Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Props to Rumiko Takahashi for her amazing work.

Chapter 3

"Kagome," The gruff voice of her best friend spoke though her dreamless haze. The young woman cracked her eyes open and blinked repeatedly to clear the blur in her vision. The sight of Inuyasha's face looming over hers greeted her and happiness unlike what she'd experienced in a long while took over. "Hey, Kagome." He was smiling softly down at her, his golden eyes shining in the light caused by the fire in Kaede's hut.

"Inuyasha! Thank Kami you're okay!" She tried to sit up to hug him, only to be pushed back down by his clawed hand on her shoulder. She gazed at him in confusion before realizing that it was in fact not his hand that had pushed her down but instead it was Sesshoumaru's. He was sitting beside his brother, keeping a keen eye on her to make sure she was fine.

"Never better. I'm just glad that you're not hurt." The hanyou reassured her before his face creased in sudden worry. "Wait, you're not hurt, are you?" He could see no physical injury or find pain in her scent but it was better to ask than just assume, what with the curse Sesshoumaru told them all about. Kagome let a soft grin cross her lips as she propped herself up on her elbows.

"No, I'm fine. I just feel a bit groggy and in need of a good bath." The miko giggled and finally sure of her state, the taiyoukai removed his hand from her shoulder to let her sit up properly. A bowl of hot stew was handed to her by the older priestess with the eye patch and Kagome took it gratefully. There was nothing a nice, warm meal couldn't fix.

"Why don't you tell her what happened, little brother? I am certain the miko would like to know everything." Sesshoumaru stood then and turned to leave the hut. He had to see Rin now that he was sure Kagome was doing well. He missed his ward but his instincts had him cooped up inside the cramped hut at the woman's bedside for the past day and a half instead of outside, watching Rin run around and be the happy little girl he knew she was. Sometimes, it was hard being the alpha of a pack.

"Yeah, what happened to you Inuyasha?" The question came around mouthfuls of the delicious stew made by Kaede. The half-demon shifted uncomfortably and then settled with his back against the wall. His hands crossed and tucked into his sleeves, his sword propped up against his shoulder, he closed his eyes for a brief moment before planting his golden gaze right into her hazel one.

"Well, three days ago I left Edo to go get you in your time 'cause you were takin' so damn long to come back and all. But when I got close to the well, I was stopped by this strange woman. She had weird hair and eyes and she was wearin' robes with the emblem of the west on 'em. I thought she was lookin' for my bastard brother or somethin' so I stopped to talk to her. But something was off about her…I didn't get a good feeling from the wench." He began the retelling of the past few days, his triangle-shaped ears lying back flat on the top of his head. "She started spouting this crap out to me about how I wouldn't find you at your home 'cause she had taken you hostage and I freaked out! I was worried somethin' bad was gonna happen to ya so I engaged the bitch in battle but she put this spell on me and I couldn't move anymore." The inuhanyou spoke with a tone of voice that warmed Kagome's heart. He cared so much about her and it felt good to actually hear it. Well, of course he cared; she was his best friend through thick and thin.

"But, if she didn't take you back to the palace with her, where were you?" Kagome asked as she finished her stew, handing the bowl back to Kaede with a nod of thanks. Kaede nodded back and Kagome stood up. Inuyasha followed suit and together they left the hut, her yellow backpack strung over his shoulder. He would walk her to the springs and then keep watch around to make sure nobody attempted to peep at his bathing friend.

"I was there, at the well, paralyzed and invisible. I couldn't talk or nothin'. Hell, I saw you come out the well and head towards Edo when you came back but you couldn't see me. The spell broke when Sesshoumaru killed her and I immediately rushed to meet up with the both of you. When I found you, he was carrying you back to Kaede's and you were unconscious. He told us everything that happened." Kagome paused and turned to her best friend with a question in her eyes. Why could she not remember what had happened at the castle? She knew they'd been there and she remembered Kurami's failed attempt at fooling Sesshoumaru but it was all blank after that, up until she woke up on the straw mat in Kaede's hut.

"You were cursed, Kagome. Don't you remember?" Inuyasha asked, his worried gaze locking with her own. This was the longest she'd seen him stay in such a state since Kikyou died. Ever since then he's been trying to stay happier and live in the moment, content that no dark force was after his life anymore and his past lover was free of her misery and resting in eternal peace.

"Was I? I can't recall. Do you know what the curse was?" She asked as she continued the trek to the spring where she'd take her well-needed soak and wash all of the drama away from her skin. The best she could do right then was feign nonchalance at the information. She was cursed? I hope it's not something too bad, she thought distractedly, something we can fix. I don't want to become fatally ill and die. Well, I guess if that happened that Sesshoumaru could use his Tenseiga to bring me back and it would all be solved.

"Nah, I don't remember the specifics but how 'bout you get cleaned up and relax for a bit. Then we can go find that damned brother of mine and get the details."He shot the dark haired miko a reassuring grin, his fang flashing beneath his top lip in a way that Kagome had come to love. What was it about these inuyoukai that was so appealing to her? Inuyasha was attractive in a sort of rogue-ish, bad boy way and Sesshoumaru was the elegant, pristine type of hot. Were all dog-demons hot or was it just their bloodline?

Inuyasha left Kagome to her own devices and perched up high in a tree close-by so he could watch out for any incoming threats. Down in the cool waters, Kagome scrubbed herself clean with her organic shampoo, conditioner and soap. A soft scent of jasmine spread around from her products and it just made the evening air that much calmer. The sun was setting over the mountains in the horizon and beautiful colors painted themselves across the skies. From oranges, to pinks, to purples, the scene was just breathtaking, especially in the Feudal Era where there were no streetlights or car sounds to take away from the quiet or the view that formed the serenity.

On the other side of the small village, past the fields and bordering the tree line, Sesshoumaru sat with his back against a large trunk. His left leg was straight and his right one bent, his arm propped over it and his clawed hand suspended in the air. Rin was picking some flowers just a few feet away whilst Jaken complained about this and that. The little girl turned a deaf ear to his babbling and instead treaded over to Sesshoumaru, only stopping 2 feet in front of him and extending her hand out to offer him the prettiest flower she had picked. She knew her lord was beating himself up over what had happened to Kagome and she also knew that he didn't find the joy she did in flowers but she wanted to give it to him anyway. She wanted him to know that he wasn't at fault and he had her never-ending support and loyalty.

Sesshoumaru took his glance away from the magenta stripes on his right wrist and looked up at his ward. From her warm smile to the flower extended out to him, his fascination grew. For a child, Rin was very perceptive and intuitive. And maybe once he'd have turned away her simple offering; flowers held no importance to a strong taiyoukai such as he. But just this once, he stretched his hand out and delicately took the little flower from her small hands with the tips of his fingers. Her eyes brightened even more, if that was possible, and a barely noticeable smile graced his usually firmly-lined lips. His ward was a special one indeed if she could warm his heart with such innocent gestures.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" She spoke gently, the twinkle in her warm brown eyes sparkling in the last rays of the setting sun.

"Yes Rin?" He encouraged her question, bringing the insignificant flower to his nose and taking a useless sniff. He could already smell it when she held it and yet he felt the need to show her his olfactory inspection of her gift in a way he knew she would appreciate. He rarely showed such interest in what she presented him with, much less accepting her offers. She was a little human girl and she knew there was nothing she could give him that he couldn't get on his own or that he particularly even wanted. Sometimes, it was a struggle to have such a stoic being as a father figure but she loved him none the less for it. And lately, he'd been making an effort to be less cold, if still a wise tactician and a powerful lord.

"I don't think Kagome will be cross with you for having led her straight into the witch's trap."

"Rin," The silver-haired inu forced out in a hard tone, wanting his ward to understand that he wanted to hear none of it. Besides, it was not a ten year-old girl's place to say such things to him. Who was she to stop him from blaming himself until proven otherwise by the words that would later escape the miko's lips? Only the priestess' claim of forgiveness would change the way he raged internally at himself. Until he knew that she forgave him, he would give himself no break. He'd rushed them both to his mother's palace and to her damnation. Because she was damned; damned to suffer from escalating insanity until he found a way to save her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, it may not be my place to say so, but I am certain that she will understand. Kagome is a smart woman who, if given time, will use logic in dealing with her feelings. And if the curse pushes her too hard, she has all of us to hold her steady before she falls off of the edge. I believe that she will be okay." In the wisest words he's ever heard escape from her young mouth, Sesshoumaru understood. They, his pack, would also be there for the miko. He wanted to face his mother's wrath and seek out answers but he wasn't alone. Kagome had so many good friends that it was almost impossible to not find a solution. If he couldn't do it on his own, which he didn't doubt that he could actually do it, they would all help. Even Rin, in her own way, would help out. He was alone in taking the blame but not alone in making everything right again.

"Hn," was the sound that escaped his throat but Rin understood. She bowed to her lord and turned away with a smile, running off to find more pretty flowers for herself. She just really loved flowers.

The darkness settled down for the night and soon Rin was all tuckered out. Sesshoumaru brought her back to Kaede's hut and waited until she was down and out before going back outside, leaving his toad-youkai of a servant to watch after her. With a heavy sigh, the young lord of the west took his regal self towards the Goshinboku in the forest of Inuyasha. He could smell that his half-brother was there with their little miko, could hear them talking of mundane things.

"Souta misses you, Inuyasha. You should come home and spend the night. I'm sure he'd enjoy a nice sleepover with his role-model." That was Kagome, her sentence punctured with a soft giggle.

"The little brat's always happy to see me. Think he'd still fall for the Iron Reaver Soul Stealer thing?" Sudden amusement took over the hanyou's words at the prospect. Sesshoumaru finally came into viewing distance of the pair and spotted the best-friends up in the tree on a thick branch. Inuyasha was straddling the sturdy branch with his back against the trunk, his posture lazy and relaxed. He was facing Kagome who sat with her feet dangling off the branch, her hands holding onto the rough bark to keep herself steady. It didn't seem like it but inuhanyou was ready to catch her at any moment if she were to slip up and fall.

"It's been nearly 2 years, Inuyasha. I don't think he's so naïve anymore." Kagome turned her head to smile at him and he rolled his eyes. He knew Souta had matured since that whole puppy love incident but it was still a blast to have a bit of a laugh at the kid. Besides, it all worked out for him, didn't it? And he'd seen the boy like two months ago anyway so he knew how he was.

"I know. Think he'll let me play that video game of his again? It's nothing compared to the real thing but it was sort of fun." Kagome laughed at the admission and shook her head in amusement.

"Sometimes I think you do on purpose to come get me early so you can empty my house of ramen and take over Souta's ninja game. Mom said that next time she's sending us out to get extra ramen so she doesn't have to wait until you leave to stock back up." Rolling his eyes again, Inuyasha playfully nudged her side with the tip of his clawed toe.

"S'not my fault it's so damn good." It was Kagome's turn to roll her eyes before looking up at the starry sky between the canopies of leaves above them. You really could not get such a view in modern day Tokyo.

"Hey, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha's gruff voice surprised the taiyoukai. He'd figured that from his lack of voiced observation that his little brother was unaware of his presence. It is true that he was in plain view though, and Inuyasha had a keen nose too, and his aura wasn't masked…How had he thought that the half-breed hadn't noticed him anyway? It was a ridiculous assumption to say the least, especially from such an intelligent being. "You can stop eavesdropping now and just join in the conversation. Ain't nothin' to hold back when the topic is ramen!" He teased. He tucked his hand into the sleeves of his Robe of the Fire Rat and waited for his high and mighty brother to speak up.

"I care not for that human food. Your taste, as always, is quite disturbing little brother."

Kagome's eyes finally managed to make out the full-fledged demon's form in the darkness as he stepped forward. She'd known he'd been there from the beginning; his soothing aura like a protective blanket to a child who believed there was a monster under his bed or in his closet. She smiled at the analogy and waved minutely to the inu lord. He acknowledged her wave with an incline of his head.

"Keh, as if I care what you think! You should get off your high horse and actually eat food for the taste sometimes instead of just the sustenance it can provide you with." Inuyasha huffed, his gaze settling on Sesshoumaru with Kagome's. He was standing at the base of the Sacred Tree, looking up at the nearly full moon, the markings of his bloodline easily discernable against his pale skin.

Shaking her head at the half-brothers, Kagome sent a prayer out to the Inu no Taisho, thanking him for blessing the world with his offspring. If it hadn't been for Inuyasha, she'd be trapped in the ordinary, routinely lifestyle of a high school girl from Tokyo. At first, she'd resented being taken away from the chance to be normal. Now she wouldn't change any of it for the world. She loved this life.

Author's note:

So, sort of a filler chapter before things start picking up again. Soon there'll be talk of the curse, effects of the curse that start showing, confrontation with the lady of the west and all that jazz. Again, hope this wasn't confusing and I hope I didn't put them all too out-of-character. Tell me if I did though haha I don't trust myself to judge my own work! Stay tuned to find out all the impending adventures of this unlikely pack! Keep smiling, -Nat :) ^.^