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The boat glided gently through the calm river waters on the moonless night, its three occupants saying nary a word as they headed downstream to their destination. A Kappa that you normally couldn't get to shut up under the best of circumstances guided their craft through the waters at the stern, while a Taiyoukai that was normally silent most of the time anyways stood with his hands folded within his haori at the center of the boat, watchful eyes scanning the horizons for any threat of danger. Finally on the bow rested his mate of nine months, her belly swollen with the first of what he hoped would be many offspring to come.
She had talked at length about the current season of holy days that people and cultures from around the world had shared in celebration of during this time of year from the lands she had come from, regaling him with descriptions of traditions and traits that marked their calendar observances. One in particular had caught his attention as it rang a bell in his memories and he had prepared a surprise for his mate, something he intended to become their own special tradition that he would share together with his mate and eventually his kids on an annual tradition.
They arrived at the shoreline where he was taking her close to midnight, perhaps twenty minutes yet to spare before the show began. Gingerly he helped Kagome to stand as Jaken secured the craft, then Sesshomaru lifted her into his arms and hopped deftly off the craft onto shore before gently setting her down.
"Thanks! Where are we?" Kagome asked uncertainly while glancing around. It looked like a normal forest in front of them past the shore of the expansive river. But even as she looked a shimmering appeared in front of her as a humanoid emerged from what she immediately recognized as a barrier.
A beautiful woman clad in simple attire made from leather and animal furs stepped forwards and bowed to Sesshomaru and then in turn to her before standing straight and addressing her mate.
"Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome, welcome! You've arrived in time to witness our annual spectacle. Please, come join me for the time of the hatching has arrived," the woman stated before turning and gesturing towards the barrier.
"Lady Variance is a Druid of the Deep Forest my Lady Kagome, don't worry she will treat the two of you as if you were newly planted tree saplings," stated Jaken after noticing her hesitancy. Sesshomaru threw him a quick glance, signifying both a small measure of gratitude mixed in with an order to stay behind and watch the boat as he placed a hand at the small of his mate's back and guided the two of them inside the barrier.
Once inside Kagome let out a small gasp as waves of demonic energy rolled over her. The normal trees of the forest, an illusion created by the barrier, were replaced by tall and healthy trees of an obvious demonic nature. Each tree had hundreds of seed pods lining their branches and an immediate though of Togenkyo came to Kagome's mind as she placed a hand over her mouth to stop from throwing up.
"These trees serve an important step in the life and death of all creatures buried in these lands. Usually when humans, demons, and anything in between perish their souls will move onto the afterlife, however sometimes something keeps them here in these lands, attachments such as regret, anger, love. Sometimes these sentiments give birth to a new demon but other times said spirits will wander the lands until coming to within a certain distance of this grove. The trees will then call to said soul and absorb it, leeching onto those lingering feelings and absorbing them for nutrients. Then, once a year, the absorbed souls will be released, newly purified and able to move into the afterlife, lingering no more," explained Variance while gesturing to the trees.
"Then, the tree at Togenkyo...," Kagome whispered aloud, catching Variance's attention.
"Ah yes, the wayward sapling, I had heard tales whispered amongst the trees here. These groves over the course of the purification contain and hoard immense amounts of demonic energy, which calls to and attracts other demons, hence the barrier and my task to tending this grove. Togenkyo belonged to another grove that was discovered, attacked, and destroyed. The sapling survived by latching onto a avian demon like a parasite, eventually ending atop that fateful mountain where it attracted the attention of that foolish man seeking any path to becoming a sage. But come now, the time for the ceremony is at hand," explained Variance while placing one finger to her lips signaling silence as she backed away from the two of them.
Kagome's eyes widened as the pods sprouted open, releasing thousands of souls that, for the moment, stayed right where they were in the branches as they released a multitude of colors, covering the full rainbow palette as the various lingering emotions were fully expelled from their corrupting influence. The visual effect was watching some twenty large trees suddenly lite up like a Christmas Tree with strings of lights that changed colors while blinking on and off. It was magically beautiful and tears formed in Kagome's eyes as memories of a home and time that she would never again witness came to mind.
Then, the souls all started ascending, passing through the barrier and then almost becoming one as they reached the skyline and disappeared into the heavens above. The grove returned to a state of near darkness save for the starlight and Kagome turned to her husband as he allowed her hand to clasp the back of his neck and pull his head down into a passionate kiss. When they broke contact Kagome rested her head on his chest, mindful of his armor spikes, as she whispered.
"Thanks Sesshomaru, that was the best Christmas Gift ever."