Heeey, it's been a while! ;; sorry about the long wait, but I made sure to write a lot on this one! (I filled up virtually 20 pages of notebook paper) Please read and enjoy!

Chapter Seven: Solace

Taioset had long since given up hope that his companions would cool off, fretfully waiting for them to return to their bodies. His eyes were lidded, drowsily drooping closed as he sagged against the wall. He was almost asleep when one of his companions made a peculiar noise, a mixture between a groan and a yawn.

Sesshoumaru sat up, growling and shaking his head, holding a piece of wet silvery hair with a look of distaste written across his features. Wiping his brow free of sweat, he turned to Kagome, who was sitting up with a groan.

"Are you alright?" He asked gruffly, standing up and pulling her up after him.

She nodded, and whispered, "Hai, I'm alright…" She then sniffed at the air, her nose wrinkling comically at the sweaty odor that filled the room. "What about you, Sesshoumaru…? Will you… be alright?"

"Good that you found her." Taioset said before he could reply, though it looked as if he really didn't want to. "Don't mean to be rude, but you two smell."

Kagome smiled a small, sad smile, and forced a chuckle. "I agree." She said, nodding.

Sesshoumaru sighed a little, and replied to the comment, "I'll show you to the hot springs then."

Kagome made a face at that, shaking her head. "I think I speak for both of us when I say that I'm too warm to bathe in a hot spring. Is there a creek or stream around here to bathe in, we need to cool off."

'Should I take herthere?' Sesshoumaru thought quickly. 'I go there to be alone… But… I believe she is trustworthy.' Sesshoumaru then nodded, and softly said, "Hai." And left the kitchens, leaving behind a confused Kagome and Taioset.

"It's nice to see you safe and sound, Kagome-sama." Taioset said, smiling and bowing to her.

"Don't do that!" She chided, smiling once more. She shook her head, pulling her hair away from where it was stuck to her flushed face. "If I have to go down there once again I might just have to kill something. I feel sorry for the poor souls who're stuck down there though, an eternity down there is an eternity too long."

Taioset nodded his agreement, but said sadly, "If I am to die though, I would be doomed to that kind of eternity…"

Kagome, sensing his sadness, said brightly, "Then I'll just have to make sure you don't die, won't I?"

Taioset smiled then, thinking 'It's nice to be cared about…', and was surprised when she hugged him, he gingerly patting her back in return. 'Humans are so…expressive… I wonder, were youkai ever like that?'

Sesshoumaru reentered the room just then, two fluffy towels in his arms as well as a glass jar of soft soap that faintly smelled of jasmine and rosemary. "Come, Kagome. I'll take you to the stream."

Kagome then smiled goodbye to Taioset, and stepped towards the demon lord, hand outstretched for something to hold on to. Her hand grasped his fluffy tail, softness almost tickling her closed palm.

"Get some rest, Taioset, you look worn out." Sesshoumaru then said at the doorway, nodding down the hallway. "Use whatever room you wish."

Taioset nodded and exited the kitchen after Kagome and Sesshoumaru, listening to their retreating steps and entering the first habitable room he came to. He fell onto the futon with a thud, blankets pillowing around him to settle beside his already sleeping form, forming a nest of sorts, in which he curled up unconsciously.

Kagome felt dry brush and powdery dirt beneath her feet. Time seemed to pass by quickly here, she could feel the late afternoon sunlight beat softly against her back. Her demon companion was silent, though she could feel the fresh misery wafting off of him in waves. Whatever happened to him in hell really struck something dark, something buried, within him. 'It's so strange… Just a few weeks ago, he was my enemy. And now… He's almost like my guide dog.' She almost giggled at the thought, sightless eyes crinkling in merriment of the vision only she could see. All of a sudden, the dry brush turned into lush grass, cool dew clinging to it. She could almost see the emerald green as it bent underneath her feet.

"We're here." Sesshoumaru said suddenly, taking a look at his own, and until now private, sanctuary. Golden eyes fell across a small stream, green moss covered boulders littering it, forming deep pools of crystal clear water. Silver fish flitted through it, as deep green plants grew from the silt covered bottom, creating a plush carpet that rivaled that of kings.

Kagome took in her surroundings as well. The merry babble of the stream rang through her head as the twitters of birds getting ready for the night ahead wound their way in and out of the music of nature. She could smell the earthy fragrance of water lilies, as well as the delicately small moon flowers that covered the bank.

"It's…beautiful Sesshoumaru…" She whispered, giving him a small, contented smile.

Knowing that she sensed the beauty that is not seen, and that she appreciated it in a way that he could not fathom, he let out a small smile of his own, one he could share with someone who appreciated this place, his place, and nature in all her glory. Perhaps just as much as himself. "Come," He said, stepping forwards again, "I'll show you to where you can bathe."

To Kagome's surprise, he grasped her hand in his own, gently guiding her over slippery rocks. When they finally came to a stop, she was holding his hand with a white knuckled pair of her own, her legs shaking from having almost slipped too many times.

'Why… am I being so kind to her…?' Sesshoumaru wondered, searching his mind for an answer. 'Perhaps… it's because she reminds me so much of my mother… and little Rin… Oh Rin… what you must be going through now…'

He gruffly said, "I'll be near, in the next pool over. Just yell for me once you've finished. Use as much soap as you need." He then walked away, lost in his thoughts, leaving Kagome, nervously fiddling with the fastenings of her makeshift kimono.

'What am I kidding? He's no pervert, he wont look… I hope…' She thought to herself, and then grumbled, hastily taking it off.

She then stepped into the stream, biting back a stifled curse when the icy cold water lapped playfully at her feet. 'Even though this place is cloaked with a spell of spring, it doesn't take the winters chill from the water…' She thought bitterly.

Sesshoumaru slipped into the pool of his own, water flowing up and engulfing his body when he submerged totally. He listened for the scream he wanted to hear, but had to be satisfied with a curse, his dry humor having made him not warn her about the water. On him, however, the cold had almost no affect other than to further numb his already beaten mind and nerves. He closed his eyes, the scent of jasmine and rosemary interlaced with water lilies and moon flowers tempted his nose, and he readily inhaled it.

Soon enough, an aggravated murmur reached his sensitive ears, reminding him uncannily of his little Rin. Swiftly making up his mind, he rose silently out of the water and padded over to her small pool, stepping over his clothes as well as hers. He sunk down into it, the icy water once again closing around his lower body.

"Here, let me." He said, watching her stiffen at the sound of his voice.

"What… what are you doing?" She asked, covering herself with a blush, teeth chattering noisily.

"I'll wash your back." Was all he said, dipping clawed fingers into the jar of soap and pulling her closer with his other hand.

She stood stock still, hands covering her breasts and eyes screwed shut as her clawed companion soaped up her back, lightly massaging her tense muscles. She slowly relaxed, his soothing ministrations slowly yet surely loosening the knots in her back and shoulders. She sighed, almost sadly when he stopped, feeling his hands cup the icy water behind her and let it flow down her back.

'Her skin is so pale…' Sesshoumaru thought, beginning to wash her hair for her, hearing her sigh in deep contentment as he carefully lathered it up with that pleasant soft soap. 'She's strong too…' He observed, watching her feminine muscles ripple along her back as she slowly stretched.

"Did you often do this… for Rin?" She asked, tentative voice breaking through the silence that was firmly established between them.

"…Hai, every day…" He replied, clawed hands moving through her hair with deft ease, loosening the stubborn knots in her raven hair.

"It was never here though, was it?" She said, feeling him tense slightly.

"How… did you come to that conclusion…?" He asked, openly surprised that the human woman in front of him was so perceptive.

"I could feel it…" She began, nipping at her lip in an effort to put it to words. "This place is… i pristine /i … untouched in a way, by anyone other than you. I can feel u you /u everywhere here, Sesshoumaru." She breathed in deeply, just taking notice of another presence, from one who had not visited in many years. "There i is /i one other, though very faint. She must have been here a long time ago…"

Sesshoumaru sighed, having finished washing her hair, and turned from her, facing the bank and the lush forest around it. "My father… he gave this place to my mother when they were declared mates…" He began, running his fingers through his wet hair. "She loved it here… I was actually born here, many years ago. She gave it to me some time before she died…"

Kagome noted the sadness and regret in his voice, and she turned around. She could feel his long hair in the water, and she pushed it aside, taking some more of the soap in one of her hands and began to wash his own back, returning the favor he did for her.

"What was she like?" She asked, truly curious and wanting him to be able to open up with her. His past was an enigma, a Pandora's box that she desperately wanted to learn the contents of.

Sesshoumaru didn't visible stiffen, but contact such as this truly shocked him. No one before had ever had the gaul to touch his bare skin, with the exception of little Rin. However, those were only the occasional childish affections one would show to their parents. Her fingers were warm despite the chill of the water separating them, and they traced his muscles, leaving soapy trails of flame down his back. 'The last one… to i ever /i touch me… this closely… was her-my mother…' He thought, feeling himself relax under her touch. 'She could kill me within a single breath, this little creature of magic…' He thought, but wasn't worried, and smirked. 'She knows I could do the same thing to her… But why was she so bold as to do this?'

He found himself trusting her, and found that it was, in fact, a mutual feeling. He was somewhat relieved that she didn't fear him, though if none of this had happened to her, she would be the same annoying thorn in his side, the only worthy opponent within her small group of companions, excluding Inuyasha in his demon form.

"Why do you trust me so?" He asked, ignoring her question to have his own answered.

Kagome thought about that deeply, briefly pausing the movement of her hands and suppressing the aggravated groan when she wasn't answered. 'That is a good question… Why do I trust him?'

"Well…" She said, struggling for words. "You saved me from Hell… That counts for something, ne?"

Sesshoumaru inclined his head and said softly, "Hai, I guess it does."

"Anyways," She said suddenly with a lighter tone, trying to lighten the mood, "If you haven't killed me by now, I guess that means you trust me too."

She resumed washing his back, and then moved on to his hair, almost missing his reluctant sounding reply. "Hai, I do…" She smiled then, though shocked that such an arrogant Lord could be changed into this.

She finished washing his hair in silence, reveling in the feel of the silver strands that practically pooled in the palms of her hands. She ran them up his back to his shoulders, pressing down so that she could rinse his hair easier.

He sank down into the cold water, biting back a purr as he felt her hands moving through his hair once again. 'If I didn't know better, I would think she was my mother…'

The strangest urge hit her then, and for once in her life she satisfied it. Tentatively, she wrapped her thin, pale arms around his back, resting them gently on his chest. "Sesshoumaru… May I be your… friend?" She asked, voice muffled slightly by his hair.

This time he did stiffen, feeling her cold chest press against his muscular back and small arms wrap around his bare chest. '…Friends…?' he wondered, 'Have I really had a true friend before, someone to confide in…? Jaken… well, he was more of a nuisance, loyal though he was… and little Rin… she's only a child, I can't bother her with the dreary thoughts that flow through my mind… Mother… I think she was the only friend I had, but now… would I still confide in her like I used to if she was still here… I do not believe so…'

"Why?" He asked, feeling her shift slightly as a rock slipped out from under one of her feet. "Tell me, little miko, why do you desire to be my friend?"

Smiling a knowing smile, perceptive as she was, Kagome answered, "We don't have anyone other than ourselves now. You can't run from your fears forever, you'll just destroy yourself in the process."

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe his ears. She could pull things from him that he had tried so hard to erase, and was courageous enough to tell them to him. Perhaps… perhaps it wouldn't be that bad to let her… into his life…"

"It's not just you, it's me too…" She added quietly, her own thoughts drifting to her inner demons. She shuddered, holding back a few crystalline tears, though they still fought to escape. 'Inuyasha… Shippo, my son… Sango and Miroku… Oh Kami, I miss all of you!' She silently wailed, the tears breaking through and coursing down her cheeks.

'She really… must be hurting inside… just like me…' Sesshoumaru thought. 'I guess I could give this "friendship" thing a try…'

In the waning twilight, the demon lord loosed her hold around him. He slowly turned around, neither of them caring about their nakedness. She let her arms drop to her sides, silent tears flowing down her face to disappear in the crystalline depths of the pool surrounding them. Her cerulean eyes were closed, making the sight of her heart wrenchingly beautiful.

"Kagome…" Sesshoumaru said, lifting her chin up, her eyes flickering open despite the fact she could not see the emotion openly displayed on his face. "It would be an honor… to be your friend…"

She gasped, tears never stopping. She felt warm, strong arms envelope her, pulling her close to his body, his warmth causing goose bumps to rise on her chilled flesh. Kagome reached around his back, tiny nails digging in as she finally let her sorrow loose.

And throughout her sobs, Sesshoumaru stood there with her, a clawed hand stroking her hair as emotions so long suppressed flickered upon his face. Little did she know, one lone tear slipped out of one of his golden eyes, wound its lonely trail down his perfect cheek, and joined the rest of hers in the dark water, to be washed away as if it was never there to begin with.

End Chapter Seven

Was it worth the wait? I know there were varying degree's of oocness for Sesshoumaru, but I wanted to give some bonding time between the two.

And for all you lemon lovers out there, I know you were just waiting for it :-P! Don't worry, the rating will go up in later chapters, but it's too soon for a lemon. There will be one, just be patient!

Once again, tell me how I did! Remember the three R's (Read, Rate and Review!)

Ja ne, and lots of love

Albalannae