Chapter Ten

Sesshomaru hated to admit it, but the old man was fast. Gritting his teeth and getting back onto his feet, he ignored the urge to rub his jaw. 'Dammit Taisho. Would you listen to me for a minute?!' His partner's voice rang sharply in his head and he winced slightly. 'You can't expect to fight this guy like you have been. He's been specially trained.'

'What do you mean?' He found himself asking, still eyeing the wiry man before him.

'I mean he and his psy-link partner went through specialized training to meld their energy together. They act as one, making them faster than an average soldier. Faster than an average Baasratu.' He contemplated what that meant as he rolled his shoulder and neck.

'How do you know this?' He asked after a moment and narrowed his eyes at the resounding silence coming from his partner. Before he could press the issue, Totosai disappeared once again. This time he was ready for it. Using whatever extrasensory he had, he locked onto the man's energy, waiting for the spike that would announce his intent to attack.

Kagome, knowing he was only going off of half formed ideals and instinct, leant that extra push he needed to find Totosai, stretching herself to ready his legs and arms as well. The old man meant business, and if they didn't catch him this time around he could cause some serious damage to her partner.

They didn't have to wait long, as a spike came from just behind them and to the right. Spinning about, Sesshomaru caught Totosai by the leg and brought his own foot up, burying it into the old man's side, kicking him down and into the opposite wall. Not one to be brought down so quickly, Totosai flipped himself, using Momo's energy to cushion his legs, allowing him to rebound off of the wall.

Sesshomaru caught Totosai's fist aimed at his own gut, twisting slightly to backhand him across the face by pulling on the arm he had caught. The old man hit the floor hard and Sesshomaru backed up a step, waiting for his next move.

"Gah, for a sissy boy you sure do have a mean bite, don'tcha?" Totosai mumbled out as he sat up, rubbing his cheek. Sesshomaru was satisfied to see that he had managed to give the old man a split lip.

'Yeah, congratulations on beating up an old man, Taisho. Real classy.' Kagome dryly commented and laughed when Sesshomaru got irritated.

'Hn. For an instructor as annoying as he is, he is deserving of any wound this Sesshomaru inflicts upon his person.' He answered imperiously and Kagome snorted.

Her attention again focused on their opponent when she felt that strange shift in energy she had only ever felt once before. The old man was really serious now.

Wiping at the bit of blood dribbling from his lip, Totosai turned his gaze on the one he now considered his temporary enemy. The muscles he had never allowed to melt into fat tensed in reaction to the anger that now coursed in his veins. The girly looking bastard had managed to land a hit on him. Not only that, but he had managed to draw first blood.

'Now, Totos-'

'No, Momo.' Totosai hissed quietly as he rolled his shoulders back. 'The boy needs to be taught a lesson. He has absolutely no sense of humility.'

'And you're the one to teach him, you batty old bastard?' Momo snorted and rolled her eyes. Men. 'This wasn't your directive. We were only supposed to-'

'Directive has changed. I'm gonna give this pansy a whipping he won't soon forget!'

'You cut me off one more time and I'll be the one to give you a whipping you won't soon forget.' Momo growled even as she resigned herself to the fact that her partner was truly going to try to beat the young Taisho down. And if the energy ratcheting up from the boy was anything to go by, he was looking for a fight too.

Both combatants, keeping their eyes locked on the other slowly began circling the other, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Narrowing his eyes, more to block the sudden wind than due to any emotion on his part, Totosai leaned low to the ground and rushed to the younger man's legs. Stopping his momentum just before his target, he flipped his body over his head and brought both feet up into Sesshomaru's chest, missing his throat by centimeters.

'Damn, boy's too tall.' He grumbled to himself absently as he followed the staggered captain, punching him soundly in the jaw.

Sesshomaru let out a small grunt as he hit the floor hard, then rolled to his left, avoiding the ex-assassin's foot as it came down. Jumping to his feet, ignoring the loss of vertigo and his partner's worried voice, Sesshomaru immediately launched himself at the older man, tackling him to the floor.

Kagome let out a huff as Taisho continued to ignore anything she said, and if the energy reading coming off of Totosai was anything to go by, he wasn't synced with his partner anymore either. This had, instead, become a silly fist fight, as opposed to the sparring it was supposed to be. Sensing a swift withdrawal of energy from their opponent, Kagome realized what Totosai's partner was doing and nodded to herself. Focusing on her partner, Kagome hauled back all their synced energy and bound it, much as she had that first time they had linked.

At the same time, both men let out grunts of surprise and slumped to the floor, as if their strings had been cut. Momo snickered in surprised delight as she realized the Higurashi girl had caught on to her plan. She really is a talented link, she thought to herself, even as she began to admonish the old man she had known since the both of them had been in their twenties.

'Higurashi.' Sesshomaru seethed quietly as he tried to regain feeling in his limbs, furious that his fight had been cut short.

'Taisho.' Kagome answered back with hostility. 'This is not a bar fight and last I checked, you were not a drunken idiot.' Her tone of voice was low and her words were clipped. 'What in the hell are you doing?'

Sesshomaru paused at her question and allowed his emotions to cool. He had lost his head in a fight for the second time in the last week, only to have his partner stop and put him in his place, though he would never convey this to Higurashi. Closing his eyes and slowly letting out his breath, he allowed his tensed muscles to relax.

'Hn.' He ignored the small giggle she gave his response.

Totosai stopped listening to his nagging partner as she began to argue with him in circles. There was no reasoning with the old gal when she got that way. He looked over at Taisho and smirked slightly when it seemed the boy was also getting an earful from his own partner. Rolling his shoulders back, Totosai got to his feet and watched as Taisho did the same.

"Whelp my boy, I suppose you are suitable to be brought into the assassin class. Though I guess my opinion doesn't seem to matter. The decision was already made, but I figured I might as well test you anyway. Or maybe I'm just too old for this anymore. After all, a long haired sissy is being accepted into our ranks."

Sesshomaru felt his irritation spike once more, especially considering his partner's laugh in his head. 'Oh come on, Taisho. He's obviously doing it on purpose.' Kagome teased as she kept an eye on their opponents' energy. Though he didn't seem to be eager to attack them anymore, he still hadn't officially ended their match either. Sesshomaru was also wary of the other man, and he certainly didn't trust him not to attack out of nowhere.

"Now then. I suppose you'd have questions. Or has your partner been answering them? Considering her training and all."

Sesshomaru stiffened slightly and Kagome held her breath. Dammit, the old man knew her training. 'Higurashi.' He hissed with bare traces of exasperation.

'Well, I was gonna tell you, but then that guy attacked and we were a little busy! Not to mention how…emotional you got!' Kagome defended herself starting to feel indignant about being put on the spot.

"Higurashi hasn't explained anything." Sesshomaru answered shortly, narrowing his eyes as she continued to sputter. "Neither have you. Exactly what is this assassin training?" Though he was asking questions, he sounded more like an inquisitor reaching the end of his rope. He took a step closer, the air about him menacing.

Totosai gulped slightly, realizing for perhaps the first time the boy seemed kind of dangerous. And now that he knew he could catch him before the training… Sinking into his default senile old man shtick, he allowed his face to slacken. "Eh? Who are you? Where am I?" Scratching the back of his head in an almost absentminded manner, he debated over whether he should back away from the homicidal aura coming off of the young captain.

'Best idea you've had yet.' Momo dryly commented as she continued to watch the way Kagome Higurashi's energy interacted with Sesshomaru Taisho's.

'You could help me a little, you know.' Totosai grumped mentally while throwing his hands up in a placating gesture. "Alright, alright! Calm down, siss- uh, young man! We can talk about this!"

'I'm doing my part, and that was to make sure their energies were compatible for the training exercise. Keeping you from getting trounced was not a part of the deal.' Momo replied to his whining and finally completed her assessment to her satisfaction. 'Now call an end to the match so we can all sit and discuss things like adults, hmm?'

'I haven't ended the match yet?' Totosai blinked in a stupor then hurried to rectify his mistake. "Ah! Match over! Let's you and your partner head into the meeting room!" He declared and took off for the door. Ignoring the chuckles from his partner. 'I suppose you really are losing your touch, eh, Totosai?'

'Hush, woman.'

Sesshomaru watched the elderly man rush from the room and allowed himself to ease back his tension. His partner's hands ghosted up his arms, kneading the muscles in his neck. He let out a small groan and the both of them froze.

'Ah, you should probably follow him, huh?' Kagome asked nervously, not quite sure how to read the brief flashes of emotion she was getting from her partner. And that noise he just made! She was ashamed to admit to herself that it would probably wind up in her dreams tonight.

Without further comment or thought from the usually stoic captain, Sesshomaru followed after the ex-assassin to the meeting room set aside for them. Entering the room, he found Totosai already seated at the table. Deciding the fastest way to end his association with the old man was to get the meeting over with, Sesshomaru sat across from him and pinned him with a glare.

"Ah, so…you have been promoted to a special class." Totosai began awkwardly as he tried to figure out the best way to explain things to the angry individual in front of him. 'Like it's not your fault the young man is angry.' Momo snorted and Totosai acted as if he hadn't heard her.

"Just get to the point." Sesshomaru demanded allowing his brows to crease.

"Right, so now you will be taking special missions. As far as I know, you will still be assigned to the ship you are on now, with added irregularities that will be explained later. By someone else!" Totosai added the last bit for his own safety, sensing the animosity rising up again.

"This is not explaining the situation I found myself in a moment ago." Sesshomaru growled out and Totosai straightened, flashing his own irritation.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm getting to that! Keep your shirt on!" He paused for a moment to take in a breath and start over. "So, to officially be in the assassin class, you and your partner need to go through a special training that isn't offered to just anybody. It takes a special kind of link." He eyed the way Sesshomaru stiffened and flashed him a lewd grin. "And I think you get what I mean?"

Sesshomaru let his face go completely blank, eyeing the old pervert closely. Just as he was opening his mouth to refute his claims, the old man continued, holding his head as if in pain.

"Alright already, woman! Stop harping! I was just having some fun!" Still clutching his head Totosai met his eyes. "So what I really mean is the psychic is strong enough to sense and enhance the natural energy of a soldier with enough natural talent in combat to a certain degree that's higher than your average link. If I'm not mistaken, Miss Higurashi has been able to do this for you, am I correct?"

Sesshomaru gave a brief nod.

"Good, though Momo already confirmed what the testing has told the higher ups. That was the real reason for our little spat. To see how your energies influence each other under duress. Though you weren't supposed to be able to actually catch me, let alone hurt me." Totosai pouted slightly, staring down at the table as if it was the reason for him admitting the last part.

"Anyway, you're real training begins once you go through that door over there." Feeling like he had explained things adequately, he stood up from his chair. Sesshomaru stood as well and that menacing aura was filling the room. "A psychic instructor is waiting for you! She'll explain the rest!" He garbled out and fled the room.

Kagome giggled softly as they both watched the man flee. She turned her attention back to her partner and sighed. 'I've only ever been linked to an assassin. I don't know anything else…just that they move differently and think about things differently than an average soldier.' She explained quietly, trying to smooth his ruffled feathers. 'I've never met another psychic that had been linked to an assassin either, so I'm in the dark about this as much as you are.'

'Hn.'

It was all he said, but that was all she needed. She knew she had been forgiven, though she wasn't sure why it should have mattered to her so much. Her thoughts turned inward as she reflected on her feelings, then pushed them aside to think about later. She wasn't sure why, but she felt apprehensive about examining the feelings she had for the snobby jerk she was partnered to.

Turning his gaze to the second door to his left, Sesshomaru hesitated briefly. Deciding that ruminating over what awaited them got him nowhere, he reached the bio-scanner and lifted his hand. The older woman sitting on one of the couches in the next room had him blinking, however.

Holding a small saucer and teacup, the woman glanced up as the door opened and smiled.

"I take it you are finished with the first round of testing?"

Sesshomaru didn't bother to respond, as he thought it was rather self-explanatory. Instead he was distracted by the way Higurashi had reacted at the sight of the woman before them. 'Higurashi?' He questioned her quietly and narrowed his eyes at the wave of emotion he got in response.

'Kitakawa-sensei.'

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain Taisho. My name is Midoriko Kitakawa. And, of course, it is good to feel your energy again, Kagome." The end of the woman's sentence was warm and her eyes crinkled slightly as she smiled, seeming more to focus on the area around his body than actually looking at him.

'T-tell her it's the same for me.' Kagome stammered quietly and Sesshomaru fought the urge to scowl.

'I am not your mess-'

'Please, Taisho.' Her voice was soft, almost subdued.

"Higurashi conveys her salutations as well." Sesshomaru found himself saying, uncomfortable with the strange emotions he was getting from his partner.

Midoriko smiled slightly and stood from the couch, her hands smoothing down her black pants, absentmindedly. "I imagine she is rather shocked to see me." Her tone was self-depreciating as her eyes slid away and fixed to the floor. After a brief moment, whereas Sesshomaru felt the undeniable urge to fidget at the weird undertones in the room, she seemed to come back to herself and straightened from the slumped posture she had adopted.

"So, I am to be your first instructor for the assassination designation." Her eyes hardened as she spoke and at the end she had assumed a wholly professional demeanor. "There is a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time. I take it you have already been notified that your crew needs to be back out there by the end of this term?"

At Sesshomaru's terse nod she gave one of her own and indicated to the second couch in front of her. "Then please be seated. We have exactly three days to get you to a rather advanced level, and the work required will be rather taxing."

Taking his seat gracefully, Sesshomaru tried to gage how his partner was reacting to the time frame they had been given. According to the contract that she had signed, the training would go passed her week long sub-in by two days. Her response would clue him in on exactly what he would have to say to change her mind.

Not sensing anything from her other than the stunned shock she had been in since they had set sights on Kitakawa, Sesshomaru felt his jaw clench. Was she not even paying attention? 'Higurashi.'

With a jolt, Kagome focused on her partner and winced at the amount of agitation he was emitting. The shock and, in a small amount, betrayal Kagome had felt at seeing her old sensei finally dissipated. Getting an idea of just how much Taisho wanted to lay into her almost had her wishing for it back. 'Ah. Sorry, Taisho. I…um…'

'We will be training for three days.' Sesshomaru cut her off, impatient to get her reaction to put all of this behind him as quickly as possible. Tensing slightly in anticipation, he was surprised to admit he was disappointed when all she muttered was: 'Oh. Okay.'

His eyes slid shut and he felt a tick in his brow as he waited silently. Was this Kitakawa woman worth all of this emotional upheaval? It took a few seconds before he felt the sudden rise of emotion from his partner, all of them changing too fast for him to get an actual read. Permeating through it all, however, was what could only be described as disquiet. Perhaps…unsettled?

Well, at least she was conflicted. That indicated she hadn't completely chucked the idea of working with him permanently out, right?

'Ah. Right…you're saying this because…right…'

'Higurashi.' Sesshomaru cut himself short so he could reign in what little temper he had left. Pissing her off at this point would only be counter-productive. However, since her brain had seemed to short-circuit, he realized he would have to come out and ask her. 'Are you going to be my partner?'

Midoriko watched silently as the energy fluctuated around the young soldier in front of her. She had been given a report when they had requested her services for the first time in years after she had left the battle field. The premature death of her partner scarring her beyond repair, and sending her back into the botanical field she felt at peace in. She knew that the only reason they had asked for her had been her relationship to Kagome. It was rather funny how predictable the military was when they were pushing for what they wanted.

Deciding to give the two time to discuss what they needed, Midoriko headed over to the tea tray left against the wall, pouring herself another cup.

Kagome held her breath for a moment as his question registered with her. This was it. She couldn't put it off any longer. She realized to anyone else this would have been a no-brainer. But she wasn't anyone else, and this was a very important decision for her. She hadn't realized how liberated she had felt, being allowed to choose her own designation, regardless of where anyone else thought she should have been placed. To be told at the onset that she could do whatever she wanted and it would be acceptable, only for it to be taken away after only two years. As if punishing her and through no fault of her own!

Okay, so it wasn't as extreme as all that, but that wasn't the point. Regardless of the perks they were shoving at her, or the amount of time they would give her to do what she loved, they were still trying to change what she had been allowed to choose for herself. Maybe she was being stupidly stubborn over this matter, but that small feeling of freedom was important to her.

Coming out of her thoughts, still feeling unsure, Kagome chose to examine her partner and his emotions. Taisho was an impossibly proud, and rather big-headed individual. To come out and ask her if she was going to be his partner instead of demanding it… What was he thinking when he asked?

'Do you want me to be your partner? Do you need me, Taisho?'

The question came back at him and Sesshomaru paused. While he felt the fact he had even asked said a lot, it was obvious Higurashi was looking for something more. It was one thing to silently acknowledge the fact that he needed her, but to admit it out loud. That this wasn't a mandate handed down from the higher ups, but her own choice.

'…yes.'

He answered quietly, as if admitting a grave sin. And perhaps to him it was, Kagome conceded. After all, she was sure he felt that acknowledging he needed anyone, let alone a psychic, must galvanize him to the core. Still, he had been, and only ever was, honest. This alone pushed her to make her decision.

'Then, yes. I will remain your partner, Taisho.'

Miroku smiled charmingly at the girl behind the lobby counter and comfortably rested his arms across the top in front of him. "Good afternoon, Leslie, my dear." His smile widened as she giggled at the light flirting and turned her full attention to him. "Is there a training room open for me tonight?" He made sure his tone was light and breezy, keeping the darker emotions he was battling with under a layer of charm.

"Well, Mick said we were supposed to close down in twenty minutes…but for you I wouldn't mind staying to lock up for another hour." She batted her lashes and twisted her arms in front of her, pushing her breasts up for his notice.

Feeling his smile becoming more of a mocking smirk, Miroku straightened from the counter and strode toward the locker room located farther in back. "Twenty minutes should be fine." He answered back and allowed his expression to darken as he walked through the sliding doors, ignoring the angry pout that crossed her face as he left.

Though it had been a while since he had last gone through his usual physical training, he felt the only way he could work through these emotions was with a good sweat. Twenty minutes wasn't near long enough to accomplish total peace, but he figured it could at least take the edge off as he worked through his thoughts. Changing quickly into his training gear, he strapped the ten pound weights he had brought with him on his wrists and ankles and headed toward the second door in the locker room.

A small hallway branched into four different directions lay before him. The first two halls lead to the weight lifting room and a small pool room. The fourth hall lead to a separate sauna and shower room. The third hall, and the one he wanted, lead to the individualized training rooms. Walking down the short hall and opening a second door, Miroku looked to the eight different doors he now faced. Only two of the rooms were occupied so he strode towards the last door and placed his hand on the scanner. As the door closed behind him he heard the brief click, indicating that no one else could come in while he was using the room without a key.

Striding over to the left wall, Miroku placed his hand on the panel beside a large screen. "Welcome back Mr. Soryu. There is only fifteen minutes left until closing, do you wish to continue?" The automated voice asked and Miroku snorted.

"Yes."

"Our memory banks tell us the last weapon you used was a bo staff. Would you like to use this now?"

"Yes."

There was a sharp chirp and a panel to his right slid open, depositing a gleaming wooden staff. Clenching his jaw, Miroku grabbed the staff and walked toward the center of the room.

The room itself was smaller than a typical training room, but that was to be expected. These rooms weren't to be used for sparring, this was simply for those that would like to perfect their forms or go over new moves. Miroku brought the staff up in front of him and twirled it out and to his right, his mind already distancing itself from the moves that had been ingrained in him since early childhood.

As he predicted, the first thing that came up was Kagome's face. The smile she normally wore and the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about her studies in botany quickly morphed to the way she had looked when they had climbed out of those pods after that mission, clutching her shoulder and gritting her teeth as Wallace helped her to stand. He brought his staff down sharply with both hands.

Logically, he knew that she would face danger and would get hurt once she became a battle-link. Hell, he knew from experience that there was no such thing as a safe mission and psychic burns were par for the course. So, honestly speaking, he was baffled at the gut churning guilt that he was plagued with the moment he had seen her face scrunched in pain. He twisted his body to the left as he brought the staff back up in a mocking block.

Of course, he had felt twinges of guilt all throughout the year and a half he had known the girl. Especially after he had really gotten to know just how pure and good natured she was. While no stranger to sarcasm and a sharp wit, Kagome would never contemplate seriously harming someone else, whether emotionally or physically. It just wasn't in her. His staff whistled through the air as he brought it down, allowing it to smash into the floor.

While he had had misgivings about going to Wallace and suggesting Kagome take over for Hojo, he hadn't allowed it to interfere with the mission he had been entrusted with nearly two years ago. A mission he had been told he was trained to carry out specifically. A mission to find, protect, and guide the one his masters had foreseen as the light of humanity. He clutched his staff in his right as he swung it out, delivering a side strike, before spinning it behind his back and bringing it up in another strike to his left.

He could admit, throughout all of his training, he had thought the old bastards were clearly out of their minds. As an orphan depending on their charity, however, he swallowed back his doubts and smiled and nodded like a good boy. Told that he was being trained in secret and wasn't allowed to tell anyone had nurtured the natural inclination for deceit he had been born with and into, stymying the need to feel guilt or a sense of responsibility for the outcome of his missions. Stretching his right leg out, he spun the staff down, crouching as the momentum from his weapon brought him around and back up into an upward strike.

So, why then, did he feel so…guilty?! It wasn't like he had picked her himself! It was just another mission. Well, the mission. The only reason he could come up with immediately was that he had gotten too close. He had formed an attachment to his mission, to Kagome. In a sense of panic and self-preservation, he had decided right then to distance himself, hoping to save his emotional state from further damage. After all, he was supposed to be objective in all of this mess. His staff came down at the floor, harder than before, smacking the ground with a harsh crack and sending a vibration through his arms and into his chest.

Distancing himself from her had only made the guilt worse. Seeing her hurt and confused expression had made him clench his teeth to mute the feelings twisting in his gut. This had sparked panic as he realized it was already too late. Here, in this room, swinging his staff around in a flurry of motion, he admitted that he had formed an attachment to Kagome Higurashi. He genuinely loved the girl. How could he not? Rolling his shoulders back and twirling the staff in front of him as he straightened from his lunge, he focused his eyes on the wall in front of him.

Kagome Higurashi was the little sister he had never had, and seeing her in pain, knowing it was only going to get worse in the future, hurt. Everything in him rebelled at the thought that this was what was to be for the good of humanity. At the cost of one human life. Kagome's life. Narrowing his eyes and angrily flicking the staff into a side strike, Miroku snorted. Like hell.

Feeling he had gotten the majority of his thoughts in a row, Miroku turned back to the weapons wall, catching movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Twenty minutes is up. We're closing."

Apparently, Leslie was still feeling miffed as she made her announcement and then flounced out of the room. Miroku lifted a brow and shook his head, placing the staff back in place and watching as it disappeared into the wall. The automated voice thanking him and wishing him a good night as he walked from the small space and towards the locker rooms.

Regardless of what was to come in the future, he'd do his damnedest to make sure the both of them made it out of it alive. The memory of an irritated voice had him smiling and amending that declaration. The three of them would come out of this alive. After all, a future without his lovely Sango wasn't a future he wanted.

Kagome sat down heavily on her bed, drying her freshly washed hair with her towel. It was just past midnight and her momentous training with Taisho had concluded a little over an hour ago. Though not much else had been accomplished after she had agreed to remain as a battle-link, Kitakawa-sensei had ironed out a rather insane training schedule.

Well, insane for Taisho, anyway. Her part in the training would come later and a bit sporadically, depending on how he did in his own trials. She mentally thanked her lucky stars that she had had an interest in linking in school, and shown a proficiency towards it. Thanks to her early training, a lot of her end of the job was already done. She was especially thankful for that training session with the ex-assassin. Though, Kitakawa-sensei had said that her abilities advancement was due, in large part, to her curious and exploratory nature.

Now back in her room, the days' events over, Kagome felt a wave of exhaustion hit her. Throwing the towel across the room, she laid back on her bed, pausing when she felt her body land atop her small screen. Seeing it reminded her of the schedule she would have and the timetable her plant had been given in the chambers.

Muttering a soft curse, Kagome quickly typed a message to Micah, asking her if she could take on overseeing her baby. The instant response to the affirmative had her raising an eyebrow. She hadn't realized the older woman would be awake, let alone responding to messages sent to her work inbox. Shrugging it off, she went to put her screen down, her thumb accidentally brushing over her contact list and dialing a line.

Sitting up swiftly and letting out another curse, Kagome went to end the accidental call, but froze when the sleepy gaze of Sango Taijya, Miroku's partner, filled her screen. Both girls froze, staring into the others face, before Sango's eyes widened and the screen was suddenly filled with fast moving imagery as she sat up in bed.

"Kagome-chan?" Sango's voice was slightly husky, denoting that she had, indeed, been asleep. "Wha- why are you calling at…" She paused, the screen righted itself and Kagome was again looking into Sango's baffled face. "…in the middle of the night?!"

"Ah, sorry, Sango-san. I just got in and accidentally called you." Kagome laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head in an unconscious gesture. "Go back to bed. I can-"

"No! It's ok! I…uh, wanted to talk to you too! I was hoping you would call!"

It was now Kagome's turn to look slightly baffled as she gazed into the flustered face of the other girl. "Oh. Alright. Um…right now?" She questioned hesitantly.

"If you're not doing anything else, that is." Sango winced and tried to get herself together. She needed to calm down or the psychic was going to think she was crazy. "I mean, I really wanted to ask you something." She looked into curious blue eyes.

"Do you know what's wrong with Miroku?"

xXx

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