Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Naruto or Fairy Tail.

Acquaintance

Sesshoumaru's visit had affected the pack dynamics rather thoroughly.

Inuyasha, grumbling incessantly, looked thoroughly unhappy and complained about" no space", though Kagome wasn't very sure what space he was referring to, considering Sesshoumaru's total lack of interest in intruding his brother's private space.

Miroku seemed much gladder, because with the obviously highly educated youkai, he could discuss a vast range of topics—from poison to politics.

Sango, even though an exterminator, didn't seem very opposed to him. She had grown more accepting of him, after he had mended Hiraikotsu after it had been chipped by a particularly scaly lizard, which then Inuyasha had blown very messily to bits with Tetsusaiga, to the obvious displeasure of the group. They had all received healthy chunks of material on them, and it smelled AWFUL.

All except Sesshoumaru.

How he always managed to stay shiny new and squeaky clean, was still an enigma to Kagome, and one she was desperate enough to solve.

Not that she could, till now.

Kagome had maximum exchange with him during the little tea ritual they had set up. She previously used to conduct this ritual of hers alone, since none of her other group members fancied tea much. But after that rainy evening, Sesshoumaru joined her for this. Immensely pleased and totally apprehensive, she allowed him to join, and they became fabulous drinking partners.

Since Sesshoumaru didn't do small, Kagome had to talk just to fillet the oppressive silence.

Inuyasha watched them with hooded eyes and a scowl on his face, but didn't dare confront Kagome about it. Sesshoumaru wasn't Kouga, and no simple threats or antics would faze the grater Demon.

Kagome, on the other hand, even their mission was a fruitless search for a needle in a very big hay stack and the rumors reached dad-ends, wasn't having a very boring and bad time.

She talked about nearly anything to the silent demon over tea. she rambled so pointlessly that she thought Sesshoumaru would abandon their little ritual out of sheer irritation, but s=he didn't seem to mind. Perhaps, he turned her voice out. He certainly looked adept at that.

She told him about her origins one day, and that was the first time a ghost of curiosity passed over his poker-face.

"Will you show me, miko?" he asked.

"Why not?" she shrugged." I don't think you can go through, anyway."

He didn't argue or agree with her.

She also told him about her family, her cat, her frustrating friends, school, food, dance, song…it was rather like talking to a wall, but it felt good.

Sometimes, if she didn't want to talk, they would sit quietly drinking their tea, and listening to the world move around them. Silences got more comfortable.

He never said anything, unless asked a direct question, but she learnt to read his flickering eyes a little over the teacup he held.

He was a good listener, if not a friend, because he ignored her completely, during the rest of the day.

One day, Kagome sat to do homework in front him and her life took a turn for better.

"What is this?" he asked, nonchalantly picking up a textbook and flipping it through.

"Um, homework", she replied, eyes on the squiggly little marks on her paper.

'What?"

'Uhh," she looked up to him, to try to think what exactly how to explain homework.

"Work given in home?"

"This is not your home.", he said it flippantly, and his words dug into her errs like bleach, piercing through her anatomy to rest in her heart, at the same time she realized that he spoke the truth.

It was not her home.

"Well, I do it anyway, I have to finish it", she told him brightly so that he won't notice the lump of tears in her throat. "Here let me explain that."

She let math theorems carry the weight of her grief.

And then he started to explain it to her.

Kagome was stunned.

"Where did you learn that? she demanded.

He told once he had grasped the concept the rest he could logically conclude from.

'Wow," she wondered." I guess you are a genius or something. Inuyasha didn't understand a bit when I tried to explain."

"I am aware of that, "he said, tossing the book to her. "And don't compare me to Inuyasha."

The edge of anger in his voice was a bit comical.

"Aware of what?"

"That I am a genius." he said solemnly.

She looked back at her notebook, filled with theorems she hated but did anyway, like so many other things.

"Who told you that?" she couldn't help asking, wondering if it was a personal question.

"My sensei." He stated.

"You had one?"

"Of course."

"Oh," she said a bit uncertainly." That—that's great."

He was still curiously looking at her books.

"Miko," he told her, and she stiffened, for his tone was more formal than before." You must do me a favor."

"Err?"

"You must get me more books."

The way he said it, he might've asking her the elixir of life.

Kagome laughed a little.

"all right, I can do that.", she swept the bangs out of her forehead." About what?"

"Mathematics and sciences." He appeared to think and since he didn't look away, it appeared he was studying her face. She blushed and looked away.

"Arts and music, maybe." He said finally.

She nodded. He looked at her for a moment more than necessary, and then looked away.

"You may ask a return out of me", he said slowly.

"What?" for a moment, Kagome was bewildered. It had been an oddly simple request, and she hadn't even thought of asking a price for it.

"I—I don't need—"

He looked at her again, the look in his tawny eyes almost daring her to refuse.

"Uh—", she floundered madly, looking for a favor so as to not offend him, "well, I guess you can help with my homework."

He reached out and tugged the notebook under from her twisted, limp hands.

"I can do them", he threw the offer at her, and she was even more bewildered.

"You don't need to—"

"Not a trouble," he told Kagome,"your handwriting is easy to replicate."

She wondered if that had been an insult or compliment. And the whole situation was extremely surreal. Was she dreaming or was Sesshoumaru really offered to do her homework by forging her handwriting?

"Err," she said." Okay."

"It is done."

Sesshoumaru solemnly looked at her and it was more penetrating than ever.