"DAMN IT INUYASHA!!! SIT!!!!" the poor hanyou would not just listen to her. Sesshomaru chuckled to himself as the kit perched on his shoulder giggles softly at InuYasha's stupidity.

"It's just a week and it's FINALS InuYasha! I CAN'T miss these tests!" Kagome said for the fifth time. "Sesshomaru help me out, PLEASE!? Either voice some support or hold him long enough for me to get through. PLEASE!?!" Kagome said making big giant chibi eyes at him. Sesshomaru sighed. There was no way he could resist the big giant chibi eyes, or the pouty voice that went along with it.

"NO way wench! I want to get those final shards so we won't have to deal with Sesshomaru!" InuYasha yelled.

"What are these finals Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked, shocking the group by using her name. "What is so important about them?"

"They're my academic tests, only much bigger. If I don't pass these, I can't go on to higher learning," she explained.

"I see InuYasha's point about the shards, so I will help you out. Go, take your tests, and I will go search for rumors of where they might be. If I manage to find any, I'll bring them back with me. I can cover more ground than the group and will be able to talk to the other lords and see if they know anything," he said. "That is if someone will watch over Rin."

"We'll take care of her Lord Sesshomaru," Miroku said. InuYasha made a grab at Kagome's wrist as she waved and turned to go.

"I said no wench!" InuYasha yelled.

"And I said SIT!!! SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT!!!! SIT BOY!!!!!!" Kagome yelled right back venting her anger out. Shippo shuddered on Sesshomaru's shoulder.

"Mama's scary when she's really mad," he whispered in Sesshomaru's ear.

"Indeed. Go play. I'll calm her down before she leaves," Sesshomaru promised. Shippo jumped down and Sesshomaru walked off after Kagome, suddenly running ahead and beating her to the well. She emerged moments later cursing InuYasha under her breath.

"Don't let his idiocy bother you Kagome," Sesshomaru said with a small smile. She had been the only one to ever see it. It was hard to try and despise and hate her like he did with so many other humans. She had certainly won his companionship over the last month, and she had made him open up, if only ever around her.

"Thanks Sessh. See you in a week!" she winked at hit. He gave her a soft reassuring smile before she gave him a big hug. He returned it gently and whispered a soft good luck in her ear before she jumped over the side of the well.

SKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSK

One Week Later

"Oh! Sesshomaru! Welcome back!" Sango exclaimed with a short wave.

"Any news?" Miroku asked. Sesshomaru nodded.

"North. Far north, there have been rumors of shards. I have spoken with the Northern Lord and he has granted his permission to travel safely through his lands. We should-" Sesshomaru stopped short.

"What's the matter Sesshomaru-sama?" Miroku asked.

"Kagome's back. I'll go get her," Sesshomaru stated then was gone in the blink of an eye. Sesshomaru stopped right before the well.

"Need a hand fair miko?" Sesshomaru smiled as he extended a hand to help her up. Sesshomaru gently lifted her out and set her on the ground.

"Any news?" she asked. Sesshomaru chuckled.

"Miroku just asked the same thing moments ago. We head north. I found two shards, and rumors of more in the far north, where the snow falls year round," he said quietly. He saw how her eyes began to sparkle at the mention of snow. "Although I don't think it's a good idea for you to go," he stated. Kagome jumped up angrily.

"Why not!?" she yelled. Kagome blushed as Sesshomaru's whole head moved in time with his eyes to look at her skimpy outfit and back up her face with an expression that screamed 'freezing cold weather in THAT!?' Kagome sighed. "Cold doesn't affect you of Jaken does it?" he shook his head no. "Ok. Be right back," she said.

"What are you doing?" he asked placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm getting warmer clothes for us! DUH!" she said as she playfully smacked him. Kagome saw the hesitation in his eyes. "Don't worry. I was already planning on getting some for Rin." Kagome smiled. "Wait for me?"

Sesshomaru nodded his thanks and sat at the edge to do as she asked and wait for her return.

Ok. So in each chapter there's an element of wait if anyone's caught that yet. The next chapter's where it gets kinda fluffy and why Kagome loves winter/ snow so much. I have no clue if there is a part of Japan where it always snows. But if there is cool. I just threw that in cause it works with the story.

Ja ne!

DDM