After pleading and begging Masaru to allow her time alone in a nearby hot spring, Kagome could finally relax and let the warm water work its magic on her tense muscles. It was almost worth zapping the young lieutenant with her holy powers to get what she wanted. The memory of his startled face and ends of his hair standing on end had Kagome giggling to herself.

It had been a long and tiring summer for the priestess. Since waking from old nightmares back in the spring, she had been having trouble sleeping every night after. Kagome tried different teas, meditation, and reading old schoolbooks to lull her into a dreamless sleep. Nothing had worked until she remembered how calming that first night snuggled in Sesshoumaru's haori was. She hadn't realized she had such a peaceful rest while wearing it. Since coming to this conclusion, the priestess could slumber without worries of another nightmare if she was enveloped in the demon lord's scent and aura radiating off the silk haori.

True to his word, Masaru got in touch with a farmer back at the Western Shiro, and soon they had their fowl to raise. What Kagome didn't expect was for them to be demon chicks. They had the exact needs and functions of standard chickens, but these came in various colors and sizes. It would take months before they began to lay eggs, but until then, Rin, Kagome, and a reluctant Masaru had fun playing and chasing after the multicolor chicks.

Now fully relaxed in the thermal spring, the priestess could dwell on more mundane things like weeding the garden and teaching Rin to pickle their vegetables. The peaceful atmosphere didn't last long when angry shouting reached her ears. Kagome was ready to jump into action but quickly recognized the incensed voice belonging to Inuyasha. With a heavy sigh, she exited her personal spa, pulled on a lavender-colored robe, and headed toward the commotion.

On the edge of her property along the tree line, she could see Inuyasha unleash the Tessaiga, ready to blast through her garden.
"Inuyasha, sit." The quiet order sent the boy crashing into the earth as Kagome walked into the clearing. Drying her hair with a towel, she looked at Masaru and asked, "Are you alright? Sorry about Inuyasha. He can be a bit hot-headed." A muffled insult came from the half-demon sized crater.

"It was nothing I couldn't handle, Lady Kagome." Looking as if he hadn't just been in a fight, the lieutenant flashed her a charming smile and flipped grown out bangs from his face. "I take it you know this half-breed then?"

Repressing another sigh, she looked over her shoulder as Inuyasha climbed back to his feet and said, "Yeah. This is Inuyasha; he's an old friend and Lord Sesshoumaru's half-brother." The look of surprise on Masaru's face told her that Sesshoumaru never mentioned Inuyasha. That shouldn't be too shocking, given the brother's history.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Inuyasha." The younger demon gave a short bow, "I am Lieutenant Masaru, Son of General Katsu Sakai Advisor to Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands."

"Look, I don't care who you are! What are you doing snooping around Kagome's hut?!" Inuyasha pointed and swung the transformed Tessaiga around while yelling at the soldier.

"Inuyasha, put that away before you take someone's eye out." His cheeks flushed at Kagome's chastising. "Masaru is here under orders from Sesshoumaru. He's looking out for us while his lordship is helping Lord Haruto protect his lands in the east."

Inuyasha looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "Why the hell would that bastard care what happens to you?"

Kagome chucked her wet towel over her shoulder and glared at the half-demon. "The protection is for Rin, Inuyasha. She is staying with me until Sesshoumaru comes back." She looked over to an angry Masaru, who clearly did not like how Inuyasha spoke about his mighty lord. "Why don't you finish your patrols and check up on Rin? I need to have a word with Inuyasha in private."

Shooting one last scowl at the mutt, Masaru dashed off with the full intention of keeping an ear on their conversation. He did not trust this half-brother with his lord's Alpha Bitch.

Before Kagome could ask Inuyasha why he was there, he rushed forward and got in her face. He moved so fast that she stumbled back a few steps but was stopped when a claw hand grabbed her left arm.
"If he only cares about that human girl, then why do you reek of his stench?" His voice was unusually calm, and it was scaring her.

"I don't- " The half-demon abruptly shoved her away before she could finish speaking. She stumbled to the forest floor and watched him take off for her hut. Kagome sat there in shock for a few seconds, unable to grasp what was happening. When the sound of frightened chickens drew her back into the moment, she fumbled to her feet and took off after Inuyasha.

The priestess followed the half-demon's aura into her home and found him standing in the doorway to her and Rin's bedroom. "What the hell is wrong with you, Inuyasha!?"

Kagome watched as his eyes scanned the room and settled on mokomoko lying on Rin's futon. She noticed how his face softened and looked almost relieved, but she still wasn't sure what was going through his mind. Pulling his arm, Kagome tried to coax him back outside so she could figure out what was happening. Inuyasha seemed to have conceded and turned away from the room when he suddenly froze. His golden eyes landed on Kagome's futon, where a neatly folded red and white haori sat on top.