier in the winter.  

“Oh!”  Rin clapped her hands, sinking to her knees in the morning dew, getting her kimono wet in the process.  “A hanami!  How exciting!  I’ve never been to one before.”  

Kagome smiled softly at the teenager as she unpacked the materials in the bundle.  She had known that of course, after talking with Rin about the flowers nearly all winter.  But, she hadn’t expected to be so moved by Rin’s excitement.  And indeed, Rin was excited.  She carefully arranged the food Kagome was unpacking and frowned, before pulling the cloth--food and all--towards one of the two blooming trees.  

The trees were still small and the flowers not many, but Rin was still thrumming with excitement as she settled against the base of one to enjoy her first hanami.  

The fact that it was in the direct path of the morning sun likely helped her in making the decision as well.  

Kagome followed her, relaxing at Rin’s side, face turned up to enjoy the warm sunshine.  There was still a chill in the air, enough to want some warmth, but not the chill found in winter when Rin and Kagome huddled into their blankets and delayed starting their days.  Instead, this was the kind that required basking in the sun and feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays soaking into your skin.  Coupled with some picnic food, cold but refreshing tea, a tasty sweet treat, and some wonderful company and conversation it was almost perfect.  

At some point, the two must have dozed off in the sun because Kagome found herself startling awake at the flare of youki coming from nearby.  She sat up abruptly, blinking her eyes to adjust to the brightness of mid-afternoon.  Beside her, Rin stirred causing Kagome to glance in her direction.  Rin’s hanten had been discarded sometime before they both dozed, and the teenager was using it as a pillow as she slept on.  Kagome brushed a few stray petals out of Rin’s hair before taking note of the surroundings.  

The youki, now that she was more awake, was easily recognizable as Sesshomaru’s.  It was his usual signal, to both her and Inuyasha, that he was here to visit Rin.  She stood, intent on meeting him somewhere to let him know that they weren’t in the hut today.  Brushing some petals and stray pieces of dirt and plant matter from her clothes, Kagome smoothed a hand down her hair, in a braid courtesy of Rin, and walked to the edge of the small grove.  

Sesshomaru arrived to meet her only a few steps out of the grove.  His appearance was so sudden she had to stifle a scream and clutched at her chest through her clothing.  He noticed her actions but ignored them.  

“Miko.”  He acknowledged ignoring her frown as he did so.  She had been attempting to get him to call her by her name for years.  It was almost a game between them now to see who would give in first.  

“Sesshomaru-sama.”  She greeted back sketching a short bow.  “It’s nice to see you here today.  Would you like to join Rin and I for our hanami?”   

Sesshomaru turned his gaze towards the trees and the small grove that Rin and Kagome had planted.  He eyed the trees carefully taking note of which were blooming and which were not.  

“How is Rin?” 

Kagome was surprised by the question, but she brushed it off to answer him.  “Rin’s fine.  She’s taking a nap right now.  I’m afraid we both dozed off under the sun.”  Kagome shuffled her feet, mulling her next sentence over for a moment before deciding that it wouldn’t hurt to tell him why the two of them were in the grove today.  

“Actually, Rin was feeling a little down recently which is why I planned this hanami today.”  

“Why?”  

If anyone else had spoken to her in such a way, curt and abrupt, Kagome would have glared at them and ordered them to speak better.  But, Kagome had come to expect this sort of behavior with Sesshomaru so she let it go.  It was in his nature to be direct and get to the heart of a matter.  

“Only two of the trees bloomed.”  Kagome explained waving a hand towards the grove behind her.  “Please send my apologies to the person who provided you those saplings.  I’m afraid that we were only able to properly care for two and the other three died.”  

Sesshomaru regarded the grove carefully.  Kagome let him, wondering what it was he was thinking at the moment.  After a few moments of careful regard, he returned his attention to Kagome.  

“Is Rin there?”  

The question caught Kagome off guard, and it took her a few seconds before she realized what he had asked.  

“Oh, yes...yes she is.  I’m afraid we both dozed off a little.  I can go wake her up if you--”

“No.”  

Kagome turned her gaze, which had strayed to look at the grove, back towards him.  “Let her rest.  I will return tomorrow.”  

“Oh...  Alright.”  

Kagome studied him, as much as she could without her study being too obvious.  It was times like these when she couldn’t help but think that Rin was lucky to have such a parental figure in her life.  Sesshomaru, for all his aloofness, cared deeply for Rin; something all too apparent for those who were able to notice.  It was in these small actions that he did, such as letting his ward enjoy her sleep for a moment, that it was the most apparent.  

Seeing him turn around to head back into the trees to leave, Kagome spoke up quickly.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  She exclaimed.  “I’ll let Rin know you stopped by.  We look forward to your visit tomorrow.”  

Sesshomaru didn’t pause in his walk.  Though, Kagome was sure she saw him move his head slightly as though acknowledging her words.  

The next day, Rin was a bundle of energy as she looked forward to Sesshomaru’s arrival.  Kagome had long since given up on getting her to relax and calm down.  Instead, she decided to let Rin spend the time wisely by having the teenager use that energy to pound some rice with Sango for mochi dough that Sango wanted to make for her son’s birthday.  

Rin had just returned, and the two were enjoying their lunch, when Sesshomaru arrived.  Kagome, acting instinctively at the flare of his youki, turned to look at the direction he usually arrived from, and Rin picked up on her actions instantly.  She squealed and would have flown out of the hut to greet Sesshomaru if Kagome hadn’t stopped her with a scolding.  

As it was, Kagome found herself matching Rin’s speed at practically inhaling the food and huffing as she followed Rin to the entrance of the village.  She’d have to go back in a few minutes to properly store the food before unwanted visitors of the rodent and insect variety arrived at her hut; but for now, following Rin was more important.  

Sesshomaru eyed the two of them with raised brows.  Clearly, he had noticed that they had come from lunch.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  Rin stopped her run just a hair’s breadth away from him, panting with a smile on her face.  “I’m so glad to see you.”  

Rin didn’t wait for him to acknowledge her before continuing talking, though Sesshomaru did by placing a hand on her shoulder for a few brief seconds.  

“I’m sorry I missed you yesterday, Sesshomaru-sama.  Kagome nee-san told me about it.  We had a hanami yesterday, my first one.  Perhaps you can join us for another one day?”  

Sesshomaru shook his head, indicating that he would not join their hanami this time around.  Instead, he turned leading her the few steps towards where Jaken stood with Ah and Un.  There was a familiar set of bundles on the dragon steed’s back, bundles which Kagome had already noticed as she came over to inspect them.  

“Come, Rin.”  

Rin followed him to Jaken and Ah and Un, a thoughtful frown on her face.  “Are those trees?”  Rin questioned breathless when she realized what she saw in front of her.  “Sesshomaru-sama?”  

“Hn.”  

Sesshomaru reached over and lowered a bundle, dumping the contents on the ground gently.  Rin squatted down, ignoring Jaken’s squawking as she did so, to examine the contents.  Kagome followed her, the two of them unwrapping the newest set of saplings that Sesshomaru had delivered to them even as said youkai deposited a few more onto the ground.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  Kagome asked squinting up at him through the sunlight glaring into her eyes.  

“These are to replace the three that died.”  Sesshomaru answered, wanting to get the explanation to them as quickly as possible, and with few words.  

It had been easy to get the saplings after he followed Bokuseno’s instructions.  The old tree youkai had seemed amused at Sesshomaru’s question of where to find more saplings, but he had answered Sesshomaru’s question nonetheless.  And he had given Sesshomaru explicit instructions that it was best to let the trees be planted as fast as possible after their initial uprooting.  

“These need to be planted today.  Jaken and Ah and Un will help.”  He explained moving away for a moment.  

Kagome made a face.  Rin didn’t notice it excited as she was.  The teenager had already begun ordering Jaken to help her carry the trees towards the small clearing and grove they had started last year.  

“Sesshomaru-sama, do you mind watching over Rin for a while?”  Kagome asked softly standing up and wiping her hands on her kimono.  “I have to clean up from lunch.”  She glanced at Rin and the newest saplings again.  “And perhaps I will see if Inuyasha might want to help.”  

Kagome doubted he would though.  

Inuyasha and her still hadn’t been able to properly patch together their friendship, and their interactions were still stilted and reduced to necessities and small pleasantries.  The interaction she had with him nowadays involved asking about how much firewood Inuyasha would need to provide for her and Rin or whether they were running low on meat.  Asking about anything besides necessary help, such as invitations to tea or help with frivolous things like planting a sakura grove, would be met with a scoff and avoidance until Kagome knew better than to ask about the subject again.  

She sighed, turning to head back towards the village.  Posing the question to Inuyasha would likely result  in a negative answer, but not even querying him on the matter was better than not doing so in this case.  Especially if they had to plant so many trees before sundown.  

“Miko.”  Sesshomaru’s words stopped her descent down the small hill they were on.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  

“I will help Rin.  You needn't ask him.”  

It said a lot about the brothers’ relationship nowadays when the once blatant and hateful insults had faded into some form of acknowledgement.  It wasn’t a good relationship between the two of them, but at least the two of them were able to refer to each other without a fight erupting or swords flying at each other.  Though, they still refused to refer to each other in anything that would be considered polite terms.  

In their minds at least, Kagome thought idly, “him” was much better than “half-breed” or “bastard,” or any of the other insults they had thrown at each other over the years.  

Thus, she knew exactly who Sesshomaru was referring to when he mentioned a “him.”

From her position, Kagome stared at Sesshomaru, trying to gage the sincerity of his words.  He didn’t make any indication that he was bothered by her assessing stare.  Instead, he moved away and towards Rin easily picking up the sapling that she had been dragging unsuccessfully towards the grove.  Rin’s eyes widened in appreciation and glee at his help.  

Seeing that the two were getting to work, and that Sesshomaru did indeed want to help, Kagome decided that she was free to go.  So, she made her way down the hill and towards her hut to clean up from lunch.  

By the time she returned an hour later, Kagome was expecting some progress.  She was therefore completely surprised by the sheer amount of work that had already been done.  The saplings had somehow all been planted already, or at least placed in the holes made for them.  Sesshomaru was somewhere off to the side digging something else, and Rin was at one of the saplings with Jaken shoveling dirt back into the hole that Sesshomaru had created.  Ah and Un were helping them, though, judging by Jaken’s indignation, the dragon steed was more of a hindrance than a help at the moment.  

Curious to know what Sesshomaru was doing, Kagome edged around the holes and saplings towards his location.  When she arrived, Kagome had to stifle her laughter at the sight.  

Sesshomaru was covered in dirt, his hair covered in specks of brown and his undershirt smudged in various places with dirt.  From her angle, at the edge of the pit he was digging, he reminded her of a dog.  She bit her lip lest she offend him with the laughter threatening to bubble out of her, and instead chose to ask him what he was doing instead.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  She inquired, trying to get as close to the edge as possible without falling in.  “May I ask what you are doing?”  

Sesshomaru paused in his taks, flicking his head to get some hair behind his shoulders.  He shook his claws which Kagome realized were caked in layers of soil and plant matter, causing some of the dirt to fly up and hit her.  She shielded her face instinctively as she waited for his answer.  

“A pond.” 

At his words, Kagome lowered her arms.  

“A pond?”  She asked, leaning even further.  

“Hn.”  He looked at her pointedly, then at the edge of the pit he was in.  Kagome looked down as well and hastily backed up lest she fall into the pit.  “Rin told me how far the water source is from here.  That will not do.”  

The last part was stated with a frown and a pointed look thrown in Kagome’s direction.  She blinked, taken aback.  

“Oh.”  

And really, what more was there for her to say than that?  It was rather sweet of Sesshomaru to dig up this pit in the hope that he’d hit water and create a  pond.  All so that Rin didn’t have to lug up pails of water from a nearby well.  She chose to kindly ignore the latter part of his statement and how it seemed to be directed at her.  

For now, she’d focus on the fact that he genuinely cared for Rin.  

And perhaps, she mused watching him turn back to his digging, she should focus on helping the girl too.  A particularly loud grumble from Jaken only reinforced this.  So, she stood up and made her way towards Rin and Jaken and began to help plant the saplings.  

* * * * * 

May 1504

Kagome was prepared for Sesshomaru’s next visit.  Rin had been shooting her sly and amused glances all month having been given a first-hand view to all of Kagome’s fretting.  Specifically, all of Kagome’s attempts at making Japanese sweets and desserts.  She had failed spectacularly at some, nearly burnt herself trying to make others, and had, in the end settled on some special wagashi . 

The sakura mochi wasn’t the most elaborate sweet she could create, but it was special.  And at the very least, she had saved some petals with Rin and was pickling them to store them for the sakurayu she hoped to give to Sesshomaru.  It wasn’t the best thank you gift, but she did want to show her gratitude towards him in some way for the trees.  

The trees were more for Rin, but Kagome thought she should show her appreciation nonetheless.  

Thus, when Sesshomaru arrived for his next visit, Kagome was ready.  

He entered the hut as he usually did.  But, unlike other times, Kagome didn’t get up to leave and instead chose to stay with him and Rin.  That alone, she knew, piqued his curiosity.  

He seemed even more intrigued when Kagome was the one who made the tea and served it to him, especially since that was a task that Rin usually undertook.  More than once, Kagome saw him dart a look in Rin’s direction and then at her as though trying to decipher, with mere glances alone, what the difference this time was.  

It didn’t escape her either that any conversation between her and Sesshomaru was stilted as well.  Rin still chattered on as usual, seemingly unaware of the tension (Kagome had a feeling Rin was faking ignorance though).  

Kagome tried to not feel too put out by his actions.  She did understand that Sesshomaru was a man who appreciated change on his own terms.  When Kagome initiated it, albeit in such a small matter, he was caught unawares.  And he didn’t like it.  

But surely, she thought, it wasn’t that different?  

When she finally gave him the tea, she presented a bowl of sakura mochi to go along with it.  She saw Sesshomaru’s questioning glance sent Rin’s way and wondered what he meant by it.  

“Kagome nee-san made them.”  Rin explained having understood him.  “She and I gathered some leaves to make these.  We actually saved petals too. Kagome nee-san says that those will be used to make tea.”  

Sesshomaru eyed the mochi.  The leaves that Kagome and Rin had used were juveniles, and as such, weren’t wrapped around the entire mochi like he was used to seeing.  Instead, they were placed in an intriguing wrapped pattern around the mochi.  It wasn’t traditional, but it was still pleasing to see nonetheless.  He wondered if it would change the taste.  

“Tea?”  He asked, addressing Kagome for the first time in this visit, as he took a bite of the mochi.  The taste wasn’t too different from other mochi he had.  He swallowed before asking the question he wanted to.  “I didn’t know you knew how to make Sakurayu.”  

Kagome was surprised to be addressed this way.  

As she thought of her answer she smiled softly.  She knew that Rin could tell it was one of her melancholy smiles, the ones she gave when she remembered something that reminded her of home.  

“My mother and I would make sakurayu for my grandfather.”  She answered while picking at the leaves of a mochi on a plate next to her.  

Sesshomaru didn’t say anything to that.  She didn't know if it was because he could tell that she didn’t want to speak further about it.  Some memories of her family were fine to speak of, to reminisce on.  Others though, weren’t as easy to think about.  She had no clue why certain memories made her more melancholy than others.  When they came to her though, they were so vivid.  

These were the memories that left a lump in her throat, a sinking feeling in her gut.  These were the ones that usually resulted in bringing out her blankets and sweaters that she had painstakingly saved from the future.  The smells of home were now long gone from them, but the comfort that had leached into them, the love and the memories, remained.  

Rin spoke again, using her words to fill the uncomfortable feelings that were permeating the hut.  She spoke of her daily life in the village, the birthday of Sango’s twin daughters that was coming up soon, of the sakurayu making process. 

And in the silence that descended, Sesshomaru and Kagome let Rin fill the gap between them with her chatter.  

It was as he was leaving, Kagome only feeling interested enough to see him out the door and not the end of the village’s boundaries, that he finally addressed Kagome again.  

“Your sakurayu Miko.  I look forward to tasting it.”  

* * * * * 

Late Spring to Winter 1504

As the Spring changed to the sultry heat of summer, bringing with the hum of cicadas and the promise of monsoon downpours, Kagome found herself staying behind in the hut on Sesshomaru’s visits.  

At first, it had been only a few minutes with a few pleasantries exchanged between them.  Those changed to lazy afternoons in the hut, watching the June downpours pour down from the skies, as they sipped tea and listened to Rin speak.  When the seasons changed to autumn, Kagome still stayed inside during his visits, loath to get in the way of the villagers and their harvesting.  

By the time winter came, it was expected that Kagome would remain with Sesshomaru and Rin in the hut.  

So, on a cold December day, when the first snow lay blanketing the ground, Sesshomaru, Kagome, and Rin were sitting in the hut.  The two females were crowded around the firepit, where the fire was lit.  The kettle for tea was above it, bubbling with a ferocity.  

“Rin,” Kagome called as she pulled the kettle from the fire, “could you put the petals in the cups?”  

Rin opened the pot she had pulled from a shelf earlier.  Sesshomaru smelled the vinegary scent of the sakura petals--the fragrance now more than the hint he’d had earlier and overpowering for a few brief moments.  Rin carefully measured a small quantity in each of the three cups with a spoon, before replacing the jar on the pot.  The smell faded again, and Sesshomaru took a deep breath to clear out some of the lingering traces of vinegar in his senses.  

“Here you are, Sesshomaru-sama.”  

Sesshomaru focused again on Kagome, who now held out a cup of piping hot sakurayu in his direction.  He took it from her hands, turning it around and taking a sip.  

The drink was hot enough to burn human tongues, but for him, it was negligible.  He inclined his head in her direction to show his appreciation, but she missed his actions as she poured the water in both her cup and Rin’s.  

“You have prepared a well-brewed cup of sakurayu.”  He told her when she was looking up again. 

He watched her nearly fumble with her cup, a faint pinkness coming to rest on her cheeks.  She bashfully averted her eyes from his own, using her cup to hide her mouth, in the same way courtesans hid their own with their fans.  

On them, he found the action false.  On the Miko, it was...pleasing.  

“Thank you.”  She murmured, taking a sip of her tea as well. 

* * * * * 

February 1505

February was cold.  It always seemed that way to Kagome, regardless of which era she was in.  There was something about the month that seemed to highlight the cold of winter for her.  Perhaps it was that most of the large snowstorms she remembered in her life occurred in February.  Perhaps it was that February was usually the last burst of cold winter before the warmth of Spring set in.  

Either way, as she huddled into the warmth of a crocheted cardigan that her mother had made for her years ago, seeking comfort from it, she tried to warm her frigid toes by the fireside.  Some icy rain had fallen the night before, coating everything around them in a sheet of glass.  While the sight was beautiful, almost like something out of a winter fairytale, it didn’t mean ice didn’t cause some problems.  

At least one family in the village had to seek alternate accommodations after their roof collapsed.  And they had heard, over the course of the night and throughout the day, the snapping and crackling of trees unable to bear the icy weight and chill.  

Hopefully, some of those broken trees would be salvageable as firewood for the village in the coming months.  

The flare of youki had her eyes drifting towards the village entrance.  It was a few days earlier than his usual visit, but she wasn’t surprised.  The cold wave and ice storm had been strong and widespread.  She had a feeling this check-in visit was coming ever since the first drops of freezing  rain had begun falling.  

Rin stirred from her cocoon of blankets.  Kagome had let the girl sleep in.  There wasn’t much to be done today.  In fact, the two of them were stuck in this hut until the ice melted or the cold turned less frigid.  At least in this village there was enough firewood and enough resources to see out this cold.  Kagome knew all too well what dangers the cold brought with it for those villages which weren’t as prepared as this one.

And in the future, they had the heaters and the electric blankets.  Huddled up as she was now, she desperately wished for one of those.  

Ice crunched outside and a few moments later there was a knock on the door.  Kagome looked towards Rin who was attempting to sit up, blinking her eyes sleepily as she did so.  Kagome herself sighed, standing up and shuffling towards the door.  It was exceedingly harder to do in her three layers of socks.  

Sesshomaru stood outside, his hands clutching a large package.  He eyed Kagome with interest, stepping into the hut after her.  His boots lay discarded on the tiny porch outside, the feudal era version of an engawa.  

Compared to usual, Sesshomaru was wearing more clothing.  A thick hanten covered his shoulders, the dark blue material a stark difference from the clothing Kagome often saw him wear.  Even youkai it seemed were affected by this cold.  It should have been obvious to her though.  Inuyasha had spent the last few days in Kaede’s hut to be protected from the elements.  

“Sesshomaru-sama.”  Rin managed out, trying to untangle herself.  “I didn’t know you were coming.”  

Sesshomaru eyed Rin as he took a seat in front of the fire.  It was in what Kagome thought of as his spot.  

“Rest Rin.  I merely came to see if you needed any supplies in this cold.”  

“Oh.”  Rin wiggled around until she was sitting up, propped up against one of the chests they had in a corner.  “We’re fine.  But, I think Kagome-sama needs a hanten.  She has her sweater, but I think they’re not enough.”  She had utterly mangled the pronunciation of the foreign word.  

“Rin!”  Kagome scolded, not prepared for the teenager’s words.  “I’m fine.  This is wool you know.  It keeps me very warm.  Besides, I have blankets too.”  

Sesshomaru shifted his attention to Kagome who was now embarrassed at being the subject of his gaze.  She didn’t want to feel like she needed something from Sesshomaru.  The idea of asking him for something made her uneasy.  She had a feeling that whatever he gave her would come with strings attached.  

Sesshomaru picked up the package, sitting next to him, and tossed it towards Kagome.  She barely caught it, making a noise of disgruntlement at his actions as she did so.  Rin shuffled towards her, and Kagome looked towards her curiously.  

“What is it?”  Rin asked boredom giving way to curiosity. “Can we open it?”  

Kagome opened her mouth to remind Rin of her manners, but Sesshomaru interrupted her before she could get a word out.  

“Go ahead Miko.  It is for both of you.”  

Kagome hesitated for a moment longer but Rin’s cajoling got her moving.  She undid the rope holding the package together and carefully unfolded the cloth.  This cloth she set aside realizing it was multiple folds of one large material that could be sewn together for a kimono later.  Underneath the wrapping though was Sesshomaru’s gift--swathes of clothes and material.  She recognized a pattern or two that was similar to the kimonos Rin wore on a regular basis.  

And then, there was a dark green hanten.  

Her hands unfurled that one, admiring the pattern of birds in flight that was interspersed through the material.  Holding it up though made her frown.  It was a little large for Rin’s frame.  

“That one is for you.”  Sesshomaru told her.  

“Me?”  Kagome squeaked her eyes widening.  

Sesshomaru merely inclined his head.  She wanted to refuse the gift, had half a mind to even hand it back even, but she stopped.  There was something in Sesshomaru’s gaze that made her hesitate.  So, instead, she folded up the hanten and put it back with the other materials.  

“Thank you.”  She finally managed out, handing the package to Rin to examine.  

“Hn.”  Sesshomaru acknowledged her gratitude.  It was then that she realized she hadn’t yet offered him tea.  

Spurred into action, Kagome moved to get up, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.  

“Do not bother.”  Kagome sank back down onto the floor confused.  “I did not come here for tea.  I came to deliver that package.  And to ask about the trees.”  

“Trees?”  Kagome asked.  

“The sakura, Kagome nee-san.”  Rin, who had by now managed to free her upper body from her blankets, set the package she was inspecting aside.  “They’re all fine, Sesshomaru-sama.  At least, we think so.  Sango-san and her children helped us take care of them.  And Endo-san, who knows so much about trees, told us we should expect beautiful blooms in the Spring!”  

Rin’s explanation was punctuated with smiles.  Kagome couldn’t help but grin at the girl’s happiness.  When Rin had gone to deliver the newest set of medicine to Endo-san a few weeks ago, she had been drawn into a discussion on the saplings she had planted in Spring.  Endo-san had agreed to accompany her to check on them and had pronounced them all as healthy and thriving.  

“Hn.”  Sesshomaru drew a leg up and rested his arm on his knee.  His chin came to rest on top of it.  The pose was so languid, so relaxed, that it caused Kagome to stare at him for a long moment.  

In all the time that Rin had been living with her, she had never seen Sesshomaru this comfortable in her hut before.  It was...humbling.  

And it was also a sign that he was here to stay for a while.  Which was even more surprising.  She wasn’t sure how to broach that subject with him, though it seemed Rin had no qualms about asking.  Then again, Rin had always been more comfortable with Sesshomaru.  

“Are you staying for a while Sesshomaru-sama?”  

The youkai hummed thoughtfully and closed his eyes for a moment.  “The cold will hinder travel.  I shall stay awhile.  Rest, Rin.”  

Rin nodded, already making her way back to the corner of the hut that was her designated sleeping place.  She shuffled back down into her cocoon and closed her eyes.  Kagome watched it all with wide eyes.  She saw Sesshomaru glance at her direction once, as though questioning why she wasn’t resting as well.  

She didn’t know how long she stayed awake, unsure of what had just happened, but when she woke up the next morning, the fire was stoked, and the hut was warm and toasty.  

And there was no Sesshomaru in sight making her wonder for a moment if yesterday had all been a dream.

The green hanten in the corner assured her that it wasn’t.  

* * * * * 

Mid April 1505

Sesshomaru sipped his tea listening to Rin’s description of the hanami she and Kagome had enjoyed a few days ago in the grove.  They had been joined by a few of the village children and Sango and Miroku’s family.  It had apparently been something that Rin very much enjoyed, if her enthusiastic expression was anything to go by.  

“Oh, I nearly forgot!”  

Rin reached over and took a large tray from nearby.  She opened it and presented it to Sesshomaru.  He eyed the mochi carefully.  Compared to last year’s, this year’s were a bit more shapely and the leaves around the mochi had reduced in number.  As he bit into one at Rin’s urging, he realized that the taste had changed too, and in a good way.  

The door to the hut opened behind him, and a sweaty Kagome appeared.  She had traces of dirt smeared on her face, and her outfit was stained with the material as well.  

“Oh, Sesshomaru-sama!”  Kagome pushed some hair away from her face. “I forgot you were visiting.”  She hastily bowed, wiping her sweaty, dirty hands on her clothing.  “Please excuse me.  I was helping some of the villagers plant some seedlings.  Keiko-san had a baby recently so her husband needed some help in the fields.”  

Kagome’s eyes shifted at the last statement.  Keiko-san hadn’t been too pleased at Kagome’s help, despite the fact that it was required.  If it wasn’t for Endo-san, one of the few supporters and friends Kagome had in the village, agreeing to watch over the planting, Kagome doubted she would have been allowed to help.  

Apparently, being single for so long had somehow made her a questionable woman in Keiko-san’s eyes.  After all, single women were apparently husband stealers in the woman’s mind.  Never mind that other villagers had tried to convince Keiko-san that Kagome was just different (and even if that was still unfairly judgemental it was much better than Keiko-san’s alternative opinion), never mind that Kagome was a priestess.  The fact that she was single, pretty, and was willing to help was enough to make Keiko-san wary.  

“I still think you shouldn’t have helped.”  Rin pouted munching on a mochi herself.  “Especially when she is so rude to you.”  

“Rin!”  Kagome scolded, stepping further into the hut.  “You know better.  It’s fine if Keiko-san thinks what she does.  If I let it affect me, it will just make things worse.”  

Rin huffed, ignoring Kagome as she continued eating.  Kagome just shook her head, hands reaching out to open a nearby chest and grab the first kimono she saw.  

“If you both will excuse me, I’ll go get cleaned up and come back.”  

She left the hut then.  Behind her, she could hear Rin complaining to Sesshomaru and shook her head.  It was sweet of Rin to take her side in all this, but like she told the teenager, she didn’t want to do anything else regarding Keiko-san.  

But, if Rin wanted to complain to Sesshomaru; well, she supposed it was better than Rin taking offense and doing something on her behalf.  

* * * * * 

August 1505 

It was rare, exceedingly so, the times when Sesshomaru visited the village and Rin was not present.  In all her time in the Feudal Era this was the first time that it had happened.  Kaede had said it happened once before, prior to her arrival.  Still, at the first burst of youki from Sesshomaru, Kagome found herself scrambling, running past curious villagers, and huffing up the hill that lay at the edge of the village.  

Sesshomaru must have sensed her approach since he stood still on the hill and made no move to come meet her.  

“Sesshomaru-sama!”  She found herself panting, cheeks red from running in the summer heat.  

“Miko.”  He greeted back waiting for her to catch her breath.  

Kagome only spoke again once she had.  “Sesshomaru-sama,” she started again, “Rin isn’t here today.  In the village I mean.”  

Sesshomaru straightened, his posture becoming stiffer.  

“Explain.”  

Kagome’s eyes widened, and she shook her hands in front of her.  “It’s nothing bad.  She was just getting restless in the village.  So, when Miroku and Sango told me they were going on an onsen-trip with their family, I asked if they could let Rin tag along.”  

“Tag along?”  

“Accompany them.”  Kagome clarified, calmer now.  “A bored teenager is never a good thing.  I thought if I sent her on a trip somewhere she would be better behaved when she came back to the village.  Er...that’s not the proper wording.  I just meant that it would give Rin a chance to stretch her legs?  Expand her horizons?”  

Kagome realized she was rambling at this point and quickly shut her mouth.  She had no idea why she was suddenly so nervous in Sesshomaru’s presence.  She had been taking care of Rin for a long time now (three years if she remembered correctly) so if Sesshomaru did have a problem with how she was helping raise Rin he would have objected by now.  And considering he hadn’t outright demanded answers from her, and that his youki hadn’t flared in anger, she had a feeling he wasn’t feeling too concerned.  

Still, the uneasiness settled within Kagome.  

“Do you want to see the grove?”  Kagome asked, needing to do or say something.  

“The grove?”  Sesshomaru clarified speaking for the first time since before Kagome’s explanation.  

“Yes.”  Kagome began leading him towards it, the green trees, now devoid of their beautiful blooms, rippling in a warm humid breeze.  

She heard him follow her and felt her nerves settling.  She’d taken to visiting the grove quite a bit lately, alone or with Rin.  There was something soothing about sitting there, listening to the hum of summer insects or the croaking of frogs near the pond, as the sun sent rays of warmth down at her through the leaves.  For a few moments, when she was here, everything was forgotten, and she felt at peace.  

Sesshomaru watched her.  He took note of the expressions on her face, of the way her shoulder’s unconsciously relaxed as she stepped under the shade of the trees.  And when she settled herself at the base of a tree, dirtying her kimono in the process, there was a lightness to her that he hadn’t seen before.  

He’d mostly brought the trees for Rin, and with her gone, this was the first time he was able to properly focus on Kagome’s reaction to them, on how the Miko acted around them.  He knew Rin enjoyed flowers, it was why he had brought the trees in the first place, but he hadn’t realized that the Miko might have enjoyed this gift as well.  

And then, she started speaking, making him focus his attention solely on her words, the way her eyes brightened, the way she used her hands to talk, the way she pitched her voice to match her emotions when she spoke.  

He gleaned what he could from her: that the trees were once again pronounced healthy by Endo san, that the trees were very carefully taken care of in the winter and the blooms properly stored for more sakurayu she was pickling, that the pond was now a veritable haven for the local fauna (he could hear the frogs and insects and fish even without her explanation), that the pond was such a helpful thing to have when watering the trees or dipping her feet into on a hot summer’s day like today.  

For one moment, Sesshomaru was struck by the fact that he couldn’t recall having seen the Miko this happy before.  It was… different. 

“So, thank you Sesshomaru-sama.”  Kagome ended with a deferential head tilt in his direction.  

He pondered on how best to answer her, finally settling after a few moments on the words to speak.  

“No thanks are necessary.  Rin loves the flowers, it is only right that she has help in taking care of them.  It would not do for the trees to die again.”  

Kagome’s blue eyes watched him, assessing him for something. Finally, she smiled, not the awkward polite smile she usually gave him, but a true one that he had seen her give Rin on multiple occasions.  

It was nice to be the recipient of it.  

“Of course not.  Still, it is only polite to do so.  So, thank you, Sesshomaru-sama.”  

* * * * * 

September 1505

It was a warm day in September, the chill of Autumn yet to be seen.  Wanting to enjoy some of the last warmth of summer, Rin accompanied Sesshomaru towards the grove after their tea.  He admitted to being curious as to why she was leading him there, but he decided to abide by her whims.  

“Kagome nee-san has been visiting here a lot recently.”  Rin explained with a frown.  “She won’t tell me why she goes, but she always seems sad when she comes back.” 

Sesshomaru wondered about that.  The last time he had seen the Miko in the grove she had been quite content.  What was it, he wondered, that had made her emotions change?  

“Go back Rin.”  He said, deciding to investigate himself.  Hopefully, the matter could be resolved quickly.  It would not do after all for his ward’s guardian to be so... emotional.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  

Rin’s questioning tone was met with a stare.  She bit her lip, her eyes narrowed and face set in a pout.  But, she nodded nonetheless, and picked up her kimono, making her way back down the hill towards the village.  

The teenager stopped a few steps away, turning back to face him.  

“Make sure Kagome nee-san gets home soon please, Sesshomaru-sama?  Thank you!”  

Sesshomaru watched Rin continue her journey after her parting words.  Once she had made it safely down onto the path to the village he turned back to the grove and began to walk towards it.  It wasn’t too hard to find the Miko.  There were only a few trees in the grove and she was sitting on the ground in front of one that was closer to the pond.  

A frog hopped its way near her, and she shooed it away with ill grace.  

And then, she leaned back into the tree she was leaning against, her face set in a thoughtful frown.  

“Miko.”  He greeted, startling her with his voice.  

She flailed, catching herself with her palms on the ground in front of her.  Once she righted herself, she brushed a stray lock or two of her hair behind her ear.  

“Sesshomaru-sama.”  She replied.  

The polite awkward smile was back on her face, and he found it disconcerting after seeing her true smile during his last visit.  He frowned himself, and approached her, stopping short of where he had seen the frog earlier.  At his approach, the frog fled, jumping  into the pond with a splash, instinct telling it to flee from something it considered a predator.  

“Miko,”  Sesshomaru regarded her from his standing position, “Rin tells me you have not been yourself lately.”  

Kagome found herself at a loss of what to say as she stared at Sesshomaru.  She had been feeling a bit more melancholy lately, but she had thought she’d hidden it well from Rin.  Apparently, it wasn’t enough however if the girl had decided to tell Sesshomaru.  She instantly felt guilty.  

Just how much had Rin noticed that she had thought to go to Sesshomaru about it?  

And had Sesshomaru been the only one she told?  

She could only imagine how Sango and Miroku might take the news.  Sango, who didn’t understand how different this Kagome was from the one she had first met, would undoubtedly tell Kagome to perk up and move on, regaling her with stories of her childrens’ antics as though that would help cheer her.  Miroku, on the other hand, would approach her by himself, inviting himself over for tea or sake (on the rare occasion he indulged) and tell her he was there to lend an ear.  

Years ago, it would have been Sango’s company that would have had Kagome spilling what was on her mind.  Nowadays, she preferred Miroku’s presence and his thoughtful words of wisdom.  

“Miko.”  Sesshomaru’s voice sounded again, this time with a touch of impatience attached.  

Kagome came back to the present, biting her lip.  It was clear to her that Sesshomaru had come to speak to her, to ask her about why she was sad.  She wasn’t too sure she wanted to tell him though.  

Eventually, after a few more beats of silence, she realized she needed to tell him.  

She wanted to tell someone about it.  

It just seemed Sesshomaru was the one she had chosen.  

“My father died this month.”  She finally explained.  “His death anniversary is today actually.”  She faced the pond, anything to distract her from his presence.  “When I was little, we used to always go to a grove behind the shrine, a lot like this one actually.  In fact, I’m pretty sure it might have even been in the same location as this one, just behind the wellhouse you know?  We used to go in the spring and plant all these flowers.  Dad used to do most of the work, while I spent more time playing in the dirt and handing him the plants.”  

Sesshomaru watched her carefully, noting how her eyes misted, the scent of tears prominent.  He wondered what her ramblings had to do with this grove.  He’d seen more than one being in his lifetime say odd things in their grief.  He wondered if it was the same with her.  

“It seems silly, but when I come here, I can almost feel like he’s here with me.  And well, I miss it, being with him, watching him plant, visiting the grove behind the wellhouse.”  

She trailed off then, her eyes and thoughts far away, a few stray tears making tracks on her face.  Sesshomaru couldn’t help but ask about this grove she spoke about.  

“And what of those trees and plants you helped your father with?” 

“Hm?”  Kagome turned her attention back to him, able to meet his face again.  She rubbed her eyes dry with her kimono sleeve.  “I suppose it’s still there.  The trees always looked healthy to me.  But, I haven’t been back to visit it.  No one in my family has actually...not since my father died.”  

Sesshomaru didn’t say anything.  Not that he had a need to this time.  He’d gotten his answer after all, though something about it continued to bother him.  Still, he knew he was unlikely to get the proper answers to his questions now, not when Kagome was grieving.  

“Return to the hut before nightfall.”  He advised finally, turning around to leave the grove.  

He didn’t bother telling her how to mourn the dead or whether her grief was an emotion he understood.  He respected the miko enough to understand that she sought out the solitude she could find in the grove for her own reasons today.  

And so, he walked out of the grove and into the woods, leaving her alone once more.  

* * * * * 

Fall 1505 to Winter 1505-1506

Kagome didn’t question why Sesshomaru suddenly found a need to spend more time in the hut during his visits.  It had started in October, on the first trip following her explanation regarding her father’s death.  Part of her wondered if Sesshomaru was here to see that she didn’t fall back into the sadness.  She brushed that idea off to the side though when Sesshomaru didn’t bring up the subject.  

Regardless, his extended visits seemed to make Rin happy, even if she sometimes left during them to see to the villagers or meet with one of the other village girls who were her age.  

Besides, Sesshomaru, who often stayed even after Rin left the hut, had proven to be an educated and willing conversation partner so she was keen to indulge.  In this time period, her intellect was an oddity.  Kagome had barely passed high school before she’d come back to the Feudal Era, but here, where she was more literate than the majority of the village, conversation was sometimes lacking.  

She wanted to discuss clan politics and Gengi Monogatari.  She wanted to tell the village children the story of Tanabata and wanted to discuss some of the politics of this time.  But, as a woman, and a miko at that, she was supposed to be demure, quiet, not stepping into circles she shouldn’t be a part of.  

Sesshomaru, it turned out, didn’t care for any of that.  He saw someone who was educated and could hold a conversation with him.  

And it was so refreshing for Kagome after years spent trying to curb herself in the Feudal Era.  

And so it was, that one afternoon in late January, she, too excited by the conversation, let slip that she had taken a trip with some schoolmates to Hokkaido one year.  

“How?”  Sesshomaru interrupted suddenly, his eyes curious.  “Hokkaido is quite far from here.  And the Ainu live there.  Yet you say you went on a train ?”  His mouth fumbled over the foreign word.  

As far as Sesshomaru knew, the humans under the new daimyo had built a castle to trade with the Ainu.  And there had been no large scale migration of people and land to Hokkaido except for in recent years.  

No humans from this area had visited the Ainu.  None like the priestess.  

He would know if they had.  The Ainu were the last of the humans who worked with youkai.  While Sesshomaru still held them in lower esteem than himself-- he was a youkai, they were merely human--he still respected them, and they respected him.  They were after all, the only humans in this era who co-existed with the youkai found in their lands.  

Kagome’s eyes widened at his question.  Her tea cup slipped from her hands.  It was already brittle from years of use and shattered on the floor, tea spilling everywhere.  She hissed, as some of it fell on her hand.  Standing up and gathering rags to mop up the mess, she pointedly ignored Sesshomaru’s inquisitive stare.  

She’d been careless, a first for her.  

She would have to be more careful about letting slips like this occur.  Sesshomaru didn’t know she was from the future, and she wanted to keep it that way.  All he knew was that she had gone away for a few years, back home to study and be with her family.  And that was all he should know, her mind kept repeating.  

Sesshomaru left shortly after that when the silence between them became awkward, and he realized his presence was unwanted.  

Later that day, Rin came into the hut, shortly after Kagome had felt Sesshomaru leave the village grounds.  She was a bit shaken, her doe eyes trained curiously on Kagome’s.  

“Kagome nee-san?”  Kagome who was busying herself with making dinner (anything to keep her hands working and her mind focused on something other than what other slip-ups she had made) looked up at her.  

“Rin.”  She greeted, her voice a little harsher than usual.  The teenager’s wince didn’t go unnoticed.  Kagome made to apologize, but Rin waved her off.  

“No, no, it’s alright. I think I know why you are like that.”  Rin took small steps inside, collapsing on the other side of the fire pit. “Sesshomaru-sama asked me about you.  He asked about something called train?”  Rin struggled with the word, her mouth forming a frown.  

Kagome paled, her hands falling from stirring the rice to her lap.  

She answered Rin’s unspoken question.  “I was careless.  I let slip about some things from the future.”  

“And that’s what is worrying you?”  Rin hesitated, her hands fumbling with the sleeves of her kimono.  “You know, Kagome nee-san, I think you don’t have to worry.”  

Kagome didn’t say anything, and Rin took that as her cue to continue.  

“I understand that you are worried about telling people here, and I think I can maybe understand why, but Sesshomaru-sama isn’t like that!”  Rin waved a hand.  “Sesshomaru-sama is good, he won’t do anything bad with that information.  You don’t have to worry!”  

Kagome looked away from Rin.  It was nice to see Rin so defensive of Sesshomaru, even if he wasn’t there to hear her.  But, Rin was still a teenager, and while she was mature compared to others her age, there were some things that she couldn’t understand simply because she wasn’t experienced enough.  Nevermind the fact that at her age, Kagome was gallivanting all over Japan collecting jewel shards.  

“Just...just think about it okay?”  Rin murmured, her passionate defense disappearing.  

Kagome didn’t respond, even though she could tell Rin was unhappy.  Nonetheless, the teenager didn’t push it.  

Sesshomaru returned the next week.  

Kagome, now wary of his presence, welcomed him with a shaky smile.  If he sensed she was nervous and uncomfortable in his presence, he never mentioned it.  Instead, he turned to Rin, who was watching the two carefully.  

“Rin, leave us for a bit.”  

Kagome bit her lip.  She couldn’t dictate that Rin stay, but a part of her did want Rin to leave.  Rin was so passionate about her defense of Sesshomaru, and Kagome didn’t want Rin to see this fight between him and her.   It would be uncomfortable for the teenager to be caught between her guardian and the only parental figure she had remaining.  

Once Rin left, Sesshomaru reached into his haori sleeves.  He pulled out a sheaf of papers, throwing them on the ground at her feet.  

She didn’t look down at them, not wanting to know what they said.  

“The Hojo only have Odawara now.  Why did you say their clan head is ‘ The Ruler of all of Sagami’? ”  

Kagome ran her tongue over suddenly dry lips.  She was scared and surprised.  Sesshomaru had managed to figure things out, from something as simple as her slip up on feudal warlords.  

She didn’t say anything, but found she didn’t have to because Sesshomaru continued speaking.  

“Imagine my surprise, when I encountered a youkai who is in the company of the Hojo clan.  A youkai who was able to tell me all about the Sagami expansion the Hojo wish to undertake.”  Kagome backed away slowly, towards the edge of the hut.  

“When were you going to tell me you are from the future miko?”  

“What do you mean?”  She asked shakily, her voice giving her away.  

“The Hojo clan plans are something that only seers or those who have intimate knowledge of their dealings would know.  You are not affiliated with the clan so that is not the case.  And if you are a seer, there is no doubt that it would have come to be known during the hunt for shards of the Shikon jewel.  Besides, you constantly seem to mention things that are foreign.  Yet, you are not from foreign lands, you do not speak like the foreigners from the North and West--from the mainland.”  

He then stepped further into her hut, rounding the fire pit to corner her against the wall.  

“And how else would you know about a war that happens centuries from now, one in which you mentioned that the Emperor reunified Japan?”  

Kagome paled.  When had she mentioned the Boshin War?  What had she told him when she hadn’t paid attention to her words?  

“Get out.”  

She needed to think, needed him away from her and this secret.  Now that he knew there was no end to what he might ask of her.  And what he would do should she refuse to give it to him.  She pushed at him, despite the fact that he was much stronger and barely budged.  

“I said GET OUT!”  

Her next push was accompanied by her reiki, something she had never used in his presence since her return to the Feudal Era.  

Sesshomaru snarled, pulling away from her and moving with his inhuman speed to the other side of her hut.  She followed him to the door, which he stood in front of.  

“I said leave!”  She yelled, pulling her powers to her hands and pushing him out the door.  

The door squeaked, and then gave way, crashing onto her porch.  Sesshomaru leapt away before he could be harmed, standing in the narrow lane outside.  Already, Rin and Kaede were making their way towards her.  Inuyasha didn’t come since he was away with Miroku to conduct a demon extermination in another village.  

At least that was one less thing to worry about right now.  

“Kagome nee-san!  Sesshomaru-sama!”  Rin’s screech caused a few villagers to really pay attention now.  

“Stop!”  The teenager yelled running in between them, hands outstretched.  “What is wrong with you two?”  

At Rin’s scolding, some of Kagome’s ire fled.  She was still uncomfortable around Sesshomaru though.  And she had to see to her door.  With one last glare in his direction, Kagome walked back into her hut, disappearing in its confines.  

“Sesshomaru-sama?”  Rin asked carefully, lowering her arms.  “What happened?”  

Sesshomaru stared at the hut for a few moments.  “It appears the Miko does not wish to talk to me about certain subjects.”  He turned to Kaede who had finally made it to the scene.  “Rin will stay with you until the door is repaired.”  

With his words said, Sesshomaru left the village.  

He had a lot to think about regarding the Miko.  

* * * * *

March 1506

Rin grabbed Kagome around the waist, effectively trapping her in the hut.  Kagome struggled, especially as she felt Sesshomaru’s approach come ever closer.  She finally gave up, when he was practically at the door, relaxing and going slack in Rin’s grip.  Rin seemed to have deemed that enough because she let Kagome go.  

Kagome knew better than to make a break for it when Sesshomaru was at the door and knew she was inside.  

And she had to admit that when Rin wanted something, she was tenacious in her task and refused to give up.  

And right now, her task was getting Kagome and Sesshomaru to reconcile or at least reach a compromise.  

Kagome had run away when Sesshomaru visited in February.  He too must have found the situation tense though because that visit had been one of the shortest.  

Now though, they would both be here in the hut, Rin acting as a silent mediator between them.  The girl really knew how to play them, Kagome mused.  She knew that Kagome wouldn’t dare scold her too harshly in front of Sesshomaru, and she knew that Sesshomaru viewed her as his ward and wouldn’t hurt her.  

Sesshomaru didn’t say anything when he entered, instead choosing to take a seat in his spot.  Kagome reluctantly followed suit.  What followed was a few tense minutes of silence that even Rin was not keen to break as she made the tea.  

“Why do you want to know about the future and why do you want to know whether I’m from there?”  Kagome finally asked.  

She ignored Rin’s seeming excitement at the conversation, and hopeful compromise, that might occur.  

Sesshomaru seemed to mull over her words for a moment, taking his time in answering.  

“I wish to be prepared for what the future holds.”  

Kagome sighed.  This was what she had feared.  Telling Sesshomaru about the future wasn’t the issue.  It was why he wanted the information and what he would do with it that bothered her.  She knew that her presence here itself was an anomaly.  She liked to think that she wasn’t changing things much, but she could never be too sure what her impact on the past could do to the future.  

She knew enough about history to know that letting certain things happen might result in pain and hardship and war.  But she also knew that if those things didn’t occur in the cyclical pattern that often repeated, then too many changes would occur.  

Sōta had once told her, after she’d returned from the Feudal Era following the Shard Quest, about the so-called “Butterfly Effect” and the Time Travel paradox and so many other theories.  She had spent months agonizing over them, worried about what she had done as a naïve teenager.  Who introduced Ramen, and cup Ramen at that, to a culture that didn’t even have soba noodles yet?  

Her mother had noticed her increasing anxiety over the issue and confronted Sōta.  A lengthy discussion between siblings, with their mother as mediator, led Kagome to relax somewhat.  She would never know if any of the things she did caused changes in history or ripples in time.  But, it was too late to think about it.  

What was done was done.  And she was still alive, and the future seemed to be normal.  So, maybe, she was meant to travel across time.  

It was part of the reasoning she had used to justify her actions then, and to justify her return trip.  

“I can’t tell you about the future.”  She finally said as Rin handed both her and Sesshomaru the last of the sakurayu they had made the year before.  “It’s important that things not change.  That they remain as they are.  Our actions in the past have ripple effects across time.  Surely, you of all people, know this Sesshomaru-sama?”  

Sesshomaru took a sip of the tea as he thought on Kagome’s words.  Her words had merit.  He had been alive long enough to see the changes wrought not just by humans, but by youkai, on the world.  He had seen how they advanced, how they grew as civilizations and races.  Every new change brought with it growth and development.  And every time, it was a fact that those developments always built on old ones.  

“Perhaps you are right.  But then, why do you share this information with Rin?”  His words were softer now, gentler, compared to the way he had spoken earlier.  

“I don’t really tell Rin about the future.”  Kagome answered sipping her own tea and relaxing in his presence again.  

It seemed the worst of the conversation was over.  And that Sesshomaru understood what she was trying to tell him.  That was more than enough for her.  She could hear Rin’s voice in her head reminding her that the teenager had told her to not overthink things.  Rin had always understood Sesshomaru more than the others and perhaps, if Kagome had not panicked and listened to Rin’s words in the first place, they could have had this conversation much earlier. 

“To be honest, I tell Rin about my family.”  Kagome set her cup down, drawing her knees up to her chest, and breaking her seiza posture.  “I...I miss them.  And sometimes, it feels nice to tell her about my brother’s antics, about my mother’s cooking, about my grandfather’s love of rituals and religion.”  

“And about your father.”  Sesshomaru added, setting his own cup down as well.  He turned to Rin, who was by now smiling, happy at the fact that Kagome nee-san and Sesshomaru-sama had reconciled.  “Rin, leave us for a moment, if you would.”  

She looked towards Kagome who gave her a nod.  Standing, the teenager made her way to the door of the hut, repaired only a few days after meeting its earlier demise.  She turned at the threshold, biting her lip.  

“Sesshomaru-sama, Kagome nee-san, she…”  

“I understand Rin.”  Sesshomaru interrupted her.  “I will not harm the Miko.  I merely wish to...end the hostility.”  

Rin nodded, taking his words to be truthful, and left the hut.  

Kagome watched her go, and then looked towards Sesshomaru, wondering what he wanted to say to her that he had to tell Rin to leave.  

“Time is a fickle thing.”  He finally voiced, turning and inspecting his cup, refusing to meet Kagome’s eyes as he spoke.  “You have my word that I will not breathe a word of this to anyone.”  

Kagome’s eyes widened, and she let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.  

“And know that if you wish to speak with someone other than Rin about these stories, you may speak of them with me.”  

Kagome let out a squeak, shocked by the turn of events.  She looked closely at Sesshomaru, at the way he was sitting, for once comfortable in her presence and her presence alone.  There was some tension in his body, based on the words he had just spoken perhaps, but looking at his posture, Kagome realized something.  

Sesshomaru was sincere.  

He was willing to listen to her, to be someone she could talk to when the memories became too much.  

And she knew that what he had just spoken were some of the most important words he had ever said to her.  

“I will.”  She finally stated, seeing the last remains of tension leave his body.  

She hesitated, then stood up, making her way to a shelf.  A lone sake bottle sat there, an early birthday gift from Miroku.  She pulled it down along with its saucers and made her way back to the fire pit, this time sitting next to him instead of across.  

“A toast to a new found friendship.”  She stated pouring the sake.  

Sesshomaru took a saucer from her hands, their fingers brushing as he did so.  

“A friendship.”  He parroted with a long slow drag of the alcohol.  

In the dim light of the fire, as the evening twilight darkened the hut, Kagome realized one other thing.  

Sesshomaru-sama was handsome, and he had agreed to be her friend.  And, in the flickering firelight, she suddenly saw him in an entirely new light.  

Oh, she thought, taking a sip from her own saucer, why do all these youkai have to be so attractive?

* * * * * 

If you somehow read this entire thing and are moving on to Part II, let me know.  Because it took me four days to edit this, and kudos to you if it takes you less time than that to read it.