Inspired by all the wonderful retellings and adaptations of fairy tales here on Dokuga. Yes, I admit, I've been a long time lurker on this site and am finally coming out of my shell. The story called “Kupti and Imani” is one of my favorite fairy tales and has now been slightly adapted to suit a couple which has grown on me. I do not own Inuyasha. While this is not my first story, this is my first Sesshomaru/Kagome fic so I ask that you please be gentle with me
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The moon was high in the sky, gleaming like a giant pearl amidst chips of diamonds all encompassed in a sea of blue. It shone over the world below, turning the sakura blossoms silver and the land cool. Birds crooned sleepy warnings as they sought refuge from the night. There was only one building for miles around, a magnificent palace that looked as though it had been carved from alabaster and marble. One window was open and the cool night air danced through it, toying with and twisting the gauzy curtains and brought with it the scent of the silver sakura blossoms and other secrets of the silent night. Through the window, one could see two people on a bed. One was a tiny girl with dark hair and eyes of amber and the other, a tall, handsome man with eyes that mirrored the girl’s.
“Once upon a time,” began the man in a low, soothing voice.
“Father, why do the stories start with once upon a time?” interrupted the girl’s younger, higher pitched voice.
“That is how the stories of your mother’s land begin Sumiko,” the first voice replied, “and you requested a story from the lands of your mother. Now, once upon a time, there was an aging king with two granddaughters.”
“Father,” interrupted Sumiko.
“Yes?” the father’s voice was very carefully patient.
“Can the story be about you and mommy?” Sumiko begged and her father sighed and closed his eyes, trying to resist his daughter’s pleading look. Her eyes may have been the same color as his own but in all other ways she was a tiny youkai mirror of her mother and this made it very difficult to deny her anything. But then, it was a very small thing that she was asking for.
“Of course,” he sighed, “but no more interruptions or you will have to go to sleep without a story at all.” He was getting soft, he knew it. Why had he agreed to continue his mate’s ridiculous tradition of telling their pup a story before bedtime?
“Yes father,” Sumiko giggled and she cuddled closer to her father and looked up at him expectantly.
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King Sano, ruler of the Land of the Setting Sun, loved his granddaughters very much. He could spend hours praising his beloved granddaughter, Kagura to anyone that would stay still long enough to listen. And his youngest granddaughter, Kagome, was the apple of his eye and he defied common tradition by keeping her at his side even when in court. He would spend every spare minute he had talking with his granddaughters, teaching them and trying to guide them through life, to make sure they would be happy. He watched as his beloved granddaughters grew older and once day he realized that soon they would be old enough to accept suitors, they would be old enough to marry.
Of course, though he loved his granddaughters, he was sure that he could not trust them in the matter of choosing the appropriate husband.
As he sorted through the possible candidates, a thought crossed his mind and thus, one day, he said to Kagura,
“Are you satisfied to leave your life and your fortune in my hands?”
“Oh yes!” Kagura replied immediately, “I love you grandfather and you give me freedom. In whose hands should I leave my fate if not yours?”
King Sano was well pleased with Kagura’s answer and then turned to his little Kagome.
“Are you satisfied to leave your life and your fortune in my hands?” he asked.
“No indeed! If I had the chance then I would make my own fortune!” Kagome declared for you see, she was well aware of what her grandfather was planning and, though she loved him dearly, she would not stand for someone else making her fate for her.
King Sano was unaware that Kagome knew of his plans and her answer displeased him greatly, just as she had planned.
“You are too young to know the meaning of your words,” King Sano said, “But be it so my beloved granddaughter, I will give you the chance to fulfill your wish. Perhaps then you will learn to be properly humble and to be grateful for your lot in life.”
King Sano sent for a poor old miko named Kaede who lived in a rundown, nearly abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city. When she at last hobbled into the palace and presented herself, King Sano said,
“Since you are obviously quite old and nearly crippled, you would no doubt find it useful to have a young person with you to serve you and so forth. So I now send to you my youngest granddaughter, Kagome, to tend to your shrine. She wishes to earn a living and she can undoubtedly learn to do so with you.”
“I thank thee your majesty,” Kaede said, for there was really nothing else she could say. After all, how could she tell the king that she doubted that a sheltered princess would be of any use to any shrine really, much less a shrine so rundown that most thought it was abandoned and haunted?
The princess smiled at her and Kaede smiled back slightly, though her mind was busy with trying to figure out what to do with the princess. She was silent as she slowly made her way back to the shrine, Kagome helping her the whole way.
“Princess,” Kaede began hesitantly and Kagome smiled at her.
“Don’t worry Lady Kaede,” Kagome said brightly, “I know I don’t seem like much but I won’t be a burden, I promise!”
“I’m sure ye will do fine child,” Kaede said after a brief moment.
“I’m glad,” Kagome said with a laugh, “Now, I’m sorry but I need to get down to business. Is there any money in the shrine?”
Kaede thought for a moment and then,
“I’ve a string of ten mon,” she admitted and after another moment of hesitation, she handed the copper coins to Kagome.
“And do you know where I can borrow a spinning wheel and a loom?” Kagome pressed.
“Aye,” Kaede replied, “I know of someone who would be willing to lend one to us.”
“Then you get that and I will be back as quickly as I can and I’ll get started with my plan,” Kagome said with a laugh.
So Kaede borrowed a spinning wheel and a loom and wondered what Kagome was up to. The princess’s plan though was soon revealed when she returned with flax and a small bag of rice. She set the rice to cook, though how a princess learned to cook Kaede was unsure, and then she set to prepare the flax. Kaede watched for awhile but the miko was old and soon fell asleep.
When she awoke, she found herself in her bed and she saw that Kagome had produced the most beautiful thread she had ever seen. It was as if the princess had spun moonlight. Kaede watched as Kagome then took the beautiful thread and began to weave. By evening, Kagome had woven a length of beautiful cloth, as fine as silk.
“I’ll have Miroku sell it for thee,” Kaede proclaimed, naming one of the young monks who traveled between shrines doing repairs and exorcisms and other services for people who didn’t want to or couldn’t get to a shrine for whatever reason, “He’ll arrive tomorrow.”
“Very well,” Kagome agreed.
As Kaede said, Miroku arrived at the dilapidated shrine the next day and, after the princess made it very clear that she did not appreciate Miroku’s wandering hands, the young monk agreed to sell the cloth for the princess and the miko. On Kagome’s orders, he went to the wealthiest part of the city and there he sold the cloth to a rich nobleman who loudly praised the workmanship of the cloth.
Kagome used a small portion of the money to buy more food and more flax and proceeded to continue the pattern. She would spin and weave beautiful cloth and Miroku would act as her agent in the city, selling the cloth for incredibly high prices. Even Kagura bought Kagome’s cloth, though she did not realize that her sister had made the magnificent cloth. Kagome had watched as her sister married the man their grandfather chose, Prince Hojo, while wearing a wedding gown made of Kagome’s material. Eventually the city became known for Kagome’s beautiful fabric. People began to travel to the shrine to buy from her directly and as rumors of her beauty spread, they came for more than just the fabric.
Kagome cleverly denied the suitors who flocked to the shrine without breaking their hearts, though to save face many of them became patrons of Kaede’s shrine. The shrine soon had enough money to be fully repaired and a few of the visitors to the shrine chose to stay and train under Kaede to be monks and mikos. A few also stayed to beg Kagome to take them as her apprentices and she agreed and began to teach them her art.
Kagome’s wealth and prestige grew and at last she said one day,
“I believe that it’s time for me to leave the shrine.”
Kagome sent for builders and they built a beautiful home, almost as grand as the palace of the king. Kagome took Kaede and her apprentices to the new home and was quite content, especially since the suitors she did not want still visited the shrine, being unaware of her new home.
The king saw the success of his granddaughter and he felt ashamed for his poor treatment of her and proud of how well Kagome had done for herself. He visited his granddaughter’s home and there praised her.
“You have shown that I was wrong, you did know what the meaning of your words. Kagome, you are a marvel.” Sano said enthusiastically and he hugged the beautiful princess.
“Thank you grandfather,” Kagome hugged him back.
“So, you’ll move back into the palace?” Sano said hopefully. Mentally he was rewriting the list of princes who would make acceptable husbands for his Kagome. Kagome smiled but she could see her grandfather’s plans in his eyes.
“No, I’ve made a life here grandfather, I have apprentices who I have made a commitment to and Kaede needs me,” she said gently. With a sigh, Sano nodded and returned to the palace, though not before mentioning to Kaede the need to find a husband for Kagome. Kaede knew that wise as she was, she would not be able to protect Kagome as well as a strong young man could and secretly agreed to keep an eye out for a suitable candidate.
A few months later, business took the king to a great empire far away and before he left he asked his eldest granddaughter what she wanted him to bring back for her.
“Oh, a necklace of rubies,” Kagura said carelessly. He promised her the necklace and then thought that, though she was making her own fortune, Kagome would appreciate a gift as well. King Sano sent a messenger to ask the princess what she would like.
The messenger ran and came to Kagome while she was at her loom. He bowed so low that he caused a few of her apprentices to giggle. Kagome paid no attention for she was busy with a knot that had appeared in her thread.
“The King sends me to inquire what you wish him to bring to you as a present from the land of Nishi,” the messenger said.
“Perfection!” Kagome crowed in triumph as she managed to untangle the knot without ruining the thread and then she turned to the messenger.
But the messenger misunderstood and had taken Kagome’s delighted cry as her answer and ran back to the king to inform him that the only thing his youngest granddaughter wanted perfection.
“I suppose she’s been spending a little too much time with the monks and miko,” King Sano sighed, “I don’t know if perfection can be bought in Nishi but if it is to be found, I will find it for her.”
The next week he was in the empire of Nishi and he easily found and bargained for Princess Kagura’s ruby necklace. However, finding perfection was a little trickier.
“Princess Kagome desires perfection,” King Sano informed his most trusted servant, “I would like for all of you to go into the market places and try to find it while I conduct my business and if there is any sold then buy it and bring it to me.”
The servant saluted and left the king. He walked all throughout the market place crying out “Has anyone perfection to sell? Perfection to sell?”
And some of the people mocked him and some told him to go away and stop being a fool while others said,
“The fellow’s mad! As though one could buy or sell perfection!”
Eventually the Emperor of Nishi heard of this mad man who went through the marketplace, calling for perfection. He found that he was curious, as well as a bit bored, and turned to his own trusted servant.
“Bring me this man who wants to buy perfection,” he commanded.
“It will be done at once your imperial majesty!” the servant squawked and he scurried away to obey. When the man was brought before the great emperor, he was trembling.
“What is it that you want?” the emperor asked.
“Your imperial majesty,” the servant quivered, “I am bidden to ask for perfection.
“Oh?” said the emperor, “You must have a strange master. What does he want with perfection?”
“My master wants it as a present for his granddaughter, Kagome,” the servant answered in a squeak.
“Well,” the emperor said, “I know of some perfection which the young lady might have, if she cares for it, but it is not to be bought. And the lady must of course be worthy of such a thing.”
Now, the emperor’s name was Sesshomaru and of course this meant perfection, but the lowly servant did not know that, or understand that the emperor was making a bit of a joke.
“Of course her highness is worthy!” the servant declared hotly, “Princess Kagome is the kindest, most beautiful, cleverest, hardest working young woman in all of the land of the Setting Sun! She's courageous and loyal and-”
The servant would have continued extolling the virtues of Kagome had not Sesshomaru put on a warning hand and caused the servant to remember who he was speaking to.
“Wait a moment and I will see what can be done,” the great Emperor Sesshomaru said. He was curious now. What sort of young woman would inspire such loyalty that a servant would forget himself in front of the Emperor of Nishi? What sort of young woman asked for perfection? With that thought in mind, Emperor Sesshomaru rose and went into his own room and took out a little casket and into the casket he put a fan and then shut the casket carefully. He then had it brought to the messenger.
“Here is a casket which has neither lock nor key and will only open for the person who needs its contents and whoever does open it will obtain perfection, though I cannot promise that it is the sort of perfection that is wanted.”
“Thank you your imperial majesty!” the servant cried and had it not been for the emperor’s piercing glare, the servant would have tried to kiss the emperor’s feet. He tried to pay the emperor but the emperor would take nothing. So the servant went away and returned to King Sano and gave the king an account of what had happened.
As soon as King Sano returned to his country, Kagura received her necklace and a messenger was sent to give Kagome her casket. Kagura cooed over the necklace and immediately put it on and began to strut about amidst her ladies in waiting, demanding attention for her new trinket and praise. Kagome however, was surprised when she received the casket.
“This is strange,” she said, “I don’t remember asking grandfather for anything. The messenger ran away just as I untangled my knot.”
“Never mind child,” Kaede advised, “your grandfather probably saw some pretty trinket and thought of thee.”
“That does sound like him,” Kagome agreed, “I wonder what he picked out.”
“Let’s see,” Kaede replied and she tried to open the casket but found that it would not open for her.
“Strange,” Kagome murmured and she tried to open the casket and found that the lid popped open with hardly a brush of her hand. Both of the women cooed over the beautiful fan that lay inside the casket.
“It’s lovely!” Kagome murmured as she gently took the fan out, “I’ll have to go to the palace to thank grandfather in person soon.”
Kagome then began to wave the fan and hardly had she finished waving it three times when suddenly Emperor Sesshomaru, ruler of the Great Nishi Empire and possibly the strongest youkai in the world, stood before the two women. Both Kagome and Kaede were shocked and Sesshomaru smirked slightly as he studied the two.
“And who are you?” Kagome said when she finally overcame her shock.
“Sesshomaru,” the emperor replied, “Emperor of the land of Nishi. You have summoned me and here I am.”
“Me?” Princess Kagome squeaked, “I’ve only barely heard about you from political scrolls. I had no idea what you looked like or even knew your name. How could I have summoned you?”
“This Sesshomaru heard of a man in the capitol of my empire who sought perfection,” Sesshomaru replied and raised a brow when Princess Kagome rolled her eyes but he pressed on with his story.
“This fan is magical,” he told the pair, “when anyone uses the fan, in three strokes I am with her. Folding it and tapping it against the casket three times returns me to my own lands. The casket will only open to you Princess Kagome, who asked for perfection, which is my name.”
Kagome was blushing furiously and she moved to tap the fan against the casket when Kaede made her pause.
“The Emperor is already here,” Kaede said, “And would I be wrong your imperial majesty if I guessed that thou art a player of chess?”
“Indeed,” Sesshomaru agreed, his eyes on the princess who was indeed even more beautiful than he would have guessed from the words of the servant and her scent was very pleasing.
“Then mayhap you can entertain young Kagome. I am growing old and find it hard to keep up with her quick mind. None of the apprentices have any talent for the game either or for conversation and Kagome, thou shouldst enjoy thyself more often. Thou art the one that pulled his imperial highness from his duties, the least ye could do is entertain him for an evening.” Kaede pressed.
“If it would not inconvenience him,” Kagome reluctantly agreed and Sesshomaru almost smiled. Together the two spent a pleasant evening playing chess and talking. Kagome described how she had earned the money for her home almost completely by herself and Sesshomaru described his home.
After that pleasant evening, Sesshomaru was often summoned and as both he and Kagome were both rather fond of chess and not only both good players but also unable to find other good players with regularity, they would sit up almost half the night playing and talking about everything under the sun and moon. He stayed late so often that soon one room in Kagome’s home became known as the emperor’s room.
Eventually Princess Kagura heard that her little sister was being visited by a handsome, powerful young man and she became very jealous. So one day she went to visit her little sister and from the apprentices she learned that Kagome’s visitor was none other than the great Emperor Sesshomaru. Jealousy consumed Kagura’s heart for Sesshomaru had been one of the men that King Sano had considered for a suitor for her, not Kagome, and the proud emperor had rejected her, leaving her to marry the insipid Prince Hojo instead. She became more and more jealous as Kagome showed her around the house, coveting the treasures that Kagome had earned and when she left Kagome’s home, she could hardly speak because she was so consumed with anger and jealousy
That night, Kagura slipped away from the embrace of her husband and went to the dark sorceress, Tsubaki.
Kagura again called upon her sister and this time she made an excuse and slipped away to Sesshomaru’s room. She swiftly went to the bed and pulled back the blankets and sheets and took out a little bottle which she had bought from Tsubaki. Kagura poured finely powdered splinters of glass which were poisoned with a special brew that Tsubaki had concocted that would affect even a youkai as strong as Sesshomaru. When that was finished, she carefully whispered the spell that Tsubaki had told her which would erase her scent from the emperor’s room.
As soon as she had finished her task, Kagura returned to Kagome and made more excuses so she could return to the palace as quickly as possible.
That very evening, Sesshomaru came and he and Kagome stayed up late talking and playing chess as usual. Unusually tired, he finally bid the beautiful princess and Kaede who chaperoned them, good night. But as soon as he lay on the bed, thousands of millions of tiny, tiny splinters of poisoned glass ran into him. He could not think what was the matter but suffered through the discomfort in the night silently. The next morning, Kagome sent him back to his empire where he promptly collapsed. His loyal servant who found him sent for all of the doctors and healers in the land but none of them could figure out what the problem was. And so for weeks and week, trying every cure that the healers could come up with, spending his nights in pain and his days in agony, Sesshomaru lingered until at last he was at death’s door.
Meanwhile, Princess Kagome and Kaede were worried because no matter how often Kagome waved the magic fan, Sesshomaru would not appear. Both were worried, in particular Kagome, that something horrible had happened to him or he had tired of their company. Kagome fretted and worried until at last she could take it no more. She disguised herself as a monk and set out to the Nishi Empire to see what was going on with Sesshomaru. Of course, she had to travel by foot, or by hitch hiking, but it was a small price to pay to be able to travel on her own which was much faster than traveling openly as a princess would be.
As she traveled, one night she camped beneath a tree, though she still could not sleep for worry about Sesshomaru. Eventually, as she tried to doze, she heard the whisperings of something, though she dared not look to see what they were.
“Hello Shippo!” cried a cheerful voice, “how are you doing, what’s been going on?”
“Hey Soten,” this Shippo said, his voice dejected, “I’m okay but the emperor is dying.”
“Oh, sad,” Soten replied, “Emperor Sesshomaru’s always been so good about destroying troublemakers and I’d heard that he’d finally started courting someone too.”
Kagome ignored the lance of pain that pierced her heart as he overheard Sesshomaru’s fate, at the possibility that he was courting someone.
“So what’s the matter with him?” Soten asked.
“No one knows, ‘cept me of course but that’s cause no one else seems to realize how important it can be to listen to the wind spirits. Turns out that Kagura was super jealous that Sesshomaru was spending so much time with Kagome so she put cursed poisoned glass in his bed and now it’s killing him,” Shippo answered. Kagome almost sat up with a shout but she forced herself to be still. Her mind raced, how could her sister have done such an awful thing?
“That’s awful!” Soten cried, “Though I know what could help.”
“Really?” Shippo asked and Kagome wanted to demand the same, “what?”
“The berries of this very tree,” Soten said with a laugh, “If they were steeped in hot water and the emperor bathed in it then in three days he’d be as good as new.”
“Too bad no one listens to us anymore than they listen to the wind spirits,” Shippo sighed.
“Yeah, well, that’s what happens when people are more caught up in what’s going on in the city than in nature, they miss all the good stuff.” Soten replied, “I’ll see you later Shippo.”
“Yeah, see ya,” Shippo said.
Kagome forced herself to remain still a little while longer but as soon as she believed she was alone, she sprang up and she gathered every berry that she could from that tree, tears of joy running down her face the whole time. When her cloth was filled, she did not stop at night anymore but walked as quickly as she could to the capitol and once there she made her way to the palace of the emperor.
“Halt!” one guard cried, “State your business.”
“I am a simple monk,” Kagome said calmly, “and I have come with a cure for the emperor.”
“Dozens have come, all have failed,” the first guard sneered.
“And if the same happens to me then you can take my life,” Kagome countered calmly.
“Can’t do any harm at this point,” the second guard said, “and he just said we can kill ‘im if he fails.”
“Fine,” the first guard growled and he let Kagome pass.
“Good luck!” the second guard called after her.
Eventually Kagome found herself before the sick emperor. At this point he was so far gone that not even his keen nose could tell who Kagome was, though of course Kagome had taken the precaution to hide and distort as much of her scent as she could anyway.
And while he could not recognize Kagome, the same could be said of her because he was so very ill. Kagome felt like crying when she saw the sight of her dear friend, the man she dared not admit she loved, brought so low all because of her sister.
Immediately she set to work and began to heat a large vat of water and as soon as it began to boil, Kagome steeped the berries into it. Then she gave the mixture over to the emperor’s attendants and commanded them to bathe him, the very idea making her cheeks turn bright pink.
The first bath in the berry water did so much good that Sesshomaru got his first good night’s sleep in ages, and knowing that Sesshomaru slept well and was healing allowed Kagome to get a good night’s sleep as well.
The second day Kagome did the same and this time the emperor called for food after his bath.
The third day, Sesshomaru was quite well, only a little less strong than normal because of his long illness. He summoned the disguised Kagome before him. For a moment the youkai emperor frowned as he thought he caught an enticingly familiar scent. He pushed the thought away.
“You have performed a miracle,” Sesshomaru declared, “I would reward you.”
For a moment Kagome thought about revealing herself and asking for his hand but she put the idea aside. She didn’t want this to force Sesshomaru into anything he didn’t want. She still remembered the words of the forest spirits. Sesshomaru was courting someone.
“I am but a humble monk,” Kagome replied, “And I did not do this for any sort of reward.”
“This Sesshomaru dislikes being in debt,” Sesshomaru growled slightly, “Ask for whatever you desire and it shall be yours.”
Kagome felt her heart twist and demand what she really wanted but she swallowed the words.
“If your imperial highness must reward this simple servant,” Kagome said instead, “then it would please me greatly to have a token of some sort, something simple, your handkerchief perhaps, that I might remember this event and keep it as a reminder of my purpose.”
“Done,” Sesshomaru said and he removed from his person a handkerchief and gave it to Kagome. The princess almost laughed as she recognized the small bit of cloth that she had woven and embroidered for Sesshomaru herself.
“And you will take this,” Sesshomaru commanded and he pressed into her hands his signet ring, “As a token signifying that you are under my personal protection. None shall be able to remove it from you without your permission.”
“A valuable gift your imperial highness,” Kagome whispered and bowed her head, bearing the back of her neck to him, “I will strive to be worthy of it.”
Sesshomaru tried to keep her in the capitol but eventually Kagome managed to slip away and she returned to her home, her heart fragile but happy knowing that Sesshomaru was healthy and safe. Upon her return, she related her adventures to Kaede and made the old woman promise not to breathe a word of what she did to anyone. Kaede promised, but the old woman also remembered the promise she had made to King Sano and the aging miko began to make a plan.
A week or so later, Kagome gathered up her courage and once again tried to summon Sesshomaru with the magic fan. She was overjoyed to see that this time it worked.
“And what happened to ye Sesshomaru?” Kaede asked. Neither royal noticed the glint in her single eye, too busy drinking each other in.
“I was ill for a time,” Sesshomaru admitted, his eyes never leaving Kagome, “A young monk cured me.”
“Ye must have rewarded him generously,” Kaede said slyly and Kagome sent her a warning look. Sesshomaru raised a brow at Kagome’s odd reaction and noted the way her cheeks were pink. Something tickled the back of his mind. His nostrils flared slightly as he realized that he smelled his own scent much more strongly than he should have been able to since he had not been in Kagome’s home for quite some time.
“He refused any offers of wealth or titles. I’m afraid that I gave away the handkerchief you gave me Princess Kagome,” Sesshomaru admitted.
“Ye mean this handkerchief?” Kaede revealed, pulling Kagome’s reward from the place where Kagome had hidden the two items, “And a ring too I see, a mite fast since thou did not ask her father.”
“You,” Sesshomaru began and suddenly things clicked in his mind. He looked at Kagome who was alternating between being bright red and deathly pale.
Immediately Sesshomaru made a decision. He took the fan before Kagome could do anything with it and put it in his pocket.
“I will not leave,” he declared.
“But,” Kagome began.
“Not unless you come with me, as my mate,” Sesshomaru continued and he was secretly relieved when he looked, really looked, at Kagome and saw the emotions in her eyes that he knew mirrored the emotions in his own. Love, worry, happiness, wariness, all swirling in the blue orbs that had captivated him the moment his own eyes had met them.
“This isn’t just because I cured you, right?” Kagome whispered.
“I would have asked you anyway,” Sesshomaru confirmed and Kagome smiled brightly.
“Yes,” she laughed and she jumped up and hugged him and he caught her into his arms and then caught her lips with his.
Thus King Sano was overjoyed to discover that his beloved Kagome would marry a man who was worthy of her. Kaede was pleased to have kept all her promises and she maintained a watchful eye over the monks, miko and apprentices in the Land of the Setting Sun. Princess Kagura shrieked in frustration and jealously but she was very carefully never invited anywhere near the newly wedded couples’ home. Prince Hojo was very disappointed as well but sent the couple several herbal concoctions with a note that mentioned that they were good for rheumatism.
Emperor Sesshomaru could hardly care less about what Kagome’s family thought. He had his beloved princess who proved to be just as wise in helping him rule the empire as she was when it came to business. He was very pleased with his lot and had the fan and casket moved to the imperial treasury and placed in a place of honor.
Kagome was overjoyed. She had made her own fate, found her own husband, one who loved her and she loved him just as much.
The two spent the rest of their lives together mostly happy though two people with such strong wills did occasionally clashed but they always made up. They had many children and many other adventures that became other stories, though to the emperor and his beloved empress, none of the other stories they inspired were ever quite as interesting to them as the story of how them met.
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“Was that how you and mama met father?” Sumiko asked with a yawn when her father’s story came to an end.
Sesshomaru thought of his father’s grave, of nearly killing the tiny human woman who would be so important to him.
“Not quite,” he said after a moment. He leaned down and kissed his daughter’s brow.
“Sleep,” he commanded, “or else when your mother gets home I will have to inform her that you should not have any more bed time stories.”
“Yes father,” Sumiko murmured and her eyes, already heavy with sleep, closed and soon her breathing evened and she was deep in the land of dreams.
“That was a good story,” a voice said softly and Sesshomaru looked and saw his beloved mate.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he replied and smoothly walked over to her and was pleased as she stood on her tip toes to kiss him.
“Come on,” she said, “let’s get to bed.”
“Hn,” he hummed in reply and she laughed at the glint that appeared in his eyes and put a little extra sway in her hips as she walked ahead of him towards their bedroom.
She wasn’t walking for very long and soon another story, made of moans and gasps, floated into the night air with the scent of silver sakura blossoms and the croons of sleepy, wary birds and the humming of the cicadas.
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And there you have it, my first Sesshomaru/Kagome story.
BLAME KANNA37! She’s the one that got me hooked on this pairing!
I will mention that I am well aware that Sesshomaru’s name is the killing perfection but that wouldn’t have worked for the story. The meaning of the king/emperor’s name is pivotal to their meeting. In the original story the princess Imani, whose role Kagome reprises, is trying to untangle a knot and she tells the messenger patience, meaning she wants him to be patient while she fixes the thread. The king of the other kingdom, and yes I upgraded Sesshomaru’s role from king to emperor, was named Subbar which apparently meant patience.
I hope you enjoyed the story, please tell me what you thought.