Kagome sat on her bed with Shippou sitting across from her. She had changed out of her fighting kimono and into her white dress, but she still wore her armor. Kagome decided to open her wings and stretch them. Shippou sat with his little legs out in front of him and resting his chin in his hands. "Kagome, now that you are in the army, what do you have to do?" "Well, I will be helping the general train the soldiers and if ever a war arises, then I will be helping General Roku and Lord Sesshoumaru with battle strategies." Shippou had tears come to his eyes and said, "You would leave me to fight a war?" Kagome placed a hand on Shippou's head and said, "If one should arise, then I would be obligated to go; but do not worry, I won't leave you." Shippou hugged her and said, "Thanks Kagome." Kagome let go of Shippou and then stood up. "I am going to go to the gardens. You probably should go to bed. Okay." Shippou nodded his head sleepily and watched Kagome tie her sword to her hip and then walk out of the room.
Kagome walked down the hall and headed out of the castle to an open garden filled with a whole bunch of different kind of flowers. Kagome was breath-taken by the sight that she could hardly speak. She walked further into the garden and was marveled by its beauty. Over head was a full moon and it was illuminating the garden. Kagome looked up at the moon and her home and she began to wonder how and who she was going to set up Lord Sesshoumaru. 'He is a walking block of ice, for crying out loud.' She then began to think about her own love life. She had been so busy running around play matchmaker that she had not had time for her own love life and she wanted to experience the same love that her charges found. She sighed and then felt a strong aura enter the garden. She turned around, but no one was there. She spread her senses to pinpoint whoever's aura she felt. The aura was coming from the middle pillar and she silently drew her sword. Kagome then waited for the person to emerge from behind the pillar.
Sesshoumaru had come out his study after completing his paperwork and noticed it was late at night. Down the hallway, he heard a door shut. He turned and saw that is was his new lieutenant. She had changed her attire from the black with silver trim fighting kimono to a white dress, her armor, and her sword tied securely to her hip. The thing that he didn't notice before was the pair of pure white wings. He was now curious about not only why she was here but what she was. He watched her walk down the hallway and then headed toward the gardens. He decided to follow her and see what she was up to. When he reached the gardens, she stood out in the middle of the garden and with the moon light casting over her made her look like a goddess. He had never seen anything so beautiful, but then he shook the thought from his head. He could not and would not have those kind of thoughts about his lieutenant. He then saw her turn toward where he was standing and draw her sword. A few minutes ticked by and then she said, "Come out whoever you are." Sesshoumaru stepped out from behind the pillar and drew his own sword.
When Kagome saw that it was Sesshoumaru, she gasped and placed her sword across her chest and bowed slightly. "Forgive me, my Lord; I did not know that it was you who was behind the pillar." "What are you doing out here?" Kagome straighten herself up and said, "I came out her to think, my Lord. Being in this beautiful garden is very peaceful." The two sheathed their swords at the same time and then Sesshoumaru looked at her with his piercing golden eyes. "Is there something to you need from me?" Sesshoumaru walked closer to her and said, "Who are you and why are you here?" Kagome did not know how to answer the question, but she said, "I will tell you now that I cannot reveal to you exactly who I am; for you see, I am in hiding since I am sought after for some unknown reason. I decided instead of hiding away, I would hide my identity and join your great army, my Lord. Please, my Lord, allow me to stay while I wait for the threat to lower and then I will leave and hide somewhere else. I assure you that I will not cause problems and I will be a great benefit to your army." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed and then said, "Very well, but if you cause one problem, you will leave. No questions. Do I make myself clear?" Kagome nodded and then watched him turn and leave the garden.
Sesshoumaru entered his room and then went out onto the balcony. He looked down in the garden below and saw that Kagome was still standing there. Something about her was not as it seemed and this caught his attention. This girl was a mystery to him and he did not like not knowing everything. He then watched her enter the castle and he decided to figure out for himself what he could about her. Sesshoumaru turned and left his room and headed for the library.
Kagome entered her room and saw that Shippou was curled up in the blankets and fast asleep. She couldn't help but smile as he looked so peaceful. Kagome then decided that before she went to sleep that she would take a quick bath. She grabbed her sleeping kimono from the dresser and then opened the door that lead to a hot spring, which the castle was built around. She saw that two other doors were there and she guessed that one had to belong to Sesshoumaru; but she wonder who the other door belong to. She shrugged her shoulders and then discarded her armor and dress and placed then to the side. She then stepped into the warm water and sat at the edge. She could feel the muscles that she had worked that day were beginning to relax. Kagome turned around and rested her arms on the side and then placed her head on top of them. She sighed and said, "What am I going to do? Sesshoumaru is probably now going to keep a close eye on me while I am trying to turn his heart of ice to one that is warm and caring. The Elders were not kidding when they said that this would be my hardest assignment." Kagome sighed again, but then pushed off the edge and sank below the surface.
Sesshoumaru was getting frustrated that he was not finding what he was looking for in his library. He had been through twenty books and found nothing. He rubbed his temples and then got up from his chair. He walked into his room and then entered the hot springs. He looked around and he saw that it was empty, but what he failed to see was the dress and armor near the other door. He unclasped his armor and then stripped his kimono. Over the years, he had gotten use to only using one arm after his idiot half brother, Inuyasha, amputated it in a fight they had. He then stepped into the water and leaned back against a rock. He shut his eyes and tried to relieve the stress he was feeling. He then heard something surface and he opened one eye and saw Kagome's back. Her wings were closed and her hair was plastered to her back and wings. She ran her hands over her head and he watched as the water cascaded down her back. He then saw on her back right shoulder a tattoo that he hadn't seen before and he was curious about it.
Kagome stayed under the water for a bit to think, but then felt it was time to finish up her bath. She swam to the surface and once she breeched it, she ran her hands over her head and she could feel the water run down her body. She then felt the hairs on the back of her neck tingle and she was afraid to turn around; but she slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder. There sitting at the other side of the hot springs was the demon lord himself. Kagome gasped and used her wings and arms to cover her front. "What are you doing in here?" Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow and said, "Lieutenant, you will address me with the proper respect and furthermore, I am allowed to bath as well as you." Kagome didn't say anything, but then realized that her eyes began to look at Sesshoumaru's well toned and defined chest. She quickly turned attention away and thought, 'I can't be having thought about him. He is my charge and it is forbidden.' Sesshoumaru smirked in amusement when he saw her quickly turn away after she was looking at his chest. Kagome change the topic and said, "Forgive me for asking, but may I ask how you lost your left arm, my Lord?" He was quiet for a bit but then she heard him say, "I lost it during a battle if you must know." Kagome nodded her head and then began to head toward the edge where she had entered. "I think I will take my leave and leave you to bathe. Have good evening, my Lord." She quickly got out, grabbed her clothing, and then slipped behind a screen. She grabbed one of the towels and began to dry herself off. As she was drying herself, Sesshoumaru said, "What does the mark on your right shoulder mean?" Kagome silently gasped for she wasn't supposed to let him see that. She had to come up with a good lie and quick. She then thought of one and said, "I have had it ever since I was born and I am unsure of what it means. It may be why I am being hunted down." She slipped on her undergarments and then her sleeping kimono, which was short-sleeved and came to above her knee. The color was white and had lavender flowers all over it. It also had holes in the back for her wings. She came out from behind the screen and gathered her dress and armor. Kagome then turned and bowed to Sesshoumaru before leaving the spring. Sesshoumaru watched her go, but he couldn't help but be even more curious about her origins and why she was being chased after. He would return to the library in the morning and look through the many books that he hadn't already.