The rising sun and small puffs of air coaxed Kagome from a dreamless sleep. Opening hazy blue eyes, she was greeted with Rin's slumbering face across from her. Raising a hand, she brushed tangled chestnut locks from the young girl's cheeks and leaned in to nuzzle the top of her head. This would be the perfect way to wake up every morning if Shippo was there too.
Feeling the girl twitch within her hold, Kagome drew back and slowly sat up. Stretching her arms high, she let out a big yawn and suddenly froze in place. The familiar tingle of a nearby jewel shard inched up her spine. Dropping her arms, the priestess looked around the campsite until she spotted who she was looking for.
Sesshoumaru was resting against a tree, enjoying the peaceful dawn. Gilded eyes shot up when an object collided with his silk covered thigh. Slit pupils peered down at the wooden writing instrument the priestess used. Following the pencil's trajectory, he spotted Kagome franticly waving her arms at him.
The demon lord raised a single eyebrow at her as if asking, 'What is it, Lassie?'
"J-E-W-E-L S-H-A-R-D." Kagome spelled out and pointed north.
"Jaken!" The demon lord stood and barked at his snoring retainer, startling him awake. "Take Rin and Ah-Un back to the Shiro."
"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru!" All the excitement had roused Rin, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Jaken began collecting their belongings and yelled, "Get up, human! We must leave at once!"
Just as Kagome got to her feet, she was swept into the demon lord's arms like a blushing bride. She was given enough time to grab onto Sesshoumaru's mokomoko before he dashed off in the direction of the shard.
Kagome could barely contain her surprised shriek and buried her face into the fur pelt. Goosebumps pebbled along her arms as the cool morning air rushed past her. Had she known Sesshoumaru would react so quickly, she would have chucked on a jacket before alerting him.
When Sesshoumaru tore into a clearing, he stopped and placed the priestess back on her feet. In front of them, Inuyasha and her other companions were battling a giant centipede demon. It was easier for Kagome to focus on locating the jewel fragment without hearing the half-demon yelling orders.
With a tug on the demon lord's sleeve to get his attention, Kagome said, "The mouth," and touched a finger to her hard palate to show where the shard was embedded in the centipede.
Nodding in understanding, Sesshoumaru leaped forward, grabbed Inuyasha by the back of his fire rat coat, and tossed him aside. With the half-breed out of the way, he withdrew Bakusaiga and waited for the demon to strike before thrusting his blade upwards into its open jaws. As the creature withered in place, he plunged his left hand into the roof of its mouth and yanked out the jewel piece. Screeching out one final roar, the oversized arthropod collapsed and disintegrated into ashes.
Sango and Miroku stood back and watched as the Lord of the West effectively killed the demon in seconds, even though they had been fighting it for hours. Shippo had found his way into Kagome's arms, and Inuyasha was crawling out of the barberry bush he had landed in.
Flicking the demon's blood from his claws, Sesshoumaru returned to Kagome and placed the shard in her outstretched hand. The priestess rewarded him with a dazzling smile.
"What the hell is your problem, Sesshoumaru?!" Inuyasha's sneered at his brother as he yanked thorns from his knotted hair.
"The priestess sensed a Shikon fragment. I simply retrieved it for her." He envied the young woman at this moment because she didn't have to listen to the mutts yapping.
"How did Lady Kagome become a member of your company, Lord Sesshoumaru?" The monk stepped ahead of Inuyasha, trying to deter any further arguments.
Another small tug on Sesshoumaru's haori brought his focus back to Kagome, who placed the kit on the ground.
"What are they saying?" She asked with a slight tilt to her head.
"They wish to know why we are together." The demon lord responded with assertive movements.
Everyone watched their interaction in shock. Lord Sesshoumaru was able to communicate with Kagome without speaking. Miroku rubbed his chin in fascination, Sango eyed the demon with disdain, and Inuyasha was at a loss for words for once.
As the couple continued their silent conversation, tension was steadily building around them. Losing what little patience he had, Inuyasha stomped over and shoved himself between Kagome and his half-brother.
"I don't know what you are telling her, but I'm sure it's all lies!" Inuyasha stood his ground, clutching Tessaiga's hilt.
"I assure you, little brother, unlike you, I have never lied to the priestess." A knowing smirk spread across the demon lord's lips.
Inuyasha's golden eyes widened as he stuttered, "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Turning away from his half-brother, he seized Kagome by the wrist and dragged her behind him as he went to join the others.
The sudden grip on her arm caused Kagome to let out a hiss as she tried to yank herself from Inuyasha's grasp.
"Stop fighting, woman. I'm trying to help you!" Yelling at Kagome proved pointless. His back was to her, so she could not see his lips move.
The rough way he was handling her brought back the panic she felt the day he grabbed her in the meadow. Kagome's breathing was beginning to come out in short, quick breaths. Looking back, frightened azure eyes pleaded with amber ones, asking for help.
When the scent of Kagome's fear and the rapid beating of her heart hit Sesshoumaru's senses, something inside him snapped.