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Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the clearing, Sesshomaru stood up once he could tell both Rin and Kagome were asleep. Walking past Jaken and Ah-Un, with only a brief pause to remind Jaken to watch over the two humans. He kept walking until he reached a small clearing. With the shade from the trees above and the night sky, it was rather dark out, but he was still able to see rather well. He could see the pink and white flowers that decorated the once flowerless grass that Kagome and Rin had made after dinner.

Taking a seat by a tree, he leaned back against it, and let his hand fall to rest on the flower nearest him. A simple white flower that's petals held softness, and seemed bright despite it being dark out. Humming after a moment, his eyes flickered up to the sky, before he closed them.

Middle of the nightmare

Kagome's eyes snapped open, jarred awake from a vividly bad dream where Rin had ended up getting impaled by the fog demon instead of her. She was comforted a little, as she felt pressure on one side where Rin was curled up against her. After calming down a little, she managed to slip out of the sleeping bag without waking up Rin. After slipping on her shoes, she got up and walked away from the clearing that had been sleeping in. Once far enough away, she paused to take a breath. I'll just get in a quick run, and it'll be close enough to morning to where I don't have to go back to sleep.

An hour and a half later, she had finally returned to the clearing after getting a run in and bathing in a nearby river to cool down afterward. She set her bag down gently that she had briefly come back to retrieve before bathing, and she re-started the fire. It was still dark out, and would be for at least another hour. Once the fire was going on its on, she sat down and leaned back against a tree. Not planning on re-joining Rin in her sleeping bag, as she knew she could risk waking her up. She settled on meditating until the others woke up.

"You left."

Sesshomaru's voice startled Kagome, and she opened her eyes to find golden ones staring at her from across the small clearing. Forcing herself to relax again, Kagome shrugged. "Yes… I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, so I just went for a little run. Then I bathed and came back."

Sesshomaru didn't respond right away, as it seemed like his golden eyes were piercing into her. "Why couldn't you go back to sleep?"

A little surprised at the question, Kagome hesitated for a moment, then she sighed. "I had a bad dream." Was all she said, her eyes going down to where Rin still slept peacefully, before she looked away in the opposite direction. Pleased that Sesshomaru didn't continue the conversation, she closed her eyes again, and tried to go back to meditating.

Later that afternoon

Rin paused in making her flowers, as her eyes finally fell back on Kagome. "I like the way you put your hair up."

"It keeps it out of my face nicely," Kagome replied, motioning back to the flowers on the grass. "Now don't get distracted. Those flowers aren't going to make themselves."

That sent Rin into a fit of giggles, as she started back on making her flowers. She was working on controlling where her flowers came up instead of just all over the place, and so far it only worked half the time. "I can't control them."

"You can. You've just got to keep working at it," Kagome encouraged, watching Rin turn onto a new area of grass, and she actually stopped and was able to create a small patch of flowers. "Don't forget to be mindful of your aura. Once you find it, you can tell if there are others around you."

Rin was quiet for a moment, before she broke into a fit of giggles. "I can feel yours again."

Kagome smiled at how happy that seemed to make Rin. "Yes that's mine..." She trailed off when she noticed Rin's expression change to one of focus again.

"I feel something else," Rin said, humming as she was trying to study what she felt. "I don't know what it is."

Kagome smiled, as she glanced briefly over her shoulder where she knew Sesshomaru was in the treeline. Focusing back on Rin, she chuckled. "You'll figure that one out, but it's a nice aura. You don't need to worry about that one."

Rin nodded in acceptance. "Okay."

"Now try to bring your aura back in." Kagome said, and she noticed how quickly confusion filled Rin's features.

"What does that mean?" Rin asked.

"You're pushing your aura out as you go about the day, and sometimes it gets too big and can attract people from farther away," Kagome tried to explain in a way to keep Rin from getting scared. "I want you to try to pull your aura back in. Try to imagine your aura smaller, and bring it closer to your own body."

Rin attempted to work at bring her aura in, but it wasn't happening for her. "It's not working."

"That's okay," Kagome said, offering Rin an encouraging smile. "Let's try that some other time, and now you can just make some more flowers."

"Okay!" Rin excitedly agreed to, as she started running around and making her flowers again.

She walked over to stand at the side of the clearing where Sesshomaru was, and turned back to watch as Rin ran around the clearing happily. "She's pretty good at this part of using her powers now."

It was quiet for a long moment, before Sesshomaru seemed to nod once. "It appears so."

"It is probably only because she has so much fun doing this part," Kagome said with a small laugh. When I was younger my mom used to teach me things this way. Making it fun always encouraged me to try harder. Despite seeing Rin so happy, a frown soon settled on Kagome's face. "It worries me that she doesn't have control over her aura. It seems to mellow down when we do these little exercises, but when she's not focused it can get out of control and attract anyone around her."

"I will not allow anything to happen to Rin."

Kagome smiled at his words. "I know."

Unknown to Kagome, Sesshomaru had taken himself aback at his open admission to her. His stoic expression returned to his face, as his eyes went to Rin. "It's time to go."

Rin nodded right away, and skipped back over to Ah-Un to get ready for travel.

Later that day

"Stop calling me that!" Kagome exclaimed, narrowly avoiding shooting Jaken with a ray of her purifying power. She was quick to hold a smug smile on her face as she took Jaken aback. "My bad."

While Kagome's words had Rin giggling, Jaken started squabbling at her. "You almost killed me you human-"

"Don't say it." Kagome warned, before her focus returned forward. Pleased to hear no more words from Jaken, but she had a strong suspicion it was only due to a glare Sesshomaru had sent his way.

"Why are you wearing something new?"

Kagome looked down at the maroon sweater she wore over her tank top and leggings. "It's a bit colder today without the sun out, and I wanted to stay warm..." She trailed off at how Rin was so closely studying her sweater. "These clothes are common where I live. Of course, there are plenty more options, but I just like these."

"Where are you from?" Rin asked curiously.

Kagome opened her mouth, but hesitated in responding at first. "Well, that's kind of complicated… How can I explain this?"

That only seemed to confuse Rin again. "You don't know where you are from?"

"No I do know. It's just-" Kagome broke off and stopped walking. Her eyes darting into the forest to their right, as she felt a chill run down her spine.

"Woman, what is your problem?" Jaken asked, having nearly ran into Kagome when she stopped all of a sudden.

Kagome ignored him, as she kept looking into the forest. Finally, she caught onto a familiar aura that sent her running into the forest.

"Kagome!" Rin called, sliding off Ah-Un, before she took off into the trees after the older woman. "Wait!"

Meanwhile, Kagome had gone down a slight slope, and found herself looking at a very large lizard demon towering over a tiny Shippo. She didn't skip a beat, as she pulled her bow and an arrow out. She shot off the arrow, and it was enough to lodge deeply into the demon's shoulder. The lizard demon screeched in pain, as her purification power started to grow from the arrow. She darted forward, scooped up Shippo, and with one swift motion, took her knife out to impale into the lizard demon. It sped up the purification process, and the lizard demon was gone within seconds.

"Kagome. Mama." Shippo said once they were alone.

"Shippo," Kagome said right back, as she put her knife away. She brought Shippo much closer to her to wrap her arms around him. Her heart melting as he nestled his face into her neck, and her smile widened with the love she had for her adopted kitsune. "I missed you Shippo."

"I missed you too." Shippo replied, but his focus moved away from Kagome to higher up on the hill Kagome came from.

Glancing over to see Rin standing there watching them, Kagome remembered the situation she was in. "We need to go back."

"Go back where?" Shippo asked, his eyes going from Rin to Kagome, as Kagome was walking in Rin's direction. "What's going on?"

Kagome took Rin's hand, before staring back through the forest. "It's a long story."

When they broke through the tree line, Shippo's eyes widened to see Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Ah-Un. "Uh, Kagome?"

Smiling at how she could see the confusion and nervousness in Shippo's eyes, Kagome chuckled. "There's a lot I need to tell you."

"Woman, we do not have time for you wander off-"

"Well, we made time. Shippo was in danger and needed me," Kagome interrupted Jaken, narrowing her eyes at him, but she offered a smile when she looked back to Shippo. "Let's see..."

A half hour passed by the time Kagome caught Shippo up on a majority of what happened while she was gone. Shippo was giggling when she finished up. "I can't believe all that stuff happened to you."

"The injury part is not that unbelievable," Kagome said, chuckling at the thought. "I am a danger magnet after all."

"Shippo..." Rin started, her head tilted slightly to the side, as she studied the kitsune. "You called Kagome your mama."

Shippo giggled at that, as he moved to Kagome's other shoulder to be closer to where Rin was seated on Ah-Un. "I lost my mother and father a few years ago. Kagome took me in, and she's my mama now."

"I lost my parents a few years ago too," Rin said, her expression falling for a moment, then she smiled again. "But I'm much happier now."

"Me too." Shippo agreed, nuzzling his face into Kagome's neck again.

Kagome felt like her heart was melting at their little exchange, but that didn't stop her from finally getting Shippo's focus again. "What were you doing out in the middle of the forest by yourself?"

"I was looking for you. You didn't come back like usual," Shippo explained honestly, before he smiled. "You worried everyone. Even Inuyasha."

That made Kagome laugh. "Somehow I doubt that."

"I wasn't there when you left. Did something happen?" Shippo asked curiously.

"You know it's getting kind of late." Kagome said to change the subject after seeing Rin yawn, then Shippo followed shortly after.

That seemed to make Sesshomaru finally come to a stop, as he motioned to the right with a single nod of his head in that direction. "There is a small clearing. We will stay there tonight."

"Perfect," Kagome said, her eyes going back to the children. "There is a stream nearby, and we can all have a nice bath."

An hour later

Rin ran into the clearing, her hands on her damp hair. "She's trying to kill me!"

Jaken's eyes focused pointedly on the tiny human girl. "What are you rambling on about?"

Kagome appeared from the same direction Rin ran from, and she was waving a comb around in Rin's direction. "Rin let me get the tangles out of your hair, or else it is going to get out of control."

"I don't want to." Rin replied immediately, her hands still resting on her hair.

Kagome sat down, and gave Rin a calm look. "Fine. Instead of brushing your hair now, when it gets so tangled up, then we will cut it all off."

Rin's jaw dropped open, then she hurried over to sit in front of Kagome. "You can brush it."

Smiling at how quickly that got Rin to agree, Kagome started slowly working on the tangles in her hair. "I'll try to be gentle… I know you don't like it, but if you take care of it every day, the tangles won't get this bad."

Shippo strolled over, still damp from having just finished his own bath. "I don't know why you don't like getting your hair brushed. I like getting mine brushed."

"Don't let Shippo fool you," Kagome said to Rin, before she smiled in Shippo's direction. "He did not like it at first either."

That made Rin smile and giggle a little. Rin seemed to be a little more content as Kagome finished up with her hair after a few minutes, but she hurriedly jumped up as soon as she was done. Shippo was quick to take Rin's place so Kagome could comb through his hair next.

As Rin and Shippo started a new conversation about the leaves starting to fall lately, Kagome caught sight of Sesshomaru getting up to leave the area. He might be going to bathe now… Not that I know for sure because he doesn't talk hardly ever. When she finished with Shippo, she put the comb away, and clapped her hands a few times to get the kids attention. "Let's get us something to eat."

In the middle of the night

Kagome's eyes snapped open after suffering the uncomfortable nightmare of something happening to Rin or Shippo. It was still dark out, and she had to be careful to slip out of the sleeping bag. With both Rin and Shippo on either side of her, it made the process near impossible. Just as she got out, she noticed Shippo's eyes flutter open, but with some gentle massage of his back, she got him back to sleep. Glancing around the quiet clearing, she stoked the fire to get it back to burning nicely again, then she started to tip-toe away from the others. I'll just go get a run in, then I can meditate to pass the time afterward. The usual...

A few hours later

Shippo hopped up on Kagome's shoulder, before they finally started traveling. "At this rate, we'll be back in Kaede's village by tomorrow morning."

"That's right." Kagome said, unable to help but sigh.

Immediately Shippo's head tilted to the side in confusion. "Are you not happy to go back and see our friends?"

"Of course I'm happy to see them." Kagome said, smiling to re-assure Shippo.

"What are your friends like?" Rin asked, walking alongside Kagome, and not yet on Ah-Un's back.

Kagome hummed at first. "Well, there is Inuyasha, and he's kind of… complicated."

"But he's your best friend?" Rin countered, remembering a little from what Kagome already told her about him.

"Yes, but even so," Kagome paused to laugh a bit. "He's probably the most irritating person I have ever met."

That made Shippo laugh, and Rin joined in after a moment.

"Then there is also Miroku and Sango-"

"Sango is Kohaku's older sister," Shippo interrupted, however, at Kagome's raised eyebrow at him for interrupting, he laughed nervously. "Sorry."

"I remember Kohaku," Rin said, a smile on her face. "Does he live in your village too?"

"He does," Kagome said, her focus going back to Miroku and Sango. "Miroku and Sango have been traveling with us for over three years now. Then after we defeated Naraku, they got married."

"Oh that's sweet." Rin said the same time Shippo mumbled something about not wanting to talk about all the love and gross stuff.

Despite Shippo's mumbling, Kagome heard him perfectly, and she laughed. However, an aura quickly got her attention, and she barely had a chance to take a single breath before Koga appeared.

Rin made a squeak noise in surprise. Meanwhile, Shippo just sighed heavily, as he deadpanned. "Oh boy."

"Lovely Kagome." Koga started, taking one of her hands, and giving it a simple kiss.

Kagome gave an almost nervous sounding laugh. "Hey Koga."

Koga's eyes took in her travel companions. "I'm surprised you're traveling with another group."

"I'm on my way back to Kaede's village to meet up with my friends actually." Kagome explained, noticing that Koga seemed to grow an almost irritated expression.

"Why would that mutt let you travel by yourself?"

"Inuyasha didn't really have any say in the matter," Kagome replied, as she shrugged. "And to be fair, I was the one who left them-"

"I would never let you leave by yourself."

At Koga's usual confident and alpha attitude, Kagome sighed, but she smiled anyway. "Okay."

"Yeah I went by your village to say "hello" the other day, and dog face was really pissy," Koga said, his arms crossed over his chest. "What was that about?"

Kagome sighed and set Shippo down on Ah-Un next to Rin. With a swift wave of her hand, she put up a barrier around the children.

Shippo right away jumped up and pointed at Kagome. "Dang it! You always do this when there is something you don't want me to listen to! This isn't fair"

"Shippo," Kagome said, before she started forward with Koga. "Inuyasha and I have had quite a few disagreements lately, and this time he made me so angry that I may or may not have sent him six feet into the ground."

Koga laughed as he pictured it. "I would have loved to see that."

"Yeah well, in the moment it was not that funny," Kagome said, then she sighed. "He can be so incredibly irritating and rude sometimes."

"Well, if you get tired of dealing with dog face, you always have a place to stay with my pack," Koga said, his usual smirk growing on his face. "We could use another female presence around."

Kagome chuckled. "Despite how frequently Inuyasha and I get into arguments, I couldn't be so far away from my friends for that long. And as irritating as Inuyasha can be sometimes, we're still friends. We always will be."

"Well, you never know. The offer still stands," Koga replied, his eyes left hers to look ahead. "I'd never be rude to you."

"I know that," Kagome said, then she crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't say that you wouldn't irritate me from time to time."

"That's to keep you on your toes," Koga chuckled, then he lifted his nose upward a bit to sniff. Then he took Kagome's hand and kissed it once. "I hate to say it, but it's time that I get a move on."

"Well it was nice to see you for a few minutes," Kagome said, sharing a smile with Koga before he heads off in a much faster pace into the forest to the right. Not even thirty seconds later, two more familiar face appeared. "Hey Ginta and Hakkaku."

"Kagome," both wolf demon's chorused. Ginta—out of breath—slowed down to look at Kagome after passing her. "Koga-"

"He went that way," Kagome said, pointing to the forest on the right. She smiled after they both said a brief thank you and goodbye, before disappearing as well. She took down the barrier around Shippo and Rin, and she reached an arm out for Shippo. "Okay."

Shippo, however, crossed his arms and looked away from her silently. A frown on his face.

Kagome smiled, as she dropped her arm. "Oh the silent treatment, huh? I guess if that is how it's going to be, I will just have to accept it. Although it really hurts my feelings, but I guess we just won't talk anymore."

That seemed to do it, as Shippo immediately gave in. He jumped off Ah-Un and up to Kagome's arms to nestle his face into her neck.

Kagome smiled and rested a hand on his back, a warm feeling in her heart at his silent affection.

Later that day

Kagome sighed as she watched Rin giggle once again, as Shippo made mushrooms on the other side of the clearing. "Rin try to focus on your aura."

Rin's focus was brought back once again, but she scowled after a moment. "It's not working."

"You need to focus- Shippo come over here," Kagome said, getting him to come over and sit on her lap. Hopefully, if he's with me, he won't be distracting Rin. "Alright, try again Rin."

As Rin's aura expanded it met Kagome's, and the older priestess pushed lightly against Rin's aura. Rin wobbled a little at the pressure against her aura. "Why is it doing that?"

"My aura is stronger than yours, and it gives me the ability to overpower yours and push it back. Eventually, you will be able to push back against my aura with no problem, but you need to work and get stronger," Kagome explained, pulling her aura away to leave Rin's alone. "Now, I want you to remember that feeling of my aura pushing yours back, and you need to try to do that yourself."

Rin, however, was focused back on Shippo. She giggled at all the faces he was making.

This is going to be more difficult than I thought it would be. Kagome thought, as she sighed at how easily distracted Rin was. "Rin, I know you want to play with Shippo right now, but I just need you to focus for just a few more minutes."

Rin's face scrunched up as she focused, and after a minute, she smiled big. "I feel yours… And another thing. The same thing I felt yesterday."

Sesshomaru's aura. Kagome thought, giving Rin an encouraging smile. "That's good. Now try to bring in your aura. I'm going to use mine to help you a little bit, but you try to do it."

At first it was just Kagome pushing against Rin's aura to get her to bring it in, but she did manage to help a little bit at the end. "I can't feel it anymore. That other thing. I can still feel you though."

"Push your aura back out." Kagome instructed.

Rin's face lit up with a smile. "I feel it again."

"That's great work Rin." Kagome praised when she noticed Rin's aura shrinking a little after a moment.

Rin's focus had disappeared again, as she giggled at Shippo.

Knowing that this would be all they would accomplish at the moment, Kagome sighed. "Alright, we're done for now. You two can go play-"

"Shippo come watch me make flowers!" Rin interrupted Kagome, as she started running around on the grass and pink flowers came up on the grass after her.

"Whoa! Those are just like Kagome's!" Shippo exclaimed, as he got up to run after Rin.

Kagome created some of her own white flowers to both the kids amusement. Despite her slight frustration at how difficult it was to get Rin to focus today, it made her feel good seeing how happy Rin and Shippo were. Standing up, she walked over to the side of the clearing, and sat down to lean back against a tree. She soon realized Sesshomaru had joined her, as he was standing a few feet away. "Rin's leaving flowers everywhere we go."

Sesshomaru's eyes had been following the kids around the clearing, before they focused on a small patch of white flowers among all the pink ones. "You have left some as well."

"I guess that's true." Kagome agreed, then they returned to silence. She relaxed back against the tree, and watched Rin and Shippo as they ran around.

"There is something I need to discuss with you."

"Okay," Kagome said, her eyes meeting Sesshomaru's briefly, before she could feel both Rin's and Shippo's aura move away from her extended one. "Hey, you two! Don't leave the clearing. Stay where I can see you!"

"Aw, but we want to go by the river." Shippo complained.

Smiling at how both Shippo and Rin gave her looks that replicated the modern day "puppy dog" expression, and Kagome sighed and stood up. Her eyes on Sesshomaru. "We can continue this conversation later," she said, not hesitating in turning and running past the kids down towards the river. "Let's go, but you two have to catch me."

Kagome's words fired up both children, as they started giggling and following her. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru's eyes were focused on the direction the miko had led the children. The laughter and voices had made him hum slightly.

That night

Kagome's eyes were focused upon the night sky, as her heart raced in her chest. She slipped out of the sleeping bag, and managed to do so without waking Shippo or Rin up. After restarting the fire, she got up and started walking away. Pulling her hair up and out of her face, she had her eyes focused on the ground, but found herself running into something. Her eyes lifted upward to meet golden ones, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. "You scared me."

Sesshomaru remained looking at her in silence. "Do you do this every night?"

"Do what?" Kagome asked, finishing putting her hair up, and she took a couple of steps back to not be so close to him.

"Disappear for hours-"

"Shhh," Kagome interrupted him, her eyes wide as his obvious lack of using a whispered tone with the others asleep in the clearing not far away from them. "I wasn't disappearing. I was just going for a run to get some exercise. I will be back in an hour or two."

Sesshomaru said nothing, but kept his eyes focused down on her.

At his silence, she sighed and walked around him. She didn't get much further than maybe another twenty feet, before he was back in front of her.

"Do not walk away from me."

"I'm not a child, and I am not about to be told what I can and cannot do," Kagome replied, noticing how he held a frown on his face, and had an icy stare. "What more do you want from me? I told you what I was going to do. By the way, I have no obligation to do that. Just so we are clear."

Sesshomaru remained quiet. His golden eyes seemingly digging into her. "Does this happen every night?"

"Does what happen every-"

"Waking up in the middle of the night," Sesshomaru interrupted, his tone showing almost slight annoyance at her lack of understanding what he was asking in the first place.

Kagome's shoulders softened slightly. Her eyes looking away to the view of forest and the night sky from the small hill they were on top of. "Not always. When I'm with my friends or at home it doesn't happen too much."

Sesshomaru found a twinge of curiosity still lingering. "Did this happen while you were at my castle?"

"No it didn't," Kagome admitted right away, before she took a breath. "I was indoors and not as vulnerable as I would be out in the open… Honestly, sleeping in a bed kind of reminded me of home, and that was probably what really made me feel secure enough to sleep… When I'm out in the open with Shippo or I guess Rin too, I get nervous, because something could happen."

A sound was heard from over where the others were sleeping that had both Sesshomaru and Kagome's attention, but when nothing else happened, Sesshomaru's eyes slid back over to Kagome.

With his focus back on her, Kagome tried to wave off the tense air she created, and walked around him. "Anyway, it's not too big of a deal."

"Nothing shall happen to you with my ward present."

Almost stumbling over her own feet, Kagome stopped walking. She took that as his way of saying he'd protect her. Her shoulders relaxed slightly. "I guess that's true."

Sesshomaru turned around to see she was turned away from him. "You do not believe so. If you did, you wouldn't have woken me up with your distressed aura that you've been sending out every night."

"I didn't realize I was doing that… I'm sorry," Kagome apologized, then she quickly waved her hand. "Anyway, it won't be happening again. I'll be back with my friends tomorrow."

Sesshomaru remained silent, as his eyes remained locked onto hers.

"Anyway, I'm going to go now," Kagome said, after it seemed they were finally settled. However, she only made it a few feet more down the hill, when Sesshomaru reappeared in front of her. Her irritation flared up, as she propped her hands on her hips. "What now?"

The corner of Sesshomaru's mouth twitched, as he found himself feeling amused at her irritation. "We still need to discuss something."

That seemed to loosen up Kagome's stance, as she chuckled. "I guess the day just got away from me. Between Shippo and Rin, I feel like there was always something happening. Anyway, what do we need to talk about?"

"You'll be returning to you group tomorrow."

"Yeah. They are probably all worried, especially with Shippo being gone too," Kagome said, sitting down on the hill. "I'll probably visit with them for a day or two, then I'll go home for a couple of days."

Sesshomaru's eyes returned to the miko. "Is that not where you are headed now?"

"Yes, but my home is… Well..." Kagome trailed off, humming. Unsure as to how she should go about this. "It is kind of hard to explain. My home is in Kaede's village. It's just… In a different era of time. Which is the hard to explain part."

Her words left them in silence for a moment. Sesshomaru watching her intensely. "You'll return after a couple of days."

"Yeah, I'm sure my friends want to start traveling, and I don't want to hold them back much longer… Where are you going from here?" Kagome asked curiously. As expected, Sesshomaru was silent, but she didn't let it go. "I mean, you said you were traveling in the same direction as me, but you never said where you were going?"

Once again silence filled the air, however, Sesshomaru's eyes returned to her briefly, then he looked away. "I didn't say where I planned on going. It was intentional."

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"That is part of what I wanted to discuss with you," Sesshomaru replied, sitting down a few feet away from her on the hill. "I want you to continue to train Rin."

"Really?" Kagome asked, taken aback as that was one of the last things she expected him to say. I mean, I figured that at this point, he would be tired of dealing with me. "I mean it's not that I wouldn't want to, but it won't be without complications. We don't see each other too often, and my group travels a lot… So does yours. Sure I guess we could find out some sort of schedule of me coming to meet with Rin and train her, but that will be difficult to manage with us traveling. There are all sorts of unpredictability. And-"

"I will make adjustments to make it work," Sesshomaru interrupted her rambling. "I will remain close by to allow Rin the opportunity to be trained by you."

Kagome was quiet, then she chuckled. "You don't have to do that. I know that you and Inuyasha still don't get along that much, and I wouldn't want to torture you."

Her humor had brought another twitch the corner of his mouth, which Sesshomaru had to force himself to remain with a stoic expression. "That is not a concern of mine."

Kagome chuckled and she propped her elbows on her knees. "It might be a concern of mine having to listen to Inuyasha complain everyday… I'm not the only priestess out there too. There are plenty of amazing priestesses around who can teach Rin. Kaede taught me, and I've learned from a few others here and there too. It would probably be less of annoyance for you to have to go all around the land so I could do it."

"I requested your assistance for this," Sesshomaru said, his eyes meeting hers finally. "I could find another priestess. However, you said it yourself that Rin's power reflects your own. That would ultimately benefit Rin."

"That's right I did say that. Hm… I don't know what it was really," Kagome paused, as a light burst of wind went by. "I was about to go back to my group, but it was like I got hit with this wave of refreshment. It felt like it was pulling me that way. Then I felt a much darker feeling and that's what led me to Rin in time."

"Yeah, but that's never happened to me before. It was so far away too. I don't know why it happened." Kagome replied, shrugging as her eyes left his to look up at the sky.

"My mind remains unchanged."

"Okay... I'll train Rin. Or at least, I'll try my best to train her. I just want her to get to a point where she can recognize her powers, and not let them get out of control..." Kagome trailed off into silence. They remained where they were for a few more minutes until the sound of bush leaves rustled behind them. She glanced back just as Shippo appeared, while rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"What time is it?"

"It's still night time. I just needed to get up and stretch my legs for a bit, but I'm ready to go back to sleep." Kagome replied to her kitsune quickly, as she stood up and scooped him up into her arms. She started walking back with Shippo, but paused at the treeline to glance back at Sesshomaru. His back was to her, and she knew his focus was elsewhere now. I guess I'm training Rin. This is going to be interesting to explain to Inuyasha why his brother will be hanging around us for a while.

A/N: In the next chapter we will finally reunite with Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku in Kaede's village. What was your favorite part of this chapter?

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