I have decided to compose a collection of one-shots for any of the challenges made by Priestess Skye here. I can't say I will response to every challenge but I will make an attempt.
This week...
Theme: Ribbons
Minimum 500 words - 762 words used
Thanks to Reannaleco for betaing
Rainbows and Ribbons
Golden eyes darted over the camp site. Again the young child was absent. As of late, his ward had taken an almost nightly habit to run off to see the miko. Though the lands were no longer plagued by the evil hanyou, he still didn’t like the young girl wandering unaccompanied… even if the miko’s camp was only in the other clearing tonight.
Sesshomaru found it necessary in recent times to seek the miko to teach the young child things he couldn’t. He refused to teach the growing girl certain aspects of his kind since they would be no use to her, and it occurred to him that there were ideas and customs that he was ignorant to. It was bad enough to know that she would need to leave his pack and marry a lord of his choosing. Attachment wasn’t something he had counted on so many years ago. But over time he had learnt to see the child as his own pup, and it bothered him to no end to think she would die in what would feel like a short time from now.
Not bothering to snap at the toad that grovelled at his feet, the inu followed the path towards the clearing where the fully developed miko radiated her power in a protective barrier. Many times he pondered why the hanyou hadn’t claimed the human woman. With such a strong aura, that had grown tenfold to the half-breed, it was apparent anyone would benefit from a mating to the miko. Often, as much as he hated it, he too thought about what benefits she would bring to the Western Palace. Humanity was something he was learning to accept, but one never knew what a mating between a youkai and miko would be like.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a high pitched giggle. Rin’s delightful voice was joined by the miko. With scent and aura masked, the inu stepped closer to the end of the line of trees. His gaze settled on both of the females and it took a moment to realize what he was seeing. Kagome and Rin were not in their usual dressed kimonos. Even their hair was different, as each section of locks was bound in what appeared to be thin ribbons. The coloured material was wrapped tightly around each strand, and made it impossible to guess what hair colour they actually had, if the person watching them didn’t know them well enough. There was no pattern of colour to the rainbow of madness burdening their heads. Every wrapped lock was different colours, repeating the five colours over and over as needed. Even the strange clothes the miko was custom to wearing were not as bizarre as he was seeing. The garments were short, showing off more skin than he allowed his ward. The top was tight over the torso, and rose upwards showing the flats of their bellies with each of their waved motions.
Each girl held in her hand, a strange stick, which had a long lengthy ribbon attached to the end. At the moment they were waving them around in circular motions in a sort of dance. The short ‘skirt’ rippled in the wind with their twist and turns. The waving tie-dyed material flapped upwards on the miko, showing off the undergarments beneath. Without notice, his beast was enraged that the woman would be so careless with her body. He pounced from his hiding spot and tackled the woman to the ground, unaware he had managed to pass through her barrier without the slightest burn.
“Wow… Sesshomaru what the hell?” Kagome cried out startled and nearly ready to purify the intruder.
“What indecency!” he growled. “You should have more respect for thyself and this Sesshomaru’s ward.”
“I’m just practicing. I have a dance at school coming up and I need every second I can get. Rin just wanted to help… and she wanted to look the part to. Besides, she looks so cute,” her voice trailed off as she averted her gaze to the young girl.
The inu had to admit, though strange, the attire did enchant some of the child’s features… and so long as no one else was watching them, he saw no reason why he shouldn’t allow them to continue. Retreating to his feet, he helped the woman back up and nodded for her to continue. Kagome took no notice of the way his eyes never left her form. Rin said nothing of the intense gaze of her lord and continued to move as the miko instructed.
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Ja ne
Angelic Memories
© 2009
Edited 2010