Just so you guys know chapter six was also posted tonight so hopefully you read that one too!

Chapter Seven: Holy Water

Kagome woke up the next morning. She sat up and felt a stinging pain in her abdomen. She looked down to see she wasn't wearing a shirt, but she was wearing a bra, and her wound on her abdomen was wrapped.

"You're awake?" Kagome looked up to see Sota and her mother looking down at her.

"Yeah...what happened?" She asked.

"Well, when ever you got back up here you passed out from blood loss. You started to heal your self but you had too many wounds and a few broken bones. Your miko powers weren't able to heal everything and I had used all of mine on mom, so I wrapped your wound on your stomach and when mom woke up she used all of her powers to heal your bones." Kagome just nodded knowing that when they said they used all of their miko powers they didn't actually mean use all of them because if they use all of their miko powers it would kill them.

"I'm so sorry sweetie." Her mother hugged her, tears fell down her mothers face and into Kagome's hair.

"It's ok momma." Kagome patted her back. Sota joined in on the hug. After a little while Kagome pulled away from them. She remembered what happened last night and she felt dirty. She looked at the clock to see that it was only 6:07. "I'm gonna go take a shower and get ready for school."

"Kagome I don't think you should go, I mean you have to give your wounds time to heal." Kemi said, worried about her daughter.

"Nah, I'll be fine don't worry mom." Kagome gave her mother a small smile. Kemi knew once her daughters mind was made up there was no changing it. Kemi just nodded. Kagome got up and walked to her personal bathroom that was in her room. Kagome looked at both of them before giving them a half smile and closing the door.

Sota looked at his mother and said:

"Mom I'm worried." Kemi looked at her son and saw truth and worry in his eyes.

"What about Sota?" She asked softly.

"Kagome." He said as equally soft.

"Why are you worried about her?" Kemi asked moving a few stray strands of hair away from his face.

"She is lying about something but I don't know what."

"Sota, tell me." Kemi said sternly but the softness was still in her tone.

"I really don't know momma, its just I can see it in her eyes. She is hiding something I can see it but I just don't know what." Kemi nodded her head and hugged her son before shooing him off so he could go and get ready for school.

Kagome was still in the shower. She was scrubbing madly at her skin, and even though the water was scolding hot she didn't flinch. She didn't even flinch when her nails ripped open her skin and her tainted blood ran and mixed in with the pure water. She fell to her knees hugging her self. Her sinful tears mixed in with the tainted blood and pure water.

She would never let any one see her tears. She had made that mistake when she was younger, back when she was innocent. What Naraku had done to her made her impure. She felt so apathetic and she hated her self for it. As she cried she thought:

'I have dealt with this for too long, and I know I can't do it for much longer. I am too weak, and he is much too strong. If I don't do something soon he is gonna end up killing us or doing something worse.' Her stomach retched at the thought and she emptied the contents onto the smooth surface of the tub and watched as it washed down the drain in front of her. She urged her self to stand and turn off the water.

Kagome got out of the shower and rewrapped her abdomen, and wrapped her arms just until she got her miko powers back. She wrapped her towel around her small frame and peeked her head out of the door to see that both her brother and mother had left. She walked over to her closet and got a pair of form fitting dark blue jeans, and a loose plain black shirt. She got dressed carefully so she wouldn't hurt her self.

After Kagome had everything ready she quickly but quietly made her way to her brother's room. She softly tapped on the door before opening it. She saw her brother pull his shirt over his head, she frowned at his malnourished looking body. Yeah they had money but it's hard to keep your food down when you get kicked or punched in the stomach.

"You ready sweetie?" She asked. He looked at her sadly. "What's wrong Sota?" She was worried because normally he looked happy no matter the circumstance.

"What is it?" He asked looking into her eyes so he could see if she lied.

"What are you talking about?" Kagome was thoroughly confused, he wasn't making any sense.

"Your hiding something I know it, but what?"

"Sota I'm not hiding anything."

"Yes you are, even Sesshomaru noticed. Please Kagome tell me what it is I wont tell anyone." Kagome broke eye contact and looked at his digital clock.

"We need to leave and head towards the school, I'll tell you on the way there." He nodded and grabbed his stuff and they snuck out of the house after saying goodbye to their mother who was cleaning up the mess from the night before.

"Ok so what is it?" Kagome sighed as the growing cold air hit her face.

"All right I'll tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone especially mom."

"Ok I promise I won't tell anyone." Kagome looked forward, vaguely seeing the roof of the school over the tops of the trees.

"Ok well lately Naroku has been touching me." Kagome spat out the word touching as if it was one of the most vile things ever.

"He what?" Sota was out raged by what his sister had just told him.

"Do I need to demonstrate it or spell it out?" She asked him coldly.

"No I understand." He said softly.

"Can we not talk about this? Please?" Kagome asked looking into his innocent azure eyes with her dull sad ones.

"Sure, sorry sis... so how do you like Sesshomaru's class?" Sota asked successfully changing the subject.

"Its ok, all though when we were younger I never would have guessed that he would be teaching creative writing to a bunch of high school students." Kagome said laughing slightly.

"Yeah me neither. He's colder then what I remember, I wonder why that is."

"I was gonna try and find out later because remember I have to stay after class today and grade his papers like I said I would." She sighed hoping it wouldn't take long to grade them.

"Yeah I remember, how could I forget his face when you stuck the orchid in his hair? It was hilarious. Anyway, what do you think he meant last night when he drove us home?"

"I don't know, but he hit way to close with his questioning." They didn't say anything else because they were at school.

"Hey Sota!" Shippo and Kohaku called out to him as they ran over to the two siblings. "Morning Kagome." They panted out in unison.

"Morning you guys." Sota looked at his sister who nodded and gave him a hug secretly telling him to have fun. The three boys ran off. Kagome smiled faintly hoping Sota was happy and having fun instead of worrying about her. Kagome's body went ridged when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, below her wound. Thinking it was Naraku she felt tears rush to her eyes, flashes of last night danced before her eyes, as her back was pressed into a muscular chest in a hug.

"Please don't." She whimpered and once the words left her lips the arms were removed from her and a body was placed in front of her. The person lifted her chin until they were looking into each others eyes. She gasped when molten gold locked with dull green.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" Inuyasha's concerned voice asked.

"Nothing." Was her one word answer as she looked away.

"I'm sorry did I scare you?"

"It's ok Inuyasha, you just frightened me is all." Inuyasha could smell the lie but what worried him most was that that her smell was three days old from the clothes she was wearing. It puzzled him, how was it possible? "So did you pick up Rin all right last night?"

"Yeah..." He was about to ask her something but he was cut off by a female voice calling out their names. Kagome flicked her dull eyes to see Sango and Miroku jogging towards them.

"What are you two doing?" Miroku asked wiggling his eye brows suggestively when they had stopped in front of their other two friends.

"You're such a pervert." Sango said and smacked him upside his head.

"You wound me Sango." Miroku said giving her a fake pout. Inuyasha had a bright smile as he chuckled at the two who really liked each other but wouldn't emit it.

"Hey Inuyasha?" Sango asked turning her attention to said half-demon. "So is Rin still having her party this weekend?"

"Oh yeah, hey Kagome wanna come to a birthday party on Saturday?"

"I don't know, I mean I don't know who Rin is, and she probably doesn't want me there."

"Oh I forgot, you weren't here." Kagome raised an eyebrow at Inuyasha before he continued. "My brother adopted a little girl a few years back."

"Wow I didn't know he had a heart anymore."

"Yeah, it shocked all of us. He just came home one day with a six year old and said she was part of the family. So Kagome, what do you say? You, your brother? And you should bring your mom and step-dad; I know my mom would love to talk to yours." Inuyasha gave her a hopeful look.

"I'll ask." She really didn't want Naraku there but she knew her mother would want to go and see how much everyone had changed, and that meant Naraku would have to come if her mother did.

"Hey and the pervert and I will be there so that's a plus." Sango said not wanting to be the only teenage female there.

"I said I would ask, but I'm not making any promises."

"Oh and it's a pool party." Sango added. Now Kagome really didn't want to go for she had scars. Miroku was looking at everyone quietly before striking a pirate pose and saying:

"Violets are blue roses are red we're coming aboard prepare to eat lead." They all looked at Miroku for a second before bursting out laughing. The bell rang and they finally stopped laughing.

"We should go to class, think you can actually stay in it this time?" Inuyasha asked Kagome. She nodded and they all went to their class.

About an hour later Kagome needed to use the rest room or so she said. She really needed to check on her wound and change the bandages. Kagome left and Sango looked at Inuyasha and asked:

"What happened to her? She's limping."

"I don't know she hasn't told me anything." Inuyasha said with a sad look on his face. "She's changed, she used to be happy, I don't know what happened."

Kagome had just changed her bandages-her arms had healed and her wound was healing fast but she wasn't able to heal it using her miko powers because they hadn't returned all the way when she walked out into the hall only to bump into a hard chest. Kagome cried out in pain and braced her self for more for when she hit the ground but when the ground never came she opened her eyes to see golden ones staring down at her.

"You know if you keep sluffing your first period class I'm gonna have to tell the office." He set her on her own feet. She winced shifting her weight.

"I'm sorry Mr. Tashio I didn't mean to bump into you." He looked at his hand because she was staring at it. He was confused, there was blood on his hand but where did it come from? He looked up at Kagome who's eyes were wide and then she looked down and slowly lifted her shirt a little to see her cut had split open and was bleeding threw the bandages. She looked up at Sesshomaru wavering slightly before everything went black.

Kagome groaned and opened her eyes but snapped them shut again because of the bright light.

"I see you're awake. Mind telling me what happened?" Kagome blinked fast for a few seconds before her eyes adjusted to the bright light. She looked up to see the emotionless face of Sesshomaru.

"I passed out I think."

"That's not what I meant. How did you get that wound?"

"I fell down some stairs and landed on some glass." She sat up to see she was in his personal office, her wound was rewrapped, and she was lying on a couch, and her shirt was pulled up but stopped at her bra so nothing was showing.

"Really? What about the others?"

"What others?"

"Well I can tell by the way you winced and shifted your weight earlier that your leg is hurt and you have scars."

"What can I say I'm a klutz. I fall a lot as I'm sure you noticed last night."

"You know I'm a dog demon so why bother lying I can smell it."

"Listen you're my teacher and an old friend but I don't have to answer to you." She swung her legs over the side of the couch and pulled her baggy shirt back down.

"Fine, its still first period I will write you a note so you do not get in trouble for being gone for so long." Kagome nodded and he noted she didn't have a smell any more now that she was awake, he couldn't even smell her blood at all. They walked out of his office and he wrote her a note. "I'll see you in fourth period try not to sluff any other classes."

"I didn't sluff I went to the bathroom; she knew I was in there." Sesshomaru watched her leave before sighing and slumping into his chair.

'Why do I care if she is being hurt? I mean if it was anyone else I probably wouldn't care, so what's so special about her? Maybe it's because I knew her when she was little...she used to be so happy back then, she always had a smile no matter what.

She was so cute, I think I only ever saw her cry twice. Even when she fell down and got hurt she didn't cry, her cuts always healed fast. I know she cried when she moved away...the other time she cried was when we were all in that car accident. I remember that day...

They were at Chuckie Cheese because it was Inuyasha's 7th birthday and he, Sesshomaru, was forced in to going to that childish place. "Sesshomaru!" A girl's voice yelled excitedly. He turned to see the smiling girl bound towards him her pig tails bouncing with her every step. He gave her a faint smile as golden met shinning green. He made a quiet 'oof' when she ran into him, hugging him tightly. He wrapped his larger arms around her, resting his head on hers. "Hey Sessy." She said into his chest.

"Hey Kags." They were the only people who actually called each other that. He heard her giggle then pull back and look at him funny for a second before her eyes went cross eyed and her little face scrunched up and she sneezed a cute little 'achoo' in a high pitched voice. She looked up smiling at him. "Having fun?"

"It's really crowded in here."

"Yeah I noticed." She grabbed his hand and asked:

"Sessy, will you come out side with me? I can't go out there by myself, cause there are bad people." She said with her lisp. Sesshomaru squeezed her hand lightly and nodded.

"Yeah, I need some fresh air." He led her out side where they sat on the curb his arm around her as they talked. He might have been six years older then her, but she was still smart. She rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes.

"Sessy?"

"Yes Kagome."

"Promise me you'll always be my friend."

"Don't be stupid."

"Please just promise me."

"If it'll make you happy then I promise." Kagome giggled and hugged him. They stayed like that until they heard a some what angry voice say:

"Kagome what are you doing?" They both looked up to see her step-father walking towards them looking mad. "Why are you two out here, and so close together?"

"We are just talking. All that loud racket in there was giving both of us headaches." Sesshomaru said coldly.

"Yeah well that doesn't explain why you are so close together." He snarled

"Because Sessy is one of my closest friendssss." Kagome said quietly.

"Just separate." He growled. Kagome removed her self from Sesshomaru's warmth, both of them regretting it slightly because it was rather cold. Naraku pulled Kagome up roughly by her arm forcing a small whimper from the girl. Sesshomaru felt his blood boil seeing his friend hurt. Naraku pulled Kagome back inside Sesshomaru following them, his golden eyes held flecks of red.

The party lasted a few more hours. Kagome asked Izayoi if she would mind if her and Sota spent the night at their house, and as usual she said she would love to have them over. "Ok well we are gonna leave now so go find your little brother and I will tell your mother."

"Ok Izzy." Kagome ran over to where her four year old brother was and grabbed his hand saying: "Come on Sota we're going over to the Tashio's tonight."

"Yay, sis! I can't wait Inu said I could play video games with him." Sota didn't have a lisp like Kagome but he wasn't able to pronounce all of the words properly.

"Well we have to hurry cuz they are leaving now, so do you have all of your stuff together?" Sota nodded his head excitedly, and let his sister guide him by his hand to the Tashio's truck. Sesshomaru lifted Sota and put him in the truck along with Kagome. Sota sat in the front between Izayoi and Touga, and Kagome sat in the middle in the back between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.

They were almost home when another truck ran a red light and t-boned them on the right side. Izayoi, Touga, and Sota were fine just a little shaken up, but the other three where thrown from the truck.

Sesshomaru groaned as he opened his eyes, but he couldn't really see out of his left eye because he had split his head open. He saw Inuyasha about 10 feet away from him but he wasn't moving. Then Sesshomaru saw what made his heart stop: Kagome was laying about 5 feet away her arm was in an odd angle and she wasn't moving either. He forced him self to move, he crawled over to her and turned her over on her back. She blinked up at him and smiled then sat up.

"Sesshomaru your head."

"I'm fine, your arm looks broken." Obviously she didn't hear him because she had moved his silver bangs back to she the bleeding gash. She looked around to see Inuyasha laying not to far from them. When she looked back at Sesshomaru she had tears leaking from her eyes. "Kagome, don't cry."

"You're hurt." She chocked out.

"I'm fine; you're hurt worse then me." She lightly placed her hands on his cut. A blue glow emitted from her hand, and he felt a tingling sensation then all the pain was gone. He looked at her to see her smiling threw tears. She crawled over to Inuyasha and tuned him over and placed her hands on him and closed her eyes. Sesshomaru watched as she healed his brother before looking back at him. She crawled back over to him tears still falling.

"Sessy." She said weakly.

"Kagome you need to take care of your self."

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"I promise I will always be here for you Kagome. No matter what I will do anything and every thing I can to protect you."

"I love you Sessy." Before he could say anything she passed out on him. He cradled her small body in his larger one until they pried her away from him.

Sesshomaru straightened up in his chair as the bell rang. He sighed and shook his head clearing his thoughts of Kagome.

After Kagome went back to her class and gave the teacher her note she hung out with the others until the end of the period. Their second period went by faster then she thought and before she knew it they were sitting out side under a tree eating lunch. Kagome was sitting next to Inuyasha eating an orange while he finished a sandwich.

"God Kagome don't you ever eat?"

"Yeah, I'm just not hungry right now." He smirked at her before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer to him. She leaned closer to his warmth enjoying it, while watching Sango and Miroku argue over him being a pervert. She chuckled when Sango smacked Miroku because he groped her. Inuyasha leaned his head on hers.

"Do you wanna come over tonight?"

"I don't know, I came home kinda late last night."

"That's fine because I was supposed to ask you to ask your mom to come over for dinner tonight, my mom really wants to see her... she's probably gonna ask if you guys can come on Saturday."

"I'll ask my mom after school ok?"

"Ok, I'll take you home if you want."

"Sure but I have to stay after."

"That's fine I have football practice so it works." Kagome nodded. They spent the rest of their lunch period like that. The next two periods went by boringly then when the final bell rang Inuyasha hugged Kagome telling her where to meet him and that he would find Sota for her. Kagome nodded and watched everyone leave before Sesshomaru acknowledged her. He walked over to her and set a stack of papers on her desk.

"There, those are what I want you to grade the key is on top just like the last time." Kagome started grading the papers, and 10 minutes went by the only sound that filled the room was the rustling of papers.

"What happened?" Sesshomaru looked up from his own papers to see the green eyes he had loved so much when he was younger dull and sad.

"What are you talking about?" He asked in an emotionless voice. She got out of her chair and walked forward.

"What happened to you? You changed, why Sessy?" His eyes widened at the nickname but he adverted his golden hues. She stopped in front of his desk.

"So did you, and I'm your teacher now so do not call me by ridiculous nicknames from over 10 years ago." He looked up, emotionless gold met dull green.

"Ok Mr. Tashio." She put emphasis on his name. "Why did you change?" She whispered.

"Why did you?" He asked back.

"I asked you first."

"So now you resort to childish antics?" He asked raising a perfect brow in question.

"You used to like my antics."

"You were six." He said coldly.

"You used to be kind and gentle." She whispered.

"I am still gentle." He said coldly.

"Yeah like snow."

"Why do you care? You left 10 years ago, and forgot about everyone here."

"It wasn't my choice, I didn't want to leave, and so much happened ok? I didn't mean to forget." She felt the prickle in her eyes signaling she was going to cry. Sesshomaru's expression softened when he smelt the salt. "You don't fucking understand what I have gone threw Sesshomaru." She said loudly slamming her hand on the desk, her bangs hiding her eyes from view. "You're a conceded asshole; you used to be my closest friend and I still care about you even if you are my teacher." He saw tears slide down her cheeks and then her chin and onto his desk. He was at her side in a second on reflex. He lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes; she gasped seeing pain in those beautiful golden eyes. He wrapped his arms around her; she gripped his shirt in her fists tightly as she soaked it with her tears.

"Shhh Kags it's ok." He smoothed her hair in a calming manner. Sesshomaru tightened his grip on her, burying his face in her hair. Kagome moved her arms from his shirt and hugged him as tight as she could. She hugged him as if she loosened her grip everything known to this world would be lost. After she had calmed down and her crying slowed she pulled back embarrassed because she hadn't let anyone see her cry since she was eight and they moved from their old house into their new one. Even the day before Sesshomaru saw her tears but she didn't cry in front of him.

Sesshomaru wiped away the tears from her face with the soft pads of his thumbs. She smiled weakly at him and he gave her a ghost of a smile back. Her tears still fell but her eyes no longer held sadness. He sighed and gave her a brief hug both of them silently realizing they were never supposed to speak of this again. She forced her tears to stop and wiped them away on the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry Kagome but I am your teacher now I can't be your friend until you are out of my class." She nodded the sadness reappearing in her eyes.

"I understand." She glanced at the clock to see that it was 4:00 and she was supposed to go meet up with her brother and Inuyasha. "Mr. Tashio?"

"Yes?"

"I am supposed to go and meet your brother and mine."

"Did you finish those papers?"

"No... Can I go tell them I'm not done? I'll leave me bag here so you know I won't just leave." He just nodded and watched her run out of the room. He looked at his shirt which had her tears on it. He breathed deeply glancing at the door before taking it off and replacing it with another dress shirt from his office.

Kagome bounded down the hallway towards where they were supposed to meet. She saw a flash of silver and knew it was Inuyasha.

"Hey you guys!" Kagome called coming to a stop in front of them.

"Hi sis." Sota said wondering why she looked so happy. Inuyasha was thinking along the same lines but he was more suspicious because the only smell on her was tears and Sesshomaru.

"Hey...umm I'm sorry but I have to stay longer because I haven't finished what I was supposed to do so I will just have Mr. Tashio give me a ride to your house after. So I guess you and Sota are just gonna have to go to my house and ask mom and Naraku if they wanna go to the dinner tonight, but I'm sure they'll say yes." Her eyes weren't as dull as they were an hour ago.

"Ok sis see you in a little while." Sota said smiling brightly. She hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead. She looked at Inuyasha who hugged her lifting her off the ground and spinning around a few times hearing a light hearted laugh that was music to both of their ears. When Inuyasha put her down he kissed her cheek and smiled lovingly, happy she was returning to her old self.

"Don't let him get on your nerves." Inuyasha said and Kagome nodded thinking if they only knew. Kagome went back to Sesshomaru's class room and lightly knocked before walking in. He was sitting at his desk wearing a different shirt then before.

"What happened to your shirt?" She asked moving the papers she was supposed to grade and her bag up to the desk in front of his.

"You." Was his one word answer, but she understood what he was talking about. She went back to grading the papers. After about 20 minutes she had finished.

"Mr. Tashio, I'm done." Sesshomaru looked up at her. He nodded before taking the papers she held out to him. He grabbed his brief case and jacket before looking at her.

"I suppose I'm taking you to my father's and Izayoi's house?"

"You don't live there?"

"No I live in the city but since the school is out here in this little town surrounded by forest." He said with detest on every descriptive word. "I stay at my parents humble abode from time to time because its closer." She made an 'O' shape with her mouth. They walked out of his classroom together and he locked the door. When they walked out the front door Kagome shivered as the cold whipped at her body. "Do you not have a jacket?"

"No my hoody got ripped yesterday." She felt a light weight placed on her shoulders and warmth flooded threw out her body. She looked to see Sesshomaru had placed his suit jacket on her shoulders and had began walking towards his Viper. She gripped the silky fabric closer to her body and ran to catch up with him. When she got in his car she slipped her arms in the right place of the jacket, set her backpack on the ground, and pulled her knees up to her chest. Sesshomaru started the car and glanced at her position. He tapped her legs and when she looked at him innocently he shook his finger at her saying: "No, no." She giggled and moved her legs so her feet were on top of her bag on the floor instead of his seats.

"Sorry it's just a habit."

"A bad one." He said turning onto the street and heading towards his house.

"Hey Mr. Tashio?" Kagome asked quietly. So quiet in fact that if he wasn't a demon he was sure he wouldn't have heard her.

"Yes Kagome?" He asked with out taking his eyes off of the road.

"How is Rin having a pool party for her birthday if it's so cold?"

"Indoor pool, remember?"

"I do now." She didn't say anything else and just hugged his jacket closer to her taking in his sent. She suddenly thought of her wound, the others healed so she wondered if the other one had healed also. She glanced at Sesshomaru who kept his eyes on the road she looked down at her flat stomach before lifting her T-shirt slightly, and unwrapping her wound not doubting Sesshomaru had noticed her movements.

"Better?" He asked not looking at her.

"Yeah, not even a scar see?" She asked in a childish voice, and arched her back and pointed to the place where the wound had been.

"I see." He smirked at her childlikeness. She frowned and pulled her shirt back down blushing. She stared out the window lost in thought and didn't notice when the car came to a stop until Sesshomaru had gotten out and walked over to her door and opened it only to have her fall forward but he caught her before she hit the ground. "Klutz." He said then smirked when he saw fire build in her eyes. He pushed her back up by her shoulders. "Do you trust me?" Kagome bit her lip in thought for a moment, and then nodded her head cautiously. Sesshomaru smirked then said: "If you do close your eyes."

Kagome eyed him warily before she closed them. He grasped her hand and led her out of the car and a little ways away from it. Kagome clung to his jacket on her shoulders with her free left hand. She let her self be pulled along, the cold wind swatting at her skin and making it seem as if her hair was dancing wildly around her on its own accord. She looked like a goddess and Sesshomaru was positive that she would be even more beautiful if her eyes were open and shining. He growled at him self and mentally shook his head.

Kagome was all too conscious of his warm hand holding hers. She felt her cheeks flush at the thought. Kagome breathed deeply and gave Sesshomaru's hand light a squeeze.

"Can I open my eyes now?" She asked her voice quieted by the wind.

"Just wait a little longer ok." He said looking at her briefly.

"Ok." She said walking a little closer to him. He came to a stop and she softly bumped into him.

"Open your eyes." Kagome did as instructed and gasped.

"Oh Sesshomaru, it's beautiful." She looked at around them. They were in a large clearing, closed in by trees. There were orchids everywhere, and in the middle of it all there was a deep, clear pond. Her left hand was on her chest and her mouth was slightly agape.

"I thought you would like it. This used to be the place I would disappear to when ever I wanted to get away from everything. The pond is actually a natural hot spring but it doesn't look like it." She looked at him and smiled a true bright smile for the first time the past nine years. She launched her self at him in a hug and he lost his balance because he wasn't expecting that kind of a reaction. They ended up on the ground Kagome on top of him straddling his waist. She had a blush staining her nose and cheeks, she looked so cute. They both just staid there for a moment just starring at one another, Sesshomaru's hands on Kagome's waist and her hands on his chest.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. She moved off of him and stood as did he.

"It was worth it to see you smile." She gave him another true smile then hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Sesshomaru...are you sure we can't be friends."

"I'm not supposed to befriend the students."

"But we were friends before hand." She gave him a puppy look which made him want to die of guilt. "Please." She drew out the word hoping it would work.

"Fine but if I get in trouble I will punish you." He said with a malicious glint in his eyes. Kagome's face fell a little.

"And just how would you punish me?" She asked inching away. He smirked at her.

"Like this." He leaned in closer to her like he was going to kiss her but instead started tickling her. Kagome started laughing the fell to the ground; he fallowed her and kneeled next to her as she rolled on the ground.

"Please stop...I can't breath." Kagome pleaded in between laughs and gasps. Sesshomaru stopped and gave her a smile that only Rin had seen. Kagome's eyes sparkled as she smiled. She suddenly reached up and pulled him down in a tight embrace. Sesshomaru sat up pulling her with him. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear:

"I promise I will always be here for you Kagome. No matter what I will do anything and every thing I can to protect you." Kagome felt her heart clench when he repeated the same words he had told her when they were younger.

Here you go, chapter seven, I posted two chapters tonight. Let me know what you guys think! Please review