****Sorry it has been so long since the last update. I made a few changes to the story so you may want to reread the first few chapters. I originally had Rin the same age as she was during the main story but decided to make it much further in the future, set sometime after the manga. Naraku is still alive which I kind of needed for the entire story to work. I also gave Sesshoumaru his left arm back and gave him the Bakusaiga instead of Tokijin so it very loosely follows canon. I also decided to give Sesshoumaru a little less "grump". Instead of being irritated by how much he adores Rin, he's made peace with it. Or at least that's what I'm aiming for. So if this chapter doesn't make any sense, it might be because I made those changes in the previous chapter. I'm thinking of splitting this story two ways. will update on that later.****

The morning light drew Kagome from her slumber. She did not dream but waking was still a little unsettling. The realization that she'd risen from the dead dawned on her and her chest sank with a heavy dread. She was like Kikyo now, although she didn't have a clay body, she still didn't like it. She was sleeping on her side when she woke and she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Rin was a few yards from her. Jaken was snoring lightly, leaning against the giant two-headed dragon, who was also asleep. So where was Sesshoumaru? She surmised that Sesshoumaru often went off on his own, leaving Rin in the care of Jaken. Perhaps he had gone off in search of Naraku again.

She laughed quietly through her nose at the thought.

It's almost like they're brothers or something.

She thought of how Inuyasha would always be searching for Naraku as well, even when there was no lead to give him a direction to search in. He insisted on just using his nose. Not that it ever worked out, but Sesshoumaru was a full demon, did he have a more keen sense of smell? Even if he did, it didn't seem to lead Sesshoumaru to Naraku any faster. Naraku had gone to great lengths to stay hidden in between bouts of appearing to antagonize the group. She wondered if Inuyasha knew where she was. Her heart ached as she remembered the last few moments with him. He was heartbroken. She came to the conclusion that he must not know that she was alive, otherwise he would be here right now. How did she get here anyway?

As she fully gained awareness, more questions swirled in her head. Speaking of her head, it was pounding. Her mouth felt hot and dry all the way down her throat. She chanced a swallow and it felt like her esophagus was trying to split in two.

"Ugh..." She tried to lick her lips but her tongue was akin to sandpaper. She knew that she was dehydrated and she wondered how long she'd been dead for. If she didn't get some water she'd be there again. She slowly pulled herself up and she remembered the wound. She lifted her shirt up and winced as she began to pull the bandage back to evaluate it. She didn't have high hopes since the bandage had not been changed since it was applied and it was covered in crusty blood and toxic residue. It was likely going to be infected and she'd be in big trouble if that were the case. She squinted in anticipation as she peeled the fabric away from her skin.

WHAT?!

The wound was gone. There was a scar but the wound was closed. She ripped the bandage off and ran her hand over her skin in disbelief.

Sesshoumaru revived me. When he did that...did it heal the wound as well?

She regained a bit of hope and tried to stand. Her legs felt weak from being unused for such a time, however long that was and she wobbled a bit but managed to maintain an upright posture. She stretched and rejoiced in the feeling not only of getting her heart pumping but of new life in her limbs. She wondered though how she was going to return to the group. How would she get home? She had no idea where they were and she didn't want to hazard a solo trip. She would figure out what to do after she got re-hydrated and possibly a bath. She must smell awful after being dead.

The thought was unnerving so she pushed it out of her mind. They were near a river, she couldn't quite see it through the bushes but she could hear and smell it. She went to step around Rin when she noticed the blanket she was curled in. The elaborate red designs looked familiar...

Her cheeks flushed.

Oh my god that's Sesshoumaru's kimono...

She looked around and noticed his armor and sash on the ground as well.

Is he...topless somewhere?! Why is his armor lying on the ground and Rin is wrapped up in his kimono?

She got a bit worried then, unsure of what she should do, if anything. She decided that getting a drink was still her first priority so she quietly made her way to the river's edge. The sun was beginning to crest the mountains, leaving the world below in a milky red glow. The water was clear and flowed quickly over the riverbed. She dipped her hands into the water and scooped up a handful. She brought the cool water to her lips and slurped it into her mouth. It felt like heaven. Her parched mouth and throat sang as she drank greedily. She stopped when her stomach felt like it might burst. She immediately felt a little better.

She raised her head and looked in all directions. She could still hear the snoring from the other members of her current party and there was still no sign of Sesshoumaru so she tentatively pulled her shirt over her head and set it on the ground next to her. She splashed water over her arms and rubbed it into her skin. The cold water shocked her a bit as she washed her stomach of the dried blood and then she bent over and let the water run through her hair. The crisp coldness was refreshing in a way she had never felt previously. She had to force herself to pull her long, black waves from the water and wring them out. She tossed her head back and her wet hair smacked on her bare back and it was freezing.

She let out a yelp. She quickly scanned the area again. She was still alone. Her skirt luckily allowed for her to easily wash her feet and legs without worrying about too much risk of exposure. She removed her socks and shoes and splashed her feet in the water. She washed her feet and legs, cringing at the length of her leg hair. She didn't have her backpack with her so she wouldn't be able to shave until she got it back. IF she got it back. Plus she was stuck in a skirt to boot. Fantastic. At least in this era, shaving legs wasn't a thing yet.

She sighed with relief and put her socks and shoes back on. She ran her fingers through her wet hair as she stood up. When she pulled her attention away from her hair and looked up, she froze as she laid eyes on Sesshoumaru. He had apparently approached her while she was putting her shoes back on. He might have been a dog demon but he was as stealthy as a panther, and twice as deadly. He lacked his armor but was wearing a standard white under layer. His hair was wet.

Did he bathe?

A breeze blew past them and she shuddered as it chilled her wet locks. He stood there with an undecipherable facial expression that was more statuesque than anything. She got the feeling that he knew he was intimidating so he didn't need to try and scare her, all he had to do was stare her down. She tensed and stepped back involuntarily. She waited for him to make a move. She didn't think he would harm her, but she couldn't be certain. He'd tried to kill her many times previously.

Why did he save me? I know he doesn't like me and if he'd wanted something he would have demanded it by now.

The stare down continued until he seemed to lose interest and turned to head back toward the camp. The tension in the air instantly went slack as soon as the eye contact broke and she realized then just how tense it was. She nearly fell forward when her muscles relaxed.

Should she follow him? Kagome knew full well that Sesshoumaru wouldn't take kindly to her following him, but maybe if she pulled her weight, she could tag along until she could get back home. She knew he wouldn't protect her directly but he would protect Rin and most demons were not stupid enough to approach him. She liked her chances given the circumstances. Now she just needed to figure out how to persuade him to let her follow for a little while.

After Rin and Jaken had woken, Rin went out in search of breakfast while Jaken tended to Ah-Un. Kagome sat leaned against a tree trunk and observed the mostly unseen dynamics of the trio.

Kagome noticed the sideways glances she repeatedly found herself getting from Jaken. Sesshoumaru did occasionally see him look at her out of the corner of his eye but despite his homicidal tendencies, Jaken was the one glowering at her. He didn't trust her and she didn't blame him but she despised the contempt regardless.

Sesshoumaru waited patiently for Rin to return from gathering breakfast. She could be heard a mile away, crashing through the bushes, singing a silly song aloud. She burst through the shrubs with arms full of mushrooms and berries she'd picked.

"Look Master Jaken! I found lots of mushrooms and berries! You can have some if you want!" She skipped merrily over to him, dropping bits of her harvest with every step. There was likely a trail all the way from where she had begun picking.

Jaken shrugged and grabbed some from Rin's arms.

"Do you want some, Lord Sesshoumaru?" The girl scurried over to Sesshoumaru and offered him some of the food.

"We are leaving now, Rin. Pack them in Ah-Un's saddle." He said gently as he began walking off.

Kagome was astounded at how calm and almost loving he was with her. She knew the girl had been following him for some time now but it was still strange to see him have a positive relationship with any human, let alone a young girl.

Rin nodded and hurried to put her snacks in the saddle bag and climb into the seat. She saved some of the berries and mushrooms and began shoving them into her mouth, smearing berry juice on her face.

Kagome noticed how much Rin had grown. She'd been with Inuyasha's group for a little over five years now and she guessed Rin must be close to 10 or 11 now. She was getting tall. Jaken had always been shorter than her but he had no hope of keeping any sort of control over her now.

Jaken took hold of the dragon's reigns and tugged to start him walking. Kagome stood up slowly and took a few unsure steps. Jaken immediately noticed.

"Where do you think you're going?!" He hollered, pointing the staff of two heads at her. "Lord Sesshoumaru revived you but that does not mean he is going to allow you to follow him!"

"Don't be so mean Master Jaken!" Rin pleaded.

"She can't follow us! She'll slow Lord Sesshoumaru down-"

"JAKEN." Sesshoumaru's timbre boomed back through the forest.

Jaken turned. "Yes, milord?"

"Let's go." He commanded before resuming his pace.

"You can come with us! Um...what is your name?" Rin called from her perch.

Kagome sped up just enough to walk next to Ah-Un's hind quarters to converse with Rin.

"It's Kagome." She looked up at Rin and smiled.

"I'm Rin!" She replied happily.

"Yes, I know." Kagome returned.

"Oh." Rin seemed deflated. "So are you going to stay with Lord Sesshoumaru like us?" She perked back up.

Kagome shook her head. "No. I will leave as soon as I reunite with my friends."

"The half-breed you were traveling with? And the monk? And the demon slayer?" Rin asked.

"Yes. They think I'm dead though..." Kagome thought about the implications and nothing came to mind that wasn't awkward or dreadful. "Or if I can find my way home. That would probably be best for everyone." She sighed and hunched a little.

"Do you like mushrooms?" Rin jumped subjects and offered Kagome a mushroom. Kagome would normally have turned down the invitation to be polite but her stomach was incredibly empty so she didn't hesitate to take it and swallow it nearly whole.

"Wow, you're hungry! Here, have some more!" Rin quickly pulled out several mushrooms and berries. Kagome tried to eat the next ones with a little more grace. She forced herself to eat a little more slowly while Rin began firing random questions at her. Jaken remained quiet and stopped glaring at her after a time. Sesshoumaru was well ahead of them now but Jaken did not let him disappear from sight. She guessed that normally Jaken was the victim of the constant interrogation and probably got roped into playing games with Rin to keep her happy. His life literally depended on it, she was sure. He seemed content to finally be able to carry on in peace, even if he still had to listen to the conversation, he didn't have to be a part of it.

The day continued on mostly without incident. Kagome hoped that they would pass something familiar. She didn't hope to run into Inuyasha. She wasn't ready for that yet and she didn't want to have to break up the feuding brothers should it come to that. Sesshoumaru surprisingly had a similar tactic to picking a direction to head in. They would happen upon human villages and he would send Jaken to gather rumors. If they passed a demon residence he either gathered information from them or they ended up headless. Rin and Jaken seemed acclimated to the violence as Rin sat sideways on the dragon, kicking her feet up and singing and Jaken merely waited until Sesshoumaru moved forward.

Kagome took the opportunity while in a human village to try and gain her bearings. Naturally, she was nowhere near Kaede's village. She also procured a bow and arrows. At the very least, she could defend herself and not make a burden of herself with Sesshoumaru. She knew that he would likely kill her if she got in the way so she was determined to quietly accompany him and make sure she didn't get into danger again. Sesshoumaru didn't find any useful information and Naraku had managed to conceal his scent well while hiding. They were wandering almost aimlessly. Kagome might have been able to gain some ground with Sesshoumaru if she could sense Naraku's jewel shards but she felt nothing. Night eventually fell and Sesshoumaru stopped near another water source for Rin. Kagome had never seen him eat or drink but she knew he must have to sometime. She wondered what he ate and a grisly image came to mind of him in his full demon form, tearing some poor creature limb from limb, blood soaked into his white fur. She pushed the thought from her mind.

Rin had become quite acquainted with Kagome by the day's end. She was now Rin's second best friend and as such was now attached to Kagome at the hip. Bathroom breaks, searching for snacks, making flower crowns, and singing songs were all on the list of today's activities with Rin. It had only been one day and already Kagome was exhausted but it was a small price to pay for staying alive.

When Sesshoumaru decided to settle down for the night, Kagome took Rin for a bathroom break and to find something suitable for dinner. The river was too deep and moving too quickly for Rin to fish so Kagome had to think of something else. She and Rin gathered many mushrooms and she looked for herbs as she went. Eventually, they had a large stockpile and headed back to where Jaken and Sesshoumaru were waiting. Jaken had started a fire. Kagome showed Rin how to roast mushrooms. Jaken also enjoyed the fruits of their labor but as usual, Sesshoumaru did not partake. He sat silently near the base of a tree, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

Kagome could not pay him much attention because Rin was still as chatty as ever. When she started getting sleepy she asked Kagome if she knew any stories. Kagome thought for a moment and began telling the story from memory. It was the story of how she arrived in the feudal era, but anonymously of course. Rin was long asleep before she could finish the story, her head resting in Kagome's lap. Kagome was starting to get tired too so she carefully moved Rin's head and readjusted herself. She missed her sleeping bag. The night air was chilly and she really wanted a blanket or at least something soft to put her head on. She made do by curling her arm around and cradling her head. She knew instantly that if she stayed in that position too long, her arm would fall asleep. A shiver ran over her and she scooted closer to the fire, curling into a ball. She closed her eyes and hoped sleep would come.

A shuffling alerted Kagome and she opened her eyes. Rin stood up and crossed her arms tightly over herself. She shivered.

She's cold too.

Kagome figured that Rin was going to come over and try to cuddle with her so she moved back to make room and lifted her arm. Rin was still half-asleep but Kagome watched as she stumbled right past her and headed straight for Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru wasn't sleeping. Rin came right up to him and grabbed hold of the fur hanging from his shoulder. She wrapped herself up in it and climbed into his lap. Kagome almost sputtered aloud at the sight. Sesshoumaru looped his arm around the squirming bundle of fur and pulled her to his chest. She soon stopped moving and he just sat there, holding her.

What the hell?!

Kagome was shocked but she was also a little jealous. She wondered if that fur was as warm as it looked. She imagined herself being held like that. Inuyasha had held her many times and his demon blood ran warmer than a human's. She longed for his embrace now, not just for warmth. Her heart ached a little at the thought and she had to force the unpleasant thoughts from her mind. She gazed around and her eyes fell on Ah-Un. He seemed tame enough. Maybe she could huddle next to him for warmth? She slowly stood and she felt eyes on her. Jaken had an eye open and Sesshoumaru was watching her in his peripheral vision. She tried not to make eye contact and slowly approached the giant beast. He raised his heads and turned them towards her.

She paused and put her hands up. "It's ok, Ah-Un." She whispered as softly as possible. The dragon did not make a move to harm her as she tiptoed closer and extended her fingers to brush his nose. Her heart hammered in her chest as she was uncertain as to whether the dragon would attack her or not. Her breath hitched in her throat as he flinched. They both held deathly still for a moment and fear bloomed in her chest.

The dragon made a noise of contentment and leaned into her outstretched hand.

"That's it." She smiled and said through a shaking breath. She ran her hand down the scales of his neck. It was rough and she didn't like the way it seemed to grate the skin off her hand. She eventually came to his belly and lowered herself to the ground. Very, very carefully she placed her body against the underbelly of the dragon. She could feel his heat and she hummed happily. The dragon wrapped its heads around and gave her a swift lick with a sandpapery tongue before curling his tail around her as well. The warmth was more than she could have hoped for and she had apparently made a new friend.

She heard Jaken harumph before closing his eyes. She locked eyes with Sesshoumaru and he seemed surprised. She couldn't blame him, she was shocked herself. He drew his gaze away from her and she saw his eyes close.

The next thing Kagome knew, she was awakening to Ah-Un nuzzling her. Jaken and Sesshoumaru were already awake and Rin wasn't immediately in sight. It must be time to get moving.

She stretched and went off to take care of her morning routine and do a quick wash up. Rin was out collecting breakfast and was overjoyed to see that Kagome was awake.

The next several days passed the same way as the first. Kagome wondered if they were ever going to venture back to the well. She wondered if Inuyasha was ever going to be nearby and catch a whiff of her scent. She had been right that staying with Sesshoumaru would be a better idea than going off alone. Once in a while there was an overconfident demon that made the grave blunder of pissing Sesshoumaru off but it was quickly taken care of. At least Kagome hadn't managed to offend him but she knew it was only a matter of time. She wasn't sure why he allowed her to follow him but she was glad for the associated protection via Rin.

Kagome was beginning to get attached to the girl. It was fun to talk to her after the initial rapid-fire questioning. They would often swap stories and she sensed that Jaken and Sesshoumaru were glad to have another female for her to interact with. Kagome knew that Rin was going to hit puberty in another couple of years and she wondered how it would affect her situation. If it came to that, Kagome could teach her but she didn't anticipate staying around that long.

Jaken and Sesshoumaru had seemed to be used to her presence. Neither of them would talk to Kagome but that was alright with her. As long as she took care of Rin and stayed out of the way, she'd be fine. She hoped. Traveling with Sesshoumaru seemed relatively benign compared to traveling with Inuyasha. Inuyasha was louder, more brash, and dove headfirst into trouble. Sesshoumaru on the other hand, carefully planned each move, was nearly silent, and avoided any conflict that he considered unnecessary. That however, was literally any conflict that didn't involve Naraku, defending Rin, or a demon that refused to get out of his way. The days passed without incident.

Until they didn't.

It was night and the group was in the usual place; next to a fire, hidden deep in the forest. Kagome wasn't quite asleep when a far off noise grabbed her attention. An awful feeling rolled over her and she grabbed her bow, kneeling on the ground and trying to locate the source of the sound.

She looked over at Sesshoumaru who had already pinpointed it and had drawn Bakusaiga. Jaken was late to realize as per usual and ushered Rin behind cover.

The trees groaned and snapped as they were pushed over. Red lights dotted the distant darkness until Kagome realized they were eyes. Several dozen pairs of eyes.

Sesshoumaru eyed the threat carefully. Kagome wished she could see what he saw. She knew he could tell exactly what it was and how many of them there were and all she could see were eyes. He glanced down at her when she did not run to go hide with the others.

"Do you wish to die again?" He snapped his gaze back to the looming herd of demons ahead.

"No." She answered, taking a stance and drawing her bow.

"I do not need your assistance." He said coldly as the demons began to chatter and snicker, thinking they had stumbled upon easy prey. They were about to be proven very wrong.

"I'm not assisting you. I'm protecting myself." She asserted as she didn't budge and didn't spare him a look.

"Do not interfere." He ordered more firmly, giving her a stare.

Kagome knew exactly what the sword he was wielding was capable of. She knew he didn't need her help but battling had become second nature. When she battled alongside Inuyasha, he often required her help because he didn't think before charging blindly into a fight. Sesshoumaru not only analyzed and prepared each move, but he also despised getting any help, especially from anyone with human blood.

"Alright." She let the tension go slack on the string and retreated. She watched as he merely flicked his wrist and the powerful katana ripped through several of the advancing demons. They literally blew apart with the force of his demonic power. The ones directly behind them suffered a similar fate, as the power transferred through the bits of tattered and soaring flesh pasted themselves on their comrades. There were a few stunned demons in the back that had for once been lucky to be stragglers. They looked on with fearful eyes as Sesshoumaru prepared to come at them as well when they quickly turned and surrendered, skittering away in a disorganized formation.

After determining that they were not returning, Sesshoumaru sheathed the sword and turned to walk past Kagome, who was still standing nearby with her bow still in her hands. Her arrow was still between her fingers against the string. He paused as he came up beside her. He didn't speak but he slid his gaze over to her.

Kagome felt a chill run through her as she felt his scathing stare rake over her. She didn't need any words to tell her that he was displeased with her for defying him. She was lucky that she was still breathing. She put the arrow back in her quiver and backed away from him.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to offend you." Kagome said softly.

He huffed in response as he continued forward.

Rin had been watching from safety and as soon as Sesshoumaru stopped near her, she came out of hiding to run to him.

Kagome guessed that must have been his signal to her. Jaken was by her side as well. Ah-Un had apparently gone off to graze, as he was nowhere in sight.

Rin and Kagome returned to the fire while Sesshoumaru and Jaken were now on full alert.

"That was really brave!" Rin said as she looked at Kagome with bright eyes.

"What was?"

"The way you went to help Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin gushed. "You must be really good with your bow!"

"Oh, yeah that." Kagome laughed nervously as she could feel Sesshoumaru's gaze on her.

"You're a priestess, right? That means you have spiritual powers, right?"

"I can fire sacred arrows and my aim isn't too shabby if I do say so myself." Kagome laughed a little, not wanting to sound like she was bragging.

"Can you teach me how to do that?" Rin asked.

Kagome was a little stunned at the question. "Well, you're not a priestess so you can't fire sacred arrows but maybe one day I can show you how to shoot." She figured she would be long gone by then

"Hooray! Can we start tomorrow?"

Kagome chuckled but was inwardly wincing. She may not survive this ordeal as well as she'd hoped. Maybe she should have just kept her mouth shut. Oh, well. Too late now.

Think, girl think! She urged herself for an answer.

"Well, you need your own bow first. Mine is too big for you."

Rin sighed. "Ok. Well maybe I can get my own bow and then you can teach me."

Kagome was relieved that she'd accepted that answer so easily. Luckily Rin's short attention span allowed for a quick change of subject multiple times before she finally began to doze off. Kagome sighed when the girl finally fell asleep. She was getting tired herself but the demon attack had rattled her nerves enough that she didn't want to fall asleep. Normally this wouldn't have bothered her but she'd been dead and revived. She had no intention of doing that again any time soon. Inuyasha would have usually been on night patrol and she felt very safe with Kilala, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo nearby.

She should have felt even more safe with Sesshoumaru, considering he was an immensely powerful demon lord but she wasn't sure if she should. She wondered if there was any way to get on his good side. So far, she managed not to get killed by him which seemed a success in and of itself.

She gazed around and saw that Sesshoumaru was now up against the base of a tree, Jaken near his feet. Jaken's eyes were getting heavy, she could see him struggling to keep them open as his body threatened to go limp. Eventually, he succumbed to sleep and toppled over mid-snore.

Her eyes fell on Sesshoumaru and she watched him peacefully poised in his resting spot. His eyes met hers and she quickly looked away.

"Is there something you wish to say?" He asked her.

Kagome looked back to see his golden eyes pinned to her, a questioning look on his face.

"Sorry." She whispered and laid down, rolling her back to him. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to force herself to sleep. She was finally successful but it was a mostly restless sleep, plagued with nightmares of recent events and a future to come.

Kagome lurched awake after the umpteenth sleep terror and was fed up with trying. She sat up and looked around. Rin was still asleep near her and Ah-Un had apparently wandered in sometime during the night or Jaken had been instructed to fetch him. Jaken was awake and keeping himself occupied by twirling the staff of two heads while he hummed an unfamiliar tune.

She looked around further and saw no sign of Sesshoumaru.

"Jaken?" Kagome made the first attempt in nearly a week to talk to the imp.

Jaken stopped what he was doing and turned his head. He was clearly displeased with the interruption and even less so when he discovered it was her and not Rin. He frowned.

"What do you want, girl?" He turned his head away and resumed his mindless fidgeting.

"Where has Sesshoumaru gone?" She asked.

"What business is it of yours?!" He snapped, knowing full well that Sesshoumaru wasn't around to punish him for it.

"I was just wondering."

"He has to leave from time to time. He is the Lord of the West, he has duties to fulfill." Jaken said sarcastically.

Kagome's heart sank. Sesshoumaru was gone which meant she no longer had a proxy of his protection. She didn't know where she was, and now she didn't know how long they were going to be alone.