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A/Ns: I'm back...er, mostly. I'm not sure how long I'll be back as I start grad school this week and things may get crazy. Not sure. I apologize for the craziness of a very long time without an update. To be honest, I got fed up with this story, and more specifically the response I was receiving for my last two chapters. I don't even want to attempt to delve into the rudeness I received for trying to put in background and characterization into my story.

However, you should all be worshiping demonlordlover and quirkyslayer; as without those two wonderful, spectacularly awesome people I would have probably given up on this story completely. I also have to give a shout out to Vyncent who left me a message of such encouragement that it literally left me in tears. So thank you, all three of you, for being there for me. I appreciate it more than I can ever put into words.

Oh, and one last quick work. I thank all of those who have supported Unexpected Endeavors within the fandom awards. UE was nominated for this past quarter's Feudal Association Awards, as well as the annual awards over on A Single Spark. It's currently nominated for this quarter's Inuyasha Fan Guild. I can't tell you how privileged I feel to be nominated for such awards, especially considering some of the most wonderful fics I'm going up against. I never thought my writing was much worth anything, but my self-esteem has definitely been boosted to realize that there are people out there that believe it has some quality to it, even if I can't see it. Thank you very much!

Chapter Fourteen: Unexpected Realizations

-----

Kagome looked cautiously around her at the gaping women surrounding what was left of their traveling group. She couldn't help but shift uneasily at the curious gazes that moved between each of the three.

"So, Aiko," Kagome said nervously. "Why exactly is everyone staring? Does this village not get a lot of visitors?"

The older woman shook her head. "We get fine business from travelers. They just usually don't accompany youkai. They are curious, especially since you claim to be traveling willingly with the Taiyoukai of the West."

"Sesshomaru? He's really not that bad--"

"Not that bad? He keeps a little human girl with him, for what perverse reasons I do not know. He's forced the men of this village, when they're needed in the fields the most, to go off and do whatever bidding he wishes."

Kagome sighed, looking at her friends. Miroku was eyeing the women around him, though there was something off about his demeanor; a certain air of caution that normally wasn't there when pretty women were near by. Sango, too, was on her guard.

"Her name is Rin," Kagome said.

Aiko looked up from pouring tea for her guests. They were in her small home, the other people of the village crowded in. "So you know he keeps a human pet?"

"Pet?"

Sango snorted. "Rin is hardly a pet. She follows him willingly, though for what reason I don't know," she paused to look at Kagome for any insight. The miko shook her head, she hadn't a clue either. "And Sesshomaru is fiercely protective of her."

"A dog is always protective of his property."

Kagome tensed, her eyes adverted. There were several children to her left, whispering and looking at her. She smiled at them. They nervously shifted, looking at each other, before one of the girls stepped out of the group and approached Kagome.

"A-are you really a miko?" the girl asked.

Kagome smiled and nodded.

"A-and you really travel with the Taiyoukai?"

Again Kagome nodded, "He may seem cold, but when he wants to he can be quite kind."

The children's eyes widened and many of the excess people in the hut started talking. This time an adult woman stepped out of the crowd to address the young miko. Her clothes were dusty and lines of exhaustion were etched deeply in her forehead and around her eyes. Kagome bit her lip, looking worriedly over the woman who obviously needed rest.

"You're the woman that our men our building that small palace for?"

Confusion took over Kagome's features. She turned to Sango and Miroku but they looked just as befuddled. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."

"My son came back recently, he broke his arm in an accident while working for the Taiyoukai, with the rest of our men. He said that a very large home was being built for the Taiyoukai's mate, and what was more, the rumours were that she was a miko. It must be you."

Kagome shook her head, a slight flush taking over her face. "I'm sure that was misinformation--"

"So you know not what he plans for you," Aiko said.

She put a cup of tea in front of her guests. Kagome looked down at the murky green liquid. Neither of her friends were touching the liquid but Kagome couldn't bring herself to be so rude to her host. She picked up the cup, twisting it several times in the palm of her hand before taking a sip. The liquid burned her throat as it went down. She smiled her thanks to the older woman.

"I beg you, miko-san--"

"It's Kagome," she interrupted.

Aiko paused, her lips pursed tightly together. "Kagome-san, I beg of you; don't return to this demon. He will trick you into his services."

Sango snorted and Kagome blushed a bright red. Aiko looked between the two women, her brows drawn. "Has he already done so, is this what you find so amusing?"

"H-he didn't mean to trick me," Kagome defended. "I was just...a bit daft, I suppose."

"Nonsense, he's a youkai. You are not at fault."

"Oh no, you misunderstand--"

"No, miko-san," Aiko said, standing.

"Kagome."

"You don't have to defend this fiend. Between a monk, a miko, a demon slayer, and some of the natural skills of the people in this village, we can surely defeat him. You don't have to be enslaved to that youkai, we can protect you."

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "Now you're talking crazy. You're going out of your way to look for a fight when there isn't any."

Aiko looked down at the girl, her eyes narrowed. "He must have brainwashed you."

"Stop being so hateful!" she shouted.

Sango and Miroku both stood, looking at the crowd who was nervously shifting in the hut. They would be lucky if their youkai companions didn't come rushing into the village after that outburst.

"You're seeing only what you want because you're so prejudiced against demons; but they aren't all bad. I won't say that they're all good, but I won't say that they are murderous creatures. At the edge of this village sit six youkai who I all consider to be some of my closest friends. They are like my family. They watch over me, take care of me, and would do anything to protect me. And yes, Inuyasha, Koga, and Sesshomaru may not be perfect. They all bicker, they're all overbearing, arrogant, prideful, and way too overprotective; but they care and they try and for that I would give my life in return to save them, to protect them from whatever harm may come and if that means standing up to you, Takahashi Aiko, then so be it."

Kagome was breathing heavily as she finished her speech. Miroku and Sango were looking proudly at the young woman who had just poured her heart out to the villagers. Aiko looked positively livid but many of the people in the hut looked to be wavering in their opinions. The woman who had spoken up earlier looked as if she wanted to speak again.

"You're very faithful, miko-san," Aiko said. "It will be your downfall."

"That may well be," she answered. "But at least I will die protecting those who I love and not doing so through eyes blinded by hate."

"How can you be so sure that they're good, the youkai that you travel with?"

Kagome looked over to another woman who had spoken up. Kagome smiled at her, she noticed that this woman too looked near exhaustion. "That isn't something I can answer, I'm afraid. It's just something I feel. Like how I know that in several hours the sun will set and moon and stars will come shining in the night sky. Or how the seasons will change through the year."

"Blind faith," Aiko said.

Kagome's expression clouded a bit before she gave a soft smile. "Yeah, I guess so; faith that what is in my heart is right."

"The heart is blind, they say," Miroku inputted.

Sango looked over at him, one brow lifted. She would have to question him about that later.

"But not stupid. You are fooling yourself miko-san."

"No, I am not. You are and I won't sit here allowing you to insult my friends any longer."

Kagome turned to leave. Many of the crowd still looked uncertain about her but several looked at her with a different light in their eyes. She smiled at them, thankful that not all of them were following Aiko's hatred.

Miroku was the first to leave, already out of the hut when Aiko spoke again. "You speak of trusting these youkai but you'll regret it. That palace being built is for you; and without your consent he will bed you. Then you'll come begging us to avenge you."

Kagome turned around, her eyes narrowed. "You tarnish Sesshomaru's honor by assuming he would sink so low. If he wanted to just take what he wanted, he would have already done so. He has not, nor will he."

Aiko snorted, looking away with contempt. "And what do you make of this palace he is building without your knowledge? Is he just giving you a gift because you are his friend? I highly doubt it."

The young miko straightened her posture so that she was at her full height, her chin held high in the air. "The rumour of my being his mate is completely untrue," she said. "But I have agreed, though the beginning of said agreement was a bid...odd, to bear his heir."

The women in the hut all stared at her. Aiko's head snapped to stare at the miko, her own eyes as wide as the others'. "You have willing given yourself to be his whore?"

A feral growl came from Kagome. Sango's eyes looked around the hut, convinced that one of the inu-brothers had hidden out in the throngs. "I do no such thing. I do this as my duty, with love and respect for Sesshomaru, and happiness to know that I will have a son waiting for me to dote upon in the future."

Kagome turned from Aiko, ignoring everyone in the hut, and walked out. Sango followed, looking at her curiously. Miroku was a bit down the way, talking to a merchant--an elderly man who couldn't be used for construction. Both women started off towards the monk.

"You do realize you just admitted that you would still have Sesshomaru's son once the confusion with Koga gets cleared."

Kagome nodded. Sango smirked at the crimson colour her friend's face had taken. "Uh-huh, you also realize you admitted you loved Sesshomaru--"

"Shut up," Kagome said hastily. "I love all my friends."

"Yeah--but you never agreed to bear Miroku's children, and he's asked many times."

"Well, duh, he's a pervert."

Both girls giggled at the monk. He turned to look at them curiously, smiling to see them laughing. They just continued to laugh at his cluelessness.

"You do love him though," Sango stated in a whisper.

"Maybe, I'm not sure. It's kind of...soon."

"If there is one thing I've learned about you," the taijiya said. "Your heart is vast and non-discriminate. And while I wouldn't say it was fickle, it definitely knows with finality what it feels for who and can make that decision with relative quickness."

Kagome bit her lip. "But, I...it doesn't seem like I'm just jumping from one brother to another, does it?"

Sango intertwined her arm around Kagome's. They slowed their pace, walking past Miroku so he could finish up his conversation and catch up with them. "I wouldn't say that, but I know you better. Like you said, you love all your friends; just some you love more than others, and some have proven they deserve it more than others."

"And how has Sesshomaru shown he has deserved it?"

The taijiya looked over at her friend from the corner of her eye. She smiled at Kagome's perplexed expression. "He's compromising."

Kagome looked over. "How so?"

"He's showing emotion, specifically towards you."

"I'm sure he would do that with anyone--"

"Kagome-chan," Sango said exasperated. "Have you ever seen him act like that with Rin?"

She racked her mind, not able to come up with anything. "Well, I suppose not; but that doesn't mean a whole lot. He could just not want to show it in front of other people."

"And yet he has no problem showing his attention, and /intentions/, towards you in front of other people."

They began to climb the slight hill out of the village. In the distance two heads of silvers could be seen sitting down across from each other. Both women took in the lack of three members of their group.

"I wonder what happened to Sesshomaru, Shippo, and Koga?" Kagome asked.

"Won't know till we ask, will we?" Sango said.

They increased their pace a bit. Miroku was noisily climbing the path behind them. Both remaining inu-brothers stood to greet them. Kirara stood as well, stretching first her front legs then back. She mewed happily to see her mistress.

-----

"And I'm telling you we should already leave! He's an inuyoukai, for fuck's sake, he can sniff us out and catch up with us in no time; even with that useless brat tagging along."

"And I said no, Inuyasha, we're not leaving until they get back." Kagome all but growled.

Their voices carried several yards from where they were actually arguing. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes at the stupidity of his younger brother. From the corner of his eye, the Taiyoukai watched as the fox kit deflated some. He shoulders slumped forward, the rabbits he carried by their ears threatened to drag on the ground.

"Don't let this idiot's words affect you so much kitsune," he said.

Shippo looked up at the Taiyoukai. "He is incapable of anything but brash words and most of the time doesn't mean them."

"But he wants to leave me behind."

"No. He wants to distance himself from that village, of which I don't blame him. He knows we would catch up easily."

Shippo didn't looked very convinced but resigned himself to not listen to Inuyasha's words, at least for the moment. They walked in silence until they reached the end of the woods.

As they exited, Shippo called out to the miko. "Hey, Kagome," he yelled.

She turned to look at them, her eyes scanning both before coming to rest on Shippo's face. Worry flickered through her eyes briefly before replaced with her usual mirth. "Did you catch those on your own?"

The kitsune nodded, his chest puffed up a bit. "Yeah, we can have meat for dinner tonight."

Squatting down, Kagome ruffled Shippo's red hair. Several strands came out of his ponytail and fell in his face. He blew at them, eyes squinted, trying to get them out of his face.

"Are we done with this nauseating scene? Can we go now?"

"What's the matter, Inu, don't you like the domestic scenery?"

Inuyasha turned to growl at the other inuyoukai, his eyes were narrowed. Haru lifted a brow, a smug smile staining his lips. The hanyou looked away, his eyes downcast and pink tinting his cheeks. He scratched at the blush with one clawed finger. "It--it's not that," he mumbled.

A silence took the area as the group looked at their hanyou friend. Inuyasha looked around at the amazed faces and lost his embarrassment completely. "What the hell are you all looking at? The bastard and the brat are back, so let's get going. I want to get far away from this place as possible."

"I agree," Sesshomaru added. "We shall leave now. Kitsune, keep the rabbits for later."

Shippo nodded, though he looked around curiously of where he was going to carry it. Miroku sighed behind him. "Come here Shippo," he said while taking off his outer robes.

The kit's eyes widened. "Eh, what are you doing pervert?"

Miroku sent him a scathing look, though any angry look from the monk was a little less effective in his boyish, yet devious face. "You can wrap your rabbits in the cloth and carry them that way, though you'll be responsible for getting my robes washed and returned later."

Shippo nodded and took the offered cloth. "Wow, Miroku," Sango said. "That was actually nice of you."

"I was thinking the same thing," Kagome said.

"Am I not always nice?"

"No," both girls answered deadpanned.

Miroku sighed, his shoulders slumping forward. Inwardly, he thought what he could have done to deserve such disrespect. He smiled, remembering, as he took in both women's swaying hips as they walked before him.

-----

"I never really had a chance, did I?"

Kagome looked up, startled. She was filling a couple of plastic water bottles up in a nearby stream. The group had paused to rest for a bit. At some point, Koga had approached her.

"Excuse me?" she said, still crouching down.

He mimicked her pose, looking down in the water instead of meeting her eyes. "With you, I mean. I never had a chance."

"Oh, Koga--"

He shook his head and Kagome stopped. She bit her lip, not liking to see her friend obviously upset but not really sure what to do about it.

"I've been watching you all day, especially since we left that human village," he continued. "I've always known that you and Inuyasha were close...that you two just had something between you that no one could replace."

He laughed, though it was rough and lacked any humour. "I guess it's still like that; but at least I have the knowledge that Inuyasha isn't getting you either. I don't think I could stand losing to him."

Kagome's eyes widened. "Koga, you're really being silly now. I don't know what you're--"

She stopped when Koga looked up at her. His eyes were deep with unhidden emotions. He smiled to her, a poor attempt to hide the hurt he was obviously feeling. She couldn't help but feel that this was what breaking up felt like, though she would hardly know, never having time to really date anyone with her busy life.

"I need to get back to my pack," he said. "If you need me, if any of those brothers hurt you, just let me know and I'll be here to protect you."

He stood and stretched. Kagome capped her bottles and stood with him. The chattering of their group had quieted and both of them could feel three distinct gazes on them as they spoke. "You may not realize it, but your heart has already started making its decision and your body is already showing it. Eventually your brain is going to catch up too." He paused, smiling at Kagome's indignant huff. "I know you love Inuyasha, in whatever capacity that may be in; but the way you act to that prissy looking Taiyoukai, there is something there."

"But, I'm not acting any differently."

Koga smiled. He brought a hand up and skimmed her cheeks with his knuckles. She blushed a bit but didn't drop his gaze. "But you do. It's little things. You find ways to touch him, smiling at him for no reason, and just...the way you look at him. It's all there. You just don't realize you're doing it yet; and that's probably what speaks the most for your feelings. It's just innate for you to do that."

Kagome dropped her eyes to the ground between them. There was a slight breeze causing her hair to flutter around her face. "I...I don't know."

"Because you're thinking about it too hard," Koga answered, he lowered his voice. "And it seems that your Taiyoukai is returning those feelings; though probably unconsciously himself."

Kagome shook her head. "I doubt that, he just wants--"

"He's a Taiyoukai, Kagome, and probably one of the most powerful ones too. He doesn't try and change some of his demeanor for just anyone; and certainly not just for a deal, no matter how determined he is."

The miko looked up at him. Her cheeks were pink. "R-really?"

Koga nodded. He smiled at her, this time it was much bigger; more like his usual grins. "I will probably always love you, my lovely Kagome; but it's time I stopped being so blind. I will, however, always remain your friend and ally."

Kagome smiled, tears coming to her eyes.

"Oy, Lord Sesshomaru," Koga called.

The eldest inuyoukai walked over to the two. A growl was bubbling in his throat, begging to be released at the smell of the miko's barely suppressed tears. "What do you want wolf?"

He answered in a quiet tone, so that Kagome couldn't hear. "You better not being doing this just for a stupid deal. Heir or not, she's better than that."

Sesshomaru looked down at the wolf, his appearance as stoic as ever. Koga tried to gauge his reaction, but couldn't.

"Fine. I officially renounce my claim on Kagome. She's yours, but only if that's her choice for it to be so."

"W-wait," Inuyasha yelled, his voice cracking. "Why now? I've been trying for years to get you to stop calling her your woman!"

The sad smile returned to Koga's face. "Because, unlike you dog-turd, I realize where her heart lies."

He looked over to Kagome and leaned over. He placed a soft, chaste kiss on her lips. He whispered a goodbye and then stepped back. He bowed to the Taiyoukai and waved his goodbyes to the others.

Kagome watched, a bit forlornly, as he left in his usual flurry of dirt.

"You're sad to see him go?" Sesshomaru asked behind her.

She nodded. "He was...no, is a good friend, even if he was a little dense."

She smiled and brought her hands up to her lips for a second. "Well maybe not so dense in the end."

Kagome turned to him. "Well I guess that solves your problem."

Sesshomaru looked down at her. His brow was quirked. Something in her eyes looked off, too sad for his liking. "Possibly," he said, before turning to the rest of the group. "Let us continue. It isn't much further and I would like to get there before the sun sets."

The group nodded. "Walk with the Taijiya," he said.

He took Kagome's hand and pulled her forward. Once she started walking on her own, he moved his hand to the small of her back to guide her along. "Haru, take the front with the monk--"

"Hey, who said you could just start ordering people around now that the wolf is gone?" Inuyasha shouted.

The Taiyoukai looked at his brother unconcerned. "You will walk with me in the back, little brother, as I have things to discuss with you."

Inuyasha thrust his hands in his sleeves and looked away. He didn't protest anymore.

"I guess that leaves us in the middle," Sango mumbled as they began assembling to trek further down the path.

-----

The group had walked on with disjointed conversation. Haru and Miroku had been discussing things between each other and the two inuyoukai brothers behind them had also been in their own conversation. The girls in the middle were desperately trying to hear what the two groups were saying, feeling left out.

It was odd, Kagome couldn't help but notice, that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were getting along so well. They were also speaking of things they didn't want anyone other than they to hear as Shippo noted that it was near impossible to hear anything they were saying--even with his advanced hearing.

"I don't know which bugs me more," Sango whispered to the miko beside her. "The two perverts up there scheming or the two brothers back there getting along."

Kagome nodded, though she didn't feel as threatened by Haru and Miroku. Though, she supposed, she had two possessive inuyoukai to keep them away. Sango wasn't that lucky.

"I'm trying not to think about it."

"How's that working out for you?"

"Horrible."

Sango laughed, her hair swaying from the movements. She brought her left hand up to push part of it behind her ears. "I wonder how much longer we have to go. It's getting rather late."

Kagome nodded, looking west. The sun was settling behind low-lying hills. The lands before it were cast in an orange haze before darkening to the deep midnight colours of night. They didn't have much longer to make it.

"We have only a mile left," Sesshomaru spoke behind them. "If those in front will quicken their pace, we shall get there within the hour."

Haru looked back, acknowledging he had heard the Taiyoukai speak, but didn't bother to pay it any heed.

"That was not a suggestion," Sesshomaru's warning tone came.

"Ah, but Sesshomaru-sama, you must remember that not all of us have youkai blood running through our veins--"

"Can it houshi," Inuyasha growled. "The girls aren't complaining so you certainly don't have a reason to. And if you don't speed up now, we'll just overtake you and leave you behind."

Miroku mumbled something under his breath but sped up. Haru eventually increased his pace too; but neither of them looked happy about it.

"See, now that's how you do it," Inuyasha gloated.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes but said nothing. Kagome laughed at both groups of guys. Sango was just shaking her head. "I think you and I are the most mature people in this group, Kagome-chan."

"Hey," Shippo said. "What about me?"

Sango looked around Kagome, bent slightly over, to look at Shippo. He had taken to walking beside Kagome as much as possible; refusing offers of being carried. "I'm sorry, Shippo, of course I meant you too. You've been very grown up lately."

Shippo puffed out his chest, shifting the makeshift sack on his shoulders. Kagome crinkled her nose at the smell coming from it. The rabbits were decaying quickly, it seemed, and it wasn't making her stomach feel too happy. She wondered how the youkai could put up with it.

"So are we going to be seeing these men from the village? The ones you spirited away to build this mystery 'palace' for you?" Kagome asked.

She turned and began to walk backwards. Sango and Inuyasha looked on warily, knowing Kagome's normal walking troubles.

"Palace?" Sesshomaru asked, one brow quirked. "I know not what you speak of, miko."

"Well the women in that village seemed convinced that you were building a palace; and they were pretty sure it was for me."

"And how would they know? They've never been to the site."

"There was a young man who came back, broke his arm and so was useless there."

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear," he said back.

Kagome looked over at Sango. The two women met each other's gazes and then shrugged. "Then what is it you're building?"

"A home."

"What? A home?"

"Yes," he said. "As part of my agreement, I would provide protection, shelter, food and the other necessities. This is just simply part of the agreement."

"So it is for me."

Sesshomaru didn't answer; not that Inuyasha minded. His ears flicked back and forth at he conversation between the two. They spoke smoothly with each other; with a comfort that usually was only built up from years of knowing the other. The hanyou observed his brother, noticing the flicker of emotion in his eyes as he talked to Kagome. Inuyasha had to suppress a growl of jealously. "Would you two cut the flirting out? It's obnoxious."

Kagome looked over at him, her surprise evident on her face. Sesshomaru snorted quietly, looking ahead. With his eyesight he could already see the workers scrambling about trying to finish the last of the days work before the sun set completely.

"We're almost there," Sesshomaru spoke, to cover Inuyasha's embarrassment.

Kagome, who had turned around at the declaration of their journey ending for the day, sighed happily. "It'll be nice to get off my feet. They're killing me."

Sango nodded in agreement.

"We could get there sooner," Inuyasha said.

He looked over at Sesshomaru from the corner of this eye. The Taiyoukai nodded slightly. "Fine. Taijiya, take the monk and kitsune on the fire neko. Haru, Inuyasha, I presume you can make it there on your own."

Both nodded.

"And what about me?" Kagome asked, mostly assuming she would just ride Inuyasha's back as usual.

Sesshomaru wrapped his arm around the miko's waist. "You'll come with me," he said.

Kagome gasped and clutched onto Sesshomaru's clothing when she suddenly found herself rising in the air. Looking down, she noticed a cloud of his youki forming underneath them in a dusky pink colour. The colour complimented the red on Sesshomaru's attire.

"Is red the colour of your family?"

Sesshomaru looked down at her as they flew through the air. Kirara was just behind them in the air and the other two inu brothers were racing down below. "No, why do you ask?"

"Well both you and Inuyasha wear it, so I just figured."

"No."

"Oh," Kagome said, turning her head slightly to the side so she could see where they were going.

"I was once told that red complimented my person, as they do with Inuyasha, and that is why I had it embroidered on my clothing."

"Ah, who told you that?"

There was another brief pause before he answered, this time quietly and with a much more subdued tone. "Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother."

Kagome looked up, surprised. "But, I thought--"

Sesshomaru shook his head. "A tale for another time, I'm afraid. Now is not the time to delve into painful memories and past injustices."

"Okay," she said. "But I'm going to hold you to it, you have to tell me."

He nodded. Kagome noticed as he withdrew into himself, obviously trying to force back whatever memories he was speaking of. She moved her arms so that they were encircling him. Squeezing him in a tight hug, she rested her head on his armor, cooled by the wind. "Don't worry," she whispered to him. "I won't think any less of you, I'm sure. It's not like you killed her."

Sesshomaru tensed, something Kagome felt. She pushed back to look up at him with horrified eyes. "Sesshomaru, you didn't, right?"

He refused to meet her eyes. "No, not directly at least," he said quietly. "Though she would have not died so young had it not been for my actions."

"Humans are mortal, Sesshomaru, she would have been young in your eyes no matter when she died."

Sesshomaru looked down upon her. Kagome observed his eyes, the only part of his face that ever even remotely showed emotion. They were clouded a bit, and looked far too old. Though perhaps he was just showing his true age.

He didn't say anymore as they approached the island. The river, which had been running further to the west for a good while now, had now veered towards the path they had been on earlier. Haru and Inuyasha made easy crossing of the length. Kagome just looked down on it, watching the fish swim against the current.

Sesshomaru's grip was like steel around her waist, as if he feared her trying to flee, even this far above the ground. She tightened her arms around him, trying to give him some form of comfort; though she wasn't sure if it helped any.

-----

That's it for this chapter. Hopefully it won't be too long before the next update. Thank you so much for reading. Reviews are love!