Taya watched the young inu sit quietly amidst his young companions, quietly. She hadn't had the chance to study the pup. She wondered who he was. Inu femles were very protective of their young, so either his mother was dead or maybe, she narrowed her eyes, he couldn't be Seshoumaru's child, could he?

It was not entirely impossible, however, Seshoumaru was not yet mated, so fathering a child was impossible. So whose pup was he and what was he doing here? Seshoumaru was not the type to take in a random child, but then again. Her eyes shifted towards Rin. The human child had become his ward and f he could take in a human child, what was to prevent him from taking in an inu pup?

It was a known fact that inuyoukai males felt threatened against any pup which they had not sired. Then why was Seshoumaru allowing this one to follow him?

Those golden eyes lifted from the branch they had been studying and focused on her. The coldness and hostility that was aimed at her made her take a step back, startled. He didn't remove his gaze and it burned brighter by the second forcing her to break eye contact.

Her heart was pounding, beating rapidly against her ribcage. What on earth was that? The lethal coldness in that gaze had been an exact replica of Seshoumaru's. Was this Seshoumaru's child?

Shippou noticed the by-play between Maru and the youkai. He frowned and tugged at Maru's arm. When he had the inuyoukai's attention, he asked, "What was that?"

"What?"

"What you just did." Shippou hissed. "You engaged in a dominance challenge with her."

Maru looked away as Rin looked up too, curious. He refused to answer and Rin smiled, approvingly.

The fox kit looked at his friend, "Why are you smiling?"

Rin attached the stem of the flower into the opening of the other and shrugged, "She doesn't like Kagome. And I don't like anyone who doesn't like Kagome."

Shippou looked over the female youkai, and whispered to Rin, "How do you know that?" He crossed his arms over his chest, "Lord Seshoumaru didn't like Kagome too." With an afterthought, "In the beginning."

It was Maru who answered, "Her scent betrays her. Her scent becomes like Kagome's when she is around my future self. And when she is around Kagome her scent changes. It becomes more like...Father's." The last word was spoken quietly.

Before Shippou could ask what he meant, Rin got up and tried to tuck the crown on his head, all the while informing him, "Lord Seshoumaru never hated Kagome. We always followed Kagome and he even saved her a few times."

"B-But he tried to kill her!"

Rin shook her head, stubbornly, "He tried to kill Inuyasha, not Kagome. And he always did that after his brother would return from meeting Lady Kikyo. He gets angry whenever Kagome is hurt or she cries. Like very angry."

"And now he's courting her." Maru made a face like he'd swallowed something distasteful.

Rin looked at Maru, "But I thought you were scent marking her."

Maru blushed, "Who told you that?"

Shippou puffed his chest, "I did. Rin and I don't have secrets."

His companion nodded her head, gravely, "Secrets are bad. Friends don't have secrets among them."

Maru made a face, "But why did you tell her about me scent marking Kagome! Now she'll tell my future self."

"Nu-uh! I don't tattle."

The inuyoukai looked at her doubtfully, "You won't?"

His human friend held out her small finger in a curve, "Pinky promise."

Maru looked confused, "What do I do with that? What does that mean?"

"It's an oath," Shippou informed him gravely, "You can't break a pinky promise. Ever." He added, ominously."Kagome told me."

"Here." He grasped Rin's finger with his own and shook it twice. "That's how you do it."

Maru nodded, absorbing the knowledge, "It makes sense. Can I do it now?"

As the three children made their pacts, a little further away, Seshoumaru followed a very smug Kagome, bemused. The smirk on her lips made him not a little concerned. He had never seen this side of the miko. He narrowed his eyes.

"Miko."

"Yes?" She paused and turned to look at him.

He studied her in silence and she tilted her head to the side, curiously.

"You are planning something."

Kagome took a second too long to respond and confirmed his suspicions.

"You will tell this Seshoumaru."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, "No, I won't. And it has got nothing to do with you, so mind your own business."

With that she turned on her heel and marched off in the direction of the camp or what she hoped was the direction of the camp.

Seshoumaru watched her stalk off and raised a brow. His little miko did not yet understand what it was to enter a courtship with a youkai of his stature.

He started following her.

He would have to remind her.

Her business was his business.

He enjoyed the sway in her hips and wondered at the benefits of an angry miko. She did look very attractive with her cheeks flushed. He could feel her annoyance prickling his skin. As he felt it fade away and give place to smug satisfaction, once again.

He had never once heard of such a phenomena where the bonding of a mated pair was so strong that emotions of one could be felt by another. His curiosity burned him.

Kagome entered the clearing where they had stopped for a rest and her eyes fell on three small heads huddled together, whispering. It felt like a burden had been removed from her shoulders when she realized that Maru had become exceedingly comfortable with Shippou and Rin.

Her little charge found it difficult to believe that someone would actually desire his company or friendship. She didn't know why this was so, but it hurt her and a part of her did not want to send him back to that lonely existence.

She was lost in her thoughts when he looked up and those golden eyes met hers and a wild joy shone in them. He quickly got up and she walked towards him. Shippou looked at the source of Maru's distraction and grinned at her.

Kagome slid a hand over Maru's shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her hips and held on. Kagome looked at the crown of flowers on his head and grinned, "Did you thank Rin for her gift, Maru?"

"Yes."

Kagome glanced at Shippou and teased him, "You look very pretty too, Shippou."

Shippou blushed and snatched off the crown from his own head, "I'm a male. Males are not pretty."

Rin's lip wobbled as Maru followed suit.

Seeing that Rin might very possibly burst into tears, Shippou hastily put his back on. Maru copied his actions.

Kagome wanted to laugh. However, feeling a gaze boring into her back, she looked over her shoulder to find the exotic looking youkai glaring at her with thinly veiled hatred.

Now, by nature, Kagome was not a vindictive person. However, the immense satisfaction she felt, she conveyed with a sweet but triumphant smile. A part of her that she had not been aware existed, bathed in the fury that was pouring from Taya's eyes.

Seshoumaru stepped out just at that moment and his eyes chilled as he caught the animosity in the air towards Kagome. He eyed her deliciously rumpled state and watched as Taya clenched her fist, from the corner of his eye.

She wouldn't.

The miko would never have.

He paused and his beast purred in amusement.

His miko had marked her territory and was flaunting his scent!

He wondered if she realized what she was doing.

His eyes narrowed as they fell on the small form attached to her hip.

The pup was scent marking her. Again!

He was well aware that he was courting the miko. And yet, he did not cease his actions. His eyes flashed red and he was not aware of the growl emitting from his chest.

Eight pairs of eyes looked in his direction. Kagome's brow travelled high up in her forehead and the second she spotted where his gaze was directed, she scowled, and pulled Maru closer, protectively, an instinctive barrier forming around her and the children.

'Bitch'

The purring inside his head startled him enough that he could think past the rage. Blinking, he looked at the fury on Kagome's face as she looked upon him and wondered if he had botched up his courtship before it had even begun.

AN: Next chapter, Seshoumaru gets a time out, Taya tries her best to get in his pants, but Kagome is having none of that hoe. Naraku makes an appearance and Kikyo muscles her way into the group...literally. Or does she? Or will it separate the group? Or will they work together. Will they? Will they? Seriously, I don't know. I haven't thought up to that point.