Kagome looked over at Sesshomaru again and blushed, then she chastised herself again for blushing. It's been this way for the last two days, ever since she woke up cuddled with him. Sure, he was in his inu form but that didn't mean he was any less Sesshomaru. She'd never been that close, that intimate with a guy before, let alone a man, no, male that looked like him. Yes, she was growing up and she wasn't a child anymore but that didn't change the fact that she was still inexperienced. This was all new to her, ever since she woke up, the pull she had toward Sesshomaru was almost unbearable, it was impossible to ignore anymore. What made it worse was that Sesshomaru was acting like nothing was different, he seemed completely unaffected by what they shared.

When she woke up that day she sat up and saw that he was looking at her. It was like he was studying her. Once she gave him a small awkward smile and a quick wave he stood up, shook out his fur, and then turned back into his humanoid form. He simply told her to 'Come' and then walked back to where his strange frog friend and dragon were waiting. Like hello, is she just imagining this connection? Is it just a one-sided thing? She quickly shot another look at Sesshomaru and cursed herself because the blush she'd just managed to get over came back with a vengeance.

Sesshomaru for his part was using his years of hard-earned control to ignore the pull he was getting more and more positive was a pull to his soul bonded. He'd do nothing until he spoke to Bokuseno. He still had mixed emotions about the fact that his apparent other half was human but the more time that passed and the more time he spent with her, the less it mattered to him. He could feel her eyes on him and scent her attraction but he was not going to rush anything. At least now he was almost positive that the pull was not one-sided.

"What is going on with you, Kagome, you've been acting weird since the bastard stole you away."

"Huh? Me? Nothing, everything is great!"

Inuyasha looked at her like she was insane and he clearly didn't believe her. "Keh, whatever. This is taking too long, I thought you were able to see the jewels, why haven't we gotten any yet?"

"If you do not like how we go about getting the shards, feel free to leave, Inuyasha. No one asked you to travel with us in the first place."

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to leave the wench, she's my best chance at finding the shards and getting my jewel back. Why don't you leave, I'll take over her protection, I'm sure with me leading the group we'd find the shards a lot quicker, you're too easy on her, letting her sleep all morning and stopping early in the night so she can work on her school stuff."

Jaken ran over to Inuyasha with the staff of two heads, swinging it around and attempting to hit Inuyasha, "Don't you dare speak to Lord Sesshomaru that way, my lord can do whatever he wishes! You should bow at his feet asking for forgiveness!"

Instead of replying Inuyasha turned his hand into a fist and bonked Jaken on the top of the head.

Kagome walked a little faster so that she was walking next to Sesshomaru. "So where are we going? I mean, it seems like you have a destination more than just looking for the shards."

"Hn." Kagome was starting to learn the differences between his 'Hns' and she could tell that this one meant 'yes' as in he was going somewhere specific. He was quiet so long Kagome thought that he wasn't going to give her any more details. "We are going to see someone, we are not far not. I have questions only he can answer."

"Oh, okay. Is he your friend?" Kagome asked, just wanting to get to know Sesshomaru better. She saw his eyes widen slightly at her question and wondered what that was about. This was until she heard Inuyasha break out in laughter.

He laughed so long Kagome was starting to get mad, by the time her eye was twitching with her anger she turned around and yelled, "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing wench, it's just that," he had to stop talking to laugh more, "Just that you asked Sesshomaru about his friends, he doesn't have any friends! Everyone either hates his stuck-up ass or is terrified of him."

"That's not true, I'm his friend!" She said, trying to stick up for Sesshomaru. She grabbed his hand in solidarity and looked at Inuyasha with an angry face. It was only when Inuyasha was looking between her, Sesshomaru, and their connected hands surprised that she realized she was walking down the street holding his hand. She let go quickly and laughed awkwardly. She looked at Sesshomaru to try to gauge his reaction, to see if he was mad or if maybe he liked holding her hand but she couldn't read his facial expression because his face was completely blank. She sighed dejectedly and slumped her shoulders. "Sorry, Sesshomaru."

"It is of no consequence."

Kagome wanted to sigh again because she had no idea what he meant by that. They were quiet after that as they continued on their journey until Sesshomaru stopped walking. Kagome was lost in her thoughts so she didn't notice he stopped until she walked right into his back.

"Oof!" She rubbed her nose but was just grateful that she missed his spikes.

"Wait here, I'll be back," Sesshomaru said before leaving using a speed that Kagome's human eyes couldn't follow.

Inuyasha looked angry that Sesshomaru would make them wait for him but the person he wanted to yell at about it was gone so he jumped up into a tree and sat down with a huff. Kagome was also a little annoyed, they just fought over the fact that he wasn't the boss in this group but he kept making decisions like he was anyway. She was in the same boat as Inuyasha though, she couldn't yell at Sesshomaru because he left too quickly. She decided to make the best of it and sat down to get some of her schoolwork done.

Sesshomaru landed in front of Bokuseno and waited for the tree to awaken. It did not take long for the tree's branches to start moving even though there was no breeze to move them. There was a groan in the wood and slowly the tree's eyes opened. He did not look surprised to see Sesshomaru there.

"Young Lord, it has been a while since you've graced this one with your presence."

If Sesshomaru did not respect the tree so much he'd cut the tree down because it was clear even though the words he was saying were respectful, the tone was full of sarcasm. "Hn, this one has been busy trying to find his inheritance."

The tree's eyes moved from his face down to the sword on his hip then back to his eyes. "It seems to me you've already found it."

"You know this junk metal is not of which I speak. I speak of Tessagia."

"Ahh but that is not yours, what's more, you know it."

"It should be, if I'm to achieve my goal of being the strongest Daiyokai there is, I must gain the sword."

"Then you would not be the greatest, you'd just have the strongest weapon. If you want to be the greatest, you must find the power from within, not take your father's for your own."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly because he had never thought of it that way before and he had to admit that what the tree said was true. He mentally shook his head, that was not why he came here, he'd take the time to think about that later. Either way, it wasn't like he was going to stop looking for the sword, even if he didn't use it, something that great and dangerous needed to stay in the family.

"It matters not, tree. That is not why I am here."

"Well, then speak your peace, this tree is old and tires easily."

"I've come to speak of soul bonds."

Bakusino chuckled," I did not think you'd be one to believe in such things."

"This one was not."

He chuckled again, "Your father was a smart one."

"What is that supposed to mean?" His patients were wearing, he just wanted clear answers. Every time he visited Bokuseno, he remembered why he didn't come more often. He never got the clear answers he sought, he just got more riddles.

"Your father told me one day you'd come here and ask me of such things."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened again and it felt like his whole world froze for a second. How could have his father foreseen such a thing? He was still not certain if that was even what was happening to him. He held much anger for his father and how he treated and disrespected Sesshomaru's mother and the honor of the family. Because of this, it was not often he missed his father, and even less often that he wished he could speak to him but right now, he'd give a lot to be able to speak to him.

"Yes, I see you are surprised, as I said, your father was a smart male and saw things a lot of others did not. What did you want to know about these soul bound couples?"

"Are they real? Do people really meet the ones they're meant to spend their lives with and know it?

"Yes, of course it happens, it's a lot more rare now than it used to be but it still happens from time to time. I've heard it described as a pull, a pull that is unable to be ignored, a pull that grows more and more taut the more it is fought against. The two will not be rid of that pull until they are bonded together."

"Who decides that two are meant to be? What if the two have nothing in common?"

"There is more to a being than what is seen on the surface, just because on the outside it looks like they do not fit does not make it so. The Cami binds the two with the red string of fate, I doubt even one such as you are arrogant enough to question the Cami."

Sesshomaru deigns not to respond to Bokuseno's last statement. "Can a yokai be bound with a miko? They are meant to be enemies, opposites, how can two really be tied together in such a way? How can that red string of fate be tied to each other for any other purpose than bringing the other's death?"

Sesshomaru was not normally one to speak so openly, to ask so many questions but he'd known Bokuseno since the day he was born. When he was a child he'd come here just to talk to him when he snuck away from his studies and ask Bokuseno questions just like these. In fact, Bokuseno was the one who told him about soul bonded pairs in the first place. So even though he did not come to speak to him as often anymore, when he did, he slipped back into times of the past and spoke to him like he used to when he was a young pup.

Bokuseno stayed quiet for a long time, thinking over what Sesshomaru asked and speaking to the other trees of the land. Sesshomaru was used to such things so he waited patiently. "It is unusual, I must admit but it is not unheard of. The lands can remember four cases in which a miko and a Daiyokai were soul bound."

"What happened?"

He chuckled again, "Young lord, surely I needn't tell you about the birds and the bees."

Though he hated it, he felt his cheeks blush lightly in embarrassment but quickly covered it with anger. "You know that is not what I asked."

"Yes, I suppose I do. Though I do not know what you wish to learn, they lived their lives."

"Did the Yokai lose their miko after such few years? Did they procreate? Were they half-breeds with unstable blood?"

"Ahh, I see what information you seek. You are scared of becoming, or creating what you've spent your life hating. I'm afraid I can't offer you much comfort. The news I have varies, the good news is you will not have to lose your miko to age, after the mating you will share your life force with her as she will share hers with you. She will gain your long lifespan. When it comes to pups, it is more uncertain. Of the four soul bonded that I know about, they've all had different experiences. One birthed half-breeds, one birthed full miko children, one full yokai, and one had none at all."

"You make assumptions, I never said I found my soul bound." As he was speaking, Sesshomaru was starting to lose his formality while speaking to his lifelong mentor.

He laughed again, this time so much that his branches shook and leaves fell onto the ground. "You didn't need to, Sesshomaru. Do not live in denial, young lord, you'll just be causing both of you pain, perhaps you'll even lose her. From what I understand, she is not from around here, nothing is stopping her from going home to stay."

For the third time during this conversation, Sesshomaru's eyes widened in surprise, this time he was too shocked to respond right away so Bokuseno continued. "You know of the connections I have to the western lands, you are naive indeed if you thought I did not already learn of the miko you've been traveling with. That, along with your questions here today, it does not take an academic to figure out what is happening to you."

"Hn, you've given me much to think about. I appreciate it."

"It is no problem, Sesshomaru. I hope you'll bring her here so that I may meet her one day."

Sesshomaru simply nodded before turning around and leaving Bokuseno's part of the forest. Instead of going right back to his pack, he decided he was going to hunt. His mind always cleared when he was focused on hunting and normally, when he was done hunting he was refreshed enough to think of things much more clearly and calmly. He took his time hunting and caught a boar that he knew Kagome enjoyed. However, he learned the hard way that the miko did not like to see the meat before it was ready to be cooked. On the first night of their travels, Kagome screeched so loud that Sesshomaru's ears were still ringing because Sesshomaru presented her with his kill that was not yet prepared.

Now that he wasn't so tightly strung he decided to not rush anything, he still had mixed emotions about the fact that his soul-bound was a human, and because she was human, he was sure she knew nothing about what it was to be soul bound. Plus she was young and he still barely knew her. Pulled together or not, he wasn't going to tie his life force with someone he couldn't see being with the rest of his life. Bokuseno was right, he wasn't one to go against the Camis but he wouldn't jump into something without doing his due diligence.

By the time he walked back into camp, the sun had set and there was no point in traveling anymore for the night since the human needed rest and couldn't see in the dark. He noticed that the miko perked up and smiled at him when she noticed he was back. She was eating some of her snacks from her time but from what he understood, it wasn't enough sustenance for her human body so it was good that he hunted. He put the meat in front of her then went to the tree he claimed as his own and sat down.

While Sesshomaru was gone Kagome spent about a half hour studying, the rest of the time she wasn't able to focus enough on what was in front of her because her head kept drifting back to the demon lord. She wasn't even sure what about him was keeping her so occupied, she decided she didn't know him that well and she wanted to change that. They were going to be traveling together for a while and she couldn't get him out of her mind so the least she could do was know more about the person she was obsessing over. Hopefully, when she learned enough, her curiosity would be quenched and she'd be able to get past these foreign feelings she kept having for him.

Almost as soon as she made that decision, he walked back into camp, she turned to smile at him but that darned blush came back. Especially when he placed the food he hunted in front of her. Yes, she was going to get to know Sesshomaru better, she just had to get passed the fact that she blushed every time she looked at him. So what if she took a nap on him? It was no big deal. Why was her stupid inexperienced cheeks making such a big deal about it?

The next morning after breakfast they made quick work of getting back onto their travels. Kagome was trying not to get disheartened because they hadn't found any jewels yet. 'So much for this only taking a few days' She thought a little sulkily. She quickly perked up when she remembered her new plan, mission: get to know Sesshomaru. Last night she thought long and hard about how she was going to do that because he didn't seem like the talkative or sharing type and that's when she remembered that he said he had his own quest he was working on. Something about finding his inheritance. She decided that was a great place to start so she walked a little faster so that she was next to him.

"Hey, Sesshomaru. I was thinking and I feel bad that I'm taking you away from your quest because of my bad aim. I was thinking that maybe I could help you. What are you looking for?"

Sesshomaru kept walking and looking straight but cut his eyes down to her for a few seconds, thinking over what she said, and deciding if he was going to answer. Thinking back on the decisions he'd made the day before, he decided he'd humor her though he didn't know what help she could be. "I am looking for my father's sword, the Tessaiga. He left me this one, the Tenseiga but it is worthless."

"Why do you think it's worthless? It looks like a pretty good sword to me, and although I still have a lot to learn about my miko powers, I feel the power radiating off it, it feels warm and safe."

"Hn." He stayed quiet for a long time and Kagome almost thought the conversation was over but Sesshomaru was thinking over what she said, and how he too could feel the power from the sword but this was not the type of power he was searching for. Finally, he continued. "It is a sword that does not cut, instead, it saves, it is said to be able to bring people back from the dead."

Kagome gasped and grabbed his arm excitedly. He was still astounded at how comfortable she was to take such liberties with his person but didn't reprimand her. "Sesshomaru, that is amazing! A sword that heals, you could do so much good with it." Kagome said almost dreamily.

Sesshomaru thought that over and though he knew it was true, it was not something that interested him, he was out to become the strongest yokai there was, to gain the most power, and this sword would not help him with that. Though taking into account what the miko said and what the tree said yesterday, he could see the good in it. "I should have been given Tessaiga, I wish to gain power, and the sword that can kill 100 yokai in one swipe will be the sword to help me achieve it, not this one."

"That's not how I see it, who else has the power to end someone's life and the power to give it back? You're already powerful, you're probably the strongest person I know, but to have the power to give and take a life? Only Cami are more powerful than that."

Sesshomaru felt himself stand a little straighter and preen a little bit. What the miko said was true, he is on par with the cami. Still, though, that does not change the fact that he wants Tessaiga. "You have a point, miko. I am already the most powerful. Though, I will still get my father's sword. I am his heir so the swords should be with me."

Kagome truly believed everything she said about the two swords, the Tessiaga sounded like nothing compared to the Tensiaga but she also wanted to help him so she asked, "Well, give me what you got so far?"

He was confused by what she meant, he didn't have the sword yet, if he did, he wouldn't be looking for it, and once he had it in his possession he'd certainly not hand it off. It took him a few moments to figure out what she meant. "What is seeing but never seen, protected but never known by the protector."

She thought for a few moments "Hmm, so it's like a word puzzle."

"Word puzzle?" He hated not knowing things and having to ask questions but he hated it even worse because his half-brother was here, listening to everything. He was trying to act as if he didn't care what Sesshomaru and Kagome were speaking about but the twitches of his ears gave him away. It made sense, Sesshomaru supposed, he'd never known father so Sesshomaru was sure that Inuyasha wanted to learn what he could about him.

"Yeah, like 'What's black and white and read all over?'" She stayed quiet for a few moments to let Sesshomaru think about it before answering, "A newspaper… I mean a scroll. The parchment is white, the ink is black but you read it, you know?"

Sesshomaru enjoyed puzzles, so thinking of this saying as one of these 'word puzzles' excited him. Sesshomaru was about to say more but Kagome perked up, "I feel a jewel shard guys!"

Kagome was happy and relieved to feel a shard, it was hard not to get discouraged by how long they'd been traveling without one.

"Where?" Inuyasha asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.

Jaken, quick to reprimand anyone who he thought disrespected his lord ran up and swung his staff at Inuyasha, "Do not interrupt my lord when he is speaking you, filthy half-breed!"

Kagome turned around to yell at Jaken for speaking that way to Inuyasha but became confused when Jaken fell onto the ground and looked starry-eyed. She looked to Inuyasha and he had his hand up to hit Jaken but didn't have the chance yet because someone else did. She looked at Sesshomaru who was looking as nonchalant as ever, so she didn't think it was him but then, who could it be? She shook her head, it was time to focus on the jewel shard.

"Where is the shard, miko?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Up ahead!" Inuyasha didn't wait to hear more and dashed ahead. Kagome was worried that he was trying to get the shard before they could keep it for himself, she knew that's what he originally wanted to do but she thought that now that they knew each other better, he wouldn't try to do that to her. "Hey, wait for us!" Kagome said and started running to where she felt the shard.

She was much slower than a demon so she knew that there was a chance Inuyasha could get it before she even made it there. Thankfully, Sesshomaru was fast too because he scooped her up so that he was holding her bridal style and ran to where Kagome directed him. Even though they were only two seconds behind Inuyasha, he was already fighting the demon that had the jewel. Kagome couldn't even begin to guess what type of demon that was, it was huge and ugly.

Sesshomaru placed her on the ground at a safe distance from the fight. "Where in the demon do you sense the shard?"

"Uh there, in his stomach area, it kind of looks like he ate the shard."

"Hn, stay here." He ordered, giving her a hard look that demanded her obedience before jumping into the fight.

Kagome wanted to scoff at the thought of her being obedient to anyone other than her mother but after thinking it over, she decided to listen to Sesshomaru this time because if she got involved with the fight she could do more harm than good. Kagome knew Jaken must have woken from whatever knocked him out because she heard his squawking getting closer and closer. It wasn't long before she felt something nudging at her hand and when she looked down she saw Ah-un trying to get her attention so she rubbed his head. Even though it was becoming clear the Jaken didn't like her too much, Ah-un seemed to have taken to her like a duck to water… or a dragon to fire? She doesn't know but he likes her.

She focused back on the fight when she heard Inuyasha groan in pain. He was cut by the sharp claws of the demon. If she had to guess, she thought it might have been a squirrel demon before the shard changed it. Sesshomaru eyes flashed red when Inuyasha was hurt and it made Kagome think he might not hate his brother as much as he acted like he did, well, that or he wanted to be the one to hurt Inuyasha. Either way, she thought it was a good thing and something she could use to help the brothers work passed their issues and start to act like the brothers they were.

Sesshomaru let his poison come out of his claws as he slashed the badger demon who thought to gain the false power of the jewel. He slashed his stomach and smelled his poison eating into the demon, the demon roared in fury and dived at Sesshomaru to try to take a bite out of him. He was much bigger than Sesshomaru since he'd eaten the jewel so Sesshomaru had to move fast to dodge the attack. Inuyasha recovered and went on the offensive.

"Iron rever soul stealer!" He yelled as his claws glowed and when he slashed instead of just slashing where his claws reached, the attack kept going right through the demon cutting the top half of him apart from his bottom.

Kagome was surprised that when the two parts of it landed on the ground they were both clearly still alive and still trying to attack. Sesshomaru walked over to the bottom half, where the stomach was located, and dug his hand in to find the shard. Kagome cringed at the squelching sound he was making as he searched the demon's body. Once he pulled the shard out, the demon screeched as he shrunk back to normal size. When the transformation was done, Kagome realized that the demon was dead. Even though it was just trying to kill her, she couldn't help but feel bad for the loss of life. Plus, she was starting to realize the jewel shards did strange things to the people who had them, he might have been a nice, hard-working, nonviolent, family man before the shard messed with him.

She was looking down at the demon sadly until two boots entered her line of vision, she looked up and saw Sesshomaru looking at her strangely, almost as if he was trying to analyze her and understand what she was feeling. She looked down a little and saw he was holding out the shard to her. She took it with a small smile and watched as it turned to a pink pure color when she held it.

"Thanks, Sesshomaru."

"You should be happy, should you not? Why do you look sad?" Sesshomaru had noticed that normally his miko became happy and liked the celebrate even the smallest of completed tasks, he thought she'd be jumping around in her joy like he'd seen her do many times. She was not though, she looked almost disheartened.

"I'm just sad that someone had to die for me to get this shard."

"He was trying to kill you," Sesshomaru said trying to hide his confusion.

"It doesn't matter, that's still a life that was taken because of lust for this shard, I broke the jewel, everyone that dies because of its shards is my fault."

Sesshomaru had never regretted or felt bad for a life he was responsible for ending and he did not understand why she would either. She confused him and he was starting to wonder if he'd ever understand her. He had the foreign urge to comfort her but he wouldn't even know where to start because she did break the jewel so what she was saying was true to an extent. "You are not responsible for the actions of others. Free will is just that."

She looked up at him surprised, she wasn't expecting the stoic lord to try to make her feel better. It was her surprise and her happiness that he cared enough to try which brought a smile to her face and helped to get her out of her dark mood. Sesshomaru felt a warm feeling in his chest when she smiled at him because it was him who made a smile appear on her face. He did not know how he felt about all the unknown sensations she was bringing out in him but he decided he better get used to it because he had no intention of letting her go anytime soon.