I do not own Inuyasha or the characters

The walk back to camp is remarkably peaceful as I snuggle into the pillar of strength currently cradling me in his arms. The sun has already set leaving the forest so dark I'd have to navigate on my hands and knees to keep from tripping. Sesshoumaru plows through as if the darkness is no obstacle at all, never losing his footing, the picture of masculine grace. While he carries me, I play with the silver strands of hair that appear almost effervescent in the dim light as I try to relive every moment of our earlier kisses. And what amazing, toe curling kisses they were. I had no idea kissing could feel that perfect, that incredible, that right.

Unfortunately, as it usually does, my mind starts poking at the cloud of happiness on which I currently reside. The damnable little voice in my head that always pops up at the most inopportune times has decided now would be a great time to attack. Can't have one brother so you throw yourself at the other? I know that's not true but it's probably a good thing my mind is preparing me as that'll be the first thing out of Inuyasha's mouth when he finds out. Looking up at the dark green canopy of trees, I try to silence that nagging inner voice, to just enjoy the moment and the feel of the strong arms around me.

"Are you alright?" Sesshoumaru asks as he peers down at me. I roll my azure eyes up to meet his but don't say anything. "Your scent is laced with distress." Ah, yes, I forgot about his remarkable sense of smell. I guess there's no way to hide my emotions from him.

"I was thinking about your brother," I answer truthfully, at least the truth I'm willing to admit.

"Half-brother," he corrects absently.

"Why do you always do that?" I ask trying to contain a snort of derision. A glare is the only reply I receive and seeing as I have no desire to rile him up right now, I let it drop.

"You need not worry over the hanyou and the undead miko," he rumbles in a deep baritone. "They will not dare harm you lest they face my wrath." Right, I'm sure Inuyasha's simply quaking in fear. Brash idiot isn't smart enough to fear Sesshoumaru.

"You're awfully talkative tonight," I comment in an attempt to change the subject. Kikyou's schemes are the last thing I wish to think about right now. "Are you planning to carry me all the way back to the camp?" He glances down at me again, his lip curling into a tiny smirk before he leans down, capturing my mouth in a searing kiss. When he pulls away he continues walking in silence as I breathlessly trace my swollen lips with my finger. "Wow that was amazing. I mean I always thought it could feel like tha…" I'm cut off by Sesshoumaru's lips crashing down on mine again. Somewhere in the back of my mind I realize he's using kisses to silence me, but it's hard to be angry when it feels this wonderful. What I didn't realize was that he kept walking while kissing me thoroughly enough to leave me whimpering as I cling desperately to his shoulders. It takes several moments for my senses to return when he finally pulls his lips from mine. My eyes are still closed as he sits on the ground cradling me in his lap. The smell of ramen hits my nose confirming my fears. We're back at camp. Hmm, no screaming threats must mean Inuyasha isn't here, but still the others just saw me arrive in Sesshoumaru's arms, firmly attached to his lips, probably moaning in abandon. I don't know if I'll ever live this one down.

"Uh, Kagome," Miroku says with obvious delight. I cringe, terrified of what might emerge next from the hentai's mouth. Opening my eyes, I gaze over at the snickering monk trying to put as much menace as I can muster into my glare.

"Choose your words carefully, monk," Sesshoumaru growls low in his throat, the threat of death lingering in the still night air.

"Right, ah, we expected you back earlier, but it appears you were occupied," Miroku says congenially. "There's still some leftover ramen if you're hungry," he adds as he glances nervously at the taiyoukai.

"I'm famished," I reply, leaping from Sesshoumaru's lap and heading over to peer into the pot next to the fire pit. "I really worked up an appetite!" Just as I'm digging into the pot of ramen, Sango slaps Miroku upside the head.

"What?!" he cries miserably. "She said it not me! And believe me I've been dying to say something since she arrived at camp attached to his mouth."

"That was for thinking your hentai thoughts," Sango says glaring at him. Miroku blinks a few times before bursting out laughing.

"My dear Sango, there are not enough slaps in your arsenal to control my thoughts whenever I lay eyes on you." That was sweet in a very disturbing way, though it appears Sango doesn't agree as she slaps him in the head again. She turns away from the fire but not before I see the blush staining her cheeks. "Kagome, you're injured," Miroku comments pointing at the blood stains on my t-shirt and torn jeans.

"Kagome, what happened," Sango asks as she rushes to my side. It's impossible to miss the dark scowl she sends at Sesshoumaru. "He didn't…"

"No!" I cut her off before she can finish that sentence. I doubt Sesshoumaru would appreciate being blamed for my clumsiness. "I was running through the forest and tripped over a tree root. I'm fine, really. Sesshoumaru healed me."

"Oh he did, did he?" Sango manages to make even those simple words sound menacing. "Kagome, why were you running through the woods? I thought you went after Inuyash…oh." Realization dawns in her chocolate eyes and they widen before narrowing in anger. "What did that bastard do to you this time?"

"N-nothing," I stammer as I return to sit at Sesshoumaru's side. When I offer him a bite of the noodles, he shakes his head before turning his nose up in disgust. Though, right now I'm not sure if his ire is directed at the ramen or Inuyasha.

"The undead miko wishes to regain her soul from Kagome," Sesshoumaru spits out, his voice seething in barely controlled rage. Wait, did he just call me Kagome?! "It appears the idiotic hanyou agreed with her proposition."

"Wait a minute," Sango says, the anger in her voice rivaling Sesshoumaru's. "Where does that harpy get off calling your soul hers?"

"Sango, I am her reincarnation," I admit softly. "She has every right to think that the soul belongs to her as well."

"No! No, Kagome," Sango yells, her anger reaching the boiling point. "That corpse doesn't deserve your compassion. That very kindness is going to get you killed one of these days. Even if you are her reincarnation, which by the way I don't believe at all, you have as much right to the soul as she does. Would you kill her for it?" When I shake my head, she sighs. "She's your enemy, the sooner you accept that the better."

"I agree with the taijiya," Sesshoumaru murmurs as mokomoko snakes around my waist, pulling me against his side.

"How did Inuyasha respond to her request?" Miroku asks as he pulls Sango back to the ground next to him, putting an end to her restless pacing.

"He was upset, but finally agreed to let Kikyou kill me," I respond miserably. "That's when I ran away, fell down, and was rescued by Sesshoumaru." My fingers stroke the soft fur of mokomoko, calming my frayed nerves. "I'm so tired; can I just go to sleep? We can talk about this in the morning." I comment as I push the pot of ramen away, my appetite lost from my morose thoughts of Inuyasha. When Sesshoumaru pulls me up onto his lap, I start to make a token protest but then decide to just go along with it. As I lean into his chest, mokomoko wrapped firmly around my waist, I feel a sense of calm flow into me. I glance up at him, wondering if the calmness is coming from him, since it sure as hell isn't coming from me. His amber eyes glisten in the darkness as he gazes down at me before leaning down and kissing my forehead.

"Sleep, Kagome," he murmurs as his arms tighten around my body. "You are safe." As I quickly drift off to sleep, I realize I haven't felt this safe and relaxed in a very long time.

Thanks for reading!

Cymberle