Sitting in the corner staring at a yōkai might not have been the most elegant of choices, Kagome knew that. But when that Yōkai was Sesshomaru, and he was many years younger than she had ever seen him, it was hard not to stare. Before, she had barely had a chance to look him over, and now, she was taking it all in.

He moved with the same fluid grace that he did in the future, though not quite to the same extent. While he was fluid and graceful, every once in a while his hair moved out of place and he would adjust it with a masculine yet slender hand. His golden eyes flickered around the cavern, he seemed to be searching for something, but Kagome didn't know what it was. His lips seemed fuller in this time, and unlike in the future, they were slightly curved up at the corners.

A soft huff snapped her out of her thoughts. Glancing up, she watched as he shifted a small piece of wood against the stone wall of the cave and lightly pushed. The wall gave way, leaving a small opening with what seemed to be a satchel. The grey stone was brushed away, and soon a traveling kimono was produced from the bag.

Gold met blue, and Sesshomaru's voice filled the small area. "Kagome. You may wear this as we travel. This one does not believe that your clothing will suit this era." The soft cloth was draped over his left arm as he took a step forward and grasped her hand in order to make her stand.

"Do you understand how to dress in this garb?" His eyes flickered over her clothes, as if doubting she would even understand that what he held were clothes.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?" She couldn't help the small bit of temper that flared through her at the small jab.

An innocent jerk of his head to the right made her smile a little bit. His mannerisms were so close to that of a dog that it was almost entertaining. "I was merely offering assistance in the case that you were not acquainted with this form of dress." The cloth was set on a rock as he turned on his heels and made his way to the front of the cave. "Dress. This one will not intrude upon your privacy."

Kagome smiled to herself before beginning to change.

Sesshomaru let out his breath as soon as he left the small cave. He was leaning unceremoniously against the outside wall, with his arms crossed over his chest. What had caused him to take in this human woman? He had nothing against humans, yes they were weak and short lived but they could not control that. But why did he take one in under his protection?

A slow rumble reminded him that he was not alone in his mind, his beast was ever constant. The being shifted in his mind, as images of the small woman invaded his thoughts. Those clothes she wore left little to the imagination when it came to her shape. She was soft in all the right places; he remembered the feeling of supple curves against him as he carried her. Her skin was slightly tanned, but it did not appear to be due to the sun, more of just a honey tone that flowed under her skin. The swell of her breasts were distinct under the flimsy covering she were over her top.

Then her eyes came to his mind, vibrant blue, with flecks of silver and dark blue throughout them, reminding him of a spring Iris, slightly frosted in ice, but always glittering in the sunlight.

'What a poet you have become.' The bests chuckled, thought it was pleased with the association.

Sesshomaru could practically feel the creature under his skin begging to meet the woman, he was not sure of their relationship in the future, yet somehow he doubted that would be a welcome sight. It seemed that his beast was called to the woman, he had never before so desired to keep a female be his side. It was almost…unnerving. Her scent drove him mad, he had never before found a woman that he wanted to breathe in before, yet there she was, and a human at that.

As a yōkai, he did not believe in such trivial things as love or affection outside of a platonic pack relationship. He doubted he ever would, however, he did not deny that he was curious about the woman and her curious residence.

There was a soft call from inside of the cavern, drawing his attention outward once more. "Sesshomaru…You can come in."

Shifting his weight once more, he turned and entered the cave. The sight he saw caused a smirk to form on his lips. The kimono was for a male, and one much taller than the slight female in front of him. The green fabric surrounding her legs fell to the floor and the white sleeves fell past her fingertips by several inches. To his pleasant surprise, she had tied her obi correctly, though, he noticed, it had been wrapped a few too many times in an attempt to shorten the ends.

Walking forward, he kneeled to the ground and motioned for her to come towards him. As she did, he gently looped a claw into the fabric directly above her toes and made a cut that he drew around the entirety of the fabric. It was not the most eloquent hemming job, he noted, but it was better than her walking around with an extra 6 inches of fabric around her feet.

A small thank you caused his golden gaze to drift up. Her small smile of thanks was enough to make the impromptu hemming worth it.

Shrugging his shoulders, he hummed his reply, "Hn." The tall yōkai then proceeded to stand, gracefully brushing off the dirt that might have clung to his pants. His braided silver hair was pushed off of his shoulders to fall down his back as he turned and began to walk out of the caves entrance. "We must be off, Kagome. This Sesshomaru has not finished his rounds quite yet."

Kagome chuckled lightly to herself. It was interesting to see the same, yet different Sesshomaru. He was still calm and stoic, yet there was an underlying flame of humor and kindness that was not apparent in the Sesshomaru she had met in the Feudal Era. She couldn't imagine that Sesshomaru kneeling in order to hem a garb that was too long. Nor could she imagine him explaining himself to a human. But then, she didn't exactly know Sesshomaru all too well. The only time she was ever around him was when InuYasha and he were fighting.

Then suddenly, a certain thought drifted across her mind. What if was something happened to him in the next 500 years that made him cold and angry? Was it the death of his father? Or perhaps a lover? 500 years was a long time, and surely there were vast amounts of things that could have changed him in a way that was not desirable.

The thought was troubling, but she really didn't have time to dwell on the issue, for she was soon jogging after the taller male in order to keep up with his longer strides.

The larger male could hear the soft puffing of the woman's breaths as she jogged in order to keep up with his quicker strides. It had been several miles since they had begun walking, yet the woman had not complained once to him. A part of him wanted to continue at the pace he was using, seeing as he was walking slower than his usual pace due to the woman being at his side anyway; yet the other side of him won, and he slowed to match her short strides.

A small surge of relief managed to make its way through Kagome as she felt Sesshomaru slow his gait to hers. She could have kept going for a little longer, she was definitely in shape after those years of running around the country with InuYasha, but it was nice to be able to slow down and rest for a few moments. The weight of her bag seemed to have grown exponentially after placing her jeans and shirt into it, and its shoulder straps were digging into her muscles.

She moved the straps, shifting them away from the muscles of her neck. A large hand reached out wrapping around the bag and slipping it off of her. Instinctively, Kagome reached for the satchel only to be stopped by a firm voice.

"Relax. I am only carrying the satchel, woman. This one is not pilfering your items." Sesshomaru's eyes held no room for argument as he slipped the straps over one shoulder, easily holding the pack that had been weighing the female down.

"Thank you." Kagome felt her cheeks flame, she didn't want him to think of her a nuisance, but it really was relieving to not have to carry the bag around. For a yōkai, 30 pounds was nothing, but to a human female, 30 pounds was a quarter of her weight.

"This Sesshomaru does not feel the weight, Kagome. There is nothing to be ill at ease for. This one understands the limits of human females." It was stated impartially, with no hint of judgment, and soon Kagome forgot that it had even been stated.

Blue eyes watched in amazement at the surrounding land. It was so different yet the same as the land 500 years in the future. Tall trees surrounded them, blocking out the sun, yet a few beams managed to slip through the trees and fall to the ground. Rocks and tall brush covered the majority of the forest floor. Straggles of color were strewn over the pathway. The reds, blues, yellows and oranges of flowers wove together in an intricate dance. Before she could help herself, she was jogging forward in order to lean over and take in the scent of a bush of flowers.

Golden eyes watched curiously as Kagome flitted through the pathway, gracefully and silently weaving through stones and branches which covered the ground. The woman was so ecstatic to see something as simple as a flower, and for a strange reason, it made him warm. There was no other way to explain the woman.

He watches as her dark hair flew behind her as she danced her way through the trees, the soft sound of fabric brushing against skin, and the occasional snap of a twig becoming the instruments. She reminded him of a child, yet her body was not of a child. Even by yōkai standards, he was considered young at 400 years old, he guessed his body was at the age of an older teen or human male in his twenties. He guessed that Kagome was of a similar age.

Suddenly, she twirled around smiling and tilting her head to the side, "Hey, Sesshomaru?"

He nodded as to tell her that she had gained his attention.

"How old are you? I mean…your actual age." Her softly tanned hand reached up to brush back a long strand of ebony hair.

Taking a deep breath in through his nose, he sighed. "I will be 420 this coming fall." His feet continued in their graceful path, easily passing by the young female.

"Oh." Small pink lips smiled softly, "Well…you look great?"

A silver eyebrow rose in response as he glanced back at her, "Thank you…Kagome." Golden eyes sparkled slightly as her cheeks began to flush a wonderful shade of pink. This woman was very interesting indeed. Perhaps she would provide enough entertainment to make up for the lack of speed during the border patrols.

Glancing away, she quickly gazed down at her hands as she continued walking with the inuyōkai.

A few hours later, Kagome was biting her lip to keep herself from complaining about the sore that was digging into her heel from the hard rubber of her tennis shoes. Her body was sore, but she couldn't bring herself to complain to the male in front of her who was currently still carrying her bag.

A particularly large hop over a rock caused her to hiss in through the teeth, and jerk her leg up. Silver flashed momentarily before he was in front of her and his arm wrapped around her wrist lightly. Her soft pulse thrummed against his palm as he guided her towards a fallen stump.

"I'm fine…really." Frail looking fingers pushed at an insistent hand which was currently lifting her leg up to inspect her foot.

"Hn." Pale fingers slipped her shoe off, and pulled the sock down. Goosebumps formed on her skin as his warm flesh met hers. Carefully, he turned her so he could see her raw heel, "This one thought he could smell blood. Kagome….why did you not inform this one of your injury."

At his current placement, he was a mere foot away from her, and she could feel his soft and warm breath brushing against her hand as he spoke.

"I didn't…I…."

"Speak, Kagome." His fingers tighten momentarily against her foot.

"I didn't want to bother you." Blue eyes darted away from golden ones, suddenly finding interest in the tree next to her.

"This one hopes you understand, Kagome. If you had spoken sooner, we could have rested for the night and prevented your injury. Now, this one must make a camp until you are healed." He was surprising himself. Why was he waiting for the woman, let alone worried about her wellbeing?

"You don't have to make a camp for me, Sesshomaru. I can walk barefooted, I've done it before." Her fingers tangled into her laces, ready to pull off her other shoe.

A sharp jerk of his head stopped her in her tracks. "This one will find a spot suitable. Do not leave this position." A fluid motion of sliding fabric and hair was the last thing she saw before he vanished, leaving her alone in the forest.

Author's Note:

Wee! Chapter two. I actually had this done before now...but college is a pain. But I am free now! Weeee! Anyway, thank you all for your lovely words. I love getting feedback, it makes me grin like an idiot. :) Hopefully, I will be able to write more now that I am out for four months. I still am working, but that doesn't take up as much time. Anyway, please let me know what you thought of it, I always love feedback. It makes me grow as a writer. Oh! If you want to talk to me I am ciarafael on tumblr , I love talking to my readers and people. (I am on there daily so I will get back to you relatively quickly.)

-Ciara