Kagome

I woke up and screamed when InuYasha's face was so close to mine. He backed away with a small yell and we both just calmed down.

"InuYasha, what in the world were you doing," I shouted.

"Why the hell did you scream!"

"I screamed because I wasn't expecting a giant head to be hovering over my face is why!"

We went back and forth until the door slid open and servants came in with clothing and food.

"Pardon the interruption," Donmaru said, "but Lady Kagome, we've brought you breakfast and a change of clothing." I looked at the breakfast they had set up and my eyes sparkled.

"Thank you so much," I said before eating.

"We were just talking over here! Hey, Kagome!"

"InuYasha, just leave her alone so she can eat," Sango said as she walked in and removed her mask, "she deserves it for last night."

Last night, huh? I could barely hold it up so I don't think that I should be praised.

"Yes, last nights events are normal for us. I suppose the lord forgot to say that a monk usually blesses the palace but he recently couldn't this time. I do apologize on his behalf."

"Its fine, at least we'll be prepared next time," Sango said. I had finished my food and thanked the servants before leaving the room.

"Kagome, where are you going," Sango asked

"I'm going to look around to see what I can find."

"I'll come with you."

"That's okay, I'll be fine. Don't worry so much." I heard her mumble something but ignored it. I went room to room and found nothing but blessed each as strongly as I could. I hadn't checked the lord's room yet but I'll do that room last.

I felt someone behind me and sighed before turning.

"Sango, I said I was fi- Sesshomaru?" I looked up at the demon and saw his face was the same as ever, cold and expressionless.

"Why are you wondering around, alone?"

"I'm searching for anything that can tell me where exactly is the girl."

"Still as foolish as ever."

"Wha-" he walked in front of me to the next room before looking at me.

"Lets go." I was going to argue but he gave me a look and I complied. He didn't help me look around, he only stood and waited for me to finish. It was now noon and I was tired. I had blessed about nine rooms in a row. I was going for ten but Sesshomaru stopped me.

"You're tired."

"I can do this last one," I told him but he wasn't having it. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

"Sesshomaru! Put me down! Hey, don't ingore me!"

"Be silent." He jumped from the room and towards the forest. I protested the entire time until we finally stopped in a clearing. He dropped me down and I fell on my butt.

"Ouch! Hey that hurt!"

"Are you injured?"

"Well no but-"

"Then you're fine." I pouted and he picked me up like I weighed nothing, placed me on a tree branch and sat on the ground.

"What are we doing out here, big brother?"

"Do not call me your big brother, Kagome. Get some rest."

"What? Why can't I call you that?"

"I don't like it."

"Well that is obvious, I'm asking why!" He ignores me and I pout but lay against the tree anyways.

What is with him lately? He usually doesn't can't about anything I do.

I found myself listening to the wind through the trees and the birds chirping around me. It was a pretty nice afternoon. Just as I was about to dose off, Sesshomaru called me.

"Kagome, answer me this."

"Sure? What is it?"

"Do you recall back in Takemaru's castle, the conversation we had before I went off to get Rin?"

"Takemaru? The guy that had your father's sword?" He nods and I go into thought to remember the conversation.

"Oh, I remember now! We were looking for the others and I thanked you for saving me."

"You also said that you were happy that I was alive. Why is that?"

"What?"

"You were happy that I was alive, why?"

"Well, your InuYasha's brother. I know you both care for each other even though you both won't admit it. Besides, why is it so bad that I care for your well being?"

He hummed before relaxing himself once more.

"I would consider us friends, you know."

"Friends, you say?"

"Yeah, a friend. Do you know what a friend is?"

Sesshomaru

I sensed no ill intentions or teasing in her question and thought for a moment for an answer.

"No, explain this to me." I had my own meaning of friendship but this mortal girl may have a different one.

"Well, let's see. A friend is someone that you can depend on no matter what. They're loyal, honest, and helpful. They support you and help make hard decisions. They care for you and your concerns and you do the same for them."

"Is that so?" She nods and yawns. She lays back and closes her eyes.

"We might have a few things to work on, Sesshomaru, but," her talking became softer and I knew she was going to sleep, "I think you'd make a great friend to have." With that, she was sleeping. I thought back to when she first called me her friend and I grew irritated. After the news of her leaving, I grew oddly sad. When she resurfaces after three years, I was strangely happy. I've watched her after, appearing as if I were just giving gifts to Rin but the truth is, I wanted to learn from this Miko. Learn why I felt these weird emotions. Friendship is what I'll lean on for now but my instincts tell me it's more.

Kagome

I woke up and felt like I was floating, covered by a warm blanket. I opened my eyes to see I was on Sesshomaru's back and his mokomoko was covering my body. He was flying through the forest and I sat up and wiped the sleep out of my eyes.

"You could have woke me up and we walked," I said yawning.

"This is faster. The sun will set soon."

"I see," I looked up and sure enough the sun was setting, turning the sky a lovely orange colour. I hugged Sesshomaru a bit tighter and smiled. This reminded me of whenever InuYasha carries me on his back. A sudden flash of InuYasha with Kikyo came to mind and just like that my smile vanished.

"What's troubling you," Sesshomaru asked.

"It's nothing, just a bad memory."

"Would you like to talk about it?" This took me by suprise. I never expected Sesshomaru to ask me about anything with my life.

Whats up with him all of a sudden? Is he really going to try and be friends with me?

"Well, umm," I thought on it and decided to tell him everything. My concerns, insecurities, InuYasha and Kikyo, even though he said he knew that part. I told everything and felt a partial weight being lifted from my chest.

"Kagome, I'm not one for compliments," He started. I felt his grip tighten on my thighs and blushed.

"But your beautiful, you shouldn't worry about comparing yourself to the dead priestess. As for my brother, tell him your feelings as you've told me. He might be insolent and an idiot but he does care for you deeply."

"Sesshomaru, I..." I heard this from Sango and Miroku but the way he said it made me have hope. Hope that InuYasha would choose me and not Kikyo.

"And," Sesshomaru stated after a moment, "if he insist on going after her, leave him and move on."

"Move on? Thats impossible! I can't go back to my own era, I don't like any of the villagers, I'll probably end up dying a virgin shrine maiden for all I know."

We were back at the palace and as he got closer I felt something was off.

"Sesshomaru, stop for a second," I told him. He stopped and I looked carefully at the land. I looked as hard as I can until I found what I was looking for.

"Sesshomaru do you see it?"

"I see nothing, what are you seeing?"

"It's a barrier. It's surrounding the entire palace."

How had I not seen it before? How did I miss it?

"That explains a lot," Sesshomaru said before placing me on the ground, carefully this time.

"I felt as if I stepped through something when we first arrived but when you had no reaction to it I simply threw the feeling aside."

I saw him about to walk through it but stopped him.

"Hold on a second. What if this is the reason we can't find the lord's daughter?"

"It's a possibility, not to mention it could draw out the one behind all of this."

"Alright." I pulled him back before stepping in front of him.

Sesshomaru

She drew her weapon and aimed before sending the sacred arrow at the barrier. When it connected, a light shined brightly and I stepped back even more when it expanded. The barrier dispersed and Kagome stumbled a bit but caught herself. She panted in fatigue and I scowled.

"You don't need to push yourself so hard to catch up to the dead priestess," I told her before picking her up and placing her on my back.

"It's not to catch up with her," she told me, "I want to surpass her."

"For the attention of the half-breed?"

"Well, that's mostly the reason."

"What is the other reason?"

"So that I can protect everyone else for once. Before the jewel disappeared, before the final fight with Naraku, I was always being protected. Now I want to protect everyone dear to me." I looked over to her and saw the frown on her face. I poked it and the frown was replaced with confusion and then a pout.

"What was that for?"

"Frowning doesn't suit you. In fact it lessens your appeal." She glared at me before thumping my nose which caught me off gaurd. She used that to climb down from me and storm off.

"Well sorry that my frown makes me uglier than the rest," She shouted. I was left confused. Is this apart of friendship?