Okay, sorry for the delay, I had finals and six days of classes last week, it was CRAZY. Oi. Anyway, Please R&R so I know people actually LIKE the story still so I won't get disenchanted (again) and abandon it like a bad story mommy.

Kagome opened her eyes as golden light filtered in through the window above her futon. It took her a moment to work out what direction the light was coming from and she stretched, pushing up to a sitting position. Inuyasha was gone. She still felt the slight twinge of panic and wondered if it would ever truly fade.

With deliberately slow movements she pulled on her jeans and opened the sliding door. She wandered back to the area that she was familiar with, finding the room they'd heard Miko's story in vacant and the courtyard empty as well.

"Kiiimiiii!" A figure turned a corner and squealed in delight when she caught sight of Kagome, launching herself at the girl. "Kagome!"

Kagome squinted, trying to place where she'd seen the teenage girl before. She was pretty with a colorful expensive-looking kimono and an off-center half ponytail. It was the ponytail and huge smile that jogged Kagome's memory and she gasped, running the last few steps to meet the girl in a massive hug.

"Rin!" She pulled back to get a better look at the girl. "Wow! You're so beautiful!"

The girl blushed and smiled. "Not as beautiful as you or Miko." She didn't seem disheartened by the statement and Kagome smiled.

"Thank you, but Miko has a definite advantage over both of us, being the embodiment of water and all." Kagome winked. "How have things been here?"

"Wonderful!" Rin smiled again but her expression dropped as though she'd remembered something important. "Ach! I was chasing Kimi! Have you seen her?" She spun around wildly as though the little girl would suddenly appear.

A giggle floated up from the well and Rin froze mid-turn, a knowing smile tugging at her mouth.

"Hmm… I wonder where Kimi could have gone…" She sidled casually sideways towards the well. "Maybe she went back inside!" Rin stomped her feet, stepping more and more quietly in place to simulate walking away and ducked down next to the well.

Kagome crossed her arms and leaned against the porch as a blue-silver haired head slowly peeked out from the well, water rolling underneath her like a cushion. Kimi leaned out and as soon as most of her body was over the lip of the well Rin jumped to her feet and snatched the little girl.

"Hah! Caught you!"

"Noooo! Rin ALWAYS wins!" Kimi pouted and crossed her arms.

"I'm sure you'll win if you keep practicing." Rin grinned and pressed a kiss to the pouting girl's forehead.

"Rin! Kimi!" Miko's voice rang out and both girls looked instantly guilty. "Finish your lessons before noon and we can eat together."

"Okay!" Rin shouted back, tucking Kimi under one arm and marching her back the direction they'd come from. "See you later Kagome!"

"Bye!" Kagome waved and sighed when the girls were out of sight, letting her hand drop. "I want… puppies."

A sharp intake of breath made her look behind her to see Inuyasha standing in the doorway. He was giving her a look that made her blush.

"Hi." She smiled and unconsciously twisted her hair into a knot, wrapping a hair tie around to keep it in place.

"Hey." He bent to kiss her softly. "Good to see you're awake."

Kagome was surprised by the display of affection and resolved to mention puppies more often. "Yeah… When are we leaving?"

"As soon as you're ready. We can make it within spitting distance of the mines before nightfall." He frowned. "I'd like to try to get Omi back today but…"

"We won't be able to help her if we're exhausted." Kagome finished for him. "We'll camp and make our move at dawn tomorrow."

Inuyasha nodded absently, hand on his tetsusaiga. They stood in comfortable silence, looking at the gardens of the courtyard. It was a beautiful estate, well kept and quiet with only the sounds of nature and Rin and Kimi's bare feet on the hardwood floors somewhere inside.

"Do you want a house like this?" Inuyasha asked suddenly, watching Kagome out of the corner of one golden eye.

She shrugged. "It's beautiful here…"

He sensed her hesitation. "But?"

She waved an arm expansively, taking in the whole space before them. "It's just… too big."

"Too big?"

"And too… polished. I don't know, it's hard to explain." Her frown suddenly changed to a smile. "My dream house would be more rustic, like a lodge but smaller."

"Smaller than Sango and Miroku's?"

"A little, but close to their place, close enough to walk to but far enough so we don't have to hear anything we don't want to. Maybe on the other side of the waterfall, I liked being able to hear the stream from our bedroom at night. And I like the style of their home, the inner courtyard like this but with practical gardens instead of aesthetically pleasing ones. Like an herb garden." She sighed and her eyes were unfocused, seeing her dream home. "And I'd like a lemon tree."

"Okay." Inuyasha went back inside, leaving her on the porch.

"Okay?" She stared after him.

"Kagome?" Miko approached her from the opposite direction, carrying a tray of food. "I brought you something to eat, you must be hungry."

"Thank you." Kagome gratefully accepted the food and knelt on the porch to eat.

"Did Inuyasha tell you the plan?" Miko sat beside her when Kagome gestured for her to join her and shook her head.

"Just that we're going to run as far as we can tonight and make our move at dawn."

"Sesshomaru was right, he's really not one for plans is he?" Miko smiled. "I suppose his boldness is endearing in its own way."

Kagome nodded her agreement.

"The plan that Sesshomaru and I have compromised on is such; we will meet you at dawn tomorrow outside Aruji's mine."

"What about Kimi?" Kagome asked, concerned at the thought of leaving the little girl behind unprotected.

"Rin and Jakin are taking her to Totosai's forge on Ah-Un after lunch. They will wait there until we come for them."

"What about the others? Were any other children taken from the area?"

Miko shook her head. "I believe that Aruji came to this place specifically because Kimi is my child. No others were targeted."

"That's good. The fewer hostages the better." Kagome finished her food and sighed. "We better be moving along. Thank you so much for your hospitality." She stood and bowed to Miko who returned the gesture.

"The pleasure was all mine. It is my sincerest wish that the two of us can mend the rift between our mates."

Kagome nodded and smiled. "That's going to take a LOT of work but I look forward to it."

"Yo! Kagome!" Inuyasha emerged from inside the house again, holding her backpack. "How the heck does this thing work?"

Kagome took the pack and helped Inuyasha into it, clipping it around his waist and explaining how it worked as she put it on.

"There, did you get all that?" She asked as she finished her instructions.

"Nope."

Kagome bit her lip to keep from "sit"ting him since he was carrying all their possessions.

"Here." Miko reemerged from in the house and handed Kagome a sheathed short-sword. "I noticed you carry a blade but have no real sword."

"I can't take this!" Kagome exclaimed, eyes betraying her desire to hold the light sword as they trailed over the length of the sheath.

"Yes you can. We are grateful that you were able to revive Inuyasha and I would like to offer you a gift, consider it a welcome-to-the-family present." Miko smiled and gently pushed the sword into Kagome's barely resistant hands.

"I… wow… Thank you." Kagome stared for a moment longer before looping the sword belt over her head and shoulder so it lay along her back. "Thank you so much!"

"Come on!" Inuyasha was already at the gate, looking back at her. "We're seeing them tomorrow, quit it with the long goodbye!"

Kagome rolled her eyes and bowed to Miko. "He's right, we'll see you at dawn tomorrow."

"Farewell until then." Miko bowed back and watched as they left.

"I like her." Kagome stated as they started running.

"Yeah. How weird is it that both me and Sesshomaru would end up mated to priestesses?" Inuyasha shook his head ruefully. "Life is strange."

"Yes." Kagome smiled and stretched her legs, taking longer strides.

It felt good to be moving again, to have purpose. After all the tumult of the previous days and all the muddled-up emotions she was grateful to have such a clear goal in mind. Defeat the bad guy, save the hostages, go from there. In some ways, life was easier in the feudal era.

They ran hard, pushing themselves past the point where they could multi-task and hold a conversation. Both were panting and sweating when they spotted the mountain that served as their landmark. The mines were dug into the opposite side and they planned on camping a few miles from the entrance.

"Do you need a break or can you make it?" Inuyasha asked as they paused for a moment, passing a water bottle back and forth. It was one of the few pieces of technology that hadn't changed much in the intervening years and Kagome didn't even have to explain how to use it.

"I'm okay." She kept her response short intentionally, not wanting him to know how winded their run had really made her.

"Good." He capped the bottle and returned it to the side-pocket of the backpack, taking off running as soon as it was secure.

"Oh sweet Buddha kill me now." Kagome muttered, following after a few more precious breaths.

It took less time to get to a good camping spot than she thought, but every minute felt like hours in the steep upward ascent. When they finally stopped for good Kagome slumped down on a boulder before her legs gave out completely, laying back and massaging her aching calves.

"There's a stream nearby…" Inuyasha paused, listening intently before unclipping the backpack and letting it drop to the leaves, starting off around the mountain.

"I thought you didn't know how to work that thing!" Kagome exclaimed, pointing at the bag.

"I don't know how to put it on right. Taking it off is easy." He shrugged and kept going.

Kagome sighed and pushed herself up, stumbling a few steps before her jellied legs decided to work again. She found the water and wind-proof tarp rolled up at the top of the bag and unfurled it, staking it in the ground so it opened towards the mountain and gave the best protection from the wind. That done, she tied the other corners to trees, using the boulder she'd used moments before as a makeshift wall and the natural shrubbery in between the trees as a partial block so three sides were protected.

"Cozy." She smiled to herself, she hadn't been properly camping since she'd last been in the feudal era and she was a little excited, despite the gravity of the situation. The next item to emerge from the backpack was her graduation gift from Souta, a sleeping bag.

Kagome flushed as she realized that it wasn't just any sleeping bag, it was a double-wide zero degree bag, not something that was very easy to find. She'd been appreciative when she'd first received it but it wasn't until she unrolled it that she really appreciated how plush and warm the bag was with plenty of room for two occupants.

I've gotten several great gifts today. She thought happily, ignoring the fact that the sleeping bag had been in her possession for several months. She took her new short-sword off, taking a moment in the fading light to examine the blade. It was expertly crafted and sharp enough to effortlessly slice through the fallen branch Kagome tested it on.

"Hey…" Inuyasha trailed off as he approached and saw the small make-shift camp that Kagome had set up. "How'd all that fit in that little bag?"

"Lightweight weatherproof materials." She answered sagely. "They're super useful."

"Uh sure. There's a stream just over there if you wanted to check it out before the light fades." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and settled onto a fallen tree in between the campsite and the stream so he could keep watch over both.

"Yes! Awesome!" Kagome leapt to her feet, quickly resheathing her sword and took her pack in the direction he indicated.

Inuyasha chuckled at her as she left, leaning back against a tree-trunk. It seemed that as long as Kagome played some role in his life he would never be bored. Often confused and in trouble but never bored.

Kagome glanced back to make sure Inuyasha was facing away before quickly removing the same white haori she'd used at Miroku and Sango's and a towel, stripping away her sweat-soaked clothes and taking a small bottle of environmentally-friendly soap to the stream. She jumped in quickly so as not to give herself time to chicken out. While she was grateful that the streams weren't made of snowmelt as it was not spring, the fall weather didn't make for a comfortable bath either.

She was already shivering by the time she popped back up out of the water, finding purchase on the smooth river rocks.

"What the hell? You'll get sick and die taking a full bath in this weather!" Inuyasha was standing on the log now, glaring down at her.

"Ack! Sit!" She ordered, covering her breasts quickly and dropping back into the water.

She didn't give him time to recover, soaping up and rinsing off before he could pry himself from the forest floor. By the time he was mobile she had underwear and the haori on and double-knotted at the waist.

"Hmph. Peeping Tom." She sniffed but had to use the towel as she wrung her hair dry to hide her smirk as Inuyasha started indignantly protesting.

"It's not like I would want to look at a-!"

"A what exactly?" Kagome spun and glared at him challengingly.

"A… a…" He looked like he was frantically thinking of something to fill in the blank that wouldn't make her "sit" him again.

She let the haori slip off one shoulder.

"Uh… " He trailed off, transfixed by the smooth skin.

She let the other shoulder begin slipping. "A what?" She repeated.

He swallowed hard. Somewhere in the unoccupied part of his brain he dimly realized that there was something odd about the forest, that there were too few natural noises and one unnatural sound he couldn't place.

Kagome blinked, she'd meant to tease Inuyasha just enough to make him uncomfortable but now that she'd started taking her clothing off, she realized she didn't really want to stop. With the light of the moon and the faint hypnotic music that was drifting through the woods she wanted to have Inuyasha's naked flesh against her own.

She let her hair fall forward so it concealed her breasts as she let the short outer garment slide off her upper body. It was a chill night but she didn't feel the cold as the heat of her skin made even the light fabric of the few clothes she wore feel too hot.

She passed a hand in front of her, making a smooth gesture that encompassed her entire body. "Don't you want to look at me Inuyasha? Don't you think I'm pretty?"

Deep in the forest at the entrance to the mines the demonic mistress Aruji smiled coldly to herself as she began playing her flute in earnest. She laced her tune with power, more power than she'd used before when the priestess and half-demon had somehow broken free of her spell. This time they would not free themselves. This time they would mate.

Aruji could tell from the first time she'd cast her spell that the girl was near the middle of her cycle and thus fertile. This time she was directly in the middle and if she and the half-demon mated then there was no chance she wouldn't conceive, especially with the added boost of Aruji's spell. She knew this would work as it was a spell she'd practiced before on her partial-sibling and the dog demon lord. They had conceived as well but it had taken barely a nudge from Aruji to convince them to try, they were less disinclined to procreate than the pair on the mountain before her.

All she had to do after the point of conception was wait for their pathetic attempt of a rescue, luring them with the bait she'd collected, capture the priestess and make her escape. It wouldn't take long for the child within the girl to develop a soul and the instant it did Aruji would consume it and become the most powerful creature in the world as the witch-child had foretold.

I see my plan before me. Aruji thought wickedly, not missing a beat on her flute. I see it and all else shall wither and die in the face of my power.