AN: Looks like this will definitely be a little longer than I thought chapter wise. And I'm sorry about the long delay. After get my other had hurt, I was down with some bug for two weeks, and had started my new job. I hope to write soon, But I can't make any promises now that I'm working again.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has continued reading this. Especially the people one .

Special thanks to: Dark Dragon, Bibishi Kuronecko787, I Major in Magick.

Your reviews made my day. I was worried if people would like the last chapter, and I couldn't ask for better results. And IMIM I'll try to add some extra fluff into the next two chapters.

Also, thanks to: XOkaggyfanOX, Shadow Hidden By the Moon, ShippoV, 1kenshilover, Sabishii Kage Tenshi, and Miss Inuyasha luver1,

And thanks to (Dokuga): sugarOo, BeatifulMorningSun, Mistress SleepWell, Fluffy Lady, and InuYoukaiLiz

Thank you for the reviews, they help push me to write more. And thanks to anyone I missed.

Now the fic. :P

Pint Size! Ch.7

By Lunaticneko AKA NekonoBaka

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Kagome was sitting on the ground with Rin finishing up the energetic girls hair. No longer did she have a side ponytail, but small braids running from each side of her temple wrapping around the sides of her head. Kagome was tying off the braids and put a few flowers in as a finishing touch. "Alright, all done Rin."

Rin jumped up and turned giving the still sitting woman a hug. "Thank you Kagome!" Then the girl ran up to her lord. " Look what Kagome did. Isn't it pretty?"

He nodded, and she squealed and ran after Jaken. Kagome giggled as she got up. "She's so cute. How did you come across her?" She asked him as the group headed in the direction that they last heard rumors of a strange woman.

He kept his head forward as he walked, choosing to forgo the tube. "She found me when I was injured, and tried to treat me."

This got Kagome attention. "Oh?"

The memory had always been bittersweet for him. " When I was able to leave, I found her dead on the road from a wolf attack." Her gasp made him glance up to see her reaction. She was looking ahead watching the little girl chasing after Shippou. " I revived her with my sword, and she's followed me since." Kagome eyes soften, and he looked ahead eyeing the little youkai. " Why does the child travel with you?"

"He lost his parents, so I took him in."

He nodded, though he was puzzled. 'Why would miko take in a youkai child?' Then again, it was as strange as him taking care of a little human girl. Though he was still curious how he had come into their care. "How did you meet him?"

Looking back at her, he saw her face had a small smile on it and her eyes filled with warmth. "We first met him when tried to steal the shards from Inu yasha and I."

She noticed his furrowed brow and went on. " He wanted to avenge his parents, and was hoping to draw their killers, the thunder brothers, to him with them. We helped him, and he's been with us ever since. He use to drive Inu yasha nuts." She laughed. " Well he still does, but not as bad."

"hn." Anyone who annoyed the hanyou was alright in his book. She interrupted his musings.

Her voice a bit more serious. "I think we're getting closer."

He was all ears. "How do know?"

Kagome thought a moment. "My creepy aura meter just shot up."

He stopped and stared at her. "Your… meter?"

She stopped as well and turned towards him. Running a hand through her hair. "Well that's the best I can explain it. It just intensifies depending on the enemy. But I can tell a dark miko was around here recently."

"How do you even know it's a dark miko?" He asked doubt showing in his voice.

Kagome shuddered. "I've had to deal with one before. It was a few year ago, but I'll never forget the feeling of one."

They started walking again. "What occurred during your encounter?" He was curious about her reaction.

"Her name was Tsubasa. Naraku had given her a chuck of the jewel to taint, and put a curse on me using my blood. Through it she was able to taint the shards I carried and control me. I tried to fight it, but was only able to tell Inu yasha to run when she ordered me to shoot him."

'It's surprising she could even do that.'

"Inu yasha took me with them when they went after her, and when she went to attack me again I was able to counter the curse by throwing her shinigami back at her."

He almost felt proud of her, that is until her next words nearly sent him stumbling.

She laughed out slightly embarrassed. "Of course, I had no idea what I was doing. I kinda lucked out."

He stared at her. 'Honestly this woman. It's a wonder Naraku didn't kill them early on.' Though he remembered how much she had improved in the final battle. Her arrow had been key in defeating the vile excuse of a creature. He had to admit he wasn't sure he would have been able to do it alone. Though without his help, he was sure they would have failed as well.

Guy Bath:

They broke for camp after another grueling day of trudging through the west. The guys went to take a bath. The tension in the air was thick, when they arriving at the semi warm spring.

Miroku, always the one to cut the atmosphere. "Well, lets get in."

Sesshoumaru eyed the spring. Last he's shared a bath was when he was a pup with his father, and he wasn't about to start up again with them. Especially in his current state. He saw a rock divider. Deciding to make the most of it, and he started walking towards it.

"Where are you going?!" Inu yasha said while scowling.

The mini daiyoukai glanced over his shoulder as he continued on. "This Sesshoumaru baths alone." He then disappeared behind the rocks.

He heard Inu yasha grumble. When he was satisfied no one would be intruding, he strip down. He took a moment to regard his useless swords. Since the transformation they wouldn't even come out of their scabbards. The Miko had offered him her hunting knife, he had refused considering it was nearly his size. It was just easier to use his claws. 'At least she tries.' He thought as he entered the warm water. He had to admit he was slightly grateful to her, she kept him occupied, and was a help with Rin. 'She treats her almost like family.' Thinking back to the way she sat with Rin combing her hair brought a light smile to his face. 'She would be a good mother.' He shook himself from his thoughts and scowled. 'That is if she didn't attract so much trouble. The woman practically a magnet for it.' Though he knew she would protect them with her life like she did with her close friends.

Miroku had been curious ever since the discussion he had with Kagome. He glanced at the rock separating them from the inu youkai. 'Should I?' He thought it over for a minute. Glanced over at Inu yasha to make sure he wasn't watching and then casually stood stretching. It was then he quickly turned his head to look over, and back when he seen what he came for. It was then he noticed his friend's look.

The monk sputtered. "Inu yasha, It's not what you think. I-"

Inu yasha's held up hand stopping him from explaining further. "You know what, I don't wanna know."

There was a awkward silence before Miroku got out. "Well, see you at camp."

"Yep."

After he left, Inu yasha sank deeper into the water and sighed. He didn't care where his friend's interest laid, though he was pretty sure he knew him well enough to know, just as long as it wasn't in him.

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Miroku approached Kagome, who was busy making dinner. "You don't need to worry."

Kagome tilted her head. "About what?"

He stared at her meaningfully. "Everything is where it should be."

A confused miko stared back "Huh?"

"As I said, everything is where it should be." he repeated.

It took her a moment, but then she realized where he came back from and her eyes widen. "Miroku, you didn't."

Miroku gave her a look that left no questions and she paled. " You owe me one of those play girl magazines you teased me about." She just nodded still in shock. Miroku went off to find a slayer to caress to ease his troubled mind. Kagome barely registered hearing a high pitch "Pervert!", as she went back to tending to food.

Elsewhere, a dark miko look perturbed. 'How had can it be to find a bunch of youkai.' She bushed a bush aside as she pushed through. Shoulders sagging, she sighed. "This is becoming more trouble than it's worth." She was brushing a few stray black strands of hair out of her face, when she suddenly looked up wide eyed. Slowly a grin broke out across her face. "Found them." She turned and hurried towards where she felt a mass of youkai.

She broke through a tree line as she came upon them in a small clearing in the woods, all eyes focusing on her. There were five of them, an oni, two mantis youkai, and two ogres. 'An odd group, but just the type of simpletons I need.'

"Well what do we have here?" The oni turned fully toward her, flicking it's blue-ish black hair out of it's eyes. "A dark miko? What a tasty treat you'll be." He smirked, showing off shape teeth.

She rolled her eyes. 'Really how can a dark miko taste better than anything else. I would presume we had a bitter taste.' Focusing back to the situation at hand. "Well, you could eat me, or……you can listen to what I have to say. I promise you'll mostly likely be interested."

"And what might be so interesting?"

She smiled. " You've heard of the shiko no tama and the Miko that guards it right?"

The Oni narrowed it's eyes. "Yeah, who hasn't. But facing her would mean death, with the group she travels with."

"Ah. But what if I told you I could up your power, a little. With a group your size, it would definitely be trouble for them."

The oni and his companions glanced at each other. The came to a silent agreement. "Why help us? What's in it for you?"

Her smile became a malicious grin. "Simple, I want her dead. I alone could not go against them and hope to stand a chance." She made a pouting face, and put a hand to her head for dramatic effect. "For I'm just a weak woman. But you…" Pointed at them. "Your group could do it. They are use to going against one youkai at a time or many lessers. Not a large group of youkai." 'Really I don't hate the girl, but all been too much of a bore.'

"We don't even know where they are and how would you go about upping our strength."

Happy all was going according to plan. "They are not far from here. As to your other question, a simple spell. Temporary it may be, as it last for only a day, that's more than enough time. Just leave it to me." She stated as she started to gather up supplies.

The oni looked puzzled. "Woman, what is your name?"

"Ah." She paused in her work to look at them, smiling mischievously. "I'm known as Satoko."

"I can sense her. She a little ways away." Kagome said as she narrowed her eyes trying to pinpoint the direction. Suddenly a rustling in the bush next to her got her attention, as a snake shot out. She only had time to 'Ep.' and try to dodge. A white blur shot in front of her and then the snakes head rolled away from it's still squirming body.

Rin, "Ew."

Kagome smiled sweetly. "Sesshoumaru, thank you."

The odd sensation that her warm smile caused put him on edge. " Don't mistake my intentions, miko. The only reason this Sesshoumaru intervened, was because I need your help to be rid this of this curse. Nothing else." The way her eyes dimmed, made his chest tighten and a heaviness form that was not there before.

"I see." 'I thought maybe we had a odd friendship going. Tch. Figures.' She her eyes and forced her anger forward. Turning she huffed. "My mistake, I thought we were friends." With that she turned back to the road and tried to focus once more.

Her words left an odd feeling. 'Guilt? I've always held respect for her, but do I consider her a…. friend?' The word felt foreign even when spoken only in thought, but looking at her he felt it could fit. Though he rather say ally.

Kagome gasped. "We've got a group incoming." They were surrounding them, leaving the group with their backs to the cliff wall. Their aura strength had her worried. "Something feels off about them." She muttered to herself.

Before anyone could ask, they were upon them. A ogre charged at Miroku and Sango, swinging wildly. One manage to knock the hoshin back, while Sango had been able to jump out of the way and was on Kirara. She noticed Shippou through his fox fire at the ogre as Miroku got up and started in on it. So she through her weapon at one of the mantis youkai attacking Inuyasha.

After an ogre had separated Sesshoumaru and from them leaving them. Kagome made a stand in front of them. "Hurry and get somewhere safe." Jaken had hurried Rin onto Ah and Un. She had just finished it off with an arrow, and noticed everyone was finishing off there. When an oni shot out from the woods.

"You're mine!" It shouted with blood shot eyes.

Panic filled her as she realized she wasn't going to have enough time to load another arrow. Ah and Un were just taking off, so she tried to concentrate her power into hands.

Dread filled the dai youkai, as he could see she wouldn't be ready in time. Without hesitation he shot forward transforming hoping to knock the enemy back if not surprise him.

Kagome was shocked, when instead of seeing a pup, she saw a large dog knock the oni to the side. 'What the?' She recovered from her mild shock, and strung an arrow. The oni got back up with Sesshoumaru still latched on, only to knock him to the side. "Hey, idiot!" After getting it's attention she release her arrow, and all that was left was ash.

She hurried over to Sesshoumaru as he sat up, his head reaching her hip. "Thanks. You ok?" A light flashed and he was back to his humanoid form.

"Hn." He stood up noticing his head now reached mid waist. "This was unexpected."

Kagome nodded. "Do you think the curse is just wearing off?"

"Possible, though doubtful. I'm sure it was her intent to make it permanent." 'The curse is weakening, but why?' The dark miko's words echoing in his mind. ~"either way you'll be something you hate."~ The last word reminding him of his earlier confrontation with the pure girl next to him. Leaving him wanting to sigh.

"Miko."

"Hm." She responded, being draw away from her thoughts.

He struggled with himself for a moment before meeting her eyes. " My earlier words were wrong. This Sesshoumaru does consider you a close friend."

She stared at him surprised. "You do?"

He just simply glared at her, he wouldn't repeat himself.

She giggled realizing this was as close to a confirmation as she was going to get. She then smiled at him. "So I do."

As he felt the heaviness of earlier leave his chest, and a warmth fill it's place, he had to wonder when she had began to effect him so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***~Tsusuku~***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A.N.: WOW! That took forever. I Made myself sit down today and write the last section to this.

Just so you all know 'Satoko' means 'sweat child'. It was the name giving to me by my japanese teacher. I thought it was fitting for her to have something so contradicting. Also, she really needed something other than dark miko, though how much it will get used I don't know. I could have called her 'the dement one' …. but the last only so long. :P

I'll try to get chapters 8 and 9 out soon, but no promises with a date. Work drains me and leaves me with only weekends to do things. As always please review, any input is appreciated.