From her vantage point on the opposite side of the street, Kagome looked on as she had for some days now, at the little boy who rushed between shops doing the dirty work that others considered beneath them. Though he toiled, emptying slop buckets and hauling around water or wood or bolts of cloth, his so-called relatives smacked him around and berated him all the same. To them, he was an unwanted child. Just another hungry mouth to feed.

To Kagome, he was a precious scion of the past. When she looked at him, hastening about to please his betters, phantom longing stirred in her heart. He was a hardy, handsome boy, so much like his mother. He was a servant, too—though far more downtrodden and mistreated than Mayuri had ever been.

Poor little Yahiko. Kagome’s heart ached for him. Yet what could she do?

Troubled, she returned to the palace.

A set of rooms had been appointed for her by Lord Tatsumi himself. They were fine rooms, finer even than the one she had been given as a visiting priestess. Kagome was welcome, it seemed, for as long as she wished to stay. So far, she had tarried here longer than she had anywhere else in recent months.

Under her care, Lord Tatsumi’s health had improved. His color was better, and his cough had been reduced to an occasional nuisance. Apart from tea-time, they now took walks together in the morning and evening, whenever the weather was good. At first, they had talked of nothing much at all. But more and more they discussed political matters, once Lord Tatsumi had learned she had a mind for it. She enjoyed their talks, and her company seemed good for him. But Kagome had her own selfish reasons for wishing to stay.

Her guilt toward Mayuri was one. Sheer exhaustion was another. Her clandestine travels had been steadily taking a toll on her health. Kagome could no longer deny it, even to herself. She needed to rest. She needed to drop her concealment spell, consequences be damned.

If Sesshoumaru wanted to confront her, then so be it.

Such thoughts occupied her mind as she strolled through the gardens with Lord Tatsumi. The oppressive heat of late summer seemed to make her doubts weigh even heavier upon her. It was early evening, but the mugginess adhered her clothes to her skin. She’d traded her cotton kimono for silk, and now the light fabric was clinging to her in all the ways she wished it wouldn’t. She could only hope it wasn’t too revealing, but more than once she caught her companion’s straying gaze.

She was relieved when they left the gardens at last. Escorting her back to her quarters, Lord Tatsumi paused with her at the steps to the veranda.

“Are you well?” he murmured, taking her by the hand. “You seem…distant.”

Kagome shook her head, forcing a smile. “Sorry if I wasn’t good company today. I’m just a little tired, I think.”

Lord Tatsumi nodded. “…Sleep well, Kagome,” he said, his hand falling away from her as he turned.

“You too…Koshirou,” she haltingly replied.

Lord Tastumi returned to his own court. Watching after him for a moment, Kagome frowned, clasping her hands together.

She glanced around the yard for Ikiryou, but he wasn’t there. Must be out hunting, Kagome figured, and continued on up the steps. At the landing, she paused, her eyes narrowing.

Something was off.

Inside her rooms, she sensed an uncanny presence. Holding her breath, Kagome slid back the door—

And saw a slender, silver-haired figure standing within.

“…Hirokin,” she muttered, her shoulders going slack.

“Kagome-sama,” he greeted, turning from the large circular window at the rear of the solar. His eyes glinted dryly. “You sound disappointed. Were you expecting someone else?”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi