"To others the pain was obvious
The colours of shame a bruise - unjust
Abuse of trust can't be wiped
I can't remember why,
I chose to say goodbye
I'm terrified of what, I
might have severed
I tried to forget the drowning truth,
Lashing inside my sea of youth
Life seemed a fair sacrifice for peace."

-Delerium 'Wisdom'-

She had known it wouldn't have been so easy to escape Sesshomaru, though it wasn't necessarily escape that she was wishing. But she was aware she couldn't just walk away from the taiyoukai, even on her own accord. She might have frozen during the past years, but she still held some speck of honor, and knew that she was in his debt. She had strode into his office with no fear and little apprehension. But it was as if she was facing her childhood nightmare. Lord Sesshomaru had attempted to steal her life and those of her friends so many times, it was as if he was her personal Boogey-man. It was as well that she had turned her back to him as she exited, because she was in quite a bit of shock when she heard what it was that she was to repay him with.

Yes, she had miko powers, and true over the last six years they had grown in intensity, and even more true, she did have the Shikon No Tama buried deep within her body once again, but to think that the taiyoukai would even trust her with such a thing. How could he be sure that she would not try to purify him instead? 'He does not trust..' That was the simple answer...but still. In order for her to return his arm, she would have to be close to him, plant her hands on him, and that idea brought the disgusted face of Sesshomaru into her mind, replaying a scene of imagination that might have made her laugh years ago...

'This Sesshomaru does not allow anyone to touch him. This Sesshomaru does not need a ningen to restore what has been lost' Saying as such with his arm crossed over his chest, and his golden eyes cold with icy anger. This was what her imagination came up with.

Aye, it was true that his actions were confusing her inner self to the brink of madness. Had the past six years been eventful for him? Had he changed somewhat just as she had? Question was, or at least even more important, was what had made him change to the way he was now?

In her silent thoughts, one word peeked out of dark thoughts. 'Rin.' She had yet to see or hear the energetic girl running about the halls. She had yet to hear the toad-demon Jaken blasting away obscenities about her rompings about the grounds. A frown developed across her face, but it no longer mattered as she was the only one walking through the corridors, so that she might be able to receive more rest. She did not know when the taiyoukai would be demanding his arm.

Rin had been the source of forever smiles and sunshine, she had been the one that had started the change in Sesshomaru to begin with, but if she was no longer here, than praytell why was Sesshomaru not a large block of ice, killing the first thing that crossed his path? Once again entering her temporary rooms, the servant who had wrapped up her bandage was standing there waiting for the miko to return.

Kagome took in the neko youkai in front of her, who's long hair was the strangest mixture of golden cream. Her eyes of course were a green hue that could make an emerald jealous. She was sure had the servant had her hands uncurled from in front of her, she would see delicate claws. She wore a kimono the color of the sun, though the fabric was of lesser quality, because of course she was just a servant.

"It has been requested that you bathe and dress yourself properly before dinner is served tonight. Lord Sesshomaru has given you permission to eat at the same table as him for your stay."

Kagome nodded in agreement as she followed the woman from the room and down the hall, till she was ushered into a larger room, with four different springs waiting.

"This is where you shall bathe for as long as you stay here. You are allowed to visit them as you see fit. Salts and soaps are placed over to the right of every spring, and your clothes will always be laid out farthest from the water so that they are not endangered."

With that she bowed out quickly and left the miko to marvel at what was before her. Quickly stripping away the remander of her clothing, she slipped into the nearest spring. She might not have as much free emotion as before, but she did remain to have modesty, and she was thankful the servant had not stayed for longer than she was needed.

A sigh escaped past her pink lips as she let the warmth of the water soak into her limbs and restore some of her limbs mobibility. Letting her hip-length hair loose, so that it spread out behind her in the water, she leaned back and let her body float in the water like a lily. She dared not look at the scars that had started to appear on her body from her years in Sengoku Jidai. From fighting demons, from fearful runs through the forest. Some of them had no doubt come from the final battle with Naraku. The rest of course had come from her last six years as a wandering soul.

She tried to keep all thoughts of Lord Sesshomaru from her mind. She could at least spend this time in the water by relaxing, and forgetting of her current problems. But of course, it would not stay where she pushed it to the back of her mind. She would repay her debt to the taiyoukai, but restoring him his arm was going to be harder than he might have originally thought. She would have to take precautions, just in case her powers raged out of control. With a growl of frustration that was silent enough for only her ears to hear, she resumed her bathing, till she was ruby red from her administrations.

Slipping from the still warm water, she wrapped a thin towel around her frame as she padded over to wear her temporary clothing was laid out. A true kimono of black hue, with ivy detail around the neck, sleeves and edging with blue stitching. If nothing else could be said of Sesshomaru, one did have to admit that he had an awesome sense of fashion. 'But nothing else of course, he's a cruel, cold bast-...'

Her inner thoughts were disrupted as she flung such insulting words from her mind. It might have been true, but she would not think of the demon who had taken care of her wound with such degrading words. 'He was the one who gave them to you!' Another shake of her head, feeling water droplets fly from her hairs end as she grabbed another towel and took down the task of drying herself off completely before she dressed herself. After six years in Sengoku Jidai, her body had grown into a womanly shape, and her undergarments from her time had long ago grown too small. She did only what she could, by wrapping her chest with an extra cloth so that she would not be hindered by their growth. Besides that, she had assimilated well within the dressing standards of the current time.

Pulling her damp locks back into the low ponytail, she turned on her barefeet, leaving the towels folded on the bench, before she made her way back to her room. She would have to retrieve her boots, which she had found very comfortable and easy to move about in. Besides, the kimono was long enough to hide her boots if they offended Sesshomaru. Once in the security of her room, she took a look at her reflection from the long mirror, making final adjustments. 'Why do I care if my looks meet his standards? It isn't as if I care what he thinks of me. So why am I flustered?' She smoothed down the fabric with swift hands, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ears. 'It is because Lord Sesshomaru does not allow things that offend his senses to remain..' The voice was silenced as the neko servant was suddenly standing behind her, green eyes smiling.

"You look fine enough Kagome, please... Lord Sesshomaru is awaiting your arrival at the dining area."

Kagome did not speak, nor return the smile that she saw start to bloom on the youkai's face. Instead, she turned and followed the woman through the dark corridors. While the silent miko did not seem as if she was paying close attention to the twists and turns that were made, she used peripheral vision to use landmarks in her mind to remember her way to and from any meal-time. Soon, after what seemed forever of trudging through the halls, she spotted Lord Sesshomaru standing in front of open double doors, on the other side was a long table, that Kagome had no doubt seated over twenty bodies. The demon servant left just as soon.

Kagome looked over to the taiyoukai, hiding behind her mask the appreciative eye that she gave him from under her longer bangs. He was rather dashing, having changed out of the pure white outfit, to one that had red and blue trimmings in the same places as hers. His beauty wasn't ruined by the absence of his left arm, if at all it could have magnified it. She gave a deep bow to her host. 'Beauty is too simple of a word. He is divine...' She could almost hear her inner voice sigh . 'Useless! Attraction and physcial beauty are useless.' A mental hand came out and smacked the other voice out of anger. 'Still... it cannot be avoided.'

"Lord Sesshomaru, I thank you for allowing this miko to eat of your food..."

She did catch the surprise on his face, and felt just as surprised as he did. 'This miko? Where had that come from?' He seemed to pay it no more mind, his attention brought back to her respectable state of dress and attitude. She truly had changed, and he could not deem it as a bad one at all. He gave a tilt of his head, to acknowledge that she was there, before leading the way into the eating area. He watched with careful eyes, as she did not seat herself at the table, before he had done so.

"So miko, tell me. Have you found a way to return my arm to me?"

This brought Kagome's gaze up to meet his own across the table.

"Hai, I have. I have only maybe a day to prepare the necessary precautions, than you may ask of my service whenever you see fit to have your arm returned to you Lord Sesshomaru."

The meal itself was spent in silence, though each occupant had many things on their minds.

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Authors Note:

Shabopo: Peut-être notre petit miko a eu le respect pour notre taiyoukai du Ne commençant ? Elle couvre ses sentiments comme Sesshomaru parce que c'est la seule manière qu'elle peut survivre à l'heure actuelle. Si les émotions sont trop accabler, juste écrasez-les en bas du non ? Merci de la revue et des mots aimables.

ShadowPhoenix1: I'd like to see how their -not- going to kill each other before the next chapter is up! I'm not too worried about her repaying her debt.

ScreaminChild: I hope I do not disappoint. I couldn't think of anything else to serve as payment. Sesshomaru still holds revulsion towards humans, so that seemed the only possible choice in my mind.

I am sorry if this chapter is rather dull and not filled with much action. But I promise this next one shall be, since it will be when Kagome tries to return his arm to him. Maybe some fighting going on. We will have to see. Enjoy this chapter as much as you can... again sorry for it's boring tone. Set-up for Kagome I suppose.