Sesshoumaru stayed some twenty minutes after Kagura left, though his first instinct was to follow her. Instead he stayed to let his sister-in-law update him on Rin's progress in her training with Kaede and Kagome. He hadn't had an opportunity to hear about his pup at the wedding. All the reports were glowing, and Rin smiled so bright at Kagome's praise that Sesshoumaru actually found himself tussling her hair affectionately. He was in an exceptionally good mood today. He noted how InuYasha looked shocked at the gesture, while Rin just beamed even more. It was Kagome's expression that made him uncomfortable, however. She had a strange, mysterious little smile at the corners of her mouth, and it suddenly crossed his mind to worry that she might have somehow guessed the reason for his lighter demeanor. Women had a way of guessing emotions and their causes, he'd found. Even Rin was good at that. And he supposed it would be hard to miss that fact that he was in a better mood than he had been in years, and it just so happened to be the day Kagura miraculously returned.

After a little while, Kagome sent Rin to run some errand, more as an excuse to get her out of the house than anything.

"Sesshoumaru, I'm sure you've noticed that Rin is growing up." He nodded. "She'll probably start her bleeding soon. And while it's still very strange to me, I suppose that technically makes her eligible to start being courted." Sesshoumaru could practically feel his hackles rising, even in this form. Rin, courted? At her age? The thought almost made his eyes go red. "How do you want us to handle it, Sesshoumaru? You're her father, basically. I think it should be your decision whether she can be courted immediately or whether you'd rather let it be for a few years. Personally I'd rather she get to be a child for a while longer. I started going with InuYasha when I was fifteen. I'd rather Rin wait at least that long. But I'll let that be up to you."

He was relieved that Kagome's opinion was the same as his. She was basically raising Rin now, so he was glad there would be no argument from her.

"I wish her to be older before she is courted and wed. Let it be done as it is in your birth-time, miko."

Kagome nodded. Sesshoumaru bid them farewell and left. He wanted to track Kagura down, but resisted the urge. She was alive. That was enough. He would be able to see her again, but he must not appear desperate to do so. He walked through town rather than transporting himself. He wanted to savor the traces of her scent mingled in with that of the humans. A human child ran to him, a boy, holding its chubby little arms up in a plea to be held. He actually considered lifting it for a moment. Heavens help him, had he gone mad?! Still he let himself reach for the toddler's head, tussling his dark hair lightly. The child laughed and ran back to his mother, who had been watching nervously.

When he reached the outskirts of the village, he was about to take to the skies, but suddenly Kagura jumped down from a tree and landed only about two feet in front of him. She smiled.

"You're different, aren't you, Sesshoumaru? You've changed. I never thought I'd see you tussling some little human brat's hair. What happened to cause a change like that?"

"Time brings changes. I was taught a lesson in compassion. The cost of not learning was too great. Rin died."

"She died? But she's alive."

"You died as well. Yet here you are."

"True. But what happened?"

"It's a long story, and one that is no longer of relevance."

"Except that it's got you touching human children in kindness. That's a pretty big deal, you know."

He stepped forward, intending to walk by her. He'd expected her to move aside; everyone did. Instead, she held her ground and he nearly ran into her. He stopped quickly, mere inches from her. Her scent washed over him. He'd always loved her scent; but it had always been hard to separate from Naraku's nauseating stench in the past. Now, that disgusting smell was gone, leaving only her own scent; a scent like the wind after it had blown through fields of roses and strawberries wet with dew in the early hours of morning. She moved even closer to him. Their bodies nearly touched. She tilted her head up and a simply evil grin flitted across her lips. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

This was intolerable. She'd been forward before, but never this forward. Before her death, she'd flirted and toyed, but never had she dared to invade his space. Earlier today, when he'd seen her again for the first time, he'd allowed her brief hug, pleased to have her back. But this was totally different, and not something he was going to stand for. Or at least, that was what he told himself. Yet the sweet scent of her breath on his face drew him to her, and he was suddenly overwhelmed by the very nearly irresistible desire to kiss her. He drew in a deep breath in an attempt to strengthen his will, but it was the wrong thing to do, filling his senses with the smell of her. He lost his inner battle.

He couldn't remember when he'd last kissed a woman. Even in his extremely rare trysts with one demoness or another, kissing was not normally on the agenda. Normally it was short, frenzied couplings meant only to ease the needs of the body, not to form any kind of emotional bond. It had been many human years since he'd coupled, and many more since he'd last kissed. It wasn't that it would be hard to find a willing partner; his looks and status insured that. But he simply didn't have the time, and he considered thinking of coupling as a need a sign of weakness. But even the comparatively few kisses he had indulged in over the course of his long life had never been like this.

Kagura's mouth tasted like heaven. She'd wrapped her arms up around his neck and he was vaguely aware that he had pulled her right off the ground. Though his armor blocked him from feeling the warmth of her body, he could feel her legs against his and her arms around his neck, once again overwhelming him with the truth of the fact that she was alive. Truly, wonderfully alive. He pushed her back against a nearby tree and ravished her mouth with more passion than he'd ever felt before. He was hungry, desperately hungry for her. He could feel her fingers running over the sensitive tips of his pointed ears, into his hair. He kissed her neck and shuddered at her moans. He moved back up and scraped over her bottom lip lightly with his fangs, licking away the resulting tiny drop of blood and savoring her gasp of pleasure. Her scent kept getting more alluring; more filled with longing, calling to his instincts, to his beast. This was insane. At this rate he'd take her right here, against a tree only a few meters away from a human village. He forced himself to pull away. She looked up at him, her ruby eyes locking with his gold ones. She smiled mockingly.

"I knew you weren't really so cold as you'd like everyone to believe."

Her fingers traced the now jagged lines on his cheeks. He blinked away the redness around the edges of his vision. She walked a little ways away from him, and he inwardly cursed at his weakness as his eyes followed the movement of her hips. Suddenly she locked her hands together above her head…he couldn't help but notice how this pulled her kimono tight across her chest…then she spun around and tumbled into the long grass, laughing like a child. He lifted his brows, puzzled. What on earth had gotten into her? He walked over and looked down at her where she sprawled, amused. She grinned up at him.

"Come join me, Sesshoumaru."

He snorted in a rather undignified way.

"I think not."

She pouted prettily.

"Stuck-up spoilsport."

He perched on a nearby boulder and tried to keep his thoughts off of how much he truly did want to join her in the grass; though not to simply sprawl and look up at the clouds, as she was doing now; rather to satiate his desire for her, with no regard for the fact that anyone could come upon them here.

"Weren't you going to see Kohaku?"

"Mm-hmm." The affirmative sound was too much like a moan. He gritted his teeth against the rush of desire. "But I feel really tired. Not everyday a person comes back to life, you know. I wonder if Kagome would let me stay the night at her place?"

"I'm certain she would, but you may hear some rather…awkward…activities. The wedding was only two days ago. Judging from the scent in the house earlier, they haven't joined since the wedding night, no doubt for Kagome's sake. I shudder at the thought of how clumsy my brother must be. He no doubt hurt her more than necessary. Yet today, she smelled willing. I think they'll be rather…occupied, tonight."

Kagura laughed melodically. He'd never heard her laugh as much as he had today. She seemed so carefree, so happy.

"I guess I'll just sleep out here then."

"No need for that. The old miko, Kaede, will likely be willing to let you stay with her. Rin lives there as well. The villagers will likely be wary of you, but the old woman has seen and experienced much and will accept InuYasha's word, and mine, when we say you will do no harm to anyone."

"That sounds good. Thanks."

The sun was setting. She sat up, and he stood, offering her a hand and pulling her to her feet. He found himself looking at her lips, longing for one more taste before they parted ways, not knowing when he'd see her again. He surrendered to the urge.

She sighed softly as his lips met hers. Soon they were back in their own little world, a world of such intense passion that it was nearly irresistible. Never had he felt like this. He couldn't believe he was allowing himself to feel like this. Especially in a place where any nosy villager might bear witness to the fact that he was not so cold and dignified as he wished them to believe; and that one nosy villager may very well tell InuYasha, and he would never live it down. Still, as he relished the sound of her heart beating fast and kissed his way down her throat, he found himself thinking it was worth it. After three years of regret; of wishing he'd shown more kindness to her, showed at least some hint of affection for her; this chance to hold her close and taste her was not something he was going to pass up.

When the pull of her body began to overwhelm his control again, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, finding himself lost in the softness inside her eyes, behind the tough girl act she wore. He wondered what she saw in his eyes. Did she see that same softness behind his façade of ice? She reached up to trace his markings again, smiling as her fingers moved in almost zigzagging motions across the jagged lines.

"I love knowing I can make this happen. Your eyes are going red, too."

He nodded and forced the redness away. The lines would fade back to normal in their own time. He traced her bottom lip with his claw, loving the shiver that went through her, loving the way her lips were slightly swollen, her cheeks flushed lightly, her eyes sparkling.

"I'll come with you and tell the old woman you will not cause trouble."

Rin ran out to greet them when they approached the old woman's house.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, you're still here! Rin is happy to see you so much. Hi, Kagura."

Kagura smiled at the girl. Sesshoumaru didn't respond; he was too busy worrying about the strangely knowing look in Rin's eyes as she looked back and forth between them. Old Kaede came out to greet them.

"Woman, would you allow the wind user a place to sleep this night? You have my word she will do no harm."

"Certainly. Will ye stay also, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"No. I must be on my way. Farewell."

He allowed his eyes to linger on Kagura once more. She smiled. Then he turned and left, forming into his ball of energy to transport himself. Jaken, who had been standing completely unnoticed next to Kaede, just gaped after him, horrified by the implications of the look between his master and the revived wind user.