Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha.

After a short refreshing bath (short, because she was alomost sure that Miroku would find a way how to sneak past Sango's guard, had he enough time) Kagome joined her friends in Kaede's hut. The old priestess had prepared lunch for them and they all hungrily dug in.

Everyone enjoyed themself and it was obvious that they just acomplished something increndible and were proud of it. They'd achieved their goal, found their revenge and c happy at last.

Sango was the first to break the silence. "I can't believe it's over," she said dreamily, her chopsticks only halfway to her mouth.

"Neither can I," Miroku responded, while inching closer to the slayer.

"Now I can finally return back to my village... I think I'll try to restore my clan," Sango continued.

The monk grinned at that. "I will gladly help you with that, my lovely Sango."

The group expected that the exterminator would scold him for being a pervert, but to their immense surprise, she only blushed a little. Kagome and Shippou stared wide-eyed at their older friend and even Miroku looked quite shocked, until a happy smile appeared on his face. The only unaffected person was Inuyasha, who loudly slurped his ramen noodles and didn't catch the hidden meaning in the conversation.

"I'll stay here with Kaede," Shippou declared, when he though that the silence lasted far too long. "I'm going to be a healer!" he said proudly and Kagome petted his head. Much better than a forest robber! I'm glad he changed his mind... I guess I should thank Kaede for that. The little fox had started to learn about herbs and their healing abilities not long ago and Kaede had often praised him and kept encouraging him. It seemed that being a healer topped his last dream – to be like Robin Hood. Reading that book was a very bad idea!

"What about you, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked curiously.

Inuyasha, who just finished his noodles, only 'fehed'. Obviously, he didn't have a clue what to do now when Naraku died and most demons retreated, fearing they would become Inuyasha's next target.

"I'm sure, you will find something to do," Kagome whispered sadly. Her friends didn't understand her change of moods until they saw that she wasn't paying attention to them, but to the shiny Shikon no Tama, which was now complete and currently laying peacefully on her small palm. It took only a few seconds and everyone was overwhelmed by depression. They didn't want to lose her, but there wasn't anything they could do about it.

When Kagome noticed their sudden quietness, she forced a smile on her face. "Oh, come on! Do you think I actually enjoy running back and forth between two time periods, failing the horrible math exams, fighting demons and risking my life?! Hell no! I have fulfilled my responsibility and now I'm going to relax!" It wasn't a truth at all. She knew it, her perceptive friends knew it... Even Inuyasha knew it!

Ok, do something! Do something or else you'll cry and they will know just how bad it really is! Her gaze fell on her ever present backpack. She gasped. Yes! "I almost forgot I have presents for you!"

Half an hour later, all of her friends were content. Sango was very happy when she got several tubes of paste, used on sore muscles and bruisers, and was quite appaled when she saw her second gift – three sport bras. Miroku, on the other hand, thought they would look really nice on her and said that she should show herself in it – just to see if it's the right size. Sango got angry, of course, and knocked the monk out.

Said monk got couple of philosophical books, which he enjoyed until he angered Sango. Now they laid scattered on the floor near his unconscious body.

Shippou was supplied with crayons for at least four years and Inuyasha with so much ramen that it would sate a whole village.

Kaede was given a first aid equipment and a herbarium.

After she gave them their presents, kagome learned that her backpack much lighter and almost empty. In fact, there were only three more presents left. Sango peeped over her shoulder and gasped. Kagome looked at her and tried to tell her to be quiet and not to alarm Inuyasha.

"Would you like to take a walk, Kagome-chan?" the young exterminator asked. Kagome took a look at her remaining friends just to see them all occupied with enjoying their gifts, or being unconscious. She nodded, grabbed the backpack and followed Sango out of the hut. They withdrew a bit and sat in the grass near the rise fields.

"Kagome-chan," Sango began seriousy.

"I know, I know!" hurried Kagome. "But he saved my life! And Rin-chan is such a adorable child!"

"Kagome-chan," said the older girl again, "Sesshoumaru will never accept a gift from someone who is – according to his opinion – below him."

"But he will, Sango-chan, trust me," held Kagome her own. "He helped us defeat Naraku! He can't ba so bad, can he?"

Sango wasn't convinced. "Don't hope for it too much," she sighed. "You will be only disappointed."

"It's gonna be alright, just wait and see," smiled Kagome confidently. Then she looked round and when she didn't see Inuyasha, she decided to ask Sango the lord's whereabouts. She knew that he was somewhere close, because during the last two days Rin often showed up and played with her and Shippou. Sometimes she had Jaken with her, but most of the time, she was alone. And Sesshoumaru wouldn't let her go unprotected if it was too far, would he? Then again, maybe he hoped that she would get lost, so he wouldn't have to take care of her anymore... Such an ugly thought! He isn't that evil! Evil enough to send the hyperactive child to me and have some time for himself, but not enough to leave her.

"Ehm," Kagome remembered she wanted to ask Sango a question.

"He's somewhere near the clearing, behind the well," the exterminator said. She knew her younger friend very well and it wasn't so hard for her to guess what she was thinking about.

"Thanks!" Kagome cried happily and hit for the place where the lord and his companions should be staying. Hurry Kagome! You must be done, before Inuyasha finds you and starts accusing you of something! She imagined Inuyasha standing between disinterested Sesshoumaru and her, waving with Tetsusaiga and shouting obscenities. She smiled. I think I would sit him to the Hell.

It didn't last long and she finally reached her destination. The first thing – or rather the first person she saw was, of course, the bored demon lord. He was sitting, leant againt a tree, and obiously thinking. His eyes were closed, but she was pretty sure he knew that she was there. There was no way he would miss her presence with the super-sensitive nose of his.

His companions, on the other hand, didn't notice her at all. Rin was few meters from her, howering over Jaken and beating the poor old demon with a stick. "Stop it, Rin, you insolent child! I'm telling you to stop!!!" He sounded really desperate and Kagome felt sorry for him. There was a persistent voice in her head that kept telling her it was her fault this happened to Jaken.

Rin stopped and looked down on her 'playmate'. "But Jaken-sama, Rin wants to play robber!"

Oh...

"I don't want to play with you! I have better things to do right now!"

"Like what, Jaken-sama?" she asked innocently. She seemed to be really interested.

"Like serving my noble Lord instead of taking care of you!"

Kagome contemplated greeting them, but she didn't know how to start.

"Priestess."

But it seemed that she wouldn't have to be the one making the first move. She looked at the demon lord. He was gazing back at her. She blushed, looked down and started to play with one strap of her backpack. He waits for you to tell him why you're here! Talk! Just tell something, dammit! She opened her mouth. Talk! Talk! It was the most akward moment in her life. Never had she had any problems with talking, never! Quite the opposite – she had always talked too much for her own good. And now, she was standing here, opening and closing her mouth, looking like a fish, and blushing like a schoolgirl. How on earth should she start?!

"Eh... Hi."

That was perfect, Kagome, even if he didn't think you are stupid, he thinks it now.

"Hello, Kagome-chan!" came a salvation in the form of a hyperactive, super-cute girl. Kagome felt as if she just woke up. "Rin-chan! How are you? Where have you been yesterday? Shippou said you didn't come..."

"Rin was playing with Jaken-sama, because Sesshoumaru-sama didn't want Rin to be alone with Inuyasha-sama!" Rin answered honestly.

That's right, I wasn't there. But Inuyasha wouldn't do anything! That sibling-rivality-thing of theirs is ridiculus"Oh, I have something for you, Rin-chan!" she said and reached for something in her bag. "There she is!" She took out a porcelain doll with long black hair, dressed in tradicional kimono. Kagome had paid considerable amout of money for the doll – it was made only from natural materials.

Rin gasped in awe. When she had been younger, one girl from her village had had a doll, made from wood and straw. She had always wished for a toy like that, but now she had something much, much better – the doll had even beautiful shiny hair!

Kagome handed her the doll and Rin took it with such a care, one would think the toy was made of glass. "It is sooo beautiful!" Rin sighed, still in awe. "Can Rin really keep it?"

The young priestess nodded and watched the little girl, as she curiously examined her present. Then she again reached for something and took out an odd fluffy rag. "This is for you, Jaken," she said and handed it to him.

Jaken stared wide-eyed at her. "F-for me? A p-present?" he couldn't believe his eyes. When the young girl nodded, he reached for the curious rag with his shaking hand. "It's a special cloth, used for polishing of all sorts of wooden things. I thought you could use it on your staff," she told him. He looked the rag, then at her and then at the rag again. In the end, his face formed a rather scary expession, which was dominated by a very toad-like smile. Obviously, he wasn't used to smiling, which was sad, but understanable; the little demon had been following Sesshoumaru for who knows how many years!

Which remionds me... She took a deep breath. Two down, one left.

Sesshoumaru was watching Rin, who was currently hugging her new toy. He didn't like it very much – it looked too much like princess Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother. On the other hand, it was almost better than the toys he used to have, and definetely better than the ones Inuyasha used to play with. Thus he decided Rin could keep it after all.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome tried to draw his attention to her, when she thought she was calm enough. However, when he looked at her with that icy gaze oh his, she almost decided to turn around and run. Only the few last weeks he was with them convinced her that he won't kill her, unless she gives him some valid reason. She took a final deep breath and came to him with a deep blue, folded cloth in her slightly shaking hand. "I-I thought—" She quieted down and in her mind she scolded heself. How is it possible that when he tries to kill you, you are alright, and now, when you came to have a few words with him, you are all nervous?! Embarasing!

Truth to tell, she had never really talked to him before. Maybe I have a right to be a little nervous..? It's not like he's really paying attention to me anyway. He was looking at something else so she he cleared her throat. "As I was saying, I thought you would need a new sash, because the old one had been ruined in the battle." Kagome gave it to him and he examined it, while she decided to continue. "It's definetely not as nice as—"

"I do not want it."

For a second she thought that she didn't hear right. "P-pardon me?"

"I do not repeat myself, priestess. I will not accept your gift," he said coldly and tried to hand it back to her. When she didn't reach her hand for it, he simply threw it away.

Kagome couldn't believe her eyes. "Why?"

The demon lord contemplated not answering her, but he felt gracious in the moment and decided otherwise. "This Sesshoumaru would have no use for it. It's required that the lords wear a formal attire of specific colours and desing," he explained and just when Kagome thought it coudn't be more humiliating, he added: "And being a lord, I cannot afford to be seen in such an inferior pruduct. Even if the material is a good-quality silk, the work is really horrible. I advice you to find the tailor who made it and claim a refund." Then he almost smiled. "I believe that the half-breed will help you."

When he finished, he closed his eyes and leant against the tree more comforably. The discussion was over.

Kagome bent down and picked the sash from off the ground. Her vision was blurry. "I guess I sould go back," she forced out of her suddenly tight troat. She slowly put the sash back into the bag, then she turned to Jaken and Rin, both of whom looked quite shocked. She quickly forced a cheery smile on her face. "Well, it seems I stayed here far too long. I have to go, before Inuyasha comes and throws a tantrum. I hope I'll see you yesterday! Bye bye!" she said and made bolt for it. Her eyes were stinging until she stopped and finally let the tears fall. She let escape one sob and it was soon followed by others.

She had never felt so humiliated in all her life.

After some time she heard a sound from near bushes. Please, don't let it be Inuyasha! she thought as she searched for the one who caused the sound. The bushes shook a little bit and revealed the form of her dear friend.

"S-Sango-chan," she sobbed and tried to wipe the tears away from her red cheeks. Sango went down to the younger girl and embraced her. "What did I think, Sango-chan?"

The demon slayer sighed.

She knew it would end up like this.

A/N: Lame end, I know. Thanks for the nice reviews! If you still like it and want to read it, I must warn you beforehand: I won't update anytime soon, because I'm taking the school leaving exam this month and I think I should really start to study for it... I'm scared!!! panics and runs in circles