Summary: Hunter didn't know why, but Belos needed the jewel she had. Kagome was stronger than expected, and he knows he should know better, but he couldn't help it. Their first meeting had been prickly, but ever since then, wild raven hair and fierce, yet caring blue eyes were imprinted in his mind. As infuriating as she was, there was something endearing about her.

Pairing: Kagome/Hunter

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks/Past are written in bulk Italics.

Chapter Two

With a mild whine, Kagome lifted a hand and rubbed at the side of her head. She really hadn't expected the ground to be so hard when she landed on it, really she didn't.

"I didn't think that one through as much as I ought to of," she grumbled mostly to herself. Kirara snorted in response, a puff of firey-warm breath ruffling her hair a bit. Well, either way, it'd worked out just fine. She lifted her gaze, searching out the figure that'd just gotten body-checked by the large demon. It didn't take her long to find them, mimicking her posture a bit. Though she couldn't see the face hidden beneath the shiny gold mask, she could feel the irritation rolling off of him in waves. When his focus abruptly went directly to her face, on cue she offered a mischievous smile. By any means, that look of her's only added to his annoyance.

"Okay, maybe I didn't make myself clear-"

"Oh, you did," Kagome cut him off without waiting to hear him out. She rose back onto her feet, and she let a hand comb through Kirara's fur as she kept her eyes glued on the figure opposite of her. "You're looking for the jewel for whatever reason. Thing is," she paused and fixed the jewel so it was back beneath her collar, "I made myself plenty clear, as well," she stated flatly. "I have no intention of just handing it over to you. It might be a thorn in my side, but I kinda need it, y'know," she said as she paused her petting, her expression faltering a bit at her own admittance to such a thing. Though she wished to part with it, deep down, she knew there was no other option for her now. She paused and lifted her gaze once more, letting shining blue eyes land on the figure watching- observing her. "... why do you need it?" she asked after a pause. She neglected to ask how he'd come to know it was on her person, choosing to hide her caution for the sake of satisfying her own curiosities.

"That's hardly any of your business," he responded, and Kagome assumed that was all she'd hear on it, until… "but, if you must know, Emperor Belos has a need for it."

Emperor Belos?

She did well to mask her confusion, merely letting out a hum of acknowledgment to his statement. Though she'd heard that name only rarely and she was aware of who he was, she wasn't clear on why he might need the Shikon no Tama enough to send some sort of scout out to actively hunt it down and take it from her person by force if necessary.

"I see," she responded with a faint nod of her head. Despite the general talk between them, she'd refused to lower her guard any. She could see clearly that he refused to do just that, as well. "Regrettably, I'll be sending you back empty-handed."

Silence befell them at her statement, but she didn't try to leave. Something lingered in the air that she could feel, and she could tell that he wasn't willing to back down so simply. She wouldn't fault him for that, because it was ingrained in her brain in a similar manner.

The storm was coming, she could feel it boiling against her skin. Her hand left Kirara's fur, and, on cue, the large feline stepped back to allow her the room required. Her eyes narrowed, ice seeping into the oceanic depths. She reacted instantly the moment he took a step towards her, lifting her hands and allowing a pink, shining staff to materialize within her palms.

"As if I'd give up that easily!"

She took a step back, bringing her staff up to prevent him from getting too close for comfort. He lunged for the jewel, and she easily read his steps.

She had to be careful, she reminded herself. Most of her energy was still depleted and this was all she could do at the time being. She turned and delivered a sharp kick to his chest, nudging him back with enough force to make him back away, yet she neglected genuinely harming him. A sharp pain raced through her chest, and she reluctantly allowed the staff she held to dissolve from her grasp. Pink sparkleflies slowly flickered away, and she stood warily.

"Please, I don't want to hurt you," she stated as she leveled guarded eyes at him. She couldn't use too much of her energy, lest Sesshoumaru pick up on the flare of her aura.

"Then hand it over!"

Kagome backtracked again, narrowing her eyes and throwing up a translucent barrier that blocked out the magic from his own staff, negating it. They fell to a standstill, her barrier preventing any more strife from reaching her. Her body ached, and she didn't want to keep at this any longer. When her barrier finally faltered, she took a step forward and snatched him by his arm, sweeping a leg out and knocking his balance from him with practiced ease.

With her grip, she let some of her energy seep out and tether to him. With it, she let it cement him into place. She watched with an arched brow as he attempted to get back up, only to fail when he could no longer move his arms or legs.

"W-What is this-?!"

Kagome backed away and didn't bother to spare him a second glance. "It's not permanent, don't worry," she remarked as she approached Kirara. She crouched and allowed the miko to climb aboard her back, and Kagome did so wordlessly. Once she had situated herself how she wanted, she then looked back at him. "It'll fade in like five minutes, but that's more than what I need to leave this area. It's really not a fair fight when I'm not at my full strength," she stated.

She squeezed Kirara's sides with her legs- a silent request for her to get ready to leave the area. Kirara let out a low rumble in response. A second later she jumped, flames bristling around her feet as she no longer touched the ground.

"As nice as it was to meet you, Mr. Golden Mask, I should be on my way," she commented dryly. "My brother won't be anywhere near as gentle as I am if he decides his presence is required."

With those words, she took her leave. Within seconds, she was far out of sight and reach.

000

Once she'd made it to safer ground, she coaxed Kirara back down to the ground so she could disembark from her perch. She gave a sigh and brushed her hair back out of her face.

"Sheesh," she grumbled under her breath, "can't a girl catch a break once in a while?"

Unease crept up her spine when she realized the unlikelihood of such an outcome. She thought back to the prior encounter she'd just had, thin brows furrowing in unease when she recalled that boy's prior words.

"That's hardly any of your business, but, if you must know, Emperor Belos has a need for it."

She gripped at the jewel with one hand, her nerves scrambling a bit. The words sounded so ominous. What use could he even have for the jewel? To need it so much he actively sent someone to retrieve it for him. The thought of it made her wary.

In the end, she neglected to inform Sesshoumaru of the events that had transpired. Not due to wishing to keep it a secret from him, but because she'd promptly gotten distracted by his own comments.

Here she was, standing opposite of him, trying to wrap her brain around the words he'd just said to her, somewhat wondering if she might've misheard him somehow.

Kagome arched a brow at the suggestion before going on to repeat his prior statement. "… school?" she asked. "You think it'd be a good idea for me to attend this Hexside place?"

Sesshoumaru met her stare, his expression betraying nothing just like always. "It might be beneficial for you," he remarked.

"In what way?" she deadpanned.

"Meeting children your age," he responded with the exact same tone as her own.

She took an indignant step back at his statement. Had he really just…- ? Never mind. More importantly- "Do you really think it's a good idea?" Kagome asked. "After all," she brushed her hair away from her face and exposed her very human-looking ears, "I might not be able to keep illusions up so well all the time…"

"Perhaps it'll help with your training," he remarked. "Admittedly, there's little I can teach you outside of physical combat," he stated. Kagome was genuinely surprised to hear him admit to his own shortcomings so freely. "I am incapable of using magic, so I am unable to teach you more in that field. Your magical capability is stronger than your physical strength, so it'd be negligent to ignore your natural strengths."

"Sesshoumaru-"

"Additionally, you'd make more friends this way. That might help ease your sorrows when it comes to the well, as well as the aftermath from the situation with the jewel-"

"I don't see any reason to talk about the jewel," Kagome cut him off, body getting tense. "I… I'm just fine."

The words were lies, she knew. She knew that he knew it, too. She looked away, tightening her arms around her in a constricting hug.

Sesshoumaru looked at her in silence for a few long seconds before he tried to speak again. When he did, he made no comment about the well or jewel.

He sighed and brushed silver locks back over his shoulder. "Either way," he remarked, "this will be a good endeavor for you."

He'd grown weary of her backtracking to the well every chance she got. He knew she missed her home, but to keep at those actions would only serve to further wear her down. Her despondent mood was easy to pick up on, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. It covered her in a sour scent.

It was unpleasant.

000

The quietness of her room settled around her as she stepped into it, letting the door close with a faint 'click' behind her. Once she'd walked in, her attention swept over the semi-organized location. It didn't take long for her gaze to land on the box tucked away underneath her desk. Her heart panged in her chest as she made her way over towards it, bending to retrieve it from where it had been stored away. She set it atop her desk without so much of a single word.

Her attention lingered on the box filled with seemingly random objects. Well, surely anyone else would consider them random, but to her they were far more. Her fingers gently grazed the red fabric folded neatly, carefully on the very top. Her shoulders slumped, and she breathed a silent sigh as she thought over the events of the day.

A head of warm fur nudged against her, and Kagome exhaled softly. She let her eyes meet the gentle crimson of Kirara's and a small smile appeared on her face. It felt almost hollow, though. Kirara made no noise, and neither did she, but the feline passed on an unspoken message when she nuzzled into her cheek in a comforting manner.

"Miss them, too."

Without a word, Kagome tugged the red clothing out and let it drape over her shoulders. It was comforting. Wrapped up in it, she made her way to her bed and laid down silently.

Auroua-chan: So happy to finally have this chapter done and ready to post!

Kagome knows very little about Belos and that part of the Boiling Isles, but she knows enough to be vaguely aware of why he is. Additionally, she doesn't know who the Golden Guard is at first. Despite the whole thing with him trying to take the jewel, she still regards him gently.

She's cool and composed in fights, but she definitely won't be that way all the time. She's still a teenager after all, and she'll act like it. (Even at Sesshoumaru's intense irritation at it.)

Kagome will become a student of Hexside. Additionally, suggestions for her Palisman? It'll be a bit longer before we get there, and I've got a few ideas, but I've not decided on anything yet.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~