Treasures: Bestowed & Received by sarhea

Opal: Courting Gifts

Summary: Sesshoumaru gives Kagome a gift with a more lethal purpose.

AN: Red’s Gemstone Challenge on Dokuga.com Forums – Opal

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~ooO Opal: Courting Gifts Ooo~

When InuYasha returned to camp looking calm and not about to fly off at first offence, for the first time in days, everyone relaxed. Kagome and Sesshoumaru watched without comment as the hanyou settled into the semi-circle around the campfire built in the shadow of a large flattish boulder. The daiyoukai’s eyes softened and Kagome smiled broadly as Rin skipped over and sat down between them.

“I gave him the gar-net, Kagome-san. I think he’s less sad now.”

Kagome squeezed the young girl tightly. “Thank you Rin.” She turned her head to the hanyou, catching his eye before inclining her head slightly. Then she settled more closely to Sesshoumaru, relaxing imperceptibly when his pelt curled around her.

Miroku coughed softly, drawing attention to disrupt InuYasha’s building scowl. “Sesshoumaru-sama, was there a specific purpose in your gift? The pearl pendant for Kagome-sama? I could feel the youki was more defined than typical for something created by a youkai craftsman.”

Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome who was blushing softly. “Did you read anything into it?” he asked in low rumbling tones.

“I tried not to transfer my subconscious desires,” she confessed slowly. “It felt like a marker, a symbol of my affiliation with you.”

Sesshoumaru nodded shallowly. “It was. Such a token is usually shared between allies and vassals.”

Sango practically bounced in her seat. “I’ve seen such tokens. Usually they are carved into bone or wood, or stamped into metal like copper or iron.”

“Yes,” the daiyoukai confirmed. “The more valued the ally the more expensive or elaborate the token.”

“So why pearls?” Shippo wanted to know. “Why not something flashy or colourful?” He was a kitsune and fox spirits were more attracted to items with such qualities.

Surprisingly Sesshoumaru chuckled. “A lily does not need to be gilt to emphasize its beauty. Subtly is more elegant.”

Then the conversation turned into more external matters. When it was late, and time to settle in, Kagome and Sesshoumaru stood up and went for their usual night walk once Rin and Shippo fell asleep. Before InuYasha would watch them go with hot angry eyes and much grumbling. Tonight he was pensive and resigned looking.

“I’m glad he’s finally accepting it,” Kagome murmured once they were outside of ear shot.

“It was only a matter of time. If he continued to deny reality he would only be cutting himself out of the pack… unacceptable to one with inuyoukai blood. The pack is everything. And much as I dislike it the blood of our father is strong in him.”

Kagome sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Whatever his reasoning I’m glad it’s sinking in.”

They walked in comfortable silence to a small clearing with a fallen tree. The miko watched as he removed the rough bark on the topside of one end with his whip. Sesshoumaru didn’t care much for expensive luxury but he was very protective of those in his care. He had learnt humans were more fragile and less durable than youkai – that some luxuries were necessities for them – and had gone about ensuring Kagome had all she could wish for. And then some.

“It’s nice. Just the two of us,” she confessed.

“This Sesshoumaru is used to being alone.”

“You aren’t alone,” she corrected him fiercely. “Not any more.”

She was surprised when he pressed a small carved box into her hands, flattish, about the size of her full hand perhaps a little longer. The sides and edges of the lid were covered with dogs, Akita hounds akin to his primal form. In the centre of the lid were kanji carvings depicting her name, House of the Moon, the Western Lands of Nippon. The box itself was a work of art and Kagome strongly suspected what was inside was even more so.

Carefully she opened it and gasped. Lying on a bed of raw off-white and butter cream silk were chopsticks. Not the eating kind but the elaborate hair ornaments worn by nobility. These were carved of dark wood, coated with metal on the broader end and set with gem chips, iridescent chips that glinted with multi-hued blue-purple-green-red-white flames under the moonlight. One pair was set with three tear-drop shaped dangles, another resembling a butterfly sitting on green, the last flowers.

She touched the undecorated tips and gasped. The wood itself was from a youkai tree, probably Bokuseno, but she could channel her energy into it! She looked up at the daiyoukai.

“How?” she wanted to know.

“Special techniques of Bokuseno and Totosai. The wood was specially grown with channels for your power. Totosai crafted and treated them so they are very durable. They are meant to be weapons of last resort,” he told her sternly as he gathered the hair on one side and twisted it above one ear, securing the loose bun with a pick. “When you stand beside me at formal events you cannot carry your arrows or bear any weapons openly. Usually it would not matter since youkai have natural defences and weapons like claws and fangs but you are a mortal-born. This will serve in case you are attacked and I cannot get to you in time. And not cause offence.”

Kagome stroked the matching pick to the one in her hair, opal butterfly wings shimmering with its own fire under the pale moonlight. She looked up at him, with glistening brown eyes. “Whenever I stand before you in court I will wear these proudly, gifts from my mate-to-be.”

He bowed down and kissed her hard. It was a ningen custom that he had taken up with great enthusiasm. Courting traditions kept him from crossing certain lines but kissing satisfied some of the primal need to reinforce his claim by penetrating her.

After some time she was sitting sideways in his lap, cuddling up to him even as she admired her new gifts.

“Do you know opals get their name from the Latin word Upala? It means precious stone,” he murmured idly as he played with loose strands of silky black hair. “Romans believed opals were symbols of hope and purity that kept the wearer safe from disease.”

“My friend’s mother went to Australia once. The native people there believe opals represent something an ancestor left behind as a sign of his or her presence. They say wearing opals enhances ones inner characteristics, enhances personal creativity, aids memory and provides faithfulness in relationship. It is the best gemstone to wear when you are trying to be true to yourself and the best person you can be.”

He squeezed her reflexively. “You are the truest person I know.”

She tilted her head back and smiled at him. “Thank you,” she murmured as she brushed her nose and lips against the underside of his jaw, a gesture of affection between inuyoukai. Then she settled down content and secure. If she fell asleep Sesshoumaru would carry her back to camp and tuck her into her sleeping bag before sleeping himself.

The last thought she had before falling asleep was whether these would satisfy Shippo’s preference for flash and colour.

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The End.

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