She stormed towards Kaede's hut. What did he mean smell funny? He's the one that smelled funny! 'Could I smell his demon side…?' she pondered internally.

Later that evening, after they had indulged themselves in ninja food, they sat around the fire. Kagome glared at Inuyasha and he just glared back.

"I'm going for a walk" he said. He looked awkward and uncomfortable. She could sense his emotions it seemed and it troubled her. Why was he going for a walk right now, anyway?

"Maybe you should take a bath." He added, breaking her concentration. Her eyes met his and she glared back indignantly.

"Maybe you should!" She challenged back, now clearly irritated with him.

"Let's all take a bath!" Miroku said cheerfully. They both gave him the dagger eye and Sango bopped him on the head. "I wasn't being naughty…" he said with a slightly mischievous look in his eye.

"He is right." Sango offered. All of them just stared at her in shock. "I don't mean all of us together! I mean I think it would help ease the tension – er, I mean stress of the day." They all looked at her dumbly.

"When I'm cranky it makes me feel better…" she trailed off.

"What does your bad mood have to do with anything?" Inuyasha snorted.

"She means us, Inuyasha." Kagome said quietly. "We're the cranky ones…"

"I'm not cranky! What's the big deal? I just want to go for a walk and Kagome's the one that smells funny"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "C'mon Sango, Shippo – let's go." She said in a defeated tone. Why had she been so excited to come back to this? What a jerk! He just couldn't wait to go for a walk and she her. 'I won't let myself think her name in my head… I won't!' she pouted to herself. They quickly gathered some bathing items and headed for the village hot spring.

"Where are you going, Inuyasha?" Miroku prodded.

"It's none of your business so why should I tell you?" Inuyasha replied.

"Inuyasha, Kagome went back to her time, but it must have been for a reason. Think Inuyasha. Were you with Kikyo the night Kagome left?"

"How should I know?"

"It was only two nights ago, Inuyasha, you should remember it clearly."

"So what if I was?"

Inuyasha continued his banter with Miroku knowing full well what the problem was. He had seen Kikyo and Kagome had seen them. Again. How many times would he hurt her like this? He didn't do it on purpose. He couldn't help how he felt for Kikyo and she needed him more than Kagome did. 'Kikyo is powerful but she is broken inside… she needs me.' He thought to himself.

He left Miroku and headed into the forest. "Kikyo…" he whispered to himself and memories of their lives past and present flooded his thoughts. He hoped he would see her again. He hoped this time he could make his intentions clear to her. He would do whatever it took to make her happy.

> > > > > > > > >

Sango sat in the warm water of the hot spring furrowed her brows in curiosity as Kagome entered the pool. She didn't want to mention it, but couldn't help herself…

"Kagome, "she began, "I just noticed – not that I was trying to look at your body, um… but – you have an odd scar on your abdomen and it looks fresh. Did something happen to you yesterday?"

Kagome looked down at her body, embarrassed. The outer layers of her skin had not fully healed. The scar was in the shape of Naraku's tentacle – half of it, anyway but just the outline. 'Like a crescent moon…' she pondered to herself and blushed. That was really ironic!

"Oh, I was just walking – no, running – through the forest and tripped (of course). I fell on a jagged rock and it cut me pretty bad. So I went home. I knew I'd heal faster with the medicine there." Now she was lying to her friend and felt horrible. She looked at Sango, certain she would see right through her but as luck would have it Sango was too tired and didn't catch on. At least that's what Kagome assumed.

"I see…" Sango replied. "Kagome, why were you running?"

What? Why was Sango asking her all of these questions?

"Kagome, I – I understand… how you're feeling. Did you find Inuyasha with Kikyo again?"

"Uh-hm" Kagome answered back softly. By now she was sitting in the pool resting her back against a rock. She dipped her head down and pulled her knees to her stomach, resting her chin on them. The warm water did its best to soothe her aching heart. She closed her eyes and tried to erase the memory of seeing them together.

"He'll come around." Sango added with a fake smile, trying to sound cheerful.

"Wait a minute… you said you understand? But Sango…?"

Sango looked away and choked back a small sob. She wasn't going to cry anymore about it. She was determined this time. "I'm in love with Miroku and have to endure his… wandering eyes… so I understand"

Kagome looked at Sango sheepishly. "I guess we're both pretty pathetic."

Sango sighed and Shippo just looked back and forth at the two of them wondering what the heck they were really talking about.

> > > > > > > > > >

She smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat. She was floating toward him but he didn't notice. He was lost in her beautiful, sapphire eyes.

Her dark hair swayed in the non-existent wind. Was she blushing? She was saying something but he couldn't make out the words.

Her aura began to glow vibrant and pink. He felt his torso start to tingle and burn. The wound had left no scar but this feeling was now in its exact place. The sensation was strange but it felt good. Soon his entire body was immersed in her pink light.

He wanted to give in to the warmth, but his youkai (demon side) fought back against her purifying power. His eyes involuntarily flashed crimson red and his own blue aura began to over power hers. Her eyes widened but she showed no fear. He drew her close and captured her with his lips.

Sesshomaru woke from his sleep in a cold sweat. He was violently thrashing, eyes still red with desire. He growled and clenched the bed sheets in his claws, willing his demon side to calm down, regaining his control as well as his emotions. That's when he looked around and noticed his room was completely thrashed. What the hell kind of dream was that? Why had he been dreaming of her? Why had he lost control… so easily?

The battle came back to his mind and he remembered the smallest detail that lead to Naraku's success and to the nature of his dream. He had been distracted. It was only for a split second but it happened none the less. He had been distracted and distracted by her! A human?

His eyes were still blood red when he got out of the bed and headed for the cool waters of a nearby lake. 'I will overcome this!' he affirmed in his mind.

The cool water of the lake was like an antidote for his raging demonic aura and raging desires. Soon he was able to keep his composure and feel as close to his normal self as possible.

All of the sudden he sensed something approaching. It was the weirdest, oddest sensation he had ever felt. He was drawn toward it… it was calling to him! He used his demon speed to get closer. Soon he sensed another demon. It was coming from the same direction as this other… thing that was calling him.

The serpent demon approached him, enraged and disfigured. Sesshomaru destroyed it easily with his poison claws, but the "thing", whatever it was, still called for him. Then he saw it, a fragment of the sacred jewel. It had been embedded in the demon he had just slain and was resting on the ground now. It was tainted. It was calling to him.

He could always sense these jewel shard fragments but never like this before. He always ignored them. Any demon using them to gain power was pathetic. Such behavior was beneath him. This was different than the other times. He had to touch it. He reached down and picked up the shard. His demon side flared up but he easily restrained himself. He would not give in to its deadly allure of power.

Waves of warmth gently rushed over him and he closed his eyes, enjoying what he thought was a memory from his dream. He looked down at the shard, now purified… purified by him!

"So, we have changed, indeed." the Lord of the Western Lands marveled out loud.