Sorry it's taken SO LONG guys. My idea bug is very sporadic…and I don't like posting half-arsed, forced chapters….the personalities just don't come out right…

Disclaimer: I in no way own or am professionally related with Inu Yasha. What you see here is the fan girlish tendencies that sneak up on me and attack my muse.

"Lady Kagome…" Came a soft voice from the door. Kagome looked up from her book and towards the door from her place on the loveseat. In the couple days following her awakening, she had managed to regain her strength, though for the time being, Nyuriku had asked her not to stray from her room for anything other than meals until she'd given Kagome the clear.

A small child poked her head through the doorway, and Kagome immediately recognized the adorable girl that was always with Sesshomaru. Kagome smiled and motioned for her to come in. The girls smile bloomed full force as she darted from the door, shut it quickly behind her, and all but pounced on the Miko.

"Rin was happy to hear that Lady Kagome is safe. When she peeked in the day Lord Sesshomaru brought you here, Rin was very worried. But Lady Kagome is okay now, So Rin is happy!" The girl rambled, words running into each other. Kagome chuckled and ruffled the girls hair lightly as she marked her spot in the book and set it aside to turn her attention towards her visitor.

"I am very sorry I worried you Rin," She answered warmly, her eyes holding a maternal glow. It was a familiar emotion that she remembered from caring for Shippo. "I shall do my best not to give anyone a reason to worry again."

Rin smiled. "So, what were you doing just now Lady Kagome?"

"I was reading" The miko gestured the semi-thick, leather bound book that lay on the armrest beside her.

The girls eyes widened as she looked at her female idol with a new sense of awe.

"You can read?" She asked, her mouth hanging slightly open.

Kagome chuckled and nodded. "Indeed I can. It's a favored pastime of mine."

Rin bounced in her seat. "Could you teach Rin some?!" she asked. "Please Lady Kagome? None of the servants around here will teach Ren, and Jaken only tells her that it's not a skill pertinent to a lowly human."

Kagome's eyes flared as she heard the toads words…so help her Kami, if that stupid demon ever spoke to Rin like that in front of her, he would find the wrath of the 'Mighty' Sesshomaru a welcome relief.

"Of course I can teach you. Wait just a moment." Kagome stood gingerly, smoothing out the simple yellow kimono she wore as she made her way over to the bed where her book bag lay and pulled out a pen and a pad of paper, then returned to her place, and began reviewing the basics.

OoOoOoO

A stray wind wove its way around the still traveling group as they settled once more for the evening. Since their run in with Kagome, they'd been more than just a little confused, and Kikyo had taken it upon herself to help Shippo understand that Kagome had not stopped loving him. That she had simply put him in the safest place because she loved him.

"She's a lot different than she used to be…" Sango was the first to comment since they had parted ways with their former companion.

Kikyo smiled softly as they began building up a fire.

"It's only natural. She took time away to grow, and grow she did."

"Yeah…right up to my brother." Inu Yasha grumbled as he settled grumpily on the ground.

"I think that perhaps…he will be good for her." Miroku predicted "let us simply wish her the best and see where this heads. Were she in any danger, she would not have gone with him." And that was the last they spoke of the event.

OoOoOoO

"Lady Kagome"

The miko turned her attention from the small girl who was intently focused on writing out her symbols to the door where a woman a few years Kagome's senior stood, her eyes a light honey color to match her hair and the rounded ears perched atop her head.

"Yes?"

"Lord Sesshomaru has sent me to fetch you for dinner, my lady."

"I'll be right along. Thank you."

Kagome stifled a laugh as she heard the small child huff in annoyance beside her.

"Just as Rin was beginning to get some of it…Will you teach her more later…Please?" Rin asked politely, eyes wide and hopeful. Kagome's heart melted and she smiled.

"Of course. But curious minds need food to learn, so it's a good thing we're leaving it here for now. Come, Let us go down for dinner." And escorted the girl, now gasping and planning to ask Lord Sesshomaru for permission to show Kagome her garden.

"It's full of all kinds of pretty flowers. Lord Sesshomaru usually sends Jaken with Rin, but he's no fun to play with. He just complains about having to watch her…But she's not a bad kid! Rin listens to everything Lord Sesshomaru tells her, and some of what Jaken says. Really! But he calls Rin a brat anyway. Oh! There's this really pretty flower-"

"We've arrived" The servant cut in gracefully, gesturing them into a large dining hall, adorned with a western style dining table that appeared to be suited for well over 100 or more guests. As they crossed over, Rin fell into a contented-though strained- silence as she made her way towards the table where Sesshomaru stood regally at the head. He looked over Kagome and gestured to the spot on his right, as Rin to the spot on his left. Kagome blushed lightly, though she wasn't entirely sure why, and moved to the offered seat.

"Thank you for the room," she paused remembering Rin, "Lord Sesshomaru."

She could see something akin to amusement flicker briefly through his eyes before they returned to their impassive gold masques.

"It is the least I could do, Lady Kagome" He returned, nearly killing Kagome with shock…did.. He was….he did….

HE WAS JOKING WITH HER!!!

WHAT?!

Kagome cleared her throat as their meal was placed in front of her. She waited patiently until Lord Sesshomaru had taken the first bite, and the took a small piece of the brown meat and brought it to her mouth, quite surprised to find it good. She noticed Sesshomaru's plate contained something…different. Less cooked more…juicy.

'dog. Kagome. Hot one, but still a dog.'

What…hot? Where did that come from?…oh wait…her 'shoulder angel' was being loud again.

'He. Is. Hot. You can't deny me there, and he's more than just the stoic, ever angry, never smiling, demon lord of the west. You just had to give him a reason to show you more than that. Using your body as a personal shield was a little more….extreme than I would have come up with, but as it worked, I'm not complaining.'

Kagome chewed furiously trying to block out the sound. Not because she didn't think all of that was true. She'd seen beyond the mask, true. And the more she saw, the more it drew her in…which was dangerous. Sesshomaru hated humans, and she was just that. Sure, she may have given him a reason to be more polite with her…but to let herself have feelings for him….that was dangerous territory. Her heart was a sticky little traitor- and a loud one at that- and she couldn't trust it to not get her hurt. No…it would not do to fall for the lord. She would leave broken, and she frankly didn't know if she had what it took to restart herself from scratch.

OoOoOoO

Sesshomaru watched as Kagome took her seat and the meal was served…the look on her face was…hilarious. Were it in the great lord to do such a thing, he would have laughed right in front of her. Lord Sesshomaru had a sense of humor. Everyone did, the types simply varied. And he saved his for people that he trusted to see him do so. The Miko was quickly bashing through all of his well structured barriers and façades, and if she continued…she might actually get to see something more…genuine from him.

He was aware…he could no longer deny the obvious truths. Sesshomaru had always considered people who ran away from such truths to be men of cowardice, and a coward he was not. The Miko had struck his fancy, and had his undivided attention whether she'd meant to or not. She was a far throw away from the girl that had faced him that first time in the attempt to claim Tetsaiga. The same courage had always been apparent…but she'd become smarter about it.

'So we are in agreement' his beast purred happily, a slight bit of 'I-told-you-so' in there for good measure.

Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, he confirmed.

'We will make her ours. She will belong to no other.'

And that was all it took. Happy, the beast lay back, content to leave the details up to the more human part of his person. Sesshomaru was nothing if not resourceful, and if he decided he would have the Miko, there were few forces on this earth that could change that truth.

OoOoOoO

By the end of dinner, Kagome was more than just a little ruffled. The Great Lord of the West hadn't stopped looking at her through the meal, save to speak to Rin every now and again. She was torn between calmly asking why, and snapping the table in half and brandishing it as Inu Yasha did Tetsaiga and begin demanding answers.

"Lady Kagome! Lets go out to the garden!!!!" Rin squealed, having been formally dismissed from the table by Sesshomaru, and ran around the table to grab Kagome's arm. Kagome nearly forgot entirely about the on looking demon as she smiled warmly down at the girl.

"It sounds wonderful Rin, lead the way!" Kagome exclaimed, nearly loosing balance as Rin all but drug her running out the doors.

The gardens were beautiful. In the center stood a fountain, the visage of a large dog demon stood proudly in granite in the center, his head turned gracefully towards the moon. This was surrounded by a plat formed clearing of sorts, with a path that led up from the palace. There sat three benches, one on each side, and beyond the platform, and expanse of all sorts of flowers, from roses to violets to peony to chrysanthemums, flowing to the palace walls. There were clearings of paths that could be walked along, but she was 98% positive that Rin preferred to run right through the middle.

They spent some time outside, and Kagome ended up promising to teach her flower arrangement as well as reading. Kagome's mother had insisted she learn, and Kagome had to admit, it was calming.

"You posses a plethora of skills, dear Miko." interrupted their conversation as Rin ran out to gather flowers.

A shiver ran down her spine as she turned to face Sesshomaru, who stood at the end of the walkway, just before the platform itself regarding her. She fought to keep her face from flushing, and opted for a gentle smile at him.

"There was a lot I wanted to learn, and a lot more that my mother wanted me to learn. I escaped the piano, but I've learned almost everything else to some degree. Floral arranging of course, then all of the Miko abilities, though my mother didn't teach me those. I took ballet until I was in middle school, I was in rhythmic gymnastics through my middle school years before I ended up journeying with Inu Yasha. "

Sesshomaru's eyebrows had risen during her speech.

"You've had schooling?"

Kagome laughed. Miroku had wondered at the same thing.

"Where I come from, it's mandatory through high school. Although at the end of middle school, you have a choice of high schools, based on how you score on entrance exams. Beyond that I could have attended university if I'd not been distracted. I finished middle school a few years ago, though it was tough what with traveling all the time. Then I made a decent score on my exams and made it into high school, which I've fought hard to make it though. I'm now at my senior year…though with my excessive absence…I'm not sure I'll graduate." She frowned slightly at the end of her ramblings. She had wanted to finish high school…but she couldn't help that the fate of the world was a little more pressing at the moment.

Sesshomaru's expression had returned to it's normal state, but his eyes revealed the increasing surprise and mild disbelief as she spoke.

"What village are you from, Miko?" He finally asked. And she stopped and coughed.

"It's… a…REALLY…long ways from here. You've never been there, of that I'm sure…"

"I would be interested to see it…perhaps since you are not healed enough to adventure yet, I could escort you back and see this place. I'd be much interested in speaking with the lord of the lands to discover how he makes such education readily available to all."

Kagome paled. A lot. OH, this wasn't going to go well.

"It's a ways away, Sesshomaru."

And his eyes narrowed.

"Provided you are not speaking untruths to me, Miko, I doubt it's as far a you say."

Kagome sighed and looked at Sesshomaru directly in the eye.

"I could tell you. But you wouldn't believe me."

This time, he moved directly before her and lightly grasped her chin, his eyes boring into hers.

"We shall see." and took a seat beside her, waiting for her to explain.

And within seconds, the words flew out of her mouth. About the well, about her true time. About how she'd come to travel with her oddball group. How Kikyo had come to be a part of them. As to why and where she'd disappeared for those months and up to present day.

"And here I am now, explaining the impossible to you and telling you, it's the truth."

She wasn't sure…okay. That was a lie. She was entirely aware as to why she desperately wanted Sesshomaru to believe her. She had come to think…very highly of him, and didn't want him to think she was another worthless, lying human.

OoOoOoO

Try as he might, he could not detect any scent of a lie in the woman's explanation. He could tell she was determined that he believe her…but that was it. He regarded her for a moment, before coming to his decision. He refused to believe that the mutt was the only one allowed through the well. No, he was sure that, if she spoke the truth at all, he was aware why it was he who could pass through in the past. And with any luck…she would enable him to do the same.

"In the morning, we shall go see this future." He stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You will give me a full tour, and I will see these things you have spoke of with my own eyes."

He could see her blanch, and was beginning to feel that she may have just been exceptionally SKILLED at lying, and that's why he couldn't detect it.

"I don't know if you can go through the well, Sesshomaru." She spoke "Only Inu Yasha'

"If you speak the truth, it will work. Of that I'm sure."

Kagome looked down.

"Well. I haven't seen Hakkai in a while, and it will be good to speak wit Sanzo." and she visibly perked up…over another male, which did NOT make Sesshomaru or his beast happy AT ALL. Then, with a visage as serious as they came, she turned to Sesshomaru again. "Alright. I can get some medicine there to speed up the healing on my side. But after we get back, Sesshomaru. I can't take much more time off. I still have all of the west and the north to cover before I have to meet up with the others in Kaede's village."

Sesshomaru nodded. Traveling time was alone time…was courting time. He stood, almost wanting to smile at the prospects the future held, but sure that if he did, she'd pass out in front of him. So he settled for offering his arm to her, his eyes sparkling in what could have been laughter.

"Rin. We're going back inside…it's bed time." He turned his head towards his charge, who came running up out of the flowers, petals sticking to her kimono as she made her way to her lord.

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama" she spoke respectfully as Kagome stood and hesitantly placed a hand on Sesshomaru's arm. He could feel her hand shaking slightly on his arm. He led them inside, and then turned to leave her.

"I have work to finish before the morning. I will have a servant fetch you come morning. We will leave after breakfast."

OoOoOoO

Elsewhere, merely a few miles away from Inu Yasha's camp, a set of travelers approached steadily, clearly in search of something or someone specific. On the left stood a blonde monk and on the right, a recently made demon with brown hair brushed over one eye.

"Who is it we're looking for, Sanzo?" Hakkai asked conservatively as they walked, with a feeling sense of approach…as though he could feel that who they sought were close by.

The monk shook his head and sighed once more.

"It came in a dream…like always, I can't even get a decent nights sleep without those guys" he looked up "having something of 'grave importance' to say. Anyway. We're searching a group who will eventually lead us to a…pupil of yours and mine…at least that's what she called the girl. The Miko of The Shikon no Tama. "

Hakkai raised an eyebrow.

"Another one of those past/future lives things?"

Sanzo shrugged.

"I suppose. I don't recall teaching anyone anything recently…you?"

"Nope."

Sanzo stopped, spotting a group of travelers in their camp, a Fire cat laying contentedly on the outskirts, obviously keeping an eye out.

"We've found them…"

OoOoOoO

Alright guys…I'm sorry. I'm not going to promise any soon updates…I'm trying not to force anything in this story. I'm trying to keep a genuine feel for the character presented…and for some reason, I just seem to be having trouble. Anyway. Read. Review. With any luck, chapter 7 shouldn't take as long…I hope….