Hello again, loves!

So I know I posted an update yesterday about why there haven't been any updates on this story. But not long after, I kid you not, inspiration struck, and I began to type away. It was comforting to hear your kind words and soothing to write again. I love this chapter for many reasons and hope you enjoy it after the long wait! :)

SammyJams: Thanks! I love Kenshin too! I wanted a "friend" character for Sesshomaru, and I thought it fun to have someone with a completely different personality than his own, someone like Miroku. Also, I thought it would add a level of laughter to see how Sesshomaru deals with a person like that and tolerates him too. Lol!

Azuraskye21: So delighted that you enjoyed that chapter! :)

ihavetoriblenews: Another Kenshin in the books! It makes me so happy that an OC I created has his own fans, lol! Thank you!

TaxLady0415: Right! Though I love some of the fanfiction out there that has Toga in them (I have a few myself), I still feel sorry for Sesshomaru and his mother for what happened. That is where my story came to light, the realization that both of them struggle with their past. If you thought Inuyasha an idiot in chapter 3, you will hate him in this chapter or think him a bigger idiot.

KyraTekak: Thank you! I think so too! :)

Kayla LoveAnime: Thank you!

Dulce4: I thought it cute and wanted to showcase the depth of their relationship at this point.

Animepotterfan01: Well, I made more changes to what I THOUGHT I was going to write, lol.

Estefania: Thank you! Oh, this is just level one of Sesshomaru's "naughtiness." You are correct in the assumption of his beast, but MUCH will happen for he realizes it or even admits it.

lady sesshomaru sama 949: thank you!

Vampgrl1: Thank you so much! So your wait is over, hehe!

Error-NoSkill: Thanks! I already have that chapter written out, and it is glorious! I just don't know where it falls in the timeline, but not too long :)

NyxyStyx: OMG, thank you!

lara5170: Thank you for reading! :)

ClareBear20: Got more for you!

Four days had passed, and the group had yet to encounter any shard-possessed demons or any demons for that matter. Every village they stopped at either did not have any demon problems, or their demon problems had already been taken care of. Nevertheless, the tension in the group was heavy as they were at their ropes end, just barely hanging on by a thread.

Inuyasha constantly grumbled, not liking to be wrong and the fact that he had followed Kikyo's advice which hadn't panned out. Sango gloated proudly about being right not to trust the Miko, which did not help the matter. Miroku kept trying to steer Sango away from his friend in desperate hopes to keep a fight from breaking out between the two.

Meanwhile, Kagome went about her business eager for the passing days to come. With her head in the clouds, so to speak, about her next meeting with Sesshomaru. She barely made a peep and just went through the motions of the day. But, of course, Miroku and Sango worried that her actions were caused by Inuyasha, which added more strain to the group.

Shippo, of course, knew her behavior was not because of the fool but rather a more lethal person. He still could not get the image of Sesshomaru tucking his mother in so tenderly out of his mind. His mind was consumed with thoughts of his mother and Sesshomaru that he barely messed with Inuyasha.

So, there they were, walking down a dirt road, the sun slowly coming down, hunger making its sound heard, and muscles starting to ache. Kagome looked up at the sun and guessed it to be between 4 and 5 o'clock. She sighed just when the sound of water close by woke up her senses.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome finally spoke.

He turned around to face her, "There isn't any demon, shard, or village for miles. Why don't we start to set up camp nearby then get an early start tomorrow?"

Kagome was trying to use reverse phycology on him; she could see the effect of her words on him working. The "rest now," meant they could hunt more first thing in the morning, was getting to him.

He huffed, "Yeah, sure, whatever. I'll go scout the area just in case of threats." Then he shot off in the direction she felt an unwanted tug from. She rolled her eyes and knew where he was going.

"Seriously, he is going to leave us with the hard work, eat, and then do absolutely nothing afterward." Sango fumed.

"It's okay, Sango. Would you rather he stayed and griped while half-ass-ing his tasks?"

Miroku laughed, "Kagome has a point."

Sango thought for a second, "Yeah, I guess you're right. But he still pisses me off."

"We know!" Miroku, Kagome, and Shippo said in unison. Then all four of them laughed some more, which seemed to relieve some stress for each of them.

The group found a secluded spot not that far from the road but with enough privacy and broke off to do their designated chores. It wasn't long before they all were seated in front of a lite fire, eating ramen.

Kagome sat with a bowl in her lap, looking up at the sky as dusk was starting to make its colors known across the sky. She sighed; she had hoped, just slightly, that them being so close to the western border that they would have run into him. But to her luck, they had not. She did not care if Inuyasha threw a fit or not; she wanted to thank the Lord for returning her home safe and tucking her in. However, it would probably be a blown-out fight with Inuyasha screaming and cussing while Sesshomaru glared at him.

"Kagome, is everything alright?" Sango broke her from her thoughts.

Somewhat shaken, she replied late, "Uh, yeah."

Sango then glared towards Inuyasha as he was finally making his way back to the camp.

"Sango, he didn't do anything. I am alright. I just have a lot on my mind, is all."

Then Sango glared at her, "Yeah, and half of the crappy thoughts you have are because of him."

"Hey! I didn't do anything!" Inuyasha piped in.

"I was not thinking about him. I was thinking about someone else." Kagome got up and proceeded to clean out her dish while the rest of the group stared at her in shock.

"Who the fuck were you thinking about, wench?" Inuyasha jumped up out of his shock.

Kagome turned to face him, "Why is that any of your business whom I think about?"

Inuyasha glared at her, then folded his arms across his chest, "It is too my business."

Kagome placed a hand on her hip, then laughed, "says who? Who are you to me? Husband? Lover? Boyfriend?"

Inuyasha's arms dropped, but he didn't say anything.

"That is what I thought. You hold none of those titles. You are just a friend, so don't overstep above your station, got it."

"Damn," Miroku piped up.

The two stared at each other as the tension kept rising in the small area.

"Kagome, you are mine. Period. End of story." Inuyasha fumed, but his response only fueled her anger.

"How Inuyasha? How am I yours exactly? You have not claimed me; in fact, if I am not mistaken, you have had sex with Kikyo numerous times and seem to be in some sort of relationship with her. So how the fuck do I belong to you, Inuyasha?" she screamed at him.

He pointed at her, "You are Kikyo's reincarnation! Of course, you would belong to me just like she belongs to me! That means I do have the right to know who you are thinking about if it's not me!"

"Ah, shit!" Miroku piped up again while trying to hold Sango in his lap from getting up and straight-up killing the idiot.

They were all preparing for the command to come out of her mouth that would make him hit the ground, but instead, she walked up to him and slapped him across the face.

While everyone stood in utter shock, she turned, grabbed her backpack, and walked off, leaving her friends behind.

The first to come back to his senses was Miroku while he was still holding onto Sango, "Inuyasha, you better keep hidden for a while."

He huffed, "Why the fuck do I?"

"Because if I get my freaking hands on you, I will kill you." Sango barely looked up at him. Her eyes were covered by her bangs, and her breathing labored from trying to control her emotions.

"Now, Inuyasha! Go!" Miroku yelled.

Inuyasha dashed off into the woods, not realizing the depths of what his words meant. And not acknowledging the twisted reality he created for himself because he never faced his true feelings.

"Now, my dear Sango, let us take a deep breathe before I release you."

"Miroku…" she huffed.

"Nope, not letting go until you calm down." He held her tighter.

She tried to worm her way out of his hold but finally gave up; she sighed, "Okay, I am calmed down now."

Miroku studied her before he released her.

"I will just kill him later," she got up and gathered all the dishes to clean them.

Shippo helped. "Is Momma gonna be alright?" He looked off in the distance in which Kagome left.

"I am sure she will be fine. She probably went to go find somewhere to soak and will return later." Miroku tried to soothe the kit.

**In the Western Lord's Estate**

Though he finished his tasks, his estate was up to date, and he even went to some council meetings, which he hated, he was still so busy.

'It's all her fault.' His hand wrapped around small shiny objects, then he proceeded to put them in a punch and in his pocket.

He didn't know why he did it; he just did it without a second thought. He wanted to help her ease some of the tension she held from trying to complete her mission.

Lost in his thoughts. He failed to realize that Kenshin had walked into his office unannounced and now stood in front of him with a stupid grin plastered on his face.

"Got an onna on your mind?" He wiggled his brows up and down.

Sesshomaru just sighed, "Sometimes I wonder why I keep you around..."

Kenshin just shooed at him, "Oh, you love me, and you know it." he then took a seat on top of the desk, "So, what is on the great Lord's mind that he overlooked an intruder?"

"You acknowledge yourself as one? Good not get out intruder."

"Ah, play with words, grump, now answer the question."

Sesshomaru glared at him, "I knew you came in; I just didn't bother to say anything."

Kenshin looked at him questioningly, "Right! And it has nothing to do with whatever is in your pocket that is radiating off a lot of power?" As he pointed to exactly where they were located.

"Hn."

"Or the fact you have been around nearby lands killing demons with unordinary power."

"Hn."

"Hn, okay, Mr. Quiet. Then I won't share some interesting gossip I heard from the guards."

Sesshomaru shrugged his shoulders, "Kenshin, you know I care not of gossip."

"Yeah, I am aware. Just thought that the news of your half-brother's pack close to our border...and...ah what am I saying, you don't care." Kenshin turned around as to walk out but was stopped.

"Kenshin, spill now," Sesshomaru growled.

"But, my Lord, you are above castle gossip."

"Kenshin, do not try my patience right now."

"It is her, isn't it, or at least one of the females in the group?"

Sesshomaru growled again. "Oh, it is!" Kenshin was delighted.

"Kenshin!"

"Okay...okay, calm down doggie. All I know is that they are camped just outside the southwestern border near the big spring."

Sesshomaru stared at his friend, "You stay here."

Kenshin started to pout, "Ah, but why?"

"Kenshin, I mean it; that is an order."

"Party pooper!"

That was all he could yell because Sesshomaru had already dashed out the door at incredible speeds.

**In a hot spring all alone**

Kagome had made her way to a massive hot spring with a waterfall flowing into it. There was light steam around the area created from the cool creek water pouring into the hot spring. Adding a spa-like atmosphere to the area. She undressed, piled her stuff together on the bank, and made her way slowly into the refreshing hot water. She began to move to the edge where rocks occupied the spring and found a place to sit comfortably.

She was alone and desperately trying not to think about what had just happened. But to no luck, his words kept repeating in her mind.

"Pompous asshole!"

"Clingy, selfish bastard!"

"Twisted sicko!"

"Two-face jerk!"

"Agh! Who the hell does he think he is?"

"Reincarnation, my fat ass!"

"I mean, what the flying fuck was that shit?"

"Did I say 'sit' too many times and give him some sort of brain damage?"

"Yep, that has to be it!" She nodded to herself.

"This One did not know you had such a mouth on you, Miko." Sesshomaru stepped into the moonlight with the slightest grin on his face.

"Ah!" Kagome screamed while she fell off the perched rock she was sitting on into the deeper part of the water. Upon returning to the surface, she wiped her hair out of her face, "Sesshomaru, do you make it a habit to sneak up on people when they are undressed?" She said a little too bitterly.

He arched a brow, "this one should have assumed that you were bathing given the spring, but I see that you are again making use of this one's land for your own benefit."

Kagome huffed while letting her shoulder fall in defeat, "Seriously again. I will leave your area as soon as you turn around."

Sesshomaru, stunned by her attitude, finally stopped to assess the situation he just placed himself in. He stared at her then deeply inhaled her scent; anger and fury mixed with pain and hurt rolled off her in crashing, consuming waves.

He opened his eyes again to meet her fiery blue ones. He began to speak softly, "Kagome, I was merely joking about being in the same situation as before. You are more than welcome to bath here if you wish, I would never cast you away. However, if my presence has angered you, I will take my leave."

He paused for her response.

She closed her eyes and sighed, realizing she was taking her emotions out on him and knowing he didn't deserve that, "I am sorry. I am just...I..."

She couldn't finish her sentence for the playback of her heated fight with Inuyasha came forward, and the dark truth of it hit her with full force. Tears began to make their way down her cheeks as her eyes opened in panic, and her breathing became labored as her hand went to her chest in a false sense of ease.

All she could think about was Inuyasha's hurtful words that sliced her open on a deep level. She no longer romantically cared for him, but his confession today meant he always knew how she felt in the past. He knew but always kept her at arm's length ONLY because he believed her existence to come from Kikyo. He never really liked or loved her in that many but continued to toy with her feelings to control her and to claim her as his property. Different emotions flooded her way too quickly to process, sending her into a more profound panic. She looked up at Sesshomaru again, but this time with pleading eyes in hopes he would understand her need for his help.

Sesshomaru picking up on the drastic turn of her emotional and mental state quickly discarded his rope, picked her up out of the water, covered her with his rope, and placed her in his lap as he sat against a nearby tree cradling her.

Once settled, he gently began to rub small circles on her back in an effort to soothe her while holding her tightly.

She grabbed onto his dress shirt and leaned more into his embrace, taking in his scent one slow breath in through her nose then out through her mouth.

Moments later, her labored breathing and tears came to a stop.

The realization of what happened came next. The realization she had a panic attack and meltdown in front of Sesshomaru. The realization that he helped her out of the spring while she was naked. The realization she was naked under his robe and her wet body clung to the fabric, leaving little to the imagination. And finally, the realization that she was cradled in his lap. Red hit her cheeks as embarrassment washed over her.

"Kagome, there is no need to feel that way. Whatever transpired before my arrival was unmistakably your breaking point. I am simply relieved that I was here to aid you and that you weren't by yourself." He tried to reassure her.

"Thank you. You didn't have to do all this." She looked up at him.

"I saw your pleading eyes and was not about to leave you alone and defenseless as your mental and emotional state was deteriorating. I am more honorable than that, don't you think?" He looked down at her.

"I was not questioning your honor, I mean...well, I don't know what I mean. I am just not used to this side of you."

"Hn. I agreed to train you, to help you. That means you are now my responsibility to take care of. If you fall ill, if you get hurt, and even if you have a meltdown."

She looked away from him, "You must think I am truly weak?"

He looked at her dishearten psyche, "Even the strongest have a sensitive spot, and when poked, they crumble. But true strength comes from knowing how to pick yourself up and how to move forward."

She looked back up at him with a small smile and nodded her head, "I will not let him define me, I will find my own strength..." she paused to yawn, "but can I start tomorrow?"

He chuckled, "Sleep Miko, your body took a toll." He pulled her deeper into his chest.

"How did you know how to do that?" She asked.

"Do what?"

"When I had a panic attack, you knew how to calm me?"

"Panic attack?" He was confused.

"Oh, what happened earlier. Where I come from, we refer to them as panic attacks."

"I see." Then he tensed up, not sure whether to share with her about his past.

She felt his uneasiness, "You don't have to tell me, I was just curious, is all. I really appreciate what you did."

They stared at each other for a moment before he closed his eyes and sighed, "My mother used to have the same episodes after my father passed. No one could explain what was happening to her or why. Over time I began to notice little things that would help her calm down sooner. This was one of them," he gestured to his hand that was still making caressing circles on her back. "She still has them to this day but not as nearly as bad as before."

Her heart broke for him, not out of pity but loneliness. To be at such a young age to deal with all the crap his father left behind.

"I am sorry, Sesshomaru, that you went through all of what you did."

He shrugged his shoulders, "It is of the past now."

"True, but no child should have to have gone through that. And despite what you just said, we both know that isn't exactly true."

They both knew that the past still haunts him just like it does her.

Desperate to change the subject, he pulled her closer, causing her head to fall back onto his chest, "Sleep, your body needs rest now."

She giggled, "Got the message loud and clear." Knowing the subject was sensitive for him.

She yawned again, "Thank you again."

"Hn."

Not long after, he realized that her breathing became steady as she had fallen into a deep sleep.

He slowly got up from his sitting position, trying not to wake her as he laid her on the ground up against the tree. He then proceeded towards her belongings and attempted to repack everything back into her contraption. Upon succeeding, he looped the strings across his arm like a purse, not knowing how to use her backpack, then went back to her to carefully pick her up bridal style. He was lucky he had his demon strength because doing this with one arm without it would have been futile.

There standing in the middle of the woods, while holding the Miko in his arms, he lifted his nose in the air to scent out her pack. Once he located them, he set off in their direction.

**Back at camp**

"Listen, Miroku, there is nothing you can say that will stop me from killing or at least hurting your friend."

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo sat by the campfire waiting for Kagome to return. Miroku was trying to convince Sango not to harm Inuyasha.

Miroku ignored her, "Yeah, well, I know for a fact that Kagome wouldn't like it."

Sango thought about it for a second, "Yeah, well, at this point, I don't care. I'd rather she be pissed at me than have that bastard tear her apart again."

"Sango-" Miroku began to say something before Shippo spoke up.

"Guys, something is coming our way."

Miroku and Sango looked at him then stood up defensively, "What is it, Shippo?" Sango asked.

"A very powerful demon..." Shippo honed in on his senses.

"Oh, never mind." He sat back down happily giddy.

Miroku and Sango looked at him, confused.

"So there isn't a powerful demon heading our way?" Miroku asked him.

"Oh, there's one coming our way, alright."

The other two looked panicked, "How can you be so calm?"

Shippo shrugged his shoulders, "cause he is a friend of mama" He then gestured up towards where the tree-line that cleared from the forest as Sesshomaru stepped out of it.

"Sesshomaru?" The bickered couple said in unison, then looked at Shippo, and he just nodded for clarification.

Sesshomaru, already on the threshold of their camp, was met with a grinning Shippo. And two wide-eyed and mouths hung open in shock, Miroku and Sango.

Sesshomaru glared at them, then growled to get their attention, and when that worked, they finally realized the ill-mannered state their friend was in.

Sango looked at him, "What happened?" Anger slipping through her words.

"Ease your temper, slayer, for this one is not the reason for her being in this state."

"Yeah, Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't do that." Shippo piped in before running off to get Kagome's sleeping bag.

"Hn." Sesshomaru waited for the kit to return.

Once Shippo placed her sleeping bag close, but not too close, to the warmth of the fire, he processed to unzip it then motioned toward Sesshomaru to let him know he was ready.

Shippo already witnessed the scene before him, so he didn't flinch. However, the other two watched shockingly as Sesshomaru carefully and gracefully placed Kagome down and then covered her up. He looked down at the sleeping Miko to ensure she was still resting before looking at her campions.

"This one assumes that something transpired with that half-breed?"

Finally, coming out of their shock, their demeanor changed differently for each of them. Miroku radiated in sadness while Sango radiated in furry.

Sango huffed, "I'll say. That idiotic jerk painfully stated to her that since she is that bitch's reincarnation, that both of them belong to him."

It was Sesshomaru's turn to feel rage on behalf of Miko towards his foolish half-brother. He growled and balled his fists, "He did what?"

Sango lit up upon realizing she now had a "destroy Inuyasha" ally. At the same time, Miroku understanding the same thing quickly grabbed her and covered her mouth.

"It would seem that Inuyasha got jealous and used his words to hurt her."

Sango shoved him away, "Bullshit! That idiot fully believes that since he is with Kikyo and that since Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation, that he has a claim on both Kikyo and Kagome."

Sesshomaru sighed, then looked back down at the resting Miko.

"It would seem that your shadow is darker than mine own."

Without thinking, he slowly leaned his head down towards her neck. He then proceeded to slowly trail his tongue from her collar bone to the tip of her ear. He heard her friends gasps but ignored them, but could hear the slight moaning of the woman underneath him.

"He is marking her as his official pack member," Shippo spoke up.

"But why?" Sango being completely confused by the whole situation.

Sesshomaru, still ignoring them, then proceeded to trail his nose in the same direction of his tongue to ensure the strength of his marking. This time he felt her tremble underneath him. He eyed her one more time to ensure she was still sleeping before looking up towards her friends.

"We have recently made an agreement that I would train her. In the ways of Inu's, when one commits to a protege, the mentor then becomes responsible for their well-being. She had what she called a "panic attack" back in spring and is extremely lucky that I was there when it happened. Being that the fool cannot properly care for my mentee, I have marked her to claim her of my pack that way he knows she is under my protection."

"Oh, Inuyasha is going to blow up over this." Miroku piped in.

"Let him, this one cares not for his tantrums, and the matter is between this one and her."

He moved to get up, "I will be returning in the morning to start traveling with you from now on to ensure her emotional and mental stability while training."

"Why? Why are you doing all this for her?"

He wasn't willing to share the whole truth with them but was willing to state the facts, "Because she, and she alone, will be the one to end that heinous spider and that damned jewel. For her to accomplish her mission, she needs to be strong in all forms of the word and most importantly needs to believe she is worthy and competent of doing so."

Her friends took in his words and realized the depths of them. And felt relieved upon learning that Kagome has a form of support that they couldn't fulfill.

Sesshomaru then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, and tossed it to Sango.

Sango looked at him questioningly, then looked at him shocked as she opened the pouch and looked inside, "Jewel shards?"

"Hn, this one has taken the liberty in retrieving the shards closest to my lands. These are the ones I have gathered thus far."

"Wow, there are more than a dozen in here. Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru."

"It was to aid my mentee." He nodded his head to bid them farewell, then disappeared into the night.

"What a strange turn in events!" Miroku still staring in the direction is which Sesshomaru left.

"I'd say." Sango agreed.

Then they both turned to Shippo; Sango pointed at him, "You were too calm about his and was not even shocked by his actions."

"It isn't the first time I watched him carry her in her sleep and tuck her in."

Sango shook her head, "Wait, what?!"

"Some nights ago, mama went out running, and I assume she and Sesshomaru chatted. I was startled at first to find a massive demon in our small hut, but he was so tender with her that I didn't worry. Plus, upon morning, she explained the situation and that he was willing to help train her."

Finally connecting all the dots, "Wait, is that why she has been acting so weird lately."

Shippo nodded, "Yep, she is anxious about getting started."

"So it really wasn't about Inuyasha?"

"Nope, well, not at least until tonight."

"Damn," Sango said as the three sat around the fire.

"One of us should stay up in case Inuyasha arrives early and goes crazy upon realizing what happened," Miroku spoke up.

"I'll take first watch; I could not begin to go to sleep with all of the excitement that happened tonight." Sango declared.

The three nodded in agreement as Shippo made his way to sleep next to Kagome and Miroku found a resting place next to Sango.

All of them wondering and fearing what the morning would bring them.

Well, another one is done! Do be sure to share your thought. I would love to know what you think!

Sidenote: Yes, Kagome didn't notice Sesshomaru had the shards, but who would be in that mental state? She probably picked up on it, but it was not in the forefront of her mind because of everything that happened.