She had claimed it was nothing, but the miko had disappeared through the well soon after their encounter. They were still headed in the right direction, based on instinct and the information from the merchants, using whichever trails they could find.
Sesshoumaru had expected some sort of squabble when she'd announced the need to return to her time, but his brother had remained unusually quiet during the discussion. Sesshoumaru didn't want to seem interested, but his curiosity got the better of him once she'd faded from the sky, the slayer offering up the nekomatta as transport.
"She continues her schooling even after this time," he stated, eyes on the horizon. Kohaku and his sister were training several metres away, exchanging blows and advice.
Inuyasha watched them intently, hands stuffed in his sleeves. "It's different there. The more you go, the more you matter. Or something."
He was tempted to make a crack that, based on that assessment, Inuyasha must not matter at all, but the memory of the miko's body stiffening under his hands and her subsequent avoidance of him since then took precedence.
It was his own fault—not because of what happened, but because he'd assumed that this would not be the only time they engaged in such carnal acts. He never had this issue with previous partners, but he'd never used the same one more than once.
And even the term used had his hands flexing. It felt more vulgar than what had happened, especially since the miko was just as much a part of it as he was. She had enjoyed herself just as much, going as far as seducing him.
More than once.
And yet here he was, waiting for her to return like some enamoured pup after his first rut. He swallowed the growl in the back of his throat. She was a curiosity, nothing more. He was simply not used to being dismissed, especially by the likes of her.
Even during her hormonal teenage years, drowning in incompetence and insecurity, she'd demanded answers and respect, refusing to back down when others attempted to lie and manipulate in order to gain favour. She preferred honour and honesty, taking the mental and emotional hits, even when it left her heart in tatters.
Why, then, did she hide from him now? She had voiced her concern about what had happened. Had finishing on her back really been that concerning?
"What's your deal, anyway?" Inuyasha asked, forcing him to refocus.
A sigh escaped him, and he enjoyed the way his brother stiffened. "You will have to be more specific."
Inuyasha glared at him. "This is the most you've stuck around. I'm surprised you ain't gone off on your own and laid waste to the villages with no info on Rin."
Amber eyes slid sideways, and Sesshoumaru tried to discern if it was a slight on his brother's part or if he was honest in his questions. It seemed to be the latter, and he shrugged a shoulder. "The battle against the spider took its toll on everyone, little brother. There is no point in laying waste. It takes too much time and energy." It would also upset Kohaku and the miko, though he didn't voice it.
"But ain't you mad? Rin's been taken with no ransom or whatever," Inuyasha pushed.
'Mad' was such a mundane way of putting it, and he said as much. "Those responsible will be strangled with their own innards. Until then, there is more information to be gathered."
Inuyasha gave him an odd look, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "You've been hangin' round K'gome too much."
Sesshoumaru stiffened but remained silent. He'd ensured they'd both washed thoroughly after every encounter. There was no way anyone could divulge what they'd been doing. The miko had never asked otherwise, often being the one to bring up bathing in the first place, and suddenly he wondered if there wasn't an underlying reason for hiding their scents—or their arrangement.
Did she still hold a torch for his brother?
The idea had his hackles rising. He would not be a replacement—least of all for Inuyasha.
"I swear she has that effect on everyone," the hanyou continued. "Can't count the number of people who tried to kill her the first time they met, myself included. She's got this weird way of calmin' people down." Inuyasha got to his feet. "Don't go takin' it out on her, though. It's just who she is." He walked toward the slayers, mentioning something to the older sibling, Kohaku quickly agreeing.
His sister looked a little more wary but eventually nodded, she and Inuyasha heading away from the camp. Ah-Un's heads raised in question as Kohaku drew near. "They're going to scout ahead to see if there's any other villages along the mountain's edge. Inuyasha-san said to stay here in case Kagome-san comes back early."
Sesshoumaru inclined his head, mind still racing from the conversation with his brother. Things had certainly taken a change since Rin had been captured, but his trysts with the miko had at least been a distraction.
A big distraction.
Perhaps there was merit to Inuyasha's claim. There would be fewer resources for the kidnappers should they backtrack if he destroyed any village they passed through. But even as the thought took form, Rin's disapproving expression floated through his mind. The miko's was more so, and he had a strong feeling she would terminate their arrangement if he resorted to his old ways.
And for some reason, that irked him.
Ah-Un nudged his leg, nostrils flaring against pale silk, and Sesshoumaru frowned. He had never offered the beast treats, so they had no reason to disturb him. Kohaku patted their back flanks. "They miss Kagome-san."
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the dragons. "She has spoiled them."
The boy's face lit up with a fleeting smile. "Much like Rin." He continued to stroke their scales. "They're very alike, though Kagome-san speaks her mind more often."
"I am aware."
The smile resurfaced. "She treats everyone the same," he mused, the assessment putting Sesshoumaru on edge. "Even if they've done terrible things." His gaze turned inward, and suddenly, the boy was far away, caught in the web of his memories.
His sins.
Knowing he would be no use to him otherwise, Sesshoumaru squeezed the boy's shoulder. "The miko does not dwell in the past. She would tell you to forgive yourself, as she has forgiven you." The meaning was obvious, and Kohaku flushed slightly, then nodded. Sesshoumaru didn't bother looking back as he headed toward the tree line. "I will patrol so she has an unhindered return."
Boots crunched against the ground, giving himself a wide berth before allowing his senses to run free. His words were meant to settle the boy's nerves, but he couldn't help reflecting on them himself. The miko was forgiving, but his transgression had been new and affected her specifically.
Had she gone home to find the space to forgive him?
Once was a coincidence, but twice was a pattern.
Kagome clicked her tongue as she rechecked the red numbers circled at the top of her exam. It hadn't been as big as the last one, but the fact that she'd almost aced it after barely studying meant something. She hadn't expected to do this well.
She'd have to thank Sesshoumaru.
A smirk touched the corner of her mouth as she imagined that particular conversation. It's not like he could get mad at her for using their arrangement for other purposes. They were both adults and though there'd been no official contract, they weren't seeking each other out for pure release.
Nothing good would come of it if they did.
Rubbing the back of her head, she climbed the stairs to the shrine. He still hadn't divulged his techniques in unblocking her reiki, but she was content to let him do so for the time being, especially considering the perks that came with it.
She hadn't been sure he would react the way she wanted him to in the spring, but it had been too tempting an opportunity to pass up. She'd still been buzzing from the high of their little altercation while he'd been training, and he'd been open enough to let her touch him for once, so she'd decided to push it a little further.
'Pushing it' was meant to stop with her public display, but the pompous bastard had tried to suppress his desire. She'd felt it bubbling under the surface, and the thought of rubbing it in his face had seemed like a good idea at the time.
A wayward breeze ruffled her hair as she reached the top step. Mama had warned her about her inability to let sleeping dogs lie. Her father had had the same problem, never being satisfied with the mundane tasks offered up by his work, but this was different. She'd proven more than once that Sesshoumaru wasn't a threat to her, and as long as they got Rin back, that wouldn't change.
And they would get Rin back.
She'd felt a little guilty about leaving, but since she wasn't worried about studying, she'd only been gone long enough to actually take the exam. She hadn't even planned on restocking their supplies, but it seemed to have become a habit for Mama to have a collection ready whenever possible. She would miss that, when the well eventually closed.
She hadn't figured out how the temporal portal and Rin's disappearance were connected, just that they were, and Kagome didn't want to find out too late. The other girls that had been taken all had spiritual power, so it made no sense that Rin had been lumped in with them.
Quickening her step, she filed away her exam results and gathered her supplies. "Be safe," her mother said, holding her close a little longer than usual.
"I always am," she replied.
Her mother's chuckle was strained. "Liar."
Kagome blinked innocently, giving her one last hug before heading toward the well. Grateful the only time change was precisely 500 years, she knew she'd arrive back at camp several hours before nightfall. She wasn't sure if everyone had waited for her, but Ah-Un was curled up in the grass surrounding the well, so they'd at least be able to find the others if they'd gone ahead.
They'd been a little out of sorts when she'd chosen Kirara to bring her back, but she didn't want to wear out her welcome with their master. Sesshoumaru had never used them for himself—they seemed more taken with Rin than anyone else—but even dragons had their pride, and she doubted Kirara had put up much of a fight to bring her back.
She smiled as she swung her legs over the wood, cooing softly as the scaled beast lifted both heads. "Hello, boys. Did you miss me?" She nearly fell back in at their exuberant response, laughing as they lifted her off the ground. "I know, I know. I missed you too." She dug a bundle of grapes out of her bag, having snagged them from the kitchen before she left. "I brought you a treat."
They continued to nuzzle her face, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the comfort. "You like me more than the treats, huh? I'll have to remember that." She tried to take one of the grapes for herself, but their attention finally shifted, snatching it out of her hands. They fought over it momentarily, one of them eventually biting through the bundle and snapping the sprig in half.
Content to let them enjoy their reward, Kagome tied off the rest of the bag before securing it to their back. "I don't always need you to carry things, you know. I just like the company." A few grapes escaped their pillaging, and they returned to her face, nipping in affection before helping her onto their back. "Shall we go find the others?"
It didn't take them long, and Kagome was surprised to learn they'd stayed behind. They only being Kohaku. He greeted her warmly, pausing in his training and immediately packing up the rest of his things. "Where's everyone else?" she asked, looking around. She hadn't sensed anyone, but she'd only been looking for the more nefarious auras.
"Sango and Inuaysha-san went ahead to see if they could find anything new," he explained, attaching his pack to the other side of Ah-Un.
"And Sesshoumaru?" The question was automatic, as he was the only one missing, and she hoped Kohaku read it as such and nothing else.
Not that it was anything else in the first place. She was simply curious—and hopeful he hadn't decided to take the search into his own hands.
Kohaku glanced around them. "He went on patrol a few hours ago," he replied nonchalantly.
"A few hours?" she echoed, looking around as well. "It doesn't usually take him that long." Again, she hadn't sensed anything out of the ordinary, and she wasn't privy to his hobbies, if he even had any, so she was left wondering if something had happened. Not to him specifically, Sesshoumaru was more than capable of handling things himself, but they'd been attacked more than once on this trip already, and the only reason there hadn't been more bloodshed was because she'd talked him out of it.
Mind racing, a frown marred her brow, and she sent out her reiki, searching for the direction he'd gone. Her only warning was a prickle of awareness before he landed in front of her, forcing her to stagger backward. She managed not to yelp in surprise, and Ah-Un wound themselves around her, heads lowered as they stared up at their master.
She patted their heads, never taking her eyes off Sesshoumaru. "Everything alright?" He eyed her intently, and Kagome raised an eyebrow, not backing down. She wasn't sure what she wasn't backing down from, but considering what had happened right before she left, she couldn't imagine what he was upset about.
Assuming she was reading him correctly and there was actually something wrong.
She eventually crossed her arms, the ire in her growing the longer he stared, but she never got the chance to question him, Inuyasha and Sango bursting through the trees. Sango jumped off Inuyasha's back, breaking into a hopeful smile. "We think we found Rin!"