Walking at a steady pace, Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel his irritation peak at its max with having Jaken continuing with his constant grumbling but it wasn't just only that which caused his irate state.

for the past few days, the homes of the people that lived in his lands have began to fall under an unknown plague that had suddenly appeared, he had received notice of it when he was in his domain which he had decided to ready his trip down to see for himself what was happening. After arriving he sent Jaken to report back what was going on while he stalked through the tiny village to get any hits of anything unusual.

With nothing coming back to him as out of place, Jaken had then returned with a full report of the village men falling ill with stomach and head pains. Many have even been unable to move themselves out of bed as well as some have succumbed to it which was a high rate for the elderly and not the younger or older generation.

Knowing this bit of information, he set about ordering the monks that were residing in the village in which the daiyokai noticed were doing fine despite the others- to seek out more medical needs for the rest that were still fighting the disease.

Scowling slightly, Sesshomaru stopped in his tracks causing Jaken to shut his mouth and look up at his lord.

"has there been any news of Rin?"

Jaken, now straightning up squaked out a quick reply "not that I have been aware about my lord!"

still looking ahead of him with a deep frown marred on his face; Sesshomaru spoke after staying silent for a couple of seconds" we will seek her out to make sure she is well acquainted." Resuming back on the path he was taking, the daiyoukai sped up his pace just slightly- He didn't as much cared if the humans that resided on the western lands were falling in numbers but he did have a responsibility as a Lord to make sure everything was well cared for and nothing that may pose as a threat came to his lands.

with no rest after 2 days of travelling did Sesshomaru finally let himself relax as he knew he wasn't far from the village Rin was residing at, Spreading his Yoki out to warn away any from approaching, he leaned back against a tree letting the breeze blow against him. Jaken had also seeked comfort by crossing his legs while he leaned his body against his staff that he had on hand.

enjoying the little silence that befell the two demonic beings, Sesshomaru shifted his weight for further comfort but the sudden smell of honey and what also smelled like fresh spring water wafted in his direction that he felt himself stiffen up if any just slightly.

Spring water; it was almost close to another smell that he couldn't quite put a finger on.

without realizing his own actions, Sesshomaru inhaled deeply at the sweet scent and faced at the direction it was coming from. He wasn't sure why but this smell was making him to feel a small tug at his beastial instincts, it was enough for him to want to seek out what it was but wouldn't have the need to seeing as a small child pushed their way out from a small bush carrying what looked like a woven ball in his hands.

Sesshomaru stayed in place and simply observed the child, they were a few feet away from where he and Jaken were but with the trees around it blocked the child's view from actually seeing them.

The child had raven hair that fell in waves to their shoulders, they were dressed in a simple white robe with a black obi tied at his waist. Nothing unique seemed to stand out from the youth to which Sesshomaru decided to ultimately dismiss, he closed his eyes for a second that when he looked at the child again, Sesshomaru eyes widen briefly when he saw honey eyes flash brightly his way.

the boy looked at where the Inuyokai resigned himself to rest for a few minutes before he turned his head away and walked back to where he popped out from.

"..."

Sesshomaru stayed where he sat at for a couple more minutes before rising back up to his feet and once again be on his way.

"you look troubled priestess."

Sighing at that, Kagome drew both her knees up wrapping one arm around while her other hand played with the grass as she looked ahead staring at nothing in particular. It's been a couple days now with this sudden plague had hit them so she's been running all over the place with no rest. Shippo had also taken up on cooking seeing as how she would come back home exhausted and drained.

But she was finally able to get a breakthrough when she visited a family of 5 and the children who were bedridden when the sudden sickness hit were now up and finally able to properly eat and even play- though it was sluggish it was still an improvement in their health that Kagome had wanted to cheer in relief.

If she and Kaede kept doing their best she was sure everyone will finally beat this so called 'stomach bug' in which Inuyasha kept insisting that it was just that.

thinking about him she wondered where he kept on running off to?

Yukio shifted his weight causing Kagome to jump at the sudden movement- she had completely forgot he was still next to her since she fell deep in her thoughts,
in the past few days Yukio had also been a great help to her, every morning for the past days they had both gradually became acquainted enough to be considered friends. He would accompany her when she went ahead and gathered herbs or to fill her water buckets as well as greeted one another when she would walk by when attending to
the sick villagers.

Kagome was surprised seeing at how different he acted when she first meet him but was relieved he was a decent male to be around despite his indifferent attitude he would sport; it made her feel a bit uncomfortable at times but nothing she couldn't really be bothered with.

"I apologize, I suppose i've just been in my head as of late.." Leaning her head forward to rest her chin on her knees, Kagome finally focused her attention on the small silhouette of Shijima who finally reemerged from the tree linings holding his woven ball that Inuyasha had given him when he was about 2 cycles. He really did enjoy his toy, she should try and see if she can get him some more toys so he doesn't always play with one and quickly tire from it.

"but..I am also happy since some children who were sick are finally feeling better. so in both i'm both relieved and exhausted if i'm to be honest."

Yukio raised his elbow up to rest on his knee that he had lifted up and shot a quick glance at Kagome who still kept her focus ahead of her "that's good to hear, I hope more people become better in your care as well as the Elder Priestess." now focusing ahead he saw the child who always seemed to be around the young priestess slowly approach them. "if i may ask- who exactly does the child belong to?"

raising her head up at the question, Kagome looked at Yukio before she registered what he had asked, "he is mine, I don't think it wasn't that obvious seeing as he is always next to me to assume so." Yukio raised an eyebrow at that and shook his head "he always tends to make it known on his face that he dislikes me so i could not tell the resemblence but now-" looking at the child who was now in a much closer proximity to where he and Kagome were, he was able to see perfectly how he did look like the miko but with a more child like feature now that he wasn't always frowning or looking angrily at him
"I can see very well that he is yours, I apologize in advance but... i noticed it is only you who cares for him."

stiffening at his words, Kagome bit her bottom lip before looking back at Shijima who decided to stay a few distance away playing with his ball and Shippo who had now seemed to have appeared out of no where play with him. "yes... but i do have my other son Shippo and my friend to help me around so it just not me who tends to him"

"but there is no father around.. has he perhaps perished?"

Chuckling under her breath Kagome thought how that was definitely not the case and raised her other hand which had stop plucking at the grass and had settled to rest against the soft grass and wrapped it around her knees. "that couldn't be further from the truth" resting her chin once more on her knees Kagome smiled absentmindedly as she looked at her two boys who were now playing chase with Shippo having a hard time grabbing Shijima who was easily evading him. "it's complicated really."

Yukio now facing Kagome, took in her appearance, her hair was tied loosely with a white ribbon holding back her long ebony locks but some managed to spill to frame her face. she seemed like she was trying to curl herself in with how she hugged her knees tightly against her chest; maybe he shouldn't have asked such a sensitive topic but
before he could say anything he heard loud yelling and laughter and faced towards both child and demon who he had also noticed was around the miko, the demon kit seemed to be angrily scolding with a red print on his face while the child held his ball in front of him hiding his grin.

"do you have a family Yukio?"

looking back at the woman next to him, he only shrugged before closing his eyes feeling the wind pick up slightly. "no, but it doesn't mean I don't wish for one" the wind picked up more making the trees leaves ruffle around them. "why don't you if that's okay for me to ask.."

"it's complicated to say"

both stayed silent for a couple of minutes just soaking in the mid afternoon sun and watching both child and teen play around. Seeing them both play and enjoying themselves, Yukio had a sudden flash of a woman standing just outside a tiny home keeping an eye on two boys who were busying themselves with the small branches and rocks they had collected. But just as how fast it appeared it had vanished just as quickly making him raise his hand to cover his eyes. what a nostalgic thing to see and remember- he despised it.

needing a quick distraction, He glared into his hand as he moved it back and took a deep breath

"if you don't mind me asking and excuse me for being nosy once more..who exactly is your son's father?"

The gentle smile that was on her face slowly began to turn into a frown, it wasn't like she needed to keep that to herself but she wasn't sure how to exactly explain it especially seeing as she was a priestess and the father was a demon lord, both shouldn't even have crossed paths yet she had proof that they did just a distance away from her playing with Shippo.

No one actually really knew her son was a inuyokai, a full one at that which had surprised her seeing as she was human making it impossible to birth a full yokai child instead of a hanyou like Inuyasha. But with her covering his markings every morning before heading out she suppose she was hiding him, She was scared of what people would do if they found out what he was especially with how she was the Shikon Miko, not only would they bring her harm or worse but they would do something to Shijima; she was just lucky enough that the village she stayed at was welcoming to demons since it was Inuyasha who took it upon himself to be guardian.

Of course not even the villagers knew what Shijima was, especially Rin seeing as she was a travel companion to said Demon lord, She was also lucky enough that Rin never tried to bring up to the topic of how Shijima came to be, She was sure she wouldn't be able to handle talking about it with her but she had also seemed to notice Rin looking at Shijima with a strange look on her face as of late.

Realizing that she had yet to respond back Kagome slowly lowered her knees placing her hands on her lap looking down towards them. She couldn't really say exactly who but she could make an adjustment to it.

tilting her head just slightly to the side Kagome let a soft breath out "that's- hard to say..well no it's-"

Lowering his hand down, Yukio looked at Kagome once more waiting for her to collect her words.

Closing her eyes, Kagome finally let her mind calm down and began talking..