Chapter 3: The Priestess

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Chapter 3: The Priestess

Someone was poking her in the ribs. She groaned and turned over. "Go away, Sota," she muttered, the words slurred beyond human comprehension.

The poking continued and she slapped at it. Whatever it was withdrew.

"Get up, woman!" hissed a voice.

Kagome's eyes opened and the soft sunlight of the early morning greeted her gaze. "Ugh, Sesshoumaru?" she murmured, turning back over. The blanket was twisted around her legs and she yawned. "What's up?" she asked sleepily, kicking off the blankets. She had slept in flannel pajama pants, thank Kami. The cold morning air struck with a vengeance where her shirt had ridden up at her midriff. She tugged it down and gazed at the youkai. He was standing quite close, with his sword drawn and suddenly, Kagome was very much awake.

The miko looked around. The clearing was quiet and no creature stood at the other side of the stream, where Sesshoumaru's gaze was fixed. She knew enough of demon senses though, and she went very still. "What's out there?"

"The danger you spoke of last night," he whispered.

She stood up as slowly and quietly as possible. She couldn't help it if she died in her pajamas, but she would be damned if she died sitting on her rear. Wishing once again for her bow, she brushed her hair back behind her ears and prepared for any assault.

"What is it?"

"A demon I have met before," he replied, a twinge of anger in his voice.

Kagome felt a cold fist around her heart as the aura of powerful demon approached. She drew back slightly, looking at Sesshoumaru. His face was drawn into a deep scowl and his claws tightened around the hilt of his sword. Suddenly, Kagome remembered that this Sesshoumaru had three hundred years' less experience in battle than the Sesshoumaru she knew. She had always viewed him as a ruthless, exacting killer. No one could watch him fight and not appreciate the pure fluidity of Sesshoumaru's attacks. He was effortless. This Sesshoumaru already banished the collected taiyoukai of the future from her mind. His eyes were a little too wide and his breath a little too fast and he looked so young.

He's not much older than Inuyasha, she realized. And no matter how many times he had mocked his little brother's technique in battle, he had to have been at the same level at one point in his own life. Kagome shivered.

A beast appeared at the other side of the stream, not disturbing a leaf. If Kagome had blinked, she would have thought he had teleported to the embankment. It was a massive wolf with matted black fur and blue eyes, such a pale blue that they looked dead. It had intelligence in the dead eyes though. Kagome could see that in the way its gaze flickered over their makeshift camp and landed upon her as she stood beside the yellow bag.

It took a few steps forward with paws the size of dinner plates and raised its head, its glare shifting to the taiyoukai. "Lord Sesshoumaru..." it hissed. Kagome could see that it had just eaten breakfast, because blood dripped from its jaw as it spoke. "What an honor to meet you."

"Imagine the honor you will have dying by my hand," said the taiyoukai, holding up his thin blade. The early morning sun reflected off of the paper-thin edge.

The wolf made a barking noise that Kagome recognized as laughter. "The last time you fought one of my kind, you barely left the field alive."

Kagome's eyes widened, but Sesshoumaru lifted his chin. "I have improved greatly. Test me, if you wish."

"I'm not here for games. I was called here, by the object in that bag," he said, nodding at Kagome's backpack. "How did a pup like you gather such magnificent power? Or perhaps it was you, little human?" He leered at the miko.

"None of your business," spat Kagome.

The wolf chuckled again. "What impudence. I'm surprised Sesshoumaru hasn't killed you himself. Doesn't matter. I'll kill you. You look so much more tender than those tough-skinned humans back in that village. You will make a fine lunch."

Sesshoumaru growled softly and the dead eyes swiveled back. "Sesshoumaru, are you protective of this little human? How like your father you are in that respect. And how disappointing. At least he has some power and prestige to make up for his strange predilections." The wolf tossed his head, congratulating himself as Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in rage. "Well, young pup, I suppose I should give you the same consideration I give to my offspring when we spar. Ready? Set?"

"Do not mock me."

"Go."

The demon sprang forward as he said the word, easily jumping across the stream and towards the taiyoukai and miko. Sesshoumaru leapt from his path, blocking Kagome effectively but not hitting his adversary. The wolf landed, spun on his heels and charged again. Sesshoumaru made a graceful arc with his blade, but the wolf had an agility that belied his size and he managed to get out the way in time.

Kagome felt Sesshoumaru's hand upon her arm. "Hide yourself."

"I can help."

"Go or get yourself killed," he said, not looking at her. It was unclear whether he meant by his own hand or the wolf's.

She nodded and grabbed her pack, just as the wolf came at them again. She jumped, drawing back quickly until she came to a sturdy tree and throwing herself behind the trunk.

There was a cry and Kagome looked around the tree to see the wolf's ear hanging off by a thread. A dribble of blood slid down Sesshoumaru's blade. Kagome was about to congratulate her protector, when she saw that blood was dripping onto the grass from Sesshoumaru's chest. The wolf tossed his head, making his ear flip around with a sickening slap. "So frail," hissed the creature. "How pathetic that you would be the son of a great demon. Is he very disappointed?" He barked another laugh.

Sesshoumaru took a deep halting breath. "You will not speak of my father, nor of me, with such offensive familiarity," he said, blood oozing out with each word. The red blossomed onto his white clothing.

The wolf charged again, lowering his head and dodging Sesshoumaru's swing neatly. Kagome could hardly believe any creature could move faster than the taiyoukai, but the wolf did so and even had enough momentum to slam into the taiyoukai with enough force to send him flying. The wolf did not even wait to see where Sesshoumaru landed before turning his attention to her.

"Pathetic," he said again. His mouth stretched into a grotesque grin.

She began to back up again. "What do you want?" she asked, although she knew his answer perfectly well.

"I can sense its power," growled the wolf. "Whatever it is, I will have it, girl. It will exalt him to even a higher level of power."

Kagome's skin began to crawl as those dead eyes swept her form. "You can't use it. No one can."

He barked again. "You lie, human. I can smell the deception on you. You are clever, but you have no confidence in yourself. I can sense everything you feel."

The miko frowned, irritated by the invasion into her emotions. She squared her shoulders and glared at the wolf. "I don't think you're getting it. You think that Lord Sesshoumaru is the only one with power here?"

"Weakling. You have no more power than a pup." It turned its head slightly as Sesshoumaru emerged from the brush again. "And he can't even protect one human girl," snarled the wolf, before rushing at Kagome.

Sesshoumaru began to move, the blood still dripping from his wound, but the wolf was much closer. Kagome braced herself and held up her hands.

A flash of pink light enveloped the clearing, forcing Sesshoumaru to turn away and hold up his arm to protect his sensitive eyes. When the morning sun reasserted itself, he lowered his arm and looked back, expecting to find a dead girl and a wolf with a mouthful of blood.

But Kagome was the one standing, staring at the mass of fur lying at her feet. The wolf's body was smoking and smell of burning hair and flesh pervaded the clearing. Its leg was twitching as Kagome watched, although her eyes were not seeing. Sesshoumaru went forward quickly and drove his blade deep into the wolf's chest. The beast gave one final keen of death and lay still. "Kagome?"

Her mouth was open slightly as she shook, her breath rattling through her lungs. Sesshoumaru wanted to shake her, snap her out of it, but he didn't want to touch her. What had happened? Her power incinerated a youkai life somehow, that was clear. The sudden shift from 'helpless human' to 'demon slayer' terrified him. The little girl before him actually terrified him. It was a concept he could not totally grasp. "Kagome?" he said again. His rough tone hid any of his nervousness.

She blinked and closed her mouth. "Wow... that was... unexpected."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "You have never done that before?"

"No," replied the girl firmly. She finally lowered her hands. "Wow," she said again. "That was so awesome!"

The smoke rose from the corpse, clouding the air between him and the girl. He swallowed hard. "You should have told me you were a witch."

Kagome laughed, giddy from the exertion of her power and the relief at being alive. "I'm not! I'm not a witch. I'm a miko. Sort of. I purified him though. Just like a good and proper miko should!" She held up her hands. "But I've never done anything like that before. And I've been trying for ages too. What a time to be successful!"

Sesshoumaru's jaw clenched and he tried not to take a step back. "A miko?" He hadn't sensed that. How could he have missed such power?

She nodded, not seeing his hesitation. "Yeah, it's a family thing. Wow! This is... I mean, how awesome! I wonder if I can do it again? I mean, I'll still use my arrows, but it's good to know I'm not defenseless in close quarters! Wait until the others hear about this!" She stepped over the corpse, staring at it, transfixed, as she picked up her bag. "Wow!" she said again, slinging the bag over her shoulder.

"Hmm." He took a step back as she turned to stare at the wolf's body again.

Kagome turned sharply and looked at him, the corners of her mouth turning down. "Hey now, I'm not going to hurt you, Sesshoumaru," she said, reaching out. Her forehead was shining with beads of sweat. In the sunlight, it looked as if she was covered in tiny diamonds.

He deftly avoided her touch. "I did not know you were a miko."

Her frown remained. "I'm not going to hurt you," she said again. "I don't hurt demons that have helped me. What sense would that make?"

Sesshoumaru tried not to look like he was trying to get out from her immediate area. Of course, a miko of her caliber had been known to purify demons from several feet away. He suddenly had the vision of his charred body being carried back to his father. "It would make no sense. But when are humans logical?"

"Now that's unfair." She kept her hands wrapped firmly around the straps of her bag.

"I almost failed to protect you," he said. "If you had not purified the wolf, I would have failed entirely."

Kagome shook her head. "That doesn't mean I'm going to purify you."

"You would be within your rights." He narrowed his eyes. "And a miko never needs a reason to rid the world of a youkai."

"That's not true," she said, getting angry. "I've met lots of demons that I would never hurt, even if I had been able to do that."

Sesshoumaru turned his head. "We should not..." He took a raspy breath and leaned forward, a hand clutching at his chest.

"Oh Kami." She dropped her bag and moved forward, making Sesshoumaru move back twice as fast. Kagome glared, putting her hands on her hips. "Now stop that! I'm not going to hurt you! Although you might need a good slap right about now! I just want to look at it, okay? You got hurt helping me and I'm going to help you get better again. So what if I'm a miko? We know how to heal people, right?"

Blood seeped out from between his fingers. "I will heal on my own."

Kagome shook her head. "Not very fast, you won't. You've gotten all worked up over me trying to purify you and your heart is pumping out all this blood. Look at that! It wasn't bleeding that badly when the wolf did it in the first place!" She took another step forward.

This time Sesshoumaru didn't step back, but he kept a wary eye upon her. He drew his sword, making her retreat. "I will allow you to bind the wound. If I feel your powers rising, I will kill you without hesitation."

The miko rolled her eyes. "Fine. It's a deal. Come over to the stream."

They walked over separately, but as soon as Sesshoumaru sat down on a smooth rock on the bank, Kagome's hands touched his. "Come on, I need to see it," she said softly, pulling his hand away. He growled softly, but lowered his arm.

It was a deep wound. She could see the white bone of his sternum. But it also looked as if it was already clotting. Her hands went to his collar. "I hope you're not overly fond of this haori," she said, "because it's ruined. Do you have another?"

He shook his head. "I had planned to return today. It was a short patrol."

Kagome frowned slightly and then shrugged. It couldn't be helped. "Take it off then and I'll get some of my bandages." She went to her bag as he slowly pulled off the haori, the pain of the skin stretching evident on his face, but he managed to peel it away from his body. He dropped the clothing to the side and leaned forward to catch his breath. When Kagome turned back, her eyes widened.

Oh my, she mused silently. He was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his head bowed. His long braid hung down over his shoulder and blood dripped onto his pants and the ground. His bare back and chest were as pale as expected, making the ruby red of the blood appear even more tragic than it was. It was actually painful to look at his broad shoulders and finely muscled arms. Kagome realized in that moment, more than any of the million other moments in her life, that she had truly missed out on certain parts of life.

He looked up at her and the pain in his gaze brought her back to herself. She held up the bandages. "Here they are," she murmured, practically running back to him. Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, she pushed him back so that he was sitting up straight. The bloody haori was beside him, on another rock.

She put down the bandages and went to the stream, dipping the cleanest part of the ruined clothing into the water. Going back to her patient, she wrung out the fabric and pressed it to his chest. The blood spread through the white fabric with shocking speed. She clucked her tongue. "Where's your breastplate? You wouldn't have gotten this if you'd been wearing your armor."

"I have never worn a breastplate. They are cumbersome."

Kagome smiled, keeping her eyes on his wound as she mopped up the blood. "Yes, so cumbersome as they save your life and all." She went back to the stream, rinsed the cloth and repeated the process. "You should get one." You will get one, she added silently.

"I will consider it."

She grinned and unwound the bandages from the coil. "Well, you're healing already, so that's good. Fast too."

Sesshoumaru looked away. "I would have lived, without your help."

Kagome nodded. "I know, but you would have lost a lot of blood if you kept hyperventilating like that. You would have been weak."

"Not if I had not been tending to you."

She laughed softly. "Tending to me? You were scared of me! And acting like a child."

He pushed her hands away. "Leave me be, woman."

She shook her head. "No. I will bind your injury, which you only got because of me. Thank you, by the way."

Sesshoumaru growled softly and a spot of blood appeared through the bandage that Kagome had just placed over the wound. She sighed and replaced it without a word. "I have told you not to thank me, miko." His golden eyes went everywhere but her face. "I promised to protect you. I was honor-bound to do so and I failed."

Kagome shrugged. "You can't save everyone all the time, Sesshoumaru. Next time, you'll be my samurai in shining armor, I'm sure." She laughed as he scowled. "I was teasing. You need to loosen up, Sesshoumaru."

He raised an eyebrow. "I am perfectly alright the way I am."

"You've been grumpy all morning," she said, wrapping tape around his torso. "I mean, granted, there was a wolf demon there and you got slashed across the chest and you found out that I was a miko that could fry you with a touch, but even so, you're just a big grump."

Sesshoumaru sat rigidly as she leaned forward, encircling him with her arms in order to wrap the tape around him. She smelled of ginger and oranges. "You talk too freely, Kagome."

She laughed again. "What? Afraid of honest women, Sesshoumaru?"

He sighed as she tied off the bandages. "No. I am afraid of nothing."

"Really? That's kind of silly. There's plenty to be afraid of in the world, and you don't have to be a coward to be afraid of them," she said, as she stood up. As she packed away her medical supplies she threw him a knowing look. "You were afraid of me just a few minutes ago!"

Indignation rose his chest. "I was never afraid. I was apprehensive of your power. Not of you, Kagome."

"Uh huh. Sure." She winked at him and closed up her pack. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I am fine," he said, gritting his teeth. "Stop pestering me, woman. And stop that incessant cheeriness. It grates on my senses."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "See what I mean? A big grump!" She rustled through her bag, pulling out a fresh outfit. "Anyway, I should get dressed. I can't exactly go around in my pajamas," she said, gesturing to her 'Kiss me, I'm Irish' tee-shirt that Eri had brought her after a trip through Europe. It had been a joke, of course, and had been forever deigned as a not-in-public garment. The purple plaid flannel pajama pants were probably a bit much too. "I'll be back in a flash."

Sesshoumaru grunted his acknowledgment as he inspected her handiwork, running his claws over the bandages. The miko had done a decent job, he decided. Not that he had needed it, of course. She was a curious creature though, able to kill and heal with the same touch. He shuddered freely at the thought of being purified by her hand.

Kagome reappeared and stuffed her old clothes into her bag. "I desperately want a bath, but I guess that'll wait." She swung the backpack onto her shoulder and looked at him expectantly. "Are you ready? You promised to take me back. Then you'll be free of me."

"I remember. I will see you to your destination."

Her heart squeezed painfully and her breath left her chest. She realized that she had no idea what to do after he had left her. Jump into the well and hope for the best? Maybe it would take her home, or to Inuyasha's time. Or, it would take her farther into the past. Kagome wasn't particularly enamored with that possibility. She didn't know of anyone older than Sesshoumaru, after all. No one that could be of any help, anyway. She could find Myoga... She was fairly sure he was older than Sesshoumaru.

She shook her head clear of that ridiculous idea. She would figure it out when she got to the well.

Sesshoumaru frowned at his companion's distracted expression and rose to his feet. "Let us hope that secret power of yours does not bring us any more excitement this morning." He paused and looked at her. "Do you require food?"

"Nah, dinner was more than enough," she said, snapping back to attention. Although Sesshoumaru had polished off the majority of the deer, she had had enough to keep her full for a week. She walked to the bank of the stream, plastering a smile onto her face. "Ready?"

Without waiting for an answer, Kagome stepped onto a rock in the middle of the water, delicately keeping her balance as she moved to the next rock. Sesshoumaru watched with interest as she moved like a bird, hopping from one place to another, until she ran out of rocks. She stood teetering for a moment on her toes. "Just walk into the water," he said. "It is not deep."

"No way! It took forever for my jeans to dry last night!"

He sighed as she wavered atop the stone. Crouching, he easily launched himself into the air, catching Kagome by the waist as he passed by, and landed softly on the other side. "There. Now you will not complain about wet clothing," he said, immediately releasing her.

"Thanks," she murmured, feeling her cheeks warm involuntarily. Get a grip, Kagome, she admonished herself.

"Are you coming?"

She looked up and realized that Sesshoumaru was already several paces ahead. "Oh, yes! Sorry, I was just thinking." She hurried her steps. "I'm still on a bit of a high from the emergence of all my power, I guess."

Sesshoumaru appraised her bright red face. "Hmm. I see." He waited until she caught up and began to walk again. "Will your friends be in the village then?"

Kagome shrugged, the color fading from her cheeks. "I'll try to get to them. I hope I can."

"And if you cannot?"

The miko frowned and suddenly her morning's achievement meant very little. What use would it be if she could never reunite with the people she would protect with her new power? She suddenly wondered if they had missed her yet, if Shippo had cajoled Inuyasha into going to find her or if they were all waiting beside the well and watching for her reemergence. "I don't know."

The taiyoukai frowned as well, realizing that he had distressed his temporary companion. "I am sure Rin and Inuyasha will find you."

"Inuyasha has his own troubles," she replied sullenly. "As for Rin... well, she would be happy to see me, I hope, but I don't think she would have any idea how to find me." She smiled softly at the memory of the little girl. It had been such a long time since Kagome had seen her though, that Rin was probably already a foot taller. The last time the group had seen Sesshoumaru, he had been alone, and of course, no one had been with him when she met the taiyoukai by the well a few nights ago, five hundred years into the future.

"But this Inuyasha, he protects you?"

Kagome shrugged again, not sure how to answer. "Sometimes. I don't always need to be protected," she said with a small smile, holding up her hands. "I think if Inuyasha found out about what I did today, he would expect me to do it all the time and protect myself."

"Now that you can protect yourself, it will be easier for all of your traveling companions," said Sesshoumaru.

"True. It's funny, but I've never gotten close to that sort of power before, despite my best efforts," Kagome replied. "Maybe I relied on Inuyasha a bit too much. You know what I should do? I should get a bow, some arrows and just practice using my miko powers. I'm usually so worried about my aim, so maybe that's what's been holding me back. What do you think?"

He blinked. "I have no idea how miko powers come into being. If you are an archer, it makes sense that you worry about your aim. Be grateful that you can defend yourself without a bow too. It would be best to ask another priestess your questions, not a youkai. Are any of your traveling companions priestesses?"

Kagome scrunched her nose. "One is. But I don't particularly want to ask her. She's... a difficult person to get along with. We have a monk in our group as well, but he would be practically useless regarding questions about my powers."

"A miko and a monk?" asked Sesshoumaru. The slight panic that had arisen upon discovery of Kagome's holy powers returned again. Unlike Kagome, the monk and strange miko would probably not be so clueless as to their abilities. "Is it wise that I join you to find them? They may believe that I am an enemy."

You are sometimes, she thought with a frown. "No, that's alright. Once we get to the village, you can leave. You've done more than enough, Sesshoumaru."

Only a few minutes later, they emerged from the forest not far from where Kagome had been attacked by the samurai. Kagome could see the villagers working in the fields below them, unaffected by the presence of the samurai the day before. She smiled softly. After all, these were the ancestors of her friends, of the village she knew and loved. "Guess we're already here. It's time to say good-bye then," she said, turning towards the dog demon. "It's been a real trip, Sesshoumaru. You have no idea."

The taiyoukai nodded. "It has been interesting. Farewell, Kagome." He turned and started to walk back into the forest.

"Wait."

He turned to look at her and despite the sunlight, Kagome remembered the dark night five hundred years into the future, when he had given her the same look. Kagome tried to smile, but it came out awkward and she dropped it. "Would you like some chocolate? As a thank-you, for all you've done. I mean, I know you don't want me to thank you, but I want to, so I was hoping you would let me." She let out a little sigh at her own ramblings.

He approached her slowly. "What is chocolate?" he asked, pronouncing the word slowly.

She bent down and pulled one of the foil and paper encased bars from her bag. The cold air had kept it from melting and she held it out to him. "Chocolate. Candy." She narrowed her eyes for a moment. Chocolate wasn't healthy for dogs, but surely a dog demon wouldn't be affected the same way?

"I am immune to poison," he said, reading her expression the wrong way.

She flashed him a brilliant smile. "I'm not trying to poison you. But you probably have never had chocolate before. I was wondering if it would upset your stomach. But Inuyasha has eaten it before, so..." She shrugged and picked up her bag. "Let's go eat by the well over there. I don't particularly want to sit in view of the village."

Sesshoumaru nodded, following her more out of curiosity than anything else. "Is chocolate a delicacy in your village?"

"Well, some people would think so," she replied, "but it's pretty common, so I don't think it qualifies. But it is good. You'll see."

The Bone-Eaters Well came into view and they sat down nearby on the sun-soaked grass. Kagome threw back her head to look up at the sky. It was unusually bright for the autumn season and she breathed in the cool air. "It's a beautiful day. A good day for chocolate."

Sesshoumaru glanced up as well and gave a small shrug. "It is just another day. Only your mortal life-span has fooled you into appreciate a sunny day more than a rainy one."

"Maybe because sunny days are nicer than rainy ones," replied Kagome, as she folded back the shining silver foil of the chocolate bar. "Not that I can't appreciate a nice thunderstorm once in awhile, but I prefer days that I can be outside and not get wet." She broke the bar into halves and handed one to the dog demon.

"You have a peculiar aversion to water," said Sesshoumaru, taking the dark bar into his hand and staring at it. Its sweet smell rose to his senses and he watched as Kagome took a bite of her half.

"You have a peculiar aversion to chocolate," she replied. "Go on. Try it. I promise I haven't poisoned it. Sheesh." She rolled her eyes and collapsed back onto the grass, shielding her eyes from the sun with her forearm.

He sniffed at it again and took a bite, surprised at how quickly it dissolved on his tongue. "It coats my throat in an unpleasant fashion," he said, chewing slowly.

Kagome sighed. "Okay, besides that, how do you like it?"

"Acceptable," he replied, taking another bite.

She chuckled softly and got to knees, edging over to the well until she could lean on the side of it. Her arms folded underneath her cheek, her head was turned towards him. She nibbled on the chocolate bar. "May I ask you a personal question?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Depending on the subject matter, yes."

"Have you ever wanted to run away?" she asked. "Not want to go back home? I mean, you've probably had so many chances on these patrols of yours."

Sesshoumaru swept his tongue over his chocolate-coated fangs. "I would never dishonor my father by running away in cowardice, no matter what trials I have faced."

"That wasn't my question and you know it."

He swallowed thickly. "Once. After my mother left. I was only seventy-five years old. A child in your terms. No more than eight in human maturation. I was not able to patrol on my own then, of course, but I remember wanting to run away."

Her eyes were alight with polite curiosity. "Why didn't you?"

"I knew even then that it would bring my father dishonor to have such an ungrateful heir. Also, he would have come after me and found me within moments. I had no desire for his punishment," he said, finishing his treat.

Kagome closed her eyes. "You were young though."

Sesshoumaru licked the chocolate from his fingertips, as Kagome's eyes remained closed. "I am older and wiser now. I would not shirk my duties."

"How admirable."

He looked at her sharply, although she was still resting against the well. "You have a duty as well," he said. "You have that power that the wolf was after, that I sensed last night. It is your burden to bear, in your own words. You would not abandon that duty, would you?"

"No, I can't. I know that." She opened her eyes and they were so filled with pain that Sesshoumaru had the urge to look away. "But sometimes, you're asked to run away. You're asked to leave your duty behind."

"You have been asked to abandon your obligations?" Sesshoumaru frowned. "Who has done that? Has he no honor?"

Kagome slid off of the well, her body pooling into a heap as she sighed. She popped the last bit of chocolate into her mouth and slowly sucked the melted bits from her fingers as she stared up at the sky. Sesshoumaru looked away. "It was Inuyasha."

"And who is he to tell you to give up?" asked the dog demon, indignant at the suggestion of surrendering one's honor.

"Once upon a time, he was my hero," she replied quietly.

"Past heroism is no reason to hold a man in high regard," said Sesshoumaru.

Kagome arched a delicate eyebrow. "So if you ever start killing humans without reason and you become cold-hearted and you are cruel, I shouldn't have respect for you anymore?"

The bridge of his nose wrinkled for a moment at her words. "If those actions are truly without reason, then there is no honor in them. But when judging another creature, you must understand that you do not and cannot understand all of his motivations."

"I'll keep that in mind," she murmured.

"You ask strange questions."

She nodded. "So I've been told."

They sat in silence for a few moments and Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered over the forest every few seconds. He was ready to leave, but she wasn't ready to let him go. Not yet, not when she felt so uncertain about what was at the bottom of the well. "Sesshoumaru, did you hear what the wolf said to me before I purified him?"

"No, I was rather occupied with your impending death and my own injuries," he replied bitterly.

"Right. Well, he said that he wanted the power that I'm carrying. He said that 'it will exalt him to a higher level of power'. Tell me that doesn't sound like trouble."

"Obviously, the wolf had a pack leader, to whom he planned to bring your belongings."

Kagome looked over at him. "That wolf? That wolf was not the leader of his pack? Come on, Sesshoumaru! I've met some pack leaders and they were scrawny compared to that demon."

The taiyoukai frowned slightly. "I have been hearing some strange reports of a demon gathering followers in this part of my father's lands. I came here partly to find out if the rumors were true, but I have found no proof."

"I think you did," countered the girl, sitting up. "The wolf definitely worked for a powerful demon and considering he almost split you in half, the wolf was powerful enough on his own." She raised her hands in surrender as he glowered at her. "Hey, I'm just pointing out what happened. You're a good fighter, I promise, but he did almost kill you. Let's be honest about that."

"Whereas you soundly destroyed him," muttered Sesshoumaru.

"Yes, exactly," said Kagome, rather enjoying his sulking. "The point is, you shouldn't be so dismissive of the idea that there's something gathering influence around here. And if I'm right and that wolf was the leader of his pack, then you have some serious problems. Where there's one wolf, there's always more. Believe me, I know. Sometimes you just can't get rid of them, however much you want to."

The taiyoukai arched an eyebrow. "You speak of personal experience."

She colored prettily. "Yeah, I kind of have a wolf demon that tells me he's in love with me on occasion." She swallowed and glared at the smirking dog demon. "It's not funny! It's really embarrassing!"

"I am not amused by your embarrassment at the situation. I am amused by the fact that a miko who purifies a wolf with such ease can also be subject to another wolf's unwanted affections." The smirk broadened. "Perhaps if you tell him you've murdered his brethren, he would leave you alone."

"I didn't murder anyone! It was self-defense."

"Of course." He went back to staring at the sky.

Kagome growled in the back of her throat. "Oh, you're just angry that a little girl beat the big, bad wolf when you couldn't."

Sesshoumaru remained silent for a few moments. "You truly believe that the wolf has a master aside from his pack leader?"

She nodded. "Even if it is his pack leader, that's one powerful youkai."

"Very well." He stood up and looked to the horizon. "I must leave."

"I was just teasing," she said, frowning at his abrupt eagerness. "About me being a better fighter than you."

"I am aware of that. But I must return to my home."

"Liar. I've offended you." The frown deepened. "You weren't so keen to go home a minute ago. Or am I just boring you?"

Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly. "You have given me more to consider in one day, Kagome, than any human has done in my lifetime. I believe that you may be too interesting for my tastes."

Kagome sat up and pulled her knees underneath her chin. "You still afraid of me?"

"No. But I must go. If you are correct about this wolf having a master, I must report it to my father."

The miko tried to smile. "Oh, alright. I understand." She stood up and brushed off the bits of grass and leaves stuck to her backside. "Goodbye, Sesshoumaru." She bowed and straightened in time to see him incline his head ever so slightly.

"Goodbye."

For the second time, he turned to leave, but she didn't call out to him this time. His bare back, wrapped only in her bandages, receded into the trees and she blinked. He was gone. She felt surprisingly alone.

"Snap out of it," she murmured to herself. "That was Sesshoumaru, after all. You'll just go home and forget all about this. Never mind that he might have been your only friend in this place."

Kagome sighed heavily and turned to the well, placing her hands upon the edge. She had tried to feel its power earlier, when she had been talking to Sesshoumaru, but their conversation had distracted her. She couldn't feel its power.

Now she could. It pulsed quietly, weakly, beneath her fingertips. "Okay, here's the deal," she whispered. "I get home and then I figure out what's wrong with you. Deal?"

She decided to climb down, instead of jumping blindly, just to be safe. Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, Kagome gripped the edge of the well and lowered herself into the pit. Her tennis shoes slipped against the clay walls and her fingers turned white with pressure as she worked her way down. Each foothold was a five-minute search and she was sweating before she was halfway down.

Her hand suddenly came away from the wall, with a chunk of clay shoved between her fingers and underneath her nails. She shrieked and fell, landing hard on one ankle and her hands at the bottom of the well.

A shooting pain went up the leg that had taken the brunt of the fall and she grimaced, easing herself onto her hip. "Son of a bitch," she groaned, clutching at her ankle.

"An ironic choice of words."

Kagome looked up to see Sesshoumaru's face at the top of the well, his braid hanging down over his shoulder. She glowered at him. "Are you going to help me, or just stand there?" she groused.

"Why are you in a dry well?" he asked in return.

"I felt like a drink," she snapped.

He rolled his eyes, withdrew from view and, a moment later, jumped down into the well, landing with a grace that only made her ankle hurt worse. He reached down and took her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Kagome didn't have time to appreciate the proximity. Another gliding leap and he was setting her down in the grass. "If you continue to call me back here, I shall never escape you," he muttered.

"Look who's talking. You were back here in half a second. What were you doing, watching me from the trees? Stalker."

He rolled his eyes. "I will not reply to such a ridiculous comment. By the way, you are filthy now," he said, frowning at the handprint she had left on his shoulder.

"So sorry," she muttered, looking at the dark viscous sludge on her hands. The sarcastic anger slid away from her face. "You know, this doesn't look like mud."

Sesshoumaru paused from brushing it off from his shoulder and sniffed. "It is not. It is... blood. I think."

"What?" She shrieked again and started rubbing her hands onto the grass. "Oh, I'm going to have to bathe for a week straight!"

"It is mixed with decomposing leaves and other plant material," he continued, ignoring her outburst. He frowned slightly. "This was a tree demon. Or at least parts of it."

"Ohhhh, ew," groaned the miko, realizing that the sludge was all down the length of her leg. "There wasn't a dead tree demon in the well yesterday."

He looked at her. "You make it habit to jump down into this particular well?"

"Shut up. I've got to change clothes again." She tried to stand and put pressure on both of legs before collapsing back onto the grass. "Or not," she squeaked. "That hurt."

Sesshoumaru bent down and pulled her foot towards him, earning him another squeak. He tugged down her sock and applied some pressure to the joint, eliciting a hiss of pain from Kagome. "You have twisted your ankle. It is to be expected when you jump into dry wells."

"Would you just shut up about that?" she gritted out. She took off her backpack and started to look through it. "I don't have any tape or Ace bandages left."

"Ace bandages?"

She sighed. "Never mind. Look, could you take me to the village? I know they'll freak out when they see you, but they'll probably have a miko. I obviously can't go searching for my friends yet. Or ever." She threw a dirty look towards the well. "If you don't take me though, I'll be left to crawling. Please don't make me crawl."

"I will take you. There is no need for pleading." He scooped her up into his arms again. Her bag rested in her lap. "I do not require chocolate for this."

Kagome relaxed and leaned against his bare chest, her knees disappearing into his thick pelt. Her ankle throbbed, but she barely paid it any attention. "Thanks," she murmured, fighting the fluttering in her stomach and the blush that crept up her neck.

He shrugged and began to walk down the hill towards the village. "You have caused me much trouble, woman."

"It's what I live for these days apparently," she muttered. "That, and jumping down wells." She laughed softly.

He looked down at her and frowned. "You are crying."

Kagome reached up and found the tears as they wet her fingertips. She mimicked Sesshoumaru's frown as she watched the droplets run down her hand. "I am."

"Stop it at once," he ordered, pulling back a little.

"Sorry," she murmured, wiping the droplets away. Fresh tears replaced the old ones as quickly as she could rub them dry.

"Are you in great pain?" He tightened his hold slightly.

She drew closer to him, resting her head at his throat. Her tears dropped down to his chest, creating little streaks of silver on his skin. "Yes," she said. Her heart was contracting suddenly and painfully, squeezing with each breath.

The well didn't work.

It was the first time she realized it, although she had been aware of it the instant her foot had crumple beneath the weight of her body. The well had closed her off. Even in her state of realization, she couldn't figure out why. It had power coursing through it. She had felt it. What was wrong? Why would it have thrown her further back in time by a few centuries and then close her off completely? It didn't make sense.

She could only think that she was lucky she hadn't jumped from the top. She would have had a broken leg for that.

"They have seen me."

Kagome lifted her head and realized that villagers were scurrying across the fields, away from the taiyoukai, like cockroaches when you turn on a light. She wiped the tears away once more and sat tall in Sesshoumaru's arms. "They won't hurt you as long as I'm here," she whispered.

"Or they will try to hurt me because you are here," he replied. He watched with narrowed eyes as the villagers clustered around the end of the path he was walking upon.

"Please don't kill anyone."

He scoffed.

"I'm serious, Sesshoumaru."

He sighed. "I will try."

One last tear dripped down her cheek. "You really are different." She blushed as he looked at her with a bemused expression. "I mean, different than people said you were."

"You know entirely too much about me," he murmured.

"You have no idea."

He walked down the path between the rice plots where almost nothing grew. The crowd at the mouth of the village swelled. They brandished rusting farming tools and he heard a few murmurs about how closely he held Kagome to his chest. And how comfortably she leaned into him. He wanted to strike at them, wipe the filthy words from their filthy mouths, but he would not drop Kagome. The villagers only stopped when her ears could have heard them as well.

He paused at the edge of the field, looking at the angry, contorted faces of the villagers. Kagome tried to smile and failed. "I need a healer. A miko," she called. "I've hurt my ankle."

They murmured among themselves again.

"Please. He won't hurt you," she said.

"Demons aren't welcome here," shouted someone from the back. There was a wave of agreement.

"This is pointless," muttered Sesshoumaru.

Kagome frowned. "Look. I'm a miko, okay? Believe me, if he were a threat, he wouldn't be here. I just want someone with a few supplies so I can tie up my ankle and then we'll leave."

"You can't be a miko," a woman with a squirrel-like face called. "You wouldn't be touching that thing if you were."

She watched as the men took the women close to them, protecting them with their bodies and Kagome realized what they thought about the demon that held her. "Oh, for the love of..."

The crowd parted suddenly and a woman appeared. She wore a miko's uniform and a sword at her side. Tall and healthy, she seemed to dwarf the sickly villagers around her. Her face was full and her hair was black and clean, with a widow's peak on her forehead. She had the healthful glow that only the truly penitent possessed. The miko appraised Kagome swiftly, her eyes not even touching upon Sesshoumaru. "She is a miko," she declared. "She tells the truth."

Kagome's eyes widened. "Midoriko?"

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A/N: All the information I found about Midoriko just said that she lived 'centuries' before the anime. Considering that she wore a traditional miko uniform and the iron armor, she couldn't have been that far back in history. So I decided 300 years was pretty much as close to a guess as anyone could get. Please review. It's getting colder and reviews keep me warm.