AN: As promised, here is my Inuyasha/Spirited Away crossover. It's later than I meant it to be, but I had to rewrite the ending several times before I found one the characters were satisfied with. I hope you all like it. As of right now, the story is going to be about six chapters with at least a thousand words per chapter. Please let me know what you think. (I wrote this differently than my other stories and I'm still on the fence about it, but here it is anyway.)

Kagome hurtled headlong over the edge of the river, barely managing to throw up a barrier around herself before she hit the water. Once submerged, she shrank the barrier to only encase her head, allowing her to frantically swim toward the surface. The current was dangerously swift, however, and was washing her farther down the river. Struggling up, she desperately tried to make it to the surface, or to grasp onto anything that would stop her journey.

Suddenly, a massive body of white scales wrapped around her, holding her steady under the water. Scrambling in near-panic, Kagome grasped onto the creature and raised grateful eyes. A large-almost lupine-head appeared in front of her, great grey-green eyes flashing golden in curiosity. Regaining her senses, the priestess sucked in a sharp breath at the power he radiated. It was enormous, filling the entirety of the area.

"Th-thank you," she stuttered, realizing what he was, "Lord Spirit."

The dragon's whiskers drifted around her, twining with his dark green mane and her own locks. "Lady Priestess," he greeted. "You carry a great power."

Stilling at the words and his quiet tone, Kagome clasped the vial of Jewel shards around her neck. "The Jewel of Four Souls is my responsibility."

He tipped his head to the side. "I wasn't speaking of the Jewel. Your power is a beacon of purity. It is you alone that drew my attention. There is a small shrine to me on the edge of my shore, will you light incense at it?"

Awed, Kagome eagerly nodded. "Of course! I would be honored to. I'm Kagome Higurashi."

"I am the Kohaku River," he told her, leaning down to scoop her onto his head. "I wish you well on your quest, Lady Kagome. I have heard many tales of you and your friends. I hope that one day my shrine will be attended by a priestess like yourself."

Holding onto his horns, Kagome didn't get a chance to reply as he shot through the water. In a flash, they'd crested the surface where Kohaku carefully lowered his head for her to dismount. They were just in front of a small but well-tended shrine. Looking up at the spirit that had saved her, she felt her heart swell for him. Something inside her resonated with recognition, as if his power had awakened her long-slumbering instincts. Priestesses were made to serve the spirits, but though she'd met quite a few in her travels, she'd never felt any desire to follow that tradition.

Kohaku's whiskers curled around her, lending her the courage to hesitantly raise her hand. Nudging her, he let her stroke his muzzle and chuckled when her power sparked in reply to his. Drawing back, he blew out a scale of his power toward her. Astonished, Kagome clutched the beautiful scale and stared at it. A pale, shimmering white, it sparkled like a diamond in the light and was perfectly smooth. Kohaku's power lingered in it, making her jerk her eyes back to his.

"I feel this is not our final parting," he told her. "Perhaps that will draw your mind to me on occasion until we meet again."

It was more than that. Kagome could feel protection thrumming through the gift. Tears pricked her eyes at his generosity, because she could feel no evil or ill will in him. Rarely had she ever met someone in the Warring States who'd treated her so benevolently.

Bowing deeply, Kagome smiled at him, her blue eyes bright with happiness. "I hope I'll see you again, too. And, of course I'll think of you! I'll make sure to talk up you and your shrine so that you get a really good priestess!"

Leaning down, he nuzzled her and then disappeared back into the water. Trembling at the sense of loss that had suddenly opened in her chest, Kagome held onto her gift tightly. Licking her lips, she forced herself to turn from the water and toward the shrine. Letting her power flare to purify the area, she kept her promise to her unexpected friend. As she made to leave, she stroked the scale and gave one last look back. Her heart twisted, but she vowed to do more than just light incense. She'd make sure people came to him, believed in him, and maybe…maybe she'd get a chance to see him again.

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A few weeks later, the group of shard hunters made camp, Inuyasha pointing out the direction of water. It was a river, Kagome discovered, about the time the scale Kohaku had given her warmed. She'd gotten Shippō's help in fashioning a necklace around it and wore the treasure everywhere. It'd never reacted like that, leading her to believe they'd come upon another part of the Kohaku River. Heart pounding in anticipation of seeing the spirit again, Kagome hurried back to camp and declared that she was going to take a bath.

"The undercurrents get strong in that river," Inuyasha called after her. "Watch yourself, wench, and stay close to the bank!"

Kagome flapped a hand back at him. "I'll be fine."

Ignoring his huffing at her dismissal, she returned to the edge of the river and changed into her bathing suit. Calling up a barrier around her head, Kagome dove into the water. After a long moment, a familiar face swam into her line of sight, seemingly lighting the water for her to see.

"Lady Kagome," he rumbled, curling around her so that she could rest. "I did not expect to see you again this soon, or of you to so heavily influence people to my shrine."

Grinning at that information and the admiration in his tone, Kagome replied, "My friends and I stopped for the night near your bank and when I realized it, I wanted to say hi."

Kohaku chuckled as his long whiskers drifted out. "I am pleased that you did. What manner of clothing are you wearing?"

Blushing, Kagome crossed her arms. "A swimsuit. I wear it in the water-just in case some pervert decides to spy on me when I'm bathing."

"Are humans so petty?" he asked, but his gaze sharpened on her before she could answer. "But, perhaps they cannot help themselves. Every part of you is alluring, Lady Kagome."

His waters had been still in his presence, but now they swirled to life. Brushing her enticingly, the water found every knot of tension and soothed it away until she was practically draped across his scales. It was like the best massage in the world until the strokes turned lingering and…deliberate. Squeaking, Kagome blinked rapidly and tried not to shudder as the attention became arousing.

"Lord Kohaku!" she gaped at him.

His eyes were a deep green when she looked up. "I cannot return that allure to you?"

Bewildered, she stared until his power flowed over her, leaving her aching for it. Her soul-even incomplete-pulsed as if reaching for him, echoing her feelings from their first meeting. Kagome didn't know what to do with the feeling, or with herself. She certainly didn't understand what he meant by returning 'allure' to her. The large dragon watched her closely as her reiki sparked in his water.

"I don't understand," she gasped, her barrier falling. Yet, he kept her from drowning.

"You've lit incense in my shrine and spread my name in your travels. Will you not let me beguile you to be my priestess?"

Panting at his power and the water still caressing her, Kagome tried to get her mind working coherently again. She'd heard about spirits vying for powerful priestesses, but she never thought anyone would try it with her; much less in such a manner. In the warnings, she'd always gotten the impression that the spirit simply toted the priestess off—not that he'd…well…seduced the girl. She certainly didn't expect him to flood her with overwhelming pleasure.

Beyond physical, Kohaku was tempting every part of her; curling his soul around hers to prove that he would be a protective patron. His power accepted hers easily, shoring it up and then returning it to her to show that he could follow through on that protection. And his water was touching her like a cherished thing, promises silently flooding her until she toppled into an orgasm so intense she nearly blacked out. Sobbing, she floated cradled in his coils and tried to comprehend what had just happened.

"Become my priestess and I shall claim you always, Lady Kagome," he murmured to her. "You are my perfect complement-I will have no others."

Kagome had learned a lot during her time in the Warring States Era and so easily shoved aside her initial freak-out at his words. His soul was calling for hers just as much as hers called for his. She seriously doubted she'd ever find a spirit who matched her so perfectly or that her soul wanted so much. Her very being cried out to be sheltered by him, to bind herself to him forever. It would have terrified her, except there was no trace of hesitance or doubt in her mind or soul.

Shaking with the intensity of the feeling, Kagome weakly nodded. Kohaku's power flared again, his body glowing with it before shrinking. Wide-eyed, she watched as the river spirit's form became that of a young man. Pale skin, sea-green hair, and luminescent green eyes enthralled her; his beauty so great she was humbled at witnessing it.

Reaching out, he cupped her jaw and pulled her mouth to his. It wasn't a kiss; instead, he exhaled, sending his power rushing into her. It saturated her, inflating her torn and bleeding soul until it was whole in a way it'd never been. Kagome's heart sped up as Kohaku then claimed her as his priestess, connecting their souls and lives; bonding them such that she'd never be truly alone again.

Moved beyond words, Kagome let Kohaku cradle her against him, feeling very young and out of her depth. He tenderly supported her, like a solid wall of protection; his soul like powerful white scales guarding hers fiercely.

"You are mine, Lady Kagome," he told her when she finally raised her eyes. "You will come to me for all of your needs-everything and anything you want."

Before him, a request like that would have sent her into a fit-stubbornly declaring herself quite able, thank you. However, everything was different now. Kohaku was her spirit. He was supposed to take care of her and she could only be pleased that he accepted that.

Nodding, she grasped the white cloth of his top. "I'm sorry I have to fix the Jewel before I can fully take up my responsibilities to you," she whispered.

"I knew and consented to that before tempting you, Lady Kagome," he assured her, brushing back her hair. "It is enough that you are mine. I must stay with my river, but when you wish my presence or need me, I will feel it and I will come to you."

Kagome swallowed, trying to sort her emotions. Kohaku swept her into his arms and moved to the surface of the water. In a moment, he was standing alongside his river, flaring his power to dry them completely. The priestess held onto him as he transformed her swimsuit into a traditional priestess outfit, protecting her against the cooling night air.

"I don't want to leave you," she admitted hoarsely in embarrassment. The thought of doing so when she'd just found what felt like her other half shattered her heart.

"Don't cry," Kohaku commanded gently. "I will never relinquish you nor share you with another. I will wait for my priestess as long as it takes."

Meeting his eyes with all the emotions that promise evoked, Kagome was gratified to see his face soften. He lowered her feet to the ground and then touched his forehead to hers.

"Your soul opens its memories to me, showing me all that you've done and experienced. Even should the Jewel take you so far from me as your birth time, I will not give you up," he vowed.

Feeling his heart steadily beating under her fingers and the way his soul let hers nestle completely into him, Kagome knew he was telling the truth. Her reiki flickered hesitantly until Kohaku's power met it encouragingly. She did have to leave soon, but they had a small moment of time before then. Closing her eyes, she let herself get lost in him, entirely submitting to another in a way she never had or would again. And, he met her, accepting her and what she gave happily.

Distantly, she registered the moment being rudely intruded upon by her well-meaning but ill-timed friends. She just couldn't pull herself away from him to care. She was utterly and completely where she belonged.

"What are you doing?" Inuyasha snarled. "Let Kagome go!"

Kagome stirred enough to face her friends, but didn't get past that. Kohaku placed one hand on her lower abdomen and one across her shoulders as he kept her back pressed to his chest. The embrace was blatantly possessive as he narrowed his eyes, but Kagome was honestly just happy to be as surrounded physically by him as she was spiritually.

"Ah, Inuyasha," Miroku spoke up in astonishment and warning, "you should lower Tetsusaiga."

"What?!" he growled and even Sango was surprised.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "Kagome looks drugged!"

Miroku had to give her that. Kagome was practically snuggled into the strange male, her hands on his arms and her face tucked contentedly into his neck. She didn't seem to be paying any attention to anything besides the male behind her. If Miroku wasn't as spiritually aware as he was, he would have thought something nefarious had been done to her, too.

However, he happened to be very aware of what had apparently occurred and knew that he couldn't let his friends go rushing in like they normally did.

"But, she's not," he protested firmly, watching the ethereal male holding his friend while raw power practically ignited the air. It was almost hard to breathe as the entwined couple's power combined. "Lady Kagome has found her patron spirit."

Sango nearly dropped Hiraikotsu while Kirara and Shippō looked on in awe. Inuyasha had tensed at that information, his fangs flashing in displeasure.

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Kind of obvious, once you really look," Shippō pointed out. "Besides, he feels just like the scale Kagome got a while back. You know, the one she said a river spirit gave her?"

Sango covered her mouth as the spirit returned his attention to Kagome, once he saw that they were not going to attack. His entire demeanor transformed into something infinitely softer as he gently tipped her head up and met her eyes.

"I must depart, Lady Kagome," he told her quietly.

Blinking, Kagome processed that and then shook her head. "You said you'd know when I needed you or wished for your presence," she entreated, twisting in his hold until she could burrow into him.

Smiling, he bent and whispered in her ear something not even Inuyasha could hear. After a moment, Kagome reluctantly nodded. The spirit took her hands and stepped back, his attention solely on her.

"All right then, my priestess?"

Taking a breath, Kagome gave a weak smile. "Yeah. Go do your thing, then."

He studied her a moment longer, as if to ascertain the truth of her words. Finally, he squeezed her hands and transformed into a large dragon. Kagome held his muzzle when he nuzzled her and then watched as he disappeared back into the water.

Trembling, she would have collapsed had Inuyasha and Sango not each caught one of her arms. Kirara transformed and let the priestess sit on her back as Sango looked at her worriedly.

"Kagome? What happened? Was Miroku right?" she asked rapidly while Inuyasha sniffed her over.

Kagome's brows drew together as she recovered herself and looked at her friends. "I'm sorry I worried you guys. I…that was Kohaku."

Miroku patted her shoulder, for once not taking advantage of the situation. He'd heard from many sources that the first accepting between a spirit and their holy person was profoundly personal and life-altering. He was Kagome's friend first and foremost and she seemed very much in need of her friends right then.

"He was extremely powerful," Miroku noted. "I can understand why he made such an impression the first time."

Sango frowned. "Did he force you to agree to be his priestess, Kagome?"

Inuyasha stiffened at that question, his nose telling him a million things that had changed with Kagome, but he was only understanding about half of it. What he did get was the distinct claim of the damned dragon and a pretty potent warning.

"No!" Kagome jerked, offended. "He would never do that!"

"Not with that kind of bond," Miroku agreed, relieving the others. "Lady Kagome, did you really find your perfect complement?"

Blushing brightly, she ducked her head and nodded as she touched her necklace. A smirk crept onto the monk's face.

"And he beguiled you into accepting him? I've heard fascinating rumors about such a thing, but have never gotten the chance to truly ask someone who's experienced it," he stated, his purple eyes dancing with mischief and what the others had come to realize was perversion.

Kagome crossed her arms, though, and looked away. "I don't really want to talk about it," she whispered. "Lord Kohaku asked and I agreed. That's all you need to know."

Inuyasha scowled. "What about the shard hunt?"

"What about it? He knows I have responsibilities," she replied. "He promised to defer my duties to him until the Jewel is complete, so don't go worrying about that."

Shippō was staring into the water, the lingering power in the air causing his tail to bush up. As Inuyasha picked a fight with Kagome, the kit wondered if the hanyō understood that he'd just well and truly lost the girl for good.

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Next Chapter: Girl Talk!