Rin and Shippou are not so agreeable.
There are tears.
Assurances they will return.
Bribes—more than a few.
"Rin says Jaken snores," Shippou mumbles around the sticky, strawberry sweetness of his bribe.
Ignoring the imp's indignant squawk, Kagome scoops the kit up and kisses his cheek, eyes drifting across the outdoor hearth to where Sesshoumaru is crouched down, eye to eye with a pouting Rin as he tears the wrapper from a lollipop with his teeth.
"Now, that's just precious," Sango says, walking up with a smile.
Kagome nods, a lump forming in her throat. "It is," she whispers.
