It took Kagome physically pushing him out of the way before Sesshoumaru's youki receded. She glanced over her shoulder but was quickly distracted by Sango's excitement. "There's a pattern," she said, still breathless. "A few of the surrounding villages are missing girls as well, and they were all seen headed in the same direction."

Kagome sagged in relief. It was a terrifying thought that so many others had been affected, but it was a lead—a solid one. "You're sure?" she asked. Sesshoumaru's youki was still troubled, spiking with each step he took toward them. He'd been that way before they'd arrived, and she could only assume he'd become frustrated with their lack of progress.

Hopefully, that would change now.

She would've liked to think they were on good enough terms for her to comfort him, but she knew doing it publicly, in front of his brother no less, was a big no-no, so she bit her tongue. "So, all we have to do is follow the same trail, and we should find her."

"It won't be easy," Inuyasha interjected, stuffing his hands into his sleeves. "One of the villages sent some of their samurai after their girls, and they came back in pieces."

Sango flinched as if reliving the conversation. "In other words, it's dangerous, and we need to be cautious."

"Not a simple kidnapping," Kagome said, dragging a hand through her hair.

"Doesn't look that way." The two brothers locked eyes, and Kagome stiffened at the possibilities of what would come next, but Inuyasha tilted his head north. "If we leave now, we can make some headway before dark."

Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod, and no one argued, which was a surprise in and of itself, and Kagome shot Sango a relieved smile. They clasped hands briefly, then Kirara flared to life, and the two siblings jumped on her back. Inuyasha looked at her expectantly, but Ah-Un was already nudging her from behind.

Kagome stroked their heads unconsciously, giving her friend a considering look. The beast nudged her more insistently, pushing her in the same direction as Sango and Kohaku. "It's probably better if you run ahead. I'll only slow you down." Inuyasha frowned, but she was already swinging a leg over Ah-Un's saddle.

"Ya sure?"

Kagome nodded, shooing him away. "They'll get mad if I say no," she chuckled. He eventually shrugged and took off, his feet barely touching the ground as he darted through the trees. She steadied herself on Ah-Un's back, holding onto their saddle.

They'd long lost their bridle. Rin hadn't used them for travel in a while, and Kohaku had never been worried about the double set of sharp teeth. Kagome had been glad to see it go, even with her few interactions with them. It had never sat right with her that they'd been forced to wear muzzles.

"You'll keep me safe, won't you boys?" she crooned. They both snuffed then rose into the air, wind whipping by her ears as they followed suit. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs, fingers gripping their saddle in anticipation. They wouldn't catch up tonight, but at least they had a lead.

She kept repeating that, her mind latching onto the hope that with so many other women being kidnapped, it increased the chance of Rin coming out of this alive.

"You lied."

She nearly fell off Ah-Un's back, the dragon taking a sharp left to compensate for her sudden yank on their necks. She hadn't even sensed him, too focused on making as much headway as possible. They were chasing the fading rays of the sun, candlelight already twinkling in the surrounding villages.

Having two demons with them, one of which being a daiyoukai, would increase their chances of travelling during twilight, but they had no idea what awaited them, so it was safer to make camp and start again in the morning.

"About what?" she asked, righting herself and Ah-Un's path. Was this why he'd been so pissy when she got back? Pissy wasn't the right word, especially since it was him, but he'd clearly been upset about something. She'd thought it was Rin's disappearance, but that frustration came and went and was much less noticeable when the others weren't around.

Searching her brain, she came up blank. Granted, it was full of equations and formulas from her latest exam, but she honestly couldn't think of a time when she'd lied to him.

The image of him flying without his cloud of youki wasn't new—she'd seen him do it after rescuing her in the bowels of Naraku—but she'd been hanging onto the end of his pelt at the time, so she hadn't been looking at his feet.

What other abilities did he have?

She realized she was staring and turned her eyes back to the fleeting forms of the slayers. This was not the time to be wondering about Sesshoumaru's hidden skills.

"When Inuyasha offered to carry you," he clarified. "The beast would not care if you rode with them so long as you were safe."

Kagome flushed. There was a specific reason she'd declined Inuyasha's invitation—actually, there were several—but this wasn't the time to discuss them. "They seemed like the better choice." Sesshoumaru raised a disbelieving eyebrow, and she sighed. "Fine, I lied. But the reason behind it isn't mine to tell."

He frowned but didn't push, his increased speed encouraging Ah-Un to keep pace. She knew it wouldn't stay a secret for long—if she could figure it out, so would everyone else—so maybe it was better to tackle the issue head-on instead of waiting for those involved to come clean.

Lowering her head, she patted the beast's back. "Come on, boys. Let's see how fast you can really go."

It was another hour before they descended, choosing a secluded patch of forest outside a bustling village. The lights were bright enough for them to see by, the weather warm enough that they didn't require a fire.

Sango had repeated all the information they'd gathered, ensuring they hadn't misinterpreted anything. She'd wanted to keep going, but it had been Kohaku who'd forced her to stop, her argument interrupted by a jaw-cracking yawn and a meaningful look from her brother.

A sigh and a pat on his shoulder was her only response before curling up beside Kirara, the nekomatta retaining her large form as her mistress quickly fell asleep. Kagome waited ten minutes after Sango's breathing even out before getting to her feet. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Even Inuyasha was surprised at the invitation, ears twitching as he glanced at the remaining members of their search party. "Dontcha need sleep too?"

"I grabbed a nap after my exam," she lied easily, ignoring Sesshoumaru's piercing gaze. "Besides, I want to talk to you about something." The hanyou shrugged and followed her away from camp, their feet falling into the same anxious rhythm.

Sesshoumaru's hand tightened around the hilt of Bakusaiga. It was not the first time the miko had been left alone with another member of her pack, but for some reason, the fact that it was his brother irked him.

He rose without explanation, heading in the opposite direction, quickly doubling back once he was out of sight. He had no interest in their conversation, but he also had words to share with the miko.

The lie was inconsequential but tasted bitter all the same. He'd already been fighting the ridiculous notion that he felt anything close to inadequacy regarding his brother, but he blamed his father for that.

Leaving what all considered to be the stronger sword to the newly born hanyou without explanation was his father's biggest failing. It had caused both of them grief, denied them pack, and Sesshoumaru still wasn't sure either of them would recover from it. The miko's interference had helped, but there were still miles to go—for both of them.

Sesshoumaru dragged a hand through his hair. He didn't have time to repair their relationship, especially when so many other factors were at play. He'd long since relinquished his desire for Tessaiga—even before the birth of Bakusaiga—but Inuyasha still harboured ill will whenever he showed up.

And Sesshoumaru lacked the skills to contradict his claims.

His power spiked in agitation, but he kept it contained. It would do him no good to lose control now. He had to remain focused. They had a lead, but Rin was still unaccounted for, and they had yet to discover why she'd been taken in the first place.

The miko knew. Or, at least, had an inkling. He hadn't been able to make a connection between the events, but every so often, her aura reeked of guilt, and it was always when discussing their next move. That, mixed with how quickly she'd disappeared after their last encounter, had his instincts on edge.

She was hiding something. And she would reveal what it was, even if he had to force her hand.

Claws twitched as he drew nearer. This was why he avoided crowds in general. There were too many ways to cover a lie in a group. She'd distracted him with how responsive she was to his treatment, but now his head was clear, and he would have answers.

Shielding his presence, he stalked his prey, the tail end of their conversation wafting along the night air. "Did you think I was stupid?" the miko seethed. "That I wouldn't figure it out?"

Inuyasha coward before her wrath, ears pressed against his head. "We weren't hidin'! We just hadn't figured out a way to tell ya yet." The guilt saturating his aura said otherwise.

The miko groaned, then threw a stone at him. Inuyasha yelped as it hit his shoulder. "I don't care that it happened! I care that you lied!" She suddenly lost her resolve, back hunched. "Don't you trust me?"

His brother cursed, pulling her into a fierce hug. "I swear it ain't like that!" She pounded on his back but didn't pull away, words muffled against his haori. "She's worried you'll hate her. You know she couldn't handle that if you did."

"I refer to my earlier statement about you both being stupid."

"I'm sorry." The apology was heartfelt, but she pushed him away.

"Not good enough! I expect you both to come clean in the morning. Together." She shoved a finger in his face. "I won't take it seriously otherwise."

Inuyasha inclined his head, ears still twitching. "Dontcha want me to wake her up now?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Not a chance. She's exhausted and deserves rest." Her eyes narrowed. "You're going to be silent when you get back to camp."

His brother took a step in that direction, then stopped when she didn't do the same. "Aren't ya comin' too?"

She turned away from him, chin in the air. Sesshoumaru's hands clenched into fists at the blatant display. He thought he saw her eyes flicker in his direction, but she waved Inuyasha off. "I need some time to cool down. And don't you dare say it's too dangerous for me out here."

He shuffled his feet. "I ain't got a death wish." Sesshoumaru was surprised she hadn't zapped him for such disrespect. His brother headed toward the trees, then stopped and looked back. "I'm serious about her."

Her shoulders stiffened, and she glared back at him. "You better be." They stood in silence for a moment, and it looked like Inuyasha had more to say but thought better of it, finally disappearing into the darkness.

Sesshoumaru lingered out of sight, watching as the miko gazed at the sky. The surrounding foliage stifled the lights from the village, the slim crescent doing little more than illuminating her hair. "You can come out now. He's back at camp." There was no point in pretending, and he stepped into view, releasing the lock on his aura. "It isn't nice to eavesdrop," she chastised.

"It was not my intent."

Her chuckle was a surprise. "Yet you stayed even after hearing us argue."

"There was no point in straying until you were finished." She continued to wander away from camp, and he lagged a few paces behind, not wanting to encroach on what was clearly a human need for solitude. She had yet to tell him to leave, so he would remain until she was emotionally stable enough to hear what he had to say.

The fact that he was willing to make such sacrifices when he'd been hellbent on interrogating her moments prior had a frown furrowing his brow. Rin was allowed such leniencies, but she was young and had not acquired the experience to know better, especially compared to the miko. The fact that the woman could laugh after yet another betrayal said much about her maturity.

Then again, she'd always been the type to put everyone else's needs above her own. Perhaps he was overstepping. "If you wish to be alone—"

"Hmmm?" She slowed her pace until they walked side by side. "Oh, no, I'm fine." A smile, one full of mirth, lit up her features. "I'm avoiding him on purpose so he'll stew."

Both brows rose. "You are not angry?"

"About him and Sango? Not really. I knew it had been going on for a while. I was just tired of them hiding it from me."

He didn't believe her. How many times had his brother snuck off to dally with the dead miko, leaving the living, breathing one alone in her sorrow? The muscles along his jaw clenched. Was she placating her own feelings due to his presence? "You do not have to lie to yourself for my sake."

She blinked owlishly, then smiled again. It was different this time, softer, and had their relationship been different, he may have offered her…something. Something more than the lingering silence.

"Thank you, but I really am fine." His disbelief continued to show, and she outright laughed. "If you're so concerned, we should talk about what's crawled up your ass in the last few days."

Sesshoumaru bristled. He was not as easy to read as she was. There was no way she knew what he'd been planning on that night. And knowing her, even if she did, she'd get angry and refuse to answer. He had to ease her into it. "You were avoiding This One."

Her head cocked to the side in confusion, finally pausing in her trek. "I had to go home for an exam, remember?" He did, but that was not the point. There had been a distinct shift in her behaviour after they'd finished. How long would she continue to deny it?

"You were upset about the conclusion of your treatment."

She was still confused, but her hands went to her hips. "Because you didn't ask first." It was Sesshoumaru's turn to be confused. What had there been to ask about? She had been the instigator. Tension seeped into his lungs, and he suddenly found it hard to breathe.

Had he somehow misread her intentions? No, he distinctly remembered confirming her desire. It had been potent, overcoming his senses. She'd all but begged him to keep going. She eventually took pity on him, sensing his struggle, and patted his arm.

"It's about consent, Sesshoumaru. I was just surprised when you finished. Normally, guys are more vocal about the location. Give me a little heads-up next time, and it's fine." She seemed genuinely concerned about his plight, blue eyes staring up at him as she gave him a reassuring smile. "We were in the spring, so it wasn't that big of a deal, but if it had been somewhere else, somewhere with no option to clean up after, it would've been a lot harder to explain to the others." Her explanation was logical, but his mind still took a moment to catch up.

She wasn't mad that he'd finished on her back, just that there had been no warning ahead of time. That was all. That was all? That was why she hadn't looked at him while travelling toward the well?

Sesshoumaru scowled. He'd been worried for nothing.

She surprised him again by stepping closer and rising on tiptoe. "I know how important scent is. Even just a hug makes me smell like Inuyasha, right?" She held her hair out to him, and true to her words, the scent of his brother wafted up his nose. He must have made a face as she laughed. "See? Can you imagine what I smell like after one of your treatments?"

Her tone was teasing, but the thought of her smelling like anything else but them had his arm snaking around her waist. "You will bathe now." She yelped in surprise as they lifted off the ground, her hands automatically grabbing onto his armour. He ignored her frustrated squabbles, finding a grove nearby. The falls drowned out all other sounds, and he yanked her through the rushing water, leaving her a sputtering mess on the other side.

"Goddamit, Sesshoumaru! I literally just talked about consent! You can't just—" He shoved her back under the falls, the rest of her argument incoherent. He hissed as she grabbed his wrist, a red handprint left behind as reiki flared. She stumbled back into the cave, pushing sodden hair out of her face. "You deserve worse than that for that stupid stunt!"

Amber eyes flashed. "You said yourself how important scent is—"

"I did, but I still get to choose how and when to wash it off!" She groaned as she looked down at her clothes. "These are never going to dry properly now." She was clad in some of her strange pants, the fabric thick and rough compared to his own, and she struggled to unclasp them. Her shirt was plastered against shivering skin, and Sesshoumaru conceded that he had erred.

He unwrapped his pelt, holding it out to her as she continued to fight with her clothing. "Not much of an apology," she muttered.

"You should not have thrust his scent into my face," he argued.

The miko rolled her eyes. "You may not be the best of friends, but you're not at each other's throats anymore, so don't give that shit about wanting to dismember him. You would've survived until we found a spring. A warm one." She finally got her top off, accepting his pelt out of necessity, not choice.

He was unaffected by the water; his clothes and hair would dry quickly, so he turned from her, waiting for the shuffle of her changing to finish.

"Consent isn't just about choice. It's about respect, Sesshoumaru," she grumbled. "If you want there to be a next time, you better get used to using it. Properly. 'Cause I won't let you touch me without it. I don't care how hot you are."

He scowled into the darkness of the cave. 'Next time' had been lingering on the edge of his mind as soon as she'd mentioned it, distracting him with images of other positions he would find pleasure in.

The scent of his brother upon her skin had been too much, instincts or not. He'd needed to get it off, regardless of her say in the matter, but he'd only made things worse. "I will make sure to ask next time."

"You do that." The shuffling stopped, and he turned around, mouth going dry. Her modern clothes were laid on the ground, wrinkled from her attempt to squeeze out any excess water. But it was not the lack of clothes that had him staring; it was the way she'd wrapped his pelt around her.

He could only assume it was the only thing she had on, and with her raised chin and eyes spitting fire amongst damp, tangled hair, she was a vision to behold. Youki sparkled as his body responded, and she gasped as the hairs of his pelt stood on end.

"That was not intentional," he said, feet frozen to the floor.

She pursed her lips, then looked down at the fur. "Can you communicate with it?" she asked, sliding a hand down it.

"It has many functions." He was already breathless. She'd mixed in her power with the simple stroke, no doubt as a means to punish him, but all it did was make his body that much harder. "But I would need permission to show you."

She raised an eyebrow, her hand sliding up this time. "You're learning."

"I am open to the possibility of doing so." He stayed where he was, not trusting himself to move with how close to the surface her ire was. "We are taught from a young age how to use our youki as a defence mechanism. Seldom few master it."

"And I take it you are one of those few."

"You would be correct." Her reiki receded, the invitation not going unnoticed, but he would not error again. "If consent is that important, you must be more vocal about it, miko."

She snorted in indignation, then dragged her nails down his pelt. He nearly staggered, and he caught a glimpse of a smirk on her lips. "Isn't that what I'm doing?"

Sucking in a breath, he forced himself to straighten. "In my world, perhaps, but not yours."

She eyed him for a moment, then raised a hand. "Come closer."

He wasn't sure if there were stipends to her command, but all at once, he had her backed up against the cave wall. "Like this?"

She hummed softly, eyes half-lidded. "Something like that," she murmured.

He could smell her arousal now; it burned his nostrils, but nothing tainted the scent, the last of his brother washed away by the roaring falls. There was a faint mixture of his own scent, but her power negated most of it until all he could smell was her.

It was intoxicating.

"You're not doing anything," she said. It almost sounded like a whine, and it took everything in him not to pounce. To sink his claws into her skin and take his fill.

"You have not asked me to do anything," he replied, voice tight. She glared at him, and he managed to smirk. "You cannot have it both ways, miko."

She wanted to argue, he could sense it in the way she gripped his pelt, but in the end, instincts won out, and she met his gaze in silent resignation. "Fuck me."