Dark hair hung around the demoness's shoulders in waves, her tanned skin glistening in the sunlight. Kagura blinked in confusion before looking down at her hands, stretching her arms out as if she hadn't seen them before.

"Kagura?" Kagome repeated, her voice hoarse with disbelief. The wind being sentient was one thing; it being someone she knew was something else altogether.

Had she really been sustaining one of Naraku's underlings this whole time?

Kagome grabbed the back of Sesshoumaru's haori, hand trembling as she looked up at him. "You don't think—if she could come back—"

"She does not smell like Naraku," he said, eyes focused on Kagura. "She is not what she was before."

It wasn't until Kagura turned around that Kagome saw the lack of scarring on her back. Breathing a sigh of relief, she attempted to step out from behind Sesshoumaru, but he sidestepped, keeping her hidden.

"You are too trusting, miko. Just because she is not bound to the spider, does not mean she bears you no ill will."

"Perhaps you are not trusting enough, dear son." Inukimi stepped forward, removing her outer layer and draping it over Kagura's shoulders. "You forget that she would not be standing here if she sought to harm us."

Kagome's eyes widened. "But don't people have to come through the barrier? And you said that the floor was only for humans—"

"Silly girl, do you honestly think those are my only means of protection?"

Her jaw snapped shut, cheeks turning pink. Of course there would be more to it than that. Patting Sesshoumaru's back in silent gratitude, Kagome stepped around him, though she noticed that Bakusaiga remained unsheathed.

"Do you know where you are?"

Kagura gazed around, Ruby eyes focusing on the towers of Inukimi's home. "I've never been here before."

"Oh, sorry, do you—"

"I know who you are, if that's what you mean," she stated, finally sliding her arms through the sleeves of Inukimi's kimono.

"How do you feel?" The inuyoukai inquired, lifting Kagura's hair out of the collar.

"Winded." Kagura smirked, but it wasn't malicious, and Kagome relaxed.

"There, you see my son? Nothing to worry about. You may put your toy away." Inukimi motioned to Bakusaiga, earning a severe glare from Sesshoumaru.

"You will forgive me for refusing, Mother, considering it was this same creature that stole Rin from me in order to force my hand."

Kagome turned around, hands on her hips. "Hey! That wasn't her fault! Naraku was controlling all of them—" Kagura grabbed her wrist a moment before Sesshoumaru's blade was thrust over her shoulder, the tip pressing into Kagura's neck. Kagome held her breath, slowly raising her hand and placing it over Sesshoumaru's as she bade him to lower his weapon. "It's alright."

To her credit, Kagura didn't retreat, but she didn't let go of Kagome's arm either. Kagome slowly turned around, feeling the flat side of Bakusaiga slide over her shoulder.

"I just wanted to check her injuries," Kagura said, glaring at Sesshoumaru. "She was attacked—"

Inukimi whacked the back of his head with her fan. "Really, Sesshoumaru. I thought I had raised you with better manners than that."

Outnumbered, he finally pulled away, sighing in resignation before levelling Kagura with a severe stare. "I will not warn you again."

Inukimi sniffed at her son, then turned to Kagura. "The miko's wounds will be seen to. She claimed they were not that serious—"

"Even the burns?" Kagura pressed, raising an eyebrow. Three sets of eyes turned to her, and Kagome found herself drowning under their scrutiny.

"You did not mention anything about the bandits using fire," Inukimi chastised.

Kagome tried to brush it off. "It's not a big deal." Kagura reached behind her and poked various places on her back, each landing on raw skin, and Kagome hissed in pain.

"You're a terrible liar."

Kagome glared at the wind youkai. "You're the one that pushed me off the ledge!"

Kagura released her arm and crossed her own. "You wouldn't have survived otherwise."

"That is so not the point!" Kagome fumed, resisting the urge to stomp her foot. "I'd have—wait. If you were aware of what was happening, why did we end up here? You said you didn't recognize it."

Ruby eyes flickered to Sesshoumaru before Kagura shrugged. "Guess I knew you'd be safe here."

Kagome frowned but was cut off from making a retort, Inukimi turning her around and lightly pushing her back towards the main doors. "You may argue semantics after you have healed." Kagura and Sesshoumaru continued to glare at each other as his mother led her away.

They got to the doorway when Kagome heard Kagura gasp, whirling around to find the wind youkai on her knees. "What did you do?" she yelled, reiki flaring.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in surprise. "I have done nothing," he growled, turning on his heel and crossing the courtyard, the guards straightening as he stopped in front of them, barking orders. They'd been present but silent, confident in the power of their mistress, as well as the temperament of his son to protect her.

Inukimi patted her shoulders. "Do not hold this against him, little miko, he is not at fault." Leaving Kagome where she was, the inuyoukai returned to the courtyard, helping Kagura to her feet. "It is best you rest; the bond is new, and therefore temperamental."

"Bond?" Kagura held her head, moving on shaky feet. "What bond? What did you do to me?"

"You spent much of your time bonded to the miko, siphoning off her power in order to survive. You cannot think you would be able to return to corporal form without doing the same."

Kagura froze, giving Kagome a panicked look. "I—what?"

The miko gave her a reassuring smile. "It's alright. I didn't even notice. Consider it payment for keeping certain pests away."

Kagura chuckled, her eyes a lighter shade of red than they had been before. "Can you blame me? That boy is a twit."

"And can't take a hint either," Kagome said with a groan.

"I could've hit him with a rock, and it wouldn't have helped. Maybe next time, I should."

"Is stupidity a common trait in human males?" Inukimi inquired, guiding Kagura to the doorway, her arm firmly around her shoulders. The other two burst out laughing, Kagome shaking her head.

"No, no. Well, now that you mention it, Miroku could never take a hint either," she said, dissolving into more laughter.

Kagura shook her head. "The slayer could've done better."

Kagome pursed her lips, then shook her head again. "Sango needs someone willing to stay home with the kids while she's training new slayers with her brother. No other man in this ti—err…this day and age would let her do that. Besides, he worships the ground she walks on." Her chest warmed at the thought of her friends, and she made a mental note to visit them next.

"Am I still siphoning off you?" Kagura interrupted, bringing her out of her musings.

Frowning, Kagome pulled her reiki to the surface, hands glowing as power danced along her fingers. "I don't think so. But I couldn't feel it before, so maybe? It can't be that bad if—"

Inukimi snorted, causing them to turn and face her. "Your lack of youki knowledge is a little surprising miko, considering how easily you bested my guards."

"I don't understand—"

Inukimi sighed, and Kagome felt like a child who'd missed something obvious. "It was one thing when she was an element. Her existence was pure, and therefore able to use your reiki as sustenance. But now that she is whole, she requires youki to survive."

Kagome felt her blood run cold, eyes shifting to Sesshoumaru, who was still speaking to the guards. If this was some vain attempt at matchmaking, Kagura wouldn't live to see another sunrise. He'd already made it clear how he felt about the wind demon, so if they were bonded to the point of not being able to be separated—

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kagome steeled herself for the fight that was about to break out. "Who is she bonded to now?"

Inukimi looked at Kagura, a slight tilt to her chin and a lilt to her voice. "Myself."