A/N: Okay, I lied, THIS is the last installment...It's short, yes, but someone wanted a sequel...and I thought this would fit. If you find it doesn't fit, drop me a line and review. ;)

Photograph

She ran after him, him keeping his pace slow so she had a fighting chance, while he had his camera tucked away into his haori so she wouldn't be able to snatch it so easily.

Kagome, panting, continued to chase him, already feeling some of her energy drain from the long run. Was he ever planning on stopping sometime soon? She supposed not, for if he were to stop she'd have an opportunity to get the object she wanted. There was just no way her friends could see that picture! It was be humiliating, not to mention Inuyasha's eyes might burn at the sight.

They were vastly becoming out of reach of the village, but it seemed that Sesshoumaru held no resolve over keeping her away from her friends this one last time. Kagome had absolutely no idea as to where he was leading her, but, oddly enough, she didn't care, held no qualms as to wherever the demon lord decided to take her. She only wished he'd actually stop for a breather every once in a while!

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome called, trying to kick up her speed a notch so she could at least be thirty feet behind him. "Where are you taking me!?"

"You shall see," was his reply as he sped away from her view, and circled around a rather massive oak tree.

"I want that picture! Don't make me hurt you!" she gasped, couldn't help but laughing at the predicament she was in. Here she was, chasing a taiyoukai far more powerful than her, throwing meaningless threats that fell on deaf ears. But she knew he didn't care, he was more caught up in keeping her in top physical form than her wanton threats.

He stopped then, so that she could catch up, then tauntingly began to stride forward. "And how shall you hurt me, little miko?" he challenged, and Kagome could see the smirk on his features prominently in the sunlight, though his head was slightly canted toward her.

"I'll think of something," she admonished, stopping in her tracks, doubling over and heaving for mouth fulls of air. She wasn't certain how long they'd been keeping up this silly game, but it was enough that Kagome's legs were tingling and that she thought she'd topple over any second. And just as she was teetering to the side, Sesshoumaru's arm supported her around her waist.

"Now, now," he chided playfully, kissing her temple quickly, "our game is far from over. Don't pass out on me now."

"How do you expect me not to?" she breathed, chest rising up and down comically fast. For pictures sake, she tossed her head back and lay the back of her hand on her forehead, and said in what she hoped to be a sultry, despondent voice, "Oh, I have fallen! I need a big strong demon to come and sweep me off of my feet!"

And, adhering to her demands, he scooped her up close so that her face was in the crook of his neck. "I...was joking," she said, a bit shyly.

"I've exhausted you enough," he reprimanded, and started toward the direction he had been heading in since he had taken off. "Now, we are almost to our destination, do you think you can hold onto consciousness for a few moments?"

Nodding, she let her head fall on his collarbone and allowed him to carry her, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck and playing with his silver hair. He bent down, stared at her intensely for one second, then kissed her until she thought she'd spiral into complete euphoria. When he finally released her lips, she was fanning herself. "Could you at least give me a warning?" she pleaded, though secretly she enjoyed the improvised kisses. "We've only just started and already you're getting carried away."

"I am allowed to do whatever I choose with the one I decide to spend my time with." Came his smug reply.

"Wouldn't that mean it'd be the same way for me?" she questioned, eyes showing hidden desires he didn't really want to release just yet.

"Not quite," he said, bringing his face close to hers again. "Besides," he murmured, and let his breath fan her face. 'God does his breath smell good...' Kagome thought, becoming dizzy again. "You are too unstable to do much right now, might as well take advantage of your state while I can." He kissed her again, heatedly, and she knew she'd never get used to the way he envoked so much passion from her. Not that she wanted to get used to it...

When he pulled away, she was trying to get back the breath that was taken from her, but wished secretly for him to kiss her again.

As the forest started to part in front of them, the trees becoming thinner and an opening divulging before them, Kagome's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the sight before her.

It was a field full of varies flowers and wildlife, so big it looked oddly reminiscent of the one they had been in before. Then, off in the distance, she saw a little girl plaid in a checkered kimono and a two-headed dragon, along with a very grumpy Kappa who was furiously waving his staff about in the air. He took her to see his followers, and to do what?

As he crossed the field with sudden lightning fast speed that had her stomach lurching forward, he stood in front of Rin, who offered him a toothy smile before noticing the miko perched in his arm.

"Kagome-san!" chirped Rin, who held her arms out toward the older woman. "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Sesshoumaru allowed Kagome off, and the girls hugged. "What are you doing here, Kagome-san?" Rin asked.

"You best me on your way home!" Jaken squawked, but with one malovelent look from his master he smartly shut up.

"She is here to partake in photographs with you, Rin." Sesshoumaru answered, watching as both of the girls' faces lit up in excitement.

"Really!" Rin ran to the taiyoukai, and he dropped his camera in her hands.

"Take good care of that," he cautioned, then nodded toward Kagome, "and don't let her have it."

"Okay!" Rin ran off, already blabbering about the places that would best accommodate their impromptu 'photo shoot.'

"She'll love that," Kagome sighed, and kissed the demon lord, much to Jaken's surprise. "And you had to tell her to keep the camera away from me, didn't you?"

"Of course." He said, and smiled slightly. "Wouldn't want you deleting 'memories' now would we?"

Giving him a slight punch in the arm, Kagome set off to find the little girl so she could start their memory making.

The next morning, Kagome visited her boss with the photographs she had taken with Rin two days ago, hoping he'd be pleased by the products. Of course, if there was one thing Mr. Tsukihaku had a specialty in, it was explosive reviews and generous amounts of praise along with subtle hints of constructive criticism that helped guide her to where she was. As she slipped him a picture that was about the size of her arm of Rin balancing delicately on one toe with varies assortments of flowers stuck in her brown hair, swarmed by crickets and the rising grass, her boss simply radiated gratitude and joy.

"Oh, Kagome!" he crowed, not even bothering to pinpoint the small flaws that were in the photo, such as the discreet broadcast of the side of Kagome's thumb in one of the corners. "This little girl is simply astounding, and you photography has blown through the roof! Show me more."

Obediently, Kagome fished through her bag and removed another photograph, this time of Kagome kneeling by a tree being surrounded by dozens of blue birds that it almost seemed as though she digitally animated them into the photo. Though, to Kagome's knowledge, she was aware of Rin's little 'talent' for bird callings and soon realized that she was being swarmed by a whole flock of pretty little birds.

"And this one!" he exalted, pointing toward one of the birds perched on her shoulder. "Are all of these birds really in this photograph? Because if they aren't, you sure did one heck of a job incorporating them in this piece!"

Kagome nodded, smiling gaily, pleased that her boss was so curious. "Yes, I have a friend who is a very skilled bird caller,"

"Well, I'd like to see more of her! And what about my fellow that was clad in the uniform?"

"Oh, don't worry, I have a few," Kagome searched through her photos, picked one at random that was in Sesshoumaru's personal folder, and handed it to her boss.

Mr. Tsukihaku's brows rose to his hairline, and he whistled, in appreciation or in some other manner Kagome did not know.

"Wow," he said, letting out a chuckle, "it looks like you're closer to your co-worker than I first thought."

Flushing, Kagome asked if she could see the photo, and to her dismay it had been exactly what she was afraid of showing him. It hadn't really been intended to show her boss, but somehow it had slipped into the portfolio...

The picture contained Kagome sitting on Sesshoumaru's lap, arms hooked around his neck, while his one hand cupped the side of her cheek, both gazing into each others eyes, unaware of the picture Rin had snapped at them in that instant. But, now recalling it, she remembered printing the picture at home and blushing profusely, and stashing it away. Perhaps she accidentally stuffed it in Sesshoumaru's folder without knowing it...

"Um...that one wasn't really meant for business, sir," she said, trying to keep the nervous tone from her voice.

"But I simply adore it!"

Kagome felt like bashing her had off the desk. Of course he loved it!

"If you want, this will be on display next month at the art museum."

Perking up a bit, Kagome nibbled on her bottom lip for a full minute before deflating and nodding her head. "I would be honored, sir."

"Excellent!" He stood, and started assessing his wall that was cluttered with masterpieces known worldwide, picture in hand. He stuck his hands on his hips, and clucked his tongue. "Now to start looking for a picture frame and a place where I can hang this up on."

終わり