The outsider by Take-bamboo

New life

Seven years passed since the last battle with Naraku. Naraku was finally perished. In the battle, there was no winning but losses. Though Kagura, the wind demoness, had helped the group with the location of Naraku, she too could not avoid the fate of the other incarnations and dead in the hands of her creator.

Now, at the Kaede's Village, Sango and Miroku were married and had a twin and a boy. They were expecting their forth child soon. Rin had stayed in the village as well and grown up to be a pretty lady in the village, with many suitors coming to ask for her hand in marriage. However, she refused all of them, telling each one of them that she already had someone in mind. It did not take a long time for the Inutachi to guess who the lucky lad was. They had seen Rin's blushes when she saw Kohaku coming to the village to visit them. And both Rin and Kohaku would always spend the rest of the time together, talking and playing. On the other hand, Shippo had decided to move away to learn more about fox tricks and he would come back to the village once a while to say hi to every one.

Inuyasha, well, though he was still a single with no intention to fall for anyone again, there was a girl by the name Hatsue who had just moved into the village recently. She was saved by Inuyasha from a bear demon and decided to settle down in Kaede's village to help the old miko and the villagers. She had lost her family due to famine and would like to repay their kindness for saving her. Hatsue was very fond of Inuyasha. Just maybe, the Inu hanyou would have another chance to be loved.

Sesshoumaru returned to his Western Castle to take care of his lands, while Kagome gave birth to boy, who looked very much like his father. They named the boy, Yoshiaki and as a promise, they had taken him to his grandmother, who will be taking care of him until his coming of age. That would take a long time.

During the past seven years, Kagome had been traveling routinely back and forth through the well. In the Feudal Era, she would visit her friends and look after Yoshiaki for a while and then she would be returning back to her world to be just another normal student, another normal girl. Though she had spent one year more in high school, she had now graduated from university and found a job as a humble worker in NHK, editing articles and doing other journalist work.

Today was her day off and she had exactly a week time to spend in the Feudal Era. She had packed her belongings, deciding on what to bring over carefully. She no longer wore her uniform, instead she wore what was known as causal wear in the modern world at the Feudal Era. She brought a few pairs of T-shirts and jeans to change during her stay at the other side of the well.

"Sis, can you help me pass this to Sesshoumaru?" requested Souta as he handed a bamboo tube to his sister.

"Sure," replied Kagome as she took hold of the tube and slide it inside her bag. She knew the bamboo tube contained letters written by Souta to Sesshoumaru and vice versa.

It was a few years ago when Souta suggested writing to Sesshoumaru. He had passed an envelope to her, begging her not to open it and to pass it straight to the western lord. Kagome was shocked and bewildered. She almost laughed at her brother's action. Thinking what the lord would react when he read his childish handwriting and simple writings. However, she was more puzzled and astonished when Sesshoumaru actually handed her the bamboo tube saying that it was a gift for Souta. And since then, Kagome act as a messenger between the two males, who never met but know about each other through writing. Kagome kept her promise and never peep to see what they wrote to each other

"Thanks, bye then." Souta said as he waved goodbye to his sister.

"Bye~!" she waved back to her brother as she jumped down the well to the Feudal Era. Jaken had already dutifully waited at the side of the well. He had come to fetch her with Ah Un to the Western Castle.

"Good morning, Lady Kagome. Welcome back." the green toad greeted as he saw his lady climbed out of the well. Jaken has grown to respect the priestess over the years. It was difficult for him to accept her as his lady in the first few months but he slowly changed his mind after witnessing her kindness and courage throughout her stay in the Fedual Era. Also, he really like the taste of the delicious and rare "delicacies", which the priestess will bring along with her every time she came for a visit.

"Good morning, Jaken. Sorry to keep you waiting," Kagome said as she fixed the bag around her shoulder.

"It's nothing, this Jaken can wait here as long as you come. This Jaken-"

"I get it, I get it." Kagome smiled as she interrupted the toad demon. He would probably continue his rambling if she did not stop him.

"Yes, my lady." Jaken immediately stopped but it was not long before he said, "Shall this humble servant help you up onto Ah Un? This Jaken will……"

The Western castle was huge and grand. There were different pavilions in it. The Golden Pavilion was the resident of the lord's mother, which Yoshiaki resided there with his grandmother. On the other hand, Sesshoumaru lived in the Silver Pavilion, which is as beautiful and big as the Golden Pavilion. The only difference was most of the male demons resided and worked there.

Though, Sesshoumaru lived in the same castle, the Golden Pavilion and Silver Pavilion were a distance away and Sesshoumaru seldom went to visit his mother, only on special occasion. Kagome had a room of her own in the Golden Pavilion prepared by the Lady so that she could use it whenever she visited her son.

Usually, she would visit the Golden Pavilion first and if there were time she would then go to see the western lord in the Silver Pavilion. She liked walking along the passageway and bridge, which connected the two pavilions, looking at the beautiful scenery.

"Mother!" exclaimed Yoshiaki as he caught his mother's scent. It seemed like whole summer since he last saw her.

"Yoshiaki, I miss you," Kagome said as she hugged her son tightly, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Have you been good?"

"Of course, I managed to wield a sword now," replied Yoshiaki beaming. "I can show you," the young boy added as he took out his small sword and hold it with his clawed fingers. He swung the sword skillfully and confidently.

"That's wonderful, Yoshiaki," said Kagome as she praised him. Yoshiaki grew both physically and mentally whenever Kagome came back to see him. He either grew taller or learnt something new. Kagome was very proud of her son. The Lady was an excellent guardian.

"Is there anything for me?" asked Yoshiaki as he kept his katana, and hovered excitedly in front of his mother, glancing at the bag she brought along.

"Of course," Kagome smiled brightly at her son as she opened her bag and took out some snacks. "There is lollipops… candy floss… bubble gums. Oh then there is grandmother's cooking. Try this, Yoshiaki, grandmother specially baked this for you."

Yoshiaki took hold of the plastic container and opened the lid. It contained chocolate cookies and it smelled really delicious. "Thank you," Yoshiaki said as he took a piece and put it inside his mouth. The chocolate melts instantly inside his mouth and he loved it. "This taste delicious. Could you ask grandmother bake more for me next time?"

"Of course I will. By the way, I brought you a model to make." Kagome said as she took out a box with the picture of an airplane printed on it. "This is an airplane. It can fly and carries people across the world."

"Wow! I have never seen this before. They look like giantic flying birds. Are there any airplanes here?"

"Not yet. They are only invented in the modern era."

"Oh, I wish I could see one," said Yoshiaki slightly disappointed.

"Maybe when you are older, anyway, you would be making one," said Kagome encouragingly as she continued to explain to her son about airplanes and how to make the model. Both mother and son enjoyed their precious little time together.

….

"Good evening, Sesshoumaru," greeted Kagome as she saw Sesshoumaru standing outside the study room, along the corridor. She came across the bridge which linked the two pavilions to look for the stoic lord. Yoshiaki was currently practicing his swordsmanship with a tutor.

Sesshoumaru just looked at her with his usual expressions. However, the miko was used to this and did not care too much about his lack of acknowledgment.

"Here, Souta wanted me to pass you this," she said handing him the bamboo tube.

"Hn," he said, nodding his head slightly. Kagome was sure she saw a flicker of happiness in his eyes. Oh well, just what do they write about in the letters.

"Shall we play chess again?" asked Kagome. She was looking forward to beating the lord again.

"I have been waiting," replied the lord as he led her to the study room. There is a low table in the middle of the room, with a square checkered board and thirty six pieces neatly placed on top of it.

"You have already set up the chess," Kagome said, stating the obvious as she moved towards the opposite side of the table, where the white chess pieces are laid out and sat down on a cushion.

"Hn. Share we start?" asked Sesshoumaru as he too sat down on the other side of the table.

"Yup!" replied Kagome as she moved one of her chess pieces forward eagerly as she thought of the strategies to win the lord.

For the past years, Kagome was trying to find something that she could do when Yoshiaki needed to attend lessons and when she finished her assignments. So, she thought of bringing some board games to play during her free time. At first, she bought scrabbles, solitaire and others. However, she found it boring and unexciting to play by herself. Eventually, she thought of asking someone to play with her. So, with much thinking, she tried her luck: to introduce chess to the Western Lord. Surely, he would not find the game boring and time wasting as it was considered an intellectual game.

"Sesshoumaru, do you want to play chess?" asked Kagome as she held out a box from her bag.

"Chess?" Sesshoumaru asked in return, arching an eyebrow.

"Oh, let me explain. It's a common game among my time Chess is a broad game played by two players, on a chessboard. At the beginning, each player controls sixteen pieces and the objective of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king." Kagome said as she set up the chess game in front of him.

"I see, like Shogi," said Sesshoumaru, nodding his head as he looked curiously at the small pieces of chess on the square checkered board

"Yup, the rules and tactics are basically similar to the Japanese Shogi. However, there are differences in the chess pieces and the moves that each pieces can move," continued Kagome as she finished arranging the pieces in their position.

"This Sesshoumaru is interested. Shall we play then?"

"Of course," replied the girl happily. She finally found a" playmate."

"Checkmate," said Sesshomaru after moving a piece of chess on the checkboard.

"Hmm…I don't think so," said Kagome as she placed her piece to block the attack, grinning.

"You are good," said her opponent as he went back to his deep thinking.

"Nope, you are better," replied Kagome. She was happy that the lord had praised her. It was a rare sentence that will come out from this pompous lord.

Still, she truly felt that he was also a good player. He would always take five or more seconds to think of his other move and would always check that his chess pieces were well protected. That was why he was a good opponent to play with. Kagome enjoyed the thrill of winning the lord, especially the solemn and shocked look he would express when she captured his king.

It was quite and peaceful, with only the sound of the chess pieces moving. Both players were completely engrossed in the game, carefully planning, analyzing their moves and attacks. They would usually play late into the night before Kagome retired to bed. She even remembered playing up till three in the morning. She was surprised to see the time on her watch as she didn't even feel tired.

"I'm going to win you this time," the girl grinned at him confidently. She had watched some national chess tournaments, reading on strategies to play chess and she was positive that she had improved her attacks and defenses.

"Just try," the young lord smirked as he moved another chess piece forward.

It was already past midnight and they had ended their game before that. Kagome had retired to bed while Sesshoumaru continued his paperwork. He looked at his table and saw a scroll tied up neatly. It was the way the northern lands sent their letters or regards to the neighbouring lands.

"A letter from the northern lands." The Western lord thought and untied the strings that circled the scroll before unrolling the letter. He wondered what was it about. The Western lands has been in good relation with the Northern lands, fought several wars together since the past eras.

Dear Lord Sesshoumaru,

It had been a long time since we have met. It is an utmost honour to be able to receive your invitation to visit your land. I would be arriving in a week. I guess you have finally come to uphold our promises. My beloved daughter, Sakara will be accompanying me too. Sakara had grown up and the time now is appropriate. I truly hope you would not disappoint me, or your clan.

Yours,

Lord Tsunanari

The Western lord looked puzzled at the letter, he definitely had not sent an invitation to the Northernlands. Unless- the Western lady, his mother, sent a letter on the behalf of the Western Lands. His mother was really going to ruin and mess up his long life.

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