InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ That's the Way Love Goes ❯ III ( Chapter 3 )

A/N: Please remember - Kagome is a little older, therefore a little more mature, which means her thinking is more mature as well. Now, for my reverent thanks to those reading: To those at MediaMiner: brainshake - Thanks so much! And OMG, I am so embarrassed! O///O You are totally correct! I will fix my story, but I'm unsure of when I'll be able to fix the uploads… So glad to hear about you over here! It's for the best, since eventually there will be lemons, which I have to edit out. daniella m - I will have the chapters out as soon as I can. Thanks for the great rating! buzzk97 - Thanks so much! I'm glad you are still reading. Ah, how correct you are!!! Although Miroku is the one who started it… ^_^; But yeah, they're gonna get it. Thanks for continuing to read! HypedUpGirl - I'll get them out as soon as I can! Kagome357 - I'm glad you find it funny as well! I really didn't mean for it to turn out this way, but I guess with a `new' Sesshoumaru, funny was natural. I can see where that would be a bother. I'm used to most of my readers already knowing what they mean, which is why I have the definitions at the end, if any. I will try to cut back. Thank you again for reading! At FanFiction: flirtymiyu, ForlornDarkness, snow cat demon, EternalLove495, Sienna-shirou At deviantART: luvtodraw, no1sangel, At A-Single-Spark: swasdiva - thank you so much! I'm actually a horrible battle-writer. And even though there is a lot of fighting in the manga we know and love, I'd rather work on the relationships rather than draw out a war. Well, I don't think Sesshy would EVER admit to liking Kagome before his accident, so I guess we'll never know, huh? I know, I'm evil. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you continue to enjoy. And thank you for following the story at other sites!!! WiccanMethuselah - Oh, how I love your reviews. They are love. Thank you so much! I must admit, you are one of the people I really was looking forward to getting a review from! And you didn't disappoint. It makes me so happy to know you find such enjoyment in this story, as I do. I hope that in your eyes, I continue to “outdo” myself. And by the way, thank you for waiting patiently. Dottie - Thank you for being constructive in your criticism! I actually didn't get your email address- I'm not sure if you put it in the review or if you sent me a message. I have noticed that my paragraphs can be long - believe me. It's just that I so often try to get the chapters out that I pay more attention to the spelling and grammar. I will definitely keep all this in mind. I would welcome your help. All in all, I'm glad you're enjoying the story! At AdultFanFiction: TheMikoShivae - Thank you! I'm glad! ^_^ YumeMaru - Thank you so much! I tried to keep him a little bit in-character, although the point is that he isn't in character because he doesn't even know what his character is! I'm glad you're enjoying it, and hope you continue to like it. We shall see what happens, ne? Thanks again to swasdiva for reading on here as well! And to Megan - Thanks! I sure will, I just go back and forth between stories! At PaperDemon, thanks to: jns3372, ladybattousai.

 

 

Once again, my inspiration for this fic: That's the Way Love Goes

“Come with me don't you worry,

I'm gonna make you crazy,

I'll give you the time of your life.” -Janet Jackson

 

 

Chapter III

 

When Kagome awoke the next morning, she felt very refreshed. There was a slight twinge of pain from her wound still, but nothing unbearable. She was quite comfy, and thought that she might just go right back to sleep, so she poked at her pillow. But then it occurred to her that she shouldn't have a pillow, since she was in the Feudal Era. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that she was, indeed laying on something white and soft. However, when she prodded the softness again, she felt that right under that silkiness was rock hardness. The simulated rock was of course, Sesshoumaru's muscular thigh. Alarmed, she sat up. Sesshoumaru seemed to still be asleep, so she calmed a little. She looked at the spot where her head had lay. She must have slumped during the night and used his leg as a headrest. As she stared, her heartbeat picked up again, and she blushed. She had been very close to his… Scowling, she mentally berated herself. She was too old for this! Blushing about something like that. But just a quick glance at her pillow once again had her feeling heated. What was wrong with her? She loved Inuyasha! She had to keep away from him.

 

All the same, she felt drawn to him. As he sat there, sleeping, Kagome wondered what it would be like to be with a demon. After all, he was no longer so cruel, and he hadn't really been awful to them in some time. And right now - she looked at his sleeping face - he looked very peaceful. He had been nothing but kind to her; granted, his memory loss made him quite docile. She wondered if he could ever be the graceful Taiyoukai he once was. Kagome wondered at her train of thought. Would she rather have him back the way he was? Would she prefer the dangerous, stoic demon to the pleasant, emotional one? Yes, her mind supplied. But, why? Kagome found herself leaning in towards him. She gazed upon his features. He still looked like himself - the deep blue crescent, the violet stripes, and his eyelids were still magenta. She reached up to caress his cheek, tracing a single stripe. When she got to the tip, it was so near his lips that she kept going. She used her thumb to run along his lower lip. She felt herself being pulled towards him.

 

“That tickles,” she heard a deep voice say.

 

Shocked, she was like a deer-in-the-headlights. Mouth agape, eyes wide, and frozen, she could think of nothing. Her mind had run off, leaving her with a blank palette. Then he chuckled and opened his golden eyes to gaze upon her.

 

“I… I didn't mean to wake you,” she said, averting her eyes and withdrawing her hand.

 

He grabbed her hand, and she looked back at him.

 

“It's nothing. Besides, we are the last to wake,” he informed her.

 

It was only now that Kagome noticed that Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un were indeed gone. She seemed alarmed, but Sesshoumaru reassured her.

 

“Rin has gone to fetch breakfast for the two of you,” he told her.

 

“Oh,” she said softly. Then, “Oh, I should be the one to do that…”

 

“Rin enjoys it,” he said, rubbing the hand he had captured. He knew little of her, but if anything, he knew she was a proud woman. If he had told her it was for her benefit because she was injured, she would protest. If he told her it was Rin's duty, she would be appalled.

 

She nodded and he let go of her hand. After several moments, Kagome stood and began to stretch, but the movement caused the gashes in her side to burn, and she instantly hissed with pain. He was immediately by her side, holding her up. He asked if she was all right, but she insisted she was fine. He let her go, but kept an eye on her. Once she actually felt fine, Kagome began to rummage around in her pack. She was angry with herself for not bringing clothes, but that was how she did things nowadays. Since she lived in the village, she need only run back to the well every time she needed a new outfit. She thought about her ruined school outfit once again. She groaned, then had to convince Sesshoumaru that she was merely thinking of her ruined clothes and was not in pain. She continued her train of thought once the youkai was satisfied. Her mom had spent a lot of time keeping that uniform together as long as possible - their family was not a rich one. The cost of buying a uniform for her school... School! Kagome groaned again, shooting Sesshoumaru a glare that told him she was fine and not to ask. He complied. Luckily, there was a weeklong break right now, hence her presence in the Sengoku Jidai. But Sesshoumaru didn't want her to leave before her wound was better, and by the looks of it, it would take more than a few weeks. If what Sesshoumaru had told her was true, then it should be Wednesday. How to convince him to let her go in a paltry four days? With Inuyasha, she tried to explain, but he always became confused, which made him angry, and then she would wind up going home anyways. With Sesshoumaru… well, she would never know unless she asked. She knew he was different now, but he was still very much like Inuyasha when it came to her health. She decided to ask him.

 

“Ee to… Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Hn?”

 

“I was wondering…”

 

Sesshoumaru didn't like the sound of this. She seemed nervous to say something. Did she want to go back? Did she want to see his brother?

 

She laughed anxiously. “Yeah, I uh, was wondering…”

 

“So you have stated,” he replied with a sneer.

 

“You see, I know you wanted me to stay here until I am better, but I have school in a few days, and I really need to go because it's my last year and I really need to graduate and my mom is already gonna kill me for destroying my uniform and-”

 

He placed a finger against her lips to silence her, and she lost her train of thought. His skin was incredibly soft against her lips. Her eyes began to close when she heard something.

 

“Eh?”

 

“I said, what is this school?” the Taiyoukai asked patiently.

 

She blinked. Great. Now she was going to have the task of again explaining the things that happened in her own time. Her own time… Another one. She was also going to have to explain how she was from another time.

 

She inhaled deeply and gave a great sigh. “Well, first, I'm going to have to tell you about my home. You see, I'm not from here.”

 

He quirked an eyebrow.

 

“I'm not from this time,” she said, watching his expression.

 

He cocked his head slightly, in that endearing way that dogs do, and she continued. She told him about the well, and how she first met Inuyasha. She told him of how Inuyasha could also travel through the well, and of how she spent a few days here, but most of her time at home. She explained that she was from a family of Shinto shrine keepers, and that when she was home, she spent most of her time at a place where they taught children of all things, from history to reading, and many more subjects that she wouldn't be able to describe to him. They taught the children until they were considered adults, which was at eighteen years of age. Then, it was the new adults' decision of what they wanted to do - they could continue their education to become skilled laborers, or they could marry and have families, or they could find a job that didn't require further education. When she felt she couldn't possibly talk any more, she sighed, and collapsed backwards against the tree. Sesshoumaru had been quiet the entire time, merely nodding, or arching an eyebrow occasionally. Now that she was finished, however, he had many questions. In the middle of the tirade, Rin had returned with fruit and nuts, and, recognizing that two adults were having a conversation that she knew nothing about, left Kagome's breakfast and ran off to play in a nearby field, two demons trailing her. Kagome had paused to thank her, and returned to explaining the ways of her world.

 

“So… that is why you wore that strange clothing,” he stated, brows furrowed.

 

Kagome laughed. “Why is it always the clothing everyone goes for? You know, I've been called a witch, a demon, and a few other things because of my clothes…”

 

“It is because it is indecent. You show too much skin. Why do you not don the clothing of a miko while here?” he asked.

 

“I am not indecent. Well, maybe in the standards of this time I am. But it is perfectly acceptable in my time,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

 

“Hn,” he sounded.

 

“And I don't wear the miko outfit because of Inuyasha,” she said sadly.

 

Sesshoumaru scowled at the mention of his brother, but picked up on her depressed tone.

 

“Because…” he tried.

 

“Remember I told you that Inuyasha mistook me for Kikyou?”

 

It seemed that something clicked within the great demon's mind, and he nodded. “Hn. The one he loved before you. Any man worth anything could tell you were different from her,” he said sternly.

 

Kagome smiled a little, and he was happy for it, although he didn't show it.

 

He looked determined again. “In this… school you speak of, they teach you? I mean, women?”

 

Kagome sighed. It was pointless to be angry at such a statement. It wasn't his fault that in this time, women were only considered to be wives, cooks, and heir bearers and nothing more.

 

“In my time, women are considered equals, because there are many things we are capable of doing that were once considered men's jobs. There are even some things that only we can do,” she told him.

 

“As you should be,” he said.

 

It had been the last thing she would have expected to hear in this time, and from the most unlikely mouth. Never, ever in a million years would she have thought that to come from Sesshoumaru. She had expected scoffing and huffing and posturing. But instead, he merely accepted it.

 

“So, I am to believe you have read many books?” he asked.

 

“Well, yes. Over the course of my schooling I have read hundreds of books. When we were fighting Naraku and I didn't have time for school I used to bring my books here to read them so I could study for tests.”

 

She saw the look in his eyes, and resigned to explaining what `studying' and `tests' were.

 

When she was done, he continued his questioning.

 

“So you are able to bring books through the well?”

 

“Yes,” she answered, wondering where this was going.

 

He was silent for several moments. Then, “When you go through, will you bring me back a few of your texts?”

 

She was astonished. She assumed he could read, but never dared to ask, lest she offend him. But would he understand? An idea came to her, and she decided.

 

“What kind of books?” she asked.

 

He seemed to mull over his options before settling on `a little of everything', to which Kagome laughed. Then, something occurred to her.

 

“Does this mean I can go?”

 

“Kagome, you are not my prisoner. If you wish to leave, you may do so. I only wish for your safety,” he said.

 

Suddenly, she felt awful. Spoken like a true gentleman. She wondered what had given her the idea that he would have refused her to leave. Yes, he had said she would leave when healed, but he hadn't implied that she was a hostage or anything.

 

“What do you plan to do? After your schooling ends,” he asked suddenly.

 

She thought about it for a moment. No one in this Era had ever asked her that, not even Inuyasha.

 

“I'm not sure, but I think I might stay at the shrine and become a priestess.”

 

He seemed to consider it. “You already make a fine priestess. You have great power,” he said.

 

“Yeah, well, you see…” she began hesitantly. He inclined his head. “There really aren't any powers in today's mikos. Not that I know of. Priestess' are more of a novelty today. Shinto is one of many religions, and the shrine is more of a tourist attraction than anything. Still, though,” she paused to think. He regarded her silently. “I… I think the reason I love it there, at the shrine, is the peacefulness. The city is great and all, but it's so noisy. I miss the stars, and the fresh air that I have here, in this time. The one place where that vaguely remains is my families' shrine.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes softened as he listened to her. He couldn't help but think that she was an incredible woman. Strong, brave, beautiful, and smart. How could his brother have been so foolish, as to have not claimed her yet? Well, that was his problem. In the meantime, it meant that she was still up for the taking. But this girl was feisty, and one couldn't just `claim' her. She had to always be asked, not told. Otherwise, it would make for a grand argument. He remembered her saying something about a wolf demon and how Inuyasha would be jealous of him. Did this mean the ookami also vied for her attentions? She hadn't said much about him, except that his pack had been responsible for Rin's first death, and that his shards had been taken by Naraku in the attempt to complete the jewel. He was about to ask her about the ookami when Kagome interrupted his thoughts.

 

“So, if you are asking for books, does this mean you want me to come back to you when I get back?” she asked solemnly.

 

He resented the tone in her voice, but knew that how he answered this would be very important.

 

“If you do not wish to see me again, I will do as you wish.”

 

He was leaving the ball in her court. She was amazed at his ability to tell her he wanted her, but the choice was hers to make.

 

“It's not that I don't want to see you. But my friends…”

 

His brother. She still wished to be with him. He turned away, looking towards the lake.

 

She felt bad. In two days, he had almost become as close a friend as Miroku or Sango to her.

 

They were silent for quite some time before he spoke, breaking the quiet.

 

“In four days' time, I will bring you to the village that you came from. You may do as you wish from there,” he said.

 

She was surprised at his nonchalant tone, but what could she expect from him when she had rejected him twice?

 

With no word from her, Sesshoumaru stood. He began to walk away when he felt a pull on the leg of his hakama. He turned to look down on her, and her pleading look melted whatever resolve he had built. He offered her a hand, and she took it. He helped her to her feet, using his other arm to support her back, and when she huffed from the pain, he looked at her doubtfully.

 

“Are you sure you will be able to attend this school of yours?” he asked.

 

She beamed at him. “I really want to. When I was younger, I couldn't go because we were hunting Naraku, so jii-chan made many health excuses. Some that didn't even exist,” she laughed.

 

“So now that you are hurt, you want to attend,” he finished for her.

 

She grinned again. “Exactly.”

 

Later in the day found Kagome lying in a field of wildflowers, with Rin making various things out of leaves, twigs, and flowers. Gone were the days where the girl would run around aimlessly and pick flowers. With her growth came a calmness, and she carried herself proudly and could be quite silent some of the time. Sesshoumaru's influence, Kagome thought to herself. Regardless, she was becoming quite beautiful, and would make a fine wife and mother someday. Sesshoumaru sat cross-legged next to Kagome, eyes closed, listening to the breeze. Ah-Un had grazed quite a bit today and was taking the time to nap and digest. Jaken, who had grown accustomed to a more sedentary lifestyle since the defeat of Naraku, was sitting against a large root that was sticking out of the ground in its' search for more ground. Kagome thought of her friends, and hoped they had escaped from their fight unscathed. Although the fact that Inuyasha had not shown yet was worrying her. He usually wasn't far behind when it came to her being missing. Surely, Shippou must have told them about the dragonfly. Unless… unless he didn't find his way back… Tears sprang to her eyes, and she tried not to think about it. Or perhaps he had made it back, but Inuyasha was unable to come because he was hurt? She didn't know which scenario was worse. But, if he were hurt, wouldn't Miroku and Sango come to get her? Now the tears flowed freely, although she made no sound. But sound was not needed for the Taiyoukai to know that she was crying.

 

“What upsets you?” he asked.

 

“It's nothing,” she said.

 

In the short time he had known her, Sesshoumaru had realized that the woman often said the opposite of what she meant.

 

“I do not believe you,” he said flatly.

 

“Are you calling me a liar?” she asked disbelievingly, propping herself up on her elbows, hissing from the pain it created.

 

“Hn. Call it what you will.”

 

She realized he was toying with her. “It wasn't too long ago that you lied to me, my Lord,” she teased, placing emphasis on the last word.

 

He arched a delicate eyebrow at her. “Regardless, `nothing' does not make one cry, miko,” he told her, also emphasizing the last word.

 

She sighed in defeat. “I was just hoping that my friends are okay.”

 

He looked at her curiously, and she realized that she had not told him how they had come to meet. Quickly, she recapped the story of how she had become separated. He had asked about Shippou, and she spoke of him as a proud mother does, which he noted. She continued, telling him about the Ogre's sudden appearance, and how it was the same one she had seen Inuyasha battling. And that when she had hit it with her Hama no Ya, she had purified it, but hurt him in the process. She had been afraid to tell him this part, but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he looked happy. She delved further into the story, telling him that she had found him and cried because she felt bad that she had not trusted him to deal with the Oni and in the process, used all her energy to heal him. And that was the last she remembered.

 

“You were right to do what you did,” he told her.

 

She only looked at him disbelievingly.

 

“You had no idea what was to happen. For all I know, you saved me twice. You are quite the courageous one, my little miko,” he said, reaching to stroke her cheek.

 

Kagome was so moved by his words and stunned by his action, she didn't know how to react. But her body did. She felt the heat that started in her nether regions, and it spread to her breasts and face. Her mouth became dry, and her heart raced. But as quick as it had happened, his touch left her. She was glad for it, since it had fogged her mind, and yet still longed for his touch.

 

The way she had reacted did not go unnoticed. He longed to take her into his arms and capture her lips with his own, but he knew she also longed to be with her friends, so doing as he pleased may serve to push her away. So he would wait. And hopefully, of her own accord, she would come to him.

 

For now, he turned away, and Kagome lay back down.

 

~~~~~()~~@

 

The next couple of days came and went with discussions of things that happened in her time, since they could not talk of Sesshoumaru's adventures, since he did not enjoy them. They did this often in the meadow, as Rin made things out of the natural objects in the field. Breakfasts were collected by Rin, and Sesshoumaru procured dinner for the females. He had not eaten since that first day, but was now beginning to feel the pangs of hunger.

 

Kagome bathed often with Rin, splashing about and letting the girl use her shampoo, which she loved. This was Friday, by Kagome's memory. There still had been no sign of Inuyasha or the others, and she grew more worried, but she tried to hide it from Sesshoumaru. She had yet to bathe today, and the sun was getting low in the sky. It was almost time for Sesshoumaru to hunt, and she figured she would bathe before dinner.

 

“I will hunt early today,” the Taiyoukai announced out of the blue.

 

Kagome was silent for a moment from her surprise, but smiled at him all the same. She nodded and made an agreeing sound. He began to turn away to walk into the forest when Kagome stopped him.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” she said.

 

He paused and turned to look at her.

 

“Be careful.”

 

He smirked, although he was touched that she cared. Then he turned back to the forest and leapt.

 

Kagome knew why he had smirked. They both knew that he was more than capable of caring for himself. But she had felt odd with him leaving without saying something, and it had been the first thing that came to mind. Now she felt rather silly for it.

 

When Sesshoumaru had been gone for several minutes, Kagome turned to Rin.

 

“Rin?”

 

“Hai, Kagome-sama?”

 

“Would you like me to teach you to swim?” she asked the girl.

 

The pre-teen gasped and her eyes widened considerably as she ran to Kagome. She wanted to hug the woman, but knew it was impossible with her wound.

 

Kagome laughed. “Is that a yes?”

 

“H-hai!”

 

A few minutes later, the two girls were in the secret alcove with Jaken far off in the distance. Only Ah-Un was nearby, since it was more acceptable for him to watch. They walked through the waterfall and wound up on the other side. Kagome knew from experience that it got deeper very soon, and she grabbed Rin's hands. She remembered her own swimming lessons as a child, and showed Rin, who was an apt and eager pupil. Within an hour, the girl was almost brave enough to swim into the middle of the lake, but still stuck to where she could barely stand. Kagome continued to teach her to control her limbs in the water until it started to get cool out with the approaching dusk. Rin told Kagome she was going to get out, and the two went back to the hidden pool where they both went under the water, to Kagome's joy. She was happy to have such an impact in the girls' life. She imagined what it had been like for her until now. Growing up without parents, then becoming the ward of a Taiyoukai - it couldn't have been easy without a mother figure. She watched Rin get dressed into her too-small kimono and leave, calling to the dragon. The water was still warm in the pool, and the air inside the cave had not been cooled. Finally having a moment to herself, Kagome relaxed, leaning against a rocky wall.

 

~~~~~()~~@

 

Deep in the forest, Sesshoumaru finished off the heart of the boar youkai he had killed. He had not enjoyed letting it die a slow death. It seemed beneath him, especially since the demon had not done anything wrong. But he had to eat, and so he had cut into its' neck and drank the liquid that his body lived off of. With its' last beat, Sesshoumaru took out the heart, devouring it as well. When he had finished, he realized that not only did he need to clean, but the only water nearby was the lake they camped at. Resigned, he searched for something for the females in his care to eat. He finally found another wild pig family; this one included half-grown piglets. He stalked them, and without any of them realizing they were being hunted, he grabbed a young male and dispatched it without a sound. He tasted its' blood, but it wasn't nearly as good as youkai blood, although it wasn't bad, either. He returned to the camp quickly, running through the forest. When he arrived, he noticed two things that threw him into a panic. One - Rin was in camp. And Kagome was not. Two - Kagome's things were not in the campsite.

 

Rin noticed his concern and was about to ease his worry when he promptly dropped the young pig and ran towards her scent. Rin sighed and decided to start dinner without either adult. She began to skin and clean it, gather and start the fire and rubbed herbs on the meat to cook.

 

Her distinctive scent led to the waterfall. Was she trying to mask her scent by following water? He tried to follow it, but the mist of falling water masked the scent well. He could feel her aura though, but it was dim. She was either very calm, or very far. He walked around, and then jumped up to the top of the falls. When he was satisfied that this was not the way she went, he jumped back down, this time to the right of the waterfall. A sweet melody caught his attention, and he recognized it to be Kagome. He found the entrance to the secret cove and had to stoop to enter it.

 

There was more room inside however, and he looked around. The cave shimmered with the waters' reflection. It was reasonably warm inside, and he finally allowed himself to look at the source of the tune. Kagome - huddled down low in the water so that everything from her chin and down was covered by water - was humming as she relaxed in the warm water. She remained blissfully unaware of his presence; her eyes were closed and since the mighty Taiyoukai was stealthy as a dog, she heard nothing but the sounds she was making. For a moment, Sesshoumaru had decided to let her be, and turned to walk out. But he stopped. Later, he would blame his inner youkai - his beast, his youki - for this, but as of now, he merely was stopped dead in his tracks, his back to her. He tried to think rationally. He thought that perhaps it wasn't a good idea, but he was overridden. Before he actually knew he had done so, Sesshoumaru had turned around, disrobed, and descended into the small pool; it had the double effect of washing away the blood from the kills he had made. He vaguely assumed that this was why the woman was here - the warm water and air - but could not think of much else. He approached her, and couldn't help but think of how beautiful she was. Her ebony tresses danced in the moving water around her like nymphs, and her cheeks were a light shade of pink from the heat. Her face was dewy from the mist, and made her skin glow. He noticed that due to the shallow nature of the pool, she was kneeling in the water. Carefully positioning himself, he placed a hand on either side of her. Kagome had just stopped singing and was thinking about napping in the water when he suddenly moved forward, capturing her lips. All notions of previous oaths to let her come to him had been pushed aside. She had enchanted him, and he did what he was compelled to do.

 

Kagome was shocked. She had never thought Sesshoumaru would come in here, knowing she was. But, as some girls find out with experience, if someone like the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands kisses you when you don't expect it - even if there is someone else you hold close to your heart - you generally respond positively. Because it takes away your ability to think. At all. Some regain their thought process in a few seconds, and some never do, until what's done is done. Kagome, who had never been in such a position before, was the latter. When his lips tenderly touched hers, she instantly felt her blood rush to her head, as well as several unmentionable places. Her body reacted strongly, and she moaned ever so slightly into his mouth.

 

The sound turned Sesshoumaru from simply wanting to needing. He applied more pressure, and was happily surprised when Kagome opened her mouth slightly. Not needing more of an invitation, he ran his tongue into her warm opening, and her tongue met his equally, dancing around each other. Kagome became fevered and placed a hand behind his head. He responded in like, capturing her face with both hands. She was so caught up in the passion and this… feeling inside her that made her want, no, need something - that she hadn't noticed that she had slowly leaned towards him, seeking the touch of the male.

 

Sesshoumaru, finally regaining some composure over his youki and realizing that she may hate him after this, saw that she meant to make contact with his body with her own. Inwardly he smirked haughtily, but he knew he mustn't take advantage of her… well, more than he already had. He leaned back a little every time she moved forward. Her kissing had become passionate and erotic, and he knew he would have to stop before it escalated, although his youki howled at him for denying it. After several more moments and the forced slowing of his assault, he finally separated, lingering his lips slightly and panting, causing her to shiver from his hot breath on her face. She opened her eyes for the first time since he had approached, and they were so filled with lust that he had to force his inner beast to calm. He turned, and she caught his arm, stilling him. He stood, facing his clothes for a moment. Then he quickly spun, placing a long, languorous kiss on her swollen lips before jumping out of the water and collecting his clothes. He didn't stop to put them on, but walked out of the cave, only donning his hakama, swords, and boots once he was out of sight.

 

Kagome had watched him go, and idly wondered why she hadn't turned from the vision of his retreating backside. She wondered what the feeling was that had filled her with so much need; that now, made her feel empty. She remembered the feel of his lips and reached up to touch her kiss-swollen lips. She remembered how he had possessively held her face. And then, like a tsunami crashing upon a village, it all came to her.

 

From camp, Rin could hear the shrill scream of the woman. Being a girl herself, she realized that it was not a frightened scream, more like that of frustration. She wondered what could have happened that made the priestess so angry. Either way, she knew that her Lord would take care of it.

 

A few minutes later, Sesshoumaru appeared in the glow of the firelight. He nodded to Rin and Jaken and patted the heads of Ah-Un. Rin wasn't sure if she should say so, but chanced it anyways.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, is Kagome-chan ok? Rin heard her scream,” she told him.

 

“She is angry with me,” he said simply. The height of the scream spoke volumes to him, and he was glad he hadn't been in the cave when she loosed it.

 

Rin was satisfied with his answer, and went back to turning the meat. Sesshoumaru thanked her for preparing dinner and apologized for not fulfilling all his duties as caretaker. Rin bowed low, graciously accepted his thanks, but insisted that from now on it should be this way, as finding food for them was more than enough. She was secretly happy, since Sesshoumaru had never attempted to feed her before, merely sent her on her way to procure her own meals. She had eaten fish for so very long that she now relished the taste of red meat. Then, to Sesshoumaru's surprise, she mentioned that she had been bored, since he had gone to `be with Kagome-chan', so that was why she had taken on dinner herself. Sesshoumaru paled slightly, assuming she knew what had transpired. Perhaps she had stumbled near the cave while the adults lay naked in the pool?

 

Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to protest. “I had-”

 

“Because I'm sure her wounds are still great, and need much care. I only saw them yesterday, and they are getting better, but…” Rin prattled on, but Sesshoumaru did not hear.

 

He had forgotten about her wounds, and she was probably trying to wrap them on her own. Until now, Rin had been helping her, since her reach was limited due to the gashes. Instantly, he made his way back to the cave.

 

After her long and pleasingly effective scream, Kagome felt better. She didn't know why she was so frustrated, but she knew why she was so angry. How dare he kiss me? How can he just come in here and expect me to do that? But you did, her conscious reminded her. Growling at herself, she stomped out of the pool, patting herself dry with her towel. How DARE he? She could think of nothing else but those three words for a few moments. Did he think I would leave Inuyasha and just go with him if he did that? No, her mind supplied. You're missing the big picture. She mentally screamed for herself to shut up, then `how dare he'd some more.

 

Through her ministrations, she was able to take her mind off of her seething anger. She used the burning peroxide, hissing with pain as it seeped in. Then she rubbed an antibiotic healing ointment on, whimpering at her own touch as she caught on to her train of thought. How dare he? A memory flashed through her mind like lightning; she remembered his gentle touch on her face. Only her face. Well, at least he had the decency to not touch anything else, she fumed. She winced, chiding herself for her own carelessness. Another memory came to her, and she was amazed at her own actions. She remembered the feel of him, and wanting more. She remembered trying to get closer, for whatever reason. And she also clearly remembered him backing away, but not stopping. She remembered feeling the need to be close to him - flush against his body - but he did not allow it. Why? He had made his intentions perfectly clear. And he had been undressed. It would have been so easy for him to just…

 

And then that tsunami hit her again. He… he was sparing me. He knew I wasn't ready… He knows I still want to go home… still want Inuyasha… Inuyasha… His name plodded lazily and clumsily across her mind, and she - strangely enough - didn't feel as guilty as she thought she would. She began to cry silently, not because of her slight feeling of betrayal, but because she felt so empty. She had, for the first time, felt pure bliss. And it may or may not have been completed by further actions. And the reason it hadn't was because he had known her better than herself. He had known… But then, why torture both of them with that heated kiss? She supposed he hadn't been able to control himself. The surge of womanly pride and empowerment flowed true through her veins unexpectedly, and she felt happy. But before she could further explore these feelings, she noticed movement and realized Sesshoumaru was at the cave entrance. She gasped, but noticed he was not able to see her form, and it was purposefully. He was sparing her again. But wouldn't he have seen her in the water? She would have to ask later. He cleared his voice, and she waited for him to speak.

 

“May I come in?” he asked quietly.

 

She didn't know the reason behind his return, but he had been polite. “I'm not dressed…” she paused.

 

She quickly put a new pair of underwear on and her bra. At least she felt that she was decent enough. After all, this was similar to wearing a bikini…

 

“You can come in now,” she said meekly.

 

When he entered, he vaguely noticed that she had covered her intimate parts, but was unbandaged, as he suspected. He strode over to her purposefully.

 

She backed as he came closer, but oddly, she realized that his eyes never left hers. He did not attempt to ogle, and that left her wondering what he was here for. His gaze penetrated her, however, and she felt the trickling of desire once more.

 

He stopped only when he was a hands' width away and caressed her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He ran his fingers through her wet hair, and it stuck slightly in a few places. When he removed his hand, she whimpered at the loss. Then, he looked down at the two gashes in her left side. He inspected it, taking Rin's words to heart.

 

Kagome swooned under his scrutiny, but did her best to hide it. It had not gone unnoticed that he did not look at any part of her except the part that was wounded. She assumed he was still trying to make her feel at ease, and she was both grateful and disappointed, which she thought was odd.

 

When he was finished looking over the wound, he ran a warm, clawed hand up her right side, caressing her softly. Her knees wavered slightly, and she stilled herself by gazing into his stare - which had returned to her deep blue eyes, nearly grey in the dark of the cave - and grasping on to his left arm.

 

He had noticed her weakness and for a moment thought she had endured so much pain she would faint. But then the faint scent of her arousal came to him, and he understood. Certain places he touched her - usually with the slightest pressure - made her weak. Inwardly, he grinned like a wolf youkai. But he maintained his stoic façade and continued to caress her lovingly. When he reached the cloth that bound her breasts, his right hand reached around her to splay on her back. They gazed into each others' eyes for several moments before Sesshoumaru broke the stare to bend and retrieve the bandages from her satchel.

 

Now she fully understood. He had come to help her, because she knew how painful it would be to do it herself, and he probably knew this as well. Her eyes softened with the knowledge, and she didn't speak as he carefully wrapped the gashes, winding the gauze around her midsection. It was usually Inuyasha that had these type of wounds, but he hadn't been hurt badly in such a very long time that she did not carry very much of the fluffy cloth anymore. She was almost out, and didn't know what she would do when it ran out. He seemed to realize this, and only wrapped the cloth a few times before cutting it neatly with his claws. He tucked the end, but she smiled and took it from him. He watched with interest as she took the original end and tied the two together in an intricate knot. He inclined his head, to show he understood, and she bent to place her things back in her pack.

 

When she stood back up, Kagome was taken aback by a vision of Sesshoumaru, holding his kimono out to her. She was frozen for a moment. It wasn't right for one as regal as Sesshoumaru to be dressing her. He shouldn't have to do this. She motioned to take it away from him, but he did not allow it, moving the kimono just out of reach of her fingertips. It had only been a few inches, but she understood. She allowed him to put the white, soft cloth over her shoulders, letting her arms flow through the billowing sleeves. She looked at the royal violet color of the crest on her right shoulder and started to feel sad again, when, from his place behind her, Sesshoumaru closed the kimono, and by residual effect, wound up holding her. She could feel the heat of his bare skin through the thin material, and she leaned back, basking in his heat.

 

He, too, closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of having this woman in his arms. They stayed like this for several minutes - Sesshoumaru behind Kagome, with his arms wrapped protectively around her chest. She had raised her own arms, and her hands lay on his arms. They were oblivious to all except one tiny voice that called for them. They were broken out of their stupor long enough to hear Rin calling for Kagome to eat whilst it was still hot. Kagome was about to pull away when he abruptly released her but did not move away. She turned to look at him and smiled. Reaching up to caress his bare arm, she trailed down to the brilliantly striped wrist. Absently, she realized that his left wrist had no stripes, and she wondered if it had always been so or if it just had not came back with the regrowth of his left arm. He did nothing but watch her movements; when she snapped out of her trance, she tied the obi in a messy knot around her hips and turned to Sesshoumaru.

 

“We should go, or Rin might send Jaken after us,” she giggled.

 

He smiled ever so slightly and nodded.

 

They came into the little camp, Ah-Un in his usual curled-up form, Jaken sitting on the log, and Rin sitting closer to the fire than Kagome cared for. She gently asked the girl to take a step back lest her kimono catch fire and have even less covering her. The girls laughed a little at this, and then they both settled down to eat. Kagome realized she was quite comfortable with the little group. Ah-Un was similar to Kirara, and Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had more in common than they thought. Jaken could be likened to Myouga-jiichan. Likewise, Rin had many qualities similar to Shippou - both young, yet wise beyond their years. Only the squabbling of Miroku and Sango was missing, and she grew sad thinking about them.

 

Sesshoumaru sat back and enjoyed the constant prattle between his two favorite females. Unfortunately, Kagome suddenly seemed somber, and he found himself wanting to ask her why. When the girls had finished eating - and Kagome insisted on helping to clean up despite two protests - they all sat back. Kagome commented on how it was growing colder, and Rin agreed, telling her that it was one of her favorite times of the year because the leaves began to change colors. Kagome agreed.

 

Only a short time later, Rin had fallen asleep, and Kagome tried to pick her up to move her, but Sesshoumaru knew she was in no condition to pick the girl up. He placed Rin with Ah-Un and took up his place leaning against the tree. They spoke shortly about the season change, and then they grew silent. As the fire grew smaller, Kagome became sleepy. She tried to lay on the ground in a dignified manner next to the Taiyoukai, but she had gotten used to at least having a tatami, or a futon, or her sleeping bag. She never slept on the hard ground. As she shifted, she made little noises of frustration. After a few moments of twisting and turning, Kagome felt herself being lifted, and she squealed in surprise. When they were settled, she noticed that Sesshoumaru had brought her onto his lap again - her back against his bare chest - and was holding her snugly.

 

Kagome knew it was wrong. She loved Inuyasha, didn't she? Unfortunately, she felt that this was not the reason that she didn't want to be in his lap. In fact, she felt very comfortable, both physically and emotionally. But she felt like she was using Sesshoumaru. He wasn't himself; he didn't know what he was doing or what he was getting himself into becoming attached to her. Every guy that became enamored with her only got into trouble. She was like a death magnet for men. Houjo's ancestor, Kouga, and Inuyasha. Kagome wasn't an idiot. She knew that Inuyasha still had feelings for her. She wasn't sure why he hesitated, with Naraku long gone. But Inuyasha had been near death so many times because of her. And now, Sesshoumaru. Why did she attract so many men?

 

Sighing, Kagome was going to pull away, building up her will to sleep on the cold earth. But Sesshoumaru held her firmly. Neither spoke, but each knew what the other was thinking. Kagome resigned herself, and could only hope that if Sesshoumaru regained his memory, he didn't kill her over this. She laughed a little to herself over the thought, and leaned her head back onto the youkai's shoulder. Well, if she was going to die because of it, she better make use of the moment.

 

She was surprised when, just as she was slipping into the blackness of sleep, she felt Sesshoumaru's lips brush her temple. She smiled lightly, and the demon heard her mumble something incoherently. He felt her heart slow in her sleep, and he smiled to himself, allowing sleep to claim him as well.

 

The next morning, Kagome awoke still embraced by the most powerful demon she knew. It was a little disconcerting, but sweet nonetheless. She smiled as she looked up at him, only to find him staring intently at her. She gasped when she connected with his burning gaze, and it woke her fully.

 

“Um, Sesshoumaru, why are you staring at me?” she asked, her voice husky with sleep.

 

She saw his eyes soften as she awaited an answer.

 

“It is nothing. I merely wish to make sure I remember all your features. Today, as promised, we begin to travel to the well,” he told her.

 

“Oh,” she said. She hadn't realized it was almost time to go back. Truthfully, she had forgotten. It was peaceful, living here with Sesshoumaru's group. There was no fighting with Inuyasha, no lecherous monks and the ensuing smacks from his wife, and no kitsune to constantly hurl himself at her.

 

Thinking of them now made her heart twinge ever so slightly. But she looked around and found that she didn't miss them as much as she would miss this new little group, although she had only spent a tiny fraction of the time with them as she had with Inuyasha and the others.

 

She was going to miss Sesshoumaru? She balked at the idea, but Kagome was not one to kid herself. Well, not anymore. She may have been more naïve back then, but she wouldn't deny her mind anymore. Yes, she would miss Sesshoumaru. But Rin, as well, and Ah-Un. And a teensy bit of Jaken.

 

There was that feeling again. Like she was kidding herself. Why? Why was this feeling haunting her; why was it making her feel like she was lying to herself? Sighing with discontent, Kagome decided it was time to remove herself from a certain taiyoukai's lap, lest he regain his memory. For the third time, the burning, nagging sensation in her mind suggested she wasn't being honest with herself, and, angry with this side of her, Kagome finally hefted herself from the makeshift bed that was Sesshoumaru.

 

Sesshoumaru knew she was conflicted. The furrowed brows, the deep thinking, and the worrying of her bottom lip… Unfortunately, her pouty, full lips began to make him forget that the female was distressed. He began to feel the urge to kiss her, as he had last night in the shallow pool. But before he could act on it, the woman began to stand, although it did not seem that she had worked out whatever problem was plaguing her. He felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her; to find out what was bothering her and help her rectify it, if he could not do so himself. He loved to see her smile, and she was most definitely not smiling. Could it be that she was upset that she had been here, rather than in her village, with his brother? Perhaps she had been wanting to go back all this time…

 

Stretching, Kagome felt some of the stress leave her. They were leaving today. Yes, she would miss Sesshoumaru, and later she would miss Inuyasha and her own little group. But she felt the need to get home, sleep in her own bed, and get to school. But… what would happen when she got back? She would only have the two days off. How would she spend them? One day with Inuyasha and one with Sesshou…

 

…

 

Hold on a second.

 

Now she was planning to see him when she got back? What is this!? It was one thing for her to recognize that Sesshoumaru - when not trying to kill her or her friends - was an okay guy. It was another thing to realize that she was going to miss him when she left. And way over there, in an unknown galaxy far, far away, was the prospect that she, in coming back through the well, would see Sesshoumaru again, as they were now. Was she delusional?

 

First of all, what was the point in getting close to him? She loved Inuyasha, right?

 

And there was that feeling again, but not as strong as before. The feeling of lying to herself. Why? Why would she feel like that when she thought of her love for Inuyasha? Too much time away from him messed up my head, she thought. Shaking her head, Kagome attempted to gather a few things to bathe before breakfast and made her way to the secluded pool.

 

Sesshoumaru watched as the troubled girl made her way to the waterfall. He felt so many emotions run through him that it was nearly impossible to dwell on one before the next came barreling into his head like a bull in Pamplona. The possibility that she could be mourning the loss of his brother made him angry, worried, jealous, and miserable. He felt anxious, uneasy, and nervous. And soon, he would be travelling closer to the source of all those emotions, and would have to deposit the woman he cared for into the arms of the man she cared for.

 

~~~~~()~~@

 

It had been a rough couple of days.

 

Everyday, Kaede prayed for the return of the resilient little miko, and everyday, they all tried a little harder not to kill him. By Friday afternoon, it had been necessary to place sutras all around Kaede's home in order to keep Inuyasha inside - something they had not had to do in a very long time. But the last time, Naraku's meddling had kept Inuyasha from healing. This time, there were no serious demons about, and Miroku and Sango could always deal with them.

 

So now, they listened to Inuyasha yell, moan, whine, scream, order, and of course, swear colorfully. He was not a happy hanyou. They all understood why, but they also knew that until he was almost healed, he would be no good to Kagome - wherever she was - if he got himself killed on his way to retrieve her. So they endured, and they fought with him, and sometimes they ignored him. But for the most part, they cared for him. Miroku and Kaede helped keep the spiritual barrier strong as well as helping to clean his wounds, and Sango did most of the cooking, with occasional help from Kaede. They all felt the weight of the missing girl, and even though she wasn't around as much as she used to be, due to what she called `High School', this was the second weekend in a row that they hadn't seen her, and it was taking its' toll. Not just because they missed their friend, but because their hanyou friend missed her, and that made for a grumpy half-demon.

 

It had taken them over an hour, and all three of them plus the headman of the village to feed Inuyasha that morning. Kaede stayed outside, keeping some spiritual power in the spell while Miroku and Sango entered the hut. Once inside, the headman placed his back against the door, pushing with all he was worth, even though they all knew that the man's strength would be nothing if Inuyasha truly wanted out. Now, Miroku held him down, fighting with him as Sango brought his food over to his futon.

 

“Sit still, Inuyasha! The sooner you heal, the sooner you can go to Kagome!” Miroku was not happy with the hanyou, and was struggling to keep him pinned to the floor with his staff.

 

“Grr… If you didn't keep me here, I would've seen Kagome already and this wouldn't be necessary!” the half-demon raged as he fought against the houshi.

 

Sango and Miroku exchanged knowing glances. Had they let him go to Kagome, which was what almost happened yesterday, he would only arrive there to find that not only was she not there, but her mother would not have seen her either. Then they would have two very worried people, and Kagome would be quite upset when she got back. If she got back.

 

“Inuyasha, Kagome would be very upset with you if she knew how much you were fighting us when you should be healing,” Sango said calmly.

 

Miroku was amazed as Inuyasha stopped struggling. He glanced at the taijiya gratuitously.

 

They heard a muffled `yeah' from the hanyou as he lay calmly on the mat. With that, the woman stood and left, leaving the monk inside with his friend.

 

After a few minutes of silence, Miroku finally spoke.

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

The hanyou's ears swiveled, then flattened in annoyance as he waited for the monk to finish his sentence.

 

“Well? Whaddya want?” Inuyasha asked impatiently.

 

Miroku waited until Inuyasha had righted himself, now sitting cross-legged and beginning to pick at the food that was brought to him.

 

Miroku looked away. “Inuyasha, what are you waiting for?”

 

Inuyasha stopped eating. An eyebrow arched in suspicion. “Whaddya mean, `what am I waiting for'? I'm waiting for you to let me leave this damned hut.”

 

Miroku chuckled. It was almost endearing how dense his friend could be. Almost. He applauded Kagome for putting up with the hanyou for so long…

 

“Kagome.”

 

The inuhanyou's ears shot straight up. “Where?” He looked around frantically as the monk clenched his fist and jaw in frustration.

 

“No, Inuyasha. What are you waiting for? With Kagome,” the houshi tried to explain.

 

“With Kagome?” the half-demon mirrored.

 

The monk sighed, allowing Inuyasha's brain to catch up. He saw the hanyou's eyes lighten suddenly in understanding. The bright look darkened, becoming sullen.

 

Miroku, knowing his friend didn't speak often of his own problems, spoke first. He laughed softly. “I would have thought, after everything, that you two would have beaten Sango and I to marriage,” he said, his eyes trained on a whorl in the wooden floor. But he was not stupid. He could feel the heat radiating off his friend as he blushed to the tips of his furry ears. That, and his peripheral vision could see the hanyou's reddening face. “But I did promise Sango that we would be married as soon as it was over, and I made true to that promise, so I guess it's no wonder that we married first.” He allowed the hanyou to think for a few moments before continuing. “I'm sure that if you had made the same promise, you would have-”

 

“We didn't make a promise like that,” Inuyasha said flatly.

 

Miroku feigned ignorance. “Really? You two are so close…”

 

“There was no promise. But…”

 

Miroku finally looked at Inuyasha in surprise. Inuyasha hardly ever hesitated. This piqued his interest.

 

Inuyasha sighed before continuing. “But, I was planning on… you know…”

 

“Asking Kagome to be your wife?” the monk supplied.

 

“Yes,” Inuyasha snapped, glaring at his friend.

 

“But Inuyasha, surely you know that there is no reason to wait with Kagome. She has loved you all this time-”

 

“She still has things she wants to do,” Inuyasha blurted out, interrupting the houshi again.

 

Miroku, for his part, was stunned. At first, he was confused. But as he thought, the meaning was revealed, and he was shocked that his friend had taken such consideration for the girl. But of course, he wanted to hear his friend say it. If not for conformation, then at least for embarrassment. So he waited patiently for the man he could call his brother to finish the sentence he had started.

 

Inuyasha fumbled a little. He played with the seams of his hakama, tucked in stray pieces of gauze, anything to keep from finishing his statement. But Miroku only sat in silence, watching him.

 

Finally, he felt he needed to clarify. “You know, she's always going on and on about `school' and stuff, and this is her last year. I figured that if she was still with me by then…”

 

And then Miroku got angry. Angry for his `sister', angry for unacted-upon love, angry that his friend would think so little of himself. “YOU!” Miroku cried, standing to his full height and looking down on the hanyou. He pointed at Inuyasha. “It's always about that! Why can't you let it go? Kagome loves you, Inuyasha. She's not going to leave. It's been two years, Inuyasha. Two YEARS. She comes back all the time for YOU. She hangs on to the jewel, puts her life in danger for YOU. And you can't even make her the promise of marriage?”

 

Inuyasha had listened guiltily, but had gotten fired up at the accusations. He knew the danger Kagome was in, and pack brother or not, he didn't need to hear it from the monk. “You think I don't know that? I know she's in danger! We're all hurt right now because of it! Because of me! Because she doesn't want the well to close, she's hanging onto that stupid jewel, and youkai still want it, and know we're hurt, and Kagome is not here.”

 

Miroku listened, but felt his point still hadn't gotten across. Really, his friend was just so… stupid sometimes.

 

“Inuyasha, her choice is her choice. My point was that she does all this for you, and you cannot even make her a promise. If you know of all the things she has sacrificed, the least you can do-”

 

“I was waiting for her to finish school!”

 

“Inuyasha, what would happen if she didn't make it that far?”

 

This brought the hanyou up short, a confused look on his face.

 

“Inuyasha, if she dies before then, all you would have are more regrets. She doesn't need to be another Kikyou…” Miroku trailed off.

 

Inuyasha was seething. “Don't you dare bring Kikyou into this. And this is not the same.”

 

“Isn't it? You and Kikyou got where you are because you didn't trust one another. Now, you don't trust Kagome to stay with you, so you let her endanger herself so that you can wake up one day to find her gone. You want to know if she's changed her mind, and won't find you worthy anymore. But she can be taken from you, Inuyasha. If we don't find her…” And Miroku realized his mistake.

 

“Find… her?”

 

The look Inuyasha was giving Miroku spoke volumes, and Miroku backed towards the door as Inuyasha rose now, unmindful of the pain from the wounds.

 

“What do you mean, `find her'? Where is Kagome, Miroku?” he said slowly.

 

“Er, I think we've said enough for today, Inuyasha. I'll, uh… send in Sango for supper,” the houshi said nervously as he backed against the spell that sealed Inuyasha inside.

 

“Have you been lying to me about Kagome? She's not home, is she? Where is Kagome, monk? What happened to her?”

 

Miroku could hear panic creeping into the hanyou's voice as the volume increased. Using his own power, the monk slipped through the doorway as Inuyasha pounced, and he quickly added his strength to the spell. He exchanged glances with Kaede and Sango, both of whom had surmised that something had happened by the hasty retreat and the hanyou's shouts. They heard Inuyasha crackle with energy as he tried to fight the spell in order to get out, but it held, and Inuyasha eventually became exhausted.

 

“I am sorry, Kaede-sama. I said something I shouldn't have, and now we will have to guard him constantly. From himself,” Miroku told the old miko gravely.

 

Sango looked at her husband worriedly. She could only guess what happened. “He knows?” she asked quietly.

 

Miroku nodded, and they all hung their heads, knowing they were going to have a fight on their hands.

 

“Well, it's a good thing I put tranquilizers in his food then,” the priestess laughed.

 

Miroku and Sango realized that this was the reason Inuyasha had stopped fighting them, and they relaxed.

 

“We'll have to watch out when he wakes up,” Miroku said. The taijiya nodded, and Kaede rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

 

“We'll have to keep him like this in order to ensure everyone's safety, including his own,” the elderly woman said. “Until Kagome returns, no one is safe,” she added ruefully.