Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and the gang. They belong to Viz Productions and Rumiko Takahashi.

"Speaking"

Thinking

Telepathically

InuYasha and the gang were heading back to Kaede's village, when Kagome let out a shout, "InuYasha, I can sense jewel shards and they're coming straight for us!"

InuYasha got in front of Kagome and withdrew his sword Tetsaiga. He growled as he sniffed the air looking to see if it might be Naraku coming for a fight. He shook his head and snarled, "What does he have shards for?"

"InuYasha, do you know who it is?" Sango the demon slayer asked while getting her weapon in position. (A.N. Okay I just had a brain freeze moment there; does anybody know how to spell the name of Sango's weapon?).

"It's Sesshoumaru!" InuYasha snarled.

"Sesshoumaru!" cried Shippo the little fox demon as he jumped on InuYasha's shoulder, "But that's impossible. Why would he have the shards?"

InuYasha took a swipe at Shippo with his claws and said, "You calling me a liar."

"Yipes!" Shippo cried before bounding into Kagome's waiting arms.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at InuYasha and yelled, "InuYasha SITTTT!"

At that same moment a ball of light flashed into the clearing blinding everyone before Sesshoumaru appeared in its wake. Sesshoumaru gazed around at the group his face blank of any emotion. He glanced at he monk Miroku who had his staff ready to defend and then at the demon slayer Sango he believed she was called was fully prepared to throw her boomerang weapon. With a brief glance he dismissed them before turning to the Miko and his brother, who was currently eating dirt from Kagome's sit.

"Miko, I require your assistance." Sesshoumaru stated coolly his eyes looking directly into Kagome's.

"What!" InuYasha shouted as he leapt to his feet, "No way she is helping me!"

"InuYasha sit." Kagome glared down at the cursing hanyou, "Don't try to make choices for me. I have not said I will help Sesshoumaru nor have I said I won't. I believe hearing what Sesshoumaru needs help with first is in order."

Sesshoumaru lifted his right eyebrow at her and remarked, "Well said Miko. Is there a place we could speak in private?"

"Ha! I knew it! You want her alone so you can take advantage of her!" InuYasha yelled as he went to attack Sesshoumaru only to be stopped by Miroku's staff being planted into his face.

InuYasha growled, "What was that for?"

Miroku shook his head in annoyance at the hanyou, "InuYasha what are you thinking? I seriously doubt Sesshoumaru would want to do that with Kagome."

Kagome narrowed her sapphire colored eyes at the monk and drawled,"And just what is that suppose to mean? Are you saying I'm not pretty enough for Sesshoumaru here to go after."

Miroku held up his hands, "No, I mean yes, its just…that is…"

Sango smiled lethally at the monk and said, "Sesshoumaru would be lucky to get a girl like Kagome." With that Miroku sported two red hand prints on both cheeks, one from Sango the other Kagome.

Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru and gave a small smile, "Lord Sesshoumaru if you are willing to wait, the village of Kaede is about an hour's walk from here, we can speak there if you wish."

Sesshoumaru nodded and motioned for her to lead the way. Kagome smiled at him and walked towards the village, Sesshoumaru walking right next to her. (A.N. I mean come on; we all know he would never allow a human to walk in front of him, right?). Sango, Miroku, and Shippo came next, and InuYasha took up the rear grumbling all the way.

"I can't believe her! Letting the bastard come with us. Stupid Bitch!" InuYasha grumbled under his breath.

"InuYasha, if you have a problem take it up with me." Sesshoumaru stated firmly.

InuYasha glared at his brother's back and snarled, "What's it to ya?"

Sesshoumaru stopped and turned around to face his brother, "InuYasha I would think that even a hanyou such as yourself would treat your mate with respect. Instead you blame her and call her a bitch."

InuYasha flushed, "Kagome is NOT my mate!"

Sesshoumaru smirked, "Ah, but you did not deny that you called her a bitch."

"Ah…um…that is…"InuYasha stuttered nervously.

"SITTTT!!!!"

Kagome stomped away leaving InuYasha in a three feet hole the shape of his body. Sesshoumaru smirked in amusement before following the angry Miko.

(A.N. The following is Sesshoumaru talking with his inner demon.) Hmm. Interesting. If she were a demon I might be even more interested.

You want her

What?! Nonsense, she is human.

And? She is powerful. You would not have come here for her help if you did not think so.

That is beside the point.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?"

He jolted and glanced over at the Miko he'd currently been thinking about, "Yes, Miko?" How did I not hear her?

"Kaede has agreed to allow us to use her hut. We should be able to speak there in private." Kagome stated

"Very well."

With that Kagome turned and walked into the hut Kaede had generously given up for the moment. Sesshoumaru followed her and motioned for her to take a seat. She complied and waited for him to sit as well. He did so and studied the Miko with an intense gaze.

Kagome inclined her head, "What is it you wished to speak with me about?"

"First of all, let me say that if circumstances were different I would never have come for your help."Liar!

Shut up!

"That goes without saying."

Sesshoumaru growled at her before continuing, "You remember my ward Rin, yes?"

Kagome's eyes widened in concern, "Rin? Yes, I remember her. Has something happened to her? Is she alright?"

Sesshoumaru gave her a silencing look, "Miko, I did not come here to discuss my ward's wellbeing. Rin has disappeared and I require your assistance in finding her."

Kagome blinked at him and replied thoughtfully, "Can't you sniff her out?"

"Her scent has disappeared."

"Do you think Naraku took her?"

"No, his scent was no where near the scene when she disappeared. Besides I was there."

"You were there? And yet Rin still disappeared?"

"Are you implying that this is my fault?"

Kagome shook her head, "No, I'm merely trying to get all of the facts. Where was Rin before she disappeared?"

Sesshoumaru glared at her in anger before answering, "She was playing and went behind a waterfall. This Sesshoumaru went in after her, Rin was not there and the only way out was the way she went in."

Kagome crossed her arms and pressed her lips together, "Why do you need my help?"

"I believe the help of a Miko is required in order to figure out what has happened to Rin." Sesshoumaru remarked coolly.

Silence filled the hut as Kagome studied the Demon Lord in front of her, "Lord Sesshoumaru, I will help you and try to find Rin. I cannot promise that my Miko powers will come in handy though. Could you take us to the waterfall Rin disappeared at?"

Sesshoumaru nodded and stated, "Miko, I would prefer not to travel with my brother. You will travel with this Sesshoumaru."

Kagome narrowed her eyes at the Demon Lord and remarked, "I will only agree to that if you agree to two things."

Sesshoumaru glared at her, "And those are?"

"That you call me by my name, KA GO ME, and that you wear a rosary."

"I will agree to call you by your name, KA GO ME, but why should I wear a rosary?"

"Because that is the only way I am going to feel safe travelling alone with you."

The Demon Lord smirked, "If that is the only way then very well."

"You mean you'll wear the rosary?"

Growling, "Yes!"

Kagome smiled and went over to a shelf and picked up a rosary that she had made herself with the help and guidance of Kaede of course. She walked over and placed the beads over Sesshoumaru's head and stepped back. At that moment she noticed that the beads seemed to go with Sesshoumaru. They were white and magenta in color, matching the Demon Lord's markings.

"Is the Miko Kagome finished?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"Yes, and just Kagome please."

"Fine, Kagome. Let's go."