First Rites by doggieearlover
Summary: It is autumn in the Feudal Era and time for the annual Shichi Go San celebration.
Categories: Drabbles, Romance > InuYasha/ Kagome Characters: Inu Yasha, Kagome Higurashi
Challenges: None
Series: Confessions of Two Hearts
Chapters: 1 Completed: Yes Word count: 305 Read: 3031 Published: 15 Nov 2008 Updated: 15 Nov 2008
Story Notes:
This was written for First Tweak. The prompt was Shichi Go San and the requirement was that it be a drabble (300 words or less)

1. First Rites by doggieearlover

First Rites by doggieearlover
Author's Notes:
Shichi Go San (Seven Five Three) - Japanese celebration for girls age three and seven and boys aged three and five to pray for good health and growth. The observance takes place on November 15th, though when the date falls during the week it is usually on the weekend before or after since it is not a national holiday. Children of that age are dressed in their finest and taken to a Shinto Shrine. Boys age five wear hakama in public for the first time, and girls age seven are given a traditional obi to replace the simple cords they wear until that time. Girls age three wear a special padded vest called a hifu with their kimono. After the ceremony they are given a bag with a crane and turtle on it, which represents long life, which contains three, five, or seven pieces of Chitose ame (thousand years candy). It is a long thin red and white candy stick that represents longevity. The practice was started by the nobility during the Heian Period, but by the Edo period the custom had spread to the commoners.


First Rites


"I don't know why I'm so nervous. I've done this before," Kagome commented.

"It's your first time to do it alone, though," InuYasha speculated.

She nodded in agreement. "I just wish Kaede hadn't fallen ill."

"It couldn't be helped," InuYasha said, uneasily twitching his ear. "Come on. It's not a good idea to make them wait."

The young priestess anxiously ran her hands down her sides one last time and walked with her husband to the shrine.

Her fears vanished as the first participants in the day's celebration approached her. Miroku was dressed in his robes while Sango was dressed in a kimono, carrying their son. However, what really made her smile were the two formally dressed little girls. The twins had turned three this year, and Kagome's first solo ceremony as a miko was to pray with the family for the toddlers to grow into healthy children. The only hitch in the ritual had been when the girls spotted InuYasha, cried, "Doggy!" and ran towards him. Miroku had to chase them down and carry them back.

The rest of the day was pleasant and uneventful. The villagers who had children the ages of three, five and seven came throughout the day, bringing offerings to the shrine as Kagome said prayers with them while InuYasha watched from nearby.


"I can't believe everyone actually came," InuYasha commented when the day was over.

"Why?" Kagome asked.

The hanyou remained silent, but his eyes fell on the swell of her abdomen.

"You were afraid..."

He nodded.

She rubbed her belly. "InuYasha, we're married. They knew this was bound to happen."

"That doesn't mean they have to like it," he whispered.

Kagome replied, "They understand that we were meant to be together."

The hanyou shyly smiled. Even he had begun to believe in fate.

 

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