Due to the comments from my other reviewers I have placed a short notice in the first chapter of this story warning all future readers that this is a firm Sesshomaru and Kagome fic.

I don't own Inuyasha

Theme 35: Hold My hand

Inuko stood in the cave where she had sealed Sesshomaru's body with Inuyasha's soul. She regularly came down here, to talk to the immobile Hanyou. Thought she knew his mind was asleep, sealed away with a spell that froze time within him, she felt that since a fragment of his soul had somehow remained in his body, there may be a chance a part of him was still awake here.

If that was so, she felt it necessary to make this arrangement a little worth his while, so she entertained him regularly with tales of his older half-brother being regularly 'sat' by his human friend. From what she knew of him, she had a feeling he would find that amusing.

Truthfully, she liked her grandson. Yes, he was course, but he had a good heart and that was so rare these days. She was proud of his accomplishments and how he had turned out despite all he had suffered.

But she also knew his rougher points; perhaps this arrangement would finally allow Inuyasha the clarity he needed to make his final decision.

Inuko truly felt guilt over what she was having the younger Hanyou endure; Sesshomaru's issues should not be his burdens. But this was the only way. And look, she how much progress he was making. He was almost ready.

She placed a clawed hand on top the bodies head "Soon Inuyasha, I will release you and then, whatever happens next will be you own choice. Soon Pup"

X-X-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-XX

Sesshomaru was not waiting for her. Nor was he keeping watch over the fox kits play a few field away. He was simply resting in the same vicinity of the well and had excellent hearing enough to hear the Kits rambunctious cries.

No, he was not…suddenly he stood as a familiar scent seemed to resonate from the well.

From this point onwards, he found himself unsure what to do, a position he rarely found himself. Half of him wanted to go to the well, be there when she climbed out. The other half wanted out.

Sesshomaru had…admitted his strange attachment to the Miko Kagome, and it was that attachment he found so perplexing. It hadn't yet been forgotten that the one he found himself so infatuated by was still a human; weak, pathetic, useless. He still felt caring for a human was a weakness, one that cast his father to death. Even so, his human heart saw no difference in their species when it saw her. And while his opinion of her as winy, temperamental and foolish had not changed; now he found himself uncaring of her faults. He was also aware of her good points.

This was becoming too perplexing for his capabilities. He wanted to return to his body, where things made science, where he was in complete control of his beast, where he could take all these 'feelings' and lock them away so far in his primal instinct that he wouldn't even remember her name.

"Inuyasha?" he turned at a name not his, she saw him and smiled brilliantly "There you are! Were you waiting for me?"

She always asked this, and he always denied it. But they both knew the truth, so today he answered "Yes"

He had to admit, it was immensely satisfying to see her face becoming so red. Perhaps…perhaps this infatuation went both ways?

"Oh..oh" she stuttered "Well…um…ok!" she was quiet, then suddenly she announced "Let's go shard hunting!" and began marching awkwardly and amusingly. Sesshomaru chuckled. She was so childish, but he was beginning to find this quality of her…almost endearing.

Kagome stopped and turned to him "You coming?"

When he didn't answer she rolled her eyes and marched over. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Come on, everyone's probably waiting for me at Kaede…" anything else she said was tuned out as Sesshomaru acknowledged the physical contact of their joined hands.

If he were himself in his own body, he'd tear her arm off. But now…

She glanced up at her chattering on and a look of pure astonishment crossed his face as he clutched her hand a little tighter.

He didn't want to let go?

I love Inuyasha so much, I miss him.