Yay, long chapter!

VII

Silence reigned over dinner, save the sounds of the children talking and laughing. Kagome sat with Sango and Miroku as usual. Jaken had even joined in with them, telling stories of his Masters great and terrible battles while Sesshomaru sat on a bough of the nearest tree. He watched Kagome as she and her friends listened intently to Jakens words, hanging onto every second.

"So wait wait, wait. Even as a pup, Sesshomaru-sama almost beat his father?" Kagome had asked, garnering Sesshomaru's complete attention. His golden orbs flew to Jaken who looked lost in his memories.

"Oh yes. Lord Sesshomaru was barely three centuries old the first time he challenged his father. Of course the great Inu No Taisho had thought it was sport, just his pup wanting to learn, and wrestle with his father. He very quickly found that to be untrue, for the little Lord had been training with his youki whip." he said, before taking a sip of his tea. Kagome gasped, and Miroku hummed.

"Lord Sesshomaru seems to have always been strong, am I correct?" he asked, looking to Jaken who quickly nodded.

"My Lord has always been quiet exceptional. The desire to surpass his sire in every way would have held his determination. And determined he was! I remember the Lady Inukimi had to find new generals every two weeks for several moons." Jaken said, looking to the sky.

"Several? Did he defeat them all?" Kagome asked, curiously. Jaken tilted his head back and forth.

"In some ways, yes." Sesshomaru said, appearing gracefully seated next to Kagome. She eeped and blushed from his sudden proximity. "But mostly there was nothing they could do for the armies of the West that I could not do myself, and better."

Sesshomaru stared into the fire for a few moments in silence while everyone sat in thoughtful silence.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Sango asked. He looked up and met her gaze. "Is your mother still alive?"

He looked at her for a second before answering.

"She is. She lives in the Moon Palace, in the sky." Sango nodded, looking up and around as if she could catch a glimpse of it. "It is closer to the Northern Region, near the West." Her gaze snapped that way, longingly.

"Why is it you wish to know?" Sesshomaru asked, still watching Sango. She turned her gaze back to him and blushed.

"I've heard talk that the Lady Inukimi is very wise, and makes a habit as taking humans as... well... they've been referred to as pets." she answered. Sesshomarus eyebrow raised and he almost laughed. Almost.

"My mother keeps humans, yes. But not as pets. Guests, friends, occasionally a lover." he said. Kagome and Miroku noticed the look of disgust on his face.

"My Lord, if I may?" Miroku said. Sesshomaru nodded, looking to him. "I noticed you did not look pleased when you said 'lovers'. Is that towards humans, or just that relation with your mother?" he asked, and his eye got that lecherous glint in them. Before Sesshomaru could do or say anything, Sango's Hiraikotsu was getting slammed into Miroku's head.

"Hentai!" she yelled, before smiling apologetically at Sesshomaru. "Sorry about that. The idiot doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut."

"It was the latter." Sesshomaru said simply before standing, giving them a nod, and leaving to check the parameter. Mirokus fist shot up, and he hoarsely whispered, "Yes!"

Kagome and Sango laughed at them as they finished their dinner and got the kids ready for bed.

When he had finished his rounds, Sesshomaru stayed just within the treeline of the camp, out of sight of the only person left awake. The Miko, Kagome.

She invoked such curiosity within himself, it was frustrating. But he could not deny that her fiery attitude lit a fire long extinguished within his heart. She was so strong it hardly mattered that she was human.

"Are you going to stand there all night, großer Herr?" she asked without looking away from the fire. He stepped forward into the firelight, but did not make another move.

"What is it you called me?" he demanded. Kagome chuckled in response.

"I called you great Lord. No insult, I promise." she said, then patted the ground next to her. "Come, sit with me."

"I do not take orders from humans, Miko." Sesshomaru replied.

"It wasn't an order, merely a request. You may sit if you wish. I'd just appreciate the company." she said, somewhat quietly. Slowly, Sesshomaru approached Kagome and sat beside her.

"Has Inuyasha been near?" she asked after a few moments. Sesshomaru subtly sniffed the air, catching mostly her scent. A curious scent, indeed. She did not smell of death as other humans did. Instead she smelled of wild flowers and citrus.

"He has not. I have not seen, nor scented him." he replied, to which her shoulders slumped. "Does this upset you?" And why does he care?

"No, not near as much as I thought it would. I worry for his well being, of course. I would never wish him death. But still, I believe it is for the best that he stays away." she answered, glancing up at the demon beside her. He nodded in understanding.

"He has always been brash. Perhaps because of how he grew up, but he has also never been one to think of the consequences of his actions. I believe, that given time, he will see the error he made." Sesshomaru said before standing. He turned away, meaning to sit in a tree and berate himself for speaking his mind so much, when she grabbed his sleeve. He looked down to her, and she immediately released him.

"Sorry. I just...thank you." she said, and turned back to the fire. "But I don't think I'll ever allow him to be that close with me again. Perhaps not even friends. He has betrayed me and hurt me too many times."

"In light of that, I believe that's a very wise decision." He took a few steps towards the tree behind her before he spoke again. "If you wish, I could always use the perspective of one such as yourself on my side. Perhaps not my council, but an adviser none the less."

He disappeared up the tree, and she was left to ponder his words. The shards were almost all collected. Soon it would be time for the final battle with Naraku. What would she do after, should she survive? Could she go home to a normal life, or would she stay here and work for Sesshomaru like he offered? Could she even stand working for him?

She looked up towards the tree he rested in, contemplation written all over her face. He resisted the feeling rising in his chest from her staring, albeit unknowingly at him. Surely she could not have pinpointed him in the thick of the tree in the dark?

She wondered if perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to work for him. She's only ever seen him mistreat Jaken and Inuyasha. And she figured, from Sesshomaru's point of view, there were perfectly good reasons for it.