Author's note: I'm so sorry for the delay! This month has taken quite a toll on me already. Long story shortI tore my rotator cuff while playing golf (go figure I'd pull something that lame...), and have been going to physio in order to correct the damage. Fortunately, my physiotherapist is an avid golfer, and has been giving me tips to avoid this in the future. Unfortunately, this makes writing painful. So I've been coming back to this chapter whenever I can. I hope the chapter length makes up for your time waiting! I appreciate your patience :)


She grabbed a chocolate bar from her knapsack, and munched, staring out into the distance beyond the village. She woke just after sunrise, and had a relaxing, refreshing bath in the lake. So far, it was a bright, warm day; not a trace of clouds in the sky. Even though the lands weren't all touched by the sun, she barely felt a chill in the air, or a whisper of a breeze in her ear. Songbirds sang their jubilant songs, greeting the new day. Squirrels dashed about, chattering and bounding through tree bows.

It was a perfect day for a photoshoot.

Knowing he'd been the one to request it, had stolen her breath in ways photography never could. She was suspicious of his motives; too curious to ruin her chances of finding out what they were. Even if it meant putting herself into more of a crux than planned, she needed to do this.

And his timing couldn't have been any better. when he found her, in such high spirits, she had no choice but to accept his offer to meet with him. It was worth it.

Her exceptional mood was largely due to the time spent with her friends, which was long over due. Recalling the instant Sango and Kirara landed in the village, Kagome had embraced them in a fierce hug, choking back tears of relief. As they waited for the houshi, the two enjoyed each other's company over a bonfire, nibbling on snacks and watching the sunset.

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, Kagome felt their presence. Sango and Kagome rode atop Kirara to meet them, not expecting the two to be in such a clumsy and giddy state. Kagome noticed their flushed cheeks, slurred speech, and the scent of alcohol. Ushering a drunk Inuyasha to bed was harder than first perceived. Wrestling Miroku off of Sango was a feat within itself. Sango managed to wrangle her husband to his futon. She kissed his forehead, uttering a threat under her breath for good measure.

In Kagome's case, calling the hanyou an idiot and ordering him to sleep proved effective. Mercifully, at least stayed on his cot all night.

Kneeling beside him, she told herself she'd stay until he was completely out. A part of her couldn't deny how she felt compelled to curl up by his side. Listen to him snore until he fell into slumber. It was a while until she realized he'd already drifted off. She'd just been watching him twitch and grumble in thought.

It was harder than she thought to leave the hanyou's side. She was grateful when Sango said nothing to her cozying up beside the fire; she wasn't sure she wanted to talk.

The next day, the group assembled their supplies and prepared to travel a few hours south. For the first time in years, the miko felt lighter. Throughout their four hour journey, there were no awkward silences, no intense situations. They found their old rhythm and never strayed from it. Arriving at their location just a few hours shy of dusk, they set up camp and went about reinforcing their perimeters. From there on, Kagome wasn't sure if the last three years had actually happened. Who knew spending the night locked in a hidden bunker was actually cathartic? That evening, they had laughed together, exchanged memories, stories, and a few casual insults. They ate a hearty stew for supper, enjoyed some of Kaede's herbal tea. And, just like old times, they were a unit once more. It put the miko at ease, to know she hadn't completely ruined her friendships.

It was relieving to enjoy a night with the hanyou without an argument commencing. Even if it was temporary. It helped that human Inuyasha was on the shy and reserved side, keenly in check.

The Shard Hunters had stayed up all night guarding Inuyasha. When dawn broke, his hair turning ivory, he was the first to announce they could finally sleep. As the three dozed until the late afternoon, the hanyou kept watch. Kagome was up first, making them all breakfast, using a fire they had to go without the night before. While serving them lunch she realized it was Sunday. She had to get back by evening to be ready for school tomorrow morning.

To her relief, no one seemed concerned. Inuyasha remained taciturn, when his usual habit was to argue and rage. This time, she could actually enjoy going to school in the morning. It was natural to dwell on the guilt she felt when leaving her friends, so it was a welcome relief to be back home this time. She knew they'd be there when she returned.

Inuyasha made it clear he was going to stay behind, and she didn't pressure him to go. It had been a few years since he'd crossed over. Most likely embarassed to face my Mama's wrath, she mused.

She left shortly after cooking and eating supper. Prepared to jump into the well, she paused. Hesitating only to check if the inuyoukai would appear, she waited several seconds.

When nothing stopped her, she swung her legs over and jumped in.

While home, Kagome completed a few projects and replenished supplies for her return. Having those three days to be productive, lifted an enormous weight from her shoulders. Her goals on completely wowing her professor and launching her start to success was underway. So, brimming with inspiration, she dared to go big, or go home. Her next idea, if all went as planned, would secure her an open house. Mr. Tsukihaku wouldn't be able to refuse! Not only that, she'd also get to include her art to their magazines, and make commission!

It all hinged on what one taiyoukai would say.

One chocolate bar wasn't satisfying enough, so she produced another, nibbling slower this time. Her skin felt flushed and warm; gentle gusts of wind provided a refreshing sensation. Her clothes were light and breezy, but she anticipated to be a rosy hue by the end of the day regardless.

Much to her confusion, Sesshoumaru was insistent she wear her miko clothes, neglecting to specify his reasons. Something she was getting used to. Grateful she ditched the haori, she chose instead to wear the simple, sleeveless white kataginu undershirt. Her billowy crimson hakama pants were comfortable and well-ventilated. However, her feet were blistering from wearing brand-new sandals.

I wonder how much longer he's going to make me wait. The miko sulked. It didn't help that in the last few years she'd grown to have no smidgen of patience for anything whatsoever. She kept it at bay the best she could when it mattered. Oh, but I do hate waiting. And he probably knows that, somehow, too...

Whilst daydreaming about zapping a certain inuyoukai lord, an abrupt shift in the surrounding energy alerted her of his tardy arrival. Her eyes glued to him as he walked into the clearing, regal and beguiling as always. His slender brows furrowed; the slight curve of his lips revealed sharpened fangs. A touch of scarlet danced behind his eyes, so quick the miko hardly noticed.

Of course, Kagome failed to catch all of this right away. She had brushed it off to his usual grumpiness. "Good morning," she said cheerfully. "It looks like you've done me the trouble of finding you. I was hoping you could—"

"You did not mention you'd be returning to your time for several days." His aura fluctuated, and whipped at her; a clear warning. She stumbled back a half pace, his youki shoving her. And did she see red flash in his eyes?

Whoa, what's this all about? She tucked her candy bar away. Something she did had ticked him off. He's not usually so moody. What'd I do? Is it because I left?

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I wasn't aware I had to give you notice." A gust of hot air slapped her face. She fought to keep from purifying his surrounding youki, knowing he was acting this way for a reason. "What's wrong?"

He sniffed, feigning aloofness. "It was rather inconvenient timing."

Again with the 'you shall never leave' mentality? Why can't I just do what I want? "You never mentioned that," Kagome said. Since when did she have to report to him?

"I intended to accompany you this time. It's time I tested this portal out myself." His eyes lingered on the Bone-Eater's Well behind her, in a way that suggested he wanted to ravenously devour it. A thought struck her; how would her world react to seeing a taiyoukai up close and personal?

She felt dizzy, her pulse pounding in her temples. He may be ready, but she wasn't—there would be no predicting how it would go down. If the Well even accepted him in the first place. He wanted access to a dangerous new world; a world he may wish to conquer. Her hands trembled at the mental image of her home town awash in blood. Of bodies strewn across the roads, dealt by the hands of the taiyoukai who strived to own everything

Kagome regarded him, wariness shining in her eyes. It was crucial to remember not to completely trust him. She focused on this thought, as the taiyoukai stared back, unflinching. "Once I participate in your request, whatever it may be," he said, "access to the Well is my asking price."

Well, this is it. She anticipated this, but not this soon—she honestly thought he was losing interest, as he never brought it up. Still, Kagome remained confident it wouldn't work for him. She wasn't going to tell him this, though. As if standing still long enough for her to take photos were taxing enough on him, he demanded payment on top of it. Knowing she had so much to give, and he so little to lose. Maybe this is what it had been about this whole time. She had to hand it to him though, he'd make an excellent business owner in her era.

"All right," she resigned, a heaviness settling upon her chest.

"Now," he said diplomatically, "what is your request?"

For some odd reason, something Inuyasha said popped up in her memory. 'Kagome, he's obviously waiting for you.'

Was it possible he sought after something else, after all? Should she walk away now and avoid any future heartbreak? Setting herself up to fall a second time was just plain stupid. It was doubtful he'd drop the subject; his desire for testing the well wouldn't be that easily swayed. She knew this with certainty. There was no guarantee she was in a position to decline him, either. In the past few weeks of the occassional run-ins, they'd developed... something. Something she'd yet to find a name for; something she was too scared to discover.

But here's my chance of achieving one of my goals! And... after this...

After this my world might end up... under command of Sesshoumaru... if he gets through the Well...

She realized then just how exhausted she felt. "I'm not sure..." she whispered, a shudder rocking her small frame.

"You believe to be making a mistake."

Her breath caught in her lungs. If he could see through her so clearly, why hadn't he called her out for it earlier? Did he think she'd change her mind, after being practically forced to comply with his conditions?

All she wanted were pictures. And why couldn't these two brothers just tell her they knew she was lying?

"I'm just not sure I'm ready to ask," she said, averting his keen gaze. Did her ears deceive her, or did he chuckle?

"More secrets, little miko." Sesshoumaru shook his head. "It's not polite."

Ugh. She wanted to purify herself.

It was eerily silent. Not the whisper of wind through trees, nor the chirps of critters, could be heard in the clearing. An ominous cloud blanketed the area, charged with powerful, familiar energy.

"If you're being honest with me, then what is it you actually want?" It wasn't a question she wanted to ask. If she were being honest with herself, she was scared to know. Afraid to find out his true intentions.

"All you need know," he said, with a lilt to his tone. "is this Sesshoumaru always gets what he wants."

Ice crawled up her spine; a rush of heat gathered in her belly. Just... what was he implying, exactly?

"When he wants something, he gets it. If he's choosing you, I'd say you don't have much time until he makes the decision for you." She recalled Inuyasha telling her.

The decision to... what?

"And..." Kagome felt like she was swallowing razor blades. "That is?"

Was he smirking at her? "All in due time, miko.

"Hey, that's not fair. You're keeping secrets from me, too!"

He carried on as if not even hearing her. "Now." He closed the remaining space between them; her stomach dropped to her toes.

"Ask me."

An image flickered in her mind of Sesshoumaru slaying innocents, destroying her city single-handedly. What if he sought to dominate over modern day Tokyo? How could she really trust him?

Her heart thundered in her chest; the instinct to run an overwhelming force. Anxiousness stirred her powers to the surface. Fear blinded her rationality enough to weaken her hold on her powers. Twisting, Kagome bit back a cry as her control slackened. She fought against it, blinking back tears of pain. Frightened, the miko began backing away, keeping her eyes on the ground. Addled, her chest tightened, and her vision swam. In front of her, Sesshoumaru figure undulated, sometimes splitting into two. The glade they stood in wouldn't stop spinning, either.

After this, she would be in his debt.

After this, everything would change.

The question was, did she want things to change? Was she ready for change? It normally resulted in heartache, and countless sleepless nights. Agonizing over the outcome, wondering day and night, just what made it go so wrong?

But... if anyone was worth taking a chance on, why couldn't it be with him?

After several tense seconds, she took a deep, steadying breath. "I... want to take pictures of you..." Kagome looked away from him. "In your true form. Then... we will go through the Well."

He leaned in, and felt his warm breath on her cheek. "Then I shall comply." His hand cupped the back of her neck, neither forceful or menacing. When he toyed with a piece of her hair, she felt herself go numb.

If she shifted even half an inch, his lips would touch her cheek.

Thoughts of kissing him tantalized her, that she almost closed the remaining space.

Too soon, he stepped away. Something inexplicable shined behind his golden eyes. Was he aware of the affect he had on her? And just when did she begin swooning over him so easily?

Heat rose to her cheeks, and she couldn't help but feel vulnerable. Still, she was still daunted by his resplendence.

"We best head off to our location. The heat is beginning to rise. I doubt you'll be able to handle the temperature down here."

As he strode off, Kagome pondered over the double meaning in his words. If he even wasn't implying what she thought, her cheeks turned as red as her pants.

As they walked, Kagome became overwhelmed with the desire to stop and take photos of the scenery. Flowers she hadn't a name for, birds she didn't recognize, captured her interest. She wasn't sure if he'd even let her stop, and he'd yet to say a word to her since they left. Her eyes fixated on the sights around her, so she didn't see the inuyoukai coming to an abrupt halt. She collided with his backside, and swore rather vehemently.

"Oof! Your armour is sharp! Could you give me a heads-up next time you're about to come to a dead stop?"

Sunlight streamed through the canopy of tree bows, catching the inuyoukai's silvery hair, highlighting the gold in his eyes as they met hers.

"You need only to look at where you're going, miko." His light tone caused her to forget her retort. She felt her chest flutter, and her head became rather warm and dizzy. Although surrounded by a dense forest, the breeze flowed evenly around them.

"We cannot go any further by foot. From here, we must fly."

Kagome was certain her stomach dropped to her knees. The presence of bile in the back of her throat made her eyes sting and water. "I'd rather not, thanks." The last time she'd flown with him, they were inside the belly of Naraku, racing to save Rin. Back then, her concern of losing the young girl had distracted her from the fact she was clinging to Sesshoumaru's furs and soaring through the spider demon's insides.

His tawny eyes fixated on hers. "If I recall, you used to cavort across my lands with my half-brother. As well, you rode with the taijiya's fire-cat."

"Y-yeah, but this is different," she said quickly. Her breath caught in her throat. It was... intimate, with Inuyasha. We had a bond. She pulled her cerulean eyes away from his, internally wincing. Flying with Sesshoumaru... could be...

Even with her eyes down-cast, she sensed his mirth. "If you are concerned this Sesshoumaru would drop you, allow me to assure I will not." Then, he did something which shocked her.

He reached his striped hand out to her, and smirked. He spoke, as if reciting a poem, his deep, rumbling voice a calming sound. "During the day, I am your guardian; my sword is yours to wield in protection, and my armour to use as your shield." Then, he did something uncharacteristic; he cleared his throat. "Under the moonlight, my scent will defend you; and none shall touch you, so long as we are bonded."

Kagome's eyes welled up with tears, and she was unsure why at first. He's... this... this means something to him. It's... personal. Is this what Inuyasha meant when he said he was marking me? Judging by how calm and tamed his youki was being, Sesshoumaru was being genuine. Not completely understanding the depths his pledge extended to, Kagome chose to trust in him.

She grasped his hand, discovering he all but completely engulfed it in his own. Pulling her in close, he settled his other hand on the curve of her hip. She felt his thumb brush close to her navel; she clenched her jaw to prevent fidgeting. Her nose was nearly driven into the crook of his arm, so she wasn't aware of his mischevious smile. He gathered his youki beneath them and manifested it into a cloud. They lurched from the ground. Her hands instinctively wrapped themselves around his wide torso, her face turning beat red. Good thing he couldn't see her.

"I suggest you hold on a bit tighter, miko. It is a long way up."

She didn't hesitate to find a better grip, choosing to latch onto the plates of his armour. Something soft caressed her cheek, then wrapped around her body. What's he doing?

"This will secure you when I transform. My armour won't be present for you to hang on to."

"H-hold on a sec! You're going to... transform with me on you?" She was amazed at how composed she sounded. When in reality, her body trembled at the thought of riding his massive demon form. "I know you're bad at telling jokes, but this one is really awful!"

When she peeked at his profile, she thought she caught him smiling. "Sesshoumaru!"

The inuyoukai observed just how busy she was freaking out about his plan. She wasn't aware of how far they had already ascended. It was a wonder she hadn't begun to feel light headed yet, being so high up.

The winds picked up, and soon the feathery breeze turned into howling, powerful gusts. Her muscles were on the verge of cramping, Sesshoumaru observed, as she shook like a leaf in a hurricane. He could hear her teeth chattering as the temperature in the air decreased. Stupid girl hadn't worn the entirety of her priestess garbs, which would've kept her warm.

"You know I can't breathe when we're too high up, right?" She squirmed in his grasp, her voice nearly drowned out by the wind. "There's little oxygen up here, and I'll pass out on you! I might fall off!"

Was he laughing at her? She tried to look at him, but he squashed her back into his armpit. "I vowed not to drop you, did I not?"

Unable to reply, Kagome could only close her eyes and hope she wouldn't upchuck all over him. The sensation of weightlessness was what affected her,. Without something solid to stand on, the vertigo kicked in right away. His youki cloud dissipated the higher they went up. She was left relying on her grip to his armour, his hands around her waist, and his mokomoko. Please, just do this already! I'm gonna... I think I'm going to hurl!

As if hearing her thoughts, Sesshoumaru's youki pulsated, in short, fiery bursts. Her powers deflected them off her with ease, but soon it stopped. She sensed his youki expanding, to the brink of ripping—to just as quickly shrinking to the point he flickered out of her senses.

Her hands had nothing to hold onto; his hulking body had vanished. Her eyes snapped open, to find the inyoukai was no longer beside her at all. His furs remained wrapped around her, helping her to hover high in the clouds. Paralyzed, the miko's energy surged forward to protect her, creating a barrier around her. Sesshoumaru you're suck a jerk!

She cursed aloud, if only as a temporary distraction. Resisting the urge to purify the only thing keeping her safe, Kagome gritted her teeth, shoving her energy down into the deepest recesses of her mind.
Spent, she took in her surroundings, noticing she was still floating. Now, where was the inuyoukai lurking?

She heard him laughing, although he didn't appear. 'Now, did you really think I was abandoning you up here, Kagome?'

His voice! Where had it come from? Kagome scanned the skies, avoiding looking too far down. Where had he gone? 'To your left, miko.'

She whipped her head around, to face an unblemished blue canvas.

"This isn't funny, Sesshoumaru." Kagome's voice shook.

'Prepare yourself.'

Her throat closed up. "For what?" she croaked. She was so cold now. And high up... She forced in a deep, calming breath in effort to ground herself. He said he wouldn't drop me. So I should just believe him. He hasn't hurt me... yet.

Resolutely tucking away her anxiety, she faced the direction he'd hinted at earlier. She stared into the endless aqua sky; this time, she honed in on his energy, and concentrated.

For several seconds, Kagome was unable to find him. Her instincts told her to keep looking; they also hinted at another entity close by. Wait, I think I see something! A gray speck appeared in the distance. She squinted in attempt to recognize the figure, but it was too far away.

Probably a seagull, she thought, unable to shake off her disappointment. Closing her eyes, Kagome once more tried locating him, only to come up empty handed once more.

She felt his furs bind firmly around her body, as if to reassure her. 'I would reconsider mistaking me for a bird, miko.'

Kagome whirled toward the sound of his voice. Where the gray speck had just been, a great dog demon now presided. Still a great distance away, he was unmistakeable.

Standing at least four stories tall, it was a wonder he could make himself invisible to her senses so casually. Visions of when he'd attacked them in the tomb clouded her thoughts, along with images of Inuyasha dismembering him with Tetsusaiga. For Kagome, it was frustrating to reminisce on the past Sesshoumaru—the one who intended to kill her. Restored to his full glory, the demon lord was as dangerous as ever. She was aware he hadn't shown them the full extent of his powers—and knew, truly, he was an undefeatable being. It was still up for debate as to why he favoured her; his motives were equally into question.

His gaze caught her, and she stared, transfixed, into the teal orbs in the center scarlet eyes. She sensed he was trying to tell her something, but she completely failed to read his subtle message. Doubt shadowed her. He deduced she ran from monsters in her own mind, created by her own fear.

Now, he was close enough she could make out the individual strands of his glistening fur. How such a beast could suspend itself admist the clouds so effortlessly was a wonder to the miko. The inuyoukai dipped his giant head, exposing the back of his neck. She couldn't help but wish to feel the softness of his silvery coat.

'If you'd climb on already, you'd be doing so.' She pulled back her hand, unaware she'd unconsciously reached out to him.

His mokomoko was bringing her closer to him. Kagome knew resisting would be futile. Sighing, she asked, "How can you hear my thoughts?"

His reply was gruff, as if implying she should've already guessed. 'So long as we are connected, a bridge to our thoughts is formed.' Kagome patted his fur, minutely stunned by this discovery. 'I sense this displeases you, miko.'

"N-no, it's not that. It's just..." She apprehensively stared at him, wondering if she could stomach whatever he had planned for her. "What are you up to, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

She could hear him chuckle in her head. He lowered her onto his backside. Her anxiety lifted the moment she stood on top of something solid. She wove her fingers through his thick fur, steeling herself for whatever he had in store for her. The cold wind kept her from losing focus when she peered over his body. Her stomach protestedwhen she realized just how high up they now were. His fur offered a moderate amount of warmth, and she cursed herself for not wearing the thick sleeved haori like he'd suggested.

Drawing in a deep lungful of air, the miko leaned forward, and exhaled as she lowered herself onto his soft back. From deep within his chest, she felt him growl.

I'm ready, she thought, wondering if he could really hear her.

He made the same sound, but this time, it felt more on the playful side. 'Then I advise you not to let go.'

Kagome reinforced her grip and prepared for anything. She wished she'd brought something to tie her hair back as it whipped wildly about. As he soared even higher, she felt the winds beginning to chap the skin on her cheeks and forehead. Her hands dug further into his coat to avoid the bite of the freezing temperatures. Icy tears rolled down her face.

For one fleeting moment, Sesshoumaru stopped, suspended in the sky. She felt his heart beating, heard his breath whistling out from his nose; smelled the dampness in his fur as he soared through the dense clouds. To Kagome, time appeared frozen; until they started their descent. Rather than slowly sink to the ground, the inyoukai did something completely unpredictable.

He plummeted. She was forced to hold on dearly for her life, and at one point, was unsure if he'd stop. Not even clingling to his furs reassured her.

Chilled air whooshed past them, biting against her skin. The sensation of falling was nearly too much for her. Black webs threatened to overcome her vision completely. Light-headed, the miko dazedly understood just how frightened she truly was.

Stop!

Kagome's breath punched out of her lungs; her nose cracked as it met with Sesshoumaru's very solid back. He had stopped, and now floated among the clouds. He allowed her a few seconds to catch her breath before resuming flight. Despite his great stature, the inuyoukai glided through the skies like a mythical creature from fairytales. Gallivanting upon his shoulders was different than standing before him. Especially when he had previous intentions of biting her head off. Truly, he was a nonpareil; nothing she would ever see in this world could rival him.

Calmed by his docile nature, the miko loosened her grip, wincing when her fingers ached. She noticed crescent imprints of her nails on her palms. Her legs were shaking from the effort of keeping her secure to the dog demon's body.

"Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru," she said, earnestly. She wasn't sure her heart could handle another jolt like that again.

Through their connection she heard his rumble of amusement. 'I assured I would not drop you. Would you care for another demonstration?'

Kagome rolled her eyes, knowing he couldn't see her do it. "Yeah, I'd rather not test that out, thanks."

'Perhaps I should remind you just how faithful I am to my oath?'

She recalled what he'd recited to her before, and knew she was in a delicate position.

"Forgive me for coming across as insensitive, but... " She had to ask. It's what would tell reveal the answer to her question. Terrified to learn the truth, she somehow garnered enough courage to proceed.

'What is it you wish to know?' When he spoke, it was the sound of wind whistling past her ears.

Why... are you doing this? What're your actual intentions? she thought. And... don't say it's because of the Well. I... already know it's more than that.

A long pause followed; Kagome cursed her inability to read his emotions. It was even more difficult, now that he was an actual inuyoukai, to get a read on him. What drove her crazy was his non-answers and predictable silences. Why couldn't he just be straight forwarded with her for once? Why did everything need to be a riddle, hidden within another riddle?

Ugh. Why are guys so enigmatic and absolutely unreasonable? the miko lamented to herself.

'You are correct. It is more than the Well.' She gasped as he banked left without warning. 'However, your patience is required. I do not wish to reveal my 'intentions' just yet, for we are nearly there.'

"There?" she echoed, sapphire eyes scanning the blue skies for clues. "What's your angle, anyway? Where are you taking me, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome wished she sounded at least a little more braver than that. Her voice—rather, her whole body—shook.

'Again with the distrust? You must realize I am not here to harm you, ally. You may abandon your feelings of apprehension, for I am your protector.'

Her stomach did strange flips. Kagome brushed the hair out of her eyes, feeling warm all of a sudden.

"Okay," she said, haltingly. "But I'm going to close my eyes. Tell me when we're there."

'You have been looking at it this entire time.'

Perplexed, the miko once again took in her surroundings, finding nothing more than the clouds in the blue backdrop. Just when she was about to explain this, something in her periphery twinkled. Next to a gianormous cloud that resembled a dog, something twinkled, so quick she wondered if she just imagined it. Squinting and concentrating her energy, she honed in on the object glistening in front of her.

Unraveling before her eyes, what was shielded by an illusion came into focus. An illustrious castle floated amdist the clouds before her, chiseled out of pure marble. The citidal was well manicured; at the bottom of its endless staircase, freshly cut grass covered the entire ground. A lone tree of unknown species was planted just at the base of the stairs, in bloom with orange coloured buds. Patches of multicoloured flowers aligned the perimeter of the castle, and were stationed on every step of the staircase. The stony pillars shined radiantly in the sun's glow, as if polished each day, proving it wasn't abandoned or neglected. Nothing to Kagome looked fragile or old, even though ancientness resonated from within the youkai fortress.

Sesshoumaru glided in close enough that now she could see another barrier protecting the castle. Effortlessly, they sailed inside; for a second she felt a chill slide down her spine. The frigid temperature turned mild; strong gusts of wind no longer battered them. Her nose was assaulted by the smell of some strong flowery fragrance, possibly coming from the tree she spotted.

Where are we? Her hands wove deeper into his thick fur the more panicked she became. Her senses were telling her to run away, and yet, she couldn't detect any hostility residing within the taiyoukai. She wasn't completely sure how, but she knew he wasn't out to play any games with her. In her gut, she felt he was being genuine.

'If I were to tell you, it would spoil the surprise.' The taiyoukai pondered on how quickly those few words put the miko at ease. He felt her tension releasing, and her heart adjusting back to a normal rhythm. So, naturally he'd continue to rattle her, if just for amusement's sake.

'Close your eyes.' He couldn't deny the small bit of satisfaction at hearing her internal shriek of surprise.

"Why?!" The miko yanked on his fur. "What're you going to do?" His rumbling laugh sounded like thunder in her mind.

'Close your eyes, miko.'

Heaving in a deep, wavering breath, Kagome squeezed shut her eyes. In turn, she ceased his fur in a death grip, and dug her knees into his ribs.

'Do not resist; you will enjoy the experience more.'

"Huh?"

Her stomach leaped into her throat as the sensation of being weightless happened once more. Only, this time he wasn't just diving. Her head whipped about as the inuyoukai began rotating his giant body, rapidly gaining speed. Still, she kept her eyes shut, if only not to see them crash. Tucking her head closer to her shoulders, Kagome withstood his spiraling long enough for her to realize they weren't going to fall. It was over soon; this time, he came to slow stop, as if knowing he might give her whiplash otherwise.

Kagome heard a soft pop, and suddenly, she was no longer hugging a several thousand pound dog demon. For a fleeting second she felt like she was floating. Certainly, she had nothing supporting her this time—nothing to keep her from dropping like a sack of potatoes to the ground. It became clear she was falling. Her powers reliably created a barrier, but she wasn't certain it'd protect her from the impact.

Despite all this, she kept her eyes closed. He wouldn't really let her die. Right?

A scream came close to escaping her lips. Plunging at an impossibly fast rate, she neared the point of passing out.

Warm hands touched her shoulders; her descent came to a precipitous halt. When her feet touched something solid, she all but cried out in relief.

The inuyoukai took all of this in, pleased she hadn't yet opened her eyes. In times she lacked courage, she drew strength from relying upon those she trusted. It was her greatest strength, and greatest weakness. What pained her most was the thought of being betrayed by the people closest to her. When that moment happened, it had fragmented her in ways she wouldn't be able to completely fix.

Wounds of the heart didn't recover at the same rate as those of the flesh. Twice as much effort was required to mend the damages, and she'd been doing it all alone.

A hand caressed her cheek, feather-light and too brief. "I assured I would not drop you." It pleased him to hear her heart pounding beneath her breast. "Open your eyes."

Her beaming azure eyes blinked open and locked onto his topaz ones. Her cheeks flushed as she took in their entanglement; he wondered if she would pull away. She caught him off guard once more—her small arms encircled his chest, barely reaching all the way around his armour. She buried her face into his chest, avoiding his spikes. He berated himself for forgetting to discard it, as it was too bulky and stifling for this type of weather. Besides, it was difficult to wedge her in closer with it on.

"Thank you for not letting me become a pancake," she muffled into his haori. Did she realize what sort of signals she was sending him?

Her scent took on an irresistible quality than before, and he wished to provocate her more into emitting it.

"Do not thank me yet. I have not yet upheld my part of the bargain." As soon as he extracted himself from her clutches, he regretted the decision. But he still had an obligation to fulfill. "I took into consideration your mention of creating a 'background' for photos, and the importance of utilizing it to compliment the object of focus. I figured since I am your subject, it would be imperative to find something to accentuate myself with."

She nearly rolled her eyes. He's a diva when it comes to getting his picture taken. Go figure. Another look at the fortress reaffirmed his statement. He's got a point, though. I wouldn't be able to think of something better than this!

"I appreciate your eye for balance, Lord Sesshoumaru. But what happened to your idea of creating discord in a photo in favour of harmony?" He was moving away from her, and initially she thought he was ignoring her.

After several moments, the demon lord stopped and turned toward her. He was nearly twenty paces away, but she knew with his demon hearing, she needn't shout. "What changed your mind?"

"I aim to achieve your request to the best of my ability. Your favour lies in that of creating equality, so I selected this location based off your tastes. Do you disapprove?"

Bemused, the miko could only gape up at him. "Sesshoumaru, I—I'm so—uh." I better not ruin this! She mentally shook her head. "Thank you! You've no idea how much this means to me."

His eyes gleamed in understanding. It was futile to stop her heart from fluttering; whether it was caused by the shift in his youkai, Kagome couldn't say for sure. As per usual, her life completely veered off into left field with no clear warning. Surprisingly though, luck seemed to finally be finding her again. It was about time she had a break of being miserable.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kneeling, she slipped off her backpack and gathered her supplies, assembling her preferred lenses, adjusting her camera settings. By this point, Kagome slipped into the 'zone,' while patiently waiting for the dog demon to transform. It proved difficult to maintain her attention on getting ready, when she could sense his eyes were assessing her. Using her hair as a curtain, Kagome managed to sneak in a few glances at the taiyoukai. His intense scrutiny had her fumbling like a fool, and it was only embarrassing her the longer he stared.

She signaled to him she was ready. The inuyoukai spared her one last parting glance before striding off in the opposite direction, stopping when he was close to the fortress's staircase.

The unbidden desire to close the space between them leaped to the forefront of her thoughts. Unfortunately, Sesshoumaru's maroon coloured youki amassed into a cyclone, trapping him within. He shot off into the clouds like a firework, crashing back down onto the castle's lawn, in a pinnacle of energy. Emerging from his tornado a full dog demon, the inuyoukai bayed in a way that closely sounded like enthusiasm.

To her astonishment, he was much taller than what she initially thought. Peering up at his gigantic body, the miko gaped in awe, and found it hard to catch her breath. Even if she didn't sense any underlying malevolence, she was still anxious of his capabilities. Despite this, she couldn't deny the comity they'd developed within the last few weeks; or ignore how their relationship had changed. This is different, she told herself. It's not the same. He's not the same. He's been... different all along.

"Just... look natural." Kagome adjusted her distance to the lens's settings. She removed a tiny tripod chair attached to her backpack. Hehe was too large to use her tripod, and she needed to get multiple angle shots.

Steadying her aim, Kagome went to work.

"Say cheese."


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