If she'd known it would be this fun to follow Sesshoumaru around, she'd have done it sooner. The conversation was quite pleasant without Jaken's incessant squawking threatening to turn every headache into a migraine. There were entire islands she'd never been to, and he took her to tiny youkai villages hidden away from the human eye. He'd even started training her.

Well, as much as he could, considering they couldn't physically spar.

She hadn't seen the point at first, but it was another way to pass the time, and after she'd started copying his kendo movements, he'd decided to put her ability to pick up new skills to work. They couldn't tell which one of them came out the victor, but he did his best to estimate when they would've made contact, even without her being solid.

It also helped that she never tired. Youkai needed little sleep, daiyoukai even less so, and they could spend hours darting between punches, kicks, and trees, depending on their surroundings. She was far less unbalanced, now that there was nothing to trip over.

It was fun.

They'd been travelling for several days non-stop, the ground covered in the fiery leaves of autumn, and Kagome was once again left wishing she could at least touch something. There weren't as many as back home, but jumping into a giant pile of leaves had always been one of Souta's and her favourite pastimes.

Twilight was coming, and she kept expecting Sesshoumaru to settle down, as he hadn't slept in days, and she knew he was due. Sideways glances had him finally sighing. "Speak your mind, miko."

She stuck her tongue out at his haughty tone. "I'm just wondering when we're going to stop."

"We are not." He ducked under a branch while she stepped through it, having gotten over her more human way of reacting to things.

"Aren't you tired?"

"I will survive another night without it."

"Because?" She trailed off, looking at him expectantly. "You're not getting away with not telling me why," she said petulantly.

He ducked under another branch, and she realized they were skimming the base of a mountain, rocks and roots upturning the soil as the landscape reached toward the heavens. "Our next destination is near, but the entrance is hidden depending on the phase of the moon. If we delay, we will have to wait another cycle before returning."

"And it's important?" There was a slight incline of his head, and she shrugged. That was good enough for her. She followed him through the underbrush and eventually into a small cave covered in vines and moss. She'd have walked past it if he hadn't been with her.

The light was subtle but far away, guiding them through the cave before she realized it was a tunnel. "The village is inside the mountain?" she asked.

"They prefer it that way," came his echoed reply.

"They?" The word had barely left her lips as they stepped into a bustling market, lanterns of all colours hanging on the edge of stalls. They must've signified what was being sold, as Sesshoumaru zeroed in on one with a lavender flame, bypassing glittering jewels, expensive silks, and tantalizing delicacies.

The vendors knew him, offering up samples or respectful greetings before returning to the customers in front of their booths. Kagome looked on in awe, trying to take it all in. "It's beautiful," she breathed.

"I will let them know," he replied, head bowed as he picked through items at the lavender stall. She sidled up next to him, eyes widening at the colourful display of kanzashi and hairpins.

"For Rin?" she guessed.

"An offering," he countered, and there was a slight fluttering in her chest. Even with how much time she'd spent as a ghost, she'd never considered she might have a grave. It was strangely humbling, as was the fact that Sesshoumaru was buying something to put there. She opened her mouth to refuse but swallowed instead.

The image of him bent in front of her headstone with something they had to travel so far to get would stay with her forever. "Thank you."

He thumbed through the items, eventually selecting one in the shape of a bellflower. She'd have made a face, as it seemed more suited for someone like Kikyou, but when the vendor inspected his choice, he pressed the centre of the bloom, and a blade slid out.

"Perfect for someone beautiful and deadly," the shopkeeper mused.

"Indeed." He didn't deny either, and if there had still been blood flowing through her veins, she'd have blushed. The kanzashi was wrapped in fine silk, and Sesshoumaru slid it into his sleeve before allowing her to wander between the booths. They eventually ended up at the centre of the market, a large wisteria tree blowing in the wind, though there was no wind to speak of.

Kagome stared up at it, a lump forming in her chest as she tried to catch the falling petals. "If I ever become solid again, will you bring me here?" she asked quietly, the glow of the lanterns dancing in her eyes.

"You have but to ask." She smiled at him, and it felt different than before. There was no mirth or defiance, just simple gratitude—if gratitude could even be simple when it came to him. He held the kanzashi up to her ear as if to place it between ebony locks, and his brows furrowed. "I regret not knowing you sooner, miko."

If she'd been able to cry, she'd be wiping tears from her face. "Likewise. Thank you for always being so kind to me. You could've just kept going that first night." She reached up, cupping his hand as best she could.

The noise around them began to buzz, the light from the flames increasing, and Kagome suddenly realized Sesshoumaru's mouth was moving but no sound was coming out. He looked panicked, and she frowned, looking around to see what he was so worried about, but his eyes were fixated on her.

He reached for her, claws raking through her shoulders, and she looked down, breath stilling at how translucent she was. She'd never been able to touch anything, but she'd never been see-through. She opened her mouth to call out, to reassure either him or herself, but the buzzing drowned it out.

The lanterns began to fade, their lights blending together in a whirlwind of colour that had her screaming in frustration. No. No, no, no! She was content. She'd given up hope that she'd ever be happy but was content with what she'd been given. With him.

She tried to escape the tornado, but she couldn't hear or see anything, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to move. She felt heavy, heavier than she'd felt in years, and she felt herself falling as darkness closed in on her.

It seemed the gods weren't done punishing her yet.