Sorry for the wait but its here now!!!!

oxo…oxo

Sesshoumaru and Kagome ran through the forest at speeds she had never even dreamed of. It was amazing and, though she would love to have kept going, they had had to stop when they reached the clearing that Rin and Jaken where staying. The demon lord had been quiet on their journey but she had managed to get a little out of him.

They would leave Rin and Jaken in the morning before heading to famous sword maker Totosai. Kagome remembered the demon that had forged Tetsusiaga from the time Inuyasha's great sword had broken. He had managed to make it whole again, but it had been almost impossible for Inuyasha to wield until he had learned to use his own strength instead of relying on his fathers. Kagome liked the old man, even if he was a bit of a wimp.

The night passed quickly and it was morning before she knew it. As Kagome yawned out of habit, she reviled in the fact that she no longer felt tired. It was part of being a demon that she still needed to get used to. Sesshoumaru was already up and watching her intently as she woke.

She was stunning. As a human she had definitely been pretty but as a demon she was beautiful. She looked over at him and his heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she smiled in such a way that Sesshoumaru wondered whether one of her knew skills was to read minds. This little thought made him feel vaguely uncomfortable and the smile faltered slightly before she turned away to look at the still sleeping Rin beside her.

Kagome's nose was still mixed with the scents of love, marvel and uncertainty. He had been staring at her and when she looked at him she had heard his heart stutter. Why? She wondered. Why is he acting this way, he doesn't love me. I guess that's what the uncertainty was; he realised it.

Kagome watched Rin till she stirred, hearing Sesshoumaru as he walked away, taking his strong feelings with him. For a seemingly emotionless demon lord he sure had some strong emotions. Kagome thought wryly, marvelling in the irony of it all.

As Rin woke and looked up at the raven haired girl next to her, she smiled. She did love Kagome and she had a feeling her adoptive father did too. She was also pretty sure that Jaken had a soft spot for the girl. It was amazing what she could do; Kagome was the kind of person you just had to love no matter who you where or how you loved her, as a sibling, as a father or as a mate.

It had been that way before as well. He may not have known it but Sesshoumaru had loved her from the beginning and even more so since she had become Rin's nanny. He had spent an awful lot of time with the young miko and Rin could see the love in his eyes every time he looked at her. It was only a flash and was something no one would notice unless they where looking; which most people didn't.

The girl had been there for him in the simplest of ways that he himself hadn't even realised, but she knew now that he had accepted his feelings for her nanny and she believed it would be good for him. They just needed a push; and convincing that the other loved them back.

'Good morning Rin!' Kagome greeted cheerfully. A little too cheerfully as far as Rin was concerned but she let it slip.

'Yes! Good morning to you too Kagome!' she replied happily. She yawned slightly as she got up and raced over to Jaken to wake the little green demon whom had become her best friend.

'Jaken! Jaken! Wake up!' she cried forcefully as she shook the little demon.

'Bahhhhhh!' he cried as he fell off the tree stump he had been sitting on and grimaced as he landed on the hard floor below. Kagome and Rin both covered their mouths to try and cover their giggles. 'Oooh…' he murmured at he pulled himself up, rubbing his back where he had fallen. Rin laughed before running up to him and pulling him away towards the stream, waving goodbye at Kagome and winking at Sesshoumaru who was walking back through the trees from the direction she was running.

Slightly startled, but not showing it on the outside, he watched them leave, Jaken's feet hardly touching the ground as he whizzed passed, a look of annoyance and boredom on his face that amused the demon lord greatly. Turning back to the clearing, he saw Kagome sitting where she had been when he had left; staring at the trees with a sad smile on her face before grabbing her bag.

Kagome had sensed his presence and so thought it best to clean up and so went to get her hair brush but stopped as her fingers brushed the hairpin again. Bringing it out of her bag, she looked at it with a smile before placing it gently beside her and went back inside her bag for her brush. Brushing it through, she pulled her hair up at the back and put it into the pin like the first time and looked at herself in the mirror she had again.

Sesshoumaru watched this with wide eyes. She was wearing the hairpin. But what did that mean? Was she wearing it because it was from him or just because she liked it? Silently, he approached. She turned to look at him with an uncertain smile that took his breath away. When had he become this soft? He looked at the curls that framed her face and gave her a small smile. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked away, playing with said curls.

'Are we going to see Totosai today then?' she asked nervously, purposely changing the subject. Sesshoumaru rained in his thoughts and pushed them to the back of his mind, his cold exterior clearly showing on the outside.

'Indeed.' He answered simply in an emotionless voice. Kagome looked at him with sad eyes at his sudden change and he looked away, turning to sit under a tree and watch her as she began to pack her bag back up.

'Sesshoumaru-sama! Kagome-Chan!' Rin cried as she raced back into the clearing with Jaken panting behind her. 'Look! I found a pretty flower!' she squealed excitedly; her voice reaching a pitch that made both dog demons squirm.

'That's wonderful Rin!' Kagome told the girl; looking at the flower and marvelling in its beauty. It was a golden rose that looked as if it had been dipped in gold leaf. The miko smiled as she tucked the small flower behind he girl's ear and gently brushed the hair back in place with her fingers. 'There! Wonderful!' she told her happily as the smaller girl went off, running around the clearing in delight.

'Are you ready Kagome?' Sesshoumaru's deep voice asked as he got up.

'Indeed.' She replied, quoting him in the same cold voice he had used. He mentally winced before turning to Jaken as if nothing had happened.

'Look after Rin.' He told the demon simply before beckoning Kagome and jumping high above the trees. The miko demon smiled at Jaken and Rin before following him into the sky.

xxx…xxx

Inuyasha's state hadn't changed that night and Miroku was starting to get really worried. The morning passed without too much incident but in the afternoon his condition worsened.

'How is he?' Sango asked as she came into the hut. He looked at her with worried eyes.

'Bad. If he keeps going like this then I'm afraid he'll die.' Miroku told her, pain in his dark eyes. Sango bit her bottom lip nervously.

'Kagome…' came Inuyasha's strained voice as he wriggled around on the mat he was lying on. Putting his nose in the covers, he sniffed unconsciously. 'Kagome…'

'The bed still smells of her. He's been doing that allot.' Miroku explained. He hadn't left his friends side.

'Do you think it would help if she was here?' Sango asked suddenly. Miroku looked at her determined face.

'I suppose… your going after her aren't you.'

It wasn't a question. Sango looked back at him, her eyes filled with determination as she turned to pick up hiraikotsu and nodded. Miroku smiled encouragingly at her. 'Then take Takashi with you. I need to look after inuyasha and he may be able to help.' He told her. Sango nodded and smiled back as she grabbed her weapon.

'Take Takashi where?' asked the ice demon as he came through the door of the hut, a small smile on his face. Sango and Miroku turned to look at him, faces grave once again.

'We need to find Kagome or Inuyasha could die.' Sango explained and Takashi's face immediately became serious.

'He just doesn't have the strength to pull through in his despair.' Miroku told them. They nodded.

'Come on!' Sango called as she ran past Takashi with ki-la-la at her heels. The little kitten transformed just outside and Sango jumped on, quickly followed by Takashi.

'Good luck!' Miroku yelled as they took off and headed the way Kagome had been seen last. Please get her back in time.

xxx…xxx

It took just under a day for them to get to Totosai's little cave. The sword maker welcomed them and agreed to make Kagome a sword but told her he needed a fang.

'But I can't transform. I don't have an inner demon.' She told him. She had tried more than once but it had never happened; not even the presence of an inner demon.

'Really?' he asked her, surprised at this little peace of news. Sesshoumaru was surprised as well and Kagome's nose wrinkled at the surprise in the cave.

'But I still need a fang.' The sword maker murmured; his hand on his forehead as he thought. Suddenly, he looked at Sesshoumaru, a thoughtful look on his face. The Inu raised an eyebrow at the makers gaze. 'Yes… it could work…'

'What could work?' Kagome asked curiously. Following his gaze her eyes also rested on Sesshoumaru. 'Oh!' she breathed, her eyes widening as she realised what he was thinking.

Sesshoumaru was clueless and Kagome knew it. Giggling, she turned away from the demon's accusing stare. Totosai smiled. 'I'm going to need one of your fangs Sesshoumaru-sama.' He told the demon and the Inu's other eyebrow rose causing Kagome's giggles to get harder.

'And why is that so funny?' Sesshoumaru asked, slightly disgruntled. Kagome looked at him with tears of laughter running down her cheeks.

'Your face!' she told him, struggling slightly to get the words out through her laughter. Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. She thinks my face is funny? His confusion just made her laugh harder. 'I haven't - laughed like – this – in ages!' she spluttered. Totosai grinned and Sesshoumaru froze before smiling slightly at the happy girl. He had made her laugh.

'Um; Sesshoumaru-sama? The fang?' the sword maker asked with a smile. The inu-youki turned to him, smile gone, and nodded. His eyes went red and the wind picked up around him as he changed into his beast form. Growing, he put his dog head down towards the old man and bared his fangs. Kagome had stopped laughing and was watching Sesshoumaru with a slight fear on her face. After all, the last time she had seen him like that he had tried to kill her.

Totosai grabbed one of his fangs and pulled. It came out easily in his arms, a new one instantly taking its place. (I'm not sure if that's how it works but hey…) Grumbling in the back of his throat, Sesshoumaru pulled his head up and began to change back into his human form. Kagome was quiet as the dog demon sat down next to her and the sword maker went to his forge to begin his work.

'It will be ready for you by tomorrow.' Totosai told them. 'You may stay here until then.'

Sesshoumaru nodded and looked down at Kagome whose eyes where glazed over in thought. He wondered what she was thinking about and hoped it wasn't anything to do with a new fear of him. That would be very bad indeed.

oxo…oxo

Well, here it is. I hope you like it and I'm sorry for the wait. I get short bursts of ideas and then nothing, you know? It really annoying…

Thanks for all my reviewers and I hope you continue to review!!!