"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Hasumi questioned, summoning a small amount of reiki.
The man pulled back his hood to reveal a handsome face with silver markings on his cheeks and the trademark purple moon on his forehead. Similar to Homugi, he had one deep red eye and one blue eye. His skin complexion was on the darker side, being a healthy bronze to sienna coloring, and his hair was a thick black and brown mixture. His eyebrows were nicely arched and also thick. His furs were draped on his shoulders and around his upper hips, but they matched his hair colors as brown and black mixes. If Homugi wasn't disgusted by him or emitting low growls, he very easily would've been perceived as a fine man. Unexpectedly, Teinosuke held up a hand as a form of peace, but Homugi wasn't buying into it, and she had every right not to.
"Teinosuke," the man responded in a firm, militant voice. "Chief Investigator of the House of Inu. The woman next to you was one of our best detectives. Why did you go rogue, Lady Homugi?"
"I was taken off assignment. Since my usefulness has been outlived, I chose to go elsewhere," Homugi replied quickly. "Why are you with these monsters? They're our enemies."
"You're rogue, remember? You don't have an affiliation with anyone anymore," Teinosuke responded. "I'm only here out of courtesy and to leave you with a message since you're close to one of the inu territories out here. Lord Sesshomaru is being observed within a few days' time. Your words matched my arguments with the general. Our people do not find his leadership skills satisfactory despite his promise to ensure the betterment and longevity of our kingdom. Should we find fault in his ability to do the general's task, it has been proposed that he no longer act as ruler. His title will only have worth as a name, not an authoritative power. Your recollections of his performance in youth to now would be paramount in this final trial. Your mistreatment will be observed accordingly and removed from your name should I succeed in providing evidence that Sesshomaru is unfit as ruler."
"Lord Sesshomaru is a lot of things, but what he lacks in leadership is a fault of the court," Homugi argued. "We might not be on good terms anymore. Hell, I don't think I want to be, but he was our most progressive thinker in our youth. What he was trying to do differently would have made him a leader to spectate, but everyone was so focused on him being a figure of power that his words meant nothing to anyone! That's why I kept going back to his side until the day they separated us. He's not some war mongrel the way Lord Toga was! That's what pushed our king away from us!"
"This has been discussed already," Teinosuke said with a hiss. It wasn't an angry sound, though. It sounded more like attraction. His eyelids were even lowered. He then said, "Lord Toga suffered more because he was without peace. Hmph! That's what the general said. The effects of being a warlord at a young age took their greatest toll on him at the height of his reign and career. Lord Sesshomaru was able to get strikingly close to his might at a much younger age and without compassion or 'charm' as Milady often calls it. That's what earned him his position and a taste of glory. The reward for limiting compassion proved to be greater than simply being compassionate. Having compassion was not necessarily a detrimental quality, but not everyone can be shown affection in battle. Lord Toga struggled most with that. That's why Lord Sesshomaru hardened his heart. Lord Toga's struggle with peace became an outward struggle in his home."
"If that's what you want to call it," one of the goblins chuckled. He was as brown as tree bark with bulging yellow eyes and a loin cloth made of deer hide. "Your king may have been a great man, but he was a great man with an even greater vice."
Homugi turned her attention to the creature before returning her gaze to Teinosuke and questioning, "What do you mean?"
"In due time, child," another goblin said, chuckling as well. It crawled up to her and the other one went up to Hasumi. They both held up their claws to release a bit of light into the air before eyeing them down and smiling toothily. The goblin then said, "You are not the souls we want."
"This is simply a favor for the Justice Warden. She didn't want you harmed," the other goblin said, lengthy ears popping up before settling down. The master was calling them.
'Justice Warden?' Homugi thought.
"Heed this man's words, child," the brown goblin warned. "Your king had perished because he lacked self-compassion. You will suffer a similar fate if you're not careful."
"As for you, little one," the other goblin said, turning to Hasumi. "If you continue to hide the truth, your soul will be ours to feed on."
With that, the goblins disappeared and Teinosuke hesitantly left the area with them. A look of longing and obsession mixed within his eyes as he walked into a flurry of snow...
_____________________________________________
Roughly thirty-two years ago...
He was sleeping in the front room with his top open. It was enough to see the tattoo covering his shoulder and reaching over part of his chest. The trademark of a sailor only enhancing his handsome features. Once her eyes took sight of the few scars on his stomach, she couldn't help but drink in those details. His imperfections were marks of beauty and power. His hair rested on his shoulders to play with the moonlight decorating his skin and clothes. She blushed at the visual and crept into her bedroom as he slept. Biting her lip, she stripped herself of her armor and hooded cloak and took a good look at herself in her mirror. She considered his words. She never found herself to be beautiful when the village already had a vision of beauty committed to their memory. She was different... but... he liked it. If he could find her beautiful... then she had to see it for herself. Her hair was a bit stringy today. She could start there. Retrieving an average brush, she started at the ends. The splits were annoying to look at as she worked them out. Eventually, she stood back up to retrieve some scissors, oil, and a small bowl of water.
It was a process, but she took her time remembering when she used to brush her sister's hair for fun. Innocent play between siblings until the day she became cold and soon fell in love. After that, it was more about having a normal, comfortable life than simply finding value in herself. She fell prey to the same thought process. She had to outrun her sister's shadow, but it was too large, too long, too tall, and too dark to ever escape from. That was until... he came along. She was tired of playing drinking games with him and stealing innocent kisses from him. She wanted more. She wanted... her own love story. She wanted her own prince. She wanted her own life. She had to escape the shadow. Complete with her hair, she returned to the mirror and looked at herself. Her hair was pretty thick, actually, especially without all that gross dirt and split ends. It was healthy-looking! She smirked at herself. She looked different... and she liked it.
Washing her face, she decided to do something risqué as Nakasone had put it. Since her bangs were tidy, she groomed her brows and lashes with a minute amount of kohl and then painted her lips and eyelids a head turning red. Looking in the mirror, she was taken aback by her own look. She crawled over to the mirror with her eyes widened. That's what she looked like? No, this is what he saw in her. This is what Nakasone saw in her, too! She didn't hear him at the door or even hear him come inside of the bedroom, but she felt his hands on her shoulders and jumped. When she turned around, his lips had already melded with hers and she melted into his touch. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she deepened the kiss with him. Something in her mind clicked from this response. She let go of his neck and dragged her hands across his chest and stomach. Something else in her mind clicked before she peeled the layers off him and kissed the side of his neck before dragging her kisses back to his lips.
He growled, parted her legs roughly by the knees, and hooked his arms underneath the back of her knees before picking her up by the hips and sitting her in his lap. She gave a hard, long grind on his member before moaning out his name in a whispering voice. He bit her lip before kissing her chest and suckling on the soft flesh she had fully exposed to him.
Suddenly, his rough voice became soft and he stopped kissing her altogether. She went to grind on him again, but his calloused hands stopped her swirling hips and he looked her in the eyes with sincerity instead of the lust he had just acted on. He asked almost quietly, "Do you think you're beautiful, Kaede?"
She bit her lip, tasting the little bit of wine he drank before he had fallen asleep, and said his name to try to seduce him. He didn't move anymore and lowered her on his lap again to get her away from his member. How can he have such control over his bodily urges like that? She called him again, tears welling up in her eye, but she was struggling to answer him without being emotional.
"Do you think you're beautiful, Kaede?" he asked again.
She said his name again and finally let out a tear. She wasn't there yet, but he could see that she was trying to give herself a chance. He leaned forward to reposition them before picking her up and slowly walking them over to her bed. She felt every movement between her thighs, clung to him when he laid her down, watched him crawl over her until he simply laid on top of her and caressed her cheek.
He then said, "When you answer that question for yourself, you will be able to truly get the life you want. Virgin robes or not."
"But not you?" Kaede asked with a serious expression on her face.
She didn't expect his eyes to be filled with a darkened lust that could smother six men in a single breath. He then said in her ear with a predatorial growl, "I'd have you now if I wasn't worried about you."
"You can't do that!" Kaede moaned, intaking a sharp breath at what his voice was doing to her body. Those vibrations in that growl were intoxicating.
"Just know that red on you is doing something to me," he said, looking her in the eyes with a smug grin. "It looks good. You should try other colors."
"My priestess robes are red and white. You never mentioned liking the red then," Kaede said quietly, blinking slowly.
"The virgin robes are symbolic and not meant to be soiled. I do not dishonor them or what they represent," he said calmly. He then pressed a kiss to her lips and whispered, "You're not wearing them now. Are you representing the robes or yourself?"
"How do I represent you?" Kaede asked with longing in her eye.
"When you brushed the ends of your hair, you had already started to seduce me. When you stood up to get the scissors, you had already started to represent me. When you saw yourself in the lipstick and eye coloring, you became me," he said, lightly touching the bottom of her lip. "Representing me doesn't mean seducing me, Kaede. It means putting into practice a value I hold dear to me because you now know me. Forgiving others and then yourself is a process. It can be hard, long, and emotional. Starting that process is representative of me. Continue that and our souls will be one."
____________________________________________________
Kaede was standing in front of the tree where Inuyasha once hung in indefinite slumber. She was content today. Memories of times passed now echoed in the winds, but she had no regrets or worries. She simply had a bout of impatience this evening. She wanted to see her friends again. She finally bought a new kimono this morning with Morihei, who decided to visit some days ago, and received a gift of hairpins from her. Could that woman not be so flipping elegant? But... if the girls were visiting her now, then that means... she had to make sure everything was perfect. She was nervous. Morihei didn't make anything any better, but she'd rather Morihei lecture her about dressing up nicely than Nakasone. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Kagome walking up to her. Apparently, she was trying to creep up on her. Poor girl. She's so curious about her sudden change of mood.
"Still trying to fish for clues, child?" Kaede asked, smirking.
Kagome let out a defeated sigh before saying, "No, I decided to stop. That old lady with the fancy clothes spanked me twice!"
"Lady Morihei can be a frightful woman, but she means well," Kaede said, chuckling. It sounded like something Morihei would do, especially to troublesome kids. "She was actually a kind mother in her youth. She must've been the same as a grandmother. I missed her bossiness."
"This is killing me, Kaede!" Kagome yipped, flopping onto her back to lie on the grass. "You have all these friends visiting you all of a sudden. What gives!"
"Ye have friends of ye own, Kagome. Why this urge to know of mine?" Kaede asked, curious of the girl's answer.
"Because! Because I - ! Well..." Kagome tried, more or less embarrassed by her own words. "I've never seen you this happy before. You're going shopping with another woman about your age, gazing at sunsets with this smile on your face, you're visiting the tree, and you leave to the outskirts of the village to see those kids. You're even pampering yourself! None of this is like you!"
"My friends just make me happy, Kagome," Kaede said, smiling at the girl. "It's not so special that it requires so much attention."
"It does if you're buying lingerie!" Kagome snapped, popping up from her spot.
"Linge - what?" Kaede questioned, not familiar with the word.
"You bought two kimonos in the market. One looked kinda classy but the other had sheer fabrics. That's what women wear when they... you know... have someone in mind they want looking at them!" Kagome revealed, making Kaede gasp then laugh lightly.
"Ah, ye can be quite observant when being nosy," Kaede joked, walking over to Kagome and sitting next to her. She returned her attention to the tree and simply smiled before continuing, "Both kimonos were meant to honor the memory of the same person. He taught me much. I suppose ye can say I want his full attention when he decides to show up."
"S-s-so, you're seeing someone?" Kagome questioned, sitting on her knees to practically tower over her elder.
Kaede shook her head, though, and replied, "We're a little closer than that."
"Was he your lover?" Kagome whispered.
"That's an insult to our relationship, I'm afraid," Kaede replied. "What we have is stronger than such a frivolous thing."
"Wow... you've had a secret beau all this time," Kagome said, sitting back down in a proper position. "Does anyone else know?"
"Ye should feel quite accomplished. You're the only one who knows other than me in this village," Kaede said, allowing Kagome to relish in this small victory. "I kept him a secret for a reason."
"Why?" Kagome asked, attention fully gained.
"This I cannot tell ye, but I chose him and chose to love only him because he saw things in me that I could never see," Kaede said with fondness in her voice. Her next choice of words, however, made her smile gradually disappear and a thin line replaced the curve in her lips. She then said, "That's the only reason why I'm here. I wanted to apologize to myself. When I was a little girl, I looked up to my sister, Kikyo. She was strong, pure, beautiful, nurturing, and kind. When I lost my eye, she was there at my side and doing all she could to make sure I was healthy. A couple of kids bullied me for this injury, but she told me to toughen up and brought me to the temple for training and worship. And, I did as told. All of the qualities I found heroic and admirable about her, however, were starting to be noticed by many others including a few men. Once the temple required her strength to guard the Shikon Jewel, she had started to change. She craved a different life... unfortunately, I heard her and Inuyasha talk on a night much like this one. The trees were turning gold, the air cold. She was too young to be my mother and tired of being my caretaker, but she did it anyway because I had no one else. That night when they whispered promises to each other for a better life was the most heartbreaking revelation I had to bear. I didn't say anything about it. I don't even remember lashing out. I just let life play out... until the day she died and Inuyasha was pinned to that very tree. I blamed myself for everything. Many of the villagers that I grew up with are dead and gone now, but they used to blame me, too. I was Lady Kikyo's burden. I led her into being tempted by demons. I pushed her into loving a half-breed demon. It cut me deeper than any sword when I heard that, but I followed the last piece of advice that Kikyo had ever given me. I toughened up. I held my tongue and prayed for strength. I trained myself in archery by other means. I left this village in my teenage years once the temple adopted me. Instead of learning archery their way, I snuck onto battlefields and watched duels between bounty hunters or rogue warriors. I only returned to the temple when my training was completed. My main source of income was nursing, so I survived much and was spared many a gruesome fate because of my skill. Once I returned to the village, I continued both nursing and archery the temple's way. My skill had surpassed Lady Kikyo's for a time, but the elders remembered me as the burden child. Despite all that I learned, I simply could not escape my sister's shadow. I remember a man who tried to force himself on me and me having to be the one to rescue me. That experience made me devote much of my time to the virgin robes and to honing my martial skills. I toughened up... until I met my match. I had been captured by a bounty hunter and threatened unless I healed his wounds without pay. This... soldier happened to be in the area. He didn't say anything. He just came into my clinic. He was... gorgeous: tall, dark features, swift, strong, silent. He didn't give me his name or anything. He simply threw the man out and bowed in respect. I had never seen anyone as skilled with the sword as he! Surely, I could learn much from his battles was what I thought. I tried finding information on the man, but I could find nothing. It wasn't until a snowy day when we met again. I had been ambushed by a group of demons and crashed into what I thought to be his home once I recovered. He was still bathing when I realized where I might've been! His comrade had run into the room to help me up... while he crushed the demons with his prowess. They were kind to me and protected me up until my return here. We spent months together, but that's how I knew... what it was like to desire someone. How dangerous be temptation! When I came home, I felt guilty. That I didn't deserve love or protection or even kindness. Kikyo only did those things out of pity. For the first time in life, I was glad that she was dead. I was happy that Inuyasha was pinned to that tree. I was even more elated when Onigumo had perished or disappeared or whatever had happened to him! Because I had a chance of having the life I wanted, yet... I couldn't take it. I apologized every day at Kikyo's cremation site and this very tree. She was right. I was a burden."
"That's not true! Lady Kaede, you're amazing! You deserve love just like anyone else!" Kagome argued.
"Do ye not see why I smile now?" Kaede asked, turning to her with a gentle smile. "I am free, Kagome! Those kimonos represent that. I am free to fight, but I am also protected and loved. He gave me those things. I was bitter towards Inuyasha at first when you unpinned him from that tree. I was even angry at you. But... that was when I knew my guilt had been lifted. Because I could admit to myself that I was embittered and angry. I never expressed any of those things before. I simply forgave and forgave and let life mate with fate. The day you came along, Kagome, was the day I mastered his lesson for me. I had to forgive my sister and Inuyasha... so that I could forgive myself. I had to forgive the elders, so that I could find my self-worth. I was no one's burden. They were immature and unsure of how to care for me. When I left this village to learn how to fight, I had already shown them the right way to take care of me. It had to be me. I think seeing Sesshomaru on the day I left was also a symbolic message from the heavens."
"You knew Sesshomaru beforehand?" Kagome questioned with surprise evident in her voice.
"Not personally. I only saw him looking at Inuyasha," Kaede admitted. "I never told him when he left Rin here, but I have to thank him one day. He became a goal in my life. To gain enough strength to be able to defeat a demon of his might and speed. To not be tempted by his beauty the way my sister was tempted by his brother's. I did wonder why he wanted to see Inuyasha on the tree, but Inuyasha's fate was impactful to many. I don't even think he realizes what his demise meant for everyone. Human and demon alike. It is a pity, but he had something of great importance to me behind him."
"You mean behind the tree?" Kagome asked for clarity.
Kaede nodded and smiled before saying, "Aye."
"What?" Kagome asked softly.
"My answer..." Kaede replied.
"That's quite precious, priestess," an unfamiliar voice hissed. Kagome and Kaede snapped their heads around to see a goblin grinning toothily at them. The air was practically arctic around him, but their eyes started burning like smoke was suffocating them. They were about to rise to possibly attack, but the goblin merely narrowed his eyes and held up his claw as a show of peace. He then said, "I am not here for you. I seek an item."
"Why should I give ye anything, demon?" Kaede demanded.
"Do you not wish to assist Lady Meioshi?" the goblin responded, tilting his head almost perfectly perpendicular to the axis of his neck column.
"What did you do to her?" Kaede demanded, turning around with worry.
"Nothing, fool. She simply needs your Shinto papers to exorcise a mighty demon. You have papers made from holy trees on hand right now," the goblin answered. "You have a while before I return for a prized soul..."