Together Again

This ended up being a longer chapter than I thought it would be. It’s definitely the longest I’ve ever written.

Oh, and no matter how much I wish Inuyasha and crew were mine, they’re not.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

~~~~~~~~~~Together Again~~~~~~~~~~

~~~Chapter 4~~~

He knew they would meet again someday…perhaps the next time they met…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha grumbled to himself up in the tree. Kagome had wasted months of time in her training. Sure she had already surpassed Kikyo in power, but there was still a lot she didn’t know. Plus she had to drag him to his bastard brother’s house so she could use his library to do some research. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been every other week. He couldn’t believe Sesshoumaru actually allowed her to use the books. He tried to stay outside, away from Sesshoumaru. If he was around him they would fight and Kagome would sit him into oblivion. Something he very much wanted to avoid. That was the reason he was in the tree outside the castle.

~*~

Kagome smiled as she finally found the book she had been looking for. She figured someone like Sesshoumaru would have a book about the Kami’s. She hadn’t told anyone about her dreams yet; how Benten, the goddess of love, and even Tsuki-yumi, the god of the moon, had come to visit her in them. For all they knew she was researching her miko powers, which had ended at least two visits ago. No one knew what she knew, they just assumed because she hadn’t tried anything she didn’t know. She wanted to know why the gods were coming to her and showing her Amaterasu. The best way to figure that out was to find out more about her.

Kagome felt a presence enter the room and chose to ignore him, but when he stood behind her and stayed there, she became slightly annoyed. He had barely acknowledged her existence since that morning, although agreeing to let her use his library. It was like it didn’t even matter. It annoyed her to no end knowing he was just standing there watching her. She hated being watched. “Is there a reason you are watching me read Sesshoumaru?”

He narrowed his eyes. He had been watching her progress closely and could feel her power increase visit to visit. Inuyasha had always accompanied her so he hadn’t been able to come to her. He knew this was the reason for her icy tone so he decided to let it pass. “You have learned a lot more than you let on.”

She shrugged her shoulders. If he was going to act like nothing happened, so was she. “Didn’t think anyone would care.”

Sesshoumaru closed in on her, backing her up to a wall. He knew it wasn’t a good idea with his brother being around, but he couldn’t contain himself any longer. Nose buried in the crook of her neck he continued to speak. “This battle with Naraku rides on what you learn Kagome. What I want is held up because of this. Tell me just exactly what you are capable of? I can smell your power coming off you in waves. It is quite delicious.”

She shivered beneath him as his breath danced across her neck. It took everything she had to pull away from the trance he had lulled her into with his simple presence. She let a sly smirk cross over her features as she gazed up into his eyes. “I could show you if you trust me.”

The smile unnerved him. He could tell that she had been angry with him so he couldn’t tell whether it was a threat or something else all together. “What do you have in mind?”

She grabbed a hold of his empty sleeve. He tried to grab her arm, but her skin was hot to the touch. She didn’t even try to jerk her hand away. He growled as she smiled up at him again. “I asked you trust me. For this to work you have to put at least some trust in me. You can’t fight it. I promise I won’t purify you.”

He had no idea what possessed his body to agree when his mind was screaming at him for being such an idiot. To trust a female ningen was absurd! When he nodded his head she quickly went up his armless sleeve to the stub of what was left of his arm. His eyes widened as they were both engulfed in a pale pink light. He could feel the massive power radiating off the small human in front of him and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. That light that should have killed him, especially with the amount of purity it emitted, was warming him down to his very soul.

He was so amazed at the power that this miko contained he forgot to pay attention to what she was actually doing. As the light faded Kagome grasped both his hands and smiled. He looked down at his hand in shock and back to Kagome. “Thank you… Kagome.” He was dumbfounded. It would have taken him centuries to rebuild that arm, if ever in his lifetime.

She felt a little dizzy, but her pride wouldn’t let it show. The amount of power taken to replace that arm was unreal, but the outcome was something she had wanted for a while. She felt bad that someone so noble had to be without an arm, even if he did lose it trying to kill Inuyasha. That, and it really was the only gift she had to give him.

She grabbed the book and then slid her hand in his and led him out of the library. He was too wrapped around the idea of having his arm back to even think about it, still in utter disbelief. She didn’t think twice about it. “Come on, let’s go show Inuyasha.”

She was proud of what she did, however exhausting it was, and couldn’t wait to show Inuyasha. She knew exactly where he’d be.

Inuyasha nearly fell off the tree in a fit of laughter as he saw Sesshoumaru in tow behind Kagome, apparently coming for him. The look of shock on his face was classic, but not for the reason he initially thought.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing as they neared closer, and now understood the look on Sesshoumaru’s face. He had both arms! Inuyasha jumped down from the tree eager to meet them. He wanted an explanation. “How’d that happen?” He asked inspecting Sesshoumaru’s arm.

A sly grin crept across Sesshoumaru’s face as an idea to irritate his brother formulated in his mind. “That’s what happens when one mates a miko.”

Kagome spun around wide-eyed and completely red, while a certain irate hanyou pulled her close and inhaled her scent. She couldn’t believe he had said that to him! She almost let out a sigh of relief when Inuyasha spoke next.

“You lying bastard.” He looked down to Kagome expecting answers. “How did it happen?”

He couldn’t believe the fury coursing through his body at Inuyasha’s embrace and was trying to avoid ripping his throat out. The looks she was sending him were warning him to behave. It was as if she knew what the effect would be.

Kagome glared at Sesshoumaru. She could see the fury blaze in his eyes the moment Inuyasha grabbed her. Inside she was jumping for joy that he actually cared, but she didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Hell, he had just got his arm back. She quickly returned her attention to Inuyasha to give him her explanation. “I was just trying out some of my powers. I wanted to see if it would work.”

Sesshoumaru glared at her. If she wasn’t going to give him the answers they were both looking for then he would provoke Inuyasha into getting them for him. That and he wanted to know exactly what threat Inuyasha would pose to him taking Kagome. “Come Inuyasha, we must talk.”

Inuyasha reluctantly followed, unsure of what to expect. Talks never went well with Sesshoumaru. They always ended in one hell of a bloody battle.

Once they were out of Kagome’s hearing distance Sesshoumaru stopped and turned to face Inuyasha. “Why is it that you have not taken Kagome as your mate?” His voice demanded an answer. “It is obvious you care for and protect the miko and yet you leave her unmarked? Why?”

Inuyasha growled. This was not something he wanted to talk about with this bastard. “Why do you care?”

“It is none of your concern.” He said flatly. “Tell the reason or it shall be beaten out of you. It is your choice.”

If he hadn’t known that Kagome would ‘sit’ him into oblivion if he picked a fight with him, he would have chose to fight. But with her around he had no choice but to say it, however infuriating it was. “She’s too good for me alright!”

A smile graced Sesshoumaru’s lips. The very same thought had passed his mind. “That is for certain. Someone with the amount of power she contains deserves much better than the likes of a hanyou.”

Inuyasha growled. “Don’t you think I know that! I might have had a chance if I hadn’t screwed things up with Kikyo. Things haven’t been the same since I left her alone in the meadow.”

It was exactly what he wanted to hear. She had detached herself from the hanyou because of his advances. It pleased him to no end, but he still needed to figure some things out.

Sesshoumaru turned to face Inuyasha, now serious. “She is up to something. She knows a lot more than she is letting on. She restored my arm in a blink of an eye. The amount of power she emitted was amazing. There has to be a reason for her not to notify anyone and prolong the hunt for the jewel shards. She may not be lying, but she isn’t telling you everything. This Sesshoumaru has never seen a miko with such powers.”

The uncharacteristic grin returned to his face. “Someone is sure to come along and mark her soon. That much power is very tempting.”

Inuyasha growled, catching the hint. It wasn’t in his character to take a human as a mate, but he guessed the only thing that mattered to the bastard was power, and apparently she had a lot. He would never let the bastard lay a hand on her. “Is that a threat?”

Kagome came walking up unaware of the conflict going on before her. She was tired of waiting in the same spot and so ready to go home. The only thing on her mind right now was sleep. She caught his attention by grabbing his arm and tugging on the sleeve. “Inuyasha can we go home now?”

Inuyasha glared at Sesshoumaru before he nodded and followed her lead. She was tired, that was for sure. Whatever power she drew up to heal his arm had taken a lot out of her. He growled to himself knowing that if he couldn’t smell it, he would have never known the extent of her exhaustion. She never had a concern for herself.

Once they were out of sight and earshot he stopped her. He had to now what she knew, and most of all, why she felt she had to hide it from him. “Kagome?”

His voice was sad and it made her wince, wondering what Sesshoumaru could have told him. She turned to him, giving him her best smile. He wouldn’t dare tell him about them would he? “Yes Inuyasha?”

His brow furrowed as he tried to put into words what he wanted to say. He never was good at speaking his mind, especially when it was to her. “Why don’t you trust me?”

Her eyes saddened and her smile disappeared. She had a funny feeling he was talking about her new powers. She should have known he would take it like that. She really hadn’t meant to hurt him by not telling him. There were just some things she needed to figure out for herself before the hunt continued. “It’s not that I don’t trust you Inuyasha… it’s just… complicated.”

Inuyasha growled. That wasn’t an answer. “Keh, that’s not an answer wench. What’s complicated and why can’t you tell me?”

Kagome hung her head and focused on the ground, suddenly finding it more interesting. “I didn’t think that anyone would believe me. It’s silly… really. It’s just some dreams I’ve been having lately.”

Inuyasha grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look up at him. “Who do you think you’re talking to wench? Of course I would believe you. It can’t be silly if it worries you.”

She flashed him a smile. Sometimes he really surprised her. She felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. She may not have the same feelings of attraction that she used to, but he was still the only person she could tell just about anything. “Thank you.”

He released her from his grasp and smiled. “Keh, you’re welcome. Now explain. Let’s start with what you know.”

She grinned from ear to ear. She really had been itching to tell someone. “Well you know how lately we’ve been running into NO demons on our ventures out? Even though I still hold part of the jewel.” When he nodded she continued. “Well one thing I’ve learned to perfect is my barrier capabilities. I’ve got all kinds. There is the one I use to protect myself.” She paused and giggled, thinking of earlier with Sesshoumaru. “It is form fitting and allows me the ability to protect just me. I’ve also got the normal one that you know about where it protects the people inside and keeps demons out. That’s why there are no demons around.”

“What about Sesshoumaru?” He interjected.

She stuck tongue out at him. “I was getting to that. Along with barriers I can, of course, heal. Most mikos can’t do quite as much, which is why they concentrate on herbal remedies a lot. It takes a lot of energy though. The bigger the wound or the more fatal the wound the more energy it takes from me.” She yawned. “It’s why I’m so tired now.”

“What else?” He demanded.

“Just like you can smell someone coming and pick them out by their scent, I can feel someone coming by their aura. It’s probably why I can sense the jewel so well. It has an aura of its own.” She paused and had to think. There was a lot to these new powers of hers and it was hard to remember all at once. “Oh, and I can hide my scent and aura so no one can smell or feel me approaching.”

His thoughts traveled to the upcoming battle and he smiled. “Naraku will never know what hit him.”

Kagome put her hands on her hips and glared at Inuyasha. “You just never let me finish do you?”

He looked at her in surprise. “There’s more?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and if you’d stop interrupting me I’d tell you.”

When he didn’t speak she took it as her cue to continue. “That stuff is just defense. I can also channel my purifying powers through anything now, not just arrows.”

Inuyasha was stunned. Not even Kikyo could do it to that extent. “Anything?”

She laughed, thinking about it some more. “Well I don’t think I could purify anyone by talking or looking at them, so not everything. I could purify someone, however, if… well… never mind.” Her cheeks blushed for even the thought crossing her mind. It had to be the dreams. She was not going to finish that sentence. She was lucky that it passed him by without another thought, but he did begin to growl.

“So what’s the holdup then?” He growled trying to contain his anger. Thinking of Naraku had brought back the memory that she was holding up the hunt. She had been able to do all this and still said nothing. They could have found Naraku by now.

“This is the part I thought no one would believe.” She looked down, gathering enough courage. “I’ve had two gods visit me in my dreams. They show me images of Amaterasu and Susano-O and tell me things. They said I needed to visit their temples. I didn’t know how to bring it up.”

Inuyasha looked concerned as his brows furrowed and Kagome jumped out of her skirt when he suddenly snapped at her. “Why didn’t you tell me wench?! The gods don’t just pay anyone’s dreams for any reason! Keh! Sometimes you are so stupid!”

Tears welled up in her eyes but they didn’t fall. She glared at him as she walked up closer to him. She grabbed a hold of the beads around his neck but Inuyasha quickly snatched her hand. “What do you think you’re doing wench? These are mine.”

She tried to pull her hand back but he wouldn’t let go. “I don’t need them anymore. I thought I was being nice.” When he didn’t release her she screamed at him. “Will you let go?!”

Inuyasha growled and pulled her closer to his body, snaking an arm around her waist to hold her in position. “No.”

Kagome struggled against him but it was no use. “I’ll say ‘it’.”

“No.” He growled again, knowing it was an empty threat. There was no way she’d ‘sit’ him while he had a hold of her.

She finally gave up and stilled in his arms, knowing it was useless. If she wanted to hurt him she could get out, but she could never do that. Her eyes met his and a knot tied in her stomach. She wasn’t sure about the look he was giving her. She had been struggling so much that she hadn’t noticed he had pulled her flush to his body. “Inuyasha?”

He didn’t know what had taken over his body. When their eyes met he was drawn into her, all anger forgotten. His eyes darted to her lips and he smiled as her tongue darted out to moisten them. He couldn’t contain the hunger this girl stirred within his body, the insatiable need to taste her, capture her lips in his.

Her stomach tensed and her mind went racing as he inched his face closer to hers. The only thing she could think of, however, was Sesshoumaru. She could feel his breath on her lips as he inched closer and closer causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Why did this have to happen now? She didn’t want to hurt him.

She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when he snapped his head up and growled in the distance. She was relieved she didn’t have to deny him today.

Now that she was fully aware of her surroundings again she could feel the wolf prince closing in on them. ‘Never have I been so happy to see him.’ Kagome mumbled under her breath. “Thanks Kouga.”

Inuyasha on the other hand was thanking the gods for the distraction. He didn’t know what had come over him, but it shouldn’t have happened. She deserved better than him. Just because he wanted her didn’t make it right. He waited for Kouga’s arrival. It didn’t take long.

Seconds later Kouga was there, not really liking the scene before him. “Why don’t you get your paws off my woman mutt-face?” He focused his attention to Kagome and flashed her one of his famous smiles. “Kagome you are looking beautiful as always.”

She gladly stepped out of Inuyasha’s embrace and reached back to calm the growling hanyou and hopefully keep this peaceful. She was going to tell Kouga for the final time that she wasn’t his. The constant bickering was almost annoying as his claim on her. She may be nice, but she could only take so much. “Kouga, I am not and will never be your woman. So stop aggravating Inuyasha and tell us why you’re here already.”

Inuyasha’s growling subsided as Kouga gave Kagome a shocked expression, however fleeting it was. “I thought it was obvious. I came to get my woman.” Kouga said, standing his ground. “Mutt-face here will only get you killed.”

He held out a hand for Kagome, but she shook her head. “I told you Kouga, I’m not interested.”

Kouga snorted, but still didn’t retract his hand or move from his spot. “That’s only because mutt-face won’t let you get interested.”

Kagome laughed. “If you think I’m going to take your hand you really are dense. I am not interested because you are egotistical, self-centered, and a cheater too. You should be at home with Ayame… your fiancée.”

Kouga shivered in his boots at the mention of her name. It had taken him nearly a week to lose her. “Kagome I don’t want her, I want you. I will only settle for the best.”

She sighed. She had no idea what to do. She had tried being blunt, but that obviously didn’t work. “What is it going to take for you to believe that I am never going to be your woman? How can I prove it?”

Kouga smiled. “I’d have to see you wanted someone else with my own eyes.”

“Isn’t it enough that I was in Inuyasha’s arms just a moment ago?” Kagome whined making Inuyasha turn red.

Kouga shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “I could hear you two arguing from where I was. How do you think I knew where you were? Mutt-face was probably trying to keep you from running off like you always do.”

Kagome glared at him although he did have a point. “Go home Kouga.”

Kouga took off running, blowing Kagome a kiss before he was out of sight. Inuyasha growled. “Damn wolf.”

Kagome sighed in agreement. “Yeah, he is annoying.” She turned back to face Inuyasha. “We should really be heading back now, especially if we want to get to the cave before nightfall.”

Inuyasha grunted. “Keh, the only reason it always takes us so long is because you insist on walking wench.” He motioned for her to get on his back. “Come on then.”


Kagome giggled and immediately climbed on. She always felt like she was flying when she rode on his back. That and it gave her perfect access to the cute fuzzy triangles that sat on his head. As Inuyasha took off leaping through the forest she reached out a hand and began to rub Inuyasha’s ear. She giggled as she felt a low rumble, almost like a purr.

He glanced back at her quickly jerking his ear from her hand. “Oi wench! What do you think you’re doing?”

Kagome pouted. “But they’re so cute and soft and you know you like it.”

He grunted and sped up causing Kagome to hold on for balance. “Keh, do not, wench. It’s annoying.”

Kagome laughed. “Yeah, sure. That’s why you always purr like a cat when I do it.”

“Oi, it’s not a purr, it’s a warning. You better watch what you say or I’ll drop you.” He snapped back at her.

She glared at the back of his head and let go of him with both arms and pushed back in the middle of a jump causing Inuyasha to curse and take a better hold of her. “What do you think you’re doing wench? Trying to kill yourself?”

She repositioned herself on his back and smiled. “Nope. Just proving a point.”

“What, that you’re crazy?” He laughed.

Kagome reached up and flicked his ear. “No. That you would never drop me.”

Inuyasha smiled as he saw the cave. “Oh really wench?”

She watched as he detoured the cave and headed straight for the river. She locked her arms around his neck, but he managed to shrug them off. She held her breath.

He dropped her into the river by the cave and laughed as she hit the water. As she resurfaced cursing his name he doubled over in laughter. He would have never thought to hear those kind of words coming from her mouth. “But I thought you liked to swim?”

Kagome glared at Inuyasha from the water. She would have to get him back for this later. Right now she was worried how she was going to get out. Of all days to be dropped in the water it had to be the day that she wore a silvery white kimono. She was lucky that she wore her bra today. She was also glad she left some clean clothes and towels at the cave.

Since he dropped her in, he was going to get them. It was freezing in the water and she didn’t know how much more she could take. “Go get me a towel please Inuyasha.” She said through chattering teeth. The water was so cold. “Before I catch a cold.”

In a heartbeat he was back with a big fluffy towel, holding it out for her. As she made her way toward him, his mouth slowly dropped as she emerged from the water. No wonder she was so pissed. He was caught off-guard as she wrapped her arms around him, soaking him to the skin. She smiled up at him. “There, now we’re even.”

He growled as the cold hit his body. “Come on wench, we have to get you warmed up.”

~*~

Inuyasha had tried to keep his distance from her after the river incident. He couldn’t shake the image of the sheer fabric clinging to her body with nothing but her undergarments underneath. It left not much to the imagination.

Any willpower that he had built up had quickly dissolved so in her best interest had tried to keep his distance. Unfortunately for him Kagome’s dreams weren’t going to allow him.

She tossed and turned in her sleep and for some reason he thought he could hear her calling for someone even though she wasn’t saying a thing. He could see the barrier that she had erected around them crackling with the disturbance.

He slowly crept by her side and gathered her up into his arms frowning when the barrier went even more berserk. He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead, not catching that her breathing had become heavier.

To his surprise her eyes fluttered open. “Inuyasha?” She questioned.

He was lucky that the flames had died down so she couldn’t see the blush that had crept across his cheeks. “You were having a bad dream.”

Kagome smiled closing her eyes, snuggling up closer to Inuyasha. “Not bad, just unpleasant.”

Inuyasha snorted wrapping his arms around her. “Keh could’ve fooled me wench. What was it about?” He felt her tense up at his question.

“It’s nothing. It was just a dream.” She blurted out.

He could see her clearly in the dark and he could tell that she didn’t want to talk about it, but that only made him want to know more. “Spill it wench.”

Kagome sighed, she knew he wasn’t going to let it go, but it was so embarrassing. “I… Amaterasu… Susano-O… were… I can’t tell you.”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened as her scent spiked. Her eyes opened and locked with his, pleading for him not to ask any more questions. This was why he had tried to stay away. He felt his strength dissolve and her pull more intense. Her scent was overwhelming, overpowering, enticing. His worries faded into the dark corner of his mind and he could no longer resist the hunger that had devoured his soul.

Her heart stilled as she saw the fire that blazed in his eyes. She didn’t want to do it, but she knew it was coming. Slowly he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers in a short but sweet kiss, but it wasn’t enough.

He hesitated when she didn’t react the first time, but couldn’t stop himself from trying again. He needed to taste her, to see if she was as sweet as she smelled. He lowered his face to hers, lengthening the kiss for the second time.

Her mind was racing as he lowered his face for the second time. She could hear the frantic beat of her own heart. She wasn’t going to pass this up. Maybe this thing with Sesshoumaru wasn’t real and she still loved Inuyasha. There was only one way to find out. As she felt his lips brush against hers for the second time she grabbed onto his haori to keep him from breaking the kiss. She had been waiting for this moment for god knows how long and wasn’t about to have it pass right by. It wouldn’t take him too long to notice his mistake. Who he was really kissing.

His mind was a blur as she deepened the kiss. She tasted like heaven. He could feel his youki begging to come out, begging for her blood, for her body. One word kept racing through his mind as he almost lost himself to the passion. ‘Stop.’

He pulled himself away with all the strength he had, trying to gain control of his body again. He couldn’t do this to her. His stomach tightened as she spoke, hint of question in her voice.

“Inuyasha?” She asked meekly, wondering if she had done the right thing at all. It wasn’t the same as with Sesshoumaru. It didn’t stir the same fire in her body. It wasn’t right to toy with his feelings the way she was and she was glad he had broken the kiss.

He brought her head down to his chest. “Go back to sleep.”

Confusion laced her mind at his words. Maybe it hadn’t been what he expected. Maybe he really did see her as just a replacement. Resentment filled her heart and she pushed herself away from him.

The scent of her anger and confusion quickly became apparent and he immediately regretted what he had done. He didn’t mean to hurt her. He just didn’t know what he’d do if he lost control of his youki and ended up hurting her. He sighed as her breathing evened out and she drifted back to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

~*~

Sesshoumaru was seething in the forest. He had watched the entire display and was infuriated that she would accept his embrace as she did. He was going to have to teach her just exactly who she belonged to.

~*~

Kagome awoke the next morning not surprised to see him nowhere around. After she turned his innocent kiss into something more she couldn’t blame him though. It was what she expected. Although it did make the reality of the situation hit home. She felt like she was going to cry all over again. She had thrown herself at him, only to be denied. Not only that but she felt like she had betrayed Sesshoumaru by giving in so easily. She should have known better. She slapped herself on forehead repeatedly for being so stupid. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” She berated herself.

She put up her strongest barrier as she walked down to the spring. She knew he was out and about somewhere and she didn’t want to see anyone right now, especially him.

She nearly fell on her face when she got to the spring, thanking her lucky stars that no one could see her now. There was Inuyasha in all his glory, showering under the falls. Kagome blushed furiously smashing her face into her hands, shaking her head. “You have got to be kidding me? Why me?” She whined.

This time Inuyasha was sure he heard something and spun around to take a look around. Kagome groaned as she was presented a full on frontal view of him and quickly turned around and headed down stream. She did not need this right now.

Inuyasha on the other hand could not shake the feeling that someone had been there. Instantly his thoughts turned Kagome. If someone had seen him there then they knew she was alone. He couldn’t smell any change in the scents of the area, but that only bothered him more. He knew someone had been there. He had felt it down to his bones.

He quickly dressed and ran to the cave, only to find her gone. He started to panic. “Kagome! Kagome where are you?”

After searching the cave for any foreign scents he suddenly realized that hers stopped dead at the entrance. “Sneaky wench used a barrier.” He growled in annoyance but then sighed in relief. “At least she’s safe.” He decided to sit and wait her out. It wasn’t like he would be able to find her anyway. After his screw-up last night he had no doubt that she wouldn’t let him find her.

Kagome squealed in delight as she set her sights on the hot spring downstream. At least she didn’t have to take a cold bath. She glanced at her watch as she set it on the bank. It had taken her nearly an hour to find this place. She shrugged her shoulders and stepped into the water. “He won’t come looking for me anyway.”

After her bath she decided, even though two hours had passed, that she wasn’t going back to the cave yet. She just didn’t want to deal with him right now. She knew it meant another night here, but she didn’t care.

She decided on a walk in the woods. She looked around, and to her surprise, there was a trail. Her curiosity got the better of her and she followed the path that led deeper into the woods.

She wiped her forehead as the beads of sweat began to form. This was taking a lot longer than she had thought and she was beginning to get tired. She had been walking for an hour and still had gotten nowhere. She thought about turning back when suddenly silver and gold flowers lined the trail. She had never seen flowers like these before, the trail had to lead somewhere.

As the trail widened Kagome spun around, almost certain she heard a voice. “Who’s there?” She shook her head. She was being silly. No one could see her anyway.

She continued further finally coming up on a small shrine. She gasped as the whole thing came into view. The entire placed glittered as the sun shone down on the flowers beneath her. The shrine itself was a silvery stone with a golden roof, vines laced with the silver and gold flowers draped all around. It was by far the most beautiful shrine she had ever seen. The golden door had the image of the rising sun engraved on its front to symbolize whose shrine it was. Kagome knew immediately where she was.

When she traveled inside she was disappointed to see that the only thing in there was an eight-sided mirror hanging from the center of the ceiling. Odd thing was that she felt so drawn to it. It was the same feeling that drew her to Sesshoumaru.

She had to blink twice at the images the mirrors reflected in order to believe what she was seeing. No matter which mirror she looked in Amaterasu was looking straight back at her.

Grabbing the mirrors in her hand she inspected them to make sure they were really mirrors and not just some illusion. Suddenly a shock coursed through arm and she cursed as she dropped the mirror. She watched in utter disbelief as the mirror shattered and exploded at her feet.

~*~

Kagome had been gone for almost four hours and it was starting to worry him. Not to mention that now they were going to have to stay another night in the cave. The night before was bad enough.

His ears perked when he heard the sound of an explosion off in the distance. Inuyasha cursed to himself and then took off towards the explosion. “Stupid wench got herself into trouble again.”

~*~

Sesshoumaru’s ears perked as he heard the explosion. It was close. He had been looking for Kagome, knowing that she was alone, but was unable to find her. For some reason he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was involved.

He was there in an instant, but knowing that the hanyou would be there soon kept him in hiding. For some reason he could feel she wasn’t dead, which only perked his curiosity even more. The explosion had done a considerable amount of damage.

~*~

There was definitely no doubt where the explosion had taken place. It had taken out an area the size of a small village. As he neared the area his breath caught in his throat and he felt like someone was tearing his heart out of his chest. There in the center of the clearing was a standing building that reeked of Kagome’s blood. He wasn’t ready to lose her yet, especially after last night. He couldn’t leave things like that.

He ran inside screaming her name only to find her lying on the center of the floor unconscious. The whole building reeked of her blood but there wasn’t a drop of it anywhere or a scratch on her and he could tell she wasn’t dead.

He lifted her head onto his lap he tried to wake her up. He didn’t know what happened, but he was sure going to find out. “Kagome, Kagome wake up!”

She stirred in his lap and he shook her a bit. “Please… just a little longer.” She mumbled in her sleep.

He bit back a laugh and shook her again. “Get up wench.”

Kagome cracked an eye open as she completely woke up. “You better be glad I’m in your lap.” As the words she spoke sank in she immediately bolted up, remembering what happened. “How did you find me?”

Inuyasha was having a hard time believing the girl in front of him was his Kagome. She looked like her, even smelled like her, but the girl in front of him had silver eyes. He growled. “Where’s Kagome?”

She looked at him like he had lost his mind. “What are you talking about?”

Inuyasha’s growl deepened. “You’ve got silver eyes.”

Kagome smiled. She knew how to end this argument real quick. “Sit!” As he tried to peel himself off the floor she giggled. “Will you tell me how you found me now that we have that problem solved?”

He strode up to Kagome his nose touching hers. “Wench! You were gone for hours by yourself. I hear this explosion that has taken out half the forest and the smell of your blood is coming from the center of it. I thought you were dead.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her close to him. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

Kagome wiggled out of his grasp. His little show of affection was making her uncomfortable. “Well I’m fine. There’s no need to coddle me.” She snapped.

Inuyasha growled and pulled her back to him. “Something may have changed between us Kagome, but I still worry about you. You are my best friend.”

She frowned. So he had noticed the change between them. At least he didn’t know about Sesshoumaru… yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make a girl smile, write a review. I hope you all enjoyed, thanks for reading.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^