I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter Four

New Members and a Serious Threat

Sesshoumaru was walking at the back of the odd little group that traveled with the miko. He unknowingly was learning new things about each one that he had not noticed before. The monk was very perverted and could not keep his hands to himself. So far the only one that he had violated was the exterminator. The tajiya was very independent and completely in love with the monk. Though she would get very angry with him when he touched her she would blush profusely and then sneak glances at the monk when he was not watching. The dead priestess walked with Inuyasha when he was walking. She would find reasons to touch him and she was always smiling at him. Sesshoumaru resentfully admitted that the dead one was good for his brother. Inuyasha brightened up when ever she was around him and he paid non stop attention to her. Inuyasha when he wasn't with the dead one was jumping through the trees to stay away from the children. The miko was always aware of the children when one would almost fall she would tense and get ready to go to them if they needed her. When one was tired she would pick them up and carry them. Sesshoumaru also noticed how sometimes she would try to covertly look back at him. When she saw him looking back at her she would smile broadly while blushing and then turn back around to watch the children. Sometimes she would even play with the children. Sesshoumaru also felt that his retainer and two headed dragon stead were near. Sesshoumaru was just starting to get used to the quiet away from Jaken's irritating voice. A few minutes later the stead walked out of the woods and started walking directly behind Sesshoumaru then a breathless Jaken came running out of the forest.

"Lord Sesshoumaru." He fell at Sesshoumaru's feet effectively stopping him. "Why did you leave this faithful servant behind? Why are you traveling with those that are beneath you. Please Lord Sesshoumaru leave the human child with the miko and take your leave . You do not need these worthless…" Before he could get the rest of his sentence our Sesshoumaru kicked him into the nearest tree and continued to walk. Jaken got up and then hurried to catch up. Though this time he wisely kept his mouth closed. He was just happy to be back with his Lord. Even though he still did not understand what he was doing.

Kagome was enjoying having Rin around for Shippou to play with. She even liked just having Sesshoumaru traveling with them even though he did not speak at all. Rin had convinced him to travel with the group. She had told him that she was not ready to leave her new brother and her Kagome-okaa-san. Sesshoumaru had given in surprisingly quickly. Kagome thought. She wanted to talk to the taiyoukai but she was afraid that he would not talk back. Finally she decided just to walk with him and then if anything came to mind she would just start talking and see how that went. Kagome turned around and walked up to Sesshoumaru and started walking with him. Sesshoumaru quircked one elegant eyebrow at her but then turned and just faced forward. Look she walks with us. Talk to her. 'no I do not want to encourage her. She does not stop once she starts.' But we like the sound of her voice it soothes us so talk to her. 'what am I supposed to talk to her about.' Ask her what she will wish for on the jewel when it is completed and then ask her what she plans to do once her adventure is over. 'Fine'

Kagome jumped when she heard Sesshoumaru's baritone voice. "What will you wish for miko?" Kagome looked at him confused. What did he mean. "On the jewel priestess. What will you wish for?" Kagome smiled.

"I will wish for a separate soul for Kikyou so that she and Inuyasha con be together with out the fact that she is dead getting in the way. I want to give them a second chance at the love that was stolen from them. I want my big brother to be truly happy for the first time in his life." As Kagome spoke she watched Kikyou and Inuyasha walking ahead of the them holding hands. She sighed wistfully. Then she looked at Miroku and Sango. She knew that they loved each other. Kagome wanted what they had. But she knew that she could not search for it until her task at hand was complete. Sesshoumaru observed her suddenly sullen mood and watched where her eyes wondered.

"Don't you love my half-brother miko." Kagome looked at him and laughed. Sesshoumaru did not like being laughed at. Kagome stopped abruptly when she heard a growl. She looked at Sesshoumaru and quickly explained herself.

" Of course I love Inuyasha. But not romantically. I love him as a brother. That is why I was lost in thought the day you saved me from going off the cliff. I had just realized that I did not want him as a mate but that I loved him as a little sister would love a brother. So you see that is why I laugh. I am not laughing at you I am laughing at the situation." Sesshoumaru nodded his head and then faced forward again. 'she does not love the half-breed' I told you that she did not love him. We have a chance. We can prove to her that we are worthy. We should court her. Sesshoumaru did not answer his demon because he was pulled from his thoughts by a slight tug on his sleave. He looked down at the miko and saw concern in her eyes. "Are you alright Sesshoumaru. You just stopped suddenly and would not answer me. It was like you were not really here." He looked down at where her hand had moved and was now holding his. Kagome followed his eyes. " Sorry" She blushed so bright that Sesshoumaru was afraid that she would faint. But he did happen to notice somewhere in the back of his mind how cute she looked when she blushed. Sesshoumaru sqeezed her hand once before letting her take her hand from his.

"I am fine miko. Your concern is appreciated but unneeded." He started walking again. Kagome hurried to catch up. "So what will you do once the wish is made and your duty to it is done?" Kagome stayed silent for so long that Sesshoumaru did not think that she would answer. Finally she did.

" I don't know. I might go home but I don't really want to leave my friends and son here. I can't even think about a life without him. I will have to see what happens. If I don't go home then I will stay here though I don't know what I will do." Kagome shrugged.

"You and your son could travel with Rin and I. You seem very educated and you could teach Rin. She likes you and she has grown attached to you and your kit." Kagome was shocked for like half a second before she smiled broadly.

" I would love to do that. Thank you so much." She hugged Sesshoumaru around the middle impulsively. She quickly realized what she was doing and let go blushing. She ran up to the children without even looking at Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru watched her take off blushing and allowed a slight smile to grace his flawless face for a second before it returned to his normal stoic façade. See I told you that she likes us. And I saw that smile . You love her admit it. You invited her to our home. She is the first female besides our Rin that you have willingly allowed to come to our home. 'Shut up. I am interested in her power… and maybe I like her a little bit. She will be a good mother figure for Rin. And she is far more intelligent than any of the other women who are not high born.' If that is what you wish to believe than so be it. But we will have her. She will mother OUR pups and no one elses. With that said his demon side receded back to the far corners of his conscious thought. His gaze never left the young woman in front of him and he was constantly searching the surrounding area for any threats to her and his daughter. He would protect her because he was intrigued by her power and her ignorance about it. That was the only reason he was willing to admit to himself yet.

Kagome was so embarrassed that she hd not only held Sesshoumaru's hand but she had hugged him. She was also ecstatic that he had asked her and Shippou to stay with him and Rin. Kagome did not know what to think about the taiyoukai. She knew that she liked him a lot and that she would love to spend as much time as possible with him. But on the other hand she did not want to get to attached to a man who would not return her feelings. She knew that Sesshoumaru liked her better than he like anyone else besides Rin. She just didn't think that he like, liked her. She is only a human after all and on top of that she was a miko. Youkai and miko's are supposed to be enemies. But for some reason she felt that Sesshoumaru would not dislike her because she was a miko. Kagome sighed. She was so confused inside that she felt like she as about to spontaneously combust from all of the questions and what ifs. Kagome couldn't wait until they stopped for the night because she wanted to talk to Kikyou and Sango about Sesshoumaru's invitation.

The group walked for another two hours before the girls decided that it was time to stop for the night. Inuyasha of course complained but gave in when Kikyou stepped in. Sesshoumaru just walked off into the trees to go hunting for his food. He had never and would never eat with the humans when he traveled. He liked the hunt and the raw meat. Sesshoumaru knew that it would disgust the humans and did not want to do that to Kagome or Rin. Miroku and Inuyasha took Shippou and went to gather fire wood and to hunt for dinner. The women of course took of to bathe while the men prepare for them to come back and fix dinner.

"So what were you and the Ice Prince talking about Kagome?" Sango could not contain herself. Kikyou smiled and nodded her agreement. Kagome smiled brightly, but stayed quiet until she had herself and Rin undressed and in the water. "Come on Kgaome spill."

"Ok. He asked me about my wish on the jewel. I told him my wish which is a secret to the two of you so don't even ask. And then he asked about my relationship with Inuyasha. I told him that he was my big brother. Then he invited me to stay with him and Rin when the jewel was complete and my duty was done." Kagome stopped and began to wash Rin and herself. Sango and Kikyou were just waiting for Kagome to give her answer. Kagome just smiled inwardly. She wanted to see who would crack first. Finally…

"So what did you say? Are you going to stay with him or not." Kikyou busted out. Sango anxiously nodded her agreement to the question. Kagome smiled and dunked her head under to rinse out the conditioner. When she came back up Sango and Kikyou were staring ominously at her. She backed up laughing.

"Alright, Alright. I said yes that I would stay with him." Kikyou, Sango, and Rin squealed and hugged Kagome. "but I am afraid that I will fall harder for him and more seriously the more time I spend with him. I don't even know if he likes me a little bit. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be hurt again." Sango and Kikyou hugged her again.

"Don't worry Kagome he likes you." Kikyou said. Kagome looked up at her startled.

"How do you know that he likes me." Kikyou smiled at Kagome and then started doing the same thing that Kagome had done earlier. She bathed herself completely and then rinsed off. Kagome was so eager to know that she tackled Kikyou as soon as she came back up out of the water. " Tell me or I will drown you?" Kagome said laughingly. Kikyou smiled and then pushed Kagome off of her.

"Ok. Reason one, when you held his hand he did not kill you. Reason two he offered to let you stay with him. Reason three you hugged him and he did not kill you. And most importantly when you walked away after hugging him. He watched you walk away and then he actually smiled for like a second but he really smiled at you." Kikyou just waited for Kagome's reaction. Kagome jumped up and down squealing at the top of her lungs and then she hugged all three of the girls tightly. Before she let go Sesshoumaru landed in the clearing with his claws glowing and eyes beginning to bleed red. Two seconds after him Inuyasha came in with tetsusaiga out. One minute later Miroku, Shippou and Kirara landed. All four of the girls screamed and ducked under the water to their chins. They all noticed at the same time though that the men were not even looking at them. Kagome and the others were completely confused as to what was going on. Then all of a sudden like a barrier was broken she could sense a very tainted aura and knew the reason why the guys were here looking so angry. She grabbed Rin then hurried the other women out of the water. They wrapped themselves in towels and then ran to stand behind the men. A very unwelcome and evil person had been snooping and had hidden himself to the women so that he would watch them. Sesshoumaru was not completely calm. He had Rin and Kagome safely behind him. Inuyasha had calmed just a bit now that Kikyou was with him and the same for Miroku. Then just as the girls had joined the group a very smug looking figure in a white baboon pelt stepped into the clearing on the other side of the hot springs. He said one thing before disappearing as if he had never been there. Though he said it so low that only Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Shippou heard what he said. "Now I know your weakness Lord of the West. Guard it well or I shall take it from you."

Well that is all for this chapter. The next chapter a certain hanyou finds out Sesshoumaru's weakness. And something completely unexpected happens. Please review. Let me know what you think. Please.