A/N. Hi everyone! Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you - I'm back with a new chapter, and right in time for Christmas! Life has been busy and this time of the year is horrible, so this is probably the last you'll hear of me until next year - but I can promise you, I have already some good stuff ready to see the light of day, so keep your fingers crossed! :)

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love your continuous support, I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this little fairytale Thank you so, so much!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone, and happy end of the year! See you in the next decade, people :D xoxoxo

{20}

Friends

Life at the citadel was rarely boring, something that little Kagome was discovering rather quickly the longer she spent there – her days were so busy that she barely had time for sadness, although she never stopped missing and thinking of her family for even a minute. Sesshoumaru simply became better at taking her mind off her homesickness, and she couldn't help but grow fonder and fonder of him as the time passed.

Inu No Kimi had given them permission to sleep together in her son's bedroom, which had become their own. Sesshoumaru-chan called it 'nest', something that never failed to make her giggle, and had done his best to turn it into a space she could comfortably live in and call her own; he let her choose the colors of their bedding, and he had made her write their names next to each other over that in her own, strange language – so that he could pin the scrolls with her awkward experiments in calligraphy against the wall, over their bed.

They could also have their meals in the privacy of the pavilion they used for their lessons with Naoki-sama. Her friend had explained that his mother felt somehow the need to protect her from the other youkai that wandered around the shiro, since being the only human amidst demons could be pretty overwhelming for one so young; luckily, she didn't have to worry, as Sesshoumaru's family had taken her under their wings, and so she spent most of her time with him, his parents and his teacher Naoki.

Of course, it wasn't realistic for the two children to spend every hour of every day joined at the hip. Sesshoumaru's daily schedule was terribly busy from the moment he rose at dawn to when he finally went to sleep in the evening – such was the life of the heir of the great Inu No Taisho – and truthfully, he had very little free time. His parents had allowed him a brief reprieve to help his human ward settle in the routine of the fortress, but now, after a week, the usual commitments needed to start again.

Therefore, it happened that Sesshoumaru was more often than he currently enjoyed occupied with various other teachers besides Naoki-sama – a master of the swords, another one for martial arts, even a foreign teacher from the Continent to whom he had to speak in languages Kagome couldn't understand – and in such times, the human girl was left to her own devices.

(Oji-sama – as the mischievous youkai had insisted to be called, and eventually managed to get away with it – had to explain to both his nephew and Kagome that the little girl would surely get bored if she had to watch him exercise at the dojo during his long trainings, for swordsmanship wasn't amongst the subjects the Inu No Taisho had allowed to be taught to her, as the lessons were far too dangerous for a human. Not to mention that his trainer wouldn't want a female in the middle of their daily practices, anyway.)

That was how Kagome found herself free to occupy her mornings as she liked. There was always a maid or a guard walking a few steps behind her, an assurance her youkai friend had practically pretended of his father for those times when he couldn't be the one personally committed to her safety. They let her meander to her heart's content: but even for the most imaginative of children, running around a garden could hold appeal for only this long; and soon Kagome grew bored, and loneliness started to ruin her fun, and made her annoyed with the two silent shadows following her everywhere.

Thus, at one point she stopped in the middle of a wooden bridge, turned around with a swirl and, with her hands against her hips and a serious frown on her upturned face, she confronted the two perplexed demons.

"If you need to follow me, then I should at least know your names!" She demanded, letting her eyes glide from one to the other. But then she swallowed, immediately embarrassed by her own outburst, and tried again, more quietly. "Oh, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it", she sniffed, twisting her hands together. "It just feels silly walking together without being able to talk to you. I promise – I'm not annoying, I'm good!"

The maid's silver eyes were the first to soften at the human's appeal. "We know that, lady Kagome. You do seem very kind and well-mannered", she admitted with a little bow.

Kagome looked suddenly hopeful, her hands joined in a supplicant gesture in front of her. "Then, will you walk and talk with me? Show me around?"

The two demons exchanged a glance, probably mentally debating the merits of their orders against the biggest blue eyes they had ever seen on a child's face. "Won't you be bored with such old people as company, little human?" Asked the soldier gruffly.

"Of course not!" Kagome hurried to reassure them, taking one step forward. "Jii-san says that adults tell the best stories, and to always listen to what they say because their experience is a lesson for me", she added, repeating almost words for words one of her grandpa's favourite advice.

The demoness hid a smile behind the sleeve of her kimono, while the soldier nodded ceremoniously. "Your grandfather must be very wise", he said, watching her beam proudly. "Very well: you may call me Kusano, little human. And this lady here is Sachiko-san."

"I'm really glad to meet you, Kusano-san and Sachiko-san!" Kagome dutifully bowed to each of them, before surprising them further by grabbing their hands and dragging them down the bridge.

"And where are you taking us, lady Kagome?" Sachiko smiled, noticing fondly that the child did not bat an eye when she took their hands in between her own, despite their inhuman paleness and the dangerous claws.

"Oh!" Kagome stopped again, raising her blushing cheeks to look at her guardians. "I forgot I don't know this place very well. Where do you want to go?"

"I have an idea, little human", Kusano offered, tugging her gently down a stone path. Kagome followed them eagerly, almost vibrating from happiness: Sesshoumaru and his parents did their best to take care of her and lessen her homesickness, but only now, walking in the middle of the two youkais, holding their hands and listening to them as they explained all the passages and the flowers and the nooks of the gardens, she did feel less melancholy – she could imagine she was still at home, enjoying a school-less morning with her mother and her grandfather. Kagome couldn't wait to go back, she wanted to tell her family everything about her adventure, about Sesshoumaru-chan – hopefully they wouldn't forget about her while she was away.

Kusano-san was leading them beyond the gardens, towards the stables: she had never been in that area of the fortress yet, but Kagome could hear the noises of the animals before they were near.

"Have you ever seen a dragon's hatchling, little human?" Kusano-san asked her in a conspiring whisper, smiling as the child gasped in obvious delight, her eyes wide with awe.

"No, never!"

"Well, then", he nodded, guiding her through the sheds. "My son Kenta comes here often to take care of them. He's around your age: I am sure he will explain everything to you better than even I could."

If only Sesshou-chan were here! She thought excitedly. Finally, she would have something thrilling to tell him about her day – her friend constantly worried that she would feel bored and lonely when he was forced to attend to his various engagements and couldn't spend time with her.

She couldn't wait to tell him!

Sesshoumaru was less than pleased when he discovered how Kagome had spent her day away from him. On one hand, he was glad she had found a way not to spend her mornings in solitude – the simple thought of knowing her alone while he was otherwise occupied made him irritable and distracted, and more than once his instructors had reprimanded him – but on the other…

Kagome hadn't stopped talking about Kenta and his friend Taro since the moment they had met again at dinner.

He was far from thrilled, and if Oji-sama's teasing smirk was anything to go by, Sesshoumaru hadn't been able to mask his reaction. Hn – unacceptable.

But during a lull in the conversation – so she did need to breathe, the little prince thought sullenly, aimlessly moving the food around in his bowl – Kagome, who hadn't missed the scowl her friend was trying to hide by avoiding her eyes, drew near and gently bumped her shoulder against him.

"I did miss you though, Sesshou-chan", she admitted easily. "I wish you were there, too."

The young youkai froze, his chopsticks faltering and almost falling off his hand. A soft blush bloomed on his cheeks, darkening his stripes, and suddenly Sesshoumaru wasn't feeling so irritated anymore.

He straightened his back, and quietly put some chosen morsels of meat on her plate.

"Tell me more about the dragons", he offered, feeling slightly chastised but also much more relaxed. Beaming, Kagome went back to her tale; and Sesshoumaru could finally enjoy his dinner, glad that he hadn't yet lost his precious human ward's loyalties to some other arrogant pups.

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Word count: 1559 words.