The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Paints

Chapter 176 - The Paints

*Raison d'être* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Following the jeweler's directions, they easily located the paint store. It was an amazing shop, filled with just about every kind of craft supply one could think of, at least in the Feudal Era. The selection made Kagome begin to think that there were some things she really ought to bring from home before she left for the final time and decided that when she returned to the palace, she would have to make a list. She didn't want to deplete her mother's savings, however, and so she was determined to find a way to make some money of her own to use for such things.

"Alright. The first thing you'll need is an easel or something  similar to hold your canvas. Ugh, I don't even know if they have them in your time. Let's see. Where to start?" Kagome wandered around the large room and finally found something that would work. She didn't see a point in Seiko painting diagrams on expensive silk, so she located a thicker than usual paper that would be suitable. "This will do, and you won't need an easel. The pictures don't need to be too terribly large. Now, brushes."

Seiko was thrilled. He had never seen such an amazing selection of art supplies before, and he knew his life from that point on would be only about painting. He didn't think he could go back to torture after being given such a wonderful opportunity to show his skills and hoped that Lord Sesshoumaru would agree. His brother could handle the dungeons. He was better at extracting information anyway as he wasn't distracted by the quest to create something positive out of all that pain.

Perhaps if he did a good enough job, he could become the official painter at the Western Palace. He was already tempted to attempt to paint the new Lady. Her beauty was unrivaled, and she would be a wonderful source of inspiration. Maybe if he did so and presented it to Lord Sesshoumaru as a gift, he could live the dream he always had in the back of his mind, which was to be a real artist.

*Across the Borderline* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

The miko found an entire section devoted to brushes, and with Seiko's help, they selected one of every available size. A moment later, Kagome felt a tugging on her jacket and looked down to see Shippo gazing up at her wide-eyed.

"Can Rin and I get paints and brushes too?" he asked sweetly, his tone meant to melt her heart.

"Yes, of course you can," she replied with a smile, "but don't think it had anything to do with the puppy dog eyes. Paints are good for kids, so long as you only keep it on the paper and not anywhere else."

"Yes, Mama," both children said together, and the miko laughed.

"Alright then. More brushes."

After brushes, she added a great deal more paper to her order, knowing that the children would go through it much faster than Seiko. Finally, they came upon the inks and paints. By the time she was finished and looked over the counter she had been piling things on, she was blushing.

"I think we might have gone a little overboard," she said to Seiko and the children.

"Nonsense," Sesshoumaru chimed in. "If anything, you did not get enough paints. The children will run through it quickly." He turned to the shopkeeper and smirked. "Triple the amount of paints and paper, and have it all delivered to the palace."

"Yes, My Lord," the demon said with a low bow. "It will be there before your return."