Kagome returned back to the castle, dirty with blood-stained clothes and sweating. She marched right in, and down the hall, to her room. Kioko was waiting, with her hands covering her mouth but Kagome put her hand up and shook her head no, she then opened the door to her room and closed it. Kioko's hands dropped to her sides.

Sesshomaru had returned before her, and his heart rate was up, it was thrilling, their little fight, to know he could kill her at any moment, that she could burn him at any moment. He left her a scar, she would never ever forget it, or him, he smirked. She acted like she actually had a chance against him. She was no real threat to him.

Sango came running in as Kagome was undressing. "Oh my God!" She freaked when she saw the small scar on Kagome.

"Please don't; I am two seconds away from losing it again; I am trying to keep calm."

"Calm! What the hell happened!"

"We fought,"

"And?"

Kagome went into the bathroom "Kioko came into view so we stopped, it was a stalemate." Of course, she knew Sesshomaru would beg to differ.

"She saw you two?"

"You can't say anything, Sango, he will kill you!"

"He does not want anyone to know?" This was shocking news.

"Nope," Kagome stepped into the bath. "Do not say anything to his father."

"What, why not, Kagome he left a scar on you! You're an unmarried woman!"

"That's what I said." She was fighting a losing battle,

Sango sat down on the cold rock floor "So, he is not telling everyone you're a Miko?"

"I guess not, I don't understand him," Kagome closed her eyes and tried to relax.

Kioko felt left out; she thought she and Kagome were good friends, but, it would seem she did not trust her enough yet.

"Kioko."

She gasped and bowed deeply, "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!"

"Our day is tomorrow; you will join me."

Her fear spiked. "Um, yes, as you wish, my Lord."

She stood up as he walked away, and she now more than ever wanted to see Kagome. She bit her lip, it was clear Kagome didn't want to be bothered. Kioko could not just stand there, so she knocked on Kagome's door.

Kagome opened her eyes. "It's Kioko."

"You want me to get rid of her?"

Kagome didn't answer right away "Let her in; she means well."

Sango let the girl in, and she rushed into the bath "Pardon me!" She bowed and turned from Kagome. "I know you want to be left alone-

"It's not that Kioko, I just don't want to talk about it,"

"Uh, well, that's good, can we talk about me?" She turned around to look at Kagome, who just blinked. "Um, ok?"

"I just saw Lord Sesshomaru; he told me our day is tomorrow!"

"And?" Kagome pressed on washing her skin, the blood would go away, but the scar would not.

"I'm scared, I don't want to; I can't be like you!"

"Like me?"

"You have no interest in him. I don't either, but I can't tell him that!" The girl was really worried.

"Just be yourself, Kioko, I mean, you're going to have days with him; it is the point of being here," Sango added,

"But I don't want to be," She started to cry softly "Kagome, you were right; I am in love with someone else."

Kagome and Sango looked at each other, and once again, Kagome knew what she had to do and Sango groaned on the inside because she knew what her friend was about to do, and the demon Lord was probably not going to like it.

"Kagome," Sango warned,

"She's keeping my secret," Kagome looked at the girl, who nodded yes, "It's the least I can do for her,"

Forget about getting her friend out of here without scars, Sango was beginning to wonder if she could get her out of here alive.