A/N: Dear Saphireanime, I'm happy you're enjoying the story. I usually name these snippets with whatever comes to my mind first. When Kagome kept saying Inuyasha's name, I wanted it to rile up Sesshomaru. It reminded me of Jan from the Brady Bunch, who was jealous of her sister and cried 'Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!'

After googling it recently, I realized her name, as far as the show is concerned, is spelled 'Marcia' T_T

Oh well! Hope I was helpful!

29—Caretaker

There was one thing that slightly impressed Sesshomaru. She didn't complain about the walking. Even as the sun crawled over their heads and the path filled with upturned roots and jagged rocks, she managed to keep up with his pace.

As the sunlight sleepily slipped into the horizon, he listened to her change in breathing from normal to labored, and then labored to exhausted. When she was practically breathless, he stopped at the nearest small clearing.

"You may rest," he offered.

"Are you sure?" Kagome panted.

Her stomach grumbled loudly.

"Rest," he insisted. "If you behave, I will feed you."