After the Mask (Secret of the cursed mask game sequel)

Part 2

A few days later I sit at the pond with some iced tea and lunch. There isn't much to do today as it's incredibly hot. People would be mad to go out today and that's the reason why I sit here in the shade.

I glance towards our cat who is curled up in the sun on top of a rock nearby. "How can you not be bothered Kiko?" I say while wiping a drop of sweat away from my forehead. As expected, he just ignores me entirely. I throw a piece of fish at him, which lands smack dab in front of his face. His nose twitches and lo and behold, he's wide awake.

Rolling my eyes I take a sip of my drink, feeling the cold liquid slide down my throat soothingly. I turn my eyes towards the koi swimming circles in the rather large pond when something catches my eye, making me nearly choke. Rubbing my eyes I take a double take. He's still there. Am I dreaming, heat stroke maybe?

There Sesshomaru is, in the reflection of the water, right next to the bridge. I strain to look closer as the ripples in the pond blur the image. It's like he could be sitting right by the pond, his eyes closed in relaxation. Why isn't it fading away?

I silently stand up and take a step closer. No change. Carefully I creep even closer, afraid that he'll disappear if I'm being too loud. My eyes grow wider as the reflection remains and I pinch myself, just in case I'm dreaming again. No, I definitely felt that.

Soon I stand right next to the spot where he would be sitting, my reflection in the pond is right beside him. My heart pounds heavily and I swallow hard when I reach out a hand next to me while still looking at the reflection. It's cold, like the wind that sometimes passes through.

Suddenly his eyes open, looking straight at me. Stepping back in shock I hear the cat call out in pain as I step on his tail. "Kiko!" I step off quickly but place my foot on a loose rock. It gives way, making me trip and fall with my behind first into the pond.

I submerse completely while swallowing water from the shock. In reaction I wave my arms around wildly, searching for the surface.

Suddenly a large hand clasps around my wrist and pulls me up. I gasp and cough as air is able to reach my lungs again. My upper body is pulled out before the hand lets go. Grasping hard onto the grass I cough some more.

When I finally am able to breathe normally again I look tiredly ahead of me to see black old-fashioned shoes and white pants. I blink in confusion before looking up. My eyes squint at the harsh sunlight before the person moves a bit to block the sun. I gasp at what I see, or rather who. Sesshomaru himself, in the flesh, is standing right in front of me.

"S-sesshomaru?" Pulling myself out of the water completely I take a moment to look around and smile widely. "I can't believe it, I'm back." Suddenly a heavy dizzy spell hits me. "Oh no." is all I can bring out before I fall over out cold.

..........

When I wake up it's morning, judging from the light that flows in from the opened lattice shutter. Wait a minute...

I sit up quickly and look around the room. My mouth drops open in awe. I was sleeping in a futon on a tatami matted floor. It's not a small room considering that this is the Feudal era. On the far end of the room stands a decorative folding screen and all around the room, other ornamental objects can be found. There is also a small table with a cushion to sit on.

Standing up I notice my priestess outfit lying neatly next to the futon so I glance down to see what I'm wearing. It's a simple yukata to sleep in. I can't help but wonder how I got into that.

I shuffle towards the open shutter and look outside to see a grand garden and some of the outside of the rest of the building. Judging from what I can see and what I read before, this must be a house in the Shinden Zukuri style. It's a housing style reserved for the higher class.

I'm pulled out of my fascination of the architecture by a voice just outside the sliding screens. "Miss, are you up?"

"Huh, yes. I am." I quickly answer.

The door slides open and a lady enters after bowing. "Miss, may I help you get ready for breakfast?"

"Huh? Oh, of course. Thank you." I say reminding my manners and etiquette. She gets up and takes a nice furisode kimono out of a cabinet. It's a royal blue with many petals on the bottom and the sleeves. She helps me put it on.

"May I ask where I am?" I ask, dying to know.

"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know since you were unconscious when lord Sesshomaru brought you here. You are at his home."

My eyes widen. "Since when has he got palace like this?" I nearly balk in amazement. He was always wandering around. Did he decide to settle?

The woman chuckles. "He just had it build two years ago."

"No kidding." I breathe in awe.

She finishes tying the obi when the door slides open with a rush. "Kaname! It's really you! You're back." yells a young girl before rushing in and glomping me. I fall over before I can stop myself.

I can't help but laugh as I hug Rin back. The woman laughs too before scolding Rin for her behavior. "Hello Rin. It's been so long." I greet her.

Letting go she sits beside me. "It's been years. What happened?" she wonders, looking up at me with those innocent brown eyes of hers.

"I really wanted to come back sooner, but I was never able to find a way. I'm not sure what happened though, that made me able to come here." I explain.

She bounces up and down happily. "I'm really glad that you did though."

I smile at her and look her over. "Wow Rin, you've grown a lot." She grins happily. She must be eleven years now.

The woman butts in, "I'm sorry to interrupt the reunion, but breakfast is waiting." I nod in understanding, still not quite believing that this is Sesshomaru's place or that he brought me here for a matter of fact. Why did he do that?

Standing up I straighten my kimono before walking out the door with Rin, following after the woman. "Say, what is your name?" I ask her.

"My name is Suki. I'm the head maid here." she smiles pleasantly while speaking. She reminds me a bit of an aunt of mine.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kaname Kururigi." I introduce myself. She nods in recognition before stopping beside a door. She slides it open for us.

Rin takes my hand and drags me forward before motioning me to sit. As the food is brought out I look around questioningly. "Hey Rin, where are Sesshomaru and Jaken?"

"They are out for a while, but I'm sure they will be back soon." she explains to me. I nod at this. It's a bit awkward being here without those two around, but luckily Rin doesn't stay silent for long. She asks what I did while I was gone, so I tell her about school and my work as a shrine maiden.

"Wow, you must be really smart after so many years of school. It sounds fun." she breathes, on the edge of her seat.

I just shrug. "Trust me, after the excitement here, everything in the present just seemed rather boring. So you can't imagine how glad I am to be back."

Suddenly I can see an idea pop into Rin's head. "Hey, could you teach me some of the things you learned?"

I look at her surprised, "Huh?"

She blinks in return. "What is it?"

I giggle, "I just never saw someone your age so thrilled to be schooled. Most youngsters at home rather stay home and play games these days."

She smiles brightly, "But it's okay right?"

I nod. "Well sure, if Sesshomaru doesn't mind."

She cheers at this, clearly over the moon. "Then we'll ask him as soon as he gets back!"