Kagome –

She had just finished packing a weekend bag, just in case, when she heard the doorbell. She grabbed her bag and went to open the door

"Hey Sesshoumaru, just a sec.!" She went to put on her shoes, and a jacket. Then she took her wallet, keys and bag and went out the door locking it.

"Ready to go" she said smiling

"Why are you so exited?" He looked confused. Kagome grinned

"I know the situation is bad, but nothing have happened yet, and we are going on a journey! I love to travel, and I have come to realize that you have to see positive sometimes in bad situations and accept the fun and happiness when presented" she smiled at him and walked with a puzzled Sesshoumaru down to his car.

The forest surrounding the castle –

Kagome had slept in the jet, and now they had driven for 2 hours in silence. The silence was killing her!

"So, what exactly is your work?" Kagome asked curiously. He had not said anything about his job, other than owning the museum, an expensive car and jet

"I invest in companies and sell artifacts I have gathered over the years if I need money" he answered, keeping his eyes on the road. She had thought as much when it came to the artifacts. If she had lived as long as he had, she too would have, had collected artifacts. She suddenly felt a sticking pain in her neck, and she would recognize that feeling everywhere

"Youkai" Kagome said low

"Where?" He speeded up, which she felt uneasy with. She closed her eyes and tried to pin point where the youkai where… but she felt more than one

"Four, two on each side of the forest coming fast towards the road… or more likely us…" Kagome looked at the one direction she felt them coming from

"How long?" she heard him ask. He sounded… angry. Kagome concentrated even more on the youkai's auras

"2 min. maybe less" Sesshoumaru hit the brakes and jumped out of the car. She saw him open the trunk. When he again came into sight he was holding the Tetsaiga. Kagome looked at him in disbelief

'How?...' And then four wolf youkai came out of the forest. Kagome silently got out and leaned against the car, though ready to run if she needed to

"What is a youkai like you doing around these parts?" one of the wolfs asked

"I have been given permission by your Lord to travel thru his lands" She heard Sesshoumaru reply growling

'So, they still have unofficial nonhuman law related territories'

"We have heard no report of you being given access to this part of the forest" another wolf replied. She heard Sesshoumaru growl dangerously

"I am on my way to the castle. I have no intensions with the woods, besides to drive through it" Kagome sighed. It was frustrating that she could not see them, but she did not want to get noticed, you never knew what 4 wolfs would do to girl like her.

"And we still cannot allow it" one of the wolfs growled back

"Well, then I will fight my way thru" and with that she heard swords clasping together. She stood up from her hiding place, forming a barrier around herself before stepping out to the scene. She saw the wolves coming at him from 4 different ankles. Kagome was suddenly grateful for her training in the shrine. She created a pink disc in her hand, and threw it towards one of the wolves who were trying to attack Sesshoumaru from behind. When the disc went through the wolf's one leg, she made another disc and then threw it at a second wolf hitting him in the shoulder and flying thru. In one swing, with his poison whip, he killed the last remaining two. He sheaded Tetsaiga and went over to Kagome, who led her barrier fall

"How did you do that?" he seemed amazed and that only made Kagome smile

"I told you that I have been staying with priestess in Kyoto. While dealing with my grief, they kept me busy training my powers" He smiled back

`Gosh! He is so gorgeous when he does that!' Kagome blushed

'what am I thinking?! It's Sesshoumaru for crying out loud' but she had to admit that he was very different from the old Sesshoumaru. This Sesshoumaru had not threatened her once or given her a cold glare like the past Sesshoumaru would do 'Heck! He has even comfort me when I needed it' Kagome had come to realize that Sesshoumaru had become a dear friend

Sesshoumaru –

They were on their way again, nearing the castle. He was still thinking of their little battle. He had enjoyed it. He missed the thrill he got in a fight, and he had gotten that feeling back for a moment. He was amazed with the power Kagome possessed. He had seen her make the discs in her hands, and though it was impressive, what she did next, had impressed him even more, when she actually threw the disc with extreme precision. She had not killed them, and he knew it was on purpose

'Even when under an attack where she could die, she refuses to kill! But, it is a good quality in her! She is kind, emotional, intelligent, strong and yet so very fragile' he looked at her threw the corner of his eye. She was starring out to side window with a thoughtful look in her eyes

"Is something wrong Kagome?" she always used to talk… a lot, in the past, about everything and nothing, but since he had met her in her time, back for good, she had been so different. Past Kagome used to talk a lot, this Kagome now mostly stayed silent. Were past Kagome would smile a lot, this Kagome barely smiled, and when she did, it wasn't as radiating and brilliant as it once was. She had only smiled at him warmly and truly once in this time and he wanted to see more of them, to be the source of them. She looked at him and blushed, then looked away.

"Just thinking" she whispered. Sesshoumaru smirked

"And what were you thinking about, that could make such a beautiful color appear on your cheeks?" he teased

"Or should I ask whom?" he saw her blush deepen

"Don't tease me like that!" she protested, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. Sesshoumaru just smirked

"We are here" he saw the castle gates just around the corner. He pulled in and they went out and walked over towards the guard that was standing at the gate.

"What is your business here?" before Sesshoumaru got a chance to respond, he felt Kagome's hand on his arm

"We would like to talk to the head master of the order" Kagome respectfully said and bowed, and the guard just looked at her and Sesshoumaru suspiciously

"What are your names?" the guard asked firmly. Kagome straightened herself up

"My name is Kagome Higurashi, and this is Lord Sesshoumaru of the West" when Sesshoumaru's title was mentioned, he saw the guard tense up before taking up a cell, dieled some numbers and talked for very few minutes. Sesshoumaru smirked. The guard was trembling! The guard then looked at the couple and bowed low

"Our headmaster Aurora has been expecting you presence Lady Kagome and Lord Sesshoumaru, please come this way" Sesshoumaru frowned, and he more felt than saw Kagome froze. She was having the same thoughts as he

'They were expecting us? How?' he even thought it weird that a woman was the headmaster over monks? That couldn't be right… Sesshoumaru gently put a hand on Kagome's back and gently pushed her forward, to set her into motion, since she still seemed frozen to the spot. She looked up at him with her stunning blue eyes that clearly showed confusion

"Let us go, and meet with this headmaster. She has things to explain" he whispered to her. Kagome nodded in agreement and they walked towards the castle.

Head masters office –

Kagome –

When Kagome got into Aurora's study, she had imagined meeting an old woman in her 60ies, and instead she was greeted friendly by a woman in her 30ies

"So, you are the famous Shikon Priestess. This is such an honor" she proclaimed. Kagome blushed a bit

"Eh… thanks… I am very flattered, but how do you know about me?" She had no idea if it was a good thing a not, for others in her time to know who she was. Aurora laughed sweetly and took Kagome's hand gently

"Our order which has always been led by priestesses knows the tales of Midoriko, Kikiyo and the Shikon no Tama and its priestess. We were the ones who sold the old scroll of Naraku's demise to Lord Sesshoumaru some centuries ago" She looked up at Sesshoumaru and bowed

"It is also an honor to meet the Lord of the Western Lands" Kagome was confused. Who is she, this Aurora, and what in the world is this order all about? It was not a monk's sanctuary?

"How is it you know of this Sesshoumaru?" Again the woman just laughed. Kagome didn't know if she was starting to get mad or frustrated with the woman, she seemed a bit off in her head

"We have documents written down off the events that occurred involving Naraku, the Lady Kagome and her companions, as well as documentation on her allies, and you were on that list Milord. We also have a record on what you both have accomplished at the time. It was then our order was formed. In the memory of Lady Kagome, and her ability to open hearts in both humans and youkai alike. This castle is filled with monks, priestesses and youkai who are in need of a sanctuary" Kagome blushed even harder. She was really flattered

"But from whom did you get all these information?" she couldn't help but ask, even though deep down she had an idea of whom. Aurora smiled and picked something up from her pocket, handing it to Kagome. Kagome felt tears travelling slowly down her cheek. It was Miroku's rosary beads

"Miroku" she whispered

"After you disappearance, they wanted to have something to remember you by. So your friends started the order and left priestess Kaede in charge of it before they went off to rebuild the demonslayers village" Kagome couldn't help it. She started crying. Big time. She missed them so much. Like last time, she found herself being hugged by Sesshoumaru. His hand went up and down her back, whispering soothing words into her ear

"We have travelled a long way to get here, so we would appreciate it if we could stay at least for the night" Kagome heard Sesshoumaru ask, not once letting her go or loosen his hold on her

"We have already arranged for your coming, and you can stay for as long as necessary. I will find someone to help you find your rooms" and with that Aurora went out of the study. Kagome, blushing a bit from her position, pulled out of Sesshoumaru's hold

"Arigatou… again" she said, giving him a small smile

"I just… miss them so much. I miss Miroku's wise words and wandering hands, Sango who always listened and was like a sister, Shippou… my adopted son… I didn't even have the chance to see him grow up. I miss Inu-Yasha because he at the time was my best friend. Koga, Jeniji… and Rin" she looked into Sesshoumaru's golden eyes. She saw he to missed the old times

"… and I miss our conversations, the ones we had on the hillside" Kagome smiled, while remembering. She felt a hand touching her cheek, turning her head more towards Sesshoumaru

"I too, miss those times Kagome" she looked into his eyes and saw… longing and loneliness… He too missed the past, where life were simpler, and even she had to admit she missed the thrill of travel and adventure, and she guessed that he have not had a special person in his life, since Rin's death. He must have been so lonely. Kagome locked her hands around his neck and gave him a big hug

"We are not alone anymore" it came out as a whisper, but she knew he heard. When she started to pull away from him, she felt his hand guiding her head up to him, and before she knew what had happened, Sesshoumaru had captured her lips in a gentle kiss. She soon relaxed in his arms. When she came out of the surprise that had kept her frozen too the spot and she returned the kiss with the same eagerness she felt from him. She felt his tongue licking her lower lip, asking for entrance, and she gave it to him. He deepened the kiss hungrily and she heard a soft growl escaping his lips. Kagome felt like she was in heaven. His lips as smooth as silk. His breath hot and smelled strangely of rain. His hands were travelling further and further down, caressing her, which made her body flame up with need. But before she even got to think more about her body reactions, she heard the door starting to open, and they jumped from each other like two teens that were caught doing the naughty by their parents.

"Aya and Tahiko will show you to your rooms" Kagome still trying to catch her breath, and trying to fight back the tomato red color of her cheeks only nodded and looked at the two newcomers. Kagome went to the one introduced as Aya, and they went out of the study, not even looking once at Sesshoumaru. She was too embarrassed!

'What in the world just happened!' she tried to get her heart to stop racing. It felt like it would jump out any second now.

'Why did he do that? And why did it feel so good?' Kagome, still tomato red in the face, was in deep thought when she suddenly noticed Aya wave her hand in front of Kagome… and she had apparently been doing it for a while

"Are you okay Lady Kagome?" Kagome could clearly see the worry in the poor womans face, so Kagome offered a smile

"Sorry, when I start to think deep, everything around me seems to be shot out" she explained. Aya just smiled and opened the door they stood in front of

"This is your room to stay in, whenever you will come and visit". Kagome nodded and walked inside. She froze to the spot stunned. Every material, furniture, well… Everything, had a Feudal Era feeling to it. There were paintings of the adventures she had been on with her friends, but when she came to the closet, she had to shed a few more tears. In the closet were Miroku's staff, Sango's boomerang, Kikiyo's bow and Inu-Yasha's fire rat haori. She couldn't believe she actually had them in front of her. She digged through another closet to find some clothes. It had a lot of Miko garments, so she chose one of those, just in blue instead of the traditional red.

'New era, new journey, calls for other colors hehe…' she mused. She took the bow and arrows from the first closet and strapped it on her person. She then opened the door, only to be greeted by Aya.

"Do you need something Lady Kagome?" Aya asked respectfully with bowing and everything

'This is gonna take some getting used to' she sighed mentally.

"Yes, do you have a place for me to train a bit?" Aya bowed deeper

"Yes of course, this way Milady" Kagome was then led outside to the training grounds, and then Aya went off so she could train in peace.

Author:

Thanks for the reviews; Sesskagomefan, Skullqueencb and LoveInTheBattleField. Will try to get the chapters out quickly