Disclaimer: I don't own the Inuyasha characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
¨The next morning, Kagome awoke to find Sesshomaru curled up beside her, his soft fur pelt tickling her face. She giggled and kicked Inuyasha who sat within reach of her toe.
"What the-" he began angrily, but quieted when he saw Kagome place a finger over her lips.
His eyes drifted down to the bundle of white snuggled next to her, and he understood. Kagome stood and stretched before walking over to join Inuyasha.
"He must have felt safe by you, after all, you're the one who saved him," Inuyasha commented.
A short while later, Sesshomaru and Shippo arose and began to chase one another around in circles as Shippo often did with Inuyasha only Sesshomaru was much faster and could toy endlessly with the little fox demon.
Tiring of their game, Sesshomaru came over and tugged at Kagome's sleeve. "I hunger," was all he said to her. His amber eyes peered up at her like an angel looking up to heaven.
She dug into her near empty bag and found a very squashed candy bar. Sesshomaru stood on his toes to see over her shoulder until she turned and handed him the gooey, brown bar of chocolate and caramel. He eyed it suspiciously, then sniffed it until Shippo insisted that it was really good.
Warily, Sesshomaru shot his tongue out and gave it a lick. A smile lit his face and he suddenly crammed the entire bar into his mouth. That worked well for a minute or two until the demon quickly discovered that caramel stuck to his fangs like a glue, leaving him unable to speak for a good twenty minutes. Sango took advantage of this and used a wet rag and cleaned his face and hands. Miroku whispered something to her that made her cheeks flame and her hand attack his face.
When it was time to go, Inuyasha carried Kagome's bike, her and Sesshomaru across the stream on his back. Kirara took the others. Kagome mounted her bike and was surprised when she felt a light bump behind her. Turning, she saw Sesshomaru perched behind her just like Inuyasha liked to do when he did not feel like walking.
The half-demon was about to object, but Kagome forestalled it with a "sit" command. Soon they all stood in the clearing staring at a small, square glass hanging on a tree.
Inuyasha bent towards it and sniffed. Sesshomaru watched for a moment before leaping from Kagome's bike to the half-demon's side and sniffed the mirror as well.
"This is where the demon found me," he supplied trying overtly to gain Inuyasha's approval.
"No kidding," Inuyasha told him with a grunt. He bent his nose to the ground and began to trace Sesshomaru's scent back from where he had first approached the mirror. Oddly, that trail only became strong nearly twenty feet away.
"This is where he came in from, only that was him as we know and love him," Inuyasha reported. "He jumped from here all the way to the mirror in one leap. Ahh!"
Inuyasha fell backwards in surprise when he turned back to the others and found himself eye to eye with Sesshomaru who had been crawling along behind him imitating every little thing he did. Angry at himself, Inuyasha stood up and stormed past his brother.
"He needs to quit that shit or I'll wring his scrawny little neck no matter how cute you think he is," Inuyasha growled to the others.
They showed him no sympathy. He turned from them and then sniffed the air again. "Wait, I smell another demon coming," he warned.
Sesshomaru started to look around warily, trying to imitate Inuyasha's lack of fear. When Inuyasha noticed, he softened and said, "Hey, pup, get behind me, okay." Sesshomaru lowered his eyes, trying to hide disappointment, and muttered, "Yes, Inuyasha-sama," as he complied.
Kagome cleared her throat, and motioned for Inuyasha to say something else.
"Oh, all right, fine!" he snapped. "I want you to watch my back, okay. Let me know if he tries to get in any sneak attacks."
Sesshomaru brightened and turned his amber eyes to study the forest around them. The demon did not hesitate once it found them. It was a great, ugly ogre demon and it hissed its desire for the jewel shards Kagome carried. Inuyasha slashed at it crying, "Iron reaver soul stealer!"
Blood spurted from the demon's chest, but it did not stop. It lunged at Inuyasha with huge talons, but the half-demon simply jumped out of the way. Sesshomaru, eager to prove himself, did not, though. He lifted his own hand and shouted, "Poison claw!" as he slashed at the arm.
Had Sesshomaru been in his true form, the attack would have disintegrated the ogre, but unfortunately it only maimed the demon and angered it more.
"Insolent, mongrel!" the demon hissed at Sesshomaru and lifted his tiny body in its talons.
"My father is lord of the Western Lands, and his vassals will not allow you to put your filthy hands on Sess-" Sesshomaru began to boast angrily, but Kagome quickly intervened, firing a sacred arrow through the ogre's heart, sending it to oblivion.
Sesshomaru hit the ground and clutched his arm. Valiantly he tried to hide the pain, but Inuyasha looked at him and said, "What the hell did you think you were doing? That thing could have killed you. I smell blood, so you'd better let Kagome take a look at your arm."
"Blood, did someone mention delicious blood?" a tiny voice called out from somewhere at their feet.
"Myoga!" all but Sesshomaru exclaimed.
The flea demon sprang up onto Inuyasha and drank his fill before being slapped. Upon reviving, the flea demon noticed Sesshomaru and said, "My old eyes must be playing tricks because that looks like Lord Sesshomaru."
His eyes widened and Sesshomaru demanded, "How do you all keep knowing my name when I have never met you? And why would father send a mere flea to find me?"
Kagome quickly covered for them. "Come on, Sesshomaru, let me see your arm and I'll see if I can find another candy bar for you, okay?"
The child allowed himself to be picked up and said, "Really? More candy bar?"