Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this surge of progress... especially for the one who makes a wish. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

A Patient Reminder: Since it's already come up multiple times, I'll say this once more. The only reason this story exists is so that I can participate in drabble contests. Most chapters will be drabble length (translation: short, brief, compact, bite-sized, tiny, miniature). Bewailing this fact is pointless. Now go on and enjoy your big, fat chapter. ::fond prod::

Star Light, Star Bright

Kagome sank lower into the spring, grateful for the penetrating heat that slowly seeped into her bones. Her feet throbbed. Her knees stung. Her nose was dripping. Fleetingly, she wondered if this was what hypothermia felt like. Sesshoumaru-sama said he'd come back... so he will. I should get ready. Yes... that's a good plan. Mechanically, she scrubbed at her skin, knowing that the long day had left her spattered and smeared. For now, 'getting clean' was a purpose, and she was glad to have one to focus on. Doing something would help fill the emptiness and fend off her doubts and fears.

This sweater was brand new, she noted morosely as she undid the buttons. When she'd dressed that morning, she'd gravitated towards a favorite dress, a floral affair with a flirty skirt that was probably too summery for this early in the spring, but she'd justified her whim by adding a layer. Kagome held the pale blue cardigan above the water, and she could feel the yarn stretching under the weight of its saturation. I wonder if it's salvageable? Something told her it would never be the same.

She used a corner of it to wash her face, then gently wrung out as much of the excess water as she could. Maybe if I lay it out to dry... Peering around in hopes of locating a likely rock or shrub, the miko was thwarted by the impenetrable darkness. When she carefully placed the damp garment on the mossy edge the hot spring, she found herself reluctant to part with it. Though it would be cold and wet if she put it back on, the sweater was her only protection from the elements. My shoes, my pack, and my home are all at the bottom of the Bone Eater's Well.

Blinking away tears, Kagome forced herself back to the task at hand. Her dress was plastered to her skin, but she refused to remove any more clothing, clinging to the meager sense of security it offered. Instead, she submerged, deciding to work her way from top to toe. Slowly and methodically, she untangled her hair, kneaded her shoulders, and ran her hands over legs that trembled with exhaustion rather than cold. There was no need to hurry. Once she was done, there was nothing left to do.

She took care to be quiet, not wanting any splashes to alert nocturnal prowlers to her presence. When she'd done as much as she could do without the benefit of soap or a comb, she lay back in the water so that only her face was exposed to the chill night air. Far above, she could make out tree branches, for they partially blocked her view of the stars, cold and distant as they twinkled down upon her predicament. No more rain tonight, she noted. That's something, anyhow.

Time stretched and waiting added to her worries. Was she right to put all her trust in Sesshoumaru's word of honor when he was not yet the taiyoukai she knew from the feudal era? What if he has yet to become honorable? For that matter, what if something had happened to him, out there, all alone in the woods? He's only a small boy. She knew that youkai children were far from helpless, but they weren't invulnerable. No, I won't doubt him. Sesshoumaru-sama said he would return... and he is still Sesshoumaru-sama. Kagome gazed skyward, and though she believed, she still wished upon the brightest of those faraway stars, begging it to send him back to her soon.

Hisoka's agitation grew as he paced before the campfire in the small encampment he'd prepared within the perimeter established by the Inu no Taishou's guardsmen. This is taking him much longer than I anticipated. Surely nothing could have gone amiss? In anticipation of his only son and heir's first hunt, the great Dog General had ordered these woods prepared. Sesshoumaru's teacher had been interested to learn that his pupil wasn't receiving special treatment. It was standard practice to send youngsters out for their first hunt in these controlled conditions. The inu-youkai of this clan are very protective of all their pups. The forest had been combed to rid it of all potential threats, and the presence of sufficient game had been verified. A few guards remained at lookout points some distance away to make sure nothing would interrupt the young lord's rite of passage.

What ensued was one part survival training, one part skills test. Three days were allowed for the hunt, and while the location varied, it was always set a day's journey from the fortress. When Hisoka had asked for the reasoning behind the unnecessarily long trek, Sesshoumaru's father had merely laughed and said that the journey elevated what amounted to a simple hunt to the level of a quest. The tradition provided every young inu-youkai with their first true adventure.

One adult was permitted to accompany the pup, and Sesshoumaru had insisted that his tutor should fulfill the roll. Hisoka was gratified to be the young lord's choice, for it was a mark of favor. A few within the court—including the boy's mother—had looked askance when the honor was handed down to a feline, but as usual, Sesshoumaru had his way.

The youngsters were sent out with their immediate family's well wishes, but when the triumphant hunters returned, they were escorted directly to the Inu no Taisho in order to present their first official kill. Hisoka had witnessed one such ceremony the previous autumn, when the daughter of one of the fortress's guardsmen returned from her hunt. The pheasant she'd carried to the resident alpha had been received with much solemnity, and the little female had been praised for her speed and skill. It had only taken her two days to complete the appointed task. I was certain his lordship would try to outdo her. The second day was nearly gone, and Hisoka was beginning to worry. This isn't like him. What is he doing out there?

As he stalked back and forth in their tiny encampment, Hisoka ran his hand over close-cropped pewter hair and tried to reason out the boy's thinking. If speed was not his goal, perhaps he has his sights set on larger prey? Nothing more complicated than a hare was required in order for the hunt to be declared a success, and according to the burly inu-youkai who was in charge of the stables, some pups squeaked through with nothing more than a squirrel to show for their efforts. However, Sesshoumaru understood the expectations that were weighed upon his young shoulders, and he craved his father's approval. It would be like him to exceed all expectations, then act as if it was nothing. Hnn... Sesshoumaru might be stalking deer or a boar, which would definitely cause a stir in the fortress. However, tracking one might lead him beyond the proscribed boundaries, placing him in danger. Muttering a particularly colorful feline expletive, Hisoka made up his mind. I need to check on him.

The wet weather dampened scents, which slowed him a little, but the neko-youkai was accustomed to tracking down his young charge. With a grim expression, he set off through the trees, keen eyes watching for traces of his pupil. These conditions were hardly ideal for a hunt—let alone a first hunt—and Sesshoumaru's mother had actually suggested that the journey be put off until summer... but the boy had been insulted. Hisoka smirked wryly at the memory of the proud lift of his pointed chin when Sesshoumaru gravely reprimanded the Lady of the West for calling his sense of smell into question. Nothing could have stopped the boy from proving himself at that point... dooming his beleaguered tutor to two days and nights under inclement skies, with another to go.

Hisoka was more than halfway across the secured lands before he picked up on a fresh trail; minutes later, he spied Sesshoumaru, who stood upon a rocky outcropping, hands tucked into his sleeves, obviously waiting for him. Hnn... very good. Hisoka dropped out of the treetops and inclined his head in greeting. "How goes the hunt, milord?"

"Why did you follow me?" Sesshoumaru inquired.

"I did not expect you to take so long," the neko-youkai freely admitted. "It is not my intention to interrupt your hunt, but your safety is my responsibility."

"I am safe," the boy replied dismissively. Golden eyes drifted towards the side, then met his tutor's firmly. "I do not need your help."

Hisoka suspected that his pupil really had bitten off more than his small fangs could manage. Why must he hold himself to such ridiculously high standards? he wondered, already knowing the answer. "I am confident that you will succeed, milord. I apologize for my intrusion."

Teacher bowed to student, and Hisoka turned back towards their prearranged meeting point; when he glanced over his shoulder for a last look at his pupil, Sesshoumaru was already gone. The neko-youkai walked slowly, mind churning through the possibilities. Clever though he may be, his charge was still a child... and Hisoka knew him too well to miss the telltale signs. He was in a hurry, and he did not wish to be followed. While the neko-youkai had no desire to impede the boy's plans to win his father's approbation, he was concerned. He's hiding something, but what? Finally, Hisoka decided that the main thing was that Sesshoumaru was safe. One day remains, and then we can return home to celebrate his success, in whatever form that may take.

When the neko-youkai reached the camp, his eyes widened in disbelief. While he'd been strolling through the woods, someone had helped themselves to the supply tent. That little whelp! A careful search of their baggage verified the absence of food packets, a canteen, two blankets, and the nintoujou. A hiss of annoyance slipped through his fangs, and Hisoka's frown deepened as fiery orange eyes flicked back in the direction he'd come. This does not bode well... for either of us.

"Kyaaa!" Sesshoumaru's return was met with considerable surprise and a vigorous amount of splashing as Kagome flailed to regain her balance after shooting to her feet in the spring. "Don't sneak up like that!" she gasped, clutching her hands over her heart.

"I was not sneaking."

"My ears aren't as keen as yours, and you're very light on your feet."

Sesshoumaru's chest puffed slightly at the compliment, but he recalled himself and gestured for her to follow him. "I found a good place; come with me."

"R-really?" Kagome replied, sloshing to the edge and collecting her sweater. "Is it far?"

"It is that way," Sesshoumaru replied, pointing.

"I can't see very well," she admitted. A small hand wrapped around her wrist again, and he drew her slowly into the forest. It didn't take long for the heat of the hot spring to wear off; the air cooled Kagome's damp skin and soon had her shivering. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," she blurted, needing him to know how glad she was to see him... in spite of her rather rude reception.

His childish voice carried through the darkness. "What for?"

"For coming back." He stopped walking, and Kagome nearly bumped into him. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"What for?"

She smiled weakly and shook her head, then said, "Without your help, I would be very lost."

"You are not lost; you are mine," he corrected, tugging her forward again. "Hisoka-sensei says that a good ruler takes care of what belongs to them, and Father says that I will rule one day. This is the way it should be."

Kagome stumbled blindly after the youkai child for what felt like forever, but finally, a faint glimmer caught her eye. "Is that it?"

"Yes. You said humans require warmth, shelter, food, water, baths, sleep..."

He recited the list by rote as he pulled her towards the welcoming glow of firelight. Sesshoumaru walked directly inside, but Kagome had to duck to enter. When she straightened, she thought perhaps she'd discovered a tiny piece of heaven. A modest fire crackled in a low depression ringed with stones, and two wild hares had been spitted on sticks; the smell made her stomach rumble in anticipation.

"Humans prefer cooked meat," Sesshoumaru stated informatively.

"You're right," she acknowledged distractedly, having discovered the presence of blankets and a gourd. "How did you know?"

"That village smelled of charred boar," he replied, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"Don't you like cooked meat?" Kagome asked curiously.

The boy shrugged as he checked and turned the skewers, which had been staked at a safe distance from the flames. "Both ways are good. The only thing I could not obtain was 'friends'."

Kagome couldn't decide if the stiffness of this admission was apology or annoyance. Either was sweet... and a little funny. "I don't miss them so much with you here," she replied warmly. Solemn golden eyes held hers contemplatively, and he inclined his head. "Do you mind if I use one of those blankets?" she asked. "I need to dry off."

"They are for you."

With a sigh of relief, Kagome draped her sweater upon the sloping rock in the back of the cave, stilling when she recognized the staff propped in the corner. "Is Jaken here?" she asked.

"Who?"

"N-never mind," she mumbled. Kagome began to unfasten her dress, but she hesitated when she realized that Sesshoumaru was watching intently. "Erm... I thought of something else humans need," she announced. Making a little finger twirl, she said, "Privacy. Turn around, please."

Disappointment turned down the corners of his mouth ever so slightly, but the young lord complied.

Whenever Sesshoumaru chose a course that ran contrary to his parents' expectations, Hisoka cautioned him to consider the ramifications. "I understand that it pleases you to have your own way, but have you considered where that path will lead you?"

According to his tutor, the decisions he made were evidence that he was growing up... or proof that he was still a child. And so, the heir to the Western Lands contemplated the consequences of his most recent choice. They were sure to be unpleasant. Sesshoumaru had never heard of a pup who failed to pass their first test by bringing home game before the end of the third day, but this human was too slow to make it back to the fortress in the time that remained. Father will be disappointed.

Sesshoumaru peered thoughtfully at the young woman huddled under the blanket by his side. He'd taken up a guard position for the night in much the same way he had for Ah-Un when his dragon was a hatchling. Inquisitive fingers strayed to the tumble of hair next to his knee, lifting a still-damp tendril off of the dirt floor and shifting it onto the blanket. He carefully petted the shining black hair, intrigued by the way it curled slightly at the ends that were drying more quickly. I thought humans would be more... different.

When any of the adults at the fortress bothered to mention these creatures, it usually involved a dispute over boundaries. A few youkai flung insults—dirty, stupid, coarse, weak—but for the most part, humans existed beneath their notice. This human interested him. Though dirty, she had been most anxious to get clean. Far from stupid, she had addressed him with proper respect. He did not find her coarse, but her weakness worried him. Even though he made sure she ate and drank, the scratches that marred her skin were not healed. Also, her skin was flushed; the rosy hue was rather pretty, but something told Sesshoumaru that this was not normal. He pressed a small hand against her cheek and found it hot to the touch; she stirred and whimpered, but did not wake. Consternation creased his brow.

"You must not be weak, human," he dictated. Sesshoumaru knew from past experience that his will was strong enough to bend all else to his purposes, so he set his heart on her.

Hisoka hovered outside the cave, perplexed by the story told by the tracks and scents that led to its threshold. He'd suspected larger prey, but... a human? Cautiously, the neko-youkai ducked through the opening, crouching just inside the entrance. A quick glance around confirmed the presence of his lordship, his pilfered nintoujou, all the other missing items from their camp, and a sleeping female. "Here you are, milord," Hisoka greeted, keeping his voice low. With admirable calm he politely inquired, "What have you done?"

"I have found a human."

"I see that," Hisoka patiently replied, though his mind was reeling. "Humans do not mix well with demonkind, and she will be frightened if she wakes and finds us here. We should leave her in peace."

"She is not afraid," countered Sesshoumaru. "I put her here."

The neko-youkai couldn't deny the truth of the boy's assertion. There was too much corroborating evidence—the remains of a shared meal, the wet clothing dripping on the earthen floor, and the human sleeping trustingly between two blankets from his lordship's own pack. Hisoka groaned inwardly, then watched in horror as a small hand reached down and touched the top of the girl's head, an unmistakeably proprietary gesture. Golden eyes flashed with an iron resolve that was at odds with the sweet face that tilted to one side with deceptive innocence. Hisoka knew that look, and dread settled in his gut like a stone. "Milord, wait... please consider..."

"She is mine."

He also knew that tone and hung his head in defeat. Make my death swift and painless, he prayed, though he suspected that the Dog General would skin him alive for this.

"I am keeping her," Sesshoumaru firmly added.

Rallying a little, Hisoka cleared his throat and reasonably pointed out, "You cannot simply pick up a stray human, milord. The people of her village will be furious; entire wars have been started for lesser reasons."

The boy slowly shook his head. "This human says she is lost. She has no village."

"A wanderer?" frowned the neko-youkai. "Hnn... I find it hard to believe that a human woman would be traveling alone. Does she have a name?"

Sesshoumaru blinked. "I did not ask," he admitted. After a moment's pondering, he inquired, "Should I name her?"

"A human is not a pet, milord," Hisokua chided. "She undoubtedly has a name already."

"I will ask her," the boy declared, though his brows knit together. "When she is better."

"This woman is ill?" Hisoka exclaimed, darting forward. With his heart in his throat, he gently turned the female onto her back, searching her face and scent for any signs of disease. I shudder to think what would happen if this girl brings a plague down on our heads. After close scrutiny, he sighed in relief. "What happened to her?" he asked.

"She jumped into a well."

Hisoka stared at his young charge incredulously. "Why would she do that?"

Sesshoumaru gave small shrug, then asked, "Do you know about humans?"

"A little," the neko-youkai murmured. As hopefulness sparked in his pupil's eyes, he cautioned, "A very little."

"You will heal her, then."

Hisoka sat back on his heels, searching his lore-packed mind for possible remedies to an unknown sickness in a species with which he was only passingly familiar. He rested the back of his hand upon her fevered brow and hummed softly. Common sense says to bring down the fever, and if need be, I can seek out a healer in the morning. But... the consequences! In a last ditch effort, Hisoka made an appeal to Sesshoumaru's towering pride. "What about the hunt? If we remain here and tend to her, those waiting at the fortress will think that you have failed."

Sesshoumaru nodded, acknowledging the outcome, but the determination in his eyes didn't waver. "I can hunt; she cannot."

The neko-youkai took a closer look at the female, frankly curious as to what she might have done to so quickly secure the young lord's loyalty. It's exceptionally rare for Sesshoumaru to place anything above his pride, yet he is willing to endure censure and scorn for her sake? Only time would tell if Sesshoumaru was simply indulging a childish whim... or demonstrating a heretofore unrecognized capacity for compassion. "I will do what I can for her," Hisoka promised.

End Notes: This oneshot was written for the Live Journal community dokuga(underscore)contest and their Child's Play Challenge. The theme this time around was "Twinkle, Twinkle." Originally posted on September 27, 2009. 3,402 words. Incidentally... If Hisoka-sensei sounds somewhat familiar, you may be remembering a oneshot I wrote a while back called The Bargain. For all intents and purposes, that story is a prequel to Unspoiled, and I invite y'all to give it a read. The story link can be found on my profile.