Authors Note: Just a quick short chapter to get something up. I'm sorry but I've kind of been lacking motivation. Here it is though

*Kagome PV*

It was awkward to say the least the next few days. Not only was I unable to look him in the eye but he was obviously on edge about something. Our training had been cut back a little but I took to doing it myself. In my room I'd do the strength workouts he suggested and would run every day. While I wasn't anywhere near a warrior, I was learning and that was all I wanted.

Sesshomaru always seemed so busy lately, running around and well being a lord. There were times he disappeared all day and I didn't see him until dinner, if he even came to that. It was weird to think I was becoming used to him presence and aware of him around me. Even after the incident as I was taking to calling it, I did miss him being around a little.

When I wasn't training myself or reading some of Sesshomarus massive library I spent a lot of time playing with Rin. She didn't have much of a female, human figure around her so she liked to follow me around. It seemed like every morning I would do her hair, varying it slightly. She had always worn it down but she mentioned liking the more modern time braids I would put in my hair on occasion so I did a few for her.

Other times we read, I was starting to teach her to read and write herself. She was so eager to learn but easily frustrated. So far she could do her name and mine, now she working on Sesshomaru. I was hoping to teach her that at the very least and the progress to the alphabet and spelling. Unsurprisingly she was pretty smart for a girl her age. She seemed to understand that I had a limit because after a while she would wander away to bother Jaken.

I wasn't entirely without work as the weeks went on. On occasion the maids asked me to do something simple or the cooks asked for help or for me to set the table. They were easy chores that I didn't mind doing really. It kept me occupied and reminded me of home. Speaking of home maybe Sesshomaru would let me go home soon to resupply and see my mother. Even being this age I did miss her.

This was what was on my thought process as I walk down the hall toward my room. It was relatively late, the sun had long since sunken into darkness. However I'd found a very interesting book relating to different demons and I read some of it, hoping to find some common weaknesses of demons I fought a lot. I still had my nose in this book as I walked, not realizing that someone else was there.

Very ungracefully I collided into the hard metal plate of someone's chest. Stumbling backwards I felt large, rough hands tipped with claws on my back, holding me upright. My eyes shot upwards to see who I had both bumped into and been caught by. Eyes widening I found myself staring into the incredibly close eyes of Sesshomaru.

"Miko? Are you alright?"

It took me a moment to answer as I was a little frozen. I could feel his breath on my face that is how close we were. He seemed a little affected by it too as his mask wasn't all the way up. My mind scrambled to form the words as I processed her was talking to me.

"Oh uh yes I'm fine. You know me clumsy and all" I stammered awkwardly. Why was I suddenly so thrown off by him? My heart raced at our proximity and I could feel my face flush slightly. Stepping backwards and out of his arms I bent to pick up the fallen book. Inwardly I groaned at how I was acting. I was like a school girl with a crush. Wait! Did I like Sesshomaru in that way? I wasn't sure. I mean he was attractive and smart, not to mention strong but I was so confused. I wasn't aware of how much this feeling would affect me as Sesshomarus deep voice broke into my thoughts.

"The hanou is nearing the castle"

Word Count: 736