Yo!  Read this if you are confused about this story!

Some people, it seems, were a little confused at WHY Sesshomaru was nuzzling Kagome and whatnot.  Well, here is what the story is.  The Tenseiga has a "mind" of its own, and seems to be attracted to Kagome's power for some unknown reason that will be revealed at a later date.  So, therefore, when Kagome was using her POWER to dry her hair in the last chapter—Sesshomaru had to come because tenseiga was called to her side.  And since the tenseiga seems to have an emotional bond with Sesshomaru, he likewise, willingly or unwillingly will be called to Kagome's side, and physically acting out the call of Kagome's power to him and her sword.  So, that is why he came when she, in essence, called him—like the dog he is.  Oh, how he is enjoying this…you'll just have to read to find out!

And sorry it has taken so long…I am away at college and my true inspirational room is my room at home…so it's hard to find someplace to go around school.  So, thanks for the support and read on! 

Read and enjoy,

-MC

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The day before a momentous occasion is hardly remembered as much as the momentous occasion itself.  But there are a few things that one can never forget that happened on the day before the momentous occasion.  Some people remember what they wore on that day, comfortable clothes that would prepare you for the day to follow.  Some people remember what they ate the night before, again, not something too fancy but something they enjoy to prepare them, let the person feel like this meal won't be the last had in their home.  Some people remember what they did that day, either packing or mentally preparing for the experience by being with friends or simply being alone.  Some people remember that clinching feeling in their heart when they even think about the day to come, making their heart beat at rapid paces and convince you that you are about to have a heart attack.  Some people remember that they couldn't sleep all night until they finally get up and read a book for a while until their mind settles.  And some people remember how they wore their hair, if they washed the dishes, if they made dinner, if they folded the laundry—all these things being done with that far away look in your eye as you imagine what you would be doing this time tomorrow, wondering what this new experience will be like and how you will adjust.

But these are the people who are cued into the fact that they are to have a momentous occasion the next day.  What are you to do when you don't know?  What if you were the person who was not clued into the fact that tomorrow, the day after today, was going to change your life inexplicably?  Would you remember the day before?  Or would you just wish for yesterday and its calm and normal tones? 

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Kagome seriously wished that the Tenseiga was never attracted to her power or rather, the power of the Shikon no Tama.  She wished for a time when she did not have the shadow of Sesshomaru standing over her shoulder every time she thought about using her power.  She wished that by using her power, it would only call the Tenseiga, instead of her power not simply calling the sword, but the owner himself as well.  She wished for the carefree hours of life that she had, knowing that the regular worries of death and destruction flowed into new worries such as hiding her identity and the possibility of watching Inuyasha die.  But no, there wasn't time that could be wasted with thoughts about yesterday.  She could only think about the future and what lay ahead.  She could only move on with the future, a future that, with all her wishing it not to be so, was closely tied with Sesshomaru. 

"Damn wench!" Sesshomaru cursed to himself in his study, pacing back and forth.  Life had been simple before the events of the past few days.  It carried a familiarity to it, the steady lifestyle giving him comfort in the little of which he received these days.  His days were practically uniform; everyday he would patrol, fight someone (preferably Inuyasha), kill something (preferably Inuyasha) and then lock himself in his study for quiet writing sessions and meditation; and he would take comfort in this, this homogeneous lifestyle.  Life was little else than unvarying until she had to go and fuck it up.  Her, that wench of a woman; that woman who even now as he cursed her sent fluttering of some inconsequential feeling throughout his stomach as if he was in love.  Now that, if anything was the most preposterous idea that he had ever heard.  If it was considered Lordly to have snorted at this moment, he would have done so.  Immeasurably.  But, to his immense disappointment, it wasn't.  "Blast propriety," and with that last thought he went back to writing, all the while realizing how much propriety was lacking in his "relationship" with Kagome, and how, somewhere deep inside himself, he didn't mind.

Inuyasha was always considered a "simple-minded" fellow.  He sat pondering this accusation today while Kagome bathed once again in the hot spring's his nose had found.  I don't understand why people think that I'm simpl—hey! Sniff!  It smells like peaches!  They aren't in seaso—woah, what is that?  I think it's a—e-minded.  I mean, honestly, what are they talki—is that Kagome coming back here? Or is it just—ng about.  Some people just need to lay off the dog.  We are canines! These senses are sharper than…than…than…um…wait?  What was I talking about again?

She was growing more and more tired lately.  Kagome could barely keep up with Inuyasha anymore and she didn't understand why.  I mean, I didn't have powers before and I could still at least keep up with him.  But now I can't even walk three miles without getting outrageously tired.  Even on my bike, I am too tired once we stop to even make dinner or eat anything at all.  Thank Kami we are almost at Kaede-baba's hut or I might have to stop and stay the night here, Kagome thought ruefully.

Upon arriving (finally! On Inuyasha's part), Kagome practically collapsed onto her mat that Shippou quickly spread for her.  Kaede was quick to question everyone if she was ill, but neither Shippou nor Inuyasha could explain her disability.  While Kagome slept, Kaede contemplated, wondering what mischief worked itself over the miko reincarnation of her sister. 

Kagome awoke to the wonderful smells of food that was not ramen and food that was not made by her.  Somehow, when she cooked something it made the food less tasty to her taste buds.  Or it could also be that she was bloody tired of ramen.  No one normal can eat that amount of it and not be sick.  I need something that doesn't consist of noodles.  Right now, in the future, I could be having pieces of festering meat off the ass of cow and slapped together with two bread buns with some kind of concoction that they call "special sauce" at some Americanized fast-food restaurant.  Well, then again, perhaps ramen doesn't sound too bad…

"You're awake.  Come, sit with me and have some stew."  Kagome visibly brightened and Kaede chuckled.  "I thought ramen might not be something you wanted on the menu.  A home cooked meal might do you some good."  Kagome didn't hesitate to take the proffered bowl and dug in enthusiastically. 

"Heaven itself, Kaede," she mumbled through bites and she soon was holding out her bowl for seconds…and thirds…and fourths…and then fifths but she couldn't finish it or she might have died of complete bliss.  And I thought you could only get this sort of satisfaction from sex…But with that thought she was brought back to the unfortunate position she was in with Sesshomaru.  Would it or could it ever go that far?  What if she had to protect a whole village from numerous youkai?  Would she be spread eagled on the ground with the tasty, scrumptious, mouth-watering, delicious Taiyouk—okay, she was honestly thinking about the stew again but still, Kagome was a little shocked at the drift of her mind lately.  The fact that part of her mind wanted her to try a little experiment such as that and see if a certain dog-demon would do dirty things with her was in essence, completely not her.  In fact, part of her mind, which she was righteously ignoring at the moment, wanted him to do dirty things to her numerous times.  And that, quite frankly, was not right.  Of course she was a living and breathing woman and she had her sexual needs like the rest of us, but at the same time, she wanted to share her virginity, her body with a man she loved, her mate, her most likely youkai mate.  She had eternity with him so why should she just jump in bed with someone meaningless right now?  And with the way she was feeling currently she probably didn't have enough energy for anything.  And of course she realized that Sesshomaru is practically a god among men, well, dog demons and that he probably would be a nice (Nice!  Come on Kagome!  You know it would more be like…FUCKING FANTASTIC and he would most likely be a sex god.  Because it would be a sin for someone to look like him and NOT be a sex god...) tumble in the sheets, but she wasn't looking for that.  Absolutely not.

"I think I might know what is going on with you, Kagome."  Said woman jumped from her thoughts and brought her full attention to Kaede, who was looking at her with a knowing expression on her face.  I hope she can't read minds… "I think the reason why you are so tired lately is because, from the little that I heard from Shippou and Inuyasha, like the jewel needs you, you need the jewel.  It balances your energy with the power from the jewel itself and allows you to be immortal and powerful."  Kagome turned her head to Kaede hoping she hadn't heard what she thought she heard.

"So, are you saying that if I don't use my power that I could…that I could die?"  Kaede nodded.

"You wouldn't just simply expire immediately, but your aging process would begin again and the jewel would be tainted once more because it won't have your vital purification powers.  Even Kikyou had to keep the jewel near her so that it would be kept pure but she didn't have the added problem of the jewel having fused itself with her body."

Kagome definitely did not like the sound of this.  Not only could she not stop using her powers because she would die, but the jewel would become black again and more susceptible to manipulation in the hands of people who wanted to emulate Naraku.  And that absolutely was not an option.  But now, now she had to deal with Sesshomaru more than was necessary.  And little to no contact was more than necessary in her book, especially since her mind decided to stroll down the back alley of the Land of Dirty. 

The subject of her physical, mental and emotional torture was currently scribbling furiously, his quill almost flying past the page as he used his youkai speed to write the words as they seemed to spill forth from his mind like water from cupped hands. 

Inside the jewel life seemed to stop.  Midoriko could sense the flow, the ripple of time float past her many times as the years, decades and centuries passed and yet she was not living.  There was no choice, no free will, no decisions to even be made in the jewel, you just simply were, you existed but did not live, her life was suspended in that last moment that she wished herself some reprieve from the eminent death of not only her but her rapidly declining race as well.  She did not feel pain or anything for that matter and yet she knew without a doubt that she was inside the jewel, there was a struggle ensuing but at the same time she wasn't a part of this struggle anymore.  She had completed her purpose, her reason for living and training and being in the first place and now all she had to do was wait.  She had to wait when the jewel would finally be purged from the evil and black that threatened, even now, to consume the pure but powerful object.  How long would this take and would this even ever be possible?  Could a person even be that powerful?  And what would it even entail to purge the blackness that plagued the jewel? 

"Heh.  I wonder if that wench is the one."  And then writing consumed him once more in its intensity, carrying him under the depths of inspiration.

Kagome didn't like this new prospect.   She didn't like it at all.  But, in her insanity she had an epiphany.  Perhaps she could have her cake and eat it too, after all.  Perhaps, perhaps she could sidestep the fact that Sesshomaru was drawn to her power.  How?  She was fully satisfied with this answer:  the future, of course.  In theory, the swords do not exist and she was absolutely sure that the jewel could not pull him through the well.   Inuyasha was the only other person that seemed to be able to pass through the well.  Fortunately or unfortunately for her.

So without a second thought and a little note to Shippou and the hanyou himself, Kagome left Kaede's hut for her little experiment.  It was time that I visited home anyways.  I haven't been back for at least a month or something that amounted to an inordinate amount of time away from my family.  And Souta wanted me to come see one of his jazz concerts when I was around.  I hope he has something going on when I get back…

Kagome immediately stepped out of the time portal, and didn't even think twice about using her aura to levitate herself out of the well.  There was a rush of energy and she felt the best she had in a week, finally, finally she was able to get one with her life and be allowed an ounce of leeway in this stupid—

She didn't get to finish that thought.

Now this, this, this is fucking insane, he thought to himself, uncharacteristically using vulgarities to explain his mood.  Will someone explain to me why the stench of humans is overwhelming, I can barely sense any youkai, there is an outrageously loud noise coming from above me and I think I just saw a large, solid looking beast swallow a human whole and then run away on wheels made of an interesting black substance?

Yes, boys and girls.  Sesshomaru, the Great Lord of the Western Lands was in the future.  Who coulda thunk it? 

And where was the bloody girl?  Oh, the girl was there of course.  She was straddled on top of his body while his fingers dug into her hips, pressing her down forcefully onto his lap.  And he was licking and sucking the shell of her ear, periodically biting it when her hips jerked towards his in a thrusting motion that did not allow him to think correctly.  Well, that was what had happened in the beginning and now he was nursing a slap (for she seemed to recover from their little "rendezvous" before him) and a somewhat evident erection (the grinding motion she performed would have made any man aroused) while he observed everything around him.  How did he get here?  What was this here?  And why did it not feel like, well, home?  Or even his…time…?

"So, it seems that my power even calls you from the future…" 

The future?  This is…for lack of a better and more eloquent term, fucking insane.  I am somewhere in the "future" as she has labeled it, and I cannot deny that this civilization, however inhabited by humans it is, seems to be creators of the most interesting of modern technology, but what does this mean? And more importantly…how do I get back?