Rahh! So here's the next chapter to all of you who pleaded so desperately.

As for your questions, Lady of the Heavens, you'll just have to be patient, like the rest of us. I can't just spoil everything, now can I?

Today's Disclaimer is brought to you by letter G… G as in Greek, and boy is it a weird one. I think it looks nifty though.

Disclaimer: εγώ κάνω όχι δικός Inuyasha.

Meditation

Five long hours of walking had come to pass, and the sun was beginning to droop over the horizon. Groaning, a very jaded Kagome trudged along beside the western Lord, finding it somewhat tricky to keep up with his long strides.

The aristocratic inu in question had not spoken a word since they had landed, making the excursion a pretty dreary one for her. His serene amber eyes had not wavered even once, glued forward as they trekked on.

Kagome scoffed at him. He was too focused at times, it creeped her out. She shook her head, raven locks bobbing to and fro. How much had he missed out on due to his strict self control? Had he even had a regular childhood, or had he always been this way? She doubted he would tell her if she asked.

Coming to a smooth halt, Sesshomaru lifted his chin a little higher, scenting the area to attempt to decipher the odd scent that permeated the air.

Watching the delicate flare of his nostrils, Kagome came to a stop beside him and asked, "What is it?"

For a long moment he did not respond, and she supposed he was in one of his silent moods again. Sighing in defeat, she was about to keep going when he spoke.

"We will rest here. There is an unusual aroma lingering ahead. Though I sense no threat from it, I believe it would be best if we faced it in the morning."

Not one to argue with taking a rest, Kagome plopped herself down in a small patch of grass, fingers digging into the earth and tearing up the soil. Clumps of grass and dirt were pushed away until a bare, circular space, about twenty-five inches in diameter, was left.

Wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, oblivious to the fact that she now had a smudge of dirt on her face, Kagome leaned back to watch the western Lord. When he gave her a quizzical look, she explained sardonically, "It's a fire pit. Not all of us can survive through the night in freezing cold temperatures."

"Humans," he muttered sullenly.

Rising, she tossed her bag to the side and exited their little camp, intent on finding stones and firewood.

Sesshomaru watched her leave, mentally chuckling as he remembered how silly she looked with that big spot of dirt on her cheek. 'Perhaps I should tell her,' he mused, 'then again, she looks somewhat endearing like that.' Not long after, she returned with an armful of stones, and proceeded to place them around the circle of grassless soil. Once she had finished that act, she returned to the forest.

Breaking off branch after dead branch from trees, Kagome stacked her wood in a small heap. She too could sense the odd energy in the air. It felt strange, like nothing she had ever encountered before. As Sesshomaru had stated, it didn't seem dangerous, but then again, she was never quick to assume such things.

Deciding she had enough wood to last for a few hours, she headed back to camp, looking forward to a nice meal. All she had to do now was catch the food.

Dropping her pile of sticks and branches onto the ground, she stacked some in a suitable fashion in the pit. She then knelt and retrieved two stones, which she began to clack together over a mound of dead grass she had gathered. Once a spark ignited a small flame on the dry vegetation, she swiftly placed it under the lumber she had arranged along with some more grass to kindle the fire. Soon, a blazing flame roared up and flooded their little clearing with light and heat.

Standing, she barely had time to turn when a large something was dropped at her feet. Eyeing the boar, then Sesshomaru, she blinked a few times before thanking him and bending down to gather the beast's hind legs into her hand. Dragging the animal to a tree, she sat and withdrew one of her daggers, using it to first skin the creature. Once that was finished, she cut the meat from the boar and sliced it into strips. Using the cooking rack she had packed, Kagome set about placing the meat over the fire, keeping a close eye on them.

The remainder of the boar she had little to do with. She needed no more weapons, and had no use for the pelt. It smelled horrific and was torn beyond repair. Some of the organs she stowed away for herbal remedies, grimacing as their stink permeated her nostrils. Wrapping the innards in strips of cloth, so they did not stink up the rest of her belongings, she turned her focus back on the browning meat.

Sesshomaru stood motionless at the base of a tree and observed the onna as she set about cooking her meal. She still had dirt on her face, and he came to the decision that he would tell her. "Kagome," he beckoned.

Hearing her name, she tipped her head to the side to find Sesshomaru staring at her. When he motioned her forward, she scurried over to where he was resting and asked, "Yes, what is it?"

Lifting a hand, he wiped away the dirt on her cheek with his thumb, smiling crookedly as she caught on and blushed. The woman certainly did blush a lot.

"Thanks," Kagome stammered, mortified that she had been prancing around with a dirty face. She must have looked so stupid.

Smelling something burning, she went wide eyed and cursed aloud, rushing back to the fire to save her supper. Pulling the well done strips from the rack, she sighed as the eyed the burnt meat. 'Well, it might not taste the best, but at least its food.'

Chuckling a little at the hopeless girl, the young Lord lowered himself to the ground and leaned against the tree. For one of her age, many might have thought her an idiot at times. Yet such was the innocence of the girl. He knew her to be no simpleton; she was simply clumsy at times, as well as slightly scatterbrained. When it came down to it, she could be serious as well as extremely clever, but when she had nothing to worry about, she was still somewhat of a child.

As he continued his musing, he did not notice her come to sit beside him, nor did he notice her offer him a piece of meat. Only when the crisp scent of boar came to his nostrils did he realize his personal space had been trespassed upon. Looking down at the hand offering him the food, he shifted his gaze to the miko's.

Her eyes, they were so different from any others he had encountered. So different every time he gazed into them. Child like innocence and generosity shone back at him, as well as a selfless, whole hearted kindness he had never known. She never did do anything because she believed it would benefit herself. She did what was right, no matter the effect it had on her. She truly was a gem.

Arm beginning to feel heavy, she asked timidly, "Are you going to take it?"

Staring back at the meat, he grunted and turned away from it.

"Oh," she began dumbly, "I forgot you don't eat cooked meat. There are still some raw strips left if you want to-"

"I do not require sustenance," he informed her.

Shrugging, she popped another piece of meat into her mouth and chewed. Swallowing, she commented offhandedly, "Your call."

Scoffing, he inquired in a rhetorical manner, "Don't you ever get tired of being so childish?"

Closing one eye in consideration, Kagome answered, "Nope." Yawning, she stretched upward and groaned when he back cracked. "I am tired though. Think I'll go to bed." Studying the young noble, she asked around another yawn, "Are you going to stay up all night?"

Nodding, he replied, "I shall. You should meditate before you sleep, miko, it will help you hone your newly acquired skills and become more powerful."

Waving him off, she retorted, "Yeah I suppose I should, though I don't really care for becoming more powerful."

The shock he felt was, for once, displayed on his face at her quiet and surprising admittance. She did not want more power? What manner of creature was she? As long as he had existed, human and demon alike strove to be the most powerful. "You do not want power?"

"Not really," she confessed, "I'm happy with myself. People say I'm the most powerful miko in history, whether their telling the truth or not I don't know, but I like the way I am." When she caught sight of his disbelieving look, she explained, "I know you've grown up in a time where power is the most coveted thing to all of mankind, but I'm not a power freak. I don't want to rule the world or have my own kingdom. I'm satisfied with just being plain old priestess Kagome. I mean, what would be the point of me having all of that power?"

Humming to himself in deliberation, he stated dryly, "I suppose. However, do you not agree that you should master your own abilities? What good would it do you to go into battle with Naraku and fight sloppily because you have not yet grasped your own limits? With all of this new room for potential, your strengths will not always be limited as thus. I thoroughly suggest that you do not take this opportunity for granted."

Seeing the reason in his statement, Kagome gave in and whined, "Alright, I'll go meditate. But I'm not doing this for myself, you got that? This is so I can help other people!"

He sighed internally. He had not insinuated a thing. She certainly was defensive. 'What an intriguing onna,' he pondered amusedly.

Hunkering down into the 'Buddha on Lotus' position, Kagome cleared her mind of thought and began her centering, as she had once done while staying in the monastery. This would give her a thorough layout of just how much room she had to advance. Perhaps over these next few days Sesshomaru would help her train on their spare time. It was worth asking.

The look of concentration on her face didn't suit her. He was used to a carefree smile and a look of complete and utter blitheness in her eyes. It was so unusual, seeing her serious like this, in a time where no danger existed.

However, it gave him yet another opportunity to examine the smooth lines of her face, and the slim build of her body. Her positioning was perfect in the pose, her aura centered nicely. He could see it pulsing and thrumming along with her heartbeat, its color a cool lavender. Her long, full lashes batted lightly against the porcelain skin of her cheeks, plump lips poised in a straight line. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders and down her back like a veil of charcoal, shimmering with deep blue highlights. She looked like a painting, or a sculpture, pieced together to create perfection.

Cracking an eye open, Kagome stuck out her tongue and groused goodheartedly, "It's hard to meditate when you're watching me."

Sniffing, Sesshomaru countered, "If you were good at it, it would not matter that you had an audience."

Arms unfolding from their pose, she crossed them firmly and exclaimed, "Are you saying I'm not good at meditating?"

"Yes. Your concentration is not centered hard enough. Now, cease this childish tirade and continue your training, young priestess. You will never be able to hone yourself if you cannot be strict with your mind and body."

Kagome sighed and got back into position. He was right about one thing. She wouldn't be able to excel if she couldn't stay focused. It seemed her time away from the monastery had made her soft. She needed to train hard, as she had before. Grueling hours of physical and mental labor had taught her to be controlled… where had it all gone?

Steeling herself, she blocked out everything, yet left her senses opened enough to danger, should it approach. She needed to remember that this was no game. This was serious, and the entire fate of the planet was in her hands. It was time to lay her childish antics to rest for the time being.

It was well past midnight when he noticed her stir, only a slight twitch, but a movement all the same. He had been watching her the entirety of the four hours she had been meditating. He was impressed. Not only had he never seen a human show so much determination toward disciplining the mind, he had never guessed her to sit so long. She was an active and fidgety girl, he had learned, one who had a hard time staying still.

It was then she decided to open her eyes, focused cerulean orbs coming to rest on the dwindling fire before her. She had had enough meditation for the day. Standing slowly, so as not to dizzy herself, she stretched.

Crawling over to her bag, she tugged out her sleeping yukata and stumbled over to a tree. Ducking behind it, she changed quickly and then proceeded to make her bed. Rolling it out sloppily she slipped into the meager bedding. Tucking her arm under her head, she muttered, "Goodnight, Sesshomaru."

His eyes never left her as she curled up in the too-small-sleeping bag, her breathe coming out in even, soft pants. It was surprisingly cold out that night, so he was not surprised when she began to shiver shortly after. Sighing as the chattering of her teeth began to grate on his nerves, he leaned over and took hold of her sleeping roll, pulling it closer and unzipping it.

Rolling over as a cold waft of air seeped into her sleeping bag, Kagome groaned, "What are you doing?"

"Get up," he instructed.

"Oh, but it's too early, and I'm cold," she griped, curling up even more than she had been before.

"Kagome," he ordered sternly, "get up!"

Blowing a raspberry, she crawled out of her roll and groused, "What is it? I don't sense any-"

Her sentence was cut short when a strong grip tugged her down into the lap of the western Lord. Going stiff, she asked warily, "What are you doing?"

"You are cold," he explained, "My body heat will keep you warm."

Deciding not to say anything, despite the intimate position they were in, with her tucked away in the inu youkai's arms, sitting directly on his groin, Kagome allowed him to 'cuddle her', as it were. Though he was indeed helping, the chilly breeze that penetrated the thick foliage made her commence shivering once again.

She shrieked in fright when a warm, fuzzy something twined up her legs and wrapped around her body. Latching onto Sesshomaru's haori, she screeched, "What is that?!"

Eyeing her in an assiduous way, he responded coolly, "It is my pelt."

Frown marring her features, she exclaimed frantically, "But how, your hands are still touching me… I mean, they never moved once! How could you have wound your pelt around me?"

Sighing, he explicated, "This pelt is not only a symbol of my royal heritage and lordship, but it is a crucial aspect to me in other ways. It is an extension of my body, one that can grow and shrink by my will. Though it is not connected to me, it and I are one in the same. It functions as any other limb would. You, yourself have witnessed me use it against Inuyasha on several occasions."

"Oh," she uttered quietly, nodding in understanding.

Brushing a lock of hair from her face, he commanded lightly, "Now sleep. You need rest for tomorrow's journey."

"Will you keep watch?" she asked around a yawn.

Nodding, he assured her, "I will watch over you, Kagome."

Smiling, she stretched up and kissed him on the chin. "Goodnight," she whispered before snuggling into his warm embrace.

Inhaling slowly, he relished in the warmth her kiss had left on his skin. It felt so right to have her tucked away in the safety of his arms, a feeling that he could easily get used to.

Shaking his head glumly, he reminded himself that it simply couldn't be, and that the only way he could ever be with her was for a single night. One, secret night together was all they would ever have. Anything else would place her in harms way and would risk his rule.

His conscious, however, seemed to have no effect on his body. He was glad she was asleep; otherwise he was certain she would have noticed the rather large bulge that was poking her in the rear. Grumbling, he attempted to shift but found that any form of movement seemed to make things worse. A strangled sigh left him as he mused, 'This is going to be a long night.'

Keep it in your pants, you dirty dog! Well, for a little while. Only until the next chapter! Yes that's right, we get our first taste of citrus in the next little entry. I know that there were solo's with Naraku and Sesshomaru and whatnot, but this is the first dash of limey goodness!

I'll let you all stew in that fact for a while… however, you must REVIEW!