A/N: Hey, all! Sorry I've been away a while. I may or may not be applying for a real world job, and been doing grown-up type things :O All of which are bummer-ful (unless I get a job, because job = money, and money = shiny objects/books). I will also mention, but not go into detail about, the new plague my family passed to me. I had an interview today, and the only way I got through it was with a butt-ton of cough syrup, Advil, oranges, and peppermint tea. (But I kicked the interview's ass, so it was worth the weird mix of peppermint, oranges, and Naraku slime!)

Now that I'm feeling better and have grown-up junk out of the way for now, I'm going to be cranking these out as fast as I can (probably one every day, or two every other day, whichever I'm in the mood for) until all is said and done. And don't be afraid to pester me if I start to lag!

Very last note, I promise!

Special shout-outs to:

Serena (Dokuga) for suggesting the song used in this chapter. I love it!

X. summergrey .X (ffnet) for spotting a plot point stemming from this chapter! (Also, I know there are no spaces in your name, fanfictionnet is just absurd about DOTS of all things ^^)

And thanks to everyone who's been reviewing (especially LoveInTheBattleField/LoveAndFaith), favoriting, and adding me or the story to their alerts. You're all wonderful! :D

Highway of Regret

Kagome let her eyes wander across the field, a breeze rustling anything it could latch on to. Sesshomaru leaned against a tree not far from where Kagome rested, watching Rin with mild interest. The little girl in question hummed as she prodded a large golden bloom, her toes wriggling in the dirt.

Kagome grinned.

It had been five days since Kagome had followed Sesshomaru blindly through the forest to collect her pack and sleeping bag from the camp. It was only at Kagome's behest that Sesshomaru told a half-dozing Miroku that she would be back when she deemed it necessary.

Her grin slowly faded. Kagome wasn't sure just when she'd want to rejoin the group. She had a feeling that, when she did, there would be a new addition to deal with.

Kagome let grief wash over her; she'd decided that first day with Sesshomaru and company that it was no good just pushing her feelings away. If she didn't deal with it in the relative privacy of Sesshomaru's group, she certainly wouldn't get a chance to do so with her own. Or at home, since she doubted he – Inuyasha, she forced herself to think his name – would leave her alone to think things out.

Kagome had believed Sesshomaru that night when he'd said that they wouldn't be tracked; so far, she was thankful for whatever ability he had to keep the others away until she could work things out for herself.

At the rate she was going, however, she doubted she'd ever see them again.

Rin looked up suddenly, as if sensing Kagome's change in mood.

"Is Kagome-sama sad?" Rin asked, young face pinched with concern.

Kagome looked at the little girl, covered in dirt and pollen. It was hard to hold onto sadness when Rin's eyes radiated such concern.

"Less sad now," Kagome told her with a genuine smile.

Rin smiled, showing off a missing front tooth. Kagome giggled.

Sesshomaru had watched the encounter passively, secretly noting every detail of Kagome's expression, as he had since spiriting her away.

As Kagome readjusted her position against the tree, her hand knocked against her pocket. She held still a moment, wondering if she was ready to – finally – listen to music again. She hadn't since…

"Hey, Rin-chan!" Kagome called out. Rin had wandered further afield to investigate orange flora. Rin came scampering back as Kagome began unwinding the headphones.

"Hai, Kagome-sama?"

Kagome held out an earphone to the girl, who took it very delicately between her thumb and pointer finger. It reminded Kagome of how Sesshomaru had handled it the first time.

Kagome's eyes quickly went to the demon lord, who pretended not to be interested. Kagome wasn't that great at reading his moods, but she knew that he couldn't stay away from "the black box."

"How would you like to listen to some music?" she asked them.

"You will sing, Kagome-sama?" Rin seemed excited by the prospect. She seemed to have forgotten the headphone, and had shown no puzzlement over it. Had Sesshomaru told her?

"Not today," Kagome said smiling.

Sesshomaru allowed himself to drift towards them, taking a seat respectfully between them both. Kagome held out her own headphone to him.

Sesshomaru shook his head.

"I will hear it from your ears."

Kagome's eyes crinkled with her smile. "If you say so!"

Kagome told Rin what to expect as she showed the girl how to fit the earphone into her ear.

"Let's see..." Kagome scrolled, looking for something pretty, soothing, and easy for Rin's first song from the future.

Rin's eyes widened as the piano began, her mouth dropping into a silent "o" as the artist began her song.

By the time the last word faded away, Rin's eyes were moist.

"That was byootifal, Kagome-sama!" Rin declared. "But what does it mean?"

Kagome grinned, looking to Sesshomaru. She stole your line, she told him silently. Turning back to Rin, she said, "It means that she'll do anything so that the person she's singing to will know how much she loves them."

Rin nodded sagely, gingerly handing back her headphone. Kagome was glad that Rin had enjoyed the song, but still wondered at her lack of awe regarding the mp3 player. Kagome couldn't see Sesshomaru telling Rin about it, but…

Kagome turned back to Sesshomaru to find his eyes blazing. Like a fire jumping from log to log, his fiery look seemed to jump to her face, heating her skin.

"Would," she tried to distract herself, looking to Rin once more while putting the player away, "would you like to learn English? Both of you?"

"What the lady was singing? Rin would!" Rin popped up from the ground to bow to Kagome, her new sensei.

"This Sesshomaru," he told her, voice a little too low for polite company, "would also like to learn Eenglish."

Inuyasha and Kikyo were the furthest things from Kagome's mind.

"Make You Feel My Love" by Adele (originally by Bob Dylan)

Once again, special thanks to Serena on Dokuga for the song suggestion, and a "nice call!" to X. summergrey .X on for ffnet suggesting Sess learn some Eenglish!

(Also – to those of you who caught the Emphasis reference: +1!)