Authors note! Thank you for the reviews, they really inspire me to keep writing! And Ree-san, no I don't post on dokuga. I may upload the story on it when its finished, but not sure yet. Remember to review, and enjoy~~~

The sun was glittering across the water, reflecting the mid day azure sky. The daiyoukai had moved his pack to the small lake for the time being, eager to get away from the kumo remains. The woman was plopped on the ground, tying a bandage around her sliced palm. He still felt a well of entirely unexpected gratitude towards her for saving Rin. That was one feat that was not easily repaid.

Yet what really made the small woman exceptional was that she didn't ask for payment. She accepted his gratitude, but she wanted nothing more.

He smirked slightly, the woman had been as useful as he had thought she would be. He liked a good investment.

The miko in question had just finished tying the bandage around her hand, making sure the knot was secure, she hopped up off the ground in search of her black backpack. She took out a breakfast bar, and some fresh strawberries.

"Rin-chan! Are you hungry?" The little girl nodded, running over to the woman she was quickly beginning to think of as a mother figure.

"Kagome-chan, what are those red things?" She looked curiously at the pretty, though unfamiliar fruit. Kagome saw Sesshomarus cool gaze on the berries too, probably making sure they were safe for his ward. She almost wanted to giggle at how protective of the little girl he was, it was so endearing, even if he tried to hide it.

"These are called strawberries. Try one, they're sweet," She offered the little girl one. "But don't eat the green leaves at the top, okay?"

Rin tentatively bit into one of the red berries, her eyes lighting up in surprise.

"Theyre so refreshing!" Kagome laughed lightly at her wide eyes.

"Yes, aren't they? A lot of sweets are made with them in my ti- my hometown," She almost sweat dropped at that. The miko hadn't told Sesshomaru where, or when, she came from. Just in case she told him something that changed the future, the space time continuum was a fragile thing.

The daiyoukai narrowed his eyes at her choice of words. Even after four years he still didn't know where the miko originated from. He assumed it was an obscure country town, since he never heard her name the place. Not that it mattered much, but Sesshomaru valued knowledge. He would find out eventually. Especially if the woman proved herself worthy to join his pack.

The daiyoukai was interrupted from his thoughts by a buzzing noise. Something...no someone was crashing through the woods. The were due to come across this lake side clearing, heading in a straight line. The scent was familiar, but unexpected. His gaze turned to the miko as the youkai stepped into the clearing. He saw her eyes widen, and was surprised at the motherly warmth that entered them.

"Shippo?"

"Kagome-chan!" The tiny kitsune threw himself into the mikos welcoming arms, sobbing quietly On her shoulder. She enfolded him into her embrace, one small hand stroking his hair soothingly.

"Shippo-chan, what's wrong? Talk to me." The little kitsune sniffled, before raising his watery eyes to the miko.

"It-it's Inuyash-sha. He's been act-acting really we-weird. This mo-morning Kikyou came over and he..." The little kit curried his head into Kagomes shoulder, trying to control his sniffles. The worried miko exchanged a glance with Sesshomaru, his face was expressionless as usual, but she could see the spark of curiosity in his gold eyes.

"What happened next Shippo-chan?" Her voice was quietly soothing.

"He left with her. She said they had to go and he just got up and left. He didn't even look back when Miroku and Sango called after him. What did Kikyou do to Inubaka?"

Sesshomaru sighed. Deeply. Will his pittance of a half brother ever cease being such an annoyance?

Doubtful.

Such impeccable timing too, right as the miko was becoming destracted, on the path to moving on. He couldn't deny that he was grateful the kit had fled to the miko, their interaction was interesting. He could perhaps be good company to his ward, in addition.

The mikos gaze met his, wary concern and pain vying for space within them. "Sesshomaru, Shippo-chan can stay with us, can't he?"

"Wait! That's who you're traveling with now? I thought he kidnapped you and that's why you weren't with us last night! Kagome-chan he's evil!" The little kit was had tremors running through his body, but he still met the great Daiyoukais gaze, intent on protecting the one that had replaced a mother for him.

The evil lord in question was about to sigh again, when the mikos hearty laugh filled the clearing.

"He's not evil at all Shippo! Oh kami...I quite literally ran into him last time I came through the well. And considering what Inuyasha is doing now, I thought it was best for me to stay here," The pain of betrayal was leaking through her scent again, but not as strong as before. There wasn't the tang of shock, of disbelief.

"How dare you say Sesshomaru-Sama is evil! He's the most noble lord there ever was!" Little Rin-chan had caught the tail end of the conversation and finally found a chance to defend her father figure. She was staring indignantly at Shippo, hands propped on her hips.

The kitsunes cheeks turned bright red, he lowered his eyes, abashed. "Well, if you say so Kagome. But if he hurts you I'm gonna take him out!"

This time it was Kagome who sighed, surprising Sesshomaru. Shouldn't she agree with her kit?

"I don't think we need to worry about that Shippo-chan. But you can protect me anyway, okay?" Her eyes were warm again as she hugged the kit close.

"Okay Kagome-chan." The kit returned her embrace, before scrambling down to go play with Rin. Despite their earlier argument regarding Sesshomarus evil nature, the two were eager to have a playmate so close in age.

Kagomes azure eyes gazed out across the lake, yet her mind did not take in the beautiful sight. She was conflicted, that much Sesshomaru could tell from her expression. He noticed she tended to press her lips together, thinning them out when she was deep in thought.

"Should I be concerned? I know that Kikyou is his...is his mate now," she only hesitated slightly, but the sentence held an air of finality about it. "It's just that doesn't seem like Inuyusha, to get up and leave without so much as a goodbye."

The Daiyoukais eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly,"Isn't that what he did to you?"

A humorless chuckle was wrung out of the woman at that. The rhetorical question stung a bit, but wasn't there a saying about the truth being painful?

Sesshomaru on the other hand was a bit shocked. He had expected her to get angry, and contradict him. He hadn't believed she was mature enough to recognize the truth, and accept it like that.

"Either way, his actions should not concern you, miko," She could hear the disdain color his voice as he spoke of his brother. She knew it shouldn't, she shouldn't be thinking of him, but that angered her. Why did he feel the need to be so condescending?

"Why ever would you say that?"

"Is your mission not to hung Naraku?" Her eyes narrowed.

"That's doesn't mean I can't still be worried about my friends." She wanted him to say what she thought he was implying. That she was weak for still caring, sidetracked.

Sesshomaru sighed as he smelt her burgeoning angry. It seemed he had to spell things out this time, a chore he never much cared for. "Would not the best way to...care, for them, be eliminating their worst enemy? Enabling them to live in peace?"

He watched as the gears turned in her mind, the accusations faded from her eyes. "Yes, I suppose you're right...sorry for snapping," She shot him a sheepish smile. "I thought were gonna say that still caring made me weak."

If he were a lesser being, he would have sniffed. "Does protecting my ward make this Sesshomaru a weaker daiyoukai?" She almost shivered at the challenge in his deep tone. She shook her head slightly in response, even though the question was obviously rhetorical.

~WLITS~

The young women plopped onto her sleeping bag, face drawn to the wide expanse of glittering stars in the violet sky. Rin and Shippo were already passed out, hands on their bulging bellies after a filling dinner. Plus some pocky that Shippo had begged her for. The little rascal knew exactly how to play her heartstrings for candy, but she loved him no less for it.

She turned on her side, giving Shippo and Rin each a kiss on the temple. The little kistune stirred.

"Kagome-chaaaan?" She smiled as the exhausted kit drew out the vowel.

"Yes?"

"I hope...I hope this is a new adventure," he mumbled before flipping over, his tail curling around him. The woman gazed at the honorable daiyoukai across the campfire, silently agreeing with the small kit.

~WLITS~

Kagome stared at the cold stone gray walls, her hands pulling vainly against the chains binding them. She was full of anger for the tiny kit that was also chained next to her, yet buried it deep to keep him calm.

"Well, you did say you wanted a new adventure."

His large eyes filled with disbelief, "This is a jail cell."

She sighed,"I was being sarcastic..."

~~~WLITS~~~

AN: thank you for reading! I know, I'm awful for the cliffy but I need some inspiration for faster updates! Also this chapter was my way of showing that I haven't forgotten about inuyasha, he'll come back.

Please review!