Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or it's characters that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters, those belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Author's Note: This is Part 1 of a two parter, inspired by my friend Taggerung and Tesla!

General P.O.V.

The three sat there in the Dojo sipping tea quietly, just enjoying the relaxing atmosphere while it lasted. The two women were smiling contentedly as they occasionally reminisced about things in the past, while the young, spiky-haired boy just watched almost warily. Something in him told him that something was about to happen, but not if it was good or bad.

A few more minutes stretched on by, slowly, before the sound of a shoji door being opened. Causing all to stop what they were doing as the dark-haired owner of the Dojo stood up, a smile on her face as she sighed. Quickly she smoothed out her training pants and motioned for the other two to stay.

"That should be the person I wrote to you about, Kagome. Let me fetch them and know I appreciate you coming to look at them."

The small smile that danced across pink lips as blue eyes danced merrily up at the woman, as she dipped her head, causing the long, blue-black curly locks to spill over her shoulder. Signaling that the woman should get the new arrival.

As soon as the woman was gone, the boy shifted a bit uncomfortably on his cushion. His dark eyes taking in the side profile of the woman that was left with him, having already noted how she carried herself, even though she was dressed in a plain Kimono. She was of the upper class, for her beauty alone, but add in fact the cultured way she spoke, carried herself made it painfully obvious.

"Yahiko, it is rude to stare at a lady for so long."

The teasing tone of her voice brought a blush to his face as he dropped his gaze. Having been caught staring was shameful. When a soft peal of laughter came from the woman, he lifted his head and looked at her through narrowed eyes. Mouth opening to make a snarky comment when the sound of Kaoru returning, talking in hushed but excited tones, he snapped his mouth shut — seeing the smile that briefly appeared on Kagome's face.

Turning his head away to try and hide another blush that was heating his face again, Yahiko saw Kaoru standing there in the door with Kenshin. The look on the red-haired man's face as he stared at them was comical.

"Oro?"

"Kagome, this is him. I mean, Kenshin."

"Oro?"

"Ah. Hello, Battōsai-san."

At Kagome's greeting, tension-filled the room as a soft gasp came from both Kaoru and Yahiko. As all eyes trained on the blue-eyed woman as she just continued to sip her tea, looking expectantly at the red-haired man.

"It has been a while... Lady Kagome."

"Indeed."

There was no mistaking the fact that there was a conversation going on between them, that the other two were not privy to as Kagome set her now empty teacup down on the floor next to her cushion.

"You know Kenshin, Kagome?"

"Yes, Kaoru, I met him during the war... He was rather thick-headed then and hell-bent on whatever was his goal. But still a good man."

The room lapsed into silence again as Kaoru stepped into the room, pulling Kenshin in behind her, pausing long enough to shut the door to the Dojo.

"No way! Women don't belong on the battlefield."

At the outcry from Yahiko, the three adults turned their gazes on him. They were making him flinch back and mumble an apology for his outburst. But his eyes still shone with his disbelief that someone as delicate looking as Kagome, a Noble Lady, would be on the battlefield.

"Yahiko, she speaks the truth. During the war, I was well aware of the rumors of a fair-skinned woman on the battlefield. One that healed both sides, with not a care of the danger she was in. The Battle Miko."

"Wait, that rumor was true? That was Kagome? Why didn't you ever tell me?"

Kaoru looked horrified and fascinated at the same time as she stared at her long-time friend. Who just seemed to stare back, a small smile on her face as her eyes darkened at memories from that time.

"Yes. And I caught a lot hell for it from my Lord. Though even he has a hard time reigning me in. I hope you are not mad at me, Kaoru."

"Of course not. It is just a shock. Your poor Lord, though."

The soft giggle that came after Kaoru spoke had the tension in the air lightening up as Kagome stood up — smoothing out her Kimono.

"Indeed. And as time is short and precious, I should do as you asked me. Kenshin, you know the drill."

As she spoke, Kagome bent at the waist, grabbing the basket she had brought with her, as a soft groan was heard, from said man. When she straightened up, Kenshin was already kneeling on the ground, his red haori top sliding off — revealing the scarred plains of his chest to those in the room, before laying down on his stomach, head resting on crossed arms — pouting like a small child who didn't want to do something.

"Oh, don't look like that, Ken-chan. At least I don't have you pinned to a tree with arrows this time."

The strangled whine, accompanied by two gasps of shock from the other two in the room, made Kagome laugh as she padded softly over to the ex-samurai. Not a care on her face as she knelt and began to prod at his back, hissing when she felt how much scar tissue had accumulated since the last time she saw him. Not happy one bit at the shiny newer pink scar tissue that criss crossed his back.

"Lady Kagome, I would prefer if we didn't talk about that time."

"Of course, as you wish, Ken-chan."

Kagome P.O.V.

Her blue eyes were hardening as she continued to assess his back, new and old scars before spotting an almost entirely head wound on his shoulder. The scab there would fall off naturally in a day or two. Her small hands pressed along his ribs, checking to see if anything was cracked or fractured, only to find it was okay though she noted quickly that a few of his ribs had not healed correctly.

Standing up, she lifted the hem of her Kimono and placed one barefoot on the prone man's back, before stepping on it completely with the other. Taking a deep breath as she raised her arms out to her side to keep her balance. Then applied pressure to various points along his spine until the muscle underneath relaxes and allowed her feet to slide effortlessly through. Earning a sigh of relief from him.

"What are you doing?"

Turning her head, Kagome looked at the young boy, Yahiko as he stared incredulously at her. Tilting her head to the side, she tapped the foot she was not using to force his muscle to relax, indicating that Kenshin should be the one to answer. She needed to stay focused so she, one, didn't fall, two didn't hurt him, and three find all the knots before applying any of her herbal remedies and Reiki to him.

"It is called Shiatsu and Thai massage Yahiko. By using her body's weight, she is forcing my muscles to relax. Thus allowing her to assess and give the appropriate torture more accurately... O.W.. treatment she needs to do to me."

Kagome felt her eyebrow twitch when he called what she was going to do torture. Making sure to apply a bit more pressure in one spot just above his tailbone (sacrum), earning a pain response before he finished, and she shifted her body. Placing her feet across his spinal column and twisted them in opposite directions, making the spine pop loudly as the disc slipped back into place. Garnering a groan as she felt his body practically melt under her.

After a few more minutes and several more adjustments, Kagome jumped down and knelt next to him. Pulling her basket to her side as she looked at the duo. Kaoru used to her methods, since Kagome had treated her father before his death, knew precisely what she was doing. Yahiko still looked completely skeptical at her, but there was a small glimmer of curiosity in the boy's dark eyes.

"Well, at least there are no open wounds to stitch this time. Though I can tell, you have been in a few fights and rather recently. You are a lucky man to have Kaoru care so much she sent me a letter to come to check up on a dear friend."

Kagome didn't miss the faint blush on said girl's face as she suddenly took an interest in the floor at her feet as she pulled a few containers from her basket.

"I am...well aware of that."

"Good. Cause I adore Kaoru, Kenshin. Enough to badger my Lord to accept the invitation to visit the Lord here finally."

"Lady Kagome, did you...ouch."

She subtly pinched him to keep him from asking his question. Her time was borrowed, limited to how long the concoction would keep her 'babysitters' knocked out. Not sure what their tolerances were, so she almost tripled the amount of sleeping aid.

"Ken-chan, how have your lungs been? Have you had any difficulty breathing? Oh, it looks like you have strained the muscle in your right shoulder."

His silence told her what she needed to know as she quit poking and prodding him, reaching for the first of the containers. The pungent smell of mugwort, willow bark, and Eucalyptus filled the air. Scooping a liberal amount onto her fingers, Kagome began to spread it across his back, taking her time to again poke and prod the scar tissue in an attempt to break it down. Though already, she was letting her Reiki seep slowly from her fingertips into his skin.

She was being careful not to overdo it, for lack of not wanting to deal with the exhaustion that came from it. It pained her much that Kenshin was so young, his life nothing but war and survival. Even here in the city, living with the sweet, though fiery, Kaoru couldn't keep him from getting sliced to pieces.

"Kagome, how bad is it?"

"Not terribly. The muscles are just excessively tight, and well, the scarring is not helping at all. I will leave you some ointment to put on Ken-chan. He needs to stretch more often, or there is a good chance at a critical moment, his muscles will cramp and spasm, putting his life in danger, as well as anyone around him."

Lifting her head up to look at Kaoru, she saw the worry and pain flicker in the depths of her eyes. Saddening her much, but it had to be said. The poor dear just couldn't catch a break, her heart given to a man who trouble seemed to follow. While young Yahiko looked sickened at the thought of it, he too, she could tell, had been a part of that trouble.

"I am done with your back, roll over, please."

Sitting back as he rolled over, she clucked her tongue at him, eyes covered by her bangs. The look Kenshin shot her as she started palpating his stomach was as close to murderous as he could get given the situation. He was doing his best not to tense up as her finger did their job, while inadvertently tickling him, forcing Kagome to not laugh at his discomfort.

"I do not think Kenshin likes what you are doing, Lady Kagome. He is tensing up."

Stopping and lifting her head, she looked at Yahiko, who was glaring at her hard. She could see his aura flicking around him, telling her that he didn't trust her and was on guard due to that. Sliding her gaze to Kaoru, who was looking up at the ceiling while pressing her lips into a thin line, shoulder shaking with her contained mirth. Kagome just shook her head and went back to doing her job.

"Yahiko, she is doing her job. It... ah...is okay...oh.."

Dragging her fingers up while Kenshin was speaking, Kagome delighted in him having to catch himself from laughing. Her hands were pausing once she reached his rib cage. There, her touch became lighter as she felt with her Reiki that a few were fractured to the point of being broken. Letting her Reiki heal the fractures, she noticed that he took a deep breath and became still.

"Well, it looks like he might live another week Kaoru. Otherwise, he is as healthy as a horse."

The relieved sigh from her friend made Kagome smile, as she picked up a different jar of ointment. This one smelled of cherry blossoms and peppermint. Standing up, she walked over to Kaoru and offered her the small pot. Getting a surprised look from the woman before she took it from Kagomes hands.

"Is this?"

"Yeah, it is your ointment. Don't want you to smell all stinky when your muscles are sore after a good practice session. The one I used on Ken-chan will be for him and the young man here. Besides, this visit is free of charge."

Turning, Kagome saw that Kenshin was sitting up seiza style and tying his Haori back into place. He looked a lot younger now that he was relaxed. Lifting an eyebrow when he looked up at her, he smiled softly in thanks. It was all she needed from him. Though immortal, living with a Lord 'that' was not human, Kagome still knew the man after all these centuries had barely changed.

Kneeling, Kagome started to straighten up her basket. It had been about three hours since she had 'snuck' out so when she heard the Shoji door slam open, before loud heavy footfalls on the wooden floor as they came towards the Dojo. Looking at Kaoru, who had her face pinched, Kagome wondered who this could be.

When the door to the Dojo was slammed open, Kagome couldn't help herself, and a cross look on her face as she glanced over her shoulder to see a tall man with spiky hair that was held from his face with a red band. His narrow face was flushed, eyes wide, and slightly frantic.

"Kaoru, you have two of the Shinsengumi Elites here. Saying they are looking for a petite, fair-skinned girl with blue eye..."

He trailed off when Kagome stood up, basket in hand, and met his gaze with her disinterested one. Enjoying the fact that his eyes started to bug out of his face at the sight of her, just as he was roughly pulled from the doorway to reveal two of the Shinsengumi. One wearing a deceptively sweet smile, while his dark eyes were boring into her was Sōji Okita. The other was frowning with his cold mask was Toshizō Hijikata, who was practically radiating an aura that would only help to continue enforcing his moniker, The demon of the Shinsengumi.

"Oro? Kagome, why is the Shinsengumi looking for you?"

With a soft sigh, she tilted her head to the side, debating on how to answer that question before she giggled darkly. A saccharine smile curving her lips as she wiggled her nose, making Kenshin, the tall man flinches back from her.

"Oh, I may or may not have put a sleeping aide in their tea so I could get away from my babysitters. Because they refused to let me come to see my friend Kaoru."

The peal of laughter from Kaoru behind her as Kenshin blanched, a strangled gasp from Yahiko, and groaned from the tall man. Her eyes still meeting the two Shinsengumi, who were now both looking exceedingly displeased at her roundabout admission to what they had suspected after waking up.

"Well, it was a pleasure to see you again, Kaoru. Maybe next time you will come to visit me at My Lord's Castle for a few days. The hot springs are top-notch, you know. It was nice to see you again, Kenshin, take care of her, or I will personally come back for you."

With those parting words, Kagome waved her empty hand at the two police officers as she walked calmly towards them. Not in the least intimidated by them. She was causing more offense as she slipped between them when they didn't move and made her way towards the front door.

A small chuckle came from a richly dressed man as he lifted his cup to his lips and sipped at it. His companion just leaned back on his cushion, golden eyes staring out the window as a small smirk tilted only one corner of his mouth. Putting a somewhat cynical look to his handsome features.

"Well, I guess I lost that bet. Hijikata looked angry when he came to tell us that he 'lost' his charge. What do you want as your winning this time Sesshomaru-sama?"

"An arrangement of a particular nature would do nicely."

Silence filled the air between the two feudal Lords as they shared a knowing glance at the request.

"That sounds good, who did you have in mind? And would you care to bet to see which pair finds your missing ward first?"

The slight tilt of Sesshomaru's head as he silently indicated his approval of another bet. The knowing look in his eyes as he lifted the cup of tea to his lips, hiding the smile that was threatening to appear on his blank mask. The slight flare he had just felt let him know that Kagome had been found, and by whom do to the nature of it whipping out violently.

"Who finds her first. My guess is it would be Toshizō Hijikata and Sōji Okita."

The look he received for his choice had him blinking his eyes as he lifted an eyebrow to the man.

"That was rather specific. And a quick answer too. Oh well, I will put my guess with Heisuke Tōdō and Hajime Saitō."

"How will we choose which of the two will complete that arrangement you wanted. Shall we leave it up to them to decide between, regardless of the explosive reaction that will be had?"

"hn" was the only answer given as the sounds of the Shinsengumi leaving the barracks to get out and find the missing girl. Said girl, who had somehow managed to slip a rather strong Sleeping Aid into the tea, the police force drank, without getting Ayumu's attention.

Ruminations: A good friend of mine spawned this after a brief talk we had on Discord. So this is for you Tesla, Taggerung and handler-san.

THE END!