Dinner passes easily, helped by the lack of InuYasha's outbursts as Kagome has not yet sought him out to speak to him. Afterwards, everyone retires to their rooms for the night, after Kagome and I bid the pups goodnight, of course. Once again settling on the bed in loose hakamas, I lay on my back, an arm pillowing my head as I look to the ceiling, waiting for Kagome to join me.

I should make the offer for training tomorrow, so she may reconcile with him sooner. She does not show it, but she is saddened by his absence.

So lost in my thoughts, I do not notice the little miko climb into bed until her fingers brush my jaw to turn my face to hers. "You okay? Where'd you go?" she asks quietly.

"I am fine. I was merely thinking about what should be done in regards to InuYasha. I believe I will speak to him tomorrow about training. I do not wish for you to remain saddened by his absence for longer than is necessary." I reply softly, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm.

Her expression softens as she scoots closer to curl up against my side, prompting my arm to resettle around her. "Thank you. I don't know if it will for sure help, but I appreciate it nonetheless." She sighs softly against my chest and goes quiet after that, but does not fall asleep.

Continuing to think back over the last 24 hours and what I had heard, I remember what she had said about the jewel changing her. "Kotori, why do you believe the Shikon has altered you? In what way?" I almost whisper the question, not wanting to disturb the peace that had settled around us.

"Hm, eavesdropping were we?" she smirks against me, before shifting to prop her chin on my chest in order to look at me, her expression changing to a thoughtful one. "I don't have any proof, because it hasn't been nearly long enough for that. But I've had a weird feeling about it for a while. And then today, Fumiko mentioned that my reiki seemed strange. More like youki. Now, I don't know if it's something that happened when wished the jewel away or if was a byproduct of having it for so long, maybe even starting at birth. No way to know, and if we do end up mating, I won't get to test the anti aging aspect cuz I'll have your youki meddling there." At this, a wry smile emerges.

I gather my little miko and shift her to settle a bit higher against my side in order to lean down to kiss her gently. "Interesting theory. Did Fumiko elaborate on how your reiki was "weird"? I inquire, nuzzling her temple.

"Just that it seems to behave like youki, but that it's definitely reiki. She's never seen anything like it. She did suggest maybe learning some tricks from you, though. Ooh, or maybe your mom, I bet she'd love that." Her smile is infectious, forcing one of my own to appear. It is especially impossible to repress the smile when I remember what my mother told me last night.

"I believe she would indeed enjoy that. Just..." I pause momentarily, "be mindful not to over exert yourself, little one."

"Mm, I'll ask her tomorrow, and see if she can sit in with Fumiko and I. I don't want to lose even more time to training than I already am. Barely got any time this afternoon to hang out with everyone before dinner." She yawns gently, then buries her face against my shoulder. "G'night Sess." she mumbles.

"Good night, my little bird." I whisper, kissing the top of her head gently, closing my eyes to rest while bathing in her scent and aura.

4/13/21 A/n: Shikon background! And fluff. There's lots of fluff.