Author Note: Wow, 5 chapters in one week! I am on a roll right now! Anyway, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to like and comment!

Intentions

The day had passed by quickly for Kikyou, until the time for her test arrived. She wasn't worried about the subject matter as she had been studying for it diligently the past couple of days. As the clock counted down, she focused on the task ahead. This was a major test that would affect her grades and Kikyou was not about to fall behind in school, regardless of her day-to-day life of shard hunting and yokai slaying. Sure, tests didn't seem like a big deal in comparison to an "end of the world as we know it" quest, but Kikyou found a way to prioritize her schooling. After all, she didn't know what kind of future she would have after the jewel was completed. She figured she would continue her normal life, so it was good to be prepared for a normal future.

Somehow, the thought wasn't as comforting as she thought it would be. Kikyou glanced out the window and sighed, before jerking her head back with a quick shake and honing in on the paper in front of her.

Focus Kikyou! This is no time to be daydreaming about your adventures right now!

As Kikyou's attention returned to the test, she began answering the questions quickly and effectively. Now, she was in the zone! Absolutely nothing could beak her—

"Ms. Higurashi?" The sound of her teacher's voice snapped her out of her focus. Kikyou looked up into the concerned adult's gaze.

"We got a call from your mother. Something's happened to your sister," the teacher spoke gently, trying to be reassuring.

Kikyou's face paled and she immediately stood up ready to dash out the door, but the teacher held her back.

"Don't worry, you can finish your test another time. Go be with your family," the teacher gave her a firm pat on the back. Kikyou politely thanked the teacher before grabbing her things and tearing out the door.

As she ran, she snatched her phone out of her bag and quickly called her mother. After a brief explanation, Mrs. Higurashi relayed Sesshomaru's message and Kikyou made a beeline for her sister's elementary school. As she approached the entrance, she caught sight of Sesshomaru sniffing the area. Just as she was about to call out to him, a sharp tug on her senses halted her in her tracks.

No...but that's impossible! Kikyou frantically looked around trying to reclaim the feeling that had stopped her. She could have sworn she sensed a jewel shard just now, but the jewel didn't exist in the modern era...right?

XXX

Sesshomaru had spent the last few minutes trying to pick up Kaede's scent so he could follow her trail, but so far, his search had proven fruitless. It was just as Mrs. Higurashi said; the girl had vanished.

Sesshomaru found the whole situation suspicious. First of all, he couldn't detect Kaede's scent at all. In fact, he couldn't detect the scent of an intruder or a yokai anywhere.

Sesshomaru let out a low growl. Just what has happened to Kaede? Clearly something supernatural is at work, otherwise I would have found some kind of clue by now.

Sesshomaru heard the sound of sirens in the distance and decided it wouldn't be a good idea to stay too much longer. He was already getting strange looks from the faculty and children who happened to catch sight of him. The last thing he needed was for the local authorities to get the wrong idea about him and detain him from finding Kikyou's sister.

At that moment, Kikyou's scent drifted towards him, and he immediately turned to find her stiffly standing a ways off seemingly searching for something.

As he approached, Kikyou continued to glance around wildly, barely acknowledging his presence. "Kikyou," Seshomaru spoke evenly. "We will find your sister," he tried to reassure her.

Kikyou's eyes immediately snapped to his. "Sesshomaru," she whispered, "I sense a jewel shard..."

XXX

Kagome once again marveled at Shippo's careful planning as the large covered chariot flew down on a bed of fox fire. He really had thought of everything...

Just how much of this did he come up with before he even asked me? Kagome pondered as she stepped back to give the carriage a wide berth.

Shippo stepped up next to her and smiled wide. "I hope you don't mind the fiery coach," he chuckled. Clearly, he was seeking her approval, despite her reservations. If she was being honest with herself, this was all way too much to take in at once.

"I don't really have much choice in the matter..." she grumbled, her shoulders drooping slightly. Shippo had the good decency to be bashful, but made no comment.

Sango and Miroku walked up at that moment, and Miroku let out a low whistle upon seeing the structure.

"That is one fine carriage," Miroku nodded appreciatively.

"Only the best for my intended," Shippo beamed happily.

"Pretend intended," Sango looked at Shippo pointedly. "Don't get any funny ideas fox."

Shippo placed a hand over his heart and smiled slyly, "Of course not."

Sango wasn't buying it, so Kagome decided to interject before Sango had any more choice words with the kitsune prince.

"Sango can you help me get in the carriage? I don't want to ruin the kimono," she graced the older girl with her best puppy eyes.

Sango hesitated, but ultimately left Shippo alone to give Kagome a hand.

Shippo stepped forward hopefully and said, "I can—"

"No," both girls quickly cut him off as they helped each other climb in the carriage.

Miroku looked at Shippo sympathetically, "The plight of a man scorned is pitiable indeed."

Shippo snorted at the comment and crossed his arms. "I don't have any ulterior motives, ok? I just want to enjoy being a bachelor a while longer and decide for myself who I choose to be with."

Kagome was touched. It wasn't very often that this Shippo disclosed his true feelings, and Kagome understood how precious his trust in her was. If all it took to see his happiness through was swallowing a bit of her pride, then dog dammit she'd do it!

Kagome squared her shoulders and beckoned the kitsune prince forward. Shippo hesitated but ultimately strode to her side. The twitching of his tails betrayed his unease, but he met her gaze all the same.

"Ok, we need this to look believable right?" a fiery determination burned behind her eyes as the kitsune nodded mutely.

Alright, you've done this a thousand times with your Shippo. Just imagine he's all grown up and you are showing him parental affection.

Kagome zoned in on her target as her heartrate sped up astronomically. She was sure Shippo could hear it, being a yokai and all, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Kagome lunged forward and planted her lips square on his cheek.

For a moment, Shippo stood there frozen, before a steaming blush raced over his face and smoke blew from his ears. "AAAHHHH!" he screamed as he zoomed backward on the far side of the palanquin. His hands were braced behind him and he was panting with a look of sheer terror on his face.

"W-w-what...a-are you...doing?!" he strained the words from his mouth.

Kagome placed her hands on her hips and huffed. Ok, it couldn't have been that bad... I forgot how much of a drama queen Shippo was, yeesh.

"For Kami's sake it was just a peck on the cheek. I did that to you all the time in my world!" Kagome heard barely suppressed laughter and glanced over to find Sango and Miroku holding each other with their hands firmly pressed to the mouth of the other person.

Kagome crossed her arms and graced them with a cool look that even Sesshomaru would be proud of! "Ok, laugh it up you two. Get it out of your system."

And with that they both fell over each other as loud snorts and guffaws covered the carriage.

Shippo tried to let out a low growl, that turned more into a whine by the end of it. He looked ready to bolt out of there and never see her again.

Kagome cautiously walked over to the pouting prince. He flinched but stayed where he was as she crouched down to make eye contact.

"Sorry if I embarrassed you...or made you uncomfortable," she was sorely tempted to say even though you did it to me first, but she held her tongue. This was her apology after all, and she figured he'd say something sooner or later.

It took him a moment but he finally met her eyes. "You just surprised me, that's all. In...uh...the yokai courts, a kiss on the cheek from the female implies...um...very serious stuff."

Oops... "What kind of serious stuff, exactly?!" Kagome did what she did best: she panicked.

"Weeelllll..." Shippo once again refused to meet her eyes as his entire face turned red. "It's a...request of sort. It implies that the female wants to...uh...take the next step in the relationship..."

"Sooo, in terms of my relationship with you, what would that imply?" Kagome asked nervously.

Shippo cleared his throat and crossed his arms. "Well, if we actually were engaged, it would hint at you wanting to carry my child...Not that I believe that was what your intention was!" he said quickly. "Actually, I'm not really sure what your intention was," he looked at her curiously.

Kagome shrugged, "I was just trying to help with the whole 'showing affection' thing. I didn't realize it had a deeper meaning in yokai culture..." Kagome trailed off as a vivid memory of her leaning down to press a kiss against Sesshomaru's cheek came to mind.

Is that why Sesshomaru became bolder with his affections towards me? He wasn't like that before I kissed him...did I accidentally give him permission to pursue me?

As Kagome was having her internal crisis, Shippo glanced out the carriage at the darkening sky. "We need to get going. The banquet will be starting soon and the last thing we need is to appear rude by showing up late."

Miroku turned to Sango and clasped her hands, "My dear Sango, please be careful and look after Kagome."

Sango just rolled her eyes at his theatrics. "I wouldn't worry about us. You're the one who gets to deal with Sesshomaru when her gets back."

Miroku let out a longsuffering sigh as he stepped back from the carriage. He waved them off as it rose higher and higher until he was just a speck on the horizon.