I do not own InuYasha, though I wish I did!

"Lord Sesshomaru you sent for me?" The Lord looks up at the fidgeting demon standing at the door.
"Enter." The demon scurries to stand before the desk separating the two. "You are to deliver this message to my half-breed brother."
"Sir?" The demon lightly lifts the paper from the extended hand to the lord. "Am I to return once the letter is handed over?"
"Wait until he reads it, and bring back a reply or my brother himself. He will need you to show him the path to the palace."
"Yes milord." The demon turns and opens the door. "Is that all milord?"
"You are dismissed to leave for him now." Sesshomaru nods to the lower Youkai. "Waste no time."
"Yes milord." The door slides closed and Sesshomaru stands from the desk with a sigh. 'Why the need for trivial tests of strength?' Pushing into the garden Rin beams up at him from the flowerbed with a toothy grin.
"Milord Jaken-sama is not being very nice to Rin."
"Jaken." The green toad emerges from behind a cluster of boulders near the guest wing. "Your orders were not hard to understand."
"Yes milord..." The toad whimpers.
"If you would like I can trade your job over to guard duty, surely one of the other demons would appreciate this easy task more than you." The toad whimpers his rejection of the switch. "Then I want to hear no more of this."
"Yes milord."
"Look Sesshomaru-sama beautiful flowers all over the place and Rin planted them all remember?" The girl grins widely as his eyes sweep over the large variety of flowers. "Do they not look beautiful?"
"They will wilt soon." The girl looks down from his golden orbs. "Jaken, take Rin to bed."
"Yes Sesshomaru-sama... Come along girl." Slowly Sesshomaru is alone in the garden walking down the path toward his chambers he glances down at the grave markers lining the east wall.
'Rin has disobeyed orders yet again...' The bright flowers clustered at the base of the markers fill his nose with pollen and make his eyes narrow. A new scent hits his nose. 'Long has it been since this scent has been here.'

***

"InuYasha I want to call it a night." Miroku murmurs from behind the irate hanyou. "We are all weary."
"Weak is more like it." He scoffs turning to look over his human companions. "Fine!" He growls looking at the relief that washes over Sango's face.
"Thank you Inu-chan." Kagome smiles at the young hanyou with a glow in the fading light. "We will arrive tomorrow, there isn't a real reason to want to get there so soon."
"Feh!" He grumbles edging off the path and into the darkness to find a campsite for the group. "Come on." He announces waving toward the woods.
"Is there a spring or something close by?"
"You don't need a bath again." He looks over the glare on Kagome's face with regret.
"Sit." The ground meets his face with a hollow thump sound.
"Come on Sango, Kirara and Shippou can help us find it." Kagome smiles as the other woman in the group grabs her things and follows her into the woods.
"Over there okaa-san." Shippou points happily. 'Stupid InuYasha how does he expect to convince Kagome that he is over Kikyo and wants her if he keeps getting in trouble?'
"Thank you Shippou." She chirps. 'I swear that Inu needs to use his brain sometimes.'
Entering the cleared water's edge the group divest of clothing and slip into the water with sighs of relief. Sango chats briefly of the plans Miroku and herself have after the trip to Edo. Kagome sinks down into the water and blows bubbles while her thoughts cloud with the choices she has to make.
"Don't worry Kagome, the Kami know what they want of you... So you shouldn't be so upset. InuYasha might realize sooner or later..."
"I don't know if the well will close after I go back or not... I mean I can't stay here forever fearing the end result."
"I know." Sango watches Kirara's ears prick up and her eyes slide open to look in the direction of camp. "I think we should be getting back."
"Yeah, come one Shippou." Kagome helps Shippou dress and watches Sango and Kirara head back toward the camp ahead of them. "Do you think that I should stay?"
"I think that the Kami will give you a sign Okaa-san." He murmurs from his perch on her shoulder. 'I hope InuYasha hurries up before she thinks she is supposed to leave.'
When entering the camp Kagome sees a new demon standing before InuYasha holding out a letter folded and sealed with wax. Watching InuYasha plucks the letter lightly from the hand and the demon bows low to him before asking to sit down.
"Well it's free ground I ain't goin' to tell you no." InuYasha snaps as Kagome comes to stand at his side.
"Who is this? And what's with the letter?" She murmurs as she watches the demon's eyes examine her before lowering them to the ground.
"I am Chi. I serve the Lord of the West. The letter is for the young Lord from Sesshomaru-sama."
"Well Chi would you like some tea? Maybe a fish that we caught earlier today?" Kagome smiles down at the nervous demon. 'Why is he so scared of us?' "Are you alright?"
"I mean no ill-will milady, it is just that the last miko I was associated with through a Lord was very mean." He bows to Kagome as she places a soft hand on his shoulder making him flinch. "She was known for vanquishing servants who did not follow orders."
"Well we are all nice people so don't worry." She feels him relax slightly and removes her hand. "You can call me Kagome."
"I was informed by Sesshomaru-sama that the young lord plans to mate you. Formality is best kept in all situations."
"W-What?"
"Sesshomaru wants us to come to the century-trials?" InuYasha breaks in. 'I hope Kagome forgets that...' The demon looks at the hanyou before nodding.
"I was told to accept a reply or escort you there." He states into thin air. 'Did I do something wrong? Oh I hope not...'
"Well, you can tell Sesshomaru-" Kagome breaks in again.
"What are these century-trials Chi?"
"A set of tests and objectives a ruling lord must complete to keep with the peace treaty instilled nearly four centuries ago."
"Why would Sesshomaru want me there? I am only his 'half-brother' after all?"
"It would seem to this servant that the Lord wishes that you share the lands after proving yourself against Naraku and his spawn."
"Right! Well tell him-"
"What did you mean Sesshomaru said InuYasha had intentions to my... my uh... you know?" Kagome steps in once more making InuYasha glare at her with slitted gold eyes.
"Kagome..." InuYasha murmurs.
"The lord said that InuYasha and he had such conversation before the battle against the dark hanyou." Chi stares over the miko's shoulder at the glaring hanyou's face. "Milord?"
"I think that we should go." Kagome claps her hands together. "We can leave tomorrow."
"Hey! It's my decision." InuYasha fumes. Tossing a look over her shoulder Kagome turns back to Chi with a smile.
"Now how about dinner?"
After everything is settled down in the camp Kagome edges away from the camp for InuYasha to follow, knowing that he is watching her progress.
"What's the big idea?" He growls from behind her.
"What's the harm?" She murmurs ahead of her. "It means more time before I have to try the well."
"Who said you had to try in the first place?"
"I did. I can't let my mom think that I died." The feel of him pulling her into a hug sends chills down her spine. "No matter how much I love you Inu-chan."
"If we mate I can prolong your life so that you will live well past the turn of that century."
"Is that the only reason?" Her voice is low.
"I want you to stay with me." He replies into her ear making her knees weak. "And I don't care how long I have to wait."
"You don't have to wait InuYasha." She turns in his arms kissing him lightly and pulling away. Her fingers begin to untie the belt of her miko garb.

***

Turning to look in the direction of his study Sesshomaru feels his heartstrings vibrate at the sight of the woman standing there. 'How long indeed.' She steps down into the garden and advances toward him. When they stand a foot apart the soft palm of the miko rubs against his cheek. 'How I have missed her touch.' He leans into it closing his eyes.
"It has been a long time." Her voice is as soft spoken like the flesh of her hand. "I have missed you." He opens his eyes to see her brown orbs staring at his golden ones.
"And I you, Saiko."
"Yuki remember? You always called me Yuki. Even when InuTashio told you not to."
"So long ago. Yuki." She smiles up at him from behind long black hair.