After Inuyasha caught Lord Sesshomaru up on what took place after he left, they began to make their way towards the next village. As they traveled, she had taken her place beside Lord Sesshomaru after he had silently ordered her to do so.

Finding more information on another headless demon that had been terrorizing a human village, they followed the path the villagers had given them after Sango beat Miroku senseless after flirting with the village girls. Which lead them to their current predicament as they had separated in the forest.

As they journeyed towards the next village, Kagome found herself silently falling into step beside Lord Sesshomaru, his silent command wordlessly guiding her to his side. Despite the tension that lingered between them, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort in his presence, a feeling that was both exhilarating and unnerving in equal measure.

Their mission led them to another village plagued by the terror of a headless demon, prompting them to follow the trail left behind by its destructive path. Along the way, they encountered various obstacles, including a brief altercation between Sango and Miroku, which resulted in the latter nursing a bruised ego courtesy of Sango's swift retribution.

But their current predicament demanded their full attention as they found themselves separated in the dense undergrowth of the forest. The tension in the air was palpable as they regrouped, their senses on high alert for any sign of danger lurking in the shadows.

It was then that Lord Sesshomaru's commanding voice cut through the stillness of the forest, drawing Kagome's attention like a moth to a flame. His words were cryptic, his gaze piercing as he addressed her with a demand that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Miko," he began, his voice low and measured, "I ask that you explain to this one, why you smell of my brother."

Confusion clouded Kagome's features as she struggled to make sense of his words, her mind racing to find an explanation for the enigmatic demon lord's inquiry. Before she could utter a response, however, Lord Sesshomaru moved with lightning speed, launching himself forward with deadly precision.

In a blur of motion, he dispatched the headless demon with ruthless efficiency, his claws slicing through the air with lethal precision as the creature fell to the forest floor in a pool of its own blood.

In the aftermath of the battle, amidst the solemnity of the forest clearing, the small otter demon approached Lord Sesshomaru with a bow of gratitude, his eyes shimmering with tears of relief.

"Thank you for saving me!" The heartfelt words echoed through the stillness of the air, a testament to the profound impact of Lord Sesshomaru's intervention.

"You're welcome," Lord Sesshomaru replied with a nod, his gaze unwavering as he regarded the young pup with a mixture of stoicism and quiet compassion.

Turning his attention back to Kagome, he issued a directive with characteristic brevity. "We should return to the others."

With a sense of purpose, Kagome set about preparing an early lunch for the group, her movements fluid and efficient as she worked to nourish their weary bodies after the harrowing ordeal. Meanwhile, the young otter pup took the opportunity to share his story with the group, his voice trembling with emotion as he recounted the tragic events that had led him to masquerade as a young girl.

"A boy in white, riding a demon horse with red eyes appeared in front of us," the otter pup began, his words punctuated by choked sobs of anguish. "He killed my father, slashed his head off, which fell over the river by the current, and then the boy left. I retrieved his head but have been unable to find his body anywhere."

The raw pain in the young demon's voice resonated deeply with Kagome, her heart aching in empathy for his loss. Without hesitation, she gathered the trembling pup into her arms, offering comfort and solace in his moment of need.

Sango, ever practical, took charge of the meal preparations, expertly carving the boar that Lord Sesshomaru had hunted earlier. "We were right to investigate the demon murders," she asserted, turning to Inuyasha with a determined expression. "This is the work of Hakudoshi, which could only mean that he had yet to find the last shard either."

Inuyasha nodded in agreement, his gaze darkening with resolve. "It makes sense. Demons are much harder to kill than humans."

Lord Sesshomaru, silent until now, finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of wisdom. "Demons are able to linger on the border between the two worlds," he stated matter-of-factly, his gaze shifting to the young pup who had found solace in Kagome's arms. "It is why you hope to find your father's body. To reunite the two and bring him back."

The young pup nodded in confirmation, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It's been three days since then," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

But the solemnity of the moment was quickly shattered by Shippo's exuberant enthusiasm, as he leapt into Kagome's lap with boundless energy. "Inuyasha can do it!" he exclaimed, his words filled with unwavering faith. "He is so strong! So strong in fact that it makes up for the fact that he is stupid, childish, and just plain weird!"

Inuyasha's patience reached its limit at Shippo's words, and with a growl, he lashed out, striking the young fox demon on the head and sending him tumbling to the ground. But before he could fully process the consequences of his actions, he was met with a swift retribution from Sango, who delivered a well-aimed punch to his arm.

Lord Sesshomaru's gold eyes flashed with silent warning as he addressed his younger brother, his voice tinged with a steely edge. "Inuyasha," he intoned, his tone brooking no argument. "Hit the pup again and you will face the repercussions."

Inuyasha's bravado faltered in the face of his brother's stern reprimand, and with a sheepish glance, he retreated behind Sango, who offered him a small but understanding smile, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

A couple of hours later, they were heading towards the next village, where they hoped to find better luck finding more information about Hakudoshi. While also keeping an eye out for any headless demons wandering about.

As they traversed the winding path towards the next village, Kagome found herself drawn to Lord Sesshomaru's side, her curiosity burning like a flame within her chest. The otter pup slept soundly in her right arm, cradled against her. With a tentative voice, she ventured to break the silence that enveloped them.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Her gaze fixed upon his profile, her eyes searching for answers hidden within the depths of his enigmatic demeanor.

He acknowledged her with a tilt of his head, his golden eyes meeting hers briefly before returning his focus to the road ahead. "Yes, Miko?"

The question that had been weighing on Kagome's mind for some time now spilled forth in a rush of words, her voice tinged with a note of hesitancy. "Why had you left, if you don't mind my asking?"

Lord Sesshomaru's response was measured, his tone betraying little emotion as he offered a glimpse into his motivations. "Kagura had been hiding nearby. I followed her, but she entered where this one could not."

Kagome nodded in understanding, her thoughts swirling with the implications of his words. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her fingers tracing patterns in the fabric as she struggled to find the right words to express her next question.

"I've noticed that you keep reaching for Tenseiga," she began tentatively, her gaze flickering back to Lord Sesshomaru's impassive visage. "Is something the matter?"

At her observation, Lord Sesshomaru's steps faltered ever so slightly, a subtle shift in his expression betraying a hint of surprise. A half-smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, a silent acknowledgment of her keen perception.

"This one did not realize that you watched this one intently," he remarked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Caught off guard by his response, Kagome felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, her words stumbling over each other in a jumble of incoherent sentences. She struggled to regain her composure, her mind racing to make sense of the unexpected exchange between them.

"Calm yourself Miko," his clawed hand reached for her, his knuckled brushing against the soft skin of her warm cheeks. "You worry too much, this one would tell you if you were in danger."

"Lord Sessho–"

"I smell blood!" Inuyasha's urgent cry pierced the air from the front of their group. "Let's go!"

Without hesitation, Lord Sesshomaru swiftly gathered Kagome into his arms, his strong embrace offering both protection and reassurance as they followed Inuyasha towards the source of the disturbance. As they approached, they came upon a village seething with anger and tension, perched atop a cliff overlooking the turmoil below.

"I smell Kanta's Father, not too far from here. Let's go!" Inuyasha's authoritative voice took charge, prompting the group to move forward as they followed his lead.

Soon, they stumbled upon the lifeless body of Kanta's father, sprawled amidst a harrowing scene of chaos and violence, his form punctuated by the cruel wounds of arrows and spears.

Kanta, the small otter demon, broke free from Kagome's arms and rushed towards his father's fallen figure, his heartrending wails echoing through the stillness that followed. As Shippo and Kanta attempted to reunite the severed head with its lifeless body, the group waited in tense silence, their hopes hanging by a thread as they prayed for a miracle that seemed increasingly out of reach.

Feeling the weight of despair settling upon them, Kagome turned to Lord Sesshomaru, her blue eyes pleading with him for salvation. "Lord Sesshomaru, please," she implored, her voice trembling with sheer desperation. "Use Tenseiga to revive Kanta's father. I know that it can save a hundred lives in a single stroke. Please, Lord Sesshomaru."

As Lord Sesshomaru's clawed hand brushed against Kagome's cheek once more, a delicate flush spread across her features, her breath catching in anticipation as she awaited his response with bated breath. In a commanding tone that brooked no argument, he instructed, "Step aside."

With a fluid motion, Lord Sesshomaru drew his sword from its sheath, his gaze unwavering as he approached the fallen demon otter with purposeful intent.

With a swift and precise motion, Lord Sesshomaru raised his sword above Kanta's father, the blade gleaming in the dim light. As the blade sliced through the air, a tense silence enveloped the scene, anticipation hanging thick in the air like a heavy fog.

In the next moment, a miraculous transformation unfolded before their eyes. The fallen demon otter stirred, his eyes fluttering open as life returned to his still form. With a cry of joy, Kanta ran into his father's arms, tears of relief streaming down his face as they embraced.

As the emotional reunion unfolded, Miroku stepped forward, his curiosity piqued. "What did you see once you had died?" he inquired, his voice filled with genuine interest.

The demon otter paused, reflecting on his experience in the realm beyond. "A strange place," he began, his voice tinged with a sense of wonder. "A place covered in mist. As I floated, I noticed many other demon heads."

Sango, standing beside Inuyasha, nodded in understanding. "Other victims of Hakudoshi," she murmured solemnly. "He has still yet to find it."

The demon otter continued, his words drawing the attention of Kagome and Inuyasha, who shared a deep look of concern with each other before turning their gaze towards Lord Sesshomaru.

"When I dove under the mist, I saw something rather extraordinary," he explained, his voice filled with awe. "Giant bones clad in magnificent armor."

Inuyasha and Kagome sought one another out, the implications of Kanta's Father's vision weighing heavily upon them. They both turned to the dog demon, but Lord Sesshomaru, ever aloof, turned away, his interest in the conversation waning as he overlooked the cliff with detached indifference.

The demon otter concluded his tale with a somber note. "There were other tiny skeletons too, which could only mean that I was in the afterlife."


That evening concluded with them setting up camp nearby, bidding a tearful farewell to Kanta and his father. Inuyasha took Shippo out to hunt and bond, recognizing that their recent encounter hit close to home for the young kitsune. Exhausted from a day of running around, the rest of the group retired to rest, yet Kagome found herself restless, grappling with the weight of the day's revelations.

"Miko," Lord Sesshomaru's voice broke the silence, drawing Kagome's attention. "You should be sleeping."

Kagome turned to face Sesshomaru, her hands fidgeting nervously as she spoke with a determined tone. "Lord Sesshomaru, I find it difficult to dismiss this as mere coincidence. It feels as though fate is at play here, orchestrating events between Inuyasha and you—"

"My history with Inuyasha has no bearing on fate," Sesshomaru interjected, his voice firm and unwavering.

Undeterred by his interruption, Kagome pressed on with her argument. "We both know that's not entirely true."

"Regardless, my brother and I have since become civil."

"Yes, now that you two have changed."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, silently prompting Kagome to elaborate.

"You are in no need of power, never have and never will," she continued, her voice steady and resolute. "That is clear. You are a strong male, a demon of high status, of incredible power. You lacked nothing but compassion."

"Explain."

"Take Rin, for instance. Despite your initial reluctance, you saved her and cared for her as your own. Your actions speak volumes about your capacity for compassion, even towards humans."

Sesshomaru listened in silence, allowing the young woman to articulate her thoughts without interruption.

"When So'unga resurfaced, it manipulated the one responsible for your father's death, Takemaru, setting off a chain of events that led to Rin's salvation and Takemaru's demise. It's no coincidence that we find ourselves returning to your father's resting place for the final jewel shard."

Sesshomaru regarded th Miko with a mixture of amusement and curiosity as she boldly confronted him, her gaze unwavering and filled with conviction. Her words cut through the air with a raw honesty that both surprised and intrigued him.

Her audacity earned a faint smirk from Sesshomaru. "You are bold, Miko," he remarked, his tone tinged with admiration.

Undeterred by his response, Kagome stepped even closer, standing directly in front of him. "I believe that I'm capable of saying such things," she asserted, her eyes steady and unyielding.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her confidence. "Why is that?" he inquired, genuinely curious.

Without hesitation, Kagome reached out and gently took his hand, guiding it to rest against her neck. Her unwavering gaze locked with his, conveying a depth of trust that caught him off guard.

"I've tempted fate many times," Kagome explained softly, her voice filled with sincerity. "And stood in the way between you and your goal when I was younger. You could have killed me at any time, yet you have not only spared my life but have saved it. Saved my virtue."

Sesshomaru's mind flashed back to the encounter with Mukotsu, a memory he had perhaps hoped she had forgotten. But Kagome's unwavering trust in him stirred something within him, a recognition of her resilience and faith despite his past actions.

"You trust me," Sesshomaru observed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kagome nodded, her hand still gently guiding his. "I have always trusted you, even when you have tried to kill me on several occasions."

"I give no reason for you to do such a thing."

She just giggled at his statement. "Yet it has been you who have rescued me from danger, you who has saved my life more times than I can remember. You have begun to haunt my dreams."

As his hand rested against the delicate skin of her throat, Sesshomaru felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Trust, compassion, and something else he couldn't quite name threatened to overwhelm him. Yet, he made no move to retract his hand, captivated by the woman standing before him, her unwavering trust in him both baffling and profound.

"Miko," his tone dropped. "You know not of what you speak."

"Call me Kagome," she instinctively took a step closer, her scent overwhelming him.

"This one prefers Miko," he murmured, his clawed thumb grazing the front of her neck.

Her blue eyes widened briefly before she flushed, "you say it with such…"

"Such what?"

"Affection," she breathed out.

He fiddled with the word in his head, turning it over and over again. "You believe it is affection?"

"Is it not?" Nervousness clung to her scent, he watched her begin to sink back into herself. "If not, then you must explain why my dreams are plagued by our first meeting, when I had seen you transform for the first time, when you were in your true form."

Despite witnessing his transformation into his true form, Kagome had not cowered in fear or recoiled in disgust. Instead, she had faced him with unwavering courage, her presence a beacon of light in the darkness of his past.

"You remember," he blinked down at her, his clawed hand traveling towards the crook of her neck.

"You have left quite the impression," her smile grew. "Not to mention, had you not been trying to kill Inuyasha and me, it would have allowed me the opportunity to ask you if I could pet you."

"I'm not a pet," he deadpanned.

"Never claimed you to be," she hummed.

Sesshomaru's lips quirked in a hint of amusement at the Miko's response, a rare glimmer of humor breaking through his typically stoic facade. "You have a peculiar way of showing affection, Miko," he remarked, his hand coming to rest against the crook of her neck. Despite the sharpness of his claws, his touch was surprisingly gentle, a silent acknowledgment of the trust she had placed in him.

Kagome's smile widened at his words, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I have been told I'm not like most people," she replied, her fingers lightly brushing against his hand, drifting towards the magenta markings over his wrist. "But then again, neither are you."

Sesshomaru felt a warmth spread through him at Kagome's touch, a sensation he had long forgotten amidst the shadows of his past. He watched as her fingers traced the intricate markings on his wrist, his arousal and desire beginning to stir within him.

"You intrigue me, Miko," his voice dropped an octave, his gaze never leaving hers.

The Miko's laughter rang out, the sound like music to his ears. "And you, Sesshomaru, continue to surprise me," she replied, her hand coming to rest against his chest.

The scent of her desire began to permeate the air, arousing him further, and he couldn't help but revel in the intoxicating sensation of her presence. "Tell me of your dream Miko."

"It's just you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.