Purple Silk by QuothTheDragon

Purple Silk

So, after you read this, please remember to go read dreamcatcher's story as well, then send Tangie (Tangerine Dreams) your vote. I hope you enjoy!  ~You may want tissues~

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Prompt: Purple Silk

oOo

The youkai lord resisted letting a long, annoyed sigh escape from his lips, determined to keep his stoic countenance firm. It was bad enough that he came to this filthy human village on the mere rumor of a highly talented seamstress living on its outskirts. Now, he was wondering if any of these humans has bothered to bathe within the last year. The stares he was receiving as he strode down the dusty main road of the settlement were rather annoying, and Sesshoumaru would just prefer to kill them all and be done with it.

That thought brought about more temptation to sigh, but this time in defeat. If word of his assaulting and maiming a human village got back to his ward, and it surely would, he would have to deal with a very distressed human adolescent. Since when had the great Sesshoumaru been so cowed by a mere slip of a human girl?

He knew the answer to that one: since she had first discovered how to pout in the same manner as a pup. Since that moment, he had found it nearly impossible to deny her a thing. He was only grateful that she did not take advantage of it as often as she could.

Reaching the last hut on the edge of a great forest, Sesshoumaru peeked his head within the doorway, the flap already pulled aside for visitors. A slender human girl, only somewhat older than his Rin, sat on the floor working with fabric. Her hands gracefully piercing the fabric with her bone needle and pulling the thread back through. The daiyoukai could already see that it was a masterpiece in the making.

He watched her work for a moment more before speaking. “This is the residence of the seamstress Kagome, is it not?”

The girl looked up, a reddish hue blossoming along her cheeks. The youkai's golden eyes met with orbs of a startlingly clear sapphire hue. He had never before seen such eyes on a human.

“H-hai, I am she,” the girl spoke softly, averting her eyes from his. She placed the fabric off to the side, stood and bowed lowly to him. He inclined his head slightly towards her in a small gesture of respect. If it wasn't for seeing her work, he never would have believed that one so young could be so accomplished in her craft.

“This Sesshoumaru is in need of a wedding kimono to be gifted to his ward. Are you able to meet these demands?” he asked coolly. She looked at him for a moment, directly in the eye, as if searching for something. Sesshoumaru was struck by how far past her years she looked suddenly. The moment was ruined when the girl smiled brilliantly towards him.

“I would be honored to be of assistance, Sesshoumaru-sama. Please, allow me to show you my available fabrics. First, would you enjoy a cup of tea?” He shook his head in the negative at the suddenly cheery girl. She stepped into the adjoining room of the hut, bringing samples of fabric with her.

For many hours, they sat going through fabrics one by one. For Sesshoumaru, none of them seemed good enough to grace his Rin on her wedding day. The material was too rough, the color not flattering, the list went on. The youkai got the feeling that this would be like the other visits he had undertaken to seamstresses, with nothing gained in the end but a twinge of pain in his temple.

As the last swatch of fabric was discarded, the young girl turned to the lord deep in thought. “If it pleases you, Sesshoumaru-sama, would you tell me a little of your ward?”

He thought about it for a moment, feeling that it would not hurt anything. His senses relayed to him that there was no one in hearing distance and no one would believe her if she told them what he spoke of Rin.

“This Sesshoumaru's ward is exceedingly kind and thoughtful, wishing no being harm. This one has even seen her rescue spiders from her room and set them free in the gardens before the maids could kill them. She is the purest being I have ever met,” he finished, feeling surprised at sharing so many details about Rin. Kagome only smiled at him, a soft look in her eye. She rose gracefully.

“There is one more option for fabric,” she stated softly. In a moment, the seamstress returned with the richest purple silk that Sesshoumaru had ever laid eyes on. She offered it to him for his perusal and he found it to be the most luxurious silk he had come across in his many years. There did not seem to be more than a few kimono worth of the material, so he refrained from asking for his own. His Rin's happiness was much more important.

“It will suffice,” he rumbled out. The girl clapped her hands softly and smiled brilliantly once more.

“Excellent. Now, we must pick out patterns and such...”

Their talks over the designs wore well into the night, finally deciding that a flowing flower pattern would best suit the soft-hearted girl.

oOo

The lord returned to the village frequently, at least twice every moon cycle, to check on the progress of his Rin's kimono. It had to be perfect, after all, and perfection could not be rushed, much. He had already waited three moon cycles and forced himself to be patient with the young seamstress. After all, the embroidery was all being done by her own hand.

Sesshoumaru did find it strange that the girl with the odd blue eyes always seemed to be alone when he was around. He had also held the most interesting conversations with her when he had finally accepted her offer of tea. Her view of the maneuverings of the various human lords were full of sharp, witty remarks that he couldn't help but enjoy. He was even toying with the notion of offering her a seamstress position in his court. After all, he work was very high quality.

Her hut came into view and Sesshoumaru could feel a light fluttering in his stomach. He firmly pushed down any such sensations and strode purposefully into her hut. Kagome looked up and greeted him with a warm smile, blue eyes sparkling.

“Sesshoumaru-sama! Have you come to check the progress of your gift?” she asked eagerly, her eyes seemed to be suddenly playful, as if she knew something that he was not yet aware of.

He deigned to simply incline his head in her direction. Of course that was what he came for, that and his ritual cup of tea afterwards.

The girl came out from the adjecent room with a soft smile gracing her lips. “It is complete, Sesshoumaru-sama. I whole-heartedly believe your ward will cherish it.”

The kimono was a work of art, the bright orange and yellow flowers meandered along the garment, looking as if they were truly flowing when the material moved. It was perfect for his Rin. He withdrew a purse from his haori, offering it to her.

“That kimono is a gift to your ward, made only for her. I could not accept payment for such a gift,” she stated, somewhat bashfully.

“If you will not allow this Sesshoumaru to compensate you monetarily, perhaps you will listen to his other offer. This Sesshoumaru would be honored of you would join his court as Head Seamstress,” he revealed confidently, after all, what person would turn down such prestige.

Blue eyes shone with surprise and regret. “I am honored, Sesshoumaru-sama, deeply honored. However, I must decline your offer. My place is not within the courts,” Kagome smiled wanly, small creases folding at the corners of her eyes. Sesshoumaru suddenly found himself second-guessing her age. Perhaps she was older than he had first thought.

“Are you a fool, Kagome? I am offering you power, wealth, whatever it is you want, to come with me and take a place within my court. What more could you want?” he snarled angrily.

Her eyes suddenly displayed such pain that he could hardly bear to meet her gaze. “My place is not within the courts. I apologize if I offend you, Sesshoumaru-sama, but I will have to ask you to take Rin's gift and leave. Please give her my well-wishes though,” she ended thoughtfully, even as she guided a stunned youkai out of her hut. Her eyes glistened with a myriad of emotions as she watched him leave on his ruby-hued youki cloud. He wondered how she knew his ward's name when he had never given it to her.

oOo

Sesshoumaru could feel the guilt eat away at him for days after he had acted so poorly towards Kagome. He knew he could have done a better job of convincing her, but had quickly lost his temper for some reason. Now, he would remedy that. He had a convincing argument all worked out and had even procured some fine silks to gift to her, though none were as fine as the fabric for his Rin's kimono. Upon reaching the human village, he was met with much the same reaction as the first time he had arrived. He once again felt annoyance toward the gawking humans, but no temptation to slaughter them where they stood.

He quickly reached the edge of the forest and looked around in confusion. There was nothing there at all. Not even signs that a hut had once existed there, or that any humans had lived near the forest recently. He knew it had to have been powerful magic to deceive him so thoroughly. Sesshoumaru felt anger welling up inside him at the trickery he had been subjected to, but underneath all of the rage, he simply felt touches of loss and hopelessness. He knew that it was best to put the human out of mind, though he found himself unable to at the moment. It would come with time, he knew. All humans simply faded out of memory as the centuries passed.

oOo

A tall man with tidy black hair strode down the street of the bustling metropolis as if he owned it, and the people around him certainly acted as if he did. He held a cellphone to his ear with one hand and clutched a briefcase in the other. In total, he appeared to be quite the powerful businessman.

“Just get me the address, Kono, I do not have all the time I wish to search for this. Send it to my phone when you have it.” He ended the call. “Incompetent fool,” he muttered, ridiculing his temporary assistant. His usual one was out on maternity leave, having just had a pup within the last week. The man wished her well, but found that he resented her timing. Miura-san was competent and had completed the majority of the research needed to find his grandpup a handmade wedding kimono.

Rin and her mate, a kitsune by the name of Shippou, had brought into the world 14 grandpups over the centuries. Sesshoumaru spoiled every one of them in his own special way. The third youngest, Asami, held a special place in his supposedly frozen heart. As a child, she reminded him of her mother. Joyful, kind, generous, and completely pure of heart. Now she, too, had grown and was preparing to marry and mate the love of her life, and Sesshoumaru was determined to gift her a kimono of the same quality that he had gifted his daughter with.

His phone beeped as his inept assistant finally sent it to his phone. Sesshoumaru let out a small sigh of relief, it was just around the corner. The shop was small and quaint, almost lost to the bustle going on around it. The lord turned businessman entered the shop and found it manned by a frail-looking old woman who was steadily embroidering a piece of material.

“Excuse me, obaa-san, is this the shop of the seamstress Kagome?” Sesshoumarua asked kindly, ignoring that his brain was furiously attempting to solve the slight deja vu he was experiencing.

“I am she,” the woman replied, her voice very strong for her frail appearance. She lifted her head and met Sesshoumaru's light brown eyes with her own sapphire blue orbs. He felt as if he knew this old woman, but surely he would remember her if that was the case.

“I am looking for someone to make a wedding kimono as a gift for my...ward, Asami.” He couldn't very well go around talking about his grandpups, his human disguise was only old enough to be a father after all.

“It would be my honor to be able to assist you. Please, bear with me for but a moment while I retrieve some samples.” Sesshoumaru noticed that the old woman moved surprisingly quick for her apparent age.

After she had retrieved the swatches of material, they began sorting through them, searching for something worth Sesshoumaru's “Asami-chan.” Their luck eventually failed, and Sesshoumaru was feeling disheartened. He wanted to do this so much for his little Asami.

“Please, why don't you tell this old woman about your ward,” Kagome said, blue eyes sparkling.

Seshoumaru responded immediately, “Asami is a true beauty, inside and out. She cares as much for her friends as she does for her enemies. I do not believe I have ever seen her harm a living creature. She is one of the purest souls that I have met over my lifetime,” he stated warmly, a small smile tugging at his lips at the thought of his pup and grandpups. The old lady just smiled at him before rising and retrieving something. She presented him with absolutely beautiful purple silk, though there did not seem to be much left.

“Is there enough? This would suit her so well, just what she deserves for her special day.” He fingered the silk gently, as if afraid it would fall apart under his touch.

“There is enough for one kimono,” the old woman confirmed, grinning slightly. “Now, would you like to discuss patterns?”

Sesshoumaru looked at her strangely, then back down to the purple silk. A flood of memories rushed through his brain. “It's...it's you. Kagome, the seamstress in the small human village all those years ago. You made Rin's wedding kimono,” he stated blandly, almost as if he hoped the woman would simply laugh and call him crazy. Instead, she smiled a toothy grin.

“How did little Rin enjoy her kimono? It would warm this old lady's heart to know,” she said quietly, confirming his suspicions.

“She-she absolutely loved it, she still has it preserved under a great many spells so it will stay in perfect condition. Asami is her daughter, she is my grandpup and acted just like her mother as a child. How-” he was cut off.

“How is not important. Just know that I will complete this kimono for your Asami and she will have a blessed life with her mate. Now, would you like some tea?”

Sesshoumaru simply nodded his answer. He would find out what she was hiding, he just knew he had to.

After they had settled down with cups of green tea, silence falling between them, Sesshoumaru decided that it was time to get his answers. This was one of those times he regretted the niceties needed in polite conversation. Where were the days when he could simply demand information and it was given?

“Will you tell me how you are still here?” he asked finally. The silence returned, Kagome continued sipping her tea as if she was lost in thought. The youkai allowed the silence to remain, he did not want to press her too much. He would rather get his answers.

“Let me tell you a story,” she began slowly, “of a beautiful young woman. She was so beautiful, in fact, that she believed it could get her everything she wanted. Despite her humble beginnings, the girl felt that she deserved a rich lord for a husband. When she had eleven summers, a childless noblewoman passed through her village and saw this girl, she saw the amount of potential this girl held within her to be both beautiful and kind.

“What the noblewoman did not realize was that the girl had been spoiled with compliments and had learned to hide her arrogance behind kindness. The noblewoman brought the girl home and, upon agreement with her lord husband, made her their ward. The nobleman knew that her beauty could lead to a very beneficial alliance. They kept the girl within beautiful surroundings, giving in to her every whim to keep her happy. Her outer beauty flourished, but what small amount of inner beauty she had retained was gone.

“The girl was harsh with her servants behind closed doors, often throwing tantrums when things did not go her way. The nobleman and his wife did not do anything to stop her outbursts, instead focusing on finding her a husband. They succeeded, a rich lord was entranced by her beauty and declared his suit to her. She blushingly accepted.

“Her wedding was planned to be the most extravagant in the land, and the girl was often found declaring it to be the finest anywhere in the world. Her betrothed, still entranced by her looks, gifted her with the finest silk he could find for her wedding kimono. The girl was honored with the gift, knowing that life with her future husband would be everything she had ever dreamed of since she was a small girl.

“One day, when with some of the ladies of the court to show off her new silk, the girl arrogantly declared that her wedding would be better than any other before or after it, even a wedding between kami. Some of the kami heard this, and decided to punish the girl for her arrogance. They decided that the perfect means to their punishment would be the very thing the girl prized, the purple silk gifted to her by her betrothed.

“The young girl was cursed to live until she had used every last bit of the purple silk, appearing when there was someone worthy. The silk could only be turned into kimono for girls who were the opposite of her, more beautiful on the inside than the outside. She would age as the purple silk was used up, losing the beauty that she prized so much. Only when the last of the silk was used would she be able to finally die and be reincarnated, her arrogance atoned for.” The old woman's voice died out at the end, her blue eyes searching Sesshoumaru's face for a reaction.

The youkai's mind was spinning, the onna sitting in front of him had lived through all of that. His mind pulled him unwillingly to her words from earlier, “There is enough for one kimono.” Involuntarily, he froze in the middle of bringing his tea cup to his mouth, amber eyes wide. After a moment, Sesshoumaru slowly and deliberately placed his tea cup in front of him.

“You said that there is only enough for one left,” he stated blankly, his tone belying no trace of his tumultuous thoughts.

The old woman smiled warmly at him, her blue eyes holding some other emotion. “That I did. Now, Sesshoumaru-sama, I believe that a crane might be an appropriate pattern for your Asami-chan, ne?”

Mind in a daze, he responded automatically, “Yes, Asami-chan has always admired the gracefulness of cranes.”

“It is settled then. Now, you leave it all up to me and I shall have it done in exactly six weeks.”

“Six week?” he murmured dully.

Kagome smiled again, this time sadness evident in the tugging of her lips. “Six weeks,” she confirmed.

Sesshoumaru suddenly rose as if scalded. “You must excuse me, obaa-san. I have some business to attend to. I will have half-payment delivered to your shop within two days.” With that, he bowed curtly and rushed out of the shop, resigned blue eyes watching him go.

Not even two blocks over, Sesshoumaru happened upon a bar and, after a mere moment's hesitation, he decided a drink was well-deserved at the moment. He settled himself on a stool in the scarcely populated bar and ordered two of the strongest drinks the bartender could make. He downed the first, then began nursing the second.

There were so many emotions threatening to overcome the iron grip he had on them. Guilt, he felt guilty because he had forgotten about her, because he had not tried hard enough to convince her to come with him all those years ago, because she was dying in order for his Asami-chan to have a wedding kimono. Amazement, that a human had been through so much, that she had been able to change so much from how she was originally. There were two feelings Sesshoumaru could not reason out for the life of him: panic, and some sort of warmth that settled in the pit of his stomach and made his chest throb with inexplicable pain.

He signaled the bartender for another of the same drink, wishing the alcohol would begin working so he did not have to deal with all of these emotions. His third drink was downed as quickly as the first. Before he could get another, a shrill noise began emanating from his cell phone. The youkai's lip curled in annoyance as he answered.

“Speak!” he commanded in annoyance.

“Father! What if I was someone who did not know how to deal with your moods? You could seriously offend someone,” the teasing voice of his Rin called through the device.

“Rin,” he stated, instantly calmer, “Is something the matter?”

“No, not particularly. Except Asami is beginning to wonder where her grandfather is.”

All Sesshoumaru felt now was guilt. “The dinner.”

“Yes, the dinner. You promised you would be early, and I don't want Asami disappointed. This is important to her.”

“I will be there as soon as possible. Will you tell her I have good news for her?”

Rin gasped slightly. “You found someone?”

“Yes, yes I did. It shall be done in six weeks. This seamstress rivals the one that made your own kimono, Rin.”

“She shall be exceedingly pleased then. Now, hurry up and leave that office of yours.”

“I'm not at the office.” Sesshoumaru winced, his daughter was much too curious.

“Oh? Where are you then?”

“On my way. Tell Asami-chan not to worry.” He hung up, knowing Rin wouldn't be offended by his demeanor. She would simply assume he had had a bad day.

His Asami-chan had been thrilled that her kimono was being made and wanted all of the details, but Sesshoumaru's lips were sealed. He did not even dare to dwell on the old woman making Asami-chan's kimono, for fear of bringing up his veritable maelstrom of emotions on the subject.

It was five weeks and six days later that Sesshoumaru finally came to an epiphany. He had had the strangest dream, most likely brought about by the excessive amount of alcohol he had been drinking lately. In it, Kagome had said that she would join his court all of those years ago. She had become his personal seamstress, then a friend, then a lover, and right before he had woken up, he had decided to take her for his mate. Laying on his futon, the youkai allowed himself to relive all of the conversations they had shared, and could see his dream becoming reality. That warmth in his stomach was back, and Sesshoumaru finally realized what it was. He was in love. He, the proud youkai, had fallen in love with a cursed human centuries ago and had ignored it. And now, she was about to die.

His last thought threw his mind into overdrive, and Sesshoumaru decided to do something reckless. He pulled on a simple yukata and headed out to the shop at youkai speed. There would probably be UFO reports that night. There was a light on in the small shop when he arrived, causing him to sigh in relief. He may not be too late.

The door was locked, but he quickly picked it and headed into the shop. There, within the back room, was Kagome. She was sewing in the lining to the kimono, and it looked to be almost done.

“I won't let you do this,” he stated quietly. Her eyes shone with surprise as she looked up at him. He said no more, instead walking over to her and stilling her wrinkled hands, kneeling in front of her.

“I won't let you do this,” he stated again, more determined this time.

“You must. It is my punishment,” she stated sadly.

“I do not care. I, I love you, Kagome.”

Her mouth dropped open, papery thin lips parting in shock. “You can't,” she said finally.

“I do. I care not for your appearance, only you. I regret not attempting to convince you further centuries ago. I was a fool.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she regarded him. This youkai was making himself vulnerable in front of her, proclaiming his love for her, and she could do nothing.

“I must finish it, Sesshoumaru. It wouldn't be fair to Asami-chan not to, I know she is looking forward to it. It...it would be selfish of both of us, especially me, to choose to stop my work. You are a youkai, Sesshoumaru-sama, and I am but a human cursed by the kami. I must finish my punishment and finally pass into the next life. I could not saddle you with a frail old woman when you are in the prime of you life. It is not meant to be.”

“I do not care whether it was meant to be or not. I love you and you are the only being I will ever love. You are the only one to have ever made me feel this way and I will NOT let you die,” he stated vehemently, desperation coloring his voice.

“There is nothing you can do, Sesshoumaru-sama, but let me finish my work and then let me go,” Kagome stated sadly, but resolutely. Her aged hand left his grasp and reached up to caress his face. He leaned into it instinctively, relishing in her touch. “I do wish we had met under different circumstances, Sesshoumaru-sama. Our love would have been great.”

“It is great,” he hissed, reaching one hand up to keep hers secured on his face. She remained resolute, and he knew he was fighting a losing battle. His throat felt as if a knot had taken up residence within it.

“What can I do for you? There must be something.”

“Let me finish this kimono for Asami-chan, and let us talk in the meantime. Tell me some stories, happy ones from your life as I work.”

He nodded in acquiescence and began. So they sat for another hour, Kagome steadily and silently sewing away and Sesshoumaru telling her of the mischief his grand-pups had gotten into over the years.

Finally, Kagome spoke up, “It is done.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes glistened. “There must be something else I can do for you, I will do anything.”

“It may be selfish of me to ask, but, can you stay with me until the end?” Her blue eyes did not meet his, preparing herself for rejection. For the entire duration of her curse, she had been prepared to die alone, but now the very thought of it bothered her.

The youkai stepped over to her and lifted her chin. Kagome's blue eyes were beginning to gather moisture. “Anything,” he repeated, leaning down and pressing his lips to her thin ones delicately.

Sesshoumaru held a hand out to Kagome and she took it. They did not head back to her futon, but to the entrance to her store. She looked at him questioningly.

“I want to show you something.”

He gathered her in his arms, bridal style, and formed his cloud beneath his feet. At this point, he could care less about people seeing him. There was no moon shining and the night was cloudy, but Kagome's blue orbs still shone with wonder at the view.

She reached up towards his ear and simply said, “Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I hope we meet again in the next life.”

He landed on his property as her chest rose and fell with her last breaths. As her chest remained still and the smile on her face froze, the youkai let out a mournful howl, letting the world know of the love he had just lost.

He gently laid her body on the ground near a beautiful sakura tree. Shutting her blue eyes for the last time, his own eyes began dripping out moisture. He stayed there kneeling beside her body, unmoving, until the sun rose. With the day's first light, he began digging her a grave with his bare hands in front of the sakura tree. It took until almost midday before she was buried, but Sesshoumaru ensured that she received a fitting burial. He mourned and occasionally wept until the sun once again dropped below the horizon. His love was gone, and there was no bringing her back.

oOo

Sesshoumaru remained very quiet and unsociable outside of family for months after Kagome's death. He never left the property except for work and Asami-chan's wedding, choosing instead to remain beneath the cherry tree. Everyone but Rin and Asami left him alone. They did not understand what had happened to him. He watched over the months as Asami swelled with pup and Rin doted over her. When he received the message one day that Asami was finally having her pup, he decided it was time to begin life once more. It had been twelve months to the day since his love left him. He shocked everyone by appearing at the hospital, though not even his new great-grandpup could bring more than a small smile to his face on this day.

Passing by a room filled with rows and rows of human babies, Sesshoumaru froze as one caught his attention. The most striking feature of the baby was her blue eyes. His keen vision narrowed in on her name tag. Higurashi Kagome.

For the first time in a year, he felt hope.  

oOo

~sniffs

I hope you all enjoyed, and please let me know what you think.

And remember to VOTE!! (see top of page for details)

~QuothTheDragon