Chapter 7

The Lord of the western land walked through his defrosting domain. On patrol yet again, the demon was being extra cautious. Naraku had made an attempt at kidnapping his ward to use as leverage against him. The despicable spider wanted him to kill his half brother and friends. Lord Sesshomaru bent to no one's will but his own.

Of course, his pathetic attempt failed. The only thing he accomplished was terrifying Rin. She has been so upset when the wind witch tried to steal her away, she had nightmares for days after the event, preventing her from proper sleep. After her nightmares had finally stopped she became ill from lack of rest.

Sesshomaru was grateful for the miko's medical supplies she gave him for such occasions. Taking his ward back to his fortress, he gave her the remedies and did not let her go outside for the rest of winter even after she was well again.

At the first sign of green poking through the dead earth, the Lord took his pack out to start searching for the menacing half breed spider who dared to touch what was his.

Having gone the entire day with no sign of the cur, the daiyoukai choose a suitable clearing to rest in for the night. Sending Jaken off to catch fish for Rin, he watched the small girl pick flowers from a meadow that shared their campsite. He had not found a trace of the evil hanyou's scent. Deciding he would search for the miko's group in the morning and find out what intel they had on the spider, he continued to watch the innocent child play in the flowers.

*With Kagome*

Kagome was glad spring was almost here. The winter had been long and cold. Unable to travel for the most part of it, Kagome and her friends stayed in Edo. They shared a hut with Kaede having built on to it long ago so she could accommodate their group better as well as any other guest she may have. The young miko spent most of her time knitting wool mittens, hats, and socks for the village children. Sickness was most common this time of year and she tried to help any way she could.

Thinking she would go crazy from being in doors for much longer, she was happy when the weather started to get warmer and green grass started to peek through the brown.

The group set out on a sunny day, the air still held an icy chill but the snow was gone and the sun warmed them well. Kagome stood in the back refusing to walk in front of Inuyasha anymore. She threatened to call him out to the group on his hentai behavior making him stop his demands of seeing her rear end all day.

Lost in her thoughts, Kagome didn't notice the familiar yet unwanted snake-like creatures that belonged to her clay counterpart flying above them. Looking up when everyone stopped, she saw what halted them. Kikyo was in front of them all just emerging from the trees.

Inuyasha immediately ran to her and embraced the clay woman. Kagome looked away, she had started her process of moving on knowing Inuyasha would never be hers, but it was still humiliating. She knew what was coming.

A few minutes passed as the group watched the couple talk in low voices. Finally, Inuyasha took Kikyo's hand and turned back to face them. "I want you all to know that Kikyo will be traveling with us now," Inuyasha stated, matter of factly. There was a cluster of gasps, growls, and angry glares from the rest of the tachi. "No way Inuyasha, the clay pot is not coming with us! Did you forget she betrayed us?!" Sango screamed first. "I do not think it the wisest idea if Lady Kikyo traveled with us," the monk said, almost at the same time as his lover. "InuBaka, how could you do that to Kagome!" yelled the small kitsune from Sango's shoulder. Both nekos growled and glared at the deceased miko. The only member who said nothing was Kagome. She was too shocked despite knowing what was going to happen. "All of you shut the hell up, you don't know what you're talking about. I love Kikyo. She is strong and way better at detecting shards and she can actually pull her wait in the group instead of just getting in the way!" he sneered, the last part directed towards her.

Kagome couldn't deal with this. Saying nothing to Inuyasha or their new member, she turned to Sango and said, "I'm going for a walk, don't wait up," then picked up Ashi and turned away from the group.

The upset miko walked for hours, not paying attention to where she was going. The sun was setting before she knew it, casting the most beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, and reds. Making it to the top of a grassy hill she sat down. She didn't realize how tired she was, but since she walked most of the day she was not surprised.

Staring at the now rainbow of colors and only a sliver of sun, the miko thought about what she was going to do now. Ashi looked into his mistress' eyes and saw them filling and overflowing with moisture. Standing on his back legs he put his front paws just below her throat and nuzzled under her chin. "I'm ok Ashi, I just don't want to deal with more misery and torment," Kagome explained sadly. "How can he invite her to join us, we all know she will betray us again!" Kagome continued. "What am I going to do? Do I continue to put up with it or leave?"

The sun finally set to rest for the night, the moon taking its place reaching high in the night sky. Stars twinkled brightly. It was Kagome's most favorite thing to gaze at. Yet she couldn't bring herself to enjoy the scene in front of her because she was too tormented on what to do. What she didn't notice was someone lurking in the woods behind her at the base of the hill.

***Song***

You got a fast car,

Is it fast enough so we can fly away?

We gotta make a decision,

We leave tonight or live and die this way.

'cause I remember when we were drivin',

Drivin' in your car,

Speeds so fast I felt like I was drunk,

City lights lay out before us,

And your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder,

And I, I had a feelin' that I belonged,

And I, I had a feelin' I could be someone,

Be someone,

Be someone.

***End Song***

Kagome looked to her right and saw a tall figure dressed in white. She didn't sense his arrival on her hilltop nor was she frightened when she saw him. No, now she felt safe.

Standing, Kagome placed Ashi in the grass and turned to look into her favorite eyes. Bowing low in respect to her visitor, "Good afternoon Lord Sesshomaru, I trust you are well?" Kagome said. "I am," was his short reply. "And Rin?" Kagome asked, hoping the child she adored was healthy and happy. Turning his gaze to the sky he replied dryly, "Rin is also well."

Sighing, Kagome sat back down and jestered to the lord to join her. After a moment he folded himself onto the grass, never letting his eyes leave the starry sky.

"What ails you priestess?" asked the curious lord. Not turning to look at him, Kagome drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "It's nothing important," the miko lied. "You are forlorn?" questioned the daiyoukai. "Yes," Kagome admitted, "I do not want to fail my mission because I am too weak to stand on my own two feet," Kagome answered figuratively, sighing and resting her chin on her knees. "But I do not know if I can go on like this much longer."

"It is in vain to stone the sky, no matter how large the rock," offered the sage demon, still watching the orb of the night. Kagome lifted her head to look at the demon. He was trying to help her. He actually cared in his own way. At that moment she started to feel better, she would not borrow trouble. She could do this. She would not fail.

"Thank you Sesshomaru Sama," Kagome said softly. He really did make her feel better. She allowed herself to really look at the demon lord. He was beautiful, she hadn't noticed just how beautiful until now. His hair was so silky soft looking she had to make herself not reach out to run her fingers through it. He was just so beautiful, she couldn't describe how much.

A slight breeze picked up, taking the pair's hair and Sesshomaru's empty sleeve with it. Kagome still felt awful about his missing limb. In some ways she felt responsible for Inuyasha's actions. "Ano, Sesshomaru-Sama?" Kagome asked, unsure if he would allow what she wanted to do . When he looked at her she took this to mean he was listening so she continued, "There's something I've been wanting to try," Kagome said shyly, reaching her hand up very slowly and cautiously to what was left of his arm.

When she finally touched his shoulder her instincts took over. There was a sudden unnatural breeze. Pink light appeared at her fingertips then eventually engulfed her entire hand and his shoulder. Kagome let her reiki flow from inside her to Sesshomaru's partial limb. At first she felt nothing happen but then the demon lord grunted and she felt his arm growing back beneath her hand.

Letting her powers guide her, her hand slowly drifted down with the newly restored appendage. She started to feel weak and very tired, but she pushed on, needing to finish her task. A few moments later she felt his hand, then palm, then fingers, and finally claws. She felt herself falling but managed to open her eyes to see if it really worked. The last thing she saw was two arms reaching for her. She did it! She wasn't a complete failure. Then everything went black.

*With Sesshomaru*

The Western Lord recheaded out and caught the falling miko, then lifted her into his lap for support leaning her against his shoulder with no armor. Lifting his new arm he just stared at it. She actually grew his arm back. It was unheard of, limbs did not grow back, fangs and claws yes, but limbs never. Looking at the girl in his lap he let a small smile show and his eyes filled with respect for the young miko. She was very powerful indeed.

Standing with the miko he held her bridal style and possibly closer to him than he would have liked. "She gave us back our arm, she cares for Rin like a mother would, she is kind and powerful and different. I want her for our mate," his beast challenged. 'She is human, the other lords would never allow it,' he responded. "Pathetic, that will not stop us, we will have her," his beast vowed.

Letting the subject drop, he picked up her yellow sac and weapon and started to walk back to his camp. The neko demon bounded off behind him. Thinking back he was surprised when the miko touched his arm, confused at her reason, then he felt strong growing pains worse than when he was a pup. He almost stopped her, not knowing what was happening, when he felt his arm growing back. 'What am I going to do with you,' he thought, looking down at her peaceful face, confused for the first time in a long time. This girl was making him feel a lot of things he had not felt before or in a long while.

Arriving back at camp, Sesshomaru walked over to the tree he occupied before he left and settled down. He was reluctant to release the woman in his arms and did not know why. His Moko-moko slipped from his shoulder to snake around the bundle in his arms. So his beast wanted her here too. The girl snuggled into him deeper, gripping the white fluff in her hands and sighing his name. This made his lip twitch upward in an almost smile, she was content and comforted by him and his beast.

The lord looked over to the neko who sat in front of him with his small head tilted in question. "She used too much power, she will be well again by morning," answering the unspoken question. The demon lord watched the cat nod his understanding and walk over to his ward who slept against a dozing Ah-Un. The small neko crawled onto Rin's chest and nuzzled into her neck. Barely stirring the tiny girl wrapped her arms around the furry cat and sighed happily, drifting into a deeper sleep. 'Our packs mix well,' he noted to himself.

Sesshomaru spent the night in thought, either watching the miko or the crackling fire. The sun was starting to break free of the horizon and he was still no further at sorting his thoughts than last night.

Sesshomaru heard the miko's heart rate start to pick up and knew she would wake soon. Lifting her from his lap he laid her on the ground beside him so as to save her the embarrassment of waking in his lap. His Moko-moko refused to leave her and curled around her body tighter. She had no idea the effect she was having on his beast.

Kagome's eyes opened slowly, then all at once as she sat up quickly. "Calm yourself miko, you are in this Sesshomaru's camp, you used too much energy last night when you gave back this Sesshomaru's arm," he explained. "You passed out so this Sesshomaru brought you here." The dazed miko looked at him, then blushed as he finished his tale. Shifting into a seiza, Kagome bowed, returned his tail to him, and thanked the demon lord. "I'm sorry for the trouble, thank you for not leaving me alone and for letting me use this."

At that moment, Rin woke up and noticed their guest. "Lady Kagome!" she yelled, then noticed who she held. "And Ashi too!" she said excitedly, hugging the cat then running to do the same to Kagome. "Hello Rin, I've missed you so much!" the miko said in greeting. "Rin missed you too!" the tiny child said, "Rin has been a very good girl!" "That's very good Rin," the proud miko answered.

The morning continued with some light play between the neko and Rin while the miko made everyone breakfast, including Jaken. Lord Sesshomaru, who opted for only some tea, watched the look of shock from his vessel when the miko handed him his share of her food. The toad was surprised to see the human when he woke up, but was respectful after seeing the warning look from his lord. "Rin, would you like to come bathe with me?" the miko asked. "Oh yes Rin would like that very much!" the child responded.

"Ah-Un, escort the miko and Rin to the nearest hot spring," commanded the lord. The girls and neko, with bathing supplies, change of clothes, and weapon in hand, left behind the two headed dragon. Alone at last, the lord stood and went to hunt for himself.

The slaughter of his meal did not help ease his mind as it usually would. The daiyoukai felt different but was unsure why or to what extent, no matter how much he thought about it. Returning to camp and settling against his tree, he decided he would find out eventually what ailed him and put the matter to the back of his mind.

Not long after his return, the woman and child arrived back clean and ready for the day hand in hand. Both girls had large smiles on their faces and were laughing about something. With the shift in the wind, the miko's scent was carried to the young lord's nose. She smelled devine, like sakura blossoms in spring and the smell of rain after a storm mixed with a light tropical scent.

"Sesshomaru-Sama, Rin took a bath with lady Kagome and she washed and braided Rin's hair and let Rin play with a rubber ducky!" informed an excited child showing said duck to the lord. "Very good, Rin," Sesshomaru replied, placing a hand on her head.

The two mother-daughter look alikes played into the evening. Their resemblance was uncanny to the lord. If he could not smell her purity along with their blood he would mistake the two as related.

"Kagome-Sama, Rin is hungry, can Rin have a snack?" Rin asked as her stomach growled its complaint. "Of course sweetie, I have some dried meat and trail mix you can have along with a juice box," offered the miko. "What is a juice box?" asked the curious girl. "It comes from my village, it's a paper box that holds juice from a fruit in it," explained the older woman. "Oh that sounds yummy!" yelled Rin. As the two finished their lunch, a strong breeze hit them.

Standing swiftly, Sesshomaru drew his sword from its sheath and met a reincarnation of Naraku. "Kagura!" yelled Kagome. Rin shreaked and ran into the arms of the miko with tears in her eyes. "She tried to take Rin away, please don't let her take Rin," cried the child. "I'm here for the girls' jewel shards, hand them over and I'll be on my way," demanded the wind witch.

An unforgiving glare met the red eyes of the spawn in front of him. "You will not leave here alive," threatened the demon of the west, while charging at the evil woman. "Have it your way," replied the witch lamely. Throwing a black orb into the air, the reincarnation of Naraku summoned a hundred demons to her aid.

"Ashi!" yelled the miko, who was distracted by the attacking demons. Sesshomaru hacked at the weak demons on his way to get to his ward, when the wind sorceress blocked his path. The lord noticed the miko fighting her own set of monsters along with Jaken who burned all he could with his staff. Rin clung to the miko's leg, safe from harm for now.

Sesshomaru attacked Kagura with strength anew. She was fast, using the wind to dodge and deflect his claws. He saw his chance to catch her off guard and took it. She was unable to see his whip after he flung a horde of dead demons at her. He then used his poison to slash a deep cut into her shoulder, rendering it useless.

"Ahh!" screamed the wind bitch clutching her arm as it dangled uselessly. Jumping back, she plucked a magic growing feather from her hair and jumped on it. Before she left, she called, "Dance of the dead!" A reanimated body of a large demon that laid dead behind the miko and his ward, rose to attack. The wind witch used this as an escape.

The scream of his ward made him charge after the woman and child. Seeing the miko throw herself over Rin in a last ditch effort to protect her, he slashed the beast's body in two just before it could strike his defenseless girls.

"It's alright now," the older girl soothed the child after she took a look around. Rin looked away from the woman's stomach and smiled at Sesshomaru. "Thank you for protecting us milord!" his ward said. "Hn," was his reply as he started to walk away, leaving behind the battle ridden camp. Both girls followed after the lord, smiling as if nothing happened, used to this way of life. Rin seemed to recover easily with the comforts from the miko.

Walking along his path to nowhere in particular but to get away from the offending smell of demon corpses, Sesshomaru looked to his left as the little miko came up to walk next to him. "Ano, Sesshomaru-Sama if it is not too much trouble, can you direct me towards Edo? I wish to go home to restock my supplies and prepare to travel on my own," the girl asked. "You are leaving my half brother's group?" Sesshomaru asked, turning towards the east. "Yes, I've made my decision, I cannot stay with them any longer but I will not ask Miroku and Sango to come with me so they can still have the protection Inuyasha offers," answered the miko. "You will travel on your own?" asked the lord. "I have no choice, I must finish collecting the shards even if I die trying," Kagome responded with a solemn look on her face.

Rin chose to speak up at that point, "Lady Kagome you don't have to travel alone Rin bets Lord Sesshomaru will let you travel with us, Rin knows he would because Kagome-Sama takes care of Rin and makes Rin happy," Claimed Rin, swinging hers and the mikos hand as they walked. Sighing inwardly he knew he could not refuse. "Rin, I don't want to impose-" Kagome started but was interrupted by the Lord. "It would be acceptable for you to travel with my pack, so long as you play with Rin and keep her company," offered Sesshomaru. "Oh please say yes Kagome-Sama!" begged little Rin, jumping up and down and shaking the miko's hand.

The miko stopped, making the rest of the group stop as well. "I would be honored to travel with you Sesshomaru-Sama," Kagome said, bowing low. "Hn," said Sesshomaru and continued walking. "Yay!" cheered Rin. "Rin is so happy you will be staying with us!" the little girl jumped and cheered.

Arriving at the village and stopping in a clearing on the outskirts that housed a well, the lord turned to take a sleeping Rin from Kagome. Rin was so excited about their newest member joining, she exhausted herself.

"Thank you for bringing me here." Kagome said bowing slightly then picking up Ashi. "We will be back by midday tomorrow if that is alright," asked the little miko. "That will be acceptable," replied Sesshomaru as he laid Rin on top of Ah-Un. Kagome walked over and leaned on the tips of her toes to kiss Rin on the forehead. Turning back to Sesshomaru, she walked the short distance to the well. "The well is your home?" asked the lord with an arch in his brow. Giggling, the girl explained to him that she was from 500 years in the future and the well was her portal from this time to hers. Scenting no lies, Sesshomaru believed her, the futuristic miko's tale put a lot of pieces of his puzzle about her together.

Watching the girl wave with the neko in hand then jump into the depths of the portal, the demon lord walked over to it as a pink light flashed and saw no one inside. His eyes narrowed, this well's magic smelled powerful, more powerful than anything he'd known. It was almost as if the Kami themselves were hiding inside.

~End of Chapter 7~

Ba-Bam! She finally gets to leave that butthole. Will sparks grow hehe I don't know. I'm a poet and didn't know it. *Mick drop*

Daiyoukai-Great demon, highest in demon rank

Hanyou-Half demon

Tachi-Group, pack

Daiyoukai-Great demon

Ano-Umm

Moko-moko- Sesshomaru's white fluffy thing that is technically a parasite that shows rank and listens to the will of its owner but in my story it's his tail controlled by him or his beast.

Seiza-Traditional way of sitting

Kami-God, deity, divinity

Song Fast cat by Tracy Chapman (not me)

Ja ne, Peach