AN: I haven't really been too clear about this but- this fic will be long buds, and it won't end after the New Moon drama, it'll keep going until Naraku is defeated, so I hope I manage to hold your attention for that long ^^ a lot of...sad things have been happening irl so working on this has been a safe space for me and everyone's comments are like a warm blanket and hot chocolate, so thank you. Unfortunately, updates will slow down for a little while.

Also someone asked me about Dokuga: It's been confirmed that there's an issue with the hosting company, which Wiccan is working on resolving right now. Hopefully the site will be up again soon.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Stirring awake to the sounds of short, harsh breaths echoing through the cave, Kagome groggily opened her eyes. Sesshoumaru sat against the wall further away, head lowered, cheek resting against smooth rock. Long lashes squeezed tightly shut. Pale lips drew back, exposing clenched teeth, air hissing out. Sweat dotted his forehead. He trembled in his sleep.

Kagome swallowed, inching closer. She wasn't certain what was wrong; if it was a nightmare or phantom limb pain. Regardless, she carefully settled near his side and reached up.

His forehead felt damp and heated. She'd never seen him so shaken before. Running gentle fingers through silky bangs, she stroked the crown of his head.

"It's okay," she said in a hushed tone, searching his stressed features for any signs of waking. He shuddered, face drawn, as though suffering silently.

Even in sleep, he tries so hard to repress everything and stay untouchable.

Kagome sighed, setting her jaw. He wouldn't like her touching him without permission, but she wanted to repay him for the amount of comfort she'd been experiencing in his company at night. Sliding both arms around his shoulders, she gently pet the back of his head.

"Come here," she mumbled.

Sesshoumaru tipped forward slowly, unconsciously obeying. His forehead came to rest against her neck, a shock of feverish heat against cool skin. Kagome continued stroking limp silver strands, massaging her fingers against his scalp in soothing circles.

Eventually, his body lulled, becoming still once more. Sesshoumaru fell silent, breaths evening out. Giving a small sigh of relief, Kagome made to pull away- only to feel an arm close tight around her waist.

"Alright… I'll stay- just don't be grumpy in the morning. You're the one using me as a body pillow," Kagome smiled slightly, closing her eyes and staying put for the remainder of the night.

Sesshoumaru acted as though nothing was amiss by the time she roused herself into the waking world once more. With a ripple of curling youki, the length of his silk sleeve elongated, hiding his burns from sight.

Deciding not to bring up their impromptu cuddle session or ask about their weird 'not kiss' on the jaw, Kagome ignored it in favour of eagerly reuniting with a certain girl.

Reaching the tortoise shell, Kagome sank to her knees to scoop up Rin, who immediately burst into tears at the sight of her- and then continued wailing long into their flight. Sitting upon Ah-Un with her, Kagome smiled, handing over the precious comb.

"Keep this safe, yeah?"

Sobbing, Rin nodded and cradled it close. Shifting in the saddle, she gazed up at her with watery eyes as green scenery passed beneath them. Ah-Un soared high above gently swaying tree-tops, following Sesshoumaru in the sky.

"B-but what happened, Kagome?" she sniffed. "You look terrible!"

Kagome huffed as a pleasant, fresh breeze played with their hair, "hey, that's never a good thing to say to a girl. It looks worse than it is- I just fell, is all. The rain made everything slippy, and I tripped over a raised tree root- bashing my face against the tree! I'm so super clumsy," she laughed it off.

Rin wilted, "you wouldn't have been hurt if it weren't for me…"

"Don't say that," laying a hand on her head of wild hair, Kagome gentled. "I would've done it again. My actions were my own. Besides, because of you, I stumbled into some people in need of rescue. They're okay now because Sesshoumaru and I saved them."

This seemed to lift Rin's spirits until she glanced at the red, darkening bruising on Kagome's face that was steadily turning purple. Her injured nose looked painful, raw.

"Rin is- uh… I'm glad they're safe. That's good…" she mumbled, leaning back against Kagome's comforting weight and hugging the miko's arms resting over her shoulders as they gripped the reins together.

Kagome smiled warmly, before looking up. Jaken shot her judgmental gaze over his shoulder from up at the front, clinging to mokomoko. She sent back a weak glare.

She'd never tell a little girl the grim truth of what had really happened.

They touched down at nightfall, having spent the better part of an entire day flying, only resting when needed. Kagome groaned, slipping off the saddle and rubbing her ass. I think it fell asleep two hours ago.

The sight of the Bone Eaters Well sitting conspicuously in a familiar open clearing immediately made her clamp up.

Kaede's village lay not too far away, but she didn't have the energy to explain everything to the kindly old miko just yet. It would be hard enough verbalising everything to Mama.

Making a round of farewells in the form of 'I'll be back soon!' Kagome hugged Rin goodbye and ruffled the dragon's mane. When it came to Jaken, she flashed a small smile, offering her hand out.

"I'll take back my MP3 player now, please."

Jaken sniffed, hugging his robes. "Haven't the faintest idea of what you mean!"

Kagome rolled her good eye. "I'll charge it up for you when I get home so that you can listen to it again, how's that sound?"

Interest piqued, he wrestled it out from his brown clothes, handing it over reluctantly.

This left the Daiyoukai, who had barely spoken a word all day. Sesshoumaru inclined his head, appearing to have been waiting for her. Turning gracefully, he quietly approached the magical well.

Kagome hurried after him, soon joining his side and gazing down into its dark depths.

"You are certain this is where you time travel from?" he arched a brow.

"Expecting something more flashy?"

"Hn, though...I have heard strange stories of this place before. This one assumed them to be an exaggeration."

"You'll see, there's no exaggeration."

Luminous eyes found her in the dimly lit clearing, only faint light reaching them from the moon as it struggled to peer out from behind a heavy cloud. Sesshoumaru's carefully blank features gave nothing away, guarded. Kagome wagered fanciful humans could wax poetic about the force of his enigmatic golden gaze alone, regardless of the apathetic face they belonged to.

"You will return soon," he ordered. "There is little over a week left until the New Moon."

The miko nodded, "I'll be quick," she agreed. Opening her mouth to say more, she glanced at his jaw, remembering the feel of it beneath her lips. Heat touched her cheeks and Kagome forced her attention away. Shouldering her bulky backpack, she climbed up onto the mouth of the well, leaving her spear behind.

Kagome flashed a careful smile over her shoulder at him, trying to regain their former playful rapport. "Try not to miss me too much."

Surprise flitted over his features like the passing shadow of the clouds, soon smoothing out into controlled indifference as moonlight bathed them in the full force of its glow.

"Hn."

Her smile fell. Disheartened but forcing another grin for the sake of their audience, Kagome waved to Rin and the others before leaping off the edge. Free-falling into thick shadow, dark hair lashed up above her head. Rin and Jaken gasped, running over and jumping onto the side of the well, gazing after her in awe.

"Is she gone? I can't see," Rin squinted into its dark depths, hearing nothing from the bottom.

Sesshoumaru stared at the space where he'd witnessed Kagome vanish into thin air. Sharp, ancient magic tickled his nose, stealing away her magnetic scent.

"She is gone."