InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Completely Innocent Addiction ❯ Part 3 ( Chapter 3 )

A Completely Innocent Addiction

Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Part 3: An agreement, a purpose, and a new addiction

The agreement was indeed very agreeable to both parties. Kagome was given free reign of the palace, including the extensive library. She was even free to leave when she so desired as long as she could argue her case and provided adequate notice. In exchange, she allowed the demon lord to watch over her, trying to ignore his amusement whenever she did something of particular interest to him. She knew she could never understand what he found so entertaining about her and her actions. Still, he refrained from killing her and his library more than made up for his lack of personality.

In addition, his young ward, Rin, was simply outstanding. Her unshakable faith in her lord was painfully obvious though said lord seemed to all but ignore her presence. Such a strange relationship indeed, but Kagome could say nothing considering her own arrangement. When the miko was not reading some epic or another curled on a pillow in the corner of the library, she was enjoying time with the child, playing an assortment of games. After the evening meal, the child would snuggle into her futon and listen avidly as the miko read a particularly interesting tale to her. It was during these times that she often found the quiet lord regarding her from the entrance to the room, listening with an ironic combination of emotions displayed on his countenance: a disinterested and detached face with eyes showing poorly veiled amusement.

It became obvious to Kagome that her purpose was jester to the strange demon lord. Though she had rarely the opportunity to observe him outside of battle, it seemed his behavior regarding her was oddly out of character. Inquiries amongst the servants and occasional guests at the palace served to inform her that his reactions were a peculiarity. However, all agreed that the he was generally more pleasant while she remained and the change was very welcome and so she tried to let the increasing feeling that she was but a toy not interfere. It would do no good to anyone should she fail her purpose and she worried over the safety of the servants when she left when duty, home, or friends called.

He rarely spoke to her or anyone for that matter. His orders were always short and blunt, delivered in the unfailingly calm and collected voice she could never grow accustomed to.

"Wench, tell me what you read," was his usual command when she was in the library. She would be curled in her usual corner with him sitting at his usual table, attending to business as usual. He never ceased his progress with his paperwork and never looked away from the countless scrolls while she related what epic tale she was reading that day.

It was at these times that she almost felt like her old watcher had returned. Almost, but not quite. She felt she would never grow habituated to the fact that her guardian had been this unlikely demon. It was indeed the last thing she would ever expect and went against all of her views of him.

`How strange my life has become,' she thought more than once. `Sickly delinquent student at home, shard detecting toy in the Feudal Era. What fun.'

Grumble as she might about the odd situation she found herself in, it was inarguable that she appreciated the opportunities the cold lord provided for her. His protection through the bracelet was priceless, the time spent with his ward was a much needed break from the dangers she faced while hunting, and the quiet time in the library was a nice reprieve from the days she would spend walking and fighting in her quest.

Still, the annoyance tugging at her heart simply would not be ignored. Her increasing hostility at being a jester for one such as her friend's cold hearted half-brother was hard to hide. Despite the moments when he was almost pleasant, generally he was nothing but condescending and seemed to take amusement in her discomfort.

Today was turning out no different. As she was turning a corner too fast, she ran into a servant and the resulting collision sent her to the flailing to the ground. The servant took off hastily, leaving her alone on the cold floor. Regaining her feet, she found that her left ankle, still tender after all this time, had once again sprained. She only learnt this as she crashed to the floor with a grunt of surprise and pain. Pausing for breath, she immediately felt eyes on her. Looking up, there was the demon lord, his usually unreadable features distorted into an amused smirk. She glared at him in annoyance and his smirk only grew as he offered her his hand. Reluctantly taking it, she was on her feet in an instant. Snapping her hand from his, she proceeded to turn her back on the inwardly laughing lord and started to limp her way back to her room. She could sense his increasing entertainment at her expense. Of course, try as she might to walk with as much pride and grace as she could, even she had to admit it was a comical effort. She stumbled more than once before a still smirking demon grabbed her around the waist and carried her under his only arm to her room before returning with materials to tend her once again injured ankle. Cursing her luck, Kagome began to hastily wrap the material around the offending appendage before the demon lord had stopped her and proceeded to fix the bandage.

She wondered at his skill, but recalled that one as battle-worn as him must surely have encountered an assortment of injuries. Perhaps nothing as inane as a sprained ankle, but bandages were bandages. He said nothing while tending her, keeping his concentration on the task at hand and not meeting her eyes once he was done. Quietly he left her room, but stopped at the doorway.

"Do not hurt yourself again. You are useless to me broken."

With that he was gone.

With that, all her pent up frustrations came out in one loud outburst.

"I AM NOT YOUR TOY! I AM A REAL PERSON and I am not in this world simply to entertain YOUR SORRY ASS!"

Before she quite knew what was happening, tears were leaking from her eyes and with one sob, she flung her self into her pillows, weeping openly.

"I'm so sick of being used," she mumbled, but he heard it just fine. He soundlessly returned to his library, pondering his pet's latest behavior and considering that her time as jester was drawing to a close. In a decision that was slightly more difficult to make than he expected, he consigned himself to the fact that his favorite toy would be leaving him the following day.

*******************

Kagome was taken back to the shard hunters with the reassurance that her services were no longer needed and her debt to the demon lord for returning her life paid in full. She would have it no other way.

Soon life resumed as it had been before her odd addiction to the mystery novel. Shards were hunted, demons destroyed, Naraku tracked, all without incident, all without the past `visits' from the demon lord. She began to believe the experience was all a dream, but the bracelet that remained securely around her wrist proved otherwise. She could not ignore that something strange had happened, and she could not dismiss that in an odd way, that something had been welcome.

As much as she wanted to hate the former watcher for using her so, she simply could not. Instead, the more thought she related to the matter, the more she took pity on him. To be that powerful and have not the ability to entertain yourself successfully…why that had to be difficult. No wonder the arrogant demon had bothered them so relentlessly in the beginnings of their quest. He had probably seen Inuyasha as the latest plaything available. Even the hanyou could apparently not keep his attention though. She supposed she should feel special for having the ability to entertain the lord for so long. But alas, that time was over. Apparently, she was no longer needed or wanted. And the feelings associated with that thought were bittersweet.

Kagome kept the details of the experience to herself, including the true purpose of her visits to the lord's palace. Partially, she was ashamed of her role as jester, but moreso, the services she provided were kept hidden because she knew the former watcher would not appreciate his cold indestructible image being tarnished. She owed him that much to let her companions merely speculate on her agreement with the demon lord.

A day came when her anger at being a toy faded under the realization that she missed the arrogant jerk.

`I can't believe I miss that bastard's poor company,' she thought with a heavy sigh.

This simply had to be the craziest thing that had ever occurred to her, the fall into the well included. It was unfamiliar territory and there were no landmarks to keep her on the right track. She almost longed for the past problems she had encountered with her girlish crush on the hanyou. This was much more difficult as the feelings were entirely alien. Never before had she felt so…comforted by someone's mere presence as she had in those moments in the library when she was relating the details of the tale she was reading. There was no denying his previous position as her unknown watcher. It was the same soothing presence and she hated it. She hated missing him.

Apparently she was not the only conflicted one in the relationship. She had not been back with the shard hunters a complete month before the group was intercepted by the demon lord's toad-ish retainer while breaking camp early one morning.

"Jaken? Is something wrong at the palace?" she asked instantly worried. For the lord to send his retainer, he must indeed be as close to distressed as he was able.

"My lord, the great Sesshoumaru-sama, demands your presence immediately," was his haughty reply.

"Demands? O really. I was under the impression that my services were no longer needed."

"You will be recompensed for your time." The toad was quickly losing his holier-than-thou-art demeanor in the face of her defiance.

"You have nothing I want."

"He is prepared to give you fragments of the Shikon jewel he has come across in his travels."

That caused a stir amongst the shard hunters. It really was a tempting offer. Still she was hesitant. Despite her recent acknowledgement to herself of her longing for his reassuring company, their last encounter had not been pleasant.

The toad retainer seemed to sense her hesitation.

"Please," he began beseechingly. "Please do not send this poor humble servant back without you."

That definitely caught her attention. She was damn certain the toad had never spoken the word `please' to anyone besides his master in his entire life. Eyeing him intently, she took in his tired eyes and the recent bruises on his green head. Pity stirred in her heart for the abused retainer and she could only wonder at the status of the rest of the servants. What could cause so much unrest in the demon lord?

"Okay, I'll go," she said wearily, preparing herself for the emotional burden of returning to the abandoned post. She would do this, be his toy again, if only so he would spare his staff. It was the least she could do for their previous kindness. As if to verify that her efforts would not be wasted, the toad demon immediately perked up, his big eyes seeing her in an entirely different light.

"Then come on, miko, we must be off at once," the toad said, for once referring to her by station instead of her obvious failings as a human and a female. The slip was noticed by the girl in question.

Ignoring the protestations of the hanyou, she grabbed her pack and bid her farewells to her companions before following the retainer back to the palace.

"Tell me now," she said seriously, borrowing the lord's tone, once they were out of earshot of the hanyou.

"Thank goodness you are coming! My lord has been troubled since your departure," he related grievously. "And now, with the conference in place, his everlasting patience is failing. He has been…harsher on his lowly servants than usual. It is hoped by all that you will be able to calm him."

"Argh!" she cried in frustration. "Can't he find a new plaything? I grow weary of the role!"

"Miko, you will do well to refrain from such outbursts." An awkward pause. "If it means anything to you, he has been ruthlessly defending your position at the palace with nothing short of viciousness. He grew very angry when I referred to you as `the human pet.'" He seemed to be attempting to console her.

That knowledge stumped the poor girl. The remainder of the trip was spent in silence.

Upon arrival, she was greeted by a multitude of relieved servants and ushered into the library where the young lord was sitting at his desk, seemingly uninterested in her.

"You requested my presence?" she questioned hesitantly, not quite keeping the content grin from her face.

"Yes. I require your services for a week."

"The jewel shards…"

"You shall receive payment once our business has concluded."

"Ah." It was ridiculous to keep from smiling so she gave in to the urge. It caught his attention and he looked up from the paperwork to eye her curiously.

"It matters not to me if you give yourself airs as to your position here, as long as you remain useful." She supposed it was meant to reduce her, but she rightfully saw through the veil and identified it as the taunt it was.

"I am under no illusions as to my role here. I just find it curious that you are willing to go to such extents to secure some amusement. Surely the conference cannot be that dull?" Her smile only widened when she saw the return of the sparkle to his eyes, even as he narrowed them in mock anger.

"Wench, you have no idea."

She laughed. It could not be helped. Her imagination kept replaying the image of a increasingly frustrated demon lord sitting with all outward appearances of being calm and collected listening to a man drone on about crops. When her mirth had abated somewhat, she asked to be excused to her room.

"Yes. There you will find attire suitable for the present company."

"Okay."

He turned back to the countless scrolls littering his desk and she turned towards the doorway. She stopped as she moved to close the screen.

"Sesshoumaru-sama…" He looked up but she averted her gaze. "Don't be so hard on your servants."

That being said, she slid the screen shut and walked towards her room, ever aware of the amused aura she could feel from the demon lord. Her light laughter filled the corridor and those who heard it felt their spirits rise.

She retired to her room and immediately changed into one of the luxurious garments left for her use. O the wonders of silk. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad job after all.

*

The following three days went by without incident, Kagome returning to her former routine though her companion was missing behind the doors of his conference room during most of the day. Still, she did not mind. The palace radiated his comforting presence and the present epic she was engrossed in was nearly as addicting as the murder mystery had been.

However, the peace was not destined to last. As she intently read the tale, she was surprised by the library screen opening suddenly, with suppressed fury. Instantly her eyes locked onto the offender and without a word he beckoned her to follow.

To say she was worried would be an understatement. She had grown accustomed to being sought out or summoned over the past few days whenever the lord was substantially frustrated with the results of the conference. It was her job to calm him by any means she saw fit, though usually it took little more than bringing him tea and drifting into her usual library corner to discuss the story she was reading.

This was quite different. The demon was obviously furious and though it was in everyone's best interest for her to remedy situation, she was clueless where to start.

Unfortunately for her, he seemed to already have an idea what was necessary. He led her into a storeroom before stopping at a large chest. Casually tossing the heavy lid to the side, she was somewhat shocked to find the chest filled with the spare uniforms of the palace guards. The tense lord threw aside a few pieces of clothing before finding something that seemed to please him. Turning his intense gaze onto the girl, he took in her almost trembling figure before returning to the garment in hand and slicing the last few inches off the pant legs.

Without a word, he left the chamber slightly less tense when he recognized her rushed footsteps behind him as she struggled to match his pace. Stopping in front of her room, he waited until she had caught up before pushing the tortured cloth into her arms and pushing her into the room.

"Dress. Quickly." His blunt instructions left much to be desired but she did not question them. Instead, she quickly closed the screen to her room and rushed changing into the masculine pants. Seeing as he had failed to provide her with a top, she was forced to use her uniform shirt to complete the mix matched outfit. Not sure what he intended, she quickly threw her hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. She left the room to find him waiting, clearly haven't having moved a muscle.

"Come." He glided away and she once again found herself struggling to keep pace before it suddenly dawned on her that she had neglected to put her shoes back on.

"My shoes…" she began hesitantly, not wanting to further aggravate the lord.

"Unnecessary."

Kagome only shrugged to herself and continued. She soon found herself in a large room, no doubt dedicated to training for physical combat. She was awestruck by the sheer size of the space but was soon distracted by the unlikely sight of the lord removing his swords and armor. As soon as the heavy boots left his feet, he immediately relaxed, rolling his shoulders as he stood again. Closing his eyes on the still shocked Kagome, he calmed himself enough to seem to melt into the air of the room. She could not believe this being in front of her was the same demon lord who had nearly succeeded in killing her during their first encounter.

"Attack me." The command was enough to surprise Kagome out of her stupor.

"WHAT?"

"Attack me. You have before."

"But…"

"But nothing. Fulfill your purpose and entertain me. Attack NOW." He seemed to be growing irritated again.

"Believe me, I'd like nothing more than to kick your arrogant ass, but I don't know how!"

"We've fought before."

"I wasn't exactly myself then."

Something seemed to occur to him and his irritation dissipated. He opened his eyes and gazed at the strangely attired miko with curiosity.

"You were fearless."

"I was distracted."

"Yes, but it made you fearless."

"Maybe but I'm not now."

"I will not hurt you."

"I know that," she said with a huff earning her an oddly amused look. "I'm not afraid of that."

"Explain."

She averted her gaze and instead focused on the floor.

"I'll only look stupid."

He smirked. The girl filled her role perfectly. Such a delightful creature.

"Regardless, we will fight. In time you will improve. Now we start. Attack me."

Her shoulders drooped as she looked up at him with a mix of exhaustion and exasperated anxiety. He waited for her to accept. Finally she closed her eyes and straightened her back.

"Tell me how." He smirked and the fun began.

******************

She was tired and sore. Much more sore that she had been in a long while, even after all her adventures shard hunting. Still, she couldn't help the glee that radiated from her being. Though she was quite certain she would never attain any level of perfection, there was no denying the rush it was to face the lord in hand to hand combat.

"Simply amazing," she said breathlessly as she collapsed onto the pillows of her futon. After witnessing the grace of the lord as he took her through exercise after exercise, she knew without a doubt that he had been extremely lenient with his brother. He was the closest thing to indestructible she had ever seen.

Of course, he had kept his word. No injuries had occurred. Indeed, he even seemed to take extra care in strengthening her weaker left ankle. She was only exhausted and sore from the best workout of her life.

Once her heartbeat had returned to something closer to normal, she realized exactly how sweaty she was. All at once a bath was necessary. Changing out of the battered pants and torn uniform shirt, she donned a robe and sought out the spring.

She returned an hour later feeling infinitely better, which was saying a lot since she had never felt so alive after the combat training. Still, she was exhausted and could not wait to sink into the soft pillows on her futon. In an instant she was in her nightwear and about to give herself to the sweet bliss of sleep.

Unfortunately, her employer had other plans. Without knocking, he slid open the screen door and threw a brightly colored bundle at her. Kagome barely caught it and questioned the demon lord with her eyes.

"Dress quickly." She nodded mutely as he retreated, closing the door in his wake.

`Ugh, this is going to be a long night…' she thought dejectedly, suddenly very tired as she unwound the bundle to discover a most stunning outfit. She did as she was commanded and dressed quickly, taking time only to brush her hair to semi-dryness and slip into her silk slippers before exiting the room to find the lord's faithful retainer waiting for her in lieu of the lord himself.

"Follow me and listen carefully." She nodded as she fell into step beside the toad. "The conference has broken for the night but the participants have demanded a social gathering to break the tension of the proceedings. They are currently gathered in the main room enjoying tea. You are to be the entertainment."

Kagome couldn't stop from huffing in annoyance.

"Shush, wench, you are not expected to do anything more than be yourself."

"Okey dokey," she answered with a sigh. They stopped in front of the entrance to the main room. Taking in a deep breath, she signaled for Jaken to open the screen.

"Good evening," she said sweetly while forcing her brightest smile to forefront.

`A really long night,' she thought to herself yet again as she began her appointed task.

******************

The quiet demon lord couldn't help but be astonished at the ease in which the miko blended into the gathering. He had been confident her presence would be useful but in no way had he guessed the extent of the girl's power. She had already charmed every male in the room and gossiped with every female despite the obvious barriers of wealth, status, and species.

`Such a splendid creature,' he thought to himself, fighting a pleased smirk as he watched her from his place settled comfortably on a large cushion by the wall.

"Enjoying the view, Lord Sesshoumaru?" a particularly spirited demon asked while he seated himself beside the quiet lord. He was answered with silence.

"I must say, your companion is very enjoyable. I can see why you keep her around." The lord merely nodded in assent. "Wherever did you find her?"

"She travels with my half-brother," the quiet lord allowed, keeping his face in perfect indifference. This simple answer seemed to only fuel the demon's interest.

"She is the miko that seeks the Shikon jewel?" A nod. "Ah, powerful too…quite a catch you have made."

"You take me for a fool. The wench is merely my jester," he said coldly.

"Please forgive me, my lord. I was mistaken."

A long pause filled the space while both demons watched the girl in question. Her bright smile illuminated the room. Sensing her master spectator's unease, she excused herself from her present company and went to his side, still smiling widely.

"Do you require anything, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"No."

"May I retire to the library then?"

"Yes. I will join you shortly."

"Thank you, my lord." With a bow, she departed and the room seemed darker without her presence.

"Well, I see you have business to attend to," the demon beside him said mischievously.

"Indeed." He blatantly ignored the tone behind the comment.

After a while, the lord dismissed his guests for the night and sought his pet. He found her in the library, curled on her customary corner pillow, book resting lightly in her lap and short steady breaths belying her lack of consciousness.

"You are troublesome, little miko," he said quietly, lest he wake her.

"Still," he continued while testing once more the pliancy of her hair. "You seem to be worth the price paid." He kneeled to examine her further.

"Such an odd addiction you are." It was half admittance of her importance and half anger at her for putting him in such a position.

He frowned thoughtfully. Without another word, he lifted her carefully to his shoulder and rose to take her back to her room. She shifted on his shoulder seeking in her sleep to find a more comfortable position. Trying to forget the calming warmth of her body, he returned her as quickly as possible.

However, it was enough time for the miko to entwine her fingers in his garment and she proved difficult to remove. Finally it became obvious that the easiest non-violent solution to his problem was to wake the girl.

"Wench." She merely squirmed and tightened her grip.

"Miko, wake." Nothing. It was quite astonishing how she could find the awkward position suitable. Fighting the urge to sigh, he turned until he was able to roll the girl from his shoulder and onto the bed. As soon as she touched the soft pillows, she relaxed her grip and the lord was able to remove himself.

Still, he stood at the edge, watching her sink into the bed and fade even further into dreamland. She looked so peaceful that he was slightly taken back when suddenly she grumbled and reached across the futon for something she seemed unable to find. The book came to mind but her sleep-laden words surprised him to no end.

"Don't go…Sesshoumaru…"

Placing his hand on her shoulder, he watched in unveiled awe as she instantly calmed under his touch. Quite the interesting specimen she was, really.

*************************

The remainder of the week took on the schedule set by the third day. During the day she would entertain Rin and read in the quiet of the library. Shortly after the evening meal, she would be summoned to the training room for yet another session with the lord. After cleaning up, socializing time in the main room went long into the night. It was tiring but thoroughly enjoyable once she got the knack of it. The company was pleasant for the most part and she gleefully looked forward to combat time. She felt stronger despite the short time. Truly, the demon lord was entertaining her as much as she seemed to entertain him lately.

On the morning of the last day of her stay, she bid the conference participants farewell as they returned to their respective lands. Of course, she was ensured from all that her presence was always welcome at their homes. Afterwards, she sought out the lord in the library where she found him once more studying the paperwork that never seemed to diminish.

"You wish to leave." His cold tone seemed to suck all the warmth from her body. Still, she was reluctant to part from his company.

"Duty calls. I cannot forsake my destiny." He nodded in agreement before eyeing her speculatively.

"You do not want to leave." Hearing it put so only reinforced the idea in Kagome's mind. Grinning slightly, she nodded.

"Still, I must," she said with a shrug. She met his gaze and saw no amusement in his softened eyes. However it was soon replaced by a shabby veiled look that only left her longing for more.

`If he looked at me like that more often,' she thought with a sigh as she lowered her eyes to the floor. `Then I don't think I'd ever leave.'

Movement caught her attention and she found the demon lord standing in front of her, opening her palm and inserting into it a small bottle. Glancing at the contents, she discovered several glowing jewel shards, her payment for the week. Squeezing the bottle tightly, she felt the shards purify before turning back to the lord.

"Come," he commanded as he stepped out of the library. She followed obediently as he led the way to back to her room. "Pack and be at the palace entrance in 10 minutes. It is time." She nodded mutely and entered the room.

Packing was a short affair that she was quite skilled at and in no time she was once again in her usual attire with the tortured yellow bag sitting precariously on her aching shoulders. She met the toad-like retainer at the palace entrance and assumed that he would lead her back to her comrades as usual. However, her guide seemed hesitant to leave. Within moments they were joined by the lord.

"Come," he said stiffly as he began walking away from his residence. She could only guess as to his reasons for personally escorting her back.

The first hour of travel was spent in comfortable silence but as they neared the shard hunters, Kagome became anxious of leaving the lord's side. Truly, she did not understand why his presence was so calming and comforting, and she dared not expend much time thinking on the issue. Rather she just accepted that spending time with him was becoming necessary to keep her sanity, strange as that thought was.

The group ceased their enchanted travel some distance from the approaching hunters. The demon seemed content to wait for them in his present location and signaled for her to situate herself at the base of a tree. He arranged himself languidly across from her and there they waited in peaceful silence. Once the voices of her companions could be heard, the miko rose and stared intently at the quiet lord. He returned her gaze before pulling a tightly wrapped bundle from his sleeve and tossing it to her.

"Every night, dusk, removed from your companions." She nodded at his curious words and watched as he walked away. She was still staring at the point she had last seen him when her fellow hunters greeted her.

After the preliminary hellos were made, the monk seemed to notice the bundle she was gripping tightly to her chest. Realizing she had yet to unwrap it, she did so and gasped in pleasure. There was the fighting attire she had left in her room, the mutilated pants of the palace guards and the now sleeveless uniform shirt. Suddenly his parting words made sense. Her friends were taken by surprise when the obviously strange and tattered outfit elicited the largest smile they had ever seen on the girl's face.

******************

Every night without fail the miko met the lord and they continued the strange tradition that had begun during the week of the conference. Every night she donned the same strange apparel and awaited the demon in whatever clear area she could find out of the sensory range of her companions. Every night she would be thrown about carefully as she struggled to master exercise after exercise. The lord always seemed to know when she was in danger of pushing too far and always stopped before she could pass out. Once he departed, she bathed and returned happily exhausted to the group.

The shard hunters were not stupid. They knew very well something was going on with their friend but were for the most part not bothered by it. She never seemed happier than when she came back from her mysterious task each night. Whatever apprehension they had over her doings was overshadowed by their joy that at least this addiction was healthier for the girl. Still, they were curious.

"Where do you go every night, Kagome?" the fox child asked one morning as the monk restarted the failing fire for their breakfast.

"There's just something I have to do, Shippou," she responded cryptically while stretching her aching muscles. Times like these, she really missed the soft futons of the palace.

"Oh," he said dejectedly. She frowned at his distress but before she could say anything to distract him from his questions, she was startled by a demon bursting upon their camp. Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen, apparently off in search of food and that left the humans to fight off the intruder. It immediately attacked the miko before her bracelet could activate. However, her new instincts kicked in and as it seemed to be lowly and without many natural weapons, she was easily able to tackle and restrain it.

"Sango, quickly," she said with a grunt as the demon struggled in her hold. The slayer finished off the attacker and sat on the ground, eyeing her companion wearily.

"Those were some good moves, Kagome."

"Eh…It was nothing…" the miko stuttered, suddenly feeling as if her secret was out. The monk and demon slayer remained quiet on the matter though, regarding each other with guarded expressions while the fox child rambled about how awesome the scene was. When the hanyou returned with his prize, he was immediately assaulted by the young demon and his description of the battle.

"Shut up, runt, Kagome did no such thing," he said gruffly. Kagome felt insulted that he felt her incapable and said as much.

"Like I believe you subdued a youkai barehanded."

"Osuwari!" A grunt of annoyance and a few select mumbled curses reached her ears but she ignored him. Truly, one day she would show the jerk.

She got her chance sooner than she thought. As soon as the spell wore off, she felt his presence behind and upon turning, found him springing for her. Her nights spent with the lord kicked in and she defended herself rightly. Though she would never be a match for the hanyou in strength, the techniques taught her by his brother proved invaluable. After escaping from yet another hold, she breathed and called for an end. The hanyou sat with legs crossed and ordered the monk to finish preparing breakfast before he resumed staring relentlessly at the winded miko.

"How long?" he asked suddenly, causing everyone in the camp to jump.

"What do you mean?" she retaliated.

"You don't think I recognize his style? How long has he been teaching you?"

She sighed regretfully. There was no way she could deny the truth now.

"Since the last time I was summoned."

"Every night since?"

"Yes."

"When you went home?"

"I returned at dusk each night."

He was silent and stared at her in cold annoyance. Finally, with a huff of annoyance, he got up and started on his breakfast, but not before imparting last words.

"Stop keeping secrets from your friends, Kagome."

***************

Kagome decided to return home that day, partially so she could escape the scrutiny of her friends now that they were aware of her nightly training sessions with their former enemy.

Once she was securely on the other side of the well, pent up questions popped out of the mouths of the shard hunters.

"Kagome is being trained in combat by Sesshoumaru?" began the monk.

"She meets the bastard every night," responded the hanyou.

"What is going on between them?" asked the demon slayer.

"Hell if I know, but I don't like it," responded the hanyou.

The others nodded in agreement but Miroku stopped and his eyes glazed over with curiosity.

"She seems happy," he stated. The others were silent. "But I wonder about Sesshoumaru…" The silence continued as they went over every experience they had ever had with the cold hearted demon lord. Though they had few encounters with him lately, even they had to acknowledge his recent changes. His actions concerning their young friend were very obviously strange and like nothing they had witnessed before. The words of his servants rang in their ears as they remembered each time the miko had been summoned. Soon it became achingly obvious.

"Wow," the fox child stated adequately. "They are addicted to each other."

"Hmph," the hanyou said while leaping away, as expected. Like he wanted to discuss the possibility that his closest friend (and the reincarnation of his dead lover, no less) was now involved in a strange relationship with his hated brother.

Once he had left, the remaining hunters looked at each other in unveiled surprise and delight.

"What do you think she does at the palace?" the demon slayer asked in wonder.

"I have some ideas…" the monk began before a large boomerang found its way to his head.

"My lovely Sango, you misunderstand. I simply meant that perhaps they simply enjoy each others company." The monk was the master of the smooth recovery. However, those words seemed to only make the abnormal situation even more abnormal. Who would have guessed the girl would befriend her former enemy?

"This…this is just odd." The demon slayer's statement summed up the problem well enough. "So, what do we…do?"

"We?" the monk questioned. "It's best if we do nothing. Kagome is dealing with this as she sees fit and we have no reason to doubt her. Considering how long this has been going on, it's reasonable to say that under our very noses a few lines were crossed between them. I find it unlikely that he will harm her now after all this time. As much as it bothers me, there is no reason for us to act on this." He paused and lifted a finger to his chin in contemplation. "Actually, the more thought I give it, the more I appreciate whatever bond they've formed. As I said earlier, I've never seen Kagome happier…"

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