Chapter 4 –

Sesshoumaru –

He didn't understand why he felt guilty, by hurting her. He didn't even understand why he had been slight disappointed that she needed his word as Lord to ensure she didn't get hurt… because of him. And he didn't understand why he of all people, suddenly cared. His first reason for keeping her here was for her to get healed because of Rin. Then another reason came along, when she had offered him to come with her to the future, and now the third reason presented itself. He secretly wanted to get to know the feisty fearless miko. She was so different from other humans, from other human women in this era. She even smelled different. Were as humans in this era smelled of sweat, dirt or poor parfume, she smelled of lilac and apples. Were women in this era would rightfully fear youkai, she just didn't. She was loyal, kind hearted, but still had a fire in her. She was… interesting.

He had been sitting in his study, looking out in the distance, thinking of her when a knock sounded from the door

"Enter" he said calmly, half of his thoughts still lingering around the miko. Ruka then came in

"What is it Ruka?" Ruka sat down on his desk

"Have you felt anything weird with the miko's aura?" she asked curiously

'Her aura?' It was possible for a Taiyoukai to sense an aura, but only to the extent, were they could feel others strong emotions, like hate, grieve, fury etc. But Ruka had experience when it came to auras, and she was kind of an expert in reading them and knowing the meaning of the colors in an aura

"No. Why?" he asked curiously, even though he didn't show it. Ruka got closer to him, with a look of amazement in her eyes

"Her aura is flaring around her, instead of flowing like every aura does" she replied with a mischievous smile

"And why is her aura 'flaring', as you put it?" Sesshoumaru kept his mask on, but the curiosity was shining in his eyes. Ruka smirked

"That I would like to know to… It is weird. It is like two auras trying on working to become one. They didn't fight each other, but they tried to push into each other, but something is holding them back" she explained

"Why does she have two auras?" Sesshoumaru felt like a puppy now. His curiosity when it came to the miko just grew. Ruka straightened up

"The one aura is the one representing her miko and human self, but the other aura… is that of youkai and a beast. From what I can make out of it, she is in some kind of transformation, and it would only take a notch to tricker it" she then stood up

"But what is interesting is why is she about to transform into a miko youkai and how" Sesshoumaru could see, she made some useful points

"This Sesshoumaru is travelling with the miko to her home tomorrow, and I expect to get answers during the journey" he informed her. Had it been someone else, they would just have been dismissed, but this old hag, wasn't just 'someone else'. He saw Ruka's worried look on her face

"Now, don't you go treat her bad or hurt her in the process, or I will make sure to make your life a living hell for a month!" she proclaimed. Sesshoumaru just raised an eyebrow

"This Sesshoumaru have given his word not to hurt her on the journey" he could always kill her after he mused.

'No you won't' his beast growled

'What are you saying?' Sesshoumaru hissed mentally

'I like her. She is feisty, and she has the temperament of a demoness' his beast argued

'That we can agree on, but she is human and obnoxious' he protested

'Ruka believes she will become youkai, we just need to give her the push' Sesshoumaru shook his head, as if trying to denial the whole thing

'Oh come on! I know you find her attractive, and you do respect her, either you want to admit or not' his beast countered harshly

'So? Attraction and respect are not reasons enough to mate' Sesshoumaru growled, he just hadn't realized he had growled out loud instead of in his head

"Having a nice chat with beasty are we?" Ruka's voice let him come back to reality

"It is rude to just channel out like that pup, I thought I raised you better" she said hurt, even though you could clearly see and hear the fakeness of it all

"Anyway, as I was saying, while you had an inner discussion, that I am surprised that you gave your word to a human like that. That means there is hope for you yet" she winked at Sesshoumaru, who only frowned

"Appreciate your job, since it is the only thing that keeps me from killing and resurrect you every day" he growled

"Now now, I don't want that kind of talking. Now, why were you having a discussion with your beast? And don' try to keep it from me. I will only dig deeper in reading your aura, to find the answers" she said with a devious smile, plastered on her lips. Sesshoumaru growled louder, but in defeat

"It seems my beast and I are disagreeing on the matter of the miko" Ruka's smile got bigger

"Oh? And what disagreements might that be?" she asked innocently

"It wants her. I do not" he answered plain and simple. He hated it when she fried him for information. She was the best interrogator he knew of

"And why don't you want her?" she asked curious. He growled at her warningly

"No, tell me. I am very curious. You see, I have talked with Rin about her, and have heard Jaken's stories of her, plus I read some of her aura when I saw her, and from all the information I gathered I found her interesting. Do you want to know what I got?" she narrowed her eyes at him

"She is kind, loyal, open hearted, protective, and strong in mind. She has a fire, but is gentle by nature, and she is totally oblivious as to how much she actually affects people around her. See! I can't see a reason why you wouldn't mate her" Ruka threw her arms up in the air, clearly frustrated

"She is obnoxious, loud and takes stupid risks. She is disrespectful to this Sesshoumaru, and she is a mere human" Sesshoumaru retorted, his beast growling a little too loud in his head in protest

"Not for long she's not and have I not told you, that you have to show respect, to get some in return?" Sesshoumaru almost rolled his eyes. He hated when she made such good points, which would make him seem like a jerk. Not that he cared… Or so he wanted to think. Sesshoumaru growled. He had showed her respect!

'You called her miko and undermined her in the process' his beast countered. He growled louder

"Well, I will go and see to our guest, while you have a nice time thinking" and with that, she was quickly out of the door, but Sesshoumaru got to see the mischievous smile on his protectors lips

'Great, what is she up to now' . He looked one last time at the door before shifting his gaze out of the window.

Kagome –

"Stupid jerk" Kagome mumbled, while sitting next to a pond in one of Sesshoumaru's many gardens. First he had been a jerk, and then he had surprised her with giving his word, that he wouldn't hurt her (after he actually HAD hurt her), but he had given her something to clean the wound with, and that led her to believe, that he had actually been guilty about it!

'Feh yeah right Kagome, Sesshoumaru guilty? Hell will freeze over sooner than Sesshoumaru having a guilty conscience' she hissed mentally

'You can't deny you find him attractive' a voice in her head said. It was talking more often now, and she had come to realize it was her beast

'Duh, who wouldn't? And you can be attracted to a jerk, but that doesn't mean I would like to be with one' Kagome growled mentally

'Well, I approve of him as mate' her beast exclaimed

"YOU DO WHAT!" She hadn't realized she had said that out loud, before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Ruka

"Is something wrong?" Ruka asked friendly and offering Kagome a smile

"No, just enjoying the weather" she lied. Ruka sat down next to her

"Do you know what you are going through" the owl youkai asked 'She knows?' Kagome felt her breathing stop for a moment, out of surprise

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, and decided to play ignorant for the moment

"I am capable of seeing others auras clearer than others, and read them. I see two auras in you" Ruka answered. Kagome was a little taken back, but looked at the old youkai

"And you know what the auras are correct?" Kagome asked in confirmation. Ruka then nodded. Kagome sighed

'Great, just great!' It was not like it was a secret, but she didn't want anyone to know of it yet

"So? Do you know what is happening to you?" Ruka asked again. Kagome thought she saw concern in the owl youkais expression, and she hated it when others were concerned for her

"Yes, I will transform into the first Miko Youkai" she answered quick and simple to stop the woman from worrying

"I thought as much… Why?" Kagome frowned

'So, she is a nosy type'

"My destiny is to protect the Shikon No Tama, and when I get the rest of my soul back, my transformation will be complete. It is to insure that the jewel will be protected, and they" Kagome pointed up in the skies

"… have apparently chosen me" Kagome answered bitterly, it was not like she had been given a choice in the matter

"What do you mean, with getting the rest of your soul back?" Kagome could see the confusion shinning out of her. Kagome thought it kind of amusing. Sesshoumaru must have been raised by this owl youkai, and she had no problem what so ever, shoving emotions… So what went wrong with Sesshoumaru? Kagome saw Ruka waiting patiently for her to tell. Kagome sighed and started off by telling her the story of Inu-Yasha and Kikiyo, and then moved over to the 'resurrecting' part of the story. Ruka looked at Kagome in disbelief

"How in the world are you able to stay so strong with a missing part of your soul?" Kagome could see the question had been asked for the owl to ponder about it. Kagome thought back to what Miroku had said

"A houshi friend of mine, believes I have a big, old and strong soul, and part of the reason could be, that I am the reincarnation of both Midoriko and Kikiyo" See, that got Ruka's attention, and she almost looked like one in wonder, who dared not touch Kagome, in fright of the heavens wrath That made Kagome giggle

"You are a special piece of human, I will give you that. In all of my years, you have surprised me more than any humans I have met, put together" Ruka had big stars in her eyes, which then turned to a mischievous look. Kagome just snorted

"Everyone says that, but I think it has something to do with the fact, that I am not from this time" Kagome then looked at Ruka, whom seemed shocked over this 'little' piece of information

"Does Sesshoumaru not tell you such things?" Kagome would have thought she had known, since she was his protector. Ruka came out from her coma, her aura radiating with wrath

"He knew?! That's why he is so eager to get to your home! But how?!" Kagome sighed again; this story of her life had been told so many times, that it was slowly becoming a bother. Kagome sighed defeated

"You know what? I will tell you the entire story, seems easier" she grumbled, and then she told Ruka of her home and a bit of her time, how she came to this era, how she met her friends, their journey, everything! Ruka was quiet under the entire story, absorbing what she heard. Then when Kagome finally stopped, Ruka got up on her feet

"Come, it is time for supper" Kagome looked at her dumbstruck and puzzled. She had been expecting a comment or two, questions, but none of it came. Kagome shrugged, stood and nodded to Ruka so she could lead the way to the dining hall.