It was getting much hotter out. Of course, it was mid spring, after all, and they were going farther south. In fact they weren't quite far away from the realm of fire either, so the heat was nearly unbearable. Now, extreme conditions didn't faze the demon lord, but heat did. Especially since he was wearing so many layers of clothing he couldn't even count them himself. Inuyasha had already been forced to ride atop Kirara for he could not budge another inch. Dog demons didn't much like the heat. Sesshoumaru, in particular, hated it.

For the first time in what seemed like ages, sweat dripped down his face. Oh, what he wouldn't give for a river to jump in. Though, he had to admit to himself that no matter how hot it was he wouldn't really jump in the river just like that…he was too prideful. One day, he often thought to himself, pride will be the death of me.

Kagome wiped the sweat from her face for about the tenth time in 5 minutes. She was hotter than she had ever been before. Her eyes shifted to a groaning Inuyasha, and then to a struggling Sesshoumaru. They had to rest somewhere. If the rest of the group was hot, they had to be dying. So, with haste, she searched for some sort of river, or stream, going farther and farther away from the realm of fire. It had become cooler, but it was still very hot. Finally she found something! A tiny little stream in a rather shady glen. The woman made sure everyone was taken care of, and wasn't about to die of heat exhaustion. She took Kirara and flew off, to where exactly no one knew.

Inuyasha shed his haori and nagajuban quick as lightning, leaving his chest exposed. He ran over to a shaded tree and flopped down, to cool himself in the shade. For the first time in a long time Sesshoumaru swallowed his pride and followed suit. Slowly he peeled off his armor, and then layer after layer after layer of his kimono. Inuyasha stared at him in shock.

"HOW are you still alive!" Inuyasha nearly screeched in question. Sesshoumaru shook his head, nearly ripping off the last layer, staying in only his hakama. He flopped down and took of his metal boots.

"Honestly this Sesshoumaru has no idea." He said in an exasperated tone. The demon lord dragged himself over to a shady tree near the stream. There he sat unmoving, watching Rin and Shippo play and splash around in the stream. Amber eyes only shifted over once when Kagome came back, her backpack bulging even more than it usually did. A sliver eyebrow raised.

The girl got off the enlarged fire cat and began to unpack her bag. She brought out a pack of cold water bottles, a pack of soda cans, and a couple things to eat. The only thing, however, that Sesshoumaru recognized were the 3 overly sized watermelons. For a second or two he wondered how she didn't have serious back problems. Kagome turned to him, and a pink blush came to her face when she saw his bare chest and abdomen. They were well developed, and she dare say that he looked "rape-able" at that moment. Shaking that thought from her head she called him over.

"Ne, Sesshoumaru-kun!" She called, "come over here and help me, please!" Sesshoumaru arose from his spot beside the tree, and went over to the woman. The demon had to release a small smirk when he saw the pink tint to her cheeks when she looked at him, "Help me cut these, please?"

Sesshoumaru gave a nod and took a watermelon from her. They were heavy. It was no wonder she wanted help. Gently he placed the overly plump fruit on a small wooden slab she had brought with her. Rin and Shippo had gathered next to him to watch and take a slice when he was done. The man lifted up a clawed hand and easily sliced through the middle of the large fruit. Then he cut those halves into smaller pieces, giving the eager children a piece each. They squealed in joy and ran off to eat. The rest of the groups came around and took pieces. Even Sesshoumaru himself did. When they were finished eating Sesshoumaru cut up the second one. After they finished the majority of the group just lazed around, cooling off. Sesshoumaru had gone back to his spot and Kagome joined him. The girl was wearing modern clothes. She had on jean shorts and a baggy t-shirt with flip-flops, and her hair pulled up into a pony-tail.

Her hand pulled out a little silver device from the pocket of her shorts. It was a little metal square with a white screen in the middle. It had a long string attached to it with two extensions. On the end of those extensions were little bulbs with silver mesh. Sesshoumaru stared at it curiously, wondering what it was. Kagome took one little bulb and put it in her ear. Then she turned the device on, and Sesshoumaru could hear music coming from it.

A blue orb looked over. She noticed him looking at the device curiously, wondering what it was. Kagome smiled and turned to him, showing him the little metal square.

"This is called an I-Pod" She explained, watching as his gaze turned up to her, "It plays music." She said. A smile was adorning her face as she showed him the I-pod. He looked from her to it and tilted his head. Kagome too the other earphone, the "bulb", and placed it gently in his ear, turning down the volume so that the music wouldn't hurt him. She let Sesshoumaru listen to the song that was playing.

Ito ga furueru oto

Yozakura no muse kaeru naka de

Tatta isshun de

Hajimatta koi no monogatari

Subete irodorareteku

Anata no oto ni tsutsumarete kara

Omoi egaiteta shiawase wa

Iroasete kuzuresatte itta

Itsumademo tsuzuriku to shinjite mo

Kodomo no mama de iru koto wa dekinai...

Otona ni natte yuku koto gaTada kowa kute...

Bukyou na yasashi sasae...

Miushinai sou

Anata dake omotte ikiteiku tame ni

Nanimokamo suteru koto wa yurusareru no...?

Ashita wa kitto chigau yume o miru no deshou

Anata no inai iroaseta sekai no yume

Katsute zetsubou no soko ni

Ikuta no inochi ga kiete itta

Hikari mebuita ima mo

Nokoru kizu wa mada ienai

Kimi to deatte kara

Takusan no kotoba o narabeta yo

Kibou ni michita sekai o

Mou ichido omoidasasete kuretanda…

Itsuwari darake no tsukurareta sekai de

Kizutsuke atte yuku sadame da to iu nara

Tsunaida te o sotto hanashi owaraseru yo

Mukurareru koto no nai setsunaru omoi...

Anata dake omotte ikiteiku tame ni

Nanimokamo suteru koto wa yurusarenai..

Ashita mo kitto mata onaji kono basho de

Kanadeteiru no…

Owaranai sekai no yumeYume sakura

Douka chiranai de ite...

Izayoi no hakanai koi monogatari wa

Setsuna no yume no naka kiete yuku keredo

Ima dake wa...

ima dake wa...

Omotte itai...

Anata dake omotte ikite yukitai

Kanau koto no nai koi no monogatari o

Ima koko de subete o owari waraseru tame ni...

Yumemite itai

Owaranai sekai no yume

Sesshoumaru furrowed his eye brows slightly. The song was nice, and he liked it, but the ending…the silent man looked over at Kagome's face. Her eyes held an almost sad, lovesick gaze. It was intoxicating and disappointing at the same time.

"This Sesshoumaru did not like the ending." He stated looking over at the stream. Kagome gave a small nod in agreement.

"Me neither. I usually turn the song back to the beginning before that part." She admitted with a slight blush on her face. Her eyes turned back over to him, staring at him. Sesshoumaru turned his gaze back over to her, and they held each other's gaze for a moment or two. Kagome was the first to turn away, looking down at the ground, a light pink blush upon her face. He looked back over to the stream.

"That device is interesting." Sesshoumaru said, not looking over to her, face straight. Kagome looked back over to him and gave a small smile.

"Want to listen to another song?" She asked politely. He gave a curt nod, turning to look at her.

"As long as its not like that one." He said. Kagome laughed.

"You know, I think of you whenever I listen to that song!" She chirped happily, with a sweet smile on her face. Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment, then shook his head, a light smirk forming on his face. The two spent the rest of the day, listening to music under the tree.

The song is "Yume Sakura" by the Vocaloids Lin and Ren! I love this song but I don't like the ending...

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Yume Sakura (c) Nico Nico Douga

I don't own the song or Inuyasha. I'm just a simple writer so don't shoot me...!