Kagome woke up to very loud screaming, she reached out to cover the young girl but found that she wasn't there. Her eyes went wide and she sat up quickly. She whipped her head around, searching for the missing girl, and found her backed up against the tree. She was looking fearfully at something and Kagome followed her gaze. Her eyes landed upon a very annoyed looking Sesshoumaru, he looked about ready to shut her up-for good. Kagome stumbled to her feet and rushed over to the girl and blocked her view. She breathed a sigh of relief when her screaming ceased.

"What's wrong?" The girl turned her periwinkle eyes to her ocean blue ones but remained mute.

"Is it because he is a demon?" The girl shook her head negatively.

"Well, is it because he is a man?" She got a positive reply to this.

"He won't hurt you. He has another human girl just like you, see?" She sifted a little to her right so she could get a better view of Rin. She seemed to calm down a little and sagged against the tree.

"We will be leaving." Sesshoumaru said as he got ready to stand up.

"Wait! I want to take her to bathe. Is there a hot spring nearby?"

"There is one about a mile north."

"Arigatou." She grabbed her by the hand and set of to walk. A package landed by her feet and she picked it up. She quizzically at Sesshoumaru who didn't say anything.

"He wants you to use the kimono." Rin piped up from her spot by Ah-Un.

"Arigatou."

Just as Sesshoumaru said, there was the hot spring a mile to the north. It was surrounded by huge boulders on one side and the other side sloped until it reached the water, beach-like. She told her to undress and she obeyed albeit a bit reluctantly. Kagome undressed also, willing herself not to look at the many scars that adorned the girl's body. She stepped in and waded until she was waist deep. She turned half-way to find that she wasn't getting in. She held her arms at and smiled warmly. The girl seemed hesitant at first but then finally came to her.

"What is your name?"

"MikaZuki."

"Well, MikaZuki. How about you travel with us for now?" She asked as she started on washing her hair.

"…… H-Hai." She answered, a small smile on her face. The change from the sullen look made Kagome smile, too. She told MikaZuki to dunk and she did, coming back with her hair covering her face. Kagome pulled it back with one of her hair ties.

"You can use this." She grabbed a small bottle of body wash and a sponge. "This is body wash and you put it on that." She handed it to MikaZuki then proceeded to bathe herself.

They were now sitting on the bank as Kagome combed the tangles from MikaZuki's hair. The kimono Sesshoumaru gave her was very pretty. It was pink with purple butterflies on the left shoulder and on the bottom of both sleeves and it came with a yellow obi. Kagome put her hair in a messy bun then put her supplies back into her bag.

"Alright, let's go."

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Once back at camp, they packed up and left the site.

"We're going to Sesshoumaru-sama's castle!" Rin said enthusiastically. Trying to get the girl in conversation, and it worked.

"Really?" She asked, surprised that she was also going to the castle.

"Hai!" Rin then proceeded to describe the castle and with all kids, exaggerated. By the time she finished, MikaZuki's eyes were big as saucers.

"Wow." She snuck at look at the demon that was leading their strange group and quickly looked back at Rin when she saw that he caught her.

"Hey, want to play tag?"

"Um… sure." They both hopped from Ah-Un and were prepared to run off when Kagome stopped them.

"Don't go out of sight."

"We won't." Rin tagged MikaZuki and she chased her around, only a couple feet away from the adults.

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It was dusk and the girls were lying on Ah-Un, fast asleep. Their day of playing had worn them out and they were dead to the world.

"Miko."

"Kagome."

"Why were you not with your companions?" He continued as if he'd never been interrupted. The questing took her by surprise and she almost burned herself over the fire.

"Well, we had just gotten out of another battle with Naraku. Kikyou was wounded and Inuyasha insisted to take her to Kaede's hut. Although there was hesitation, we agreed to see if she could be helped. She was helped and wanted to leave but Inuyasha persuaded her to stay, so she did. The days went by and I could tell something was seriously wrong with him. We were outside the hut, having another argument about Kikyou, when he punched me in the face. Then he continued to hit me, ignoring the others cries for him to stop. Finally, I just decided to shock him with my powers, sending him flying. In fear, I ran into the forest and was attacked by those Oni youkai then next thing I know I'm with you."

"That foolish hanyou doesn't even realize what he was lost." Kagome looked at him for some time, trying to figure out why he said what he said. Figuring it was of no use she sighed and rose from her spot.

"Goodnight, Sesshoumaru." She said as she crawled into her sleeping bag.

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Well, we find out why she ran from the group. Inuyasha was a real bastard for what he did. If there are Inuyasha-lovers reading this, then don't get mad. I love Inuyasha too, but I needed him to be the very guy that could make Kagome and Sesshoumaru possible. Well, another chapter. I feel bad for making you guys wait so long and nothing really happened!