A/N: In case you're a little lost, I'm referencing the last chapter of "24 Little Hours"

...

"Um so…" Kagome couldn't stop blushing. She quickly wiped away her tears, "How is this going to work?"

"Which part?" Sesshomaru leaned back.

"The research part. If the 'us' part is going to happen." she said.

"I didn't realize it was conditional." he stated.

"That's what I'm wondering." Kagome sighed, "I mean I talked to Kaede-sama about this and she said to find something numerical that can be measured."

Sesshomaru pondered for a moment, then, "You talked to her about 'us'?"

"I was afraid being together would disqualify us from research." she glared him, "Don't get cocky."

"I didn't say anything." he hid a grin.

"I can feel it. Your- just ugh. You're so arrogant!" she huffed.

He felt her annoyance tingle at the back of his mind. "Is this what you meant by 'traces'?" A spike of horror immediately came through. "The night after you took your aura back…" he wondered aloud. His realization matched her horror and he stopped himself from saying more. That was the night he helped himself in the shower. Did she feel all of that? Shit.

Kagome panicked. Kami, so he did feel it. She hadn't used her vibrator in so long. It was just because she woke up and was sleep deprived and lacked better judgement and-

"Look, I can explain-" her face was beet red.

"No, I don't think you should." his cheeks also tinged, thinking she would recall how she felt his most vulnerable state. He covered his mouth in embarrassment. Kami, just think of how the sex would be.

They both took a moment to regain composure. Sesshomaru cleared his throat, "If we are to do measured testing, it must exclude emotion as a direct influence."

"So something physical? We've already healed your arm." She turned to him and felt he had the same train of thought. Her eyes widened, "No! I am not going to hurt you!"

"All we need are two identical injuries." Sesshomaru concluded. His father is a Daiyoukai, as well as his mother - but not many knew that. She left the family while he was still young. Regardless, his ability to heal minor wounds was effortless.

"You're -actually- offering self-inflicted pain?" Kagome asked. "There has to be something else. Besides, there's already research on miko-human connections improving healing rates."

"But I'm not human." he stated.

"And I'm a miko. We're practically spiritual opposites." Kagome thought of family background. The only reason they had the shrine was because of their heritage, not necessarily their spiritual powers. Mikos and monks are just people who have developed their abilities and granted the title. She wondered, "What makes you a Daiyoukai?"

"Selective breeding. I come from the line of Silver Inu." he said.

"They still do that?" she gaped.

"It ensures the longevity of a pure bloodline." Sesshomaru brushed it off, "It's a long story. I am not fond of family politics."

"Can you transform?" she had read about it before.

He raised his eyebrows, "If you mean allowing my spiritual youki to become physical, then yes, I can. Though, I am out of practice."

"Practice?" she asked.

"It's an ancient tradition, being able to summon your youki state. There are not many opportunities or requirements for it in our society today." he responded.

"Oh." That made sense. "What's it like? Being in your youki state?"

Sesshomaru found it odd trying to explain something natural about himself, "Personally, when I am in that state, my senses are only aware of the spiritual life forces around me. Anything… related to the physical world, like our current language for example, I cannot process."

"Hm." Kagome looked like she was thinking.

"Do you have an idea?" he asked.

"Maybe? But I don't-"

There was an abrupt knock on the glass window. Miroku waved as Sango burst through the door, "There you are! We've been looking all over for you!"

"How was it?" Sesshomaru turned to Miroku, who had collapsed on the floor beside him.

"Amazing." The dazed monk said, staring at the ceiling.

Sango dropped her bags and sat beside Kagome, "Oh that was so fun!" then whispered, "He is -such- a perv though! Did you know?"

"No, I had no idea." Kagome grinned.

"Liar." Sango giggled and gave her best friend a shove. "He's not the best at blocking punches." she said in a louder voice.

Miroku looked over at her and grinned, "You're just so distractingly gorgeous, my dear Sango." He couldn't dodge the bag that landed on his stomach.

"Jerk." Sango blushed as Miroku rolled over and groaned.

Kagome tried to hold back a laugh, "Um, Sango, this is Sesshomaru."

"Oh! I'm so sorry, it's nice to meet you." Sango gave a bow.

"Likewise." Sesshomaru inclined his head.

"Could you excuse us for -one- sec?" Sango smiled then grabbed Kagome and dragged her out of the room.

"Sango-" Kagome started.

"Kami, why didn't you tell me you were meeting with -him-! How did you guys even meet?" Sango asked.

"We met at the clinic, and it was a last minute thing. We're working on a project." Kagome clarified. She wanted to spare Sesshomaru the onslaught of questions that Sango undoubtedly had. "Look, if my mom asks, I stayed over at your place, okay?"

"Oh? What sort of project is this?" Sango nudged her, winking. "He's so much hotter in person!"

"No! It's nothing like that! We just met for crying out loud. We just have to plan stuff." Kagome sighed. "We just haven't thought of anything yet."

"Well I'm sure it'll -come- to you." Sango giggled hysterically.

Kagome gaped shoving her friend, "Sango! Kami, you're worse than Miroku!"

"Hey- I resent that." Sango sobered.

They giggled their way back into the room. Somehow, Sesshomaru and Miroku had made small talk. Miroku had become friends with Inuyasha not too long ago. They met while moving into the same building on campus. Inuyasha's set schedule in Electrical Engineering left him quite busy, so they hadn't seen each other recently.

"Well, we should get going, right monk?" Sango nudged Miroku with her foot.

"Whatever you say, dear." he said, dreamily.

She tried to hide her blush. "We'll see you guys later. It was nice meeting you Sesshomaru-sama." he gave a polite smile.

"I'll call you tomorrow." Kagome gave her friend a hug.

"Okay." Sango hugged back, and whispered, "Be -productive-!"

"Sango!" Kagome scolded, then waved goodbye. She turned to Sesshomaru, who had a strange smirk on his face.

"What?" she asked.

Further down the hall, a loud smack echoed against the walls.