Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Previously: Kagome wants to be stronger and asks for help from Sango. But Sesshomaru decides to help in his own little ways…

Chapter 14: Of Fish and Tangles

"That's correct, Kagome-chan, very well done," Sango smiled as she assessed Kagome's movements. The group had stopped traveling mid-day for a lunch break and Sango was taking full advantage of the time. She immediately set to teaching Kagome her form of fighting.

She had taught her how to stretch and warm-up as well as walk correctly in this form of combat and several of the main stances. Now she was watching as she practiced the correct way to punch, critically eyeing how she was moving.

"Now, when you strike, come up with the punch, placing more of your weight on the front foot. Good." She tweaked her stance a little, and turned her fist a smidgeon before nodding in approval.

"You've done very well for your first day. Now, shall I show you a front-snap kick?"

Kagome smiled as she slumped down beside Sesshomaru, a roasted, speared fish in her hand.

"I think I'm going to enjoy this," she grinned as she took a large bite, referring to being taught by Sango.

He watched the group almost lazily, acknowledging her presence with a simple nod of the head.

"You may not agree with that statement later."

"Probably not. But for now I'm having fun."

He chuckled minutely, discreetly sniffing the air. Of course, she noticed.

"Hey, I don't think I've ever really seen you eat. I mean, at the Shiro you always ate in your study…You do eat, don't you?" He glanced at her sideways, a look that could only be describe as 'Duh!' gracing his porcelain features.

"Hn. But it is not required for a taiyoukai such as myself to nourish oneself often. Even then, I do not prefer ningen style of nourishment."

"Really? So you don't want any fish?"

"I would rather you saved what food you can for the journey. There are many ningen mouths to feed in this pack."

"I suppose," she agreed slowly. She looked down at the delicious fish before holding it out to him. "Are you sure you don't want any? Even a bite? I'm really not that hungry right now anyways."

He glanced at it momentarily before looking once more towards the others.

"This one is fine, Miko, my thanks."

"Are you sure?"

"Hn."

"It's really good."

"I'm sure."

"It is."

He growled in response.

"Not even a little bit?" She was practically poking him in the face with it, by which time he was growing irritated. "Sessho-"

He snapped at the fish, taking a large chunk out of it, the rest of the meager fish now dangling pitifully by the stick. He couldn't help grinning at her wide eyes as he chewed delicately.

"I said a bite," she murmured as she glanced at the poor fish's remains.

"When this one bites, miko, he bites."

By the end of that first night, Kagome was worn out. And she still had to set out the pelts! She trudged over to the saddlebags, digging out the first of many. It didn't feel too heavy, but then she was sure by the end the last one would feel like a hundred pounds. She flopped it down where Sesshomaru dictated, eyeing him somewhat grumpily. Of course, she couldn't bring herself to be angry with him. It was for her own good, anyways.

"Would you like some help with those, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, watching Kagome begin to pull out another one.

"The Miko does this alone," called the taiyoukai from his spot against a tree.

Sango nodded solemnly after a moment of thought, patting Kagome on the back in sympathy before going about setting up her own bedding. Miroku smirked at her as she went by, nodding over to Kagome.

"I believe Sesshomaru-sama has decided to help you in training our dear Kagome. And I have a feeling he is going to be quite deliberate in everything she does now."

"I believe you are right, Houshi."

Kagome cringed as she lifted out perhaps the fourth or fifth pelt, feeling a nerve pinch in her hip. Oh, how lovely.

She trudged slowly over to the rest, wishing they weren't so far from one another. Did he pick a spot so far from the saddle bag deliberately? She was beginning to wonder. As she dropped the pelt beside the rest, Sesshomaru watched her. Making a decision after watching her limp a little back over to the bags, he went after her, taking the last few himself and throwing them over his arm. She glanced at him wearily.

"Now what? Was I doing it wrong?" Her shoulders were hunched in exhaustion.

He brought them to the pile, as she trudged along beside him.

"Hardly. This one has simply come to the conclusion that you have done enough for today Miko. You may rest now."

"Oh thank goodness!" she immediately collapsed into the furs, not even bothering to change into her pajamas.

He shook his head, listening in amazement as she almost immediately fell asleep.

"Rin," he called softly. "Bring the miko's bedding."

When she did, giggling into her hand the whole way, they put the miko to bed, even taking off her shoes for her. Shippo, a little hesitant, came to the edge of the furs, wringing his little hands in anxiety.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" He turned, just noticing the little kit.

"Hn."

"May I sleep beside my- beside Kagome-chan?" He was kind of hopping back and forth on his little feet in anticipation.

Sesshomaru took a moment before answering. "Hn. I believe the Miko would approve." Shippo smiled widely then, jumping into the mass of furs, burrowing under Kagome's blanket to cuddle up to her side.

He watched as she turned in her sleep to wrap her arms around the kit as if she'd done it a million times before. Hn. He began to wonder at their relationship. The Miko had never directly told him what their relationship was, but from what he'd observed it seemed much like he and Rin. The kit obviously wasn't her own. He sniffed, noting their completely different scents. But where had she obtained the little one? He would be sure to mention it soon, perhaps during one of their next runs?

"Come along Miko, you are slowing."

She groaned a little to herself as she quickened her pace. She was getting a stitch in her side and it pulled in an annoying sort of way. She didn't think she was that out of shape! But still, she did sort of enjoy the runs, especially since they were with Sesshomaru. Not in that sort of way, of course, but because it felt exhilarating! To think, she was running with a youkai! And a taiyoukai at that! His swiftness of foot and grace in form inspired her. She wanted to run like that. He made it look so effortless, so lovely, almost like a dance. His expression remained always stoic as he glided over fallen branches and roots, his silver hair flying behind him like a banner. Oh! To be so elegant!

She burst forward with renewed fervor, determined not to stumble on another twig. As he ran ahead of her she watched him, memorizing his movements and his distribution of weight. Or at least she tried to. It was difficult with how easy he made it look.

"Come along," he called as he veered to the left.

"Sango I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, can we please go over it again?" She frowned down at her stance, frustrated with herself.

"I believe we've gone over it enough for one day, Kagome-chan," laughed Sango. "Perhaps tomorrow, after it has all settled, you will understand it better."

"But Sango-chan-"

"Kagome-sama," interrupted Miroku. "I believe Sango-chan is merely trying to give you a break. You both have been working diligently and could perhaps use a moment of relaxation."

She glanced over at Sango who was now sitting on a log by the little fire that Jaken had lit. She did look a little tired. Kagome sighed, her shoulders drooping.

"Oh alright."

She trudged over to her pack, pulling out her hair brush. She sat in front of it, pulling out the hair band she had her hair up in and began to run the brush through it, silently enjoying the feeling. The natural bristles of the brush were gentle and soothing, smoothing her hair softly. And it reminded her of her mother, and of how she would sit behind her, brushing her hair and quietly talking to her about her day. It almost always made her sleepy.

She hummed as she brushed, looking about the camp, smiling at how they went about; some relaxing, others busy. She watched as Rin and Shippo bounded about, Rin brandishing flowers at the kit. Jaken, who was struggling with a large pot of water, was practically covered in blooms, some of their petals falling into the pot. She smiled as she wondered momentarily how dinner would taste. Her eyes crept timidly over to their taiyoukai, peeking up from under her bangs. She didn't want anyone thinking that she was staring at him. Of course.

He was sitting beside Ah Un, frowning at a lock of hair that was slung over his shoulder. He didn't seem to be frowning for any particular reason but it made her wonder. And it made her feel slightly bold. She stood, a little quickly perhaps, and pranced over to him. She plopped down next to him, a large grin on her face. He glanced at her silently, a question in the arch of his brow.

"Sesshomaru-sama? I was wondering," she fiddled with her brush a little timidly before looking back up at him from beneath her lashes. "Would you like me to brush your hair?"

Sesshomaru sat beside the dragon, slightly irritated. One thought and one thought alone was running through his head, driving him mad. It was something of the smallest detail, something minute, and yet it rankled him. He would not be able to deal with the problem till nightfall, as always, yet he wished to deal with it now. To have such an imperfection present on his person angered him. He held quite a lot of pride in his person, his appearance included, and to have anything anything-but-perfect was not agreeable. Blasted thing. May it be damned.

He could sense the miko coming towards him and glanced up to see her practically pounce at the ground beside him. Her scent was spiked a little in tangy anticipation and nervousness. He noticed she fiddled with a brush in her hand and his brow rose, noticing for the first time how she was looking up at him timidly, her azure blue eyes sparkling from behind her thick lashes. His curiosity rose as his beast seemed to pace in its cage. What in the world was going on in the miko's head? She'd never looked at him like that before, and he had yet to decide if it was agreeable to him.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Her voice was quiet and sweet. "I was wondering," she began. She fiddled with the brush some more before giving him 'that look' again. "Would you like me to brush your hair?"

His mind went blank. Had the miko really just…?

"It's just, it's so long and I can't imagine how you keep it so pristine, especially since you only have one hand and-" Her eyes widened and she closed her mouth, her babbling stopping quite immediately. He stared at her blankly while he thought. It was true, he did have a bit of a rough time with it, more so since he lost his arm to his half-brother. But should he allow such a thing? It was common in packs to groom one another, especially in closer packs, but he doubted that she was aware of such things. But then, being such as it is, she was simply being her kind and caring self to offer such a thing. She could not know how very much he missed such actions. He sighed.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything I just thought-"

He raised his hand to silence her, his eyes closed in slight dread to what he hoped would not be a bad decision.

"You may."

She couldn't believe she'd just said that! And it wasn't even the first time she'd said it! She would be incredibly surprised if he didn't grow to hate her for constantly pointing out his lack of a limb.

She watched in growing dread as his expression remained blank. She'd never seen it completely blank before. Was he going to decapitate her for requesting such a thing? She didn't think he would, after all they were pack! But her paranoia was setting in and all thoughts of how much he'd done for her seemed to have escaped her attention. Her mind began to race. What could she possibly say?

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out. "I shouldn't have said anything I just thought-"

He cut her off, raising his hand for a moment, his eyes closed. Oh dear- what had she been thinking?

And then he said something that she thought she'd imagined.

"You may."

She sat gaping for a moment, her mind emptying.

"Miko." she shook her head, clearing it.

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

He glanced at her with a very particular look which said, 'I do not repeat myself'.

"Oh! Of course!" she crawled behind him, her face beet red, her hands shaking a little as she pulled all of his hair behind him, including the lock that he'd been glaring at moments before. She timidly began to brush it, starting gently at the ends like her mama had taught her.

He sat, his back straight as she pulled all of his hair behind him and began to brush it. As she began to brush higher he couldn't help but relax. The feeling sent soft tingles across his scalp, reminiscent of when he was a child, many decades ago.

His mother had not been one of maternal instincts and yet this had been one liberty that she had allowed herself. Each and every night she would come into his rooms and sit him down before her, her strong but gentle hands smoothing out his locks before she would pull the lacquer comb from her obi. He kept it still, now that she was gone, wrapped and hidden away in the sleeve of his haori. Each night, when all were asleep, he would gently pull it from its hiding place and run it through his hair, careful of the aging teeth of the comb. It brought back such a bittersweet nostalgia. And though her scent was long gone the sight of it brought it back to him. The scent of his mother.

The miko continued to brush his hair for him, untangling any knots she found, and all the while humming a sweet and lulling tune. She soon enough reached the top of his head and began to run her brush down the length of it, her movements soft and fluid.

His beast rumbled contentedly, and he couldn't help but agree, his own eyes half-lidded. He had truly missed such pack behaviors. Such comforts. Some part of him, in the back of his mind, hated the weakness he was showing, and yet the baser side of him, the instinctual half, ignored it as such. It did not acknowledge it as weakness. After all, she was pack. He could allow such actions on these grounds and not be considered weak. If anything, it showed a strength to be groomed by a powerful miko such as she. And willingly. Though he now wondered, if he demanded such actions in the future would she comply?

A/N: There you go guys! A little sweetness for you to savor! ^_^ I hope you all liked it! And just as a side note, someone sent me a note linking to a Sess/Kag fanart, and if any of you find cute pics feel free to share! :D I do enjoy them! I draw myself but I haven't gotten around to any pics of them lately because I've been so busy! GAW! So anyways, enjoy! I'll hopefully update soon! But most likely not until after Anime Detour! XD My group's all cosplaying as vocaloids! And I'm excited!