Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Saisyo.

Notes: No notes... Wow, that's weird.

"Sesshomaru?" Saisyo asked the taiyoukai laying next to her.

"Yes?" Sesshomaru answered.

"I'm going to take a bath in the hot spring. I want to try out that shampoo and conditioner stuff that Kagome gave me,"

Sesshomaru sighed, "If you must go, I'm coming with you. It's dangerous out there for you alone. Damn, you women and your obsession to be clean..."

"Hey, she brought some for you, too!" Saisyo laughed as his eyes widened.

"Why?"

"Don't worry, it's a kind that's made for men."

The wide eyes disappeared and was replaced with his normal half-lidded gaze as he stood, looking around. It was pitch black outside, Rin was sleeping peacefully on her stomach with Shippo curled up on her back. Saisyo walked over to her and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

As they walked out of the hut, trying not to wake anyone, Saisyo noticed that Inuyasha wasn't there. Then they heard, "Hey, where you guys going?"

Sesshomaru looked up at Inuyasha leaning over the edge of the roof of the hut to speak with them. Saisyo answered, "We're going to take a bath,"

"Oh. Okay, then."

He went back up on the roof and out of sight, but they knew he was just laying there looking at they sky. "Why does he sleep up there?" Saisyo asked.

"I have no idea" Sesshomaru replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "He's just strange."

She intertwined her fingers with his and leaned on him as they walked. "Are you tired?" he asked, putting his other arm around her.

"A little, but I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Sesshomaru, you're acting like a paranoid mother." Saisyo giggled a little as they arrived at the hot spring.

He shot a fake indignant look at her and defended himself. "I'm not a paranoid mother, I'm just a concerned soon-to-be father."

Saisyo undressed and got into the spring, fireflies gliding slowly through the air above her. She relaxed against a rock and said quietly, "I'd feel safer if you joined me..."

She heard clothes drop to the ground behind her and the sound of someone walking in water, then he came and sat beside her, grabbing one of the bottles that Kagome brought. "No, no, no," said Saisyo, "I'm doing your hair first."

He sighed, but smiled at her. She reached for a different one, read the back for directions, then squirted some in Sesshomaru's silver hair. She scrubbed in into his scalp and he sank further down into the water, letting out a satisfied growl. Saisyo smiled. "I guess you and Inuyasha have more in common than you both thought."

"What do you mean?"

"You and him both purr." she replied, gently dipping his head under the water to rinse his hair with only his face visible.

"We're not cats, you know." Sesshomaru pointed out.

"I know, you just have this certain trait that cats also have," she said, combing his long hair with her fingers after adding the conditioner.

When Saisyo finished, Sesshomaru set her in his lap and did the same to her, taking care not to scratch her with his claws. She closed her eyes and leaned against his bare chest, letting out a contented sigh. He smiled and rinsed all the conditioner out after getting rid of any tangles.

Afterwards, the two sat quietly, listening to sounds of crickets chirping in the woods and the soft buzz of the fireflies that gathered over the water, illuminating its surface. "This is beautiful," Saisyo whispered, looking in wonder at all the fireflies.

"Yes," Sesshomaru agreed, "Like you..."

She turned to face him and planted a soft kiss on his lips before putting her arms around him and laying her head on shoulder. He reacted by burying his nose in her hair and pulling her closer, enjoying her scent more than ever. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. "Why are you so stiff?"

"It's probably because I don't get enough exercise anymore. I've been in bed so much lately that I'm surprised that my legs still know how to walk. My energy is starting to come back, though."

Sesshomaru turned Saisyo around and gently began massaging her shoulders, down her back, and to her legs under the water. She didn't know why, but at a simple touch from him, her body couldn't help but relax. He was just so gentle with her.

She sighed and sank down in the water to just below her nose while he relaxed her. Sesshomaru enjoyed the feeling of Saisyo's soft skin on his, and he also enjoyed being able to make her happy and make her feel better. Soon he felt her loosen up under his touch and lean against him again. "Better?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you." Saisyo replied, "I love you, Sesshomaru. With all my heart."

"I love you, too. All four of you. Rin included."

Saisyo laughed at him and gave him a teasing kiss on the lips. He knew she was teasing him and put it to an end by pulling her into a kiss that made her melt in his arms. When he pulled away, Saisyo pouted. "You're lucky that you're so damn good at that..."

Sesshomaru smirked and carried her out of the water so they could get dressed and head back to sleep. When he bent down to get his kimono, Saisyo pushed him back into the water and laughed as he came back up, his hair covering his face completely and spreading out in the water. He parted it down the middle and looked at her angrily for a moment before laughing.

The couple finally got dressed and began heading back through the forest. Sesshomaru walked behind Saisyo, and soon scooped her up into his arms, carrying her back so she could rest. She smiled before closing her eyes and cuddling closer to him. He soon felt her breathing slow and knew she was asleep. 'Only half a month to go...' he thought, sighing in happiness.