Shippou was the first to recover, letting out a little cheer and bouncing on his shoulder. "Does this mean we get to go hunting more often?"

Rin's excited giggles drowned out Sesshoumaru's response, his ward wrapping her arms around Kagome as a million questions bubbled out of her mouth.

One regarding where she'd be living from now on brought a deep blush to Kagome's cheeks, and she stole a glance at him. "I don't know yet, Rin. I think we'll travel around a bit more before that happens."

It wasn't an outright refusal, and he preened, the image of her defending the West taking permanent root in his mind.