(Don't hate me, but this chapter is a short one.) As always, thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews! Sometimes I've had just downright awful days and all it takes is a review from you all to cheer me up.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.

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Chapter 36 – Reacquainted

'Where is she?' It had been a good hour since he had returned to the camp with his kill, and the miko had still not returned. What was worse, he couldn't sense her aura. He figured she had cloaked it during her hunt, but to have been gone so long without so much a flicker was… unnerving.

He had been debating whether or not to go after her when he felt it. She had reached out to him and was attempting to pull him closer. Under normal circumstances he would've been annoyed at her trying to control him. But now, he only worried at what trouble the miko had gotten herself into this time. His only consolation was her aura, it did not feel panicked or afraid, only tense.

When he arrived at her location, he found that she had reason to be. She was on the ground straddling and pressing an arrow against the throat of a very familiar boy.

"Kohaku."

Two sets of eyes flickered to view him, and for the time being, he was only interested in one of them. Chestnut orbs looked up at him with fear.

"Hai Sesshomaru-sama?"

He was about to question the young taijiya when the miko interrupted, much to his annoyance.

"Wait just a minute! You two know each other? Since when?"

"Miko." He made his warning clear in his tone. His interrogation would go much quicker if she remained silent.

"Oh, um, sorry. Please continue."

"You have regained control?"

"No, not exactly. Kagome pulled me out somehow." Sesshomaru swiveled his gaze to the miko, and when she met his gaze, he stared expectantly.

Understanding he wanted her to explain, she cleared her throat and answered his unspoken question. "I steadily purified the shard while speaking with him. The combination of both "pulled him out" as he put it."

"Hn." For the time being, he did not consider Kohaku a threat. "You may release him, miko. I will watch him."

When she did not comply immediately, he met her gaze once more. He hoped she would not fight him on his judgement. She instead remained uncharacteristically silent, simply looking at him as if searching for something in his eyes. He did not know what she was looking for, but she must have found it. She gave him a nod before removing the arrow and standing up.

Then she held her hand above the young taijiya, offering her assistance. When Kohaku placed his hand in hers, Sesshomaru was surprised to see her quickly pull him up straight into an embrace.

"It's good to see you again, Kohaku." She whispered into his ear. Sesshomaru turned, strangely not wanting to watch their exchange. 'Are they involved? She acts so familiar with him.' He mentally shook himself, cutting off that particular train of thought. 'Why should I care about the miko's choice in potential suitors?'

"Come." He ordered before walking back towards the campsite. The sun had begun to peek over the horizon, and the last thing he needed was the inutachi panicking about the miko's absence.