Helloooo, it's been so long since I last posted anything. I've been focusing on my classes a lot lately, though I am really sorry to have kept you all waiting. A lot of things have happened since the last update, the release of the new Noragami season Aragoto is one of them. Gaaah I haven't watched it yet.

Anyway, I hope you do enjoy this chapter.

Blessed Soul

Chapter three

Bishamon stopped her before she could bow again. "Tell me, Kagome-dono… How did you reach this place?" There wasn't anyone else with her and the goddess doubted she could have missed them if they had slipped away. The girl's appearance had been completely out of the blue, obviously she hadn't been expecting it either.

Kagome fiddled with the hem of her haori as she considered the question, despite still being in awe. She was in the presence of one of the most important gods in her religion, could anyone blame her? Still, her reply didn't take long.

"I think it was when I touched a hokora—" She paused when another man, this one much older than the other and far more prideful in the way he carried himself, joined in on the conversation. A young woman stood at his elbow, like the boy who stood near the blonde goddess. She felt different. Whereas the boy felt human and Bishamonten along with this new person had their own godly aura about them, the woman felt almost like… Goshinboku.

So she's a… tree?

"And that brought you here, yes?" At her nod he hummed. "I am Sugawara no Michizane. Your efforts in life were not lost on me." His eyes took a knowing gleam and Kagome ducked her head humbly in response, after picking her jaw up off the floor.

Now it was Bishamon who was confused, if her furrowed brows were anything to go by. "Efforts?" The woman quizzed and considered Kagome with a raised brow. The one in question didn't even get the chance to answer.

"Yes, the Jewel of Four Souls was vanquished by her." Michizane, known to Kagome as Tenjin, clarified, sounding a bit smug while he did so.

Now that seemed to shock the combat goddess. "You mean to say that she is the guardian of the Shikon? So young…" She looked younger than Kazuma. Of course, this meant she had perished at that age too.

"Um, yeah… That's me." The teen confirmed the statement lamely.

Tenjin chuckled. "The hokora you touched, it is yours, correct?"

Kagome nodded, not knowing what else to do.

"Then follow me." Bishamonten and Kagome exchanged glances at the commanding tone before both girls laughed and walked after the older man. The boy trailed after the blonde goddess, looking at Kagome when his gaze wasn't focused on the combat god. The black haired youth noticed his stare and wordlessly sidled up next to him when he wasn't looking. When his green eyes drifted to where she used to walk and found her gone, he blinked twice then turned his head woodenly to the side, spotting her next to him with a playful grin etched onto her face.

He jumped in fright and she snickered quietly at his startled expression. "What's your name?" She whispered, a smile still tugging on her lips. They walked side by side as the two gods in front of them prattled on and on about something or another.

The green eyed teen cast the pair a cautious glance before answering her in a low murmur. "Kazuma," He said it with a slight blush and another peek at the gods, or Bishamon if one desired to be specific. Kagome noticed and kept her giddy grin to herself. Oh that was so cute!

"That's a nice name," She commented and his blush only grew.

"Bishamon-sama gave it to me." Was his modest response. He saw her confused stare and elaborated, "I am Bishamon-sama's shinki…?" His statement trailed off into a question, Kagome still looked confused.

Divine treasure?

"A shinki is a spirit of a deceased human, a loose spirit that perished in an accident or was killed, that is chosen by a god to become a sacred tool," The black haired spirit raised a brow at the word tool. "Shinki have the ability to transform into an object for their god's usage, armor, weapons or something else reflecting the spirit's soul and the god's necessity." He was pretty good at explaining the new concept to her, reminding her of a certain monk with how patient he was.

"What can you turn into Kazuma-san, if you don't mind me asking?" Kagome asked while she kept pace with him, mindful of the cobblestone beneath her rice straw sandals. She didn't even want to think of how embarrassing it would be to trip in front of Kazuma, much less the pair of gods walking in front of them.

The girl flicked her gaze sideways and blinked. She didn't know it was possible for someone to turn that red in such a short time.

He's giving tomatoes a run for their money. Kagome bit her cheek to keep her giggles in. How could someone so mature look so cute?

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, it's ok." She reassured, hoping her question hadn't offended the kind brunet. She had no idea if asking that was disrespectful or not, maybe she should have kept her mouth shut…

Kazuma shook his head, feeling slightly embarrassed about his reaction to such a simple question. Then again, he wasn't sure how the cheery girl would react to what his transformation made him. He faced a lot of disapproval back at the shrine, solely because of the object he turned into. He didn't want the girl to look at him the same way Bishamon's guidepost did.

He pursed his lips to steel himself. And then he finally answered in those soft tones of his, "I… am a, well… I pierce Bishamon-sama's right ear…"

Kagome nodded in understanding, "You're an earring then, right? I used to wear tiny purple ones," She pulled a few locks of ebony hair to reveal her ear, which had a small incision in the center of the lobe. Kazuma blinked owlishly at it and then looked at the girl. "The piercing should still be there, I think. I lost my earrings a long time ago though."

She shrugged. It didn't bother her anymore, it had been her mistake for bringing them over in those first weeks in the past… That was as she'd said, a long time ago.

Kazuma was still caught off guard by her words however… and still pretty shocked about her ear it seemed. Kagome often forgot about the seemingly minor differences there were between her birth era and this one. Earrings, for example, weren't the norm. Miroku had three piercings on his left ear, but that was because of his monk status. Or was it? She hadn't really asked.

"I am a nail… Kagome-san." He avoided her gaze by looking to the front. "A small one, that directs Bishamon-sama to her targets in combat."

His mind replayed his senior shinki's words. "How shameful, to pierce our lady goddess' body in such a way." The old woman had said before turning her nose up at him and leaving. It had been an unpleasant event, as many of his lady goddess' shinki were present. It had been fortunate that Bishamon was not there herself.

"That's amazing Kazuma-san! Bishamon-sama must be very happy to have you with her." Copper hair swished as Kazuma shook his head bashfully. While he did so, Kagome saw a small leather band gathering the back of his hair in a low ponytail that brushed the back of his neck.

The teen stopped walking suddenly and quickly held out an arm to keep her from going further and bumping into the pair in front of them. The shiro that she'd seen upon arrival was bigger than she'd thought. The whole time they were walking alongside the perimeter until they reached the gate to the massive construction. The gate itself was impressive, a tori tall enough for her to compare it to Sesshōmaru in his true form.

Bishamon beckoned her over. "Kagome-dono, this is the place where gods hold meetings and assemblies, gods' council. It is also the place newly born gods go to be recognized as such in the heavens." The group walked directly into the courtyard and veered to the left towards a smaller building. No one took their shoes off when they stepped onto the gleaming wood floor and Kagome had to keep her sandals on after an unsure look to the gods and the mysterious woman with them. They didn't notice. But when she sought Kazuma's eyes the boy gave her a small, but encouraging smile. He understood her hesitance at the very least.

It took a few steps down the hall to reach an inconspicuous sliding door, which Michizane's shinki –Kagome assumed that was what the woman was to the scholar god- pushed aside with a flick of the wrist.

"Michizane-sama, Bishamonten-sama, welcome." Two kimono-ed young ladies with charcoal colored hair pulled up in identical buns adorned with delicate kanzashi bowed deep at the waist in greeting, allowing them passage into the room. They closed the screen after them and sat down on either side of the doors.

Low desks were scattered all across the room, each with a mountain of scrolls balanced precariously on their surface while their owners continued writing with well calculated brushstrokes. It looked like a feudal office building, to her. Bishamon led her to one of them.

"Business?" The man behind the desk asked, not looking up from his work. He, like the rest of them, was garbed in blue haori and dark blue hakama with his hair pulled up in a topknot.

"Newborn," Bishamon answered in an equally stale tone. Kagome felt a pang in her stomach. The blonde said this was where new gods went to get acknowledged by the heavens, so why were they there? It couldn't be for her… right?

The man cleared his throat awkwardly, peering at the goddess fearfully before reaching for a blank parcel and writing a few things down with the recently dipped brush.

"Name?"

"Kagome." Michizane spoke, and Kagome felt a knot tie itself in her throat.

The man faltered in his writing before he set the brush down. He stood up with a murmured "one moment" and hastily strode over to another desk in the far corner of the room. He whispered something to the woman there. Both of them looked at Kagome, who met their stare with a raised brow, in spite of the dread she was feeling. They turned away quickly and she snickered, feeling some of her tension slip away.

The man came back carrying two neatly tied scrolls in his arms. Kazuma stepped up this time and took them, blushing at the blonde's nod of approval. Kagome kept her smile to herself.

Business concluded, the man once again knelt behind his desk and they left the room. It was until they left the room and the palace entirely that Kazuma turned to her. She looked at him questioningly and gaped when he bowed deeply at her, presenting her with the scrolls they'd just received.

"I, shinki of the goddess of combat, Bishamonten-sama, present these scrolls to you, Kagome-kami-sama. With these you gain the title of deity and are welcomed into the Heavens." He didn't show a hint of a stammer. It was with stupefied reluctance that Kagome slowly took the rolled parchment from his outstretched hands. She swallowed thickly, wondering what to say. The girl looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Welcome, Kagome-dono." Bishamon patted her shoulder and smiled kindly at her. The goddess then directed that smile to her copper haired shinki, who stood straighter with her eyes on him. He rubbed at his temple nervously before settling his hands at his sides.

Michizane chuckled, "Keep yourself out of trouble, hm?" He tapped on Kagome's forehead with his closed fan before departing, the woman right behind him every step of the way.

The rest of them watched him leave in silence, then they turned to stare at the new goddess. Kazuma gave the scrolls in her hand a meaningful glance and she unfurled the first one with a start.

Kagome cleared her throat and read the parchment out loud for the pair left to hear. "The Heavens have officially decreed that the former mortal Kagome Higurashi, human guardian in life of the Shikon Jewel, is now a god of mid rank with the formal title of "Shikon no Kami" and name remaining as it was. Should it be claimed otherwise, refer to this scroll… Well that was kind of short wasn't it?"

Bishamon laughed. "Do not expect much from the next one, it will be of a similar and unimpressive length." Kagome snorted with a shake of her head and unfurled the second scroll.

"Resident Registration, addressed to "Shikon no Kami, Kagome". I, servant of the Heavens testify the recipient's registration in the name of God. The recipient is now recognized as a resident of Takamagahara, along with any shinki under their care."

The pair watched the girl squint at the end of the sentence. "I'm a resident of… what now? What…" Bishamon took the girl by the arm then and held her hand out for Kazuma to take. "I will show you, hold on for a moment." And then they vanished in a flash of light.

"…and that is why no one should wake Sesshōmaru up from his nap. Ever. Only Rin can." Shippo finished his tale with a firm nod and a grin to his audience. The twins giggled while their parents chuckled at the abrupt end to the fox's mischief-riddled anecdote. He'd always been a good storyteller, though usually his tales were accompanied by a set of drawings the kit made himself.

Sango tilted her head toward her husband, "I didn't know Sesshōmaru took naps." She whispered in astonishment. Miroku chuckled.

"But you did, Shippo-onii-san!" Moeka said between snickers and her sister nodded beside her, "And you're still alive!" She gushed. The redhead puffed his chest out, nose in the air and tails waving behind him.

"Of course, I am the Mighty Shippo! My craftiness is legendary." He told them, fangs gleaming with the light from the fire pit. A fly decided that was the opportune moment to land on his cheek.

"Blegh!" That was way too close to his mouth for the kit's comfort. He sputtered and waved his hands in a frenzy to ward off the buzzing insect. It perched on his nose and he went cross-eyed in an effort to keep it in his sight. Miroku shook his head at the youngster, who was rather occupied with swatting the pest away.

When the boy fell back on his rump, the twins launched themselves at him. Nanako played with his tails while Moeka entertained herself with the kitsune's pointed ears. Sango warned her daughters not to tug too hard, lest they invoke the Mighty Shippo's wrath. "It takes more than two little girls to take me down Sango!" came Shippo's muffled declaration, his face pressed against the floor since Nanako was sitting on his back. The slayer laughed at the sight.

He tried squirming away from the twins by transforming in a puff of smoke into his pink balloon form. They refused to let go and climbed on top of him. He transformed again, this time just to amuse them. They laughed at the pop-eyed chicken he'd morphed into.

Soon it was time for the girls to go to bed and Sango as well according to Miroku. The monk helped his pregnant wife up and into the bedroom. Shippo walked behind them; Nanako on his back and Moeka hanging onto him with her arms around his neck. He was straining to keep her from falling off when Miroku stepped in. He carefully took his daughters from the fox, who sagged thankfully in response. The girls were changed into a plain white sleeping yukata and their hair was let loose from the small side ponytail it was gathered in. Sango had already changed, fast despite her round stomach impeding much more movement than that.

Shippo stood awkwardly by the doorway. One of his tails curled and coiled around his leg, the other swished and swayed, telling of his fretfulness. To leave or not to leave. That was the question. He asked himself, imitating one of the plays Kagome had at one point read to him, fearing the answer if he voiced it out loud. It didn't occur to him that they thought of him as family. That slipped his mind conveniently at the moment, leaving him to shuffle his feet somewhat uncomfortably in the entrance of the room.

"Onii-san…" Nanako patted the space on the futon between her and Moeka. Sango smiled and nodded when he looked to her for permission. In two hops he was nestled comfortably. Less than a minute later, the girls were using him as a pillow. He hummed contentedly before descending into the land of dreams.

The minor shadows didn't dare near the hut, not with Miroku's wards in place nor Kagome's own aura lingering on the very ground it was built on. Shippo woke up many times that night, a growl in his throat and a glare narrowing his glowing green eyes to slits. He could feel them slithering outside, a few of the bigger ones venturing far too close.

The young fox slid out from beneath the covers and leapt onto the windowsill. He could see them easily, his advanced eyesight picking them apart from regular shadows. One of them was slithering like a gigantic snake around the hut. It had bulbous yellow eyes all over its body and large fangs jutting out from its oddly shaped jaw. It hadn't spotted him yet, despite all of the glowing irises along its length. The shadow's mouth opened a few times, but only one word seemed to escape its maw.

"D… ie… die… die…" It garbled in a repetitive hiss.

He breathed in deeply through his nose to calm his heartbeat. Sesshōmaru was training him; he had trained him for nearly five years already. And other yōkai were training him too, kitsune like himself. One last calming breath and he held his hand out. Shippo focused on calling his fox fire to his hand. The blaze burned a bright blue on his palm before spreading outwards to his fingertips.

Flames morphed into glowing orbs. He flicked them off with the tip of his claws one by one, sending them straight towards the gloom. He winced at the shriek he got in response, but didn't waste time in getting rid of it. He watched as its long body burst into flames before vanishing. The rest of them scattered, the death of one of their own making them flee. The dark forest hid them well.

They didn't come back out.

"Hmph." Shippo gave a piercing look in the direction they'd gone before going back to the futon. He caught Miroku's eye on the way. He nodded his head in thanks and pulled Sango closer to him before going back to sleep. The fox followed the man's lead and was asleep before his head even hit the pillow.

It was dawn when he opened his eyes again and he found himself crouched on the windowsill once more. The redhead scanned the area for a trace of the gloom and thankfully found none. Since he was already awake, he hopped off to catch breakfast. It was the least he could do for the family who'd accepted him into their home with open arms.

Sango watched him go through half-lidded eyes. "He's grown up," She murmured, feeling her husband wrap his arms around her middle. "He is still growing, dear one." He whispered back, "And we can only guide him while he does."

And that's all for this chapter :)

What'd you think? Any questions? Are you keeping up with Noragami manga? ;) let me know if anything seemed off, please~!

Thank you all for your continued support. I like answering questions in chapters, rather than specific written replies, hopefully that doesn't discourage any possible doubts!

G'night y'all.