Sesshomaru was sitting by the fire, his mate curled in his arms, and sleeping silently. The hanyou was in a tree across the clearing. The red of his robes, that had once belonged to their father, seemed to catch and burn in the last remaining light of the setting sun. The gold of his eyes, that kept slipping his way to the bundle the kami's had seen fit to grant him, shown with emotion in such a way that had him wanting to rear his head, and bare his teeth at the whelp. The little fox kit was doing much of the same, although, he was unabashedly staring in their direction. Worry and guilt stung his nose, and he buried the appendage in the ebony locks below his chin.

Pale lashes slid shut as he inhaled the anxieties that had been pounding at him for days. The bond was driving him mad. The girls emotions were chaotic and unorganized. They flickered from one extreme to the other so swiftly, he often times wondered how the woman-child remained sane, and it was not for lack of emotion of his own. He felt the same things she was overcome with on his own violation. Joy, weariness, contentment, sadness, rage, boredom - he was familiar with it all. It was the extent of the emotions he was unused too. The way her mind shifted from one to the other and how powerfully she felt them, it was a harsh intensity he had not been prepared for. With the added scent and aura from the others in their company, his senses were being battered constantly.

A leg twitched and his ears picked up the sounds of her waking. The blood rushing beneath her veins increased its pace. Her breathing hitched ever so slightly, and Sesshomaru raised his head to peer at her face, causing the silky strands of his hair to fall across his shoulder and land in Kagome's lap.

Dark lashes fluttered against tanned skin before the blue he was becoming familiar with opened dazedly. Sesshomaru was decidedly content to watch her wake. The way her eyes sleepily took in the area around her, the way the blue of her iris's - darkened with sleep - seemed to crystallize as the color lightened, and then exploded into an array of different shades that encompassed all the color's of the sky from dusk until dawn. It was as though the beginning and end of everything lived inside of her eyes. Timeless as the scent that lingered in the depths of her skin.

He watched as her focus zeroed in on him, and he could not help the softening of his own gaze anymore than he could stop the clawed appendage that reached out and grazed her cheek.

"You over exerted your reiki. You will be more careful in the future."

Their morning sessions would see to it. Her whole being was dictated over her inability to control her own power. Should she learn it, the strain would lessen - along with his own concerns.

Kagome's mouth tightened, and he saw and felt the flame he had ignited. His lips parted to douse the inferno he could feel building, however, she beat him to it by raising a hand between them and counting off his transgressions.

"First of all, we've already been over that I have no training. It's not like I meant for that to happen earlier. Secondly, we've already discussed you would help train me. So, obviously I'll be learning to help possibly keep another today from happening. Lastly, even if I did have training, I would have still been upset because everything that was said was upsetting. I can't promise to not be upset. I can't promise to not let my emotions get the better of me. I can't promise to not let that seep into my powers. So if you have a problem with that well you can just -"

She paused on a sharp intake of air, and he felt the slight pain along with the large amount of surprise that flowed down the bond. Gently, he released his hold on her ear, and flicked his tongue across the indentions he had left behind.

Her hand fell between them to land in her lap atop the pile of silver hair that had pooled there. Wide eyes shown with the congruent emotion he was still receiving. Her jaw was slack, mouth parted, and he could just make out the straight white teeth on the other side of her full lips.

"Calm yourself. This One was not reprimanding you, merely stating facts."

He grazed his nose along her cheek as he continued.

"You were correct, Kagome. You cannot always be in control. However, it will be my duty to give you the ability to exercise it over yourself and those around you depending on the circumstance. Thus, preparing you for the next unforeseeable event that may prod such a reaction."

Blood rushed to her face, and he saw the rosy hue bloom and spread from her cheeks down her neck. The urge to follow the trail, to learn and discover how far it went, pulled in the back of his mind before he shoved it away.

Neko's were not the only beings that were caught under the lethal claws of curiosity.

"I'm sorry. I'm not really a cheerful waker, and I have a headache."

She waved a hand nonchalantly between them, and adverted her eyes.

"Just ignore me. I'm kinda cranky I guess."

A noncommittal noise escaped him, and he turned to the kitsune within their company.

"Kit."

A bushy tail bristled as wide green eyes turned to him.

"Retrieve the miko's pack."

Sesshomaru watched as the boy skittered to the yellow monstrosity his mate insisted in carrying about. Little paws gripped the straps, and began lugging it towards them.

"I could have gotten it. You didn't have to have him do it."

Gold, highlighted by the flickering flames, cut to her from the corner of his eye.

"You are weakened. Rest is a necessity until at least sunrise."

Her eyes narrowed at him, and he felt indignation flare.

"I'm fine, Sesshomaru. Yeah, my reiki is drained and I don't feel like running laps around the campfire, but I can walk, ya know?"

A brow rose and disappeared behind silver bangs.

"Halt."

He heard the kit pause, and looked down at his mate fully.

Stubborn wench.

"By all means, miko. Rise and obtain your supplies."

She made a noise that bordered on rude, before looking away.

"Fine. I will then."

Arrogant, rude taiyokai!

Kagome felt the arm that had been wrapped around her waist like a band of steel, relax before it slid, almost sensually, away to release her.

She grumbled incoherently as she leaned forward, and regretted it instantaneously. Her bones, tendons, muscles - anything that aided her in movement - had been reduced to the consistency of jello. What made it worse was the bolt of white, hot lightening that shot from the base of spine and then exploded in an array of color and pain behind her eyes.

A groan slipped between her lips, and her hands rose to rub the ache that was leaving her nearly incapacitated. Her legs shook, and she felt the signs of impending unconsciousness approaching.

Suddenly, she was back in familiar arms, and she buried her face in the space between his neck and shoulder to shield her eyes from the remaining light in the sky. As well as her embarrassment from her foolish display that was showing itself quite clearly if the heat radiating from her face was anything to go by.

Amusement laced with the smallest amounts of concern trickled down the bond.

"Shut up."

"I did not -"

"You were thinking it. I know. You know. Everyone else knows. So hush."

The chest below her rumbled in a way that reminded her of a chuckle. Shuffling sounded somewhere behind her, and then the sound of a zipper being pulled alerted her that Shippo had went ahead and brought her pack to her.

"Miko."

Kagome tilted her head to the side enough to peer with one eye.

"You must drink."

Her gaze darted to the water bottle he had in hand, and she lifted her own to grasp it.

She turned slightly in his lap, and made quick work of the lid and took a few small sips before leaning back against him.

Shippo was kneeling in front of them, and she watched in confusion as he bowed.

"I'm sorry I attacked you and your friend, and tried to take your shards. I shouldn't have, and I have no right to ask for anything. But... can you help me avenge my family? I'm to small and weak, but you guys aren't. I - I won't bother you. I won't try to take things again. I'll leave if you want me too, but please. Please."

He felt his mate's anguish, and not just through the bond. The tightness in her muscles were not just from pain, the hitching of her breath not from overexertion, the conviction in her aura was not from a will to train and do better.

Sesshomaru stifled a sigh, and took in the form of the prone fox kit.

Memories unbidden flashed in his mind before he locked it down. He would do this. If only because it would please his mate. Gold flashed across the trees and back.

And for the simple fact that it would annoy the hanyou immensely.

"Very well."

Red hair swung in an upward arc as the kit - Shippo - lifted his head.

"R-really? I mean - thank you!"

Hope pulsed in Shippo's aura, and Sesshomaru turned his head down to see his mate already gazing up at him, something warm flashing in her eyes that he could not make out.

Slowly, as though she was afraid of startling him, she leaned up, and he fought every instinct that roared for her as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He inclined his head in acknowledgment, and opened his mouth to speak about their new course moving forward. However, he was interrupted for the second time that afternoon.

"Now, hold on just a damn minute!"

Inuyasha leaped from the branches of the tree he had been residing in. Flashes of silver red blurred until he landed before them, gold bled into amber as frustration and aggravation pooled in their depths.

"We're already taking a detour going to the old tree. We ain't got the time to go hunt down some rotten demons just because you want to play hero!"

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome glared in outrage. Her happy mood instantly fading away and replaced with anger.

"Stay out of this, K'gome."

His mate's body tensed in his arms.

"Excuse me?"

"Keh. You went and broke that stupid jewel. A jewel we now have to fix, and is going to take for-freaking-ever on its own! Then, you had to go and be this bastards mate, and of course that couldn't be normal. So, now we have to go see the stupid tree which is already taking time away from the real shit we should be doing, and now - now - you two want to go and fix this runt's problem? Hell no! We got shit to do, woman! Or do you just not care now that you have a full fledged demon in the palm of your hand to just do whatever the hell you say?"

Sesshomaru barely contained the growl that threatened to slip between his lips. From the corner of his eye, he could see the green hues of the fox kit's shinning with tears. The smell of guilt, shame, and fear snaked its way to his nostrils along with that of his mate's own feelings of anger, embarrassment, and - regret?

What did she regret? Him? The bond?

Slitted pupils narrowed on the ill-mannered halfbreed that shared his blood with contempt.

"Silence yourself, Inuyasha. You speak nonsense."

"Do I?" Inuyasha's lip curled in a sneer, and Sesshomaru watched as his ears flickered upon his head.

"You two are wasting time. That damn crow demon turned fucking huge, and its power level rose insanely high. Just imagine what the hell os going out there with multiple pieces of the damn thing being scattered."

"This One could see where the issue would be difficult for yourself. However, it is but an inconvenience for one such as myself. Cease your incessant whining. It will be dealt with in due time."

Inuyasha growled low in his chest, and Sesshomaru did the same, letting the predator that lay beneath his skin flash in warning. Triangular ears tipped back to lay flat against silver hair, a snarl lacing the words that came out of his mouth.

"Kami, fine! But when everything goes fucking south, you're the one who will have to fix it!"

Sesshomaru watched as the half breed turned and dashed into the forest to assumedly run off the frustration he was clearly feeling at the turn of events.

His head tilted down once more to his mate, her unease and nervousness assaulting him.

"Kagome," he nudged the side of her head with his nose. Inhaling her scent in an attempt to cool his own heated emotions.

"Are - if you wish, you can leave, you know? You don't have to stay. We don't know each other. Not really."

Ah.

The hanyou had apparently struck a chord somewhere in her mind. His claws twitched as her solemn feelings trickled to him, and he contemplated how long it would put them behind if he gutted the whelp for causing these unruly emotions to rise in his mate.

"Such a forgetful little miko. Have you forgotten that we cannot be parted?."

Embarrassment rose, and she flexed her fingers around the bottle of water still in her hands.

She had forgotten.

"Yeah, right. But after - if you don't want to stay, if Bokuseno says there's away for us to be parted, you can go if you want. You don't owe me anything, I mean."

Her eyes clenched shut as she tried to ignore the ache that bloomed in her soul at the idea of him leaving. Her mind told her it was unnatural, this attachment she had to him, yet everything else inside of her said it was as it should be. His place was with her just as her's was with him.

Clawed tipped fingers grasped her chin, and turned her face upwards and she opened her eyes to meet molten gold that seemed to be attempting to relay some sort of message she couldn't read.

"Do you wish to be rid of me, mate?"

"No!" She blurted. Her lip slid between her teeth as she chewed on the flesh. She didn't fail to notice the way his eyes darted and darkened on the action before lifting back to her own.

"I just - I don't want you to feel like you have too. Stay with me that is."

"Hn."

His thumb grazed her lip, and she felt her heart rate pick up as he dipped his head, eyes never leaving hers, and flicked his tongue across it.

Kagome couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her, and for a moment she wished he would press his lips to hers. They had been in brief heated moments, and none of them involved him actually kissing her.

Unfortunately, it seemed this time wouldn't be the time either as he pulled away. Gold bore into blue, and she felt the hand that still rested on her back tense before fingers began grazing its expanse. Not sensually, but soothingly.

"Be at peace, mate. I shall remain by your side for the foreseeable future."

A breath she hadn't realized she had been holding released in a whoosh of air, and her whole body relaxed into him. She started to close her eyes before the sound of a small voice had her shooting upright.

"Um... I'm sorry if I made things hard for you guys, but - uh - well, are you still going to -?"

"Hn. Indeed. Rest kit. We will depart in the morning."

She watched as Shippo smiled, before turning to walk back to the fire. Her brows creased in concern and sympathy as she watched the small boy curl up in a ball, and stare into the flickering flames.

"You will rest as well, miko. You are still depleted, and you will need your strength for the confrontation tomorrow."

Her head jerked around, and the pain throbbed once more.

"I suppose, but won't you and Inuyasha be doing the fighting?"

Sesshomaru grunted as he settled against the tree, and situated her with him.

"Indeed. However, it would be ignorant of me to assume I know every variable of what could come to pass tomorrow. Unfortunately, I have yet to come across any with the shards of the jewel which means I have no knowledge of its potential. I do not wish to you to be complaint merely because of my presence. You must be prepared for any eventuality."

Kagome nodded her head.

"That makes sense." She finished on an unbidden yawn that escaped her.

A rubbling purr rolled through the chest she laid against, and she felt her eyes start drooping shut.

"Sleep, mate. I shall rouse you at first light to start your meditation."

She muttered something, probably absolute nonsense, but she closed her eyes and let the darkness pull her under into the deep recesses of sleep.

It was well past dark, the moon high in the sky when the hanyou returned. Sesshomaru tuned his head when he heard bare feet settle close by.

Inuyasha stood, looking down at Kagome, and the possessiveness he felt caused his hand that was placed on her side to tense. The action caused his eyes to turn back to him, and Sesshomaru raised a brow expectantly.

"You're an idiot you know that?"

Surprise he didn't let show on his face rang through him.

"You shouldn't be taking her tomorrow. She's human, you know? It's our job to protect her. Taking her will get her killed."

Sesshomaru scoffed.

"If you believe that, then it is you who is the fool. She will learn and grow from the events of tomorrow. Would you have her remain weak?"

"I'd rather her remain alive, stupid!"

Inuyasha's harsh whisper reached his ears.

"As would I. That is the reason she will train, she will see, and she will grow. Although I do not plan for such an event to occur where I will not be there to assist her, I will not leave her unable to protect herself and defend that which she must if the need arises."

Inuyasha starred at him hesitantly, not quite believing his words. After a moment, he gave up, eyes rolling skyward, and turned to go back to the tree he had claimed for himself.

"Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru watched as an ear flicked back towards his voice, and he leaned back, shutting his eyes as he spoke.

"You will not question This One again in regards to his own mate. She may be blind, but I am not. Turn your concerns inward if you must, for she is mine."

He did not open his eyes, but heard when the hanyou began to step away once more.

"Keh. Whatever you say, bastard."

Sesshomaru's jaw clenched, and he felt his spine tense before he relaxed once more.

Things between them were going to become strained, more so than they already were. He had been smelling the interest aimed at his mate rolling off the hanyou from the first moment they had met in his father tomb. It had abated somewhat while they were in the village, but had been increasing since they had departed. He was not pleased.

His mate shifted, and muttered something about a 'Boyo.'

Amusement rose, and he rumbled a low growl that came from deep in his chest to lull her back to a peaceful sleep. Shortly, she ceased her movements, and was still once more.

His hand rose from her side, and began shifting through her hair, enjoying the sensation of her dark locks flowing between his fingers.

He froze as she began moving once more, but she simply shifted closer, a hand clinching his haori.

A muttered utterance of his name escaped her lips, and he couldn't help the male pride and resounding feel of elation that flooded his veins.

Yes. The miko was his, and his alone. A fact the hanyou would soon learn one way or another.