Kagome shifted awkwardly on the bed as Sesshoumaru's intense gaze lingered on her. She couldn't shake the question that haunted her—if he hadn't sensed Naraku during their previous treatments, how was he going to detect him now?

Sesshoumaru leaned in closer, and instinctively, Kagome edged back. She half expected Naraku's mocking voice to fill her mind, but this time, the half-demon was eerily quiet.

Sesshoumaru's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, his nose tracing a path around her. His expression remained unreadable, though the absence of any change in her scent frustrated him.

The demon lord reached for her lap, his fingers curling around her fisted hand. Slowly, he brought her wrist to his face, pressing his nose to the skin. He inhaled again, hoping to find something amiss in her scent. But all he found was the familiar blend of their scents lingering on her—pleasing, but revealing nothing new.

Kagome watched with bated breath as Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, his nose still brushing against her wrist. There was nothing suggestive in his actions, but that didn't stop the faint stir of arousal from creeping into her lower belly. To her horror, she noticed the exact moment he caught it, too. His golden eyes snapped open, deepening to a rich amber and slit pupils dilating in response.

She yanked her hand away, face flushed, looking anywhere but at him.

Sesshoumaru, willing his body not to react, remained focused. He could not afford to let her delicious scent distract him. His fingers then gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Without warning his lips crashed onto hers, parting them with a swift stroke of his tongue. He pressed his power into her, forcing his energy through her body in a last-ditch effort to locate the evil half-demon.

The sting of Kagome's reiki was immediate, crackling against him like fire, but Sesshoumaru pressed on, pushing deeper, searching every inch of her for any trace of Naraku. But there was nothing.

Just as Kagome found herself softening, melting into the kiss, he pulled away abruptly. Her breath hitched, and without thinking, she whispered out loud, "Why did you stop?"

Sesshoumaru almost smiled at her dazed expression—flushed cheeks, lips swollen from his kiss, her blue eyes glassy and filled with want. It took everything in him not to lean back in, to forget the pretense of "treatment" and just give in to the pull between them.

"If Naraku is hiding, he has concealed himself well," he signed, watching the disappointment flicker across her face, her previous desire replaced by frustration.

Sesshoumaru's mind raced, recalling the unwanted lessons his father had once imparted about human females and what they enjoyed. He considered other methods of investigating further, but quickly discarded the thought. He nearly scowled at the absurdity of where his mind had wandered—tasting her in places Naraku surely wouldn't be hiding.

The sound of the front door opening downstairs was a welcome distraction. Kagome's mother had returned. He stood so abruptly it startled Kagome.

"Your mother is home," he signed, his movements sharp. "Rest. Meditate. Do whatever is necessary to quiet the creature before we leave to gather supplies." He turned to leave, intent on greeting the older woman who had begun calling for them, her voice carrying up the stairs.

Just as his hand touched the doorframe, a soft grip on his sleeve stopped him. Kagome's movements were small, hesitant. "So… we can't get rid of him?"

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes softened. "Tomorrow, we will consult with the elderly priestess and monk in the village. If I cannot sense him, perhaps their spiritual powers will."

She bit her lip, her brow furrowing in thought. It looked as though she wanted to say something more, and ask another question. But after a moment, she released his sleeve and sighed. "Okay. Tell Mom I'll be down soon."

Sesshoumaru nodded, watching as Kagome turned away, settling into the bed to meditate. As he left the room he came to a sharp halt as he almost collided with Mrs. Higurashi in the hallway.

"Oh! Goodness, you startled me!" She gasped, pressing a hand over her heart. "I saw your bags. Is everything alright?"

There was no need to burden Kagome's mother with the shadow of Naraku looming over them. He gave a curt nod. "Kagome is resting. We are gathering supplies before we journey north."

Mrs. Higurashi's smile returned as she led him downstairs. "Alright. Well, I'm sure Souta will want to tag along to the store. You know, you're all he talks about these days. Ever since you two left, he's been boasting to his friends."

Sesshoumaru raised a brow, following her into the kitchen. "Boasting?"

"Oh yes." Mrs. Higurashi smiled brightly, filling the room with warmth as she started preparing tea. "He's been bragging that his sister's boyfriend is, and I quote, 'the coolest.'"

Sesshoumaru blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He was going to assume "cool" was a modern term for something more along the lines of "master swordsman." Yet, Souta's admiration reminded him of Rin in those early days—those wide, innocent eyes full of unshakable faith. The thought tugged at something deep within him.

Mrs. Higurashi's voice interrupted his musings. "Do you think the search for all the jewel shards will be over soon?" She set down a plate of strawberry pocky in front of him, her tone casual, but Sesshoumaru sensed the unspoken weight behind it.

"There are three shards remaining," he replied as he reached for the sweet treats without hesitation. "We know where they are located."

Mrs. Higurashi sighed softly as she poured the tea, her movements almost reflexive. "Hopefully, Kagome won't be gone too long this time…"

The quiet comment didn't slip past him. Sesshoumaru paused, taking the offered tea with a subtle nod, his thoughts suddenly pulling in a new direction. Once the jewel is complete, what then?

What would happen when Kagome's duty was fulfilled? Would she stay in his time, among the demons and dangers she had grown so accustomed to, or would she return to her world for good? He had always assumed the well would remain open, allowing her to pass between their worlds. But now, uncertainty crept in like a shadow. What if it closed? What if she chose to stay in the future, leaving her friends behind in the past? Would she even want to see him after all this was over?

A hollow ache bloomed in his chest at the thought. Sesshoumaru had never entertained such notions, but now, with the end of the jewel hunt in sight, the reality of it all was beginning to press down on him.

Mrs. Higurashi's voice pulled him back. "You know, she doesn't talk about it much, but I think she's found something special in her time with you." Her eyes softened as she placed her hand on his arm. "She's different when she's with you—stronger, happier, even when things are difficult."

Sesshoumaru didn't respond immediately. Her words settled over him, a strange sense of clarity sinking in. Kagome was not merely a member of his pack, nor was she simply a tool to complete the jewel. She had become... something else. Something he hadn't quite defined. And now, the thought of her leaving, of her being out of reach, gnawed at him in a way that unsettled him.

"Tell her… that she has a place here," Mrs. Higurashi said, breaking the silence. "But if there's something waiting for her elsewhere, I think she'll need to figure that out, too."

Sesshoumaru's grip on the teacup tightened, the unfamiliar sensation of worry creeping into his chest once more. "I will," he said quietly, his voice softer than usual. "Thank you for the tea and... snacks."

Mrs. Higurashi's laughter bubbled up. "Snacks?" She grinned at the way he reluctantly said the word, as if it were beneath him. "That reminds me, did you enjoy the treats you took with you?"

Sesshoumaru's expression darkened, a shadow falling over his face at the mere mention of the pilfered sweets. He was on the verge of recounting the tragedy involving a certain gluttonous fox demon, a greedy imp, and a ravenous human child who nearly ate his supply of treats, when the front door creaked open.

Souta trudged into the room, dragging his backpack behind him. He looked completely wiped out, but the second his sleepy eyes spotted Sesshoumaru, all traces of exhaustion disappeared. His hands flew through the air, signing so rapidly that even Sesshoumaru's sharp eyes had trouble keeping up.

Before Sesshoumaru could respond, the sound of the door opening again had him immediately on alert. All of the humans in the house were accounted for, so who else could be entering?

"Not even waiting for your elderly grandfather and then shutting the door in his face! Disrespectful!" came the voice of an elderly man, his tone oddly reminiscent of Jaken's constant whining.

Sesshoumaru watched as the old man shuffled around the corner. Beneath the scent of old age and decay, it became clear this was a member of Kagome's family. What he didn't expect was what came next.

"Demon!" the old man shouted, and without warning charged straight at Sesshoumaru with what appeared to be a paper charm in hand.

Sesshoumaru, in all his centuries of life, had fought countless battles and faced terrifying opponents, but being attacked by an elderly human wielding a slip of paper? That was new.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed as she placed a hand on her forehead. "Dad, he's a guest!"

Souta was grinning ear to ear.