Chapter 3

The next day Sesshomaru watched the miko and his brother closely. She would glance at Inuyasha every now and then. Inuyasha wouldn't look at her at all always seeming on edge waiting for something. Around noon Inuyasha stopped in his tracks aware of something and Kagome hung her head when she sensed Kikyou nearby. Inuyasha took off after barking out that he would be gone for a while. Kagome looked at Miroku and Sango before starting to walk again, mumbling sit commands under her breath every couple of minutes.

Sesshomaru watched her closely and saw her biting her lip and closing her eyes wearily every couple of minutes as she thought of something. It was obviously a war between two thought of hers as she kept walking with Shippo resting on her shoulders. Miroku and Sango were talking about Inuyasha leaving Kagome for Kikyou again and sighing. They both thought he was an idiot and blinder then a bat. Shippo knew that Kagome was angry but he also knew she was slowly getting over Inuyasha, probably due to the new pipsqueak following her right now and watching her like a hawk. All her friends were just waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under him and realize that he was giving up the better reincarnation for the evil ugly stepsister version.

In two hours Inuyasha returned reeking of the dead miko. Sesshomaru actually gagged and Inuyasha looked at him concerned.

"What's up with you?" he asked not sounding quite harsh. That disappeared once the words escaped Sesshomaru's mouth.

"You smell like you rolled around in crap," he said. Miroku and Sango froze and pinched each other to stop laughing. Shippo was laughing into Kagome's hair and she was looking away to hide her smile. Inuyasha growled at Sesshomaru before he went to grab his seemingly powerless older brother. Sesshomaru dodged and landed next to Kagome. When Inuyasha saw who Sesshomaru was standing next to he growled again knowing if he attacked again Kagome would sit him and kick him while he was down.

"Just go clean up Inuyasha, we'll keep walking," she said sounding totally detached. Inuyasha got defensive, he knew when she was like that she was angrier then hell and they were too close to Kaede's village for him to have her angry with him.

"I don't smell like shit and I have no idea what your talking about," he said crossing his arms. The look that Kagome sent him sent a shiver down his spine.

"Don't play with me, just clean off Kikyou's scent and meet up with us again. I'm not going to leave just because you left to go see her. I don't really care anymore," she said adjusting her pack and started walking again. Everyone walked past the stunned hanyou and moved on before he even moved an inch. When he came back he was dripping wet and looking miserable.

When they reached the next village Kagome walked away from Inuyasha without explaining what she was doing and Sesshomaru followed her. She stopped to speak to every person she met and asked them where the local witch was.

"Why are you looking for one miko?" he asked and she smiled at him. "I don't need your assistance."

"We need to find a witch to explain your curse and I don't mind helping you to get away from the team baka," she said smiling widely.

"Miss," the villager standing to the side of them said. "She lives on the outskirts in the only hut there."

"Thank you," she said thankfully and moved away with a bounce in her step while Sesshomaru walked next to her silently. He was going to go looking when they entered the town and here she was already acting on it. When they reached the hut of the village witch Kagome knocked respectfully and waited for permission to enter. Kagome walked in with Sesshomaru at her side.

Her eyes adjusted to the dim interior and searched out for the local witch. She was sitting behind a low table puffing on a pipe and looking at them curiously. The witch especially eyed Sesshomaru like he was an interesting specimen that she wanted to dissect. Kagome bowed and Sesshomaru nodded imperiously at the witch before Kagome spoke.

"Ma'am, we come to seek your wisdom on a problem that the young man to my side has," Kagome said missing the irritated look Sesshomaru shot her. He found it unpleasant to be judged by his current looks, especially by Kagome.

"He's older than me by far and not young by any standards," the witch spoke quietly after removing her pipe slowly.

"Yes, but his appearance was altered by a curse placed on him recently. Unfortunately he was unable to learn the conditions of breaking it before the witch that cursed him died," Kagome said.

"Whoever she was she was a fool for cursing a youkai more powerful than her. And unfortunately I can't break the curse for you," she said directly to Sesshomaru.

"Then tell me how to break it so I can go back to my peaceful existence, my younger brother is getting on my nerves for multiple reasons," Sesshomaru said crossing his arms.

"You have to fall in love," the witch said relighting her pipe and putting it back in her mouth.

"Excuse me?" Kagome said before Sesshomaru could say it himself.

"He must fall in love truly before his curse will break. It can't be anything less than true undying love," the witch said. Kagome looked down at Sesshomaru.

"Looks like you're gonna be cursed for eternity," she said simply. She bowed to the witch and thanked her for her assistance before Sesshomaru stopped her outside of the hut.

"What makes you think that I can't fall in love?" he asked feeling angry.

"No offense Sesshomaru-sama, but you don't seem like the type to open yourself up to love someone fully," she said.

"Like you being the opposite and loving anyone that comes your way?" he countered.

"That's being open and receiving to love, you seem like an ice block that no one wants to settle on," she said hurting him somewhere he never knew existed. He walked away with her, searching for the rest of the group. They met them on the other side of the village where Inuyasha was waiting impatiently for them. Sesshomaru walked in the back of the group to avoid Kagome and she was in between Miroku and Sango near the middle of the group.

Sesshomaru was inclined to agree with Kagome, even if he didn't feel like it was impossible for him to fall in love. He knew he didn't really love anyone, maybe just his mother and Rin, though not the way the witch said he had too. He looked ahead at Kagome and felt the pang in his chest from earlier. Could she really believe that he was incapable of loving anyone? He closed his eyes to get rid of the image of her just ahead of him but out of reach, that didn't help since she was right there behind his eyelids as well. He growled frustrated, the rest of the group stopped to look at him. He opened his eyes and glared at all of them.

"I'll be back in few days," he said turning into his orb and disappearing before any of them could say anything at all. Rin and Jaken kept walking after he left used to him disappearing for what seemed like no reason at all. Kagome was concerned and Inuyasha silently cheered. No one around to tell him he smelled like crap anymore.

AN: hehe, where'd he go? Please review.