A/N: Glad you guys are enjoying the story arch so far! :-). The legend of the Kanju and Manju are sort of derived from truth. *Sort of.* Theres a japanese myth about the tide jewels held by the Sea God. But, I've made my own twist on it. My story about the brothers trying to get the jewels and the power, and how they were hidden, were all me. :-p. I hope you guys like it! But, I just felt like I should state that my inspiration for the legend is sort of rooted in an actual myth. The names of the jewels and their original holder, anyway haha.

Enjoy! :-).

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Chapter 26: You're Beautiful

As a whole, Tamako was entirely too stressed out. Suddenly she had the weight of the world on her shoulders with her mothers story about the jewel that resided within her spirit. She wanted things any young girl wanted. She wanted to be a mother, stay with the pack, live relatively normally. But, she started to think she couldn't have that.

She needed to relax. So she decided to take a dip in the springs she'd always bathed in as a child. It was a beautiful, relaxing place, and she thought she could gather her thoughts together there.

It was rare she went bathing back in the spring closest to the village. And it was rarer still that she did not bathe with Kouga. They had their own private spring within their room, but somehow she did not want to bathe there. It was too distracting. Too many sounds and smells within the den, and too many people that could walk in on her and request her attention.

No, she wanted to go somewhere that she would be alone. And, since it was near the village, she could stop in and see her parents, and even Rin and her uncle before they left, after her bath.

She had no idea what to do about the jewel, or about Kyora. But she supposed she had to figure it out.

Coming up to the spring, she sighed happily. Looking around and making sure nobody was within the vicinity to disturb her. Once she was happy with the result, she slowly set her sword down on the side of the bank, within easy reach should she need to grab it for some reason. Loosening the ties to the obi of her usual short kimono before starting to slide it off. Resting the fabric against a rock before going to work on her inner kimono. Ridding herself of that too, she slid from her shoes and started to step into the water. She was definitely not a child anymore, that was certain. She'd grown into a woman, with a woman's figure. Her skin was flawless, too. The battles she'd been in by now produced no scar on her, not even the one in which she'd lost her pup had produced any sort of scarring.

Slowly walking into the water, she moved to settle down within it, sighing a little. Her long silvery hair fell into the liquid around herself as well, getting wet. Shifting to lean back against the rock and leaning down so the water came up to cover her breasts, looking down at the steaming water.

As she sat in the water, her thoughts swirling around her head, trying to relax, her senses weren't as alert as they usually were. She did not sense the human coming closer to the springs until it was too late. Shifting a little, letting her eyes open just halfway. She could almost feel the pair of eyes on her from the trees, and now she could smell the scent that was purely human.

So...a human was brave enough to watch her bathe? It made her chuckle a little. Good thing Kouga wasn't here. He would have had a possessive fit.

"Mm...enjoying the show, human? You've got guts you know." she said, her eyes glancing in the general direction of whomever it was watching her.

A nervous chuckle came from the woods, and Kohaku slowly stepped from the trees, looking at her. He blushed and turned his back to her, looking down at the ground. "S-So-Sorry, Tamako. I uh...I came for a bath and uh...didn't know you were here..." he stuttered.

When she saw him, she chuckled a little. "Yet you stayed to watch. Hentai." she teased, shaking her head and looking down at the water.

Kohaku blushed, his eyes still on the ground. "I uh...I um, didn't...didn't mean to stare..." he said. But, he had. When he'd stumbled upon Tamako taking a bath, he couldn't help it. He was a man, and she was very pretty.

"Mm, yeah ya did." she said, calling him out on it. Looking up at him slowly, smiling. She could smell his embarrassment and she thought it was cute.

He gulped a little, biting on his bottom lip. "Uh...uh, not...not really. I'm sorry, Tamako-chan. I'll...I'll be going."

"You don't have to go." she said. Hearing him take in a shocked breath when she said that, she shook her head. "I meant to say, that you don't have to go because I'm finishing up. The spring can be all yours. Just give me a minute to get out and dressed."

Hearing her explanation, Kohaku let out a small breath and nodded. "O-okay..." he said, the same blush still plastered on his cheeks.

"You do have guts though. If Kouga were here, you know he'd try to rip your eyes out, right?" she teased with a small giggle. Slowly moving to the edge of the water and stepping out, starting to get dried off and putting on her kimono again.

Kohaku's eyes widened, shaking his head. "He-he wouldn't...would he?" he asked.

Once she dressed herself, she put her sword within her obi. Resting one hand on his shoulder, looking at his face and shrugging. "Who knows. Stop worrying Kohaku, I'm not going to tattle on you. Its between us, okay?" she asked.

Slowly his eyes looked up at hers, nodding just slightly. "O-okay..." he said.

Letting his shoulder go and moving to pick up her bow and quiver of arrows. Glancing over at him, noticing that Kohaku was staring, she blinked a little. "Something wrong?" she asked curiously.

Shaking his head just slightly, but his eyes were still on her. "No...just that...you're beautiful..." he said. And as soon as the words left his mouth, he couldn't believe he'd let them. Blushing and looking away. "I..I...I'm...s-s-sorry.." he said, letting out a sigh. He was no good with girls.

But, Tamako giggled, shaking her head. "No need to be sorry. Thank you, Kohaku, its flattering." she said.

Looking up at him, Tamako sighed. "Look, don't be afraid to speak your mind, okay? Women don't want boys, they want men. And trust me, you're quite a man. Demon slayer, nice, funny, sweet, and not half bad looking either. Be confident. You're not a boy, you're a man. Remember that."

With her words, his eyes looked back towards her, blinking and nodding a little. "Okay then...I'm not sorry." he said with a shy smile.

"Good. A girl likes to be told she's beautiful every once in a while."

"Doesn't Kouga say it?" he asked, not being able to hide the small amount of jealousy he felt with that statement.

Giggling again, nodding slowly. "Yeah he does. But, its nice to hear from someone else. Someone who isn't supposed to think you're beautiful. I spend so much time going through villages hearing people talk about how disgusting I am and how horrid I am and all such talk. Its nice to hear."

"They're stupid. And prejudice. I think you're perfect the way you are." he told her with a small smile. Slowly he stepped up to her, resting his hands on her shoulders and looking down at her. "Not all demons are created equal. Just like humans. I just hope you do not judge all of us for the words of a few."

Shaking her head, she smiled. "I don't. Because I know there are good people. Your sister and her family, most of the villagers. I grew up a lot better than my father ever got to. I grew up seeing the good side of people. Not all people are good, no. But not all of them are bad."

He gripped her shoulders a little, nodding. "Yeah, you're right." he said.

Looking down at her, standing silent for a moment, his mind having an internal battle. And she looked up at him curiously. "Kohaku?" she asked.

Quickly, before he could change his mind, he leaned down to press his lips against hers, kissing her quickly. His fingers on her shoulders held her there.

Her eyes widened when she felt his lips against hers. She'd never kissed anyone but Kouga before, and he was her mate. She really didn't know how to react. So, she stood there, letting Kohaku kiss her in utter shock.

He held the kiss for several minutes before he leaned back, opening his eyes and looking down at her. A smile played over his lips. "I won't apologize. I just...I just had to do that. I've never been with a woman before...not like how I want to be with you. I just...had to know what it felt like. To act on what my mind wanted me to.." he explained.

Blinking a little, she sighed a little. "Kohaku...you are a good guy, and you will get to be with a woman. Just...not me. Its best that you forget about such things with me. Because I am mated. And in demon world, mated is pretty much married. But theres no going back on that. Its for life. Even if Kouga dies...he's my mate. I cannot replace him. And if he ever saw you do such a thing?" she asked, shaking her head. "I don't even want to think about what he would do. I like you, Kohaku, I really do. As a friend. Thats what we are, friends."

Gripping her shoulders a little, he nodded a bit. "I know, and I figured as much. But...Kouga is not here. And I just wanted to feel that." he said with a smile. Leaning down and kissing her forehead gently before he stood up, letting her go. "I still will not apologize."

Giggling a bit, shaking her head. "I never asked you to. But, I will ask you to keep that a secret. This whole interaction didn't happen. Deal?"

"Deal." he said with a smile.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

The interaction she'd had with Kohaku laid heavy on her mind along with everything else. Of course she wouldn't tell Kouga, but she couldn't help but think about it. She'd still gone to see Rin at the village, and she was sitting with her a bit off to the side by the river near her parents hut.

Rin could tell Tamako was distracted, so she glanced to her. "Whats the matter?"

Being brought from her thoughts, Tamako shrugged. "Just thinking too much is all." she said, looking over at her. "Did you know Kohaku likes me?"

"Likes you how?"

"Like...enough to watch me bathe and then kiss me. The watching me bathe part was sort of an accident, but he definitely watched." she said.

Rin took in a breath, gasping, resting one hand over her mouth. "He kissed you?! Oh man. I hope Kouga doesn't know..."

"Nah he doesn't. He wasn't there. Kouga is out on a big hunt today."

"Phew, thats good. At least we don't have to worry about Kouga killing him. Kohaku's a nice guy..." Rin said, smiling a little. "I used to have a crush on him you know. I mean, it was only a little crush...nothing like the thing I had for Lord Sesshoumaru."

Glancing at her, Tamako laughed. "You had a crush on him? Wow, there was room? You were always so about Uncle Sesshy. And...why do you still call him Lord Sesshoumaru if you're mated?" she asked curiously.

"Because, its respectful. Besides, I think he likes it. Not too sure why." she said, giggling a bit.

"Hmm, yeah true." Tamako said. Bringing her knees up to her chest, resting her chin against it and looking out at the water. "And I don't want Kouga killing Kohaku, not at all..." she said.

"Mmhmm, yeah. Buuut, thats not all thats on your mind. Did you talk to Kouga about a baby?"

"I did. We didn't decide anything..."

"But you're leaning towards a decision. I know you Tamako." Rin said, looking at her friend.

Tamako nodded slowly. "Yeah I am leaning towards a decision..." she said, glancing over at Rin. "I...I think I decided that I want to have a baby..."

Rin grinned and brought her friend into a hug. "Ohh Tamako-chan! Thats great! Its such the right decision, I knew you wanted a baby! Ohhh imagine, a mini you and Kouga running around." she said with a giggle.

"Yeah sorta like the mini-Sesshoumaru you're carrying in your stomach?" she asked. "Besides, its not final yet."

"Ohh its final." Rin said, smiling.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

A/N: Hey guys, a bit of a short chapter, I know. It took me forever to figure out how to write this. Next chapter coming soon!