Aljan Moonfire does not own Inuyasha in any way, shape, or form.

"Speaking."

'Thinking.'

.-. - scene break and/or POV change

Chapter 3 – Interrogations and Ponderings

The next morning Kagome woke and slowly sat up with a huge yawn. Her attention was then immediately caught by two things. 1: the strong demonic presence nearby, and, 2: the well's energy was much higher than it usually was. The second registered rather slowly, and it was with sudden alarm that she stood and looked about the clearing, temporarily ignoring the being sitting across the fire from her in favor of finding her companions.

She soon sighed in relief when she spotted them circling together a small distance away. The second they realized she was awake they flew back and started collecting energy from her. She sighed in relief as the pressure building up within her receded. It was like water building up in a dam, just waiting to burst its banks unless she found a way to release it somehow.

What still confused her was the fact that the well's aura was starting to take on some of her signature, and that her own aura had begun to take on some of it's characteristics as well. She quickly shook off the introspective thoughts to continue later.

As her stealers circled around her, brushing along her in a confusing feel of scales and cloth on skin, she wondered why they had been so far away from her. What had they been doing? Holding a soul stealer conference? She smiled slightly at the thought, but figured that there wasn't really an easy way of asking them without prying. If they didn't attempt to tell her then she wasn't supposed to know she supposed...

That was when she remembered the demon lord whose presence she had ignored in favor of her soul stealers… Shit. He was going to kill her, wasn't he? Returning to the campfire, she noticed he was still sitting down and, luckily for her, nothing was glowing a poisonous green.

"I apologize my lord," she said hastily, "for not immediately greeting you this morning. I was…distracted." She quickly bowed to enhance her words. Her soul stealers continued to wind around her as she did so. For some reason she didn't quite understand, they were all staying close to her, and it was actually hard to see past the flying creatures. Holding her bow, she swallowed any further words in nervousness and wondered when she should start praying; before or after the death threat?

"Why were you so distracted, Miko, that you forgot the presence of a demon lord?" His voice was slightly amused and he still hadn't moved yet. Rising out of the bow she sat on her sleeping bag, silently ordering some of the stealers to move, so she that could actually see said demon lord. "And why, Miko," he continued, "do you allow such…parasites…to travel with you." His voice was filled with a faint scorn as he regarded her with sharp, impatient eyes.

She supposed this was to be the beginning of the interrogation. She quickly fought back the urge to yell at him for disrespecting her companions, (he was a daiyoukai, he could disrespect stuff as much as he wanted, she supposed) and thought her answer through, wondering just how much she wanted to tell him right now.

Finally she decided, "I cannot tell you all of it, my lord. Suffice it to say that it is important that they travel with me." She looked up, hoping that that had been a good enough answer.

Apparently it wasn't, because his eyes had narrowed and he soon asked with carefully disguised aggravation, "Why must they travel with you, Miko?" he demanded. "And what happened between you and your previous companions to make it necessary for you to travel separately?" he continued.

This time his eyes were dangerous, just daring her to side step his questions again. She sighed, it wasn't too important to tell him the second after all, eventually he'd probably find out anyway, but if she told him the first…? What might he do? Kill her soul stealers so that the well's energy would overflow and kill her? Because she really would die if that happened…

She considered the options for a moment before beginning to speak again. She would tell him as much as possible without endangering herself or newest companions. She stopped the anxious fidgeting she'd been unable to hide and raised cautious eyes to look at him warily. That blank mask of his was firmly in place again, but there was a dangerous glint still apparent in his eyes.

"They help me with my travels, my lord," she began, partially answering his first question. "They warn me if dangerous beings are nearby and scout out ahead of me unfamiliar places; things like that… They helped me find this clearing last night, even telling me that there were already youkai here." He simply stared at her as if just by looking at her he could tell if she were lying or not.

It was rather unnerving to say the least, and she knew that he knew that she wasn't telling him everything that she knew… and now she was just giving herself a headache. She almost felt relieved when he nodded, giving her permission to continue. Almost.

"As for your second question, my…friends," she began hesitantly, "were…distracted in our most recent battle…when I was nearly killed. They asked me to return to my…home…" She felt the familiar tears well in her eyes but angrily held them in place. She refused to cry for them anymore; if they were willing to disown her in such a way, then she was unwilling to give anymore of herself to them then she already had.

She then realized she had lapsed into silence and he though he seemed to be watching her curiously, he was patiently waiting for her to regain her composure. She quickly did so, fighting a losing battle to keep her voice from wavering, "They…insisted that I leave. My son…he disowned me…" she choked out.

"I left, and said that I would go back…home, but I didn't. Instead I acquired a proper miko garment and…well…here I am…waiting for Naraku to show his ugly hide so I can join in the final battle and help take him down…" She looked up at him but he was once more regarding the forest to the side as if it held the answers to the universe hidden in its shade.

"Miko," he finally responded slowly, "it seems a foolish thing, to send you away now, just because of your near death. Surely your companions have been in similar situations and they were not asked to leave?" His voice was low; he seemed mystified, as if the idea of protecting someone in such a way was completely foreign to him.

"Yes, my lord," she replied just as carefully, trying to put it as objectively as she could, "but they don't know that I have been training myself. They assume that I am still only able to sense the jewel shards. As such, they thought that I was…putting myself in danger unnecessarily. As there is another who can sense the shards, who they believe has more experience in such things then I do…" she trailed off, certain he would get the picture and unwilling to say anymore

He nodded in understanding and said no more, clearly thinking over what she'd said. She hesitated before speaking again, unwilling interrupt his thoughts, but something had just occurred to her. "y lord…may I ask…?" she continued more confidently when he nodded for her to do so, "Considering our past, when I entered the clearing…why did you not kill me on sight, or at least threaten to do so?"

Kagome hoped she wasn't pushing her luck by asking this, but it had been nagging at her. When they had met each other before, he had either automatically attacked her, or simply ignored her. The fact that they were almost having a…a conversation; the mere idea of it was, for lack of a better word, more than a bit unnerving.

She looked up at him and flinched slightly when she noticed how hard his gaze was. He soon he turned his eyes to the sky though and continued to gaze at it for so long that she almost didn't believe she was going to get an answer. Then his voice finally broke the silence, "This Sesshomaru shall answer only this question, Miko," he said, "and only considering that you have answered his. At one point Naraku had captured Rin, intending to use her against this one* as he is wont to do. This one went to take her back, but she had been hidden away in Mt. Hakurei, a pure mountain. Although this one could enter, the purity of the location significantly lowered his abilities."

She briefly gawked at him before composing herself. This was the most she had ever heard him say at one time! She quickly paid attention as he continued, "When this Sesshomaru found her she was about to be killed, and this one was unable to reach her in time due to the lowering of his abilities by the sacred barrier. But an un-dead miko shot an arrow and saved her life. When this one asked how he could end his debt, she requested that if this one were to encounter you, this Sesshomaru should never attack unless you provoke him."

He continued to look at her as he concluded his story. "This one has honored her request and has not attacked you unless you have attempted to do this one or those he protects harm. As you haven't, this one has yet to have harmed you." Kagome was quite stunned at first; she didn't even notice Sesshoumaru watching for her reaction. Then her face broke into a brilliant smile and she clapped her hands together happily.

"Kikyo did that?" she asked wonderingly. Then she frowned lightly and continued thinking out loud, "But why me, why not the group as a whole? Or especially Inuyasha…actually…holy crap." She turned her eyes towards the daiyoukai in astonishment, unaware of her rapidly deteriorating language, "You've never attacked him have you...?"

She quickly sensed his slight astonishment and confusion as he raised a brow in perplexity. She waved her hands before her chest, quickly backtracking a bit. "No, no, no;" she said, "I mean, you've provoked him, sure, but you always let him attack first." She explained. "Except for that time with Tokijin, every other time he has been the one to launch the attack first… It's no wonder Kikyo didn't ask for Inuyasha; it would have been a waste as with a few well placed verbal barbs he would have attacked you immediately…" she finished, still with that slight wonder coating her voice.

She tensed slightly in anticipation as he opened his mouth to ask what was sure to be yet another question, and was grateful when the sound of a yawn as Rin awoke took his attention away from her. They both watched as the child blinked sleepily, letting her arms stretch out as she continued to yawn. Suddenly she seemed to waken completely and her eyes hastily scanned the clearing as if searching for something.

A wide grin crossed her face when she noticed Sesshoumaru on the other side of the clearing, her eyes completely skipping over Kagome's form in favor of that of her lord. She quickly sprang to her feet and ran around the fire to come to a stop next to the daiyoukai, smiling brightly. She carefully left just enough space between herself and Sesshoumaru that she wouldn't be crowding him.

"Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama!" she chirped softly but cheerily. "Rin is awake now, so can Rin go find some food Sesshoumaru-sama? The berries Jaken-sama got Rin yesterday were icky!" The child said this all emphatically, but with a soft voice, clearly respecting his sensitive hearing.

During her short speech she used wild hand motions and lots of facial movements to describe just how she felt about the berries without getting into too much detail. Both of their attention though, quickly turned to the Miko when she let out a light giggle at Rin's antics. As soon as the small girl noticed her, she started examining the priestess curiously.

Finally, pointing at Kagome, Rin turned to Sesshoumaru and asked with curiosity, "Who's that Sesshoumaru-sama? Rin thinks she has seen the pretty lady before, but Rin can't remember where." She finished, with a pricelessly puzzled expression.

Almost as soon as she finished the question, Rin ran back around the fire to the miko's side, not even waiting for a response. She carefully tucked her hands behind her back and, leaning forward slightly in excitement, she asked, "What is your name pretty lady? Rin's name is Rin." She introduced herself.

Kagome smiled at the child and said, equally excited, "My name is Kagome, Rin-chan. It's nice to meet you. I used to travel with Sesshoumaru-sama's half-brother; that's probably where you know me from." She added.

Rin's eyes widened and she did a little skip-dance in place, a huge grin crossing her features as she pointed at Kagome again and declared, "Rin remembers you Kagome-san; you helped save Rin that time with Kohaku-kun."

Kagome nodded in agreement before glancing at Sesshoumaru, her face alight with a bright smile. She wasn't even thinking about who he was when she mouthed at him with a discrete point at Rin, "She is sooooo cute!"

Just as Kagome was getting into a lengthy discussion with Rin about positive qualities of different flowers, a soul stealer, Emerald actually, swirled down to wind itself around Kagome's torso. Rin was visibly shocked, having not noticed the luminescent creatures before, but Kagome didn't notice.

Her eyes were blank as she absently stroked the creature, absorbing the information it was communicating. Her eyes suddenly cleared and she glanced up at the sun, her eyes widening and a short gasp escaping her as she realized the time.

"Oh, Kami-sama!" she exclaimed, "I didn't realize the time! I've got to get going if I want to make any distance today." She quickly started packing her things up, apologizing to Rin for needing to leave so soon after meeting her. Rin looked devastated but was soon her happy, smiling self when Kagome promised to spend an hour or two with her the next time they met. With Sesshomaru's permission of course.**

The young woman was soon ready to go, her backpack once again in place, bow in hand and arrows securely in her quiver. She glanced once more around the small clearing she'd pent the night in. Sesshoumaru too, was standing as he oversaw the breaking down of the camp by Jaken*** and Ah-Un. Turning around she once again bowed low to Sesshoumaru in farewell.

"I thank you Sesshoumaru-sama, for letting me share in your campsite. If you have any more questions when we meet again, I won't mind answering them to the best of my ability." Turning to Rin she gave the small girl a hug, "I'm sure I'll see you around Rin-chan, it was wonderful to meet you again!"

Still wearing a smile, she turned to the remaining demons, "Goodbye Jaken, I'm sorry for being so harsh on you (she may have gotten a bit physical when she had 'told off' Jaken earlier), and it was nice to meet you, Ah-Un."

Jaken just huffed and turned away, but was secretly pleased that for once someone acknowledged him, and even apologized for hurting him; it was a new and almost pleasant feeling. Ah-Un shook their heads and one let out a snort; their own version of a wave. She waved back before turning and heading into the forest once more, giving one last bow to Sesshoumaru before leaving their sight.

.-.

It wasn't long after she'd left that Sesshomaru and his small group of followers also removed themselves from the clearing, moving in almost the opposite direction Kagome had, Jaken staying a step or two behind him, keeping a secure grip on the reins of Ah-Un (even though it mostly wasn't needed).

As always, Rin either skipped alongside the Lord of the West or perched herself upon the back of Ah-Un, chattering all the while about how wonderful she found her new friend. As she did so Sesshomaru couldn't stop his own thoughts from turning to the young miko as well.

His surprising encounter with her the night before had been interesting enough, but the talk he'd had with her the morning after had been informative in its own way as well. When she'd first woken she'd actually ignored him in favor of those pests she seems to insist on traveling with. Although he may admit that they could be useful in the ways she described, they clearly did more than that for her.

He hadn't slept the night before, keeping watch for any intruders less friendly than the miko, but he'd also done it to keep an eye on the girl as well. Not that he believed she'd be so foolish as to actually try something, but there was still something she was hiding from him, and he wouldn't be satisfied until he knew what it was.

Over the course of the night her energy levels had steadily risen until they almost seemed ready to pour out of her fragile body. It was at that point that the soul stealers had surrounded her and siphoned off the excess energy. It would seem that she kept them around to help her regulate the energy she was unable to completely control on her own.

As she had fallen asleep fairly close to him, the soul stealers, who understandably seemed rather nervous of him, weren't willing to stay nearby for long and only took enough of the energy to stop it from completely overflowing. As a result, when she had woken she had immediately turned to them to see what was wrong.

He had watched with amusement as she had stumbled over to them, still half asleep, and let them take a good portion of her energy. Then she had seemed to recall his presence and rushed back over to the fireside, still ungainly with sleep, to apologize for disregarding him in favor of more urgent business. Not that she had actually come out and said that, it had taken a good bit of prodding before she had even admitted that it was necessary for them to travel with her.

Even then she hadn't told him why, which said a good deal for her prudence, he supposed. And he couldn't have really pushed harder for more information either; he had tacitly given his word that he wouldn't after all.

Then she had answered his earlier questions about her current relationship with her (now former, he supposed) companions, even though it had seemed like she was about to cry through more than half of it. Though he'd never admit it, crying women had always made him nervous. He'd usually just freeze up completely, but if anyone knew of his inward panic attacks…

Moving on though, she'd eventually calmed down, and he'd asked a few questions. Her answer had made sense though: her comrades decided to remove what they thought to be a weakness and replace it with something stronger. He could understand that, but he had also seen the poorly disguised pain in her eyes. They had probably thought they were doing better by her by sending her away, but they didn't consider the fact that she'd prefer staying with them, despite the danger.

He also understood that, he supposed, glancing back slightly at his own entourage. He understood the need for companionship; even if he would not admit it to anyone but himself.

Avoiding the uncomfortable thought with the ease of long practice, he turned back to his reminiscing. Then she had asked why he had not threatened her when they first met the night before. It was a slightly uncomfortable subject for him (he did not like owing people anything), but he had answered nonetheless.

In her astonishment at the undead one's actions her language had quickly begun to deteriorate. He had almost smirked. It had only been a matter of time after all. Then she had wondered why the other miko had not asked for the same thing in regards to Inuyasha, something he had briefly wondered himself.

She was really far more intelligent than he had expected, reasoning it out the way she did. It was true after all; he had never really felt the need to expend any effort in attacking the mutt when he just had to open his mouth to get his half-brother to do the same. It was still interesting though, that she'd been able to see it.

It was then that Rin had woken up and the two females had gotten along just splendidly, as he'd half expected. Then Jaken had awoken, and if the miko hadn't shut the toad up he would have. Why did he keep that kappa around again…?

He was broken out of his thoughts by said demon's squawking. Turning slightly to look back at the small group trailing behind him, he was unsurprised to see the youkai once again covered with multiple flowers as Rin laughed delightedly. Oh, yes, that's why, he remembered. It was quite enjoyable to torment the toad after all.

Sesshoumaru shook his head slightly, returning to his thoughts of the miko. She was such an unusual female; by the end of her very short stay she had managed to befriend everyone in his entourage and even acted quite familiarly with him. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he was actually looking forward to what might occur during her next visit. Looking over his entourage once again and noting their happier-than-usual countenance, he knew he was not the only one.

.-.

Elsewhere, in the evening of the same day…

Kagome prodded at the fire again, causing a few small sparks to fly out of the small pit it burned in to die in the wet grass. It had rained for a short while earlier in the day, and though she had taken shelter for the worst of it, it had made it quite hard to get a fire going.

Tired from the day's exertions, she hugged her knees to her chest and sighed almost silently as she rested her chin on top of them. As her eyes drifted closed her thoughts turned inexorably towards what she had been avoiding thinking about since that morning, and, for once, it was not her former companions, or the circumstances surrounding their separation, that she was shying away from.

Sesshoumaru… he wasn't initially all that much different than her earlier experiences of him, cold, calculating, and, as always, more than just determined to get what he wants no matter what. She remembered the same focus from their first encounter so long ago. It had been quite an experience to have all that attention focused on her, and what she knew. She'd never been more aware of it than that morning, just how different the two brothers were.

In the same situation he could image Inuyasha's reaction to her refusing to tell him what she knew. She also knew that it probably wouldn't have been very pleasant, to say the least.

Sesshomaru though, he had honored their earlier agreement and hadn't pushed her over much for answers. During their conversation he had kept his attention and eyes on her, not looking away overmuch as if what she was speaking about didn't matter. And he only saw her when he looked at her, something she would never be able to say of the younger of the two.

It had been more than a bit pleasant to say the least. She couldn't help but wonder it to herself as she banked the fire for the night and finally settled down to sleep. When would she see the daiyoukai again?

* - As far as I know, in the original Japanese manga and anime Sesshomaru addresses himself as 'kono Sesshomaru' or, quite literally, 'this Sesshomaru'; always speaking of himself in the formal third person. The corresponding, equally formal, 'this one' just seems like the next logical step when he speaks in more than single sentences. (Just so you know, this ridiculously formal way of speaking will continue until he feels comfortable enough in someone's *coughKagome'scough* presence to relax a bit.)

** - This permission came in the form of a simple nod from Sesshoumaru; she was glad he so easily gave his permission, if he had said no who knows what Rin and Kagome may have had to resort to in order to convince him otherwise

*** - Jaken had thrown quite the hissy fit when he realized there was actually a human wench, as he put it, in their campsite. He soon learnt the hard way why you don't want piss off Kagome, a lesson he should have learned from their previous encounters. Rin was reduced to a shaking ball of laughter after watching her Jaken-sama get told off by her Kagome-san.

~ Author's Note ~

Another chapter done! If you people actually read this, I would like to bring your attention to the last part of the chapter, where both Sesshomaru and Kagome give their impressions of the encounter. That's important character development there, not filler! Also, those cliff notes are important, so go back and read them!

Ah… sorry about that abruptness… Another thing though, this chapter is a bit shorter than I had originally planned, but it would have taken another two or three thousand words to find as good a stopping point. Even then it probably would have been a cliffhanger. So, my apologies, but, even though I got this out later than I expected, you get a double update in compensation. Feel free to celebreate as that chapter will be up within the next hour.

Reviews are always welcome!

~ Aljan Moonfire ~