A/N: Hello again! I'm afraid I've been ill for a very long time and writing kind of took a backseat. But I'm hopefully back to maintaining some form of schedule and there will HOPEFULLY not be too many drawn out breaks between chapters often. I still have a lot of ideas planned out for this fic, but as some of you may know, actually getting them written out can be a challenge, haha.

But without further ado, I hope this chapter is worth the wait! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Kagome peeked out of her palanquin to survey her surroundings. It had been quite a while since the travel party had left Kaede's village behind. Ahead of them the mountains jutted upwards like great rows of teeth, blotting out much of the light until it only reached them in sharp flashes to create a dappled shadow through the sun-spangled trees.

She could see Inuyasha every now and then, leaping alongside close enough that she knew he could see her, but just out of easy sight himself. Despite her reservations about angering a warlord by snubbing his hospitality, Kagome had asked several times if she could just have Inuyasha carry her to ease their load. Truth be told, the whole idea of being kept away from him was unsettling her, even if her accommodations were comfortable enough. However, the soldiers would always laugh as if she were merely joking or being absurdly polite. Eventually she had given in and relaxed, knowing her husband was at least keeping an eye on her. The countryside was very pretty, and it seemed a shame to not enjoy it when she missed getting to travel.

The ride was over soon enough, and Kagome poked her head out as soon as the motion of the palanquin stopped. At least she'd thought it had been soon enough, but a quick look around told her it was late noon. Almost immediately, she was greeted by the same messenger as the other day, who extended a hand to help her out. His voice was smooth and gentle, smattered with what Kagome could only guess might be a Dutch accent, and she found herself feeling more comfortable with him than the soldiers, despite her annoyance at his earlier attitude towards Inuyasha. Speaking of Inuyasha, she could see him quite clearly now, perched in the tallest tree, hands balled together in his signature dog-like sit. He only flicked an ear upon noticing her attention on him, but when she sent him a reassuring smile and tilted her head in a silent invitation, he smiled back softly before he cascaded down to her side, as quiet and graceful as a cat.

There were some uncomfortable murmurs among the surrounding soldiers, but they had clearly been notified properly, as they remained mostly calm. Her husband looked a bit uncomfortable as well, and she did not resist the urge to take his hand, letting their fingers interlock. "Come on," she said. "Let's go see what the deal is with this mirror."

…

The manor was quite grand. Not as impressive as some others they'd seen, but grand enough to stand out proudly above the other houses dotting the little village that was under this particular lord's care. Even more soldiers populated the town, laughing and trading for fine wines or rice with the local peddlers. Every now and then they received a suspicious glare or a frightened look, but nobody seemed to want to make a ruckus once they saw her and their escort.

The guards they met within the manor itself were a different story.

"As I've told you," began the messenger man, "the lord knew of this and has accepted it."

There was a crowd forming. Curious peasants that had heard the loud voices were now gathered near the entrance and gawking at Inuyasha with varying degrees of interest or anxiety. Kagome looked to see his face, but he seemed to be amazingly tolerant of the scrutiny. He only looked mildly impatient about the holdup, but she wondered how much it might really be bothering him. Her hand kept hold of his.

"The lord may have accepted it, but our job is to make sure he and the citizens are kept safe. Please understand that we can't merely let a youkai walk in here."

"I assure you that the lady miko has him quite under control." The voice responding was as soothing as ever, but it was the last straw. Kagome felt her face burn in embarrassment and anger, and her free hand clenched into a fist.

"He doesn't need to be controlled!" she hissed. "He's a very good man and he's here to help you."

Both parties turned towards her, as if shocked to hear her speak.

"I understand that, my lady... But most will be afraid. We've suffered many recent youkai attacks due to the war-..."

"And you have my sympathies – I can place some warding sutras around the village if you'd like. However, Inuyasha has done nothing to you. Now if you'll excuse us, we came here to exorcise a cursed object, and holding us up helps no one."

With that, she brushed her way none-too-kindly past the guards and several servants who had also been staring at them. She felt the inertia of Inuyasha's hand hesitating as she pulled him along after her, before the tension went slack again as he caught up to her side.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" he asked, though he squeezed her hand in gratitude nonetheless. "You know idiots like that don't matter."

Kagome let out a long breath, slowing her pace again as she realized she had no idea where to go after storming off. "Still, it gets me so mad. They want my help, but then have the nerve to talk about my husband like that!"

He huffed out a small laugh. "Well I think you successfully made them question their nerve. Doubt they've ever been talked to like that, much less by a miko."

Kagome's reply was cut off when a new voice spoke above the bustle of the manor. It was deep, authoritative, yet charismatic, and Kagome felt like she knew who it belonged to without even being introduced. "The lady miko, I presume? You are most welcome here. I thank you for coming."

He was a short but imposing man, decked out in fine robes where he stood proudly right in the center of the room. A mon crest bearing the image of a single blade of pampas grass bordered by the trihexigonal kagome pattern she knew too well was embroidered into his robes. She didn't recognize the clan from any history books she'd seen though, which confirmed he was probably small-time. Somehow that made her relax, even though she knew she shouldn't.

Remembering herself, Kagome removed her hand from Inuyasha's to cross them in front of herself while she bowed as politely as she could under the circumstances. She really hoped he hadn't overheard that little scene. "Yes," she answered him, "I hope I can be of help. My name is Kagome."

"Kagome-sama," he echoed with a slight twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "It seems this is fate, then." He gestured to his family crest. "If you'll permit me to show you the item you've been called in for, perhaps you will feel more comfortable in getting your preparations together. Of course you will be accommodated for tonight – it's far too late in the day for you to travel home. I do apologize for that."

"No need to apologize," Kagome assured. "Please show me this cursed mirror."

…

The room was ill-kept, misted by cobwebs and inhabited by moths, one of which was now beating itself to death against the light they'd brought in. Kagome could hear Inuyasha sniffing the air, but he didn't seem to detect anything unusual. It was definitely a curse or a spirit then, not a youkai.

"Apologies for the mess," the lord said. "None of the servants want to come in here. The object is over this way."

He led them to a yellow tinted sheet, which when pulled away revealed the small mirror. It was pretty and unassuming, but seemed to chill the room now that its cover was gone. Kagome moved forward to touch it, but the feeling didn't seem to get stronger or weaker by her doing so.

"Tell me about it," she said, picking up the circular glass and brushing some dust away from the ornamental designs on the edges, looking for any engravings or images that might help, but finding none.

"It came into my family many generations ago, but once my ancestors realized it seemed to bring misfortune they tried to get rid of it. However, it always managed to come back. Over the years - whether it's been shattered, burned, dumped, or sold - it always appears again as if it never left."

Kagome's lips pursed together in thought. "It's definitely a curse, then. How long does it take to come back?"

"Within the month, my lady."

"Not very strong... Probably a human's doing, then. Or a minor spirit."

Inuyasha told her what she'd already guessed. "I can't smell any trace of youkai."

"Yes. I'll need my dream incense to connect with it if it's a spirit. If it's inside the mirror, it's likely it can't leave it." She turned to the lord, who wore a confused but trusting expression. "This ritual... takes a lot of time. I'll need to prepare."

"Of course, my lady, anything you need."

"It's not totally orthodox, but I'll need to borrow your bath for the purification ritual. Then I'll cleanse this room with salt so that no misfortunes can occur tonight. The rest I can do tomorrow."

The lord nodded his understanding and relief. "Of course. We have a room prepared for you and you're welcome to use the bath for as long as you need to."

"Right, thank you," Kagome sighed, already feeling a little tired from the idea of what she'd have to do. "Inuyasha, I'll be okay if you want to head in first and relax."

Later she would tell herself that part of her expected it, but still the lord's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Kagome-sama, I understand you married after you formed a kinship with this hanyou during the battle against the Jewel. Whether it was for your duties or some... genuine affection, I'm afraid I have to draw the line here. He was allowed in as your protector and to assist if need be, but his presence cannot be tolerated here at night. My people are afraid enough, you must understand. And if you need to retain your purity after this ritual... Well, he can come back in the morning if his assistance is needed."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, his words taking a moment to sink in fully. "Wait... what?"

"Kagome, don't," Inuyasha surprised her by speaking up then. "I'll go, this place is making me antsy anyway. You get some good rest, I won't be far."

"What? No!"

"Shh, don't argue," he said just as belligerently. "You're here to help these people, right? Then stay here."

"But-...!"

"Kagome."

She wouldn't admit to herself or anyone here that Inuyasha was just trying to make logical sense. He didn't mind sleeping outside, the villagers were scared, and he wasn't needed for this job. If one thought about it logically, everyone came out mostly okay by this solution. But screw logic! This was just so... wrong. Still, a bigger part of her knew there was no use in throwing a tantrum. That this was the only way she could help these people. They'd definitely get kicked out if she gave them an ultimatum, and that also seemed so wrong to do.

"... Okay," she said at last, cringing at the defeat in her own voice. "But be close." She wanted to at least be able to sense his aura from inside the manor.

"I will," he repeated, brushing a knuckle against the back of her hand. His way of apologizing for acting cross with her. And then he was gone, like a breath she'd finally had to let out. She didn't really see him leave, she was staring at the floor, but had seen his feet back away and felt the rush of air where he'd been standing.

"My lady, I-..." There was a touch of genuine sympathy in the lord's tone, but Kagome interrupted him.

"Please don't. Just... leave me to get things ready."

…

Night fell quietly over the village, manor and all. However, the peace left an itch in Kagome's heart, like her skin was too tight and she had to escape somehow. Still twisting a sprig of sakaki evergreen in her hand, she stepped barefooted down the path that would lead her towards the outskirts of the village.

It was a little shrine cabin she came upon when she followed Inuyasha's aura, and she pattered up to it as quickly as she could. Reaching for the sliding door, she didn't make it even an inch before it was thrust the rest of the way open, a simultaneously bewildered and chastising expression meeting her.

"What are you doing here, Kagome?"

"It's too nice a night," she replied, admittedly sheepishly. "I wanted to watch the stars with you."

He sighed, taking her arm to pull her into the meager shelter. And it was meager, she realized. Holes littered the roof, lighting up parts of the tattered floor with the starlight. He closed the door behind them but she didn't startle at the sudden darkness. "What are you gonna do when they find out you're gone?"

Setting the sakaki branch on the floor, Kagome answered him simply. "I left a shikigami to take my place for a while. If someone happens to check in, they'll find me sleeping."

"You're ridiculous," he huffed, though she could see that a part of him was relieved. He was happy she was with him.

"I think I do just right," she teased back, easing herself down to sit on the floor and leaning against the wall. She could easily see the stars through the dilapidated ceiling. After the hectic day they'd had, sleep was already catching up to her. It pulled at her consciousness on and off, like a giant fish rotating its fin. But she refused to give into it. She was determined to give Inuyasha some company for at least a while – she knew him well enough to be sure the treatment had made him lonely, even if he wasn't as affected as he used to be.

"You're tired," he observed, still not taking up a spot beside her.

"Yes," was her cheeky response, "not all of us have that youkai stamina of yours."

He finally sat, his shoulder and knee brushing hers. "Don't hear you complaining about that any other time."

"Oh, be your age!" she laughed, shoving her shoulder playfully into his. "Just enjoy the stars with me, since I know you aren't tired yet." If she was less worn out she may have been more flustered about his casual mention of their nightly make-out sessions, but presently her thoughts were loose and easy with the drowsiness.

"I was using the opportunity to think in peace," he started to tease. Then, seeing her sluggish smile, he sighed a little worriedly. "C'mere."

Taking his open-armed invitation, Kagome crawled over to his lap, leaning her back into the warmth of his chest. "You're so good to me," she said with a quiet giggle.

Three kisses pressed gently against her neck. "You worked hard today, didn't you? And shikigami aren't easy."

"It was just prep stuff. Nothing too draining. I think my emotions tired me out... It being my first real job, along with the other things."

"You're not gonna make yourself collapse tomorrow, are you?"

"Of course not!" Her voice was incredulous. "I've done exorcisms before with Kaede-obaa-chan. Besides, you'll be there with me, right?"

"Of course I will."

"Then at the very least, you'll be there to catch me if I do collapse," she giggled. Inuyasha seemed less amused and opened his mouth to say something, but she shushed him with a finger to his lips, her hand hovering just above her head to reach. His eyes shone with surprise and she held their position to admire the twinkle of starlight reflected there for a moment. Then she averted her gaze to the sky itself, moving her finger from his lips to point. "Look, there's the Big Dipper. It's the only one I could remember as a kid."

Successfully distracted, she watched Inuyasha squinting up at the sky trying to pinpoint exactly which cluster of stars she was pointing to. She continued, "And that's Canis Major. It's supposed to look like a big dog."

"You're making this up," he huffed, seeming sure she was just teasing him.

"I'm not!" she insisted. "There's a little version, too."

"People really make up pictures to see in the stars?"

She laughed softly. "It's a little more complicated than just that, but yes. The stars have always told people a lot. Don't you use them to tell the direction sometimes?"

He was still looking up thoughtfully, and she couldn't tell if he was trying to look for more potential images in the sky or just thinking. "Well, yeah."

She let the silence fall over them this time, listening to his heartbeat close to her ear, and his deep rhythmic breathing. She may have dozed, because the next thing she knew, his suikan was wrapped around her and she was encased in very pleasant warmth. His legs were straightened out now, allowing her to recline more, but she didn't remember him moving. Sighing, she settled as deep into his arms as their bodies would allow and slept.

…

Kagome was sure she must have slept particularly deeply, because when she next opened her eyes she'd somehow been ferreted back into her room within the manor. First light was breaking, and her shikigami was lying beside her back in paper form, its purpose fulfilled. Even her sakaki evergreen branch was there. So she was sure it hadn't been a mere dream and could only guess Inuyasha had chosen to take a window route to get her back in lieu of waking her.

'Jeez, it's scary how sneaky he can be sometimes...' she thought blearily, rubbing her eyes.

A knock at the door made her jump. "My lady, your breakfast is ready if you wish to take it now," a female servant's voice called.

Kagome hurried to right her hair and robes before answering. "Yes, thank you. I'll be out in a moment."

Opening the sliding door greeted her to the hustle and bustle of a warlord's manor getting ready for the day's activities. Feeling a little lost, she was about to ask one of the servant's where the meal was being served, before a familiar voice cut through the room.

"Kagome-sama, might I invite you to eat with me?"

The meal was grander than she had expected, a festive mix of pickled mountain veggies in steaming hot rice porridge, and what looked like red sea bream. Kagome had to admit that even the tea was exquisite.

"We're celebrating the good tidings your presence has brought," the lord explained. "I must apologize, though. I fear I have neglected to properly introduce myself. My name is Sanzai of the Suzuki clan. I humbly thank you for the help you have offered."

"N-No need!" Kagome assured, a little overwhelmed in the wake of celebrity treatment. "It's what I'm here for. I'm just glad it seems like something I can handle." She lifted the chopsticks to her lips as Sanzai let out a bark of laughter.

"I must say I never expected such modesty from the miko who banished the Shikon Jewel and saved Japan! It's not every day a woman gets to be a hero, after all. A good change, I say! One of the fiercest warriors I knew was a woman who defended her entire village with nothing but a naginata and her wits until we arrived. Now she's my lovely wife!"

She smiled awkwardly, though felt a bit more at ease with his banter. "I assure you I wouldn't be able to do that much... But I can see why you admire her."

He nodded, then, "Apologies for going off-topic. I tend to chatter when talking to someone who has my respect. You likely want to know more about the mirror."

"Yes, anything you can tell me is helpful."

"I'm afraid I don't know much more," said Sanzai. "It's been cursed since before I was born. Priests have been called in before, of course, but their ofuda don't seem to work on it. I'm told it used to belong to the lady of one of my ancestors and became wicked while still in her care. She supposedly passed away not long after. If there was any true secret, I'm afraid it died with her."

Kagome chewed her lip for a moment, thinking. "Can you tell me more about what it does? Anything strange people have seen it do? I noticed it was covered quite tightly."

"Well... most I've heard is secondhand now, but I know it reflects things untruly. Sometimes it will show the wrong reflection, or no reflection at all. Very occasionally, I've heard that a woman can be seen within it."

"A human woman?"

"As far as I know, she looks human, yes."

Kagome finished sipping her tea before answering. "Okay. I think I'm ready to begin."

…

She stood in the mirror room with the sakaki branch in hand. Her dream incense was being prepared by some servant women in a series of braziers that looked entirely too fancy for the purpose, but the smell was beginning to waft through the room already. Inuyasha stood back to her right, looking a little queasy from the strong smell, but determined to oversee what she was doing. She spared him an apologetic smile before taking up her position kneeling to meditate before the item that was now uncovered to reflect back at her.

She knew it couldn't have taken long according to what Kaede had told her, but it still felt like she was sitting there for hours before the sluggish feeling overtook her and the sounds of the manor faded. When she opened her eyes, the previous room was gone. In its place was somewhere that she'd only seen glimpses of before, but the feeling of it was unmistakable. It felt more similar to the time with Mayu than what she'd experienced with Hitomiko, but not as vivid. Instead she could only make out faded shapes and sensations through a haze as she took her first steps forward.

The smell of incense was still strong, so Kagome knew she'd done the ritual right. It led her down the murky path before shifting scents – from rakoku wood into kyara. She followed it down a new path, hoping to see her culprit soon. But there was no such luck, and she was beginning to wish she had Inuyasha's nose as her scent trail grew fainter.

'Not this way, then,' she thought. 'That way.'

It was wan, but she could finally pick up traces of the sumontara wood's fragrance. It was definitely a wronged spirit, then. Heaving a sigh of trepidation, Kagome picked her way further through the distorted image of reality. A spirit who had been betrayed could either just want peace or be extremely volatile if their anger lingered. Thinking of Mayu again, she severely hoped it wasn't the latter.

Then, as if responding to her thoughts, a dim light appeared. Kagome couldn't make it out at first, but as her eyes adjusted to the smear of brightness against the bleak and dreamy landscape, she realized it held a figure. It was a rather tall woman, draped in traditional Chinese attire that seemed older than even this era. Despite her commanding beauty in appearance, the aura she radiated seemed rather demure and small.

"So," the woman said, in a lyrical but undoubtedly accented voice, "they finally sent someone with a different approach to exorcism..."

Her voice sounded sad, and maybe it was her own wishful thinking, but Kagome thought it may have sounded the least bit hopeful. The weight of talking to a spirit made her have to swallow several times to speak. "Yes. I'm Kagome, and I'd like to know your story if you'll tell it."

The woman's face gave little away – it was difficult to get a read on when her form seemed to keep layering in on itself every few moments. Looking almost made Kagome dizzy.

"I am... Ju Fen..." said the ghost. "I was a... comfort companion to the young lord of this manor."

Kagome knew she must mean one of the past lords.

"We were very much in love. It was forbidden, but the master and mistress allowed it. I was so happy... Have you ever been in love, Kagome-san?"

Knowing what she did of history, it was becoming clear where this story was going, and Kagome felt a weight settle in her chest. "Yes," she answered.

"It makes us blind. And foolish. I thought that when I conceived, the young lord would finally take me as a wife, or that at least the baby would be cared for with everything they deserved." More flickering. It reminded her of an old rotoscope film. "But when I told him I was with child, he was horrified... It wasn't even a day later that I was killed. I don't know if it was my lord or the master and mistress, but I never got to meet my child or see my love again. Even now, I can't find my baby... Will you help them?"

Kagome wracked her brain. If the baby had become a zashiki-warashi of the manor then its presence was likely too small for her to have noticed. They would be easy enough to exorcise as well, if she could make them come out. She tried to keep her face calm and gentle as she addressed Ju Fen. "Of course."

"Thank you."

Taking the chance, Kagome stepped forward, sakaki evergreen held outwards where the spirit could see it clearly. "Can I help you, as well?"

Ju Fen shuddered as if cold. "Can you? My emotions have been trapped in this mirror so long that I'm afraid they won't leave with me..."

"Your own curse has been eating you," Kagome confirmed, "but it's not too late. I can help you leave – you and your child."

A tear slipped down the woman's cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, but nodded. "Yes... Yes, please."

Kagome smiled briefly, before motioning with the sakaki and beginning her blessing. She knew she would have to cleanse the entire area and not just Ju Fen. The negative emotions, however detached from their owner they now were, had taken root in every inch of the mirror. Concentrating, she tried to remember Kaede's guidance on cleansing displaced spirits.

'Picture yourself as the wind, and the spirit as a dandelion puff... One good gust, and-...'

With just that thought, she felt her powers able to surge at her command, spreading their purification properties in a strong burst. She only got one last look at Ju Fen's satisfied face before she was jolting awake.

Her eyes snapped open, focusing against the new brightness and landing on the mirror, which reflected her own image back. The incense had already burnt and she wondered how long she'd actually been out. She could hear Inuyasha's restless pacing come to a standstill as he realized she was conscious.

"Are you all right?" he asked, immediately.

She let out a long, heavy breath. "Never better... How long was I out?"

"A few hours." He was lingering just behind her, as if unsure what to do at the moment. But she could see his relieved expression in the mirror.

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I didn't mean to worry you. Everything went fine, I just... need to do one more thing." Trying to stand alerted her to how asleep her legs had fallen in her time kneeling there. She huffed out a small laugh and asked, "Can you help me find Sanzai-san? I could use his help if he's not too busy."

Sanzai was doing drills with his men out in the courtyard. Immediately his attention came to Kagome when he saw her half-limping towards him.

"Kagome-sama!" he greeted, a hint of worry in his voice. "How did it go?"

"It's... done, but I could use some help with the last part." She brushed her clothes off a little self-consciously as she realized how much dust they'd collected from the storeroom. "It's not complicated, but it might be... delicate. Do you have any sweets? Children's toys?"

…

At Kagome's request, the servants had reluctantly scattered the leftover incense ashes across the floor in several sitting rooms, along with the presents she had been able to procure. The next hour or so consisted of listening, and checking each room over again. Until finally, tiny footprints appeared in some of the ashes.

"This zashiki-warashi is partly responsible for the hauntings," she explained softly, kneeling to extend her hand which offered a candy. "I can't drive them out, but I can exorcise them of malice."

Slowly, a child's form materialized, featureless dark hands reaching for the offering. Kagome wasn't even sure if the others in the room could see him, but he seemed sated by the gift and plopped down to regard them all. Heaving a breath, Kagome once again began the process of exorcising the little ghost. He faded when she had finished, but she could sense that she'd successfully kept him in the home.

"With any luck, he should be helpful now instead of cursed. But I would like you to perform proper rites for him and his mother."

"His mother?" Sanzai questioned softly.

Kagome winced. "It's... not a story that I think she'd like documented. But please honor her all the same."

She did relay Ju Fen's story to a grim Sanzai, who agreed it would be better kept private. Kagome wasn't sure how she felt about that, but at the same time, the woman had seemed embarrassed over the tragedy. It might be better to leave it to rest with this generation.

The trip home seemed twice as exhausting as the trip there. She actually dozed through most of it, and hadn't thought much about how she missed riding with Inuyasha instead. It was a pretty twilight when they arrived home, but Kagome didn't feel up to making dinner, so elected instead to take Kaede up on her offer of a meal while they told her all about the job.

"You certainly don't need my help anymore," the old woman praised.

Kagome laughed sheepishly. "That's not true. There's still a lot I don't know."

"You knew way less when you fought Naraku," Inuyasha intercepted, accepting his rice and grilled fish.

Kaede nodded. "You came into your own a long time ago. All that's left is to increase your knowledge and apply it."

Kagome glowed under the praise. "I guess you're right... It was pretty cool to be treated like a celebrity – er, famous person," she amended at their blank looks.

…

The air was thick with the transition to summer beginning. Kagome had tied her hair into a high ponytail before attempting to air out the laundry, and she had to admit the breeze on her neck felt really good. Much to her delight, the chickens had finally begun to lay eggs, and she'd worked up a bit of a sweat gathering them all up into her woven basket. Inuyasha had admitted he hadn't had egg very often in his life, and she was looking forward to making him all kinds of dishes.

The hanyou in question was plucking a pheasant, a bit dirty from working in the garden earlier that morning. Several new vegetables were starting to come up and needed regular tilling and watering now that the soil was getting more dry. Coming up behind him as quietly as she could, Kagome seized the two triangular ears playfully to get his attention. He looked up at her in mild annoyance, but mostly in question.

"Hey," she greeted pointlessly. "Wanna finish that up and take a break? I don't feel like working anymore for now."

He eyed her curiously. "Sure. Are you going to the river?"

"Maybe later," she said, her fingers idly tracing flirtatious patterns over his cheek. "I kind of just want to enjoy the weather before it starts getting too hot."

"You just want me all to yourself longer."

She grinned. "You caught me. Help make my day sweeter?"

Inuyasha looked like he might laugh, but didn't. "So sappy..."

As he turned around to capture her lips, pheasant forgotten, Kagome let the electricity of him catch her alight. Maybe it was the transition into a new season, but she felt a craving for the wildness he could bring to her life in these moments. He was a surge of more scent and energy among the pollen and birdsong. Pulling away from each other for a moment, he offered her a flushed smile, which she returned. It was going to be her first summer as the forest spirit's wife.

A/N: Shikigami are inanimate objects imbued with a will by the caster. They can take any shape. (Kikyou used some in the two little girls that led Kagome to her miasma pool.) The incense thing is based on Koudou, which is a game where the participants smell different wood incenses and have to guess which is which scent. But it can also be used in religious ceremonies. Zashiki-warashi are house spirits that are often considered good luck but can also scare or haunt the residents. Driving them out brings bad luck, however.

Hope this chapter was enjoyable! Mayu the poltergeist and Hitomiko are two of my very favorite arcs, so it was kind of fun to write my own ghost chapter. Though of course I think the star scene was my fave. :P