AN: Wow! I did not expect this to be received so well! Though, I adore Spirited Away, so I guess I should have realized I wasn't the only one, lol. Thank you all so much for reading this and double thanks to those who took the time to review.

As soon as things settled and Kagome wasn't feeling so emotional over what had happened, Sango dragged her away for some girl time. The priestess went easily, knowing that she needed to speak to someone else about it or she'd go crazy. They were two days from the Kohaku River, but they'd managed to find a small spring that the girls immediately took advantage of. Ditching the boys, they set about cleaning themselves before settling in for girl-talk.

Sango eyed her friend and made a get-on-with-it motion. Dropping her gaze, Kagome wondered where to start; to even begin explaining what had transpired.

"You know how it's generally accepted that priestesses and monks are created to serve the spirits?" She finally asked.

"Yes."

Kagome crossed her arms and stared at the spot where her legs disappeared into the water. "I've never felt anything like that, despite all the spirits we've run into. No pull, nothing. They were all just people we met. Until Kohaku. Even that first time when he saved me, it was like my soul woke up. When he left, I had a profound sense of loss and the crazy notion to jump back into the rapids after him."

The slayer's eyes widened. "You didn't, right?"

Giggling, Kagome shook her head. "Of course not. Two days ago, the scale he'd given me warmed when I approached the river. That's how I knew it was his. I was really excited, because I thought it would be a lot longer before I saw him again. Almost as soon as I dove in, Kohaku was there. He asked about my swimsuit."

Sango grinned at that, but sobered as Kagome haltingly told her what had transpired next. Kagome's emotions made her words raw and almost too personal, but her friend listened without interrupting.

"It was almost a physical pain when he left this last time," Kagome whispered. "But, I can still feel his soul wrapped around mine; connected to me like we're one. So, the whole thing about perfect complements has to be true, because I can't imagine anything feeling this wonderful, Sango."

Turning over all that she'd been told, Sango thought back on the little she'd seen of the spirit. He'd been extremely protective of Kagome, but also gentle with her. She didn't think she was wrong in thinking he looked just as displeased at parting with Kagome as she was with him. That was to be expected, she supposed, as not only was he Kagome's patron, but a dragon. Dragons were notorious for jealously guarding what belonged to them.

"He seemed to cherish you already," she decided on saying.

Kagome's eyes brightened as she looked at her. "He really does. He's not human, so what I get from where we're connected takes a bit of translating, but I'm learning. I hope that I can be even half as perfect for him as he is for me."

The scales around her soul shifted, letting her know he'd heard that thought. Amusement echoed to her, followed by assurance and longing. Face soft, Kagome touched her necklace, unaware of Sango watching her closely. Kohaku did not like how far she was from him, making her wonder how he'd fare when she made her trips home.

"You have to be," Sango stated, "for you to be perfect complements. But, what do you mean that he inflated your soul?"

"Kikyō still has a piece of my soul, remember?" she answered. "Kohaku healed my soul completely, re-growing the missing section so that mine was whole when he bound us together. Kikyō and I no longer have that connection. You might even say I'm no longer her reincarnation, because all that was left from her life is in the piece that the golem carries. Kohaku basically carved her out so that the soul I now have was not shaped at all by her life."

Sango gaped at her, pleased but floored by that. "Y-your patron must be exceedingly powerful to manage that. Judging by his horns, he is still young, too, which means he'll only grow in ability. Dragons are renowned for their strength, though, and he's mastered a human form already."

Blushing deeply, Kagome averted her eyes. "Yeah, didn't know about that until I'd agreed to be his." Throwing her hands over her face, she groaned. "He's so pretty! I can barely concentrate because of it. I don't think priestesses are supposed to lust after their spirits."

Kohaku's soul stilled, giving her the distinct impression of him cocking his head to the side. Embarrassed that he was still paying attention to the personal conversation, Kagome tried to shoo him away. He wasn't happy, but he obliged her and turned his attention elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Sango was watching her pensively. "I'm not sure about that, Kagome. Perfect complements have an entirely different set of rules than regular spirits and priestesses. For all intents and purposes, you're kind of married to him. Why shouldn't he take care of you sexually?"

Blanching at her normally prudish friend, Kagome pulled her legs up and dried them. "I don't want sex to be a-a duty, Sango!" she hissed.

Softening, the older female shook her head. "That's not what I meant. Kagome, he beguiled you with pleasure and provision, right? That means that he is attracted to you, too. He told you to come to him for everything." She patted her shoulder. "You should consider that, because he won't allow you to go to another for pleasure and he won't be pleased if your heart turns towards someone else. Even Inuyasha."

Halting in the middle of pulling on her shoes, Kagome looked at her friend. Sometimes it felt like she'd been in love with the hanyō forever, but lately she'd begun to realize that she'd had a crush on him. True, it'd been built on a solid foundation of friendship, but the love she had for Inuyasha was platonic. It'd taken her heart some time to catch up with her mind, but she had eventually gotten there.

And now, the idea of going to anyone besides Kohaku…sort of repelled her.

"I wouldn't," she insisted as they started back to camp. Then, her expression turned mischievous. "Besides, who could possibly live up to him?"

Giggling together, the girls bewildered the males of the group when they returned. Silently, the guys exchanged looks and agreed not to ask. Kirara rolled her eyes and curled her tales over her face to resume her sleep.

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Next Chapter: Inuyasha opens his mouth!