As Kagome reached the top of the shrine steps, she trudged wearily over to the shade provided by Goshinboku. Flopping down against the tree with a huff, she enjoyed the cool breeze as she caught her breath from the long climb.

Looking up into the branches, Kagome squinted as bits of light filtered through the leaves, sparkling like daytime stars. Remembering what her grandfather had told her about Goshinboku, the little girl silently made a wish, screwing her eyes shut in concentration. So lost in thought was she, that she didn't notice the light coming out of the well-house in the courtyard across from her.

With a smile, Kagome stood up, and brushing her uniform off, began to walk towards the shrine she called home. She was almost to the door when a hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. Before she had a chance to turn, she heard a haughty voice address her- in a not so polite manner.

"You, human girl! Tell this Sesshomaru where he is at once!" A boy not much taller than herself stood directly behind her, a small scowl on his pale face as he looked down his button nose at her.

Kagome didn't notice much else about the boy, as her temper at his demand got the better of her and she glared. "My name is Kagome, not "girl"! And you could say "please"- didn't your mama ever tell you it isn't nice to treat people so rudely!" Her temper began to cool as she noticed with satisfation how the strange boy's eyes widened in shock.

After a moment of tension, the boy, looking more wary of the girl in front of him, cleared his throat and asked uncertainly, "Please?"

Nodding encouragingly, Kagome answered him, "This is the Higurashi Family Shrine. My name's Higurashi Kagome, and I live here. Are you lost?" The boy's eyes cut to the side quickly, as a blush of shame crossed his face and he sullenly answered "This one does not know."

Cocking her head in curiosity, Kagome began to notice other details about the boy in front of her. Dressed in a traditional green yukata, he had long, snowy hair with bangs that fell neatly along his forehead, framing a small indigo crescent. Maroon stripes stood out starkly against his fair cheeks, leading to delicately pointed ears. Startling the boy yet again, Kagome stepped right into his face, her own sapphire orbs absorbing the glimmering citrus eyes now locked on her.

Leaning back again, her gaze was suddenly caught by the fluffy silver boa looped over the boy's shoulder and trailing the ground. Before he could react, Kagome was behind him, her arms full of the softest, thickest fur she'd ever seen, snuggling into it with a huge smile plastered on her face. Glancing again at the now red faced boy she asked, "What'd you say your name was again?"

Attempting to regain his composure, the young demon lord stuttered out "Se-Sesshomaru. Taisho Sesshomaru." Putting a finger to her lips, Kagome looked at him contemplatively. Dropping the fur in her arms as she gasped, Sesshomaru suddenly found the raven-headed girl in his face again as she exclaimed, "You're a demon, aren't you Sessho!?"

Frowning, the little demon turned his nose up at the girl. "Of course I am, silly human! I am the heir to the west, and will one day be the strongest demon in all of Nippon!"

Ignoring the 'sillly human' comment, Kagome straightened up with a confused look on her face. "How do you know that, Sessho-chan?"

"My name's Sesshomaru-sama, not Sessho-chan, and," he continued with a tone of confidence, "I know because my Otosan said so!" Nodding agreeably with him, as Kagome's mother was also always right, she looked at him again with a small smile.

"Well, if you're lost, we need to get you home! So, where did you come from?" Sesshomaru pointed and both children followed the direction of his finger to see the well-house, standing to the side of the courtyard looking sulky. Trotting over to the ancient building, Kagome, followed by Sesshomaru, slipped through the already opened door and carefully made her way down the steps to the well in the center of the floor.

Looking at Sesshomaru and then back at the well, Kagome circled the dusty wood structure til she stood on the opposite side. Gripping the side of the well, she hoisted herself up to look over the edge into the inky darkness below, her eyes just barely noting the gloomy bottom. Lifting her eyes, she watched as Sesshomaru kneeled on the pile of fur he had recently pulled off his shoulder, also gazing into the muted silence below them both.

"Sooooo... you came out of here?" Kagome blinked at him, her brow puckered in question.

"Hn."

Looking at him a moment longer, Kagome turned her gaze back to the depths.

"...cool."