Kagome planned out what she was going to say to Sesshomaru the same way she outlined one of her school reports. While Yukana and Izumi had dressed her, she came up with an opener. When they worked on her hair, she identified her key points. And as Kagome made her way to the dining room, she thought through her closing statement. She prepared for him to disagree. She anticipated his refusal. What she didn't expect was to go flying.

It was as if they had transcended into another world. The night sky went on forever. From this height, there was no horizon line. The expanse of black was endless. Stars shone like beacons, casting an otherworldly light upon them, though their brilliance was no match for the glow of the moon.

Kagome had spent many evenings studying in her room. Whenever her mind began to wander, she would peer out her window. Questions about the universe would trickle in. Sometimes Kagome wondered about mundane things like what Mama would pack for lunch the following day. On occasion, her thoughts traveled down more curious roads and she pondered what it would be like to travel outside of her comfort zone.

She had certainly done that. Nothing in the Sengoku Era was familiar or comfortable. Except for her yuzu bath.

Thinking of the bath reminded her why she asked Sesshomaru to go somewhere private. As much as Kagome liked everyone she'd met in this time period, revealing the truth about her origins was risky. She didn't want to believe they would cast her out, but after seeing how unfairly Hina and Jinenji had been treated, she was scared.

She didn't think she could bare having Seiten or Kujaku look at her differently. And what about Jinenji? Would he think she was a liar and become even more withdrawn? She chewed on her lower lip, worried about losing her new friends.

"You said there was something you wished to discuss," Sesshomaru prompted.

Kagome was so immersed in the experience— and her internal conflict —that she had forgotten he was carrying her. Her first instinct was to remove her arms from where they were wrapped around his neck. Of course, if she did that, there was a chance of careening backward into a free fall. Kagome swallowed her pride and kept her hands where they were.

"Yeah. About this alliance you suggested," she began unsteadily, "I can't agree to it."

Just like she predicted, he didn't like her answer. His eyes narrowed. Kagome felt the tension in his arms but her senses picked up more than that initial shift. She became aware of a surge in his yoki.

"Remember your promise."

"What promise?" he inquired.

"You swore no harm would come to me," she reminded him.

"Hn."

"Just hear me out," Kagome requested. "I know your whole thing is gaining power but from what I've seen you've already done that— at least in terms of physical abilities. What you aren't good at is interacting with others. You're never going to be the leader your father is if you don't learn how to communicate."

"I have no need for such skills. They will not serve me half as well as my sword has," he responded.

"That's where you're wrong," she refuted. "A leader's strength isn't achieved through the battles they have won or calculated by the number of opponents they have intimidated. Leaders are revered for their compassion. They foster connections and earn loyalty by helping others. You are powerful, Sesshomaru, but if all you do with that power is use it for selfish gain, you are going to end up disappointed and alone."

"I disagree."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Fine. Let's say you do achieve everything you want and more. What happens after that?"

Sesshomaru's brow creased as though he didn't understand her question.

"What will you do once you become the most powerful warrior in Japan?" she asked.

Silence.

After several minutes passed and he still hadn't answered, Kagome's suspicions were confirmed. He had no clue. Sesshomaru was so committed to the idea of securing power that he had either forgotten the reason why he started or the reason no longer mattered. He was just too prideful to admit that.

"I think it's admirable that you've trained so much. Raw talent is great but hard work is important too. You're fortunate. You were born with gifts that most people— human and yokai —would kill for." His lips twitched at her phrasing. "No pun intended," Kagome quickly added, "But you didn't rely on those skills. You developed them. Kujaku and Seiten told me. They said you spent countless hours sparring with the guards until you could beat all of them."

Sesshomaru nodded.

"That says a lot about your character. You didn't just rely on your natural talent, you chose to hone it through intense training. Your commitment is inspiring."

"Yet you refused me," he said.

Kagome pursed her lips. "You're missing the point."

"And what is that, miko?"

"None of it matters."

His eyes widened.

"Everything you achieved, no matter how great an accomplishment, it doesn't matter. You're not happy."

"I disagree. I am quite content," he returned.

Kagome shot him a knowing look. "Oh, really?

"Yes."

"So why couldn't you answer my question?" she challenged.

"I have already articulated my plan, miko. Once I become the most powerful daiyokai, there will be no need for war. I will have secured my role," Sesshomaru stated.

"As what? A mercenary? A ruler? A god? What? What are you working so hard to achieve?"

He blinked, stunned by her aggressive response. "I—."

"'Cause let me tell you right now, it won't change anything. Your father is right. You may prove yourself as the most powerful being on the planet but it doesn't matter because eventually, someone is going to come along who is more powerful. They'll see you as a threat— and all yokai by extension —and wipe you out."

"Do you have the sight?" Sesshomaru inquired.

"Yes," Kagome lied. It was only a little lie after all. She had seen the future. There were no yokai roaming the streets of Tokyo.

Sesshomaru's frown deepened. He was quiet for several moments, ruminating on her words. "Control is an illusion."

"Huh?"

"My father's friend, Totosai, once told me that control is an illusion. I considered it yet another eccentric rambling by him. He is at best a senile elder. I did not understand his wisdom."

"And you do now?" Kagome asked cautiously.

It couldn't be that easy right? She had played this conversation over in her head at least a dozen times, attempting to get ahead of any argument he had. Of course, bringing up the extinction of demonkind was a pretty compelling point. Glad I led with that…

"It is like the weather."

"What?"

"Control," Sesshomaru clarified. "No one person can obtain it fully. It is not something tangible that can be kept, much like the weather. They transition based on their schedule, heedless of our wishes. If crops require rain, it may come or it may not. No ritual or amount of prayer will change the course of events. They have already been set in motion. Whatever success I obtain will be short-lived because that position does not truly exist. It is merely my perception."

He stated the facts with a coolness that she could never hope to imitate. If she didn't know how passionate he was about achieving his goal— despite how misguided it was —she would have thought he was trading one hobby for another. His acceptance was such an abrupt turn that Kagome didn't know how to respond.

"I cannot permit what you saw come to pass. What can be done to prevent the future in your vision?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Well, for starters, you could smile more," she suggested.

He scowled.

"Okay," Kagome drawled, "maybe we need to start with something easier. Who's your best friend at court?"

"I do not require friendship. It serves no purpose. Alliances are more efficient to foster."

She resisted the urge to smack her forehead. And his. "Sesshomaru, if you want to change the future, you have to start with yourself."

"When you advise on something appropriate, I will listen, miko."

"That right there!" she cried. "I told you my name is Kagome. Why do you insist on calling me 'miko' when you know I prefer to be called by my name?"

He smirked. "To test the limits of your compassion."

"You— you jerk!"

"First you requested that I smile more. Now, you wish me not to. You should be more consistent in your advice, Kagome."

Her heart stuttered. The way he said her name reminded her of honey dropping off a spoon. His tone was rich, smooth, and enticingly sweet. He sounded like he was teasing her but Kagome knew that couldn't be true. Teasing would mean they had reached some kind of truce and they were a far cry from that.

She wrapped a lock of his around her hand, yanking him forward. "Listen, jerk, you want to test my compassion? Fine. I'm done. I tried to be nice to you— give you the benefit of the doubt —but you are exactly how everyone described you. You're arrogant, rude, stubborn, and about a million things in between. No wonder Kikyo disappeared!"

"That shameless woman chose her fate." He spat out the term with so much disdain, Kagome felt a chill run down her spine. She released his hair. "Agreeing to the daimyo's request even though she had already taken a mate," he trailed off with a scoff. "Killing her would have been a mercy."

"What are you talking about? Kikyo was— is —," Kagome caught herself, "a priestess."

"Regardless of her station, she did not honor her commitments— not to me, not to her village, and not to her mate."

"How do you know she was married?"

"Not married. Mated," Sesshomaru corrected. "And I could tell from her scent. Hers was tainted with the smell of another while yours is pure."

Kagome blushed furiously. "Y-You smelled me?"

"My senses are far superior to yours."

"That's not what I asked," she snapped, smacking his shoulder.

He glared at her. "You are quite bold for one who does not possess the ability of flight."

"You wouldn't dare." But even as Kagome said the words with complete confidence, an uneasy feeling began to take root.

"No?" Sesshomaru quipped, arching a brow.

She swallowed thickly.

When Sesshomaru shifted, Kagome squeezed her eyes closed and waited for her body to plummet the way her stomach had. But the drop never came. After a minute, she hesitantly opened her eyes.

"I gain nothing by disposing of you, miko. Your abilities are too valuable to waste."

An angry retort clawed its way up her throat. Kagome restrained herself. Whether it was 10 kilometers or 100, her reiki wouldn't be able to save her if Sesshomaru changed his mind. She needed to choose her words carefully. "How about a compromise?"

"What do you propose?" he inquired.

Kagome glanced over her shoulder at the swirling cloud below. "Could we talk about this somewhere more stable?"

"You do not trust me."

"I don't know you," she pointed out.

She didn't add that their initial interaction still bothered her or mention the fight they'd had in his chambers. Bringing up the past wouldn't solve anything. As much as she hated to admit it, Kagome needed him. If she was going to find a way back home, she first had to survive. That meant staying away from Tsubaki and learning how to defend herself. Sesshomaru could help with that.

They descended from the moonlit wonderland above the clouds. Sesshomaru's boots landed soundlessly on the roof of the palace. He set Kagome down beside him. Balancing on the ceramic tiles was effortless for Sesshomaru but for her, it required a lot of concentration.

"Is this sufficient?" he asked.

Kagome nodded, her focus on not sliding off the roof. "Thanks."

"Most humans are not fragile enough to die from a fall at this height," he commented.

"That's reassuring."

"If you prefer to discuss this on the ground—."

"No! No, here is fine," Kagome interrupted quickly. It was getting late. Soon, Yukana and Izumi would start looking for her. Kagome didn't want to waste any time. "I'll help you become a more likable person," she proposed.

"How does being more agreeable change the future?"

"It doesn't. Being nicer is just the first step," Kagome told him. "Fixing your reputation is going to take some time. If you want people to look up to you the way they do your father, then you're going to need to make some serious changes. For starters,— and I can't believe I'm saying this, but— we need to get married."

His nostrils flared. Kagome felt a surge of yoki so strong that it almost sent her careening backward off the roof. A clawed hand snatched hold of her wrist to steady her.

"I do not wish to have a mate," Sesshomaru stated lowly.

"Good. I don't want that either," Kagome said, yanking her hand out of his grasp. "We'll get married to keep the peace, use our union to strengthen your image, and then, once we've convinced enough people that yokai, humans, and hanyos can coexist, we'll get a divorce."

He frowned. "What is a divorce?"

"Hmmm, what would you call it here. An annulment?"

Sesshomaru still looked confused.

"A separation?"

"Mates do not separate," he said.

"Maybe not yokai ones but humans separate all the time. In my time— ah, village —we call it a divorce. The pair separates and then they are free to go about their lives. They can even remarry if they find a partner who is better suited for them."

"What is an annulment?"

"Oh, it's basically the same thing except it usually only happens if the couple hasn't…," she trailed off feeling her cheeks heat, "um, consummated their marriage. Typically, if they haven't, people don't even consider it a real marriage."

"Interesting," Sesshomaru commented.

Kagome nervously scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah, so we could do that. Then when you meet someone who—."

"No."

"No?"

"No," Sesshomaru repeated firmly. "As I have said. I do not need a mate. I prefer to be untethered."

Hearing him refuse to take a mate made Kagome sad. She knew his views on things were vastly different from hers but hearing him speak so harshly against a companion made her wonder if there had been someone before. Maybe he was so against taking a mate because he was afraid of getting hurt.

"Well, if you change your mind," she hedged, "you'll be free to do what you want."

"And what do you want, miko? How does this arrangement benefit you?"

"You know my secret but you aren't the only one. There's a woman who is after the jewel. She's already attacked me once. I'm sure she'll try again."

"You require protection," he surmised.

"I need to learn how to defend myself. Were you serious about helping me learn how to control my powers?"

Sesshomaru nodded.

"Alright," Kagome said, extending her hand to him. "Then I agree to help put you in a position that will secure the future of demonkind. In return, you have to train me so I can defend myself. Once we both have what we want, we will part ways. Deal?"

He shook her hand. "Agreed."


Sesshomaru could not decide if the miko was unpracticed at negotiations or merely desperate. What she had committed to doing required far more effort on her part than what she had asked of him in return. Though, he doubted the woman she spoke of was the only one after the Shikon Jewel.

The artifact was the size of a marble yet it carried within it more power than any other item in existence. There would be no limit to the number of leeches who would attempt to steal it from the miko. And each one would meet their demise upon the edge of his blade.

Sesshomaru smirked. Things at the palace were far too dull anyway. He should have thanked the miko for her offer. She had unknowingly provided him with a new pool of opponents to practice against.

"Our wedding ceremony will be held within a fortnight during the waning crescent," he announced as they made their way to her chambers.

"Does that symbolize something for your family?" she asked.

"My mother was born to the Crescent Clan. It is their mark I bear on my forehead," he confirmed.

"The stripes are from your father's clan?" the miko guessed.

"These are," he said, tapping the wider set that spanned his cheeks. "The others are also indicators of the Crescent Clan."

"I noticed Seiten and Kujaku have markings but Yukanna and Izumi don't. Why is that?"

She was quite observant. He had never known humans to express interest in topics that did not apply to them. The fact that she was a priestess made her curiosity even more perplexing.

"There are variations between the clans. Many seek to maintain the strength of their bloodlines by securing matches with other daiyokai. That was the case for my parents. However, not all families subscribe to that belief. Seiten and Kujaku are both descended from noble clan lines. They retained the familial markings associated with their daiyokai parent. In the case of your handmaidens, neither possess noble blood," he explained.

The miko let out a huff and shook her head. "Wow. I've read about caste systems but I never thought I'd see one based on identifying marks."

"Our hierarchy is not determined by markings. It is a long-standing tradition defined by heredity."

"And no one has ever challenged your rule?"

"Many," he answered. "They have all failed, just as their predecessors failed against my father. Our lineage is superior to all other daiyokai bloodlines. It produces strategists and warriors. Those who wish to contend with us quickly learn."

"I'm not a daiyokai. You didn't beat me."

Sesshomaru scoffed. "If you prefer a rematch, we can adjourn to the courtyard."

The miko stifled a yawn. "Tomorrow? You can consider it my first training session."

He attempted to discern if she was purposely trying to agitate him or if it was her natural way. The miko remained unimpressed by his accolades, nor was she intimidated by his abilities. Sesshomaru wondered about the woman she had spoken of. What had that witch done to evoke such fear?

"I will not treat you any differently from a soldier under my command," he warned.

She laughed. "I didn't think you would."

He appreciated her candor. It was a rare quality, but one she seemed to give freely. Titles did not alter the miko's behavior. She treated everyone she came into contact with— yokai, hanyo, human, or otherwise —with the same warm smiles and frankness. The only one he'd seen her act cold towards was himself.

"What time do you want to get started?" she asked.

Sesshomaru started to suggest before breakfast but paused when he picked up on a suspicious scent. His senses honed in on the miko's chambers, where an intruder laid in wait. Instinctively, his arm shot out in front of her. "Remain here."

"Huh? Wait, Sesshomaru, what's—."

"Silence," he hissed.

Her inane chattering stopped. In the quiet that followed, Sesshomaru listened for the interloper's next movement. The male did not move. He was crouched low in the far corner of the room. It was the optimal place to hide, providing a direct line of sight to the door, while also offering a quick exit through the window if the miko's handmaidens returned before she did.

Sesshomaru drew closer to the room. As he did, he realized that the intruder's scent was familiar. Displeased by the turn of events, Sesshomaru kept his sword sheathed and slid open the door.

There was no hesitation from the trespasser. He lunged for Sesshomaru, who, anticipating the attack, sidestepped around him. He positioned himself at his attacker's back, drawing his opponent further into the room.

The intruder came at him again. His movements were erratic. He flung his full force into every strike. Though his speed was an asset, his strategy was nonexistent. With each attempt to incapacitate Sesshomaru, his opponent left a wider opening for a counterstrike. Sesshomaru took advantage of the interloper's lack of defensive measures. A single palm strike to the chest sent the assailant tumbling backward.

There was a muttered curse as he collided with the paneling. He waited for his opponent to rise. One final blow was all that was necessary, then the intruder would return home with his tail between his legs.

Sesshomaru did not want to prolong their fight. Explaining the situation would prove to be tedious. He knew how quick the attendants were to gossip. One misunderstood interaction could derail his plans for the future. An expedient resolution was the best course.

He readied himself as the intruder rose. "Stand down," he cautioned.

"You wish!"

Sesshomaru sighed. He should have anticipated this. A plan born of adolescence and brash action was exactly his brother's style.

Inuyasha reached for his blade but before he could remove it from the sheath, there was a crash. "Ow! What the hell?"

Fragments of shattered porcelain littered the floor mats. Sesshomaru shifted his focus to the miko, who was standing behind his brother with determination on her face. Amid their fight, she had slipped into the chamber and grabbed the only weapon available to her— an empty teapot.

"Damn it, Kikyo! It's me!"

Her blue eyes went wide. She staggered back one step, then two. "You're not unconscious. Why didn't that knock you out?"

"Because he is a half-demon. Kagome, this is my brother, Inuyasha."