Priceless (an InuYasha FanFic)

Rebuilding

When Kagome was forced to do her little fashion show, this time around, Izayoi had to practically shove Kagome out of the changing stall. Up until then, the clothes she had been modeling had at least covered her midriff and thighs. Standing there in the lacy bra and thin panties set, she felt way too exposed. It had been several weeks since she had last cut herself, and the only  noticeable scars left were from her attempt, and would probably be there for the rest of her life, but even though she knew they wouldn't be able to see the evidence on her abdomen or inner thighs, she knew there was no way to hide the long raged pink lines running up both of her forearms.

"C'mon Kags, pose! you know the drill by now, its only been 2 hours..." Ayame encouraged.

Kagome struck a half-hearted pose, and shrink back when she heard the girls collective gasp. Izayoi, of course, had already seen them, but for Sango and Ayame, the marks were a shock. Izayoi ushered a now teary Kagome back into the changing stall, and invited the other two to follow, so as to avoid any prying eyes.

Sango reached out to Kagome and pulled her into a warm hug. "What happened sweety?"

Kagome just sniffled. 

"Can I tell them?" Izayoi requested gently.

After a moment of hesitation, Kagome nodded her head which was currently burrowed into Sango's chest.

After the explanation, Ayame and Sango were silent. Sango continued rhythmically stroking Kagome's hair. She had only just met this girl today, but already the shy, caring, sweet young woman felt like a little sister to Sango and the fact that this girl had been pushed to the point of trying to end her life made Sango want to track down and slowly, painfully, murder whoever had made Kagome feel so helpless.

Ayame, on the other hand, was shocked for a different reason. Don't get me wrong, she had also fallen in love with the young human in the short time she had known her, and Ayame had a distinct feeling that there was a spice and a fire in the girl somewhere. However, Ayame, being a demoness herself, couldn't fathom what it must have been like for Sesshomaru, finally finding his mate, and finding her on the verge of death, at her own hands. She couldn't live without her mate Koga, and all she could visualize at the moment was how it would feel to find her mate trying to end his life. Ayame couldn't shake the depressing feeling, and Izayoi had to practically shake her out of her funk.

When the new information had settled, and Kagome had calmed down, Ayame insisted that the fitting continue. "You don't have to go outside, but you will try on ALL of these," Ayame said, in a no-nonsense tone, indicating the pile of lingerie on the bench in their little family changing room.

Kagome let out a shaky laugh. "Yes ma'am"

"That's the spirit," encouraged Sango.

The girls made their way through that pile and moved on. By the end of their time together, Kagome had two new best friends, and a fully stocked wardrobe consisting of everyday wear, house wear, Underwear, PJs, Formal clothing, Fancy clothing, two or three swimsuits with covers, shoes for all occasions, and a shimmery poison green and snow white cocktail dress that Ayame was particularly proud of finding. They had stopped by a salon to get Kagome pampered, and her hair trimmed, at which they also bought her the appropriate hair care products. They had also stopped by a grocery store to pick up the necessary feminine sanitary products, but I won't go into detail there... 

Kagome was dropped off at the apartment she now shared with Sesshomaru still riding the high that spending time with other females, and being pampered and paid attention to, had brought on. 

Sesshomaru met her in the lobby and bid farewell to his stepmother before walking his still beaming mate up to their apartment. Looking his little mate up and down, he decided that letting her go without him had been a good choice. She had needed the opportunity to get up on her own without using him as a crutch and he was proud of her for making it through the day without incident.