They didn't buy it for a moment.

Kagome felt their eyes narrow on her, and then on the silver band about her throat. "Um…heh…"

Sango debated with herself for a moment, before turning towards Miroku. His violet eyes locked with hers and the two held a brief, silent conversation, before the monk moved forward and blocked Inuyasha's way as the two females disappeared into the trees.

Inuyasha grunted, before he gave in and dropped to the ground. He panted for breath as he lay on his back, staring up through the leaves at the stars.

His voice was oddly contemplative as he began talking.

"I couldn't smell him."

Miroku eyed him, before crossing his legs and sitting beside the hanyou. "Not even a hint?"

Their animosity from before was momentarily placed aside as they pondered the significance of Inuyasha's statement.

"Usually, when he's near, I can get at least a faint trace. The bastard's always been good at masking his nasty scent. But this time…there wasn't anything. It was almost like that creepy little girl of Naraku's."

Miroku was thankful that Inuyasha was so worn out, giving him the opportunity to hold a civil conversation with the normally foulmouthed male. Getting him to talk about the Taiyoukai was usually like pulling teeth from a wounded dragon, and just as hazardous to one's well being. And for him to admit that he'd allowed his half-brother to 'sneak-up' on them was nothing short of astounding.

Never let it be said that Miroku wasn't an opportunist. If Inuyasha was too distracted to mouth off, who was he to complain?

It didn't change anything, after all, merely made the use of force unnecessary.

And it gave Sango more time to question Kagome.

Because the Taiyoukai had been oddly polite to the girl, speaking in a non-threatening tone and even nodding to her as he'd left.

Did Sesshomaru, perhaps, know the male that Kagome had been associating with? And if so, was that being of sucha social stature that even the normally taciturn youkai would respect him?

That was another thing. Until tonight, he'd always been of the opinion that the two brothers were almost evenly matched in the area of swordplay.

It was now glaringly obvious that he had been mistaken. He could only feel grateful that he had not learned this fact to his own detriment. He could well imagine the outcome if the elder brother decided to bring all his power to bear on himself.

For all his strength and determination, he would be no match.

Fortunately, he seemed far more intent on 'playing' with his brother.

The whole incident had an oddly surreal quality to it. And for a moment, Miroku could have sworn that the elder was simply toying with Inuyasha in the way that some predators do…before they eat said toy.

It was a characteristic, however, that was absent in a canine's nature. Though he doubted Inuyasha had noticed, having spent so much of his time alone and ignorant of the usual behaviors. Oh, not that Inuyasha was stupid, far from it, but who was to say where the hanyou believed the line between his inu nature ended and his human nature began? He was willing to bet another quarter inch's growth of his kazaana that the hanyou, himself was quite unaware of where that line rode.

Just as he was unaware that he must have been the Taiyoukai's plaything for many years now.

Inuyasha may have been improving, but he was certain that Sesshomaru was also improving. Improving on just how much he could taunt the younger male before the other realized he was being made sport of.

He found himself hiding a smirk as he imagined witnessing Inuyasha's revelation. It should make for a rather entertaining sight.

He heard a strange sound from beside him and realized that Inuyasha had dozed off.

He snorted quietly, before he got to his feet with soundless grace and followed the two girls.

He supposed he should feel like a traitor for turning on Inuyasha. He had been telling the truth…he had seen the other male as a brother.

But if pressed to choose between the inu hanyou and the miko…he'd pick Kagome in a heartbeat.

He owed her more than he could ever describe…

He owed her Sango.

It had been about a year ago that he'd finally crossed a line and almost driven the young woman away for good.

He'd been up to his usual tricks…asking strange women to bear his children and groping them. And maybe now he could admit to himself that he'd continued the nasty habit after he'd met Sango so as to draw her attention. He'd figured that even her anger was better than her apathy.

He had just left the side of yet another young woman when Kagome had stormed up to him and jerked him away with her, a rather nasty scowl on her pretty face.

He'd attempted to ask her why she was so incensed, only to have her slap a small hand over his mouth. "Silence!"

He'd been so surprised that he'd obeyed.

"I want you to see the results of your lechery, monk!" she'd growled at him then.

He'd followed behind the petite Fury for a time until she yanked him to a stop. And showed him something that almost broke his heart.

There was Sango…and she wasn't alone.

A handsome young man sat with her under the shade of a canopy in the middle of the town square. The smile on her face was blinding as she laughed at something he said.

Miroku also saw how the other man was very careful to keep his hands to himself, even though he could see them clench at the effort to do so.

He'd wanted desperately to storm over and demand that Sango explain why she'd betrayed him the way she had…when he was once again silenced and dragged away.

"You brought this on yourself, Miroku."

He could hear the sadness in her voice. And when she had pulled him to the outskirts of town, his emotions hadfinally reached the breaking point and he broke down. Silently, but the tears were very real.

Kagome had sat, pulling him with her as she held him. He couldn't even remember the last time a female had simply held him without either of them instigating anything more.

"She loves you Miroku. But you break her heart a little bit more every day. You hurt now? Imagine feeling like this every time a male walks past her. Imagine wondering every time if this is the day you will lose her to someone who she does not even care about, wondering if you mean that little…"

He'd never felt so ashamed.

Kagome had held him as he finally realized what he'd allowed himself to become. Little more than a male whore…And he would never forget her lesson. Something that she had also learned, waiting every day for Inuyasha to leave her for a long dead woman who could not have cared less about his heart.

It took him a few months, but he managed to convince Sango to trust him. He stopped touching other women…stopped with the teasing requests to have his children. And while sometimes his mouth might get away from him, or he'd ogle another girl, Sango was content.

She became his first true lover. Because he loved her deeply, just as she loved him. Something he'd never had.

He owed everything to Kagome. For the reason that, if she hadn't forced him to look upon Sango's happiness with another, he may have never managed to see how he was at fault. He would have convinced himself that he was better off without her…and never known what he was missing. Kagome had never mentioned it again, preferring to let him go about his reconciliation with the huntress in his own way.

He also took into account all the times that she had saved his life by placing her own on the line. When totaled up, he found the score woefully short.

And he found himself comfortable with that…because his life was owed to someone who would never call it into account.

So if Kagome had found someone who could make her happy, he would do everything in his power to make sure she kept him.

After Sango had finally reached a point that she felt was far enough to thwart even Inuyasha's keen hearing, she turned towards Kagome and crossed her arms.

Kagome fidgeted under that intense gaze, absently fingering the hem of her sleeve.

When her actions failed to prompt the reaction she desired, Sango cleared her throat, watching in amusement as Kagome jumped.

"What?"

Sango felt a 'Girly Squeal' coming on, but held off. "Your new piece of jewelry. I assume that if Sesshomaru-sama mentioned it, then it must have some kind of importance?"

Kagome reached up to touch the piece, a smile covering her face. "It's a courting gift."

Aforementioned 'Girly Squeal' broke free and Sango wrapped her arms around Kagome while jumping up and down in excited little leaps. Kagome laughed, marveling at the girl whose hard life should have made such displays impossible.

It was another reason she admired Sango…her ability to take on life and keep her head high, despite the knocks.

"He asked?!"

Kagome nodded, grinning wildly.

Sango's victory dance, full of flamboyant bouncing, pulled an answering laugh from the male just emerging from the trees.

"And what are you celebrating, my dears?"

Sango went still with a gasp as Miroku joined them. Embarrassment over something that she had intended only to be seen by her 'sister' gave her face a rosy flush.

Miroku chuckled, leaning over to press his lips to her heated cheek.

"um….well…"

Her promise to Kagome kept her silent, for Sango had never been a good liar.

Kagome watched him with a considering look, before she came to a decision.

"It's not something that I wish Inuyasha to know at this time."

"Ah…." The monk nodded in understanding. "And am I to take it that it has something to do with your male?"

Her blue eyes were careful. She nodded.

Miroku chuckled, before settling on the ground. "On my word, nothing will be said to Inuyasha. Now…tell me all!"

"Miroku, you gossip queen!" Kagome laughed as she sat down with him.

He playfully batted his lashes at her and Sango joined in, holding her sides.

Kagome finally managed to pull herself together. "It's a courting gift."

The monk's eyes widened in surprise, before understanding dawned. "So…Inuyasha has sensed that the other male's attentions are beyond friendship, I am guessing."

Kagome sighed, nodding. "I don't think he has any idea that it has gotten that far…I think he's still under the impression that no one would truly want me."

The words, while bitter, lacked self-pity and Miroku hid his own. He knew she wouldn't want it.

"Tell me something about this youkai. What is he like?"

The small smile that crossed her face comforted him.

"He's very...playful."

"Oh?" Miroku's brow lifted in teasing question.

"Yes, 'oh'."

Miroku's smile was anticipatory as she confirmed his suspicions with a half-hearted glare. "Go on."

Sango giggled at her friend's expression. So Kagome's male was on the more wicked side, was he?

"He's nice to me."

And that statement alone endeared the male to Kagome's companions.

"He talks to me and asks me about my family. Both of them." They smiled at her as she mentioned their place in her world.

"He likes to make me laugh. He also has an unfortunate ability to make me blush. And he's convinced that Inuyasha is a waste of space."

"Sounds like someone that I'd get along famously with," Sango stated with a narrow-eyed smile.

"I don't think you're wrong," Kagome answered.

"And you've accepted his suit?" Miroku asked.

"That's why he gave this to me." Her fingers lifted to touch the glowing centerpiece. "He made it for me."

Sango studied it, before slowly lifting her fingers. "May I?"

Kagome moved her hand and Sango reached out, gently running her fingertips over the piece. The smooth silver felt like satin against her touch. But when she came to the stone, she gasped. "It's warm!"

Kagome nodded enthusiastically. "I was almost sure it was alive when he gave it to me."

"I can see why," Sango answered, pressing her fingers to the 'pulse' of the stone.

Miroku fidgeted as he watched, also wanting to touch the piece for some reason he couldn't name.

Kagome saw his expression and grinned, before leaning forward. The monk reached out and set his fingers against the stone. "What is this?"

"He called it amber. If I remember correctly, it's petrified tree sap that is mined from the Baltic Sea."

At their looks of confusion, she clarified. "It's a part of the Atlantic Ocean, in northern Europe."

Sango remembered the maps Kagome had shown them of other countries and bodies of water while nodding.

Miroku closed his eyes as he attempted to 'see' if there was any power to the 'tree sap'. But it only felt soothing to the touch.

"You said he made this?"

"Yes. He said it was common where he's from. You remember when I explained wedding and engagement rings to you?"

"Ah. I understand. And as youkai mark their mates, this would then be like the first ring."

"Actually…now that I think about it, wedding rings were a custom among the humans where he's from."

"Do you mind me asking what manner of youkai he is?"

To tell the truth…Kagome wasn't altogether sure. A few weeks ago, she would have said Inu without pause. But she remembered him saying that his father had…gotten rid of…his younger sister for failing to carry proper inu traits.

Was he then something else all together?

"Too bad we can't ask Inuyasha," Sango murmured, correctly interpreting Kagome's silence.

Miroku winced. "That would be like fuel on the fire, my dear."

Sango scowled at the ground. "I know."

"It wouldn't work anyway," Kagome sighed. "He can alter his scent."

Two pairs of eyes blinked at her in shock. "He can WHAT??!!"

"You've never heard of that?"

She'd figured that it was only her own ignorance.

"Kagome, are you certain?" Sango asked hesitantly.

"He said he was. I have no reason not to believe him. Besides…he's not prone to lying."

That struck a chord, but neither could figure out why.

"Kagome…" Sango's voice was hesitant. "Is he a shape shifter?"

Kagome gaped at her. "Yes! Is that common?"

"Not really. Only among certain breeds. And none of those are canine."

"That might explain part of Inuyasha's agitation," Miroku said contemplatively.

Sesshomaru wasn't an Inu.

The thought echoed wildly around her brain.

Oh, she knew it was Sesshomaru, as he'd known some information that only he and their small pack had access to. But-

Oh, boy…

They watched the girl's eyes shoot wide at the new information, and silently wondered. Had she thought he was a canine?

It should have given them a place to start guessing. But it didn't. Because the only canine youkai they had regular contact with was Inuyasha, whom they knew Kagome was not happy with, and Koga, whom the girl only saw as a friend, despite his ardent declarations of love.

Then there was Sesshomaru. Who was a human hating, hanyou despising warlord.

They refused to even consider Ginta and Hakkaku.

Sango's brows drew together and she shared a look with the monk, before they turned back to the priestess.

"Dare I assume that you need us to stall the hanyou again tomorrow tonight?" Miroku asked with a grin.

Kagome's look was sheepish as she nodded.

"He doesn't usually mind if I ask him. In fact he seems pleased when I manage to guess correctly about some bit of his past or nature."

Which she realized was yet another distinctly non-canine trait. For…what dog was mysterious?

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