Hey! I updated :) This chapter is the effect of me staying up too late...so don't yell at me if it is weird or rushed :P And, I have no idea is Sango's neko is spelled Kirara or Kilala...so I'm just going to use Kirara :) It sounds better to me even though it might be wrong :) Lol...well, enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 12: Returns

Kagome stood in her room, still stunned. Was Sesshoumaru trying to come onto her? If he was, he was doing a great job at showing it. If he wasn't...then he had some serious problems. She did have a crush on the demon lord, but she thought that he would never like her the way she did him. She was way too out of his league.

She finally regained control of her senses, and backed up into her bed. She fell back onto it, putting her arms above her head, and tried to think. Did Sesshoumaru rally like her? Why did he like her if he did? She always thought too much about him. She really needed to get over him.

Kagome sat up in bed, and decided to change her outfit. She looked into her closet, and picked out a sweet kimono, one that was light pink, with dark pink flowers on the shoulders, and purple dragons on the sleeves. She pulled it out from the closet, and looked onto her shoulder. Her hair was a mess.

She sighed, and pulled her robe into her hands as well.

'Minus well take a bath while at it...'

Kagome sighed again, and walked into the bathroom. She put down her clothes, and stripped the part of the kimono that she was still wearing. She gasped what she realized she had just done. She sprinted out the bathroom, and locked her bedroom doors, and sprinted back into the bathroom, and locked the bathroom doors as well.

'Can't have another intrusion...again...'

Kagome leaned over the tub, and turned on the hot water, letting all the steamy goodness sway away in the tub.

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Sesshoumaru sat in the gardens, watching the children play. Kagome had still to teach Rin of what she knew. He figured that she would have to start tomorrow.

'And maybe I can give her a small lesson also...'

Sesshoumaru smirked. He loved the way that the girl squirmed under embarrassment. She was quite amusing. She really did take a heave off of his chest when he needed it.

Sesshoumaru sighed, and stood up. He really needed to give in to Kagome. He had his feelings for her, and he gave her hints at that, but they weren't good enough for him. He needed to show his true feelings for her, but he wasn't one to do that. It wasn't everyday that the great demon lord of the west gave in his love to a miko. And what if she didn't like him? That would prove to be hurtful. He had really hoped she felt for him the same way he did for her.

He walked over to the castle doors, and looked up to the sky. The sun was starting to sit, already. He guessed it was eight in the evening, and sighed. The day was already over. It seemed that she was at his castle for years. It almost seemed he knew her for years. Too bad he couldn't give his love to her for years. He decided to give Kagome one last hint to his feelings for her, and if she didn't give them back, he would just give up. No sense in trying to get a miko to fall for you if she never really responded positively to your actions.

He walked into the castle, and heard water running. He assumed it was Kagome. How many baths did the miko take in a day? Five? At least she wasn't a smelly human. He wouldn't have that in his castle. Rin always looked dirty, but for some reason, she never smelled. That was one of the many reasons why he kept her in his castle, as his ward.

He sighed, and stepped into the hall. He saw the little neko cat walk up to him, and purred. He smiled.

"What's wrong, neko?" Sesshoumaru asked the little cat curiously. Kirara looked up to the demon lord.

"Mrooow..." Kirara replied. Sesshoumaru cocked his head to the small cat. What did it want?

At that moment, Kirara turned her head, and sprinted toward the main hall. Sesshoumaru watched after her. Where was she going? He was so confused by this little neko. He heard the water go off. He assumed that Kagome was done her bath. Was Kirara running to get Kagome? No, that would be weird. What was she running for then? He decided to follow her.

He followed the path that the neko ran, and came upon her, standing at the front door. Was someone at the door? There were no guards there telling him that there was. The guards only stared in curiosity at the neko.

At that moment, the guards outside opened the doors. Sesshoumaru sensed that someone was here. Two people actually, one male, one female. He knew one of them, the male. It was Seekou, Lord of the Northern Lands. But who was the woman with him? He sensed she was human. His new mate? He could only imagine.

By then, one of the guards had walked over to Sesshoumaru. He bowed to him, and raised back up to state who was waiting outside.

"Milord, Lord Seekou is waiting outside for entrance. He says he has something that your new guest would appreciate. Should I let them in?"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. Something that his new guest would appreciate...Kagome? He nodded his head, allowing entrance.

He watched the guard turn around, and nod his head. At that moment, the door opened slowly, leading the two visitors inside. He noticed Seekou, but did not recognize the girl with him. Who was she?

Seekou walked up to Sesshoumaru, nodding to him.

"It is a pleasure to see you once again, Sesshoumaru. From the look in your eyes, you question my entrance. Well it seems that your new guest, Kagome by the name I presume, is in search for a friend, Sango. It seems that this woman with me is named Sango, who is also looking for her friends, by the names of Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo. Would they happen to reside here with you?"

Kirara walked up in the middle of Seekou's presentation, and jumped into Sango's arms. Sango noticed Kirara, and squealed. Her neko was alright! She hugged and squeezed the small neko with delight. Kirara licked Sango's face, causing her to laugh.

Seekou and Sesshoumaru looked over to Sango. Seekou smiled, but Sesshoumaru just stared. Was she Sango? Kagome would be so happy if this was. Sesshoumaru walked over to the girl, and put his hand on her shoulder. Sango stopped laughing, and looked up to him.

"You go by the name Sango, right? And you are looking for your friends, Kagome Miroku and Shippo, right?" Sango nodded. Sesshoumaru smiled, causing Sango to gasp. "Well, it seems that you have found them. They are all residing in this castle."

Sango's eyes lit up. They were all here! Her heart lifted up in joy.

Sesshoumaru called over one of his servants. "Bring me the new guests. They will be happy to see their friend again." The servant nodded, and quickly ran to go and get them all.

Seekou walked up to Sango, and put his arms around Sango's shoulders, causing her to blush. "So, it seems that you have found your friends, and quite quickly at that. You happy now?" Sango nodded and smiled. Seekou smiled, and lifted his arm off of Sango's shoulders.

After that moment, all that could be saw was a big blur of blue, orange and pink, then Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo lying on top of Sango, giving her hugs. Sango laughed, and pushed them all off, allowing her room to stand up.

They all stood, and smiled. Miroku got too cocky, and gave Sango one more big hug. He got brave, and reached around to her behind, and grabbed her. Sango's eyes turned red, and she pushed Miroku off of her, and slapped him in the face, causing him to fall to the floor with a grin on his face. Seekou was watching from a few inches away, with a frown on his face. Sango looked over and noticed this. She walked over to him, leaving Kagome and Shippo to help Miroku back up.

"Seekou, it's okay. He always does that, he's just a big pervert...you have to get used to it, really. It is kinda annoying when he grabs me every few minutes though..." Sango told him, scratching the back of her head, with her eyes closed, and a grin on her face. Seekou didn't crack a smile. He did not like the fact that the monk had grabbed her. He wanted to rip his head off, actually.

Sango straightened back up, and patted Seekou on the shoulder. "It's ok, Seekou. If he does it again, you can hit him on the head if you want to, just don't kill him. Okay?" Sango giggled, and gave Seekou a small hug. Seekou cracked a small smile, and gave the hug back. He was happy that Sango was so confident with this perverted monk. It gave him confidence too...

Sango walked back over to her friends. She smiled. She was back with her friends, finally. She felt safe now. Even though they were under the care of Sesshoumaru...she didn't care. She knew that her friends wouldn't make stupid choices, especially about living with a cold demon lord. She could even see the glint in Kagome's eyes for the demon lord...but that wasn't her business. She would just have to ask Kagome about it later.

Miroku had stood, and had watched Sango hug that strange man. He lowered his head, and frowned. So, she had found another man while she had been gone? He sighed. he had loved her too... he just didn't have the heart to tell her...

Sango had seen Miroku bow his head and frown also. She sighed, and shook her head. Was jealousy taking over Miroku? She walked over to him, and gave him a reassuring hug. She could feel the eyes of Seekou on her back. Great, now there would be competition...

She let go of Miroku, and took a look at her friends. Kagome's hair was still wet, she probably had just gotten out from a bath. Miroku's hair was all messy, like he had just woken up, and Shippo was all out of breath. A little girl stood a few feet away, patiently waiting for Shippo to go back and play with her.

"Shippo, you can go and play with your friend now. I am glad I am back here with you, and I'll be here if you need me, okay?" Sango put on her sweet voice, making Shippo smile, nod, and run back to his friend, only to watch them both run upstairs.

Sango looked back to her friends. Everyone was back together again. Except it seemed a bit out of place...like they were missing something. It seemed a little quiet...and then it hit her. Inuyasha. They were missing Inuyasha. Where was he?

The same question had been on Kagome and Miroku's mind also. Everyone was back together, except for Inuyasha. Where was that hanyou anyway? They shrugged it off, especially Kagome, and they all laughed, happy to be back with one another again.

Once Sesshoumaru saw Sango and Miroku turn their heads, he walked up to Kagome, and grabbed her sides. Kagome gasped, tensed up, and turned around, to see a smiling Sesshoumaru look down at her. Kagome smiled also, and relaxed into his hands. She felt safe, for some odd reason, when she was with him.

Sesshoumaru had let go of Kagome, to allow her to turn around to face him. By then, Sango and Miroku had turned back around to watch, and a curious Seekou even watched the scene.

Sesshoumaru looked into Kagome's eyes lovingly, while Kagome stared back into his eyes, causing her body to feel like it was being melted under his gaze. Sesshoumaru's hand gently came up, and he put her cheek in his hand, caressing it gently. He leaned his head closer and closer to Kagome's head, until she could feel his breath on her lips.

Everybody's eyes were growing wide, just from watching this strange scene in front of them. They couldn't believe that Sesshoumaru was like this, even doing this in front of them!

Sesshoumaru gazed deeply into her eyes, that were centimeters away, and let his head drift down, until his lips finally touched hers. They fell into a deep kiss, that only lasted for a few seconds. Sesshoumaru pulled away hesitantly, still staring into Kagome's heat filled gaze. Sesshoumaru smiled, and let go of her completely, standing straight up. He looked over to the others, and saw them all standing there, with bewildered looks coming from all of them, jaws dropped to the floor. He chuckled, and turned to go. He decided to give Kagome one small hint of what to do later.

"Kagome...if you wish to see me again tonight, I will be in my room. Come and see me if you would like." With that, Sesshoumaru had walked off, to go to his room, with a big smile on his face.

'Strike three, and you are mine.'

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Well, there you have it! Small cliffy, sorry. What's Kagome going to do? Who is Sango going to pick? And where is Inuyasha? Find out in the next chapter of: Peeping! (Lol, sorry...I sort of caught the advertising fever...hehe... :P )