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Description
Okay, here it is. I have been working on this from the moment I heard about the contest, which was the first day! It’s taken me forever, but considering this is only the third fan art I’ve ever done… I think it’s fair to say that I’m getting better.

Now, I know I probably won’t be able to win this, because there are some really amazing entries so far but I couldn’t just give up after I’d spent so much time on it. And maybe I can get runner up, or something like that… oh well. I did the best I could, and that’s all there is to it!

For the explanation. If you are a fan of then I think you will appreciate this!

First, I would like to address the overall style of the piece. I am a big fan of the InuYasha animation. It is the first anime show I'd ever seen and I will always enjoy it. I know that some people think it's too simple and that this lacks originality. But as the theoretical cover for this simply amazing fanfic, I thought that staying true to the animation was important - for the sake of familiarity.

There are some incredible entries so far that just blow mine out of the water - but this is what I know, this is what I like, in short: this is what I've done. I have spent entirely too much time on this, and given myself so many migraines that I'm on three new prescriptions and in a permanent state of pain. But I think it was rather worth it.

Second, I am aware that Kagome looks like Kikyou. But there is a reason for this. If you remember chapter 10, when she looks in the mirror and screams because it’s Kikyou that’s looking back – I picture Resmiranda’s Kagome looking more like what we think of traditional Kikyou. She’s older, sadder, and more jaded. (Like Kikyou!) But it's not Kikyou, its Kagome. Note the bangs and the little sliver of hair in front of her ear (as is typical of Kagome) instead of the straight bangs and hair that falls in front of Kikyou’s ear.

But in the picture of her on the back cover, there is the hair in front of her ear. And now you're all confused and like, Ash - WTF, right? Well, the reason for that because this is how Kagome looks when she is being depicted as really beautiful. If you don't believe me, go watch the episode where she decides to stay with InuYasha after the whole Kikyou thing. She's sitting on the well, and the wind blows her hair, and she's all - pretty? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. And so that is why she's got the hair in that one, but not for the cover!! (Here ends the hair saga.)

Anyways... If you look real closely, (it’s easier for me because I have this in like the crazy big original) there is scarring on the knuckles of Kagome’s hand. And I think we all know the significance of that! If you notice, she is also is wearing the traditional miko outfit, because that’s what she spends much of the fic in. But I changed the color to the green of her school outfit because the last chapter and to distinguish her from Kikyou.

Third, I choose to have Sesshoumaru holding no swords, in honor of the first time Kagome sees him. Also, his new armor, lacking pelt, and spiffy new outfit are all derived from the same famous fire scene from chapter 6. God I love this fic! Just describing my art makes me want to go back and re-read it for like a fifth time!

“Missing from his right shoulder was the enormous, fluffy pelt; the loss of the pelt made him look smaller, even a little naked. The armor that she had always seen him wear was also replaced with more form-fitting metal, and with armor for both arms instead of only one. They sat close to his shoulders, heavy and unadorned, and around his waist the patterned obi remained, though his swords were missing. Almost as an afterthought, she noticed that he had both arms again. She wondered how long it had taken for him to heal.

All in all, he didn't look much different except for one thing, but that one thing struck Kagome in a way that brought home all that had happened to him, and to herself, in the intervening years. It was like a punch to the stomach - just a little thing - and she wouldn't have even known its significance if she had not been so studious.

It was his kimono. He still wore white clothing, but the flower pattern that had always graced his shoulders and sleeves were gone. In its place was a simple splash of indigo; the color of royalty without a crest.

Sesshoumaru was a king without a kingdom.”

Forth, on the back cover, I included the image of him and her and if you look closely, there is an otherworldly bridge behind them. And if you will also notice, Kagome in on the side that faces the light. This is meaningful from the fic but I’m not going to flat out say it!

Finally, the image on the right is the front cover, like an English Language book. Then there is the spine in the middle, and the back cover is all the way to the left. Okay, I think that about explains it all… I know this was long but I put a lot of thought into this and I’m really proud of it. I hope you all like it and my reasons for everything!

One last thing… this is dedicated to my cat, Twinkle. She’s passed out next to my computer as I’m writing this. She was there at 4 in the morning, nuzzling me awake then I’d fallen asleep working on this. She was also there to provide a much needed distraction when I thought I’d never finish this. She’s the only one that doesn’t complain about my obsessive tendencies!!

- Ash

Disclaimer: Sesshoumaru and Kagome are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, and all 741 glorious pages of Tales From the House of the Moon are the intelectual property of

Description
Okay, here it is. I have been working on this from the moment I heard about the contest, which was the first day! It’s taken me forever, but considering this is only the third fan art I’ve ever done… I think it’s fair to say that I’m getting better.

Now, I know I probably won’t be able to win this, because there are some really amazing entries so far but I couldn’t just give up after I’d spent so much time on it. And maybe I can get runner up, or something like that… oh well. I did the best I could, and that’s all there is to it!

For the explanation. If you are a fan of then I think you will appreciate this!

First, I would like to address the overall style of the piece. I am a big fan of the InuYasha animation. It is the first anime show I'd ever seen and I will always enjoy it. I know that some people think it's too simple and that this lacks originality. But as the theoretical cover for this simply amazing fanfic, I thought that staying true to the animation was important - for the sake of familiarity.

There are some incredible entries so far that just blow mine out of the water - but this is what I know, this is what I like, in short: this is what I've done. I have spent entirely too much time on this, and given myself so many migraines that I'm on three new prescriptions and in a permanent state of pain. But I think it was rather worth it.

Second, I am aware that Kagome looks like Kikyou. But there is a reason for this. If you remember chapter 10, when she looks in the mirror and screams because it’s Kikyou that’s looking back – I picture Resmiranda’s Kagome looking more like what we think of traditional Kikyou. She’s older, sadder, and more jaded. (Like Kikyou!) But it's not Kikyou, its Kagome. Note the bangs and the little sliver of hair in front of her ear (as is typical of Kagome) instead of the straight bangs and hair that falls in front of Kikyou’s ear.

But in the picture of her on the back cover, there is the hair in front of her ear. And now you're all confused and like, Ash - WTF, right? Well, the reason for that because this is how Kagome looks when she is being depicted as really beautiful. If you don't believe me, go watch the episode where she decides to stay with InuYasha after the whole Kikyou thing. She's sitting on the well, and the wind blows her hair, and she's all - pretty? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. And so that is why she's got the hair in that one, but not for the cover!! (Here ends the hair saga.)

Anyways... If you look real closely, (it’s easier for me because I have this in like the crazy big original) there is scarring on the knuckles of Kagome’s hand. And I think we all know the significance of that! If you notice, she is also is wearing the traditional miko outfit, because that’s what she spends much of the fic in. But I changed the color to the green of her school outfit because the last chapter and to distinguish her from Kikyou.

Third, I choose to have Sesshoumaru holding no swords, in honor of the first time Kagome sees him. Also, his new armor, lacking pelt, and spiffy new outfit are all derived from the same famous fire scene from chapter 6. God I love this fic! Just describing my art makes me want to go back and re-read it for like a fifth time!

“Missing from his right shoulder was the enormous, fluffy pelt; the loss of the pelt made him look smaller, even a little naked. The armor that she had always seen him wear was also replaced with more form-fitting metal, and with armor for both arms instead of only one. They sat close to his shoulders, heavy and unadorned, and around his waist the patterned obi remained, though his swords were missing. Almost as an afterthought, she noticed that he had both arms again. She wondered how long it had taken for him to heal.

All in all, he didn't look much different except for one thing, but that one thing struck Kagome in a way that brought home all that had happened to him, and to herself, in the intervening years. It was like a punch to the stomach - just a little thing - and she wouldn't have even known its significance if she had not been so studious.

It was his kimono. He still wore white clothing, but the flower pattern that had always graced his shoulders and sleeves were gone. In its place was a simple splash of indigo; the color of royalty without a crest.

Sesshoumaru was a king without a kingdom.”

Forth, on the back cover, I included the image of him and her and if you look closely, there is an otherworldly bridge behind them. And if you will also notice, Kagome in on the side that faces the light. This is meaningful from the fic but I’m not going to flat out say it!

Finally, the image on the right is the front cover, like an English Language book. Then there is the spine in the middle, and the back cover is all the way to the left. Okay, I think that about explains it all… I know this was long but I put a lot of thought into this and I’m really proud of it. I hope you all like it and my reasons for everything!

One last thing… this is dedicated to my cat, Twinkle. She’s passed out next to my computer as I’m writing this. She was there at 4 in the morning, nuzzling me awake then I’d fallen asleep working on this. She was also there to provide a much needed distraction when I thought I’d never finish this. She’s the only one that doesn’t complain about my obsessive tendencies!!

- Ash

Disclaimer: Sesshoumaru and Kagome are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, and all 741 glorious pages of Tales From the House of the Moon are the intelectual property of