A/N: Sorry I haven't exactly kept to my earlier schedule, but there were a few plot alterations to my plan. Thanks to all who review and like it. I am glad that my in-class distraction is being enjoyed by others.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

"" Dialogue

italics Thoughts

() A/N


Love's Labour Lost Chapter 17:

"Inuyasha! Didn't you hear, there is a jewel shard around here" Shippo called out.

"Yeah, So what runt?"

"Shouldn't we follow up on the lead?"

"No, we need to rescue Kagome"

"Inuyasha, we aren't rescuing Kagome. We're just checking up on her. Sesshomaru-sama would never hurt her"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL HIM!" Inuyasha roared at Shippo

"Inuyasha," Miroku interceded to prevent a war, "you and Shippo go on ahead and retrieve Kagome."

"What about you two?"
"We're going after the jewel shard. Naraku is OUR priority and we can't sit back and let him get a free jewel shard" Sango answered.

"Fine!" Inuyasha turned and began to leave

"Sango, are you sure you want to go with him?" Shippo asked

"I'll be fine. We'll catch up on Kirara in a few days. Just stay in the Western lands or just outside of it."

"Shippo let's go!" Inuyasha bellowed.

"Coming!"


"Do you think Shippo will be okay?" Sango asked looking after their retreating forms.

"They'll be fine" Miroku encouraged, a hand wander where it shouldn't be.

"Let's set up camp" Sango suggested simply walking away.

"The plight of the righteous monk" Miroku mumbled as he followed along.

Righteous my ass Sango thought.


"Pardon me Lady Kagome" a servant called through the door to Kagome's room.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Lord Sesshomaru requests your presence."

"Very well. One moment please"

Kagome exited her room and followed the servant two doors down to Sesshomaru's quarters and waited outside as the servant announced her arrival.

"You called for me Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome inquired entering the room, keeping her gaze down.

"Why do you look away and act like that? You are my guest, not a servant"

"Sorry" Kagome mumbled as she slowly raised her gaze to meet his own. Kagome noted that Sesshomaru was, for the first time she had every seen, not wearing his armor or his swords.

"Come, let us talk" Sesshomaru suggested, guiding her to the balcony.

"What may I do for you?" Kagome asked after a brief silence.

"I was wondering what you wanted to do"
Kagome was confused by his question to say the least.

Why is he being so polite? I'm only a pathetic human after all. Kagome gasped as she realized what she was thinking. Bad Kagome, you know now he isn't like that.

Sesshomaru hearing her gasp looked down at her and smirked at her furrowed brow as she battled her thoughts.

What is wrong with her now?

"What do you mean Lord Sesshomaru?" Kagome inquired

"Do you wish to return to Inuyasha or remain here?"

"I'm not sure. I wasn't aware that I was allowed to stay."

"Rin has expressed her pleasure that you have come to visit and wishes you to stay. Also it seems that you and Naoki have become quite good friends."

"Yes, we get along very well. She has been most helpful today"
"Really? What was it you did today? It took quite awhile for my servants to locate the two of you"

"We were, uh, just talking"
"What about?" Sesshomaru asked his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Well, actually... you" Kagome stated, barely mumbling out the last part.

Sesshomaru was slightly taken aback at that comment and attempted to recover "What about?"

"I was told I had an impaired view of you, so she answered my questions."

"Well, did I pass inspection" Sesshomaru asked, toying with Kagome.

What? Wha-what is, why is, what is going on? Kagome thought, her face displaying every emotion going through her mind: confusion, skepticism, annoyance

"My apologies, I should remember that humans are so easy to fluster" Sesshomaru interrupted her thoughts, a small smile gracing his lips.

Kagome noticing his amusement decided to play along.

"Well actually, I was very shocked by your past. Still, there is a lot I do not know and cannot truly create an image of you until the questions are answered. So I guess I decision on where I wish to go will depend on my opinion of you when I have learned all I need to know."
"Is that so" Sesshomaru answered, raising an eyebrow at her comment. "Very well, I shall be on my best behavior"

What? Does he want me to stay!

"We shall begin training at dawn, you should get some rest"

"You never told me what you were training me with."

"You use your spiritual arrows very affectively to harness your powers, but you need to learn to wield a weapon for hand-to-hand combat. We will decide upon the weapon tomorrow morning."

"Very well, goodnight Sesshomaru and thank you" Kagome stated as she began to return to her room.

"What are you thanking me for?" Sesshomaru asked, stopping her in her tracks.

"For offering to train me. No one has bothered to train me before, they believed they could just protect me."

"I shall not always be there to protect you, Kagome" Sesshomaru started to say with a new softness in his voice. He began to approach her as he continued. "I do not wish any harm to come to you, and if you decide to return to that idiot of a brother of mine, I do not want your safety in his inept hands."

What is he doing! Kagome frantically thought as Sesshomaru stood less than a foot in front of her.

"Goodnight Lady Kagome" Sesshomaru whispered in her ear as he left a light kiss upon her cheek and walked away and out of his room.

What just happened! Kagome thought as her hand raised to settle over the place where her skin was tingling from their interaction.

What just happened! Sesshomaru thought as he walked through the halls toward his study. What did I do that for! What the hell possessed me to do that!

Upon entering his office he headed towards the window and gazed over his castle. I need to get my mind back into order. I should rest.

"Dammit" Sesshomaru muttered under his breath. "I guess I'll just have to do some work and wait to make sure she has returned to her room" He mumbled to himself as he settled behind his desk to continue the paper work he had started before.


A/N: Alright, that is all for now. I am off to do some Scholarship work so I may or may not write another chapter this evening. Depending on how a feel. Enjoy!