No matter how much I might wish on a shooting star, I still don't own Inuyasha... Disappointment.

When Kagome woke up again, it was almost noon. She was rather confused, for beside her lay a stark naked Sesshomaru. Looking down at herself, her face turned seven shades of red. Her clothes lay beside the tree outside the cave where Rin and Jaken still slept.

As she moved about, trying to hastily put on her clothes, Sesshomaru stretched in contentment. He chuckled slightly. If only his father could see him now, having had the courage he didn't. Sesshomaru had not only bedded Kagome, he'd also made her his mate. Izayoi had been too fragile to survive the mate mark, so he had never attempted it.

But Kagome was different.

She was strong where Izayoi had been weak, with enough compassion to love Sesshomaru. Izayoi had tried, but she couldn't love a demon who wanted to kill her. But oh how she had tried.

Thinking of Inuyasha's mother, and by extension, Inuyasha himself, Sesshomaru got up and wound his arms around Kagome's waist. "Good morning, mate," he whispered, blowing into her ear.

Kagome jumped nearly a foot off the ground, but was amused by the man she had promised her life to. As Sesshomaru reached up to rub the new pair of dog ears on her head, she growled lightly. "That'll take some getting used to."

Sesshomaru silently agreed, but thought she looked adorable. The ears were the only additions to her new hanyou status that were visible. But he knew she would be a match for his filthy half-brother in a fight. They would have to thoroughly examine her new powers, but at a later date. They still had Rin to take care of.

The dog demon donned his clothes as well and grabbed his mate's hand. "Sesshomaru, why did you first invite me with you?"

He thought about it for a moment. "Rin has been with me and Jaken for several years. But she is a human. We demons aren't the best company for her to keep. I thought I could justify her staying with us if she had a mother figure. A human one. And then I found you by the well."

She nodded. Of course it had been for Rin. "But I fell in love with you. I didn't mean to. But as I watched you with Rin, playing with her and teaching her, I felt closer to you." He shrugged. "I just naturally started to care for you."

They headed toward the cave. "I think I should go talk to Inuyasha." Sesshomaru nodded, just a little let down, but he didn't show it. It was a weakness that, although he loved his new mate, he didn't want to show her. "If what I've heard from Rin is true, what little I've been able to pry from her, then I should talk to him. He might be able to answer some of my questions."

Sesshomaru nodded again. It did make sense, after all. "But please, promise me you'll come back." It wasn't that he didn't trust her. It was that stupid half-breed that was related to him that he didn't trust.

The woman merely laughed. "Why wouldn't I? I love you Sesshomaru." Satisfied with her answer, he led his mate into the cave to wait for dusk.

Inuyasha paced along the riverbank. Where on earth was that damn girl? The sun had set long ago, and he was getting more anxious by the second. It was far past when she was supposed to meet him, and she hadn't shown up yet! Typical of her though. What was the point of coming anyway, much less waiting for her? He punched a nearby tree, and was slightly shocked it didn't fall to the ground from the force of impact.

He bounded off without another look back.

Kagome ran into the clearing just moments after Inuyasha had left. Rin had come down with a fever, and she'd wanted to stay until she was sure Sesshomaru would be able to take care of her. In doing so, the sun had fallen and she was way late for her meeting with the man she didn't remember.

When she saw the empty clearing, Kagome wasn't exactly unsurprised. Rin had told her more than she had let Sesshomaru in on, including how he wasn't the most reliable of companions. He had frequently left her to be with Kikyo, his first love. Apparently she acted like she didn't mind, which confused the woman. If Sesshomaru ever did that, she'd let him know in no uncertain terms.

But since she remembered dating Hojo, maybe she wasn't one to talk...

"Hojo!" Being in the Feudal Era, especially being there with Sesshomaru, had made her completely forget about her boyfriend. Oh well, Mom will handle it for me, I guess.

It didn't even hurt the tiniest bit that he hadn't shown up.

She didn't even remember him, after all.

Kagome headed back to Sesshomaru and Rin, but found herself completely lost. Even with her new hearing and smell, the dampness of the forest made her unable to trace them. Miserable, she curled up in one of the branches of a sturdy looking tree, wishing Sesshomaru was there.

She didn't even notice when she fell asleep.

Sesshomaru was beside himself with worry. Kagome had promised to be back, but what if something happened? Every few minutes he would make up his mind to go find her, but then stopped and sat down again. She had specifically asked him to stay away. She had said she wouldn't be able to talk to the man she had supposedly traveled with, maybe even loved, if Sesshomaru was there. Especially since they were brothers. Well, half-brothers. He made sure she knew the difference.

But still, it was taking her so damn long!

Needless to say, Sesshomaru didn't get even a wink of sleep.

Kagome woke up the next morning still in the tree, feeling fully rested. Stretching to loosen herself up, she remembered why she'd climbed the tree in the first place.

She was completely and utterly lost.