Curiosity Caught the Miko by Stella Mira

That Was Quick

If someone had told Kagome how things would turn out after Kōga's last visit a month ago, she would have laughed in their face and called them delusional. Instead, all she could do now was close her gaping mouth and focus her attention on the baby boy napping in her arms. She rocked the clothed bundle, making soft lulling sounds at the infant while she cast surreptitious glances toward the couple a few feet away. She couldn't catch their conversation due to her weak human hearing, but her eyes told her clearly what was happening.

I can't believe Inuyasha would go for a wolf after his constant whining on how bad they smell or how annoying they are. Kagome was partly amused and partly annoyed at her hanyō friend.

Kōga had come to meet Rin's newborn son and brought a gift – as was common courtesy – a few weeks ago, but he hadn't come with Ginta and Hakkaku as usual. Instead, a female ōkami had accompanied him. She had introduced herself as Kamiko and had taken an immediate liking to the brusque hanyō. Kagome hadn't paid much attention since she never expected Inuyasha to respond warmly to the wolf's attempts, but she had been thoroughly mistaken. If she wanted to be honest, she had enjoyed seeing the female wolf challenging the hanyō to a duel for his…hand.

Kōga had explained to her that female ōkami were more assertive and competitive and liked to test a potential mate's strength before they made a final choice. The miko didn't find this strange considering Ayame had practically mauled Kōga in her fervent pursuit of him. Still, she hadn't expected Inuyasha would lose the match or that he would be interested in the wolf's claim. As it turned out, she had been flat out wrong; not only had the hanyō allowed Kamiko to one up him, but he was also actively chasing after her on his own.

The initial shock had faded away after the first week, but the miko still felt a light pang of hurt at seeing Inuyasha moving on without her. She knew this would happen one day, but she hadn't expected it so soon. Kagome had realized that even though she claimed to have given up on him, she always carried a little bit of hope in her heart, much to her dismay. This new development gave her the last push she needed to finally let go once and for all. Inuyasha would never be hers and he deserved to be happy. If the wolf lady was the one for him then Kagome would give her consent with a radiant smile on her face. She really didn't like seeing Inuyasha's guilty expression whenever Kamiko visited. It reminded her too much of past occasions – memories she did not want to dwell on.

Exhaling a long sigh, Kagome watched the sleeping baby with a warm smile. Babysitting for Chizukirō had been her only comfort lately. She never had to mince her words or be careful of her actions around the tiny creature and she was greatly thankful for that small favor. She traced the smoothness of his cheek with a finger, mindful not to wake him, when the familiar yōki of his godfather infiltrated her senses. Sesshōmaru had been her only other comfort – which was ridiculous but utterly true. He came, brought presents, held Rin's son for an hour, then left – only to appear again after a few days and repeat the same routine.

"Greetings, Sesshōmaru," Kagome whispered with a small bow of her head in his direction.

The daiyōkai acknowledged her with a curt nod. "Miko." Then his attention was drawn to the same couple Kagome had been secretly watching not so long ago.

"Inuyasha will mate the ōkami soon." Sesshōmaru's comment was casual, but his eyes gleamed with edge.

"M-mate? How can you tell? They've only just started going out." Despite shock suffusing her core, Kagome kept her voice hushed, rocking Chizukirō lightly.

The daiyōkai glanced at her with confusion after her peculiar wording, and Kagome laughed softly. She tried to explain, reminding herself that he was not accustomed with her weird expressions as Rin was.

"I meant that they have only begun courting? Is this an appropriate term for yōkai? In my time, couples usually wait to get to know each other better before they get married…erh, mated."

"Courting, yes." His chin dipped once. "Each yōkai clan has its own individual courting process. The ōkami seems to be the dominant in this case however. Their courtship period is short and simple. They begin by testing the strength of a potential mate. If they find their partner acceptable they proceed with scent marking and the mating ritual. It appears the ōkami has already scent marked the hanyō."

Kagome stared at him, perplexed, attempting to make sense of this weird courtship practice. "But…surely they must love each other if they decide to bind themselves together forever, right?"

"Not all matings are based on the emotion you call love, miko. My sire is a prime example of that." It was drenched in apathy, too blunt, even for Sesshōmaru's standards, as if this discussion was a tedious matter. But Kagome could see the clenching of his jaw after the mention of his father.

"Did your father not mate your mother out of love?" Kagome dared ask since he had brought up the matter on his own. She really prayed the daiyōkai would finally grace her with an answer as she had been seething with curiosity for many months now.

Silence stretched between them. When Sesshōmaru spoke, his voice was heavy, his gaze heavier. "I do not know."

Kagome was well aware of what that heaviness meant. Sadness.