It Is Good To Be Kagome

A/N: Finally, my muse came out of hiding and helped finish this shot. I hope that you enjoy and my next shot will be......wildcard. I have a pretty good idea of whom I am going to do, but I'll have to give it some thought. So, please enjoy.

If you wish to contact me, you can do so by way of deviant art. Just look for me by my pen name. I'm having some troubles with LJ, so I'm going to use my deviant site as a way of talking to people.

So, there you have it. Please read, and review.

~!~

Small snow flurries gently fell from the sky, and he watched them fall to the ground, as he waited patiently. He could not believe that his father had sent them so far from the village, though he knew it was good for relations with this village that wanted to be allies with the village of the western moon.

When he heard the sound of several footsteps, he turned to see a rather large group approaching him, and he readied himself for the meeting.

They were being led by a tall man, his silver hair standing tall on his head, while the lower part of his face was covered with a mask and his left eye was being covered by his headplate. The man was reading a small, orange book, and if he was not mistaking, it was the same book that the pervert, in his group, who called himself a holy man, read.

The large group behind him were clearly students. Many of them were chatting, but two of the young men were quiet, and seemed to have beaten his younger brother in the brooding category.

When they finally reached him, the male before him closed his book and then held up his hand. “Yo.” He said, his eye crinkling as he waved.

Before he could open his mouth, a feminine voice said, “Good. You have finally arrived, but you are late, Kakashi.”

“My apologies.” Kakashi said, his tone smooth. “We were in the middle of a discussion....”

“Save it.” The woman snapped, her honey-colored eyes flashing. Turning to him, she smiled and said, “Greetings, you must be Lord Sesshomaru, from the village of the western moon.”

Giving a sharp nod, he said, “I am. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Tsunade.”

The female grinned and then glared over at a blonde, young man who snapped, “Quit flirting, baa-chan. Why are we here?”

“You are here,” She gritted out, “To meet the ninjas of Lord Sesshomaru's village. We will be working closely with them for quite some time, so try not to make an ass out of yourself, Naruto.”

Before the young man could reply, and pair of loud yelps were heard along with loud laughter, and suddenly, a dark-haired young woman ran from around the building, and headed straight for them. She didn't seem to notice the new-comers and dove into her backpack, grumbling.

Tsunade stared at the girl, and when the girl finally found what she was looking for, Tsunade asked, “Is everything all right, young lady?”

Kagome paused, and then bit her lip. She had not noticed that her sensei was speaking with the others they had been told about. She had been so intent on getting to her pack, that she failed to see them.

Scooting back, she thrust her hands behind her back and gave a bow to the woman, who was clearly an important lady, or else her sensei would have told her to move along, by now.

“Kagome, Lady Tsunade has asked you a question.” Sesshomaru said, his tone smooth. “Is everything all right?”

“Well,” Kagome began, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “Inu Yasha and Kouga got into it again.”

Lifting an eyebrow, and turning to face his student fully, he asked, “What did they do this time?”

Kagome smiled sheepishly. “Well, actually this time, Shippo kind of started it by telling them that if something wet touches something that is super cold, it will stick.” She explained. “They didn't believe him and tried to prove Shippo wrong.”

Tsunade stepped forward and studied the girl. Once she assessed Kagome, she gasped and turned to Sesshomaru.

“This girl holds the largest source of holy power I have ever felt.” She said. “Is she a trained miko?”

His eyes slid over to the hokage, and he shrugged. “Kagome is....special.” He said, his tone now guarded. “However, she is not a trained miko.”

“Hey...” Kagome said, her eyes narrowing. “I'm right here, you know.”

Turning back to the frowning young lady, Sesshomaru said, “Continue.”

Kagome bit her lip for a moment and then took in a deep breath. “Well, they stuck something wet to something frozen, and now, they are stuck.” She finished.

“And you came to get something that will help them?” Kakashi surmised, though he was highly amused, as were the students behind him.

Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow at Kagome when she shook her head, no. Tsunade frowned. “What was so important then, that you raced over here for?” She asked, confused.

Glancing up at her sensei, she grinned sheepishly and pulled her hand from around her back and showed them a camera.

“My cousin, Kikyo, would kill me if I didn't get a picture of this.” She said, giggling. “Besides, it's not everyday that both Kouga and Inu Yasha look as stupid as this, though they've come close, several times. May I go, now?”

Sesshomaru regarded Kagome for a moment, before replying, “I want copies.”

Grinning up at him, and bowing to the hokage, she took off, and was soon out of sight.

It was very quiet for a couple of seconds, and then the blonde young man known as Naruto cheerfully said, “I think that I'll go and see if I can help.”

“Yeah, right.” A dark haired young man sneered, “You just want to see someone else get laughed at, besides you, dobe.”

“Shut up, bastard!” Naruto snapped, his eyes narrowing in a silent challenge.

A pink haired girl stepped between the two males, and she yelled, “Quit picking on Sasuke, Naruto!” She balled up her fist and connected a punch to Naruto's chin, sending the boy several feet away. “And you,” She snapped, turning on Sasuke, “Quit teasing him. You know he can't help himself when it comes to fighting with you.”

Kakashi sighed and motioned for the group of students to move forward, and soon, with the hokage and Lord Sesshomaru, found a pair of young men, one whose hair was nearly the same color as the lord's and hanging down his back, and another young man, whose hair was as black as night, but pulled up into a high ponytail. The thing that caught everyone's attention was that both males were stuck to a pole, by their tongues.

“Thee wha oo did, athole.” The dark haired male said, his arms flailing about, trying to hit the silver-haired male.

“Oh thuck oothelf.” The silver haired male returned, and both males stopped moving to glare at the other.

A red headed girl stood beside the dark haired male and cried, “Kouga, leave him alone. Let's just concentrate on getting you off of that thing.”

Another female began to laugh and said, “The only way they are coming off, is if we pull them off, Ayame.”

Ayame sighed and glared over at Kagome when she noticed that the girl was taking pictures.

“Let me guess,” She said, “Those are for Kikyo.”

“And, Sesshomaru-sensei.” Kagome replied, and clicked one final picture before sighing and turning off her camera. “Ok, Ayame...you grab Kouga's head, and I'll grab Inu Yasha's. One the count of three, we pull.”

Nodding, Ayame stood behind Kouga, and placed her hands around his head, just as Kagome did with Inu Yasha. Both males allowed their eyes to widen, and Inu Yasha quickly said, “Leths alk aboth his, a-ome.”

Kagome looked over at Sango. “Start the count.” She said, and watched as a grin lit up her friend's features.

“You got it.” Sango said, and then smirked. “One......two......three.”

On the count of three, Kagome and Ayame pulled, and the males screamed. However, they quickly fell to the ground, and both Kouga and Inu Yasha quickly lifted their hands to their mouths, and glared at the two females.

“Woman, don't you fucking touch me, again.” Kouga yelled, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Ayame. His damn tongue was still throbbing

Ayame calmly stood up, and tapped her finger against her chin. “I seem to recall saying those exact words the night you told me that it wouldn't hurt when you took my virginity. By the way, you are such a liar.” She said, sticking her own tongue out at the pouting male.

Lifting an eyebrow, Sakura turned and glared at Sasuke. “That's funny.” She snapped, “I remember you telling me the exact same thing.”

“That hurt, Kagome.” Inu Yasha whined, his poor tongue throbbing. “You could have been nicer about it.”

“Oh, quit being such a baby, Inu Yasha.” Kagome scolded. “Besides, did you have a better way to get you free?”

When no answer came, she nodded. “I didn't think so.”

Sesshomaru had heard enough. He cleared his throat, and his students quickly moved into a line, facing their Konoha counterparts.

“Lady Tsunade,” He said, bowing slightly to the female hokage. “May I present the pride of the village of the western moon.”

Tsunade smiled and watched as each student was called forward. Sesshomaru motioned to a young man, with long, red hair.

“This is Shippo.” Sesshomaru announced. “His cunning, and resourcefulness is well known throughout our territory.”

The young man bowed and stepped back into the line. Sesshomaru motioned to the red headed female, who was calmly ignoring the dark haired male's pouting. “This is Ayame. Her great grandfather is one of our founding ninjas. She is the latest in a long line of ninja who are able to use leaves as weapons.”

The female bowed and moved back and watched as Kouga stepped forward. Sesshomaru glared at Kouga, who shot him a glare of his own before straightening up. “This is Kouga, of the wind. He is the fastest ninja we have, and so far, there has no one who has been able to catch up to him.”

“I would like to challenge him.” A voice said, and a tall, lanky young man moved from behind the Konoha group.

Tsunade smiled. “This is Rock Lee.” She announced. “He, too, possesses great speed. I would like to see them spar at some point.”

Sesshomaru gave a nod, and motioned for Kouga to step back. He came to Kagome, and looked down at her. “You have already met Kagome, and as I have said, she is very special. She is also quite intuitive, and has somewhat of a temper on her, along with a very stubborn streak.”

Kagome glared up at her sensei, but noticed that his eyes were soft. However, they quickly turned hard when they looked upon his younger brother. “This is Inu Yasha.” Sesshomaru said, his tone hard. “He is my half brother, though he doesn't act like it. You will find him even more annoying than Kouga.”

“Great.” Sasuke muttered. “Another Naruto.”

“What in the fuck did you say?” Naruto and Inu Yasha snapped, and then glared at each other when they realized that the other had spoken.

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke asked, “See what I mean?”

Shaking his head, Sesshomaru came to another young man, and lifted his eyebrow. Taking in a deep breath, and hoping that the younger man would not embarrass him, he said, “This is Miroku. He, too, has holy power.”

He glanced down to look at Miroku, but was shocked to find him gone, and was now standing before the hokage, her hand in his.

“My dear, Lady Hokage,” He began, a serious gleam in his eye, “Would you do me the honor of bearing me a child?”

Before Tsunade could react, the young lady named Sango marched over, tapped Miroku on the shoulder, and when he looked at her, she punched him for all she was worth, leaving the man in a heap at their feet.

“I'm Sango, and I'm the last of the youkai exterminators.” She announced. “Kagome, I told you he was a brave hentai.”

Kagome nodded silently, as Sango dragged Miroku back over to where their group stood. The bruised young man moaned and said, “Sango, I didn't know that I could drive you into such a jealous fury. I am honored.”

“Don't be.” Snapped Sango. “I'm just waiting until we are alone to kill you.”

Sesshomaru gave a long, suffering sigh, and turned to Tsunade, who was also glaring at Miroku. “I believe that you had wanted to pair your ninjas up with mine, testing their ability to work together.” He said.

Tsunade tore her eyes away from the fallen monk, and nodded. “Yes, and I think that I know who should be paired with who.” She announced. Turning to Lee, she smiled. “You will be with Kouga. Naruto will be with Inu Yasha. Sakura will be with Miroku. Sango will be with Sasuke. Hinata will be with Shippo. Ayame will be with Kiba. And, last but certainly not least, Kagome will be paired with Neji.”

Kagome looked at the one called Neji and smiled at him, but all he did was scowl and turn away. Confused, she frowned and wondered what she had done to offend him. Looking at her teammates, she found them already with their partners, and could already hear Inu Yasha bickering with Naruto, both bragging about how easily they could take the other down.

Soon, they were all given their assignments, and she found herself walking with Neji. Taking in a deep breath, she gave him a bright smile and asked, “So, what made you decide to be a ninja?”

Neji allowed his pale eyes to slide over to the young woman, but instead of answering her, he snorted and walked ahead.

Kagome's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she quickly caught up, her temper beginning to rise.

“Have I done something to anger you?” She demanded, her tone hard. “I've been trying to be nice to you and you seem to think that I'm not worthy to speak to.”

Neji stopped in his tracks and then turned. He looked Kagome up and down, before he snapped, “I respect those whom I deem worth respecting. You are not one of those people.”

“Why not?” Kagome cried, frustrated. She couldn't understand why he was so hateful towards her. “What have I done to make you think I am not worth respecting?”

The young man shrugged, and moved forward, completely aware that the small female behind him was upset. Well, she'd just have to get over it. He had a mission to complete, and he was sure that he was being tested just by having to cart her sorry ass along with him.

Kagome bit her lip and followed him, her eyes brimming with tears. She took in deep breaths, trying to calm herself down before she ended up throttling him. After a couple of hours, she froze.

Something didn't feel right, and she felt as though they were being watched. Neji turned to see Kagome freeze. What in the hell did this stupid girl think she was doing?

“Will you hurry the hell up?” He asked, his tone sharp. Her frightened eyes turned to him. “Neji, I think something is here.” She whispered, frightened.

Snorting, he moved towards her, but she quickly darted towards him, throwing herself against him, as a loud explosion suddenly erupted, sending them flying to the ground, with her on top of him.

Shoving her away from him, he rolled to his feet and quickly activated the byakugan. Glancing around, he could not find the source of the explosion, and he was thrown to the ground, once more, when Kagome hit him hard, from behind.

“What is going through that thick skull of yours?” He yelled, no longer caring about keeping silent. “If you keep doing that, one of us is going to get killed, and then I'll have to explain to the hokage that I had to kill you for self-preservation.”

Kagome weakly looked up, her eyes giving a silent apology. She could feel the poison slowly spreading through her body, and when she tried to tell him that she had been hit with something, he turned his back on her, ignoring her.

Kagome cried out, and struggled to get to her feet, but she quickly fell to her knees. Neji's eyes turned towards her, and narrowed when he finally spied the handle of a kunai sticking out from her side. He moved over to her side, and examined the wound.

“Damn it.” He snarled. “We don't have time for this.”

“S-sorry for being a burden on you.” She whispered, bitterly. The young man glared at her, and then reached down to pick her up.

“It's coming.” She whispered, her eyes moving off to the left. “Get out of the way!”

Neji barely had time to dodge the attack, and found himself glaring at a ninja, dressed in black, with a long line scratched in his headplate. It was clear that he used to be a ninja from Suna, but now, it appeared that he was not any ally of his village.

Sneering, he got into an attack stance, but Kagome's hand grabbed his ankle. “Don't attack him.” She pleaded. “He isn't alive.”

“Isn't alive?” Neji snorted. “Of course, he is. Are you too stupid to see him standing there?”

Kagome winced as he kicked his ankle out of her hand, and she cried out in pain when the side where she was injured was jostled. Looking up at him through a curtain of tears, she said, “There is a jutsu, one that animates the bodies of those who have died. A ninja from our village is using the bodies of dead ninja to attack us. That is why we have agreed to join our forces with Konoha.”

The missing ninja from Suna moved forward, but his movements were slightly jerky. Neji ran at the ninja, but before he could hit his enemy, the other ninja moved away in a gust of wind, and he soon found himself on the wrong end of a kunai.

Kagome gritted her teeth against the pain, and slowly got to her feet. Swaying dangerously, she managed to move forward, and watched as Neji froze. The kunai was pressed against his back, and if the dead ninja moved slightly, the blade would have been buried in his back, killing him.

The Suna ninja's head turned towards Kagome, and she sighed. Taking in a deep breath, and fighting off the wave of nausea that washed over her she pulled her hands together, and closed her eyes, gathering her holy power into her hands.

When she felt she had enough, her eyes opened to see the Suna ninja's head turning once more to Neji, and she whispered, “I'm sorry.”

Holding her hands out to the dead ninja, Kagome hit him with a blast of holy power, effectively braking the jutsu's hold, and leaving the ninja in a crumbled heap at Neji's feet.

Neji's eyes were wide as he regarded Kagome. He had felt her power washing over him, soothing him with its gentleness. The anger he had felt at being attacked was erased, and as the power around him faded, he realized that while his attacker was no longer standing, and it appeared that Kagome had reached the end of her strength.

Kagome gave him a tired smile, and opened her mouth to ask him if he were alright. But, before she could get the words out, her eyes closed and she fell into darkness, her body no longer able to withstand the effects of the attack.

Neji caught her before she hit the ground, and quickly brought her down to her back. He used the byakugan and found that the kunai would not further harm her if he were to pull it out, and so, he reached out and removed it, making sure to throw it far away from them so if she did move, she wouldn't accidentally cut herself on it.

He tore part of his shirt and pressed it against her wound, and then looked up when a loud clap of thunder was heard in the sky.

Sighing in frustration, he picked her up in his arms, and quickly headed to a cave that he knew would protect them from the storm. Many ninja from his village had used this cave, and he knew that it would be perfect to hide in, and it held supplies that he could use to bandage her wounds.

As he ran, a frown crossed his handsome face as the realization hit him that he had been wrong. Him. The Hyuuga prodigy. He had horribly misjudged her and because of it, she had been harmed, and what was worse, she had been harmed by protecting him.

His eyes moved to her face, and for a moment, he was glad that she was not conscious. He had a lot to think about, and he needed to do it in peace.

~!~

Kagome awoke to find herself wrapped in a blanket, and warm. She winced when she tried to move and groaned when she realized that her natural healing ability had as of yet to heal the injury to her side.

“I wouldn't move too much,” Neji said, his eyes trained upon hers. “You may aggravate the wound to your side.”

She sighed and leaned back, her eyes trained on the ceiling of what looked to be a cave. The storm outside sounded violent and she was glad that they had not been caught in it.

“How long have we been in here?” She asked, her tone soft. Her throat hurt and she was thirsty, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She might have been hurt, but she could still remember all of the things he said, and how he treated her.

Standing up, he moved towards Kagome, and knelt down beside her. From the rough sound of her voice, she needed a drink, and he was going to see to it that she got it. He knew that he had made some serious errors with her, but it just wasn't in his nature to trust people, especially people he didn't know, and he had always thought that the stories of mikos and monks having some kind of holy super power had been a little far-fetched.

Until today. Now he knew why her sensei had said that she was special. It was clear that she held no formal training as a miko, but she held the power of one, and from what his hokage said, she held a large amount of it.

Pouring some water into a cup, he eased his hand underneath her head and lifted it slowly, and brought the cup to her lips. He gave her small sips of the water, and watched as her eyes closed in contentment.

When she was satisfied, he lowered her head back down and sighed. “We've been here for a few hours, so with any luck, the storm will pass by morning, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were stuck here for a good day or two.” He murmured.

Kagome nodded weakly and gave him a smile. “I'm so sorry to be such a burden on you.” She whispered. “I'll be better once my healing abilities kick in.” She struggled to keep her eyes open, but in the end, lost the fight and was soon asleep.

The words hit him hard. Even after risking her life to save his, she was apologizing for getting hurt and being unable to care for herself. He had only felt this level of shame, once before. That was when Naruto had defeated him in the tournament, and told him that he could change his fate.

It was that day when he realized that the only person who had caged him, was himself.

As the day faded into night, he wondered if the others had returned to the village, and if they had, were they looking for them.

On second thought, Naruto and Kiba had probably introduced their new comrades to the local ninja hangout, and they would all probably get drunk.

When Kagome moaned softly, he stood up and walked to her side, and knelt down. He watched as her eyelashes fluttered and then was greeted by her dark eyes.

“Has the rain stopped?” She asked, her voice strained. Damn it. She should be completely healed by now, especially with her healing abilities. Clearly, the poison was more potent that she had first realized.

Neji regarded her silently before shaking his head. “It has calmed, some what, but it will pick up again.” He said.

Kagome's eyes narrowed when she saw how tired he looked, and she felt a bit guilty that he had watched over her, instead of getting the rest that, he, too, needed.

Scooting over, she gave him a tired smile. “It can't be too comfortable sitting up against that wall.” She said, as the need for sleep began to claim her once more. “You can lay down with me. I won't steal the covers, I promise.”

He watched as her eyes closed, and then frowned. She obviously was not aware that she was completely nude underneath those covers, or else, she would not have made such an offer.

However, while he was a gentleman, at least to those females he knew and liked, like Tenten, he knew that he needed to rest. Already, his chakra reserves were running on low, mainly because he had kept byakugan activated to watch out for any signs of enemies.

Thankfully, there had been none, but he had wanted to ensure that she would be safe. It was his way of apologizing, since he had never been one to use the words. He had a lot to make up for, and he could only hope that together, they could work out a good partnership.

Besides, he liked the thought of being paired with someone who was just as, or might even be, stronger than the legendary miko, Midoriko. He could just imagine his uncle's face when he learned that his nephew, the son of his deceased brother, was paired with such a woman.

But, right now, the thought of sleep was very tempting, and he came to the conclusion that he would accept her invitation, but he'd make sure to stay away from her, just so that if she awoke, she would not freak out by him being so close to her while she was unclothed.

Shrugging out of his shirt, and slipping out of his sandals, he slipped underneath the covers, and smiled as the warmth of her body chased away the chills he had been feeling.

As sleep claimed him, he turned his head and smiled at the peaceful picture Kagome made. He allowed his eyes to trace over her beautiful features, and he could not help but think that she had to be one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

Naruto was right. His pride really was foolish.

~!~

Kagome's eyes opened and she licked her dry lips. She could feel that the pain from the previous day was gone, and that her wounds were gone, as well. She lifted the covers and then slammed them down again, her cheeks flaming.

She was naked!

Turning her head, she found Neji next to her, his even breaths telling her that he was asleep. Once again, she lifted the covers, and gave a sigh of relief. He, at least, had on his pants.

Frowning, she tried to decide on how she was going to deal with this situation when he woke up. She was glad that Inu Yasha was not there, because despite being in love with her cousin, he was very protective over her, and would cause a scene.

When his eyes opened, Kagome bit her lip and watched as his head turned and his eyes met hers.

“Good morning.” She said, timidly. She didn't want to fight with him, again. So, she'd let him talk if and when he felt like it and she'd do her best not to irritate him.

Sitting up, Neji's eyes turned to the entrance of the cave and let out a sigh of relief. “The storm has stopped, so I think that we should try and make it back to the village.” He said, his tone neutral.

Nodding, Kagome looked around for her clothing, and once she located them, she tried to sit up, but winced.

“Easy.” Neji murmured, his large hand on her back. “From what I can tell, the poison used was unusually strong, and it's going to be a while before you are back to your old self.”

“Great, so I get to be a burden.” She muttered, causing Neji to lift an eyebrow.

He really wanted to hang his head. He had made her feel like that, and he honestly didn't know why. Perhaps it was because she reminded him of Hinata, whose gentleness could sooth any savage beast.

He loved Hinata. She was his cousin and had helped him through a very tough time in his life, even after he nearly killed her. She had never held a grudge against him, and only wanted to be close to him. This girl made him want to open up and talk, and he didn't even know her.

He wanted to push her away, because too many people were close to him, and he didn't like having weaknesses. This girl could become his most dangerous weakness if he wasn't careful.

Instead of replying, he turned his back and listened to the rustling of her clothing as she dressed. When she was finally ready, he turned and narrowed his eyes at her shirt.

The material was covered with blood, and he hated see the reminder of his failure. His hands went to his haori and he shrugged out of it. Holding it out to her, he said, “Take the shirt off and put this on. If someone picks up our scent, we might be placed into a fight that we don't need.”

Biting her lip, Kagome slowly reached out and took the haori and whispered her thanks. She turned her back and removed her shirt.

His eyes widened as her back was revealed to him. Her skin was completely unblemished, and looked soft and creamy. His fingers itched to touch her, but he gritted his teeth and watched as she slipped his haori on.

Once it was secure, she turned to face him and said, “I'm ready.”

He nodded, and reached out to take her hand in his. He led her out of the cave, mentally making a note to tell the hokage about their over-night stay so that she could have the cave restocked.

It took them nearly three hours, but they finally reached the gates of Konoha, and Kagome sighed. The man beside her led her through the gates, and it shocked her when he did not let go of her hand.

Neji's ears picked up loud voices and he narrowed his eyes. He recognized one of those voices.

Sure enough, he found Naruto at the ramen shack, but he was not alone. Kagome's teammate, Inu Yasha was sitting beside him, and both were devouring bowls of ramen.

Sango's eyes turned to the newcomers, and she yelped, “KAGOME!”

Kagome didn't have enough time to warn Sango of her injury, and cried out when the girl's arm hit the spot where she was injured.

Miroku quickly stood up, his cheek red from the slap that he had received from the young woman who was working at the ramen shack, and walked over to Kagome. Kneeling down, he asked, “Kagome-sama, what's wrong?”

Neji glared at her companions, and noticed that Inu Yasha had stopped slurping his ramen and was now at Kagome's side, frowning.

“We were attacked and Kagome was hit with a poisoned kunai.” Neji explained, his tone hard. “Her injuries have not healed, yet.”

Kouga gritted his teeth and quickly got between Kagome and Neji. “And where in the fuck were you?” He demanded, his tone accusing. “What in the hell were you doing while she was being attacked?”

“Kouga,” Kagome said, weakly. “It's not his fault. He didn't know what we were up against. And, he didn't know that I had been hit.”

“Leave Neji alone, asshole.” Naruto snapped, coming to stand at his friend's side, ready to back him up if need be.

Inu Yasha stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest and stood next to Kouga. “Why?” He demanded. “We have a right to know why one of our ninjas were hurt, while her partner is standing there, without a scratch on him.”

Sango and Miroku pulled Kagome to her feet, both being careful not to further aggravate her injury. While they, too, were curious, if Kagome said that it wasn't her partner's fault, then they would not place blame.

Neji's eyes remained on Kagome, while Naruto, Kouga, and Inu Yasha continued to trade insults. As their voices grew into shouts, an even louder voice yelled, “SHUT UP!”

All eyes turned to where Sakura, Shippo, and Ayame stood. Sakura, being a medic, quickly moved over to Kagome's side and began to look Kagome over. Frowning, she stood up after her exam.

“We need to get her to Tsunade-sensei.” Sakura murmured. “I can't seem to heal her, but perhaps she can.”

Neji calmly walked around and before anyone could protest, had Kagome up in his arms and said, “Let's go.”

“Hey, wait just a fucking minute.” Inu Yasha snapped, his golden eyes blazing. “Who in the hell do you think you are.”

Neji stopped and then glared at Inu Yasha over his shoulder.

“I'm her partner.”

~!~

“Well, it could have been worse.” Tsunade said, her voice soft. Sesshomaru's eyes were glued to his student's form and he said, “Kagome's healing ability should have healed her.”

Shrugging, the older medic said, “The poison was unusually strong. She's lucky that her body destroyed most of it, and that all she has to deal with is a painful wound.”

The tall man simply nodded and followed the blond woman out of the hospital room, and found his students, along with the Konoha ninjas waiting for them out in the hall.

“Neji, I want some answers.” Tsunade said, her tone hard.

“We all do.” Inu Yasha snapped, and was quickly silenced by a glare from Sesshomaru.

Squaring his shoulders, Neji explained the attack and then turned his eyes to Sesshomaru.

“I felt her holy energy.” He said, his tone accusing. “Despite having no training, she stronger than Midoriko, isn't she? What, exactly, is she?”

Sesshomaru regarded the young man silently, but then nodded. “As I have said before, Kagome is special. She has surpassed Lady Midoriko, and she has as of yet to reach her full potential. I suspect, as does my father, that at the height of her power, Kagome will be unstoppable.”

“I don't want this asshole near her anymore, Sesshomaru-sensei.” Kouga growled, his eyes narrowed on Neji. “He nearly got her killed.”

“Kagome-sama said that it wasn't his fault, Kouga.” Miroku said, his tone even. “If she says that he isn't at fault, then he is not at fault. It happened, and it's been dealt with. Besides, he took very good care of her, and got her back here, so let's not jump to conclusions and wait until Kagome-sama is well enough to give her report.”

Snorting, Inu Yasha muttered, “She'll protect the bastard. She never wants to blame anyone, even if they deserve it.”

“That is enough, Inu Yasha.” Sesshomaru snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Hinata placed her hand upon her cousin's shoulder and softly said, “Let's go home, Neji.”

“I'll be home, soon.” Neji replied, his larger hand reaching up to cover Hinata's smaller one. “I'm going to stay a while longer.”

Hinata let out a sigh, but then nodded. She looked up to find Shippo grinning down at her, and he asked, “So, would you like to see another trick? I'll walk you home and show you on the way.”

Hinata smiled and allowed herself to be led away, and giggled at the joke her new partner had just told.

Miroku looked up to see his new partner, Sakura, glaring down at him. “My dear Sakura, shall we depart?”

“Place your hands on my ass again, and the only one of us who will be departing will be me. You, on the other hand, will be in the intensive care unit, praying for a swift end.” She snapped, but then turned on her heel, her pink locks swishing wildly as she stomped away.

He grinned and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Oh, he did like them feisty. Sango watched as he trailed after his partner, and then turned to find Sasuke standing behind her.

“Don't worry,” He said, his deep voice void of emotion, “If anyone can keep him in line, Sakura can. She and Lady Tsunade are well known for their freakish strength.”

Giving the moody, young man a smile, she turned and listened as Sesshomaru-sensei said, “I do not want to hear about any further confrontations. Neji is Kagome's partner, and has every right be be around her. Do not attempt to cause any problems for him, or else I'll cause problems for the two of you.”

As he walked away, his eyes narrowed as he caught his brother's muttered, “Arrogant prick.” Well, he'd just have to live up to that title at their next training session, wouldn't he?

Neji glared at the two males, but then looked over at Naruto and Lee, who were both watching Inu Yasha and Kouga with narrowed eyes.

“Keep them out of the room.” He said, his tone brooking no room for arguments. “I don't want anything to upset her.”

“Then you need to stay out of the room.” Inu Yasha snapped, but was quieted when Sango snapped, “Inu Yasha, shut up and mind your own business.”

“Butt the hell out, Sango.” Inu Yasha growled, his golden eyes narrowing upon his friend.

Lifting her eyebrow, Sango smiled, though it wasn't friendly and said, “Keep this up and I'll tell Kikyo what you told Miroku. You know, the conversation where she is a real drag in bed, and things of that nature. Perhaps she like to hear some of the complaints that you were voicing to Miroku and that you have said that you need more than what she is currently giving to keep you satisfied.”

The young man in front of her quickly paled as his words came back and echoed in his ears. If Kikyo ever found out what he said, she'd never let him hear the end of it, and he didn't want to even think of what Kagome would say to him if she found out. And, if Kagome was upset, then Sesshomaru would pick up on it, demand answers, and then fuck him over big time for upsetting Kagome.

“I'll kill him.” Inu Yasha snarled and quickly walked away, intent on finding the big-mouthed holy man.

Sango began to giggle and when Kouga looked over at her, she shrugged. “Ok, so maybe I had been eavesdropping, but now, Miroku will be too busy to grope unsuspecting women. It's like killing two birds with one stone.”

Kouga grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. He hated it, but he knew that Kagome would not be angry at Neji. However, if she ever found out about him and Inu Yasha accusing Neji of not protecting her, well, it would not be pretty.

Looking over at the white-eyed young man, he calmly said, “For Kagome's sake, I'll let things rest, but don't let her get hurt, again.”

Neji's eyes slid over to the dark-haired young man, and gave him a sharp nod, indicating that he had heard the underlying warning in his statement.

He opened the door, and once he was inside, closed it softly before moving to a chair that was next to her bed.

Sitting down, he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, and he sighed. He hoped that when she was better, she would let him explain why he had acted so harshly towards her.

~!~

It was nearly a week before Kagome felt like her old self. She was constantly escorted around Konoha by Neji, and was amazed at how kind he could be.

They had done a lot of talking, mainly about her family, and then he told her about how his father had died. He didn't expect a reaction from her, but when he finished telling how his father had sacrificed himself for his elder brother, he suddenly found himself engulfed in a hug.

It had been so long since anyone had hugged him. But, it still felt nice to be touched in the way that Kagome was touching him.

What had been rough in the beginning, quickly grew into something that both ninjas found pleasant. Kagome was the perfect combination of sweetness, and stubbornness, and he found that he enjoyed the playful banters that they would often find themselves in.

But, not everything was perfect. Her teammates continued to watch over Kagome, making sure that she would not come to further harm. Her sensei, despite his earlier words, had warned him that should Kagome ever be hurt again, he would personally see to it that the Hyuuga family would have another death to mourn.

However, Kagome's bright smile and cheerful laugh often mellowed him out, and he found that the normal stresses that he had continued to carry on his shoulders, melted away.

Gods, he was going crazy, but he knew that he was falling hard for the girl. Damn her, she probably knew it, too.

“Neji?” Kagome asked, her eyes wide with concern as she studied his face. “Are you all right?”

Looking down, he nodded. “I'm fine, Kagome.” He said. “I was just thinking about taking you to this place that I know of. It's peaceful and has an excellent view of the mountains.”

Kagome grinned and nodded. Ever since she had been released from the hospital, Neji had been by her side. Once, she told him that he didn't need to babysit her, but he shook his head and muttered that he wasn't babysitting. He said that he was looking out for his partner, though she suspected that there was more to what he was saying.

She wasn't stupid, nor was she naive. She saw the looks that he gave her, when he thought that she wasn't watching. She had heard the commotion that her teammates had caused out in the hallway, when she was in the hospital, and she made a mental note to thrash both Kouga and Inu Yasha later.

Together, they began to walk down the path that Neji knew well. Soon, they came upon a small grove, which was covered in a soft blanket of snow.

“It's so pretty!” Kagome exclaimed, her hands reaching out to catch some of the falling snow flakes.

Neji smiled as he watched the gentle-hearted girl walk away from him, her eyes starting up at the heavens, and her hands slowly filling with snow flakes.

When she finally looked over at him, she grinned and then did something that he had not prepared for. She hugged him. This was the second hug he had received from her, and he felt special because of it.

“No one has ever done this for me.” She murmured, her voice soft. “Thank you so much, Neji.”

The stoic young man slowly lifted his arms and wrapped them around Kagome, being careful not to put too much pressure in his embrace. “You are welcome.” He quietly replied, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.

They stayed in the grove for nearly half an hour, talking and throwing snowballs at each other, but then decided to return to the village, the cold finally getting to both of them. He smiled as he listened to her chatter about everything that was on her mind, and she didn't stop until they reached the doors to the Hyuuga compound.

He led her inside, and both gave Hinata and Shippo a smile, though the young heiress and her partner were too busy laughing to really notice Neji and Kagome. She was quiet as he led her to his rooms, a separate wing of the compound that his uncle had given to him as a way of showing Neji that he did, in fact, care for him.

He knew that his uncle carried an intense amount of guilt over his younger brother's death. By all rights, it should have been the elder Hyuuga to die, but instead, his father stood up and took his brother's place, leaving him all alone and very angry.

It was during the tournament, when he fought Naruto, that he realized that he was the only one keeping himself in a cage, and he had fought to change the way he thought. Fate was what he made it, and now, he believed that. No longer would he believe that his life had already been planned out. He would live his life to the fullest, and take chances.

The first chance he wanted to take was with Kagome. Since that horrible day, when she was injured, he had done a lot of thinking and he finally came to the conclusion that the reason why he fought so hard against her was because she represented everything that he wanted, but felt would be forever denied to him.

Kagome was light, and happiness. She was the warmth that he knew would thaw his heart, and he had been afraid of her. Afraid that she would break down the rest of the barriers that Naruto had cracked.

She was, in his mind, perfection achieved, and he wanted her.

He opened the door to his private room, and led her inside. Their clothing were wet, and he didn't want her, or him, getting a cold. So, he quickly lit a fire in the fireplace and then went to his closet for some clothing.

He smiled as he pulled the haori out that he had given to Kagome the day they left that cave. She had washed it, and given it back to him a couple of days after she was released from the hospital.

Turning, he silently handed it to her, and then turned and reached for a pair of pants. He glanced over his shoulder and nearly chuckled when she asked, “Is there a bathroom I can change in?”

“The bathroom is down the hall, but you would have to walk all the way back here in just the haori.” He replied, his tone neutral. “I'll turn my back and won't peek. I trust that you won't peek, either.”

Smirking at her outraged gasp, he turned and quickly shed his clothing and then put on the pair of dry pants. He waited patiently for her to tell him to turn around and when it didn't come, he calmly asked, “Is everything all right, Kagome?”

Kagome cleared her throat and said, “I think that I must have shrunk your haori, Neji.”

He turned and froze. His eyes wandered over her, taking in the sight of his haori clinging to her curves, and the bottom of the haori resting high on her thighs, barely covering her most secret of places.

He watched as she began to fidget, and he sighed. Perhaps this had not been such a good idea, after all, though a small voice in the back of his mind was chanting that it had been a very good idea.

He kept his voice calm and he shrugged. “There is nothing that we can do about it.” He said as he walked over to where she stood. “We will let our clothing dry out, and then, I'll walk you back to your quarters.”

Biting her lip, Kagome nodded and handed him her clothing. She watched as he laid out both sets of clothing, but nearly giggled when he found her panties and bra. The blush on his face was priceless, and she smirked when she saw the faint tremor in his hand.

He did his best to keep his features stoic. However, when he came upon her bra and panties, he lost his train of thought and he froze, staring at the two pieces of material as if he had never seen lingerie before.

When he finally snapped out of his stupor, he quickly stood up and looked over at Kagome, who was struggling not to laugh. A frown crossed his face and he said, “I am not used to handling a woman's undergarments, so you will have to excuse me.”

Waving her hand in the air, Kagome quickly said, “I'm sorry, but I was just thinking that if it were Miroku who was drying our clothing, I have no doubt that I'd be missing my panties. That pervert is well known for stealing women's underwear.”

Neji didn't like the thought of that stupid monk touching anything that belonged to Kagome. She must have noticed his unease, because she stepped forward and gently took his hand.

“Let's sit by the fire, ok?” She asked, her dark eyes looking up into his pearly gaze.

He allowed her to lead him over and together, they sat down, staring at the fire and allowing the warmth to ease over their skin.

While they waited for their clothing to dry, Kagome began to talk about her companions, and he could not help the smirk that crossed his face. But, it was during this time that she confessed to hearing the conversation that was held outside of her hospital room.

“I'm really sorry if Inu Yasha and Kouga have caused you any problems.” She murmured, her eyes sliding over to him.

Shrugging, he said, “They are not anything that I could not have dealt with.”

“Kouga thinks that he is in love with me.” Kagome said, her face thoughtful. “Even though he and Ayame are supposed to marry, he still calls me 'his woman', and it always leads to him and Inu Yasha getting into a fight.”

“Do you want Kouga?” Neji asked, silently berating himself for asking.

Kagome snorted, and then shook her head. “Don't get me wrong. Kouga is a good guy, but he is not my type. Sesshomaru-sensei would never allow a union between us, anyways. He thinks that Kouga lacks manners and class.” She replied.

“What about that other one? Inu Yasha?” Neji asked, his eyes now completely focused on Kagome.

“I used to think that I was in love with Inu Yasha.” She said, her eyes locked onto the fire. “We even started dating, but Sesshomaru-sensei quickly put an end to that, too. He found out that while he was dating me, Inu Yasha was also dating my cousin, Kikyo.”

Frowning, Neji shook his head. “Why would your cousin do such a thing?” He demanded, his tone harsh.

Kagome sighed and reached over to pat his hand. “She didn't know.” She replied. “I was brought to Sesshomaru-sensei and his family when I was very small. I only spoke to that side of the family on rare occasions. When he learned what Inu Yasha was doing, sensei called me and Kikyo together and made Inu Yasha tell us everything.”

“Good.” Neji sneered, his disdain for the younger silver-haired male growing.

“Actually, it was a pretty bad move.” Kagome said, her eyes moving to the floor. “That was the first time I lost control over my holy abilities. All I remember was waking up in Sesshomaru-sensei's arms, and hearing him tell Inu Yasha that this was all his fault and to get out of his sight before sensei taught him the real meaning of pain. Kikyo had helped subdue me, but it was only a temporary solution.”

“So, your cousin is a miko, then?” Neji surmised, his tone even. “How did she subdue you?”

Kagome's brow wrinkled, as she thought for several minutes. Finally, she sighed and shrugged. “I honestly don't know.” Kagome murmured. “After that incident, no one was allowed to talk about it. But, our lord did say that with that outburst, their theory about me being stronger than the miko, Midoriko, had been proven.”

“I see.” Neji said, his eyes moving over her form. “Why is your cousin still with that loser, anyways?”

Cocking her eyebrow up, Kagome gave a soft giggle and she said, “Well, Kikyo and I were both pretty angry over what he had done, but Kikyo was in love with him, and had told me that she could not let him go. He confessed to me, later, that he had fallen in love with Kikyo, as well, and had been trying to figure out a way to tell me that would not hurt me. But, Kikyo keeps him on a very short leash, and she would have come with us, but she had been called to duty in the village, and could not come.”

Neji shook his head and then decided to lay back on the soft rug that they were currently sitting on. He looked up to see Kagome smiling down at him, and he lifted his eyebrow.

“What?” He asked, curious.

Reaching out, Kagome took a lock of his hair, which was spread out around Neji, and quietly said, “I had been wondering if your hair was as soft as it looked. But, I was wrong. It's much softer.”

Neji smiled, but tensed when Kagome moved to lie down beside him. At first, neither said a word, but when Kagome moved closer to him, snuggling against his side, he quietly asked, “What are you doing, Kagome?”

Kagome wasn't sure what she was doing. All she knew was that she trusted this young man, and liked being near him. He made her feel safe, despite their rocky beginning.

Peeking up at his face, and finding his eyes looking down at her, she smiled and said, “I can't help it if I like being near you.”

She was about to lay her head back down on the rug, but his arm quickly wrapped around her shoulders and he pulled her closer to him, surprising both of them.

Neji took in a deep breath. Well, if he was going to stop relying on fate, and start relying on himself to make his own path, he might as well start here.

Leaning down, he allowed his lips to gently brush hers, his eyes watching for signs of discomfort. When none came, he pulled her closer to him and allowed his lips to touch hers.

Kagome's eyes fluttered closed, and she sighed when his kiss became slightly demanding. She followed his lead, and when his mouth opened, her did too, and she felt his tongue enter her mouth. When his tongue touched hers, she allowed her own tongue to return his caresses.

He carefully rolled Kagome onto her back as their kiss continued. He was gentle with her, wanting her to be completely at ease in his embrace. Her arms lifted and wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

When he finally broke the kiss, he looked down at her, and allowed his eyes to take in her features. While he studied her, Kagome's hands lifted and she ran her fingers over his smooth skin, marveling at how soft he was.

Neji was not muscular, but he was not skinny, either. He was the perfect mixture of grace and agility, and had the lithe body to prove that. He was a man who knew he was dangerous, and knew he had the skill to back it up.

Gods, this man turned her on.

His hair fell around them, creating a dark curtain, and he smirked. Kagome clearly had a thing for his long, dark hair. When her eyes connected with his, he leaned down and kissed her again, but this time, the kiss was more intense, his intent clear.

Kagome moaned as his mouth left hers and began to trail over her cheek and down to her neck. His large hands quickly untied and then parted the haori, leaving her completely exposed to his gaze.

The cool air that brushed Kagome's skin caused her to gasp, and when his mouth came into contact with her breast, she cried out, her hands tangling into his hair and pulling him closer.

His tongue lapped at her right nipple, while his fingers moved over to her left, gently pinching and rolling the aroused peak. The woman beneath him bucked her hips and arched her back, a silent invitation to sate his desires.

Her eyes closed as the man above her continued his exploration of her body. For the first time in her life, she wanted to be touched, loved, and desired. For so long, she had held herself away from physical contact because she feared that if it were known just how powerful she was, she would not be wanted.

Even though many people wanted power, they still shunned those who held that power. Hell, even Inu Yasha had once told her that her power made him nervous and that is why he had turned to Kikyo, whose power didn't even come close to her own.

Now, here was this man, and she knew that he cared for her. His touches conveyed that message to her clearly. He wanted her because she was Kagome, and not some high powered being.

Neji's lips moved down her body and came to her stomach. His hands moved to hold her waist and he smiled when she began to giggle and whine that his lips were tickling her. He looked up at her, and smirked. He kept her gaze as he allowed his tongue to dip inside of her bellybutton, and then began to make a trail down her lower body to the edge of her pubic hair.

Kagome's breath caught in her throat as he moved to lie between her legs, spreading her open for his view. He studied her for a few minutes, and he could see the evidence of her desire for him.

Leaning down, he allowed his tongue to gather up some of the slick essence that had seeped from her, and he closed his eyes as her sweet flavor tickled his senses. When he opened his eyes, he made sure that she was watching him and leaned down, once again, and allowed his tongue to invade her soft body, this time licking from her slit to her clit.

Kagome's breathing became erratic as she watched Neji taste the most private area of her body. His eyes, those beautiful, pearly eyes, watched as she threw her head back, and cried out.

His mouth worked her, taking everything she had, until her body finally reached the peak he had wanted her to reach. When she met her climax, her cries were like sweet music to him, and he was desperate to make sure that he was the only one who would hear them.

Kagome was his girl. He wanted her, and he would have her, even if he had to transfer to her village to be with her. He would not lose her.

When her body stopped shaking, Kagome's eyes opened, and she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Neji was watching her, his face void of emotion, and when their eyes met, he prowled up her body with the grace of a cat, until he came face-to-face with her.

His knees nudged her legs wider, to accommodate him, and he softly asked, “Will you allow this union? We won't go any further, unless you wish it.”

Kagome's body cried out in agony as his words hit her ears. She couldn't stop! Not now. She needed to feel him. He made her feel beautiful, and cared for. But, most of all, he made her feel loved.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she looked him in the eyes and whispered, “Please, I want you. Please, Neji.”

That was all he needed to hear. While she had been coming down from her climactic high, he had removed his pants, and was ready to please her. He moved until the tip of his cock was at her entrance, which was slick from her release, and he worked himself in, being careful not to harm her.

He, by no means, was small. He knew he was of a respectable size, but not big enough that he would cause her serious harm should he thrust all the way in. Even though she was not his first, she was his last. He would make sure of it.

Kagome's eyes stayed locked with his and she fought the urge to tense up when she felt him slowly enter her body. His whispered words to relax were lost on her, as the sensations washed over her, carrying her away.

When he met the veil of her innocence, he took in a deep breath, and reached down to grasp her hands. Moving them so that her hands were above her head, he interlocked their fingers and he gently kissed her lips.

Kagome took in a deep breath, and when his hips snapped forward, breaking her hymen, she cried out, though her cries were muffled by his mouth.

Neji winced as her nails began to cut into his hands. He knew that with her being so tiny, she would feel some pain, but seeing her in this much pain, well, it hurt him to know that he was the cause.

But, as bad as her tears were, it was her whimpers that completely undid him. He could not put her through this.

“Kagome,” He whispered, “I am going to pull out. I am not going to hurt you like this.”

As he tried to move, her legs came up and wrapped around his hips. When he looked down at her, she smiled at him and after taking a shaky breath, she said, “I'm all right, Neji. I'll be fine.”

To be honest, he didn't want to stop, but if he was hurting her, he would. However, Kagome took his choice away from him when she lifted her hips against his, causing him to sink even further into her.

Of their own accord, his hips began to thrust, causing the girl beneath him to cry out and throw her head back. He could feel the slick heat of her body coating his arousal and he gritted his teeth as he began to move faster.

Soon, Kagome's whimpers were drowned out by the slapping of skin, their bodies glistening with sweat as they struggled to meet their ends. He knew that he was nearly there, but he refused to give into the sweet sensation until Kagome had met hers.

When she began to shake, he allowed his thrusts to become harder, faster as he pushed to completion. As soon as he felt her muscles clamp down on his cock, he finally let go, groaning as he released his seed into the woman he loved, and knew that she felt for him, too.

Kagome looked up at their hands, which were still locked together above her head. She let out a tired chuckle, and then sighed when he lifted his head to look at her. He gave her a smirk, and then bent his head to tenderly kiss her, his feelings clear within that kiss.

Kagome untangled their hands and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. “I'm in love with you, Hyuuga Neji.” She whispered, her tone tender.

The dark male smiled and gave her a grin. “You'd be a fool not to be.” He said, knowing that she'd know he was joking.

Sure enough, Kagome snorted and rolled her eyes. “How conceited.” She murmured, and watched as he nodded in agreement before he slowly eased himself out of her body, and then walked over to grab his towel so that he could clean both of them off.

Once he had finished, he moved Kagome over to his bed, and settled her underneath his sheets, and he quickly joined her.

As they lay together, Kagome whispered, “Do you believe in fate?”

Ok, so old habits were hard to break. To be honest, he did still believe that fate had a hand in what happened in his life, but he also believed that he had the ability to change whatever plan fate had for him.

“I believe that you were meant for me.” He said, kissing the top of her head, before tucking her head underneath his chin. “I also believe that we have a long, happy life in front of us, and that we've only just begun.”

Kagome smiled and snuggled deeper into his embrace. She liked the thought of a happy life with Neji.

~!~

The morning air was crisp and cool, but Kagome felt warm with Neji's arms wrapped around her. It was clear that their relationship had changed and despite Inu Yasha's and Kouga's comments about Neji being an asshole, everyone else seemed thrilled that they were together.

Tsunade and Sesshomaru stood before their students and Tsunade looked at Neji. “I don't have to tell you how hard it is to have a relationship with another ninja, do I?” She asked, her tone even.

The Hyuuga prodigy simply shook his head. “I know the risks and I don't care.” He said, his eyes never leaving those of his hokage's.

The woman sighed and looked at Sesshomaru, whose golden eyes were upon Kagome. “I have received word from our lord that he has decided to remove you from ninja status, Kagome.”

“Why?” Kagome asked, stunned. She had not done anything wrong.

Sesshomaru stepped forward and looked down at the young woman. It was going to be so hard to let her go. However, both he and his father knew that once Kagome's heart belonged to someone, it would break should she be forced to leave them.

“Our lord has decided to place you on his board of advisers.” Sesshomaru stated. “However, you will remain here in Konoha as the ambassador from the village of the western moon.”

Shocked, Kagome softly asked, “When was this decided?”

“It was decided before we left our village.” Her sensei said, quietly. “Here in Konoha, you will be protected, and more importantly, you will be loved. Here, you can do our village the most good by keeping our alliance strong.”

Kagome lifted her eyes to her sensei's, and felt her tears roll down her cheeks. Without warning, she flung her arms around his waist, knowing that he would not push her away. Besides, he was used to her hugs, anyways.

Sesshomaru's large hand stroked her long hair and he softly murmured, “I will miss you, Kagome. Never forget, you will always have a home with me and my family.”

When she looked up at him, Sesshomaru placed a tender kiss upon her forehead and then looked over at Neji.

“She will not come to any harm.” He said, his tone hard. When the young man nodded, Sesshomaru sighed and watched as Neji grasped her arm and pulled her back into his embrace.

“Well, it is time for us to depart.” Sesshomaru said, giving Tsunade a respectful bow. When she returned his bow, he turned to his students, and motioned for them to start walking.

However, he froze when Kagome's voice called out, “Sesshomaru-sensei, wait!”

He turned and watched as the young woman ran to him and then thrust something into his hands. She motioned for him to lean down and whispered, “Here are those pictures that you wanted copies of. Please give one set to Kikyo, but there is an extra special picture in there, just in case you ever need to keep Kouga and Inu Yasha in line. Tell them that this is payback for their behavior in the hospital.”

Lifting his eyebrow, Sesshomaru looked down to find an envelope in his hand, and he nodded. As they began the long walk back to their village, he opened the envelope and nearly chuckled at all of the pictures that Kagome had given to him.

The first set was on Kouga and Inu Yasha being stuck to that pole. The next set of pictures were of his students with their Konoha partners. Then, he found a picture of Kagome, who was smiling at the camera. Finally, he came upon the pictures that Kagome had said would keep Inu Yasha and Kouga in line.

The first picture had Inu Yasha and that blonde, Naruto in a very compromising position, with Naruto being on top. It was clear that they were having sex, and it shocked him that his brother could swing that way.

The next was of Kouga, who was pleasuring that weird kid, Lee. Well, at least the loud-mouthed young man finally found something to shut him up.

Smirking, he made his way over to where the two young men were walking and quietly said, “Well, I see that the both of you made some interesting friends in Konoha.”

“What in the fuck are you talking about, shithead?” Inu Yasha snapped, not caring to show his brother the respect due to him.

Sesshomaru shot him an evil smile and pulled out the picture. When Inu Yasha saw it, he froze in his tracks, and turned pale. “Wh-where did you get that?” He whispered, hoarsely.

“Let's just say that I have enough ammunition to destroy you and your good friend, here.” Sesshomaru purred. “Now, are you ready to start behaving, or should I show these to Ayame and Kikyo?”

Both young men glanced at each other, and then said, “We'll be good, Sesshomaru-sensei.”

Smirking, Sesshomaru moved forward and held his head high. This was a proud moment in his life, and he was going to milk it for all it was worth.

Yes, the fates must really love him.