"A Heart's Immaculence"

Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own Inuyasha!

Author's Note: To all my precious readers, and especially to all my cherished reviewers, thank you so much for your support! I don't have time to waste right now, so I won't really say much. It's been a hectic and busy day for me. The next couple of days won't be any different, unfortunately. I'm sad to say that I might not be able to update for the next chapter until late next week, but that all depends on whether or not my teacher gives me a midterm. If she does, I'll have to use the weekend to study. If not, then I'm free to write the next chapter more quickly. It's a drag, but things like this do happen. If I don't update soon enough, please don't forget about me! Please bear with me on this, I beg you! It's not my fault! I better quit now before you think I'm a cry-baby. I most certainly am not!

Chapter 20

It was an ominous occurrence having Naraku cloak himself within an exact semblance of Inuyasha's body. Although the distinctiveness of his features were there, it seemed as if a phantom or apparition had inhabited that body, transforming what was beautiful into a horrendous wretchedness, contaminating the person with his evil. Naraku's appearance dispelled the purity and beauty of the nature surrounding him, the luscious trees fading in color from green to grey, their leaves drying in the process. The birds nested there flew away the moment their home was invaded by his venomous aura. All other parts of the forest were affected as well, the grass and flowers no longer containing their vibrant pigment, withering from life by a demon's fatal touch.

As she held her weapon in place, Kagome watched as Naraku took in delight from having deceived her with his trickery. She was aggrieved by the spectacle, for she was staring at Inuyasha's likeness, yet she knew it was truly Naraku who was manipulating the entire drama unfolding before her. She was unsure of the reason for her blunder in judgment, unable to explain how she could have been fooled so easily. From everyone who knew Inuyasha, she was the only one who knew him completely as the hanyou he was, the single individual who understood his soul. Kagome was uncertain what may have clouded her heart from recognizing it was not Inuyasha who had interacted with her, but she was determined to show Naraku how ireful he was making her.

She was not the only one who felt so, for Sesshomaru was staring at his nemesis as though he desired to destroy him immediately, his pupils expanding to the tremor of his Tokijin, its power ignited by his own loathsomeness and rage. He was also perplexed by the recession of his senses and how he could have allowed his jealousy to deplete that part of him. Nevertheless, his senses had returned completely, and he was more than willing to transform into his true demon self if only to crush Naraku in one swift movement with his colossal body. But such a thing would be an unfortunate waste, since killing him slowly and inflicting suffering upon him deliberately could be beneficial to assuage Sesshomaru's scowling feelings for him.

"Kagome," said Naraku, moving a few steps to the side to view her, Sesshomaru's body shielding her from him. "How do you like me as Inuyasha?"

Moving to the side to look at him as well, Kagome kneaded her lips and exhaled heavily, trying to relax her shoulders from the tension that was building there. "How do I like you as Inuyasha, you say? This is how much!"

She aimed at Naraku's chest and fired an arrow, and although she knew it would have no affect on him, she attacked him more out of aggravation than anything else. As she had expected, he was not harmed by the arrow, having grabbed it with his hand before hitting him and snapping it in two like a twig. He smiled viciously at her and shook his head with a mixture of annoyance and disapproval.

"You attack me with a sacred arrow?" Naraku said. "You should know by now that an inferior weapon like yours cannot destroy me."

"Perhaps she cannot destroy you, but I can," Sesshomaru said, flicking Tokijin with his wrist, turning it at a sharp angle and plunging forward to penetrate his body with its blade.

"How predictable of you, Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku laughed, disappearing and avoiding his attack.

Kagome gaped in surprise and looked around, wondering where Naraku was concealing himself.

"Do not think I am unable to detect where you are, Naraku," said Sesshomaru, closing his eyes to get a better hold of his scent. "Your demonic stench is the foulest I have ever known. Show yourself and spare me the hassle of finding you. I don't have time to waste."

"Are you sure it is Naraku's scent you smell?" Kagura said, pushing Kagome with her arm slightly, strong enough to make her lose her balance but not fall. She stood behind Sesshomaru and looked up at him with a smile. "You may want to keep your eyes open and be more wary of what you see."

Opening his eyes, he turned to look down at Kagura. "Why are you telling me something I already know?"

"Forgive me. I underestimate you," said Kagura, moving her eyes to look down at the ground, unable to keep them locked with Sesshomaru's own amber orbs, a blush sneaking up her face from being so close to him. "I'm only telling you what I thought you didn't know. Of course you don't have to heed my words if you don't wish to. A powerful demon such as you does not need help from anyone, least of all me who happens to be the cursed incarnation of that monster Naraku."

"Be cautious of what you say, Kagura," said Naraku, his voice hovering in the open air, his body still invisible. "I have your heart in my possession. Speak of me again in that manner and I shall take your heart and devour it."

Kagura clenched her fists and sulked quietly, dragging her feet hard into the ground as she walked away from Sesshomaru. She hesitated and looked at Kagome with an envious expression.

"And what about you?" she asked Kagome, her scarlet eyes more intense and incisive. "Must you rely on Sesshomaru's protection of you?"

Kagome stomped her foot on the ground. "What protection? Does he look likes he's protecting me to you?"

"Did he not put himself in between you and Naraku just now?" Kagura said, licking her hand and moving a few loose strands of hair from her forehead, combing it back in place with the side of her palm.

It was apparent to Kagome that Sesshomaru did make such a protective gesture, yet whether he did it to save her from harm or not, she thought it wise to speak of him as if she did not understand his actions, acting as if she cared not in the least of what he did or did not do. She knew that if Naraku and Kagura suspected anything about her true feelings for him, she would be in a terrible predicament.

"Sesshomaru has never protected me," Kagome said brazenly. "Why would he start now? He's always tried to kill me."

"Is that really true?" Kagura said cockily, lifting both her eyebrows, unimpressed by Kagome's brash performance. "Then why aren't you already dead?"

"That was true once," Naraku said. "But things can change rather unexpectedly. Do I not speak true, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I am not interested in your riddles, Naraku," said Sesshomaru unemotionally. "You speak vaguely of something unknown to me. I am tired of your fatuous insinuations."

Naraku's laughter vibrated through the air, and Sesshomaru was able to locate his whereabouts within the vicinity, not through his sense of hearing, but by the tingling he felt at the back of his neck. His skin had become highly sensitive after utilizing all of his demonic senses, and only Naraku was able to make his skin bristle so severely.

Sesshomaru felt Naraku's threatening presence near Kagome, and he darted his body forward as straight and aligned as a wooden spear, gliding through the air briefly before jumping in front of her. Not having enough time to gasp, Kagome's body became paralyzed by Sesshomaru's sudden move. He was coming towards her with his Tokijin, and it appeared as if he was going to attack her, but then he stopped, and at such close proximity to her. Had he continued to move towards her, he would have collided with her without fail.

Just as he was about to wield his sword, however, Sesshomaru took his eyes off of Kagome and mused temporarily, placing Tokijin next to his Tenseiga. Something had caught his attention again, and he ran from Kagome's side to attack Naraku, who finally appeared, standing near the opening of the hole used to capture her. Sensing an awkwardness in his appearance, Sesshomaru curved his hand and brought it upward, ejecting his arm forward and slashing through Naraku's body. Astonishingly, Naraku's body vanished into a white mist after Sesshomaru had punctured his false but translucent form. After the mist had dissipated, another figure emerged, yet it was of small stature. It was the body of a child, a little girl in white, her hair of the same color ornamented with a flower. Her eyes were vacant and unemotional, staring into nothing as she held a round mirror.

"An illusion," Sesshomaru said in a bored tone, looking at the demon child coldly. "How infantile!"

When Kagome saw the child, she was more enraged than before, hating Naraku for deceiving her once again, believing his body was real, now realizing it was illusory.

"That little brat!" she said angrily, stretching the string on her bow and releasing an arrow straight into the mirror the small girl carried.

The child turned her mirror halfway around and allowed the arrow to enter the transparent glass. Kagura, after seeing what Kagome had done, reacted protectively of her sister and pulled the human girl by the hair, snapping her head back. Kagome struggled to set herself free until she felt Kagura's weight come off from her. Kagura was on the ground and her body was enrapped in Sesshomaru's green whip, but based on the demoness' expression, it seemed she did not mind being tied by the handsome creature standing above her.

"We're done playing, Kagura," he said calmly, his tone indicating he had no ill-will towards her even if she was Naraku's marionette.

"Why are you always the one to put an end to our games?" said Kagura disappointingly.

Sesshomaru pulled back his two fingers and released his whip from Kagura's body. She continued to lie on the ground and looked up at him with pleading eyes. Kagome, who was getting tired of watching Kagura's dallying conduct, turned her face the other way and tried to ignore her. She suspected Sesshomaru would not encourage her behavior, but she knew he would not berate her for it either.

"Aren't you going to help me up?" Kagura said casually.

"Stop being so frivolous!" Sesshomaru replied with commanding inflection.

Kagura stood up arrogantly and slapped Kagome's arm with her fan. "Had it been her on the ground, you certainly would have assisted her."

"I really doubt that," Kagome interjected, looking at Sesshomaru then closing her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, swinging her head militarily to the side, her long hair almost hitting Kagura on the face.

"Are you so certain?" said Kagura sharply.

"Do I sense a tinge of jealousy in you, Kagura?" said Naraku suddenly from inside the demon child's mirror.

"Kanna!" Kagura said to Naraku's other incarnation. "Break that mirror of yours! I have no desire to hear Naraku ridiculing me."

Kanna stood still and silent, turning her mirror sideways again. A red glow escaped from inside the glass and Naraku's face appeared on its surface, his dark hair blowing around him from some unknown wind, his scarlet eyes shining wickedly, complimenting his twisted smile.

Sesshomaru was amused by how small Naraku seemed in the mirror, and although he was not inside it, he imagined how ludicrous it would be if he truly was in there.

"This is a side of you I enjoy looking at, Naraku," Sesshomaru said with a tight grin.

"Be that as it may," Naraku said mischievously. "You are not the only one who's been amused by Kanna's mirror. I have enjoyed seeing another side of you through this glass
as well, Lord Sesshomaru."

"You should explain yourself then," Sesshomaru replied, not liking the idea of Naraku spying on him.

"I have no time for that now, I'm afraid. However, I am interested in taking Kagome with me."

Kagome looked at Naraku like a vicious cobra, her feelings towards him as poisonous as the venom found in its fangs. "You're not taking me anywhere!"

Sesshomaru was also extremely vexed by Naraku's words, and as much as he tried to conceal his displeasure, no miraculous veil could prevent its disclosure.

Both Naraku and Kagura caught the strained expression on Sesshomaru's countenance, and while one was pleased by what he saw, the other was incredibly resentful.

"Now I see it all very clearly," Kagura said angrily, understanding what Sesshomaru's true feelings towards the human girl really were. "More clearly than I would have through Kanna's mirror."

"Is there something about Kagome I should know about, Kagura?" Naraku asked.

"She has a new power," Kagura said plainly.

"Yes." Naraku was smiling even more wickedly." I knew she possessed more than just spiritual power. She is stronger than I thought. I would be delighted if you'd demonstrate for me this power you've been hiding from me, Kagome."

"No way!" Kagome said, hoping Sesshomaru would intervene in order to prevent Naraku from taking her away with him.

It was as if he reacted to her thoughts, for Sesshomaru dashed towards Kanna to rip her mirror from her hands. "Your cowardice is evident, Naraku, speaking to me through that mirror. You'd rather keep your distance than to face me. I shall have no more of it!"

Before long, Kagura removed her feather from her hair and tossed it into the air, jumping on top of it as it transfigured into a length large enough to ride on. She swooped down and grabbed Kanna by the waste and flopped her on the huge feather before Sesshomaru could break her sister's mirror.

"I'll see you again soon, Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku said, his face still visible in the mirror. "I've already learned what I wanted to know, with Kagura's help of course. There's no reason I should remain speaking to you. But you may expect me to reveal myself to you in my true fleshed-out demonic form in our next encounter. And as for Kagome…."

Naraku did not complete his words, leaving his final line to be ambiguous.

"Well, Sesshomaru," said Kagura, looking at him sorrowfully. "I know the truth now, thanks to Naraku."

And with that, a tempestuous wind rose from the ground and lifted the flying feather into the atmosphere, Kagura, Kanna, and the image of Naraku disappearing into the dark, stormy clouds which were temporarily brewed by the wind sorceress's power. But then that too diminished, the luminous sun and azure sky returning to normal.

Kagome had been waiting for everything to be over since it began, and now that it was, she sank to the ground in a sitting position, breathing a sigh of relief for the menace that was no longer there. She had been fortunate again to escape Naraku's grasp, and had she been alone, her fate would have turned out differently. It was unquestionable that Sesshomaru being there with her was the only reason she was still with him, free from the jeopardy that had ensued them both.

She strongly desired to thank him, but she was reluctant to do so, embarrassed by Naraku's and Kagura's insinuations that Sesshomaru cared for her in some manner or other. They had hinted the exact thing with her, yet she was grateful that neither she or Sesshomaru openly admitted to anything, though she was not as convinced as she thought she was about his true feelings for her.

Kagome felt it decent to at least acknowledge what Sesshomaru had done for her, but when she looked up to smile at him, she saw something that made her happiness subside. A small, single white feather was falling from the sky, rocking gently like a baby's crib, and as it descended to the ground, Sesshomaru stretched out his hand and allowed it to rest on his palm. He looked at it for a while and then lifted his eyes to the sky, staring at the massive blue vastness stretching across heaven. And he remained looking at the sky for some time, his thoughts floating in his mind with the slow movement of the clouds.

Why does he have such a peaceful expression on his face? Kagome asked herself, the pain in her heart rising from the hidden darkness inside her. Why is he holding that feather? Does he really have feelings for Kagura? But why did he protect me then?

Kagome shook her head solemnly and fought back the tears that were sure to come if she did not summon her will power to stop them from streaming down her eyes. She did not know where such sensitivity came from, and she never recalled ever being so emotional, not even with Inuyasha. Just then the thought of him made her think. What if Sesshomaru did have feelings for her after all, but what if he also had them for Kagura?

That better not be the case, Kagome thought. If it is, he's just like Inuyasha. Can't men make up their minds when it comes to women? Inuyasha couldn't choose between me and Kikyo, and now Sesshomaru can't decide between me and Kagura! But what if I'm jumping to conclusions? I shouldn't even be thinking about this. I don't even know if he likes me for sure or not.

Her thoughts aroused Kagome's anger and frustration, and not being able to hold it back, she stood up and waved her hands wildly above her head.

"I'm so tired and so frustrated!" Kagome screamed, her voice loud enough to rouse the birds from the trees and frighten them to fly away. "I'm a mess! I'm dirty! I'm hungry! I'm physically exhausted! I can't stand this anymore!"

Sesshomaru was not bothered by her explosiveness, but remained transfixed by the sky.

Kagome refused to be ignored.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Kagome shouted as loudly as she could. "Excuse me!"

Sesshomaru continued to be unresponsive.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Without thinking, Kagome grabbed Sesshomaru's sleeve and tugged at it stubbornely as if she was trying to pull down a curtain.

What does he see in her? Kagome thought again.

"Snap out of it already!" Kagome demanded.

She finally captured Sesshomaru's attention, and he looked at her briefly with the famous blank expression that was his trademark. He began walking away from her, twiddling the feather in between his fingers.

"What's gotten into you?" Kagome asked him, her emotions suffocating her to the point that she felt like fainting.

She was unable to move from where she stood, and a part of her did not want to follow him. Hearing Rin's laughter, she saw the child along with Jaken and Ah-Un, all three of them coming out of the large bushes which they had been hiding in during the encounter with Naraku.

Rin, who was beaming like sunshine, saw Kagome and waved to her gleefully, but Kagome did not feel like her small child friend looked.

"Come on, Kagome!" Rin called. "Lord Sesshomaru's leaving. You don't want to be left behind."

"Let her be, Rin," Jaken said haughtily. "If she doesn't want to come with us, then that's her loss. It's definitely not ours."

Even Jaken himself did not rouse Kagome to anger. It was his lord and master who did.

She watched Rin climb on top of Ah-Un and helped Jaken up to sit next to her. She looked at Kagome quizzically and scratched the back of her head.

"Let's go," Kagome heard Sesshomaru say, and she watched him walk away, but something caught her eye while doing so. She saw his hand which was carrying the feather open, and the smallness of it fell to the ground. She was unsure whether he had dropped it on purpose or accidentally.

She went over to where the feather had fallen, bent down and picked it up, inspecting the softness and delicacy of it. It was a lovely little feather, and Kagome understood why Sesshomaru had looked upon it with admiring eyes. It was so pretty she felt like placing it in her hair as an ornament, but she remembered it was Kagura's, and that made her dispose the idea. She stared at it sadly as she twiddled it through her fingers the same way Sesshomaru had done.

"Are you not coming?"

Kagome was startled. Was that Sesshomaru who had just spoken to her?

"Um." That was all Kagome could utter.

Sesshomaru had stopped walking along with his small entourage.

"Why did you stop?" he asked her. He looked at her meticulously, tracing her entire face with his eyes.

Kagome looked again at the feather she held in her hands. Sesshomaru followed her gaze and rested his eyes on her hands, looking at the object he had been holding.

"Did you stop for that?" Sesshomaru asked again, smiling. "To look at that feather? If I were you, I would not waste my time looking at something so meaningless."

There was a sincerity in Sesshomaru's words, and Kagome felt it. She noticed he had stressed the last word he had spoken.

Meaningless? Kagome thought. Does he mean what I think he means? Does Kagura not mean anything to him?

A sense of rejuvenation filled Kagome's body as hope returned to her soul. She gently placed the feather back on the ground and ran up to Sesshomaru.

"Thank you for helping me," Kagome said timidly yet courageously.

"I did nothing of the sort," Sesshomaru replied earnestly but with a pinch of softness underneath. "Naraku is a nuisance, and I'll do whatever it takes to interrupt his schemes. You misinterpreted what you saw, which means you have the wrong impression."

"I predicted you'd say something like that," Kagome sighed. "I agree with you. You're right and I'm wrong, like always."

As they began to walk again, Sesshomaru did not believe Kagome meant what she had said, and she seemed satisfied with his answer. She had no desire of arguing with him.

Kagome was also confident she had witnessed a slight breach of his internal armor, for he did not seem as cold and indifferent as he once was. There was a change in him, a very subtle one, but it was noticeable nonetheless.

"Are you alright, Kagome?" Rin said, counting the flowers she had picked when Sesshomaru stopped to question her.

"Yes, for now," Kagome said in return.

"I was right about Lord Sesshomaru, wasn't I?" Rin asked her, placing a flower in Kagome's hair.

Kagome was silent, knowing the child was inferring to Sesshomaru's protection of her.

Jaken himself looked at both Rin and Kagome suspiciously.

"What are you talking about, Rin?" asked Sesshomaru, overhearing her.

"Oh!" Rin looked at Kagome and giggled sweetly. "It's a secret, my lord."

"Is it now?" he said, walking more quickly than Ah-Un, moving ahead of Kagome and his ward until he was at the front of the tiny parade.

"That was close," Kagome said.

"What do you mean 'close'?" Jaken asked. "Is there something you two are hiding from my lord? You sneaky humans!"

Instinctively, so that Jaken would not hear them, Kagome forced Jaken down flat on Ah-Un's back and leaned her own body on top of his. He was struggling beneath her like a wriggling worm, and he was moaning, but she was sure he would not be able to hear her or Rin.

"Please let me tell Lord Sesshomaru, Kagome," Rin pleaded, pressing the flowers to her chest. "I know he likes you. I saw how he protected you today."

"No, Rin," Kagome said in a whisper. "You promised me you wouldn't say anything. Anyway, it looks like he likes Kagura."

Rin's face distorted as if she had eaten something sour. "Lord Sesshomaru does like her, but not the way he likes you, Kagome."

"What do you mean? There's a lot of definitions out there for 'like', you know."

"Well, you're his favorite person he likes."

"I guess that makes more sense."

Jaken was struggling harder beneath Kagome's body, and she was unsure whether she could hold him down any longer. He was rather strong for being a little imp, but she also feared that if she held on to him longer, she would suffocate him.

Oh, well, Kagome thought. If he dies, Sesshomaru can bring him back to life with Tenseiga.

With that thought, Kagome continued to converse with Rin.

"Kagome!" Rin said, clasping her hands together as if she was going to pray. "I want to tell Lord Sesshomaru! I want to very much! I want you to be with him. I thought you said you loved him."

Kagome blushed and turned to see if Sesshomaru had heard Rin, but judging by his composed manner, she knew he had not.

"Why is it that children have special instincts?" Kagome asked, more to herself than to Rin. "I really do like him, Rin, but—"

"Do you love him or not?" Rin asked seriously. "I love him and I'm not embarrassed."

"But your love is different from mine."

"No, it's not!" said the child innocently.

Kagome smiled and shook her head. "You'll understand one day, Rin."

"I think I should ask Lord Sesshomaru what he thinks about you."

Kagome's face turned white.

"Please don't do that, Rin!"

Before she could stop her, Rin slid down Ah-Un's back and ran to catch up with Sesshomaru. Kagome removed her body from squashing Jaken, and the green demon coughed loudly and gasped for breath, touching his throat as he did.

"You stupid girl!" Jaken said, hitting Kagome on her arm with his staff.

"Oww! That hurt!" Kagome grabbed the staff away from Jaken and hit him on the head with it in return. "I don't have time for this. Rin's going to embarrass me any minute."

"You're a walking embarrassment if you ask me," Jaken said, rubbing his head.

"Oh, shut up!"

Kagome ran ahead of Ah-Un and Jaken but stopped a few feet behind Sesshomaru and Rin who were walking side by side. She was shaking with nervousness, and she began to perspirate all over her body.

Looking up at her cherished master, Rin smiled at him and asked, "Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Yes?" he said, looking straight ahead.

Kagome shook her head and waved her hands behind Sesshomaru, trying to get Rin's attention to prevent her from speaking. Had Rin seen her or not, it did not make much difference, for she was going ahead with asking her questions. For some reason, Rin was uncomfortable talking to her lord as they walked, so she ran in front of him, stretched out her arms and made him stop in his tracks.

"What is it, Rin?" Sesshomaru said patiently.

"Lord Sesshomaru, I was wondering, do you think Kagome's pretty?"

Sesshomaru stared at Rin and crinkled his brows, swallowing forcefully at the same time. He had a knot in his throat, and his muscles were tense. Without wanting to, a rush of heat swam up to his face, and he felt it settle on his cheeks. Rin had caught him off guard with her blunt, unexpected question.

Kagome reacted in the same way, however she trembled in the fashion a person would if they were naked inside a swirling blizzard. If there was one thing she loved most about Sesshomaru, it was his ability to remain in control whether for a minor occurrence or a crisis.

Jaken and Ah-Un caught up with the three of them since they all had stopped after Rin had asked her question. He immediately noticed the change of color in Sesshomaru's face, and his yellow eyes bulged at the sight of him.

"My lord, your face!" he said worriedly. "Are you ill, my lord? Has the heat of the sun ruined your flawless complexion? What's wrong? Please tell me!"

"Jaken!" Sesshomaru said sternly, swinging his arm and hitting the imp across the body, knocking him off Ah-Un. "Did I give you permission to speak? Did I not say to keep silent for the entire day?"

"Y-y-yes, you did, my lord, but—"

"Keep silent or your head will be next to fall off!"

Is he blushing? Kagome said to herself. Is it really true?

Jaken used his staff to support himself and climbed back on Ah-Un's back.

Rin was still smiling, her eyes wide open and filled with tremendous joy.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin said, prepared to ask him more questions.

"No more questions, Rin," Sesshomaru said. "We must be moving along now. Get out of the way."

Rin remained where she stood, disobeying him for the second time, questioning him again.

"Don't you think Kagome looks like a princess? Don't you believe she has the most beautiful black hair and the brightest eyes you've ever seen? Doesn't she have rosey lips too?"

"Rin!" said Sesshomaru.

Kagome blushed.

"And doesn't she smell like flowers to you?" Rin asked. "Doesn't she have a lovely voice that sounds like bells? Isn't she warm and loving?"

"Rin!" Sesshomaru repeated again.

Kagome blushed more deeply.

"Don't you think Kagome has a good heart, my lord? Don't you like that she's always nice and kind and caring? Isn't she smart? What about her being strong and brave?"

"Rin, enough of that!" Sesshomaru snapped. "Now move out of the way."

"But Lord Sesshomaru!"

"Move away!"

Like a daughter obeying her father, Rin did as Sesshomaru had commanded, and he began to walk once more. She had the most content smile on her face as if she had seen what she had wished in her master. Rin looked at Kagome and noticed her embarrassment. She hugged her and, for some reason beyond Kagome's undersanding, she embraced Jaken as well. Both Kagome and Jaken were stunned. Rin then began dancing around Kagome and Ah-Un, followed by a brief encirclement of Sesshomaru, throwing the flowers she had with her up in the air as if in celebration.

The rest of the way, Sesshomaru, Rin, Jaken and Kagome walked silently, each of them in tune to their own thoughts. Kagome had no way of knowing if what Rin had just done would affect the demon lord's treatment of her, either for better or worst. Still, she had learned something valuable based on Sesshomaru's protection of her and what she had seen transpire that day, including the manner in which he reacted to Rin's questions.

Rin's words finally rang true inside her.

Although feelings and emotions are often expressed, in the end of it all, actions do speak more than words.

Three cheers for me! Yay, I completed this chapter successfully! It's 2:03 a.m. right now. I know you all probably think I'm crazy for being so dedicated and staying up late to write a chapter. Maybe I'm a workaholic! Oh, no! Is that bad? Being a perfectionist and a workaholic are not the same thing, right? Who knows! I'm just happy I finally got to make a "sweet" scene in my story. I love Sesshomaru, and I'm glad he's showing his true colors at last! Wasn't Rin adorable? I love her a lot too. However, I'm starting to get jealous of Kagome. Why does it have to be her and not me Sesshomaru's in love with? Please don't think I hate her. No way! I also love Kagome. That's why I'm writing a Sess x Kag fanfic. Now we want to know how soon will it be before they express their love for each other. That's the biggie we all are ready to see, including me. It's getting there, my lovely readers. Their relationship is progressing, but the rhythm of their emotions is gathering speed as each day passes. They're not going to be able to contain their feelings for long, I can tell you that. Did you enjoy reading this chapter? I really hope you did. I revised it three times, and I'm not saying that to be a brag. I'm proud of my work, and I just want to make sure you all know how serious I am about it. Please, my darlings, continue sending your beautiful reviews. You are my angels, and your reviews are like blessings to me. Thank you so very much!