Part One

There was power here, within the boughs of Bokuseno's glade. As Kagome stepped under branches and weaved her way through sweetly scented vines of flowers, power tickled up through her body. From the bare soles of her feet to the sable crown of her head, electrifying currents of power ran its circuit across her blood.

"Welcome, and be at peace within the space of my branches."

Kagome looked in the direction of the voice and saw the face of Bokuseno staring kindly back at her. She smiled shyly at the tree, unsure of how to proceed. He noticed her slight discomfort and chuckled quietly to himself.

"Come, child and sit upon my roots." He said with kindness. He watched as the girl gracefully walked to his base and sat in the hollow carved out by the many who had visited him before. He looked over her frame and took in her features as she sat patiently also doing the same.

Her skin was paler and smoother than most humans, yet she had the muscle and tone of a warrior, not the softness of a hime. Her hands were small and delicate, with the calluses that came from work and toil. Her face was a heart and her features just as delicate as her hands. Her eyes were what really caught his attention though. They were brown, like all of the ningen of the land, yet if one looked close enough, they could see the crackle of blue lightning behind her brown orbs.

Kagome sat patiently while Bokuseno looked her over; trying not to fidget under what she was sure was intense scrutiny. The power in the glade had settled somewhat but was still present. Like a cat, it curled itself around her and was frolicking with her own power causing a halo of pink light to outline her frame.

"I don't believe we've meet yet, what is your name?" Bokuseno asked calmly.

"My name is Kagome. It's nice to meet you." She said softly, well aware that the youkai could easily hear her.

"Ah yes, the famous Kagome. It's nice to finally put a face to the name." The tree said kindly, "What is it that you seek? Perhaps a way to get home?" He asked leadingly and with great sympathy.

The tale of the Shikon no Miko was indeed one of great sorrow, or at least what pieces of it he had been told. When the tiny miko sitting before him had defeated Naraku and wish away the jewel, she had also wished away the only way home. She had attempted to go through the well and it had barred her passage. She had been devastated, torn away from her life in the future and her loved ones. Now here she was, three years later, sitting in his roots.

"No, I have accepted that the well will no longer work for me. When the jewel ceased to exist, the power source for the well also ceased to exist. What I have come to ask is for a place that I might stay. I can't stay with Inuyasha as he has Kikyo. Sango and Miroku are also far too busy with their lives to have to deal with me." She finished with a forlorn smile and cynical twist to her mouth.

Bokuseno examined the girl once again, but instead choose to delve deeper into her heart. What he saw was extraordinary, if not very surprising. He once again looked into the girls eyes and saw the blue lightning behind her strangely transparent brown irises. The effect made them seem almost purple in color. He sigh a deep, branch rattling sigh and settled once again.

"I know of several villages that would value a miko like you, but I would like to offer you something different if you are open to it." He said to her gently, but also with a tone that spoke of warning.

Kagome slowly nodded her head, to the approval of the magnolia youkai, as it meant that she would seriously think about this decision.

"If you so choose, you could stay within my forest and be welcome here. I've never allowed a human to dwell among my trees so I don't exactly know how my power will affect you. You will be changed, do not doubt that, as those who eat of me have always gained or lost something. However, here you will be safe and you will have the peace and solitude that you so desire." He offered in a serious tone.

Bokuseno shook his mighty branches and from them a single apple fell from their boughs. It landed in Kagome's outstretched hand, and when examined, looked like a normal apple. Kagome inspected it will a touch of her own power and found something quite different. Bokuseno chuckled quietly as the girl inspected the fruit and when she realized that the apple was not quite an apple, he continued.

"If you decide to stay here, then simply eat the apple and return the core to me." He said simply. He knew the girl would have to think about her choice so he left then, and retreated into himself to sleep.

When Kagome turned to look at Bokuseno's face, she found that it was gone and only smooth bark remained. She turned to settle back against the trunk and thought long and hard about her decision.

If she choose to stay she would be at peace, but there also seemed to be a price. She wondered how she might change if she lived here and what she might gain. She wasn't particularly worried about losing anything, she didn't have anything left to lose except her life and Bokuseno had said she was safe here. All in all, it was a very simple decision.

When Bokuseno awoke, it was to find a single apple core at his roots.

A/N: This is my first SessKag fic and the start of a three part story. Hope you guys like it! Please R&R.