As Kagome sat in the hot springs soaking, her mind wandered to the jewel secured in her backpack. Although she was whole-heartedly in accordance with returning Sesshoumaru's arm, she was completely and utterly lost on how to go about it.

"Hey Sesshoumaru listen. I got your arm in my backpack…want to see if I know how to put it back where it belongs?"

Right.

Letting a sigh escape her lips, the miko raised a foot up out of the water and regarded her wrinkly toes. Now that her skin was properly sodden, she supposed it was time to shave and get back to her friends. Her strength was back to its normal level after some quality meditation in the springs and she was happy she wouldn't have to rely on Miroku for a barrier. She didn't know how long she could hold one on her own but guessed she would just have to find out.

Inuyasha wouldn't wait forever.

In fact, Kagome wasn't even sure she could walk and hold a barrier at the same time. Sure she could throw up flawless barriers when she was sitting by herself in the middle of a forest…but anything other than that had yet to be tested. In the battle with the badgers, she hadn't wanted to try it because she didn't want to take the chance of harming Shippou, should her powers choose to be fickle. After the first hit she had taken, she knew it wouldn't have been possible to hold a barrier even if she had been able to erect it because her miko energy was fighting so hard to keep her alive.

As was the way of Kagome, she decided to jump that hurdle when she came to it, although she silently promised herself that Sesshoumaru would have his other arm in fully functioning order before they parted ways. Giving herself a mental shake, the young miko stood from the water and proceeded with finishing her bathing.

What in all the worlds possessed me to…play…with that miko? I am the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. No female has ever enticed me to act so out of character, especially a ningen female! She is just another human…

Of course, Sesshoumaru knew that she was no ordinary human – and still had misgivings that she even was human – but that didn't really make him feel any better. Not that he hated humans – although he was rather content with the rumors saying otherwise – it just wasn't possible for him to want anything seriously to do with one…with the exception of Rin. He was his father's child but he was not his father.

It didn't really help his resolve much that some part of him was perfectly okay with the idea of following his fathers' footsteps. Kagome was an exceptional female in every aspect and he knew she would do him proud as a mate. He shook his head as if to throw the thoughts away as he leaned his head back against the tree he was sitting at.

Truth be told, he had no idea really how he felt about Kagome or what she was to him. She was an enigma, a curiosity, an interesting puzzle that he felt inclined to learn more about. He remembered something the miko had said once, to the effect of 'Curiosity killed the cat.'

He shuddered at the thought that he could even be likened to a mangy feline.

For some reason or another, Sesshoumaru had been gifted – or cursed – with an alarmingly active sense of curiosity. His father had once said he maybe should have been born a kitsune instead of an inu.

Though the reaction to that bit of wisdom wasn't nearly as severe as the one prompted by the idea of being a cat, he still really didn't relish the idea of being a fox.

Unless it's that kit…it might not be so bad to curl up next to…

That thought was ruthlessly torn apart and swept under the proverbial rug. Kami, was he losing his mind? Although he wouldn't lie to himself and say that Kagome meant nothing, neither would he admit that she did. He conveniently ignored the reason for that being that he simply didn't know what she did mean.

At this point in time, he didn't want to analyze it too closely either. For if he delved that far into his thoughts and the emotions that were rapidly unthawing in his heart, he was almost sure he would find that she meant far more to him than he wanted to know of right now. He didn't want her to be taken as his weakness.

Naraku was a cowardly, vile piece of work that held no qualms whatsoever of using those others cared for against them. He had kidnapped Rin once already and Sesshoumaru had been thankful that Naraku hadn't thought to guard her better. Kagome seemed to have the talent of getting kidnapped and she had already once been taken by the hanyou's minions.

He knew that if the bastard was aware the miko meant more to him than a tentative ally he would try ruthlessly to use her against him. It was a risk he wasn't sure he wanted to take. For ages he had believed that emotions were a weakness and only recently had he started to maybe think otherwise. From watching the interplay of his half-brother's group he had come to the rather startling conclusion that emotions and feelings could be used as a strength as well.

Kagome, of course he added wryly, had been the one that opened his eyes to such a thing. He had noticed over time that she seemed to fight harder and shine brighter when her friends – Kami forbid her kit – were in danger. Clearly he remembered more than a time or two when Inuyasha had been mean to the little fox…and while Sesshoumaru feared nothing, he really, really didn't want to be the target of that particular female's anger.

Though, when her ire was raised it always proved to be quite a site.

Her entire personality and demeanor would warp completely into something he couldn't recall ever seeing before. She went from soft, sweet and warm to rigid, indignant and hot. Her midnight eyes would light up to an electric blue and her ki would snap and spark around her tiny frame.

Sesshoumaru was positive that were it possible for looks alone to kill, he would have long ago been short a sibling.

Elf-like ears twitched slightly at the sound of footsteps and the Demon Lord's muscles automatically tensed for action. Soon, the scents of Rin, the kit, the slayer and the monk entered his nose and he relaxed. The children were the first to break through the trees and Rin ran over to him for her customary squeeze on his person to which he replied with an affectionate pat on her head. The fox stayed back a few paces and waited for her to finish before they darted to Kagome's sleeping bag to drag out something the kit called a 'coloring book' and 'crayons'.

The houshi and taijiya were speaking quietly but his demonic hearing had no trouble making out the words.

"I'm telling you baka houshi,' the young female fairly growled, "That Kagome shouldn't be by herself out there! I don't care if she said that she is within yelling distance; it would only take one imperfection in that barrier or one of that bitch's dirty tactics to break the barrier and Kagome could die!"

Placing a placating hand on Sango's shoulder, Miroku spoke softly, "I know Lady Sango but Kagome needs this time to herself. She plans to meditate I am sure and that will help restore her strength. I will be able to tell if something goes wrong with the barrier. Trust me…trust her. She isn't in a hurry to die regardless of how bad she gets treated."

Sesshoumaru agreed with the taijiya and the houshi. Apparently though, the both of them had forgotten that Kagome can hardly even breathe when she is attacked in such a way which would make her promise of calling for help meaningless. He stood from the ground in fluid grace and walked off into the forest. His direction wasn't in the exact location of the springs but rather a roundabout way to the general area. Even if the miko wanted to be alone – which he could understand – there was still the very real chance that Kikyou would try her hand again.

Saving the young woman from death twice only to have her killed in a moment without being watched over did not sit well with the Taiyoukai.

As he walked quietly through the brush and trees, Sesshoumaru's mind went right back to the train of thought he had been on before the children and humans showed up. He wasn't sure if he was pleased or not about that but he figured that since he had the time he might as well try and sort something out. His body mechanically took over propelling him through the foliage as his mind milled about the thought at hand.

Kagome.

How in the entire world was it possible for one small female to twist herself around him so effectively without really doing anything?

It confused the great inu and if there was one thing Sesshoumaru didn't like it was being confused.

Really there were only so many actions he could take considering the problem at hand. Unfortunately, the most logical and effective one was the one he found himself disliking the most…despite the fact that at one point in time, he would have done it without hesitation.

Simply put, he could completely revert back to the way he acted years before. He could leave the region entirely and only show up once in a great while to fight Inuyasha for the Tetsusaiga, act cruelly and coldly to everyone he came across and therefore, stub any possible ideas Naraku could get that he had changed.

He could continue making short visits to the group under the guise of letting Rin see Shippou and Kagome, therefore satiating his desire to see the miko himself and keeping Rin happy. That would leave Naraku with more than enough rope to hang Sesshoumaru with.

Then there was the option of staying as a personal member of the group. Of course, he would have to use the excuse that it was to hunt down Naraku but he really doubted he would be able to be cold and cruel to Kagome if he was actually around her that often.

She made him want to do really strange things.

Take now for example. He was striding without purpose through a tangled web of forest to keep an eye out for an undead miko who was trying to steal the soul of a very alive miko and he realized that he had been growling since the first mention of the name Naraku.

Or was it the mention of Kikyou that had him so riled?

He stopped in his steps when the scent of graveyard soil and death tickled his nose and it seemed as though the wench had just visited his brother for he could clearly smell Inuyasha's scent with her own. Quite an offensive odor. The wind shifted then, thankfully, and brought to him the sweet aroma of Kagome. Her pleasant scent calmed him even from a distance and he decided to change direction to walk closer to where she was. If the dead miko was within range of his sense of smell she was too close, in his opinion.

Within moments, Sesshoumaru was just outside the area of the springs and he moved to the treetops. Finding a rather tall tree, he settled on a sturdy branch and crept along it silently. The gentle sound of the miko humming caressed his sensitive ears and he fought the urge to smile at her antics. As he finally broke free of the heavy foliage, the Demon Lord turned his gaze down towards the water, expecting Kagome to either be still within the springs or dressed and meditating.

What he found was neither and the site that greeted his golden gaze had a rather damaging impact on his self control.

The miko had apparently just stepped from the steaming water and was standing on the soft moss that surrounded the springs. As she wrung out the lengths of her hair, crystalline beads of water slid down her delicate neck to caress her shoulders and slide down the valley of her breasts before slipping down the length of her long, elegant legs. She looked like a water nymph standing there bathed in sunlight and naked as the day she was born and Sesshoumaru felt his pants tighten.

His mouth became suspiciously dry at the site and he had to wonder if the female had any clue how enticing she was. Her arm stretched out to a nearby rock to grasp a towel and she promptly wrapped her hair up in it before grabbing the second towel and running it up and down the length of her body, gathering the water droplets to leave only slightly damp skin behind. She closed her eyes and tilted her head backwards, a smile tugging at her soft lips as she did so, and let the sun bathe her body. After a few long moments - in which Sesshoumaru's control was tested to its limits – she lifted her head and grabbed up a kimono.

Although he had never really watched a female dress, the Taiyoukai was certain it wasn't meant to be an erotic thing. However, the way the silk slid over her creamy skin and her dainty hands wrapped it around her body only served to arouse him further. His beast was growling and purring with appreciation and impatience and Sesshoumaru had to tighten the reigns on his inu blood. If he let his blood beast free, he would surely find the miko as his mate and while the thought didn't really surprise him, he knew that if his rational mind ever decided to take such a step, he wanted to be in control.

Being denied caused his inner inu to whimper sorrowfully before relinquishing control and the Demon Lord could only let out a mental sigh of relief. His attention turned back to Kagome and he found her staring at her reflection for a time before slapping at the water. It was a gesture he realized she made because she thought she looked badly and when she stood from the ground with sad eyes, his thought was confirmed. Although he knew what such an action meant, he didn't understand it. She was a vision dressed as she was; she looked the part of royalty easily and Sesshoumaru found himself unconsciously changing the stars on her kimono to moons…like the one on his forehead.

She walked to her giant yellow bag and gathered everything she had taken out. After she had replaced her bathing items, she pulled something else out from the depths of the pack. Whatever the object was, it was small enough to fit in her hands and he watched transfixed as she encased it within her tiny palms, closed her eyes and started to pray.

Finishing her bath in haste, Kagome was soon out of the water and drying off. The sun was shining merrily and she couldn't help taking a few minutes to bask in its warmth before dressing. Once the kimono was secured properly with the obi, the miko walked to the waters edge to check her reflection. The silken garment was a beautiful one and Kagome wondered wear Sango had come up with the money to buy it. It was a gorgeous shade of sapphire across her shoulders that faded through lighter and lighter shades of blue and into silver. Tiny silver stars adorned the darker colors of blue and a beautiful silver obi wrapped around her waist.

Her eyes done roaming the beautiful garment that adorned her body, she turned her gaze to her face. As everything came sharply into focus, Kagome watched her warm blue eyes turn cold and brown. Her soft lips lost their gentle smile only to form into an icy scowl. Wet and wavy ebony hair straightened entirely and lost the blue tint and shine. Have I been compared to her so long that I can't even see myself anymore? She bit her lip angrily as tears of pain and sorrow threatened to swarm her cheeks. She wasn't her; Kagome was not Kikyou. She wasn't and damn Inuyasha to the ninth layer of hell for making her doubt herself.

Slapping at the water violently sufficiently cleared the image and she stood to walk back to her bag. As she gathered up her things, the presence she had sensed long ago shifted slightly and she felt a very familiar signature of youki. Knowing now that it was Sesshoumaru, the actions the presence had taken made more sense. While she had been meditating she had become aware of Kikyou slinking about the forest on the other side of the barrier and shortly after had sensed another aura. Now that she knew for sure it was the Taiyoukai, she assumed he had chosen to take a walk and had felt the undead miko's aura as well.

His presence brought a sense of safety to the young miko and she briefly wondered when she had lost her mind. Although he had saved her – twice in all actuality – he was still the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands who had attempted to turn her into a puddle of goo with his Dokkasou at their first meeting. Yet…when she had looked into his eyes as he held her through her pain just this morning there had been something there. An emotion or a feeling had shone through some invisible crack in his prefect mask. Although it was there and gone faster than she could blink it had still been there.

She felt safe around him and the feeling was so longed for by the young miko that she didn't really care who he was.

A memory from earlier in the day came back her then in a flash. It had been so odd to see a vision of his father overlap his. At first she had brushed it off as a hallucination induced by her agony. Now she wasn't so sure. Kagome felt the same sense of safety in the arms of Sesshoumaru as she had Sugimi. Maybe she had seen such a strange thing simply to force her to realize it? She didn't know and as stated before she didn't care. Both occasions were fleeting things and she would simply hold on to the memories for as long as she could.

As the rest of her things went into her bag, her hands went to the pocket hidden inside and withdrew the jewel Sugimi had given her. As her mind drifted to the question of how to restore it, she came up with an idea. Closing her eyes and clasping the jewel tightly, she prayed. Forming all of her focus onto her healing powers and Sesshoumaru, she prayed and felt her energy flow into the gem. Slowly she opened her eyes and found the tiny sphere to be glowing an electric blue and she smiled. Shrugging her backpack on to settle on her shoulders, Kagome looked straight into the forest where she knew the Demon Lord to be and smiled softly before placing the jewel on the rock where her bag had just been.

Without another thought, she turned on her heel and walked swiftly away.