In the days that followed, they fell into a surreal rhythm.

He hunted; she cooked. Kagome learned to clean a kill, gagging and retching as she did. Sesshoumaru waited patiently until her delicacy passed before assigning a grislier task to chase the weakness out of her.

She only vomited on him again once.

Together, they took down wayward youkai seeking the jewel; they debated how to best be rid of the damned thing.

Everything became strangely normal.

They avoided discussing their loss.

And when the sun went down, she curled into his side, unconcerned with the dynamics of their past.