Chapter 19: Rebirth

ALL RIGHTS TO ROSIE B ON FANFICTION.NET Rosie B [https://www.fanfiction.net/u/38149/RosieB]

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Chapter 19: Rebirth

A/N: Okay everyone. There were a few questions (as I expected) for the last chapter so I'm going to try to answer a few of them here so everyone can see. If you haven't read the previous chapter, here be vague spoilers for Chapter 18:

1. How many chapters are left? Good question! Haha. I know what's going to happen, but the timing of it is always up in the air. I'm going to give you a new estimate of... 5? Maybe 6? I'm hoping to be done by the New Year, if that helps!

2. If Kagome saying his name will bring back his memory, why doesn't he already have it back? Because the spell is broken the next time she (as in, the present-Kagome we are following) says it, not the next time he hears it.

3. OMG, what was the witch talking about? This is my favorite question because it proves I will never be a teacher. This is all you really need to know – Kagome's relationship with Sesshoumaru in the deep past is messing up how everything is supposed to go in the future (i.e. Fate). Without Fate going smoothly, Time is breaking apart because Time is an instrument of Fate. Any more questions about that and just message me.

4. Are we ever going to see Inuyasha & co. again? Yup! Very soon.

ALSO... I forgot to mention it, but amytiger was (I believe) the only one to guess the whole bit about Kagome putting a spell on Sesshoumaru to forget about her. Props go to amytiger if she's still around.

And (I promise this is the last item) this story has officially broken my record of the most reviews for any story I've written! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all! In thanks, I've made this chapter extra-long and extra-full-of-stuff!

The Once and Future Taiyoukai

Chapter 19: Rebirth

Kagome peered into the mirror, a half-grimace on her face. Midoriko peeked around the edge and gave her a weak smile. "Well, it's very... short." She shrugged. "But not bad. It's definitely better than it was."

The girl sighed and lifted a hand to her cropped hair. "I guess," she murmured. Locks of hair dropped off of her shoulders as she moved, turning her head to see the short bob that now curled around the backs of her ears. It was even shorter in the back and had ended up looking very mod. Kagome, unfortunately, did not have the type of face to pull off the 1960s fad. And unfortunately, it was closer to 1260 where she was at the moment. A woman only cut her hair this short in this era if she was a peasant and working in the fields. No one would believe she was a priestess. "At least it's all even," she sighed, her fingertips curling around the curves of her ears, pulling at the wispy hair.

"I do not think Sesshoumaru will mind," Midoriko said, lowering the mirror.

Kagome colored and turned her face away under the pretense of brushing away the last bits of cut hair. "Why should he mind? What does he care?" she asked.

"I am only mentioning it because he seems to care about these things. At least when it comes to certain people," Midoriko replied with a small smile. "Your hair is very beautiful. Even this short."

"I look like a peasant," said Kagome sulkily, vocalizing her thoughts.

Midoriko shook her head. "Never. You do not have the bearing of a peasant, only of a priestess. Anyone who thinks you are a farmer's daughter is a fool." She tucked the mirror back into Kagome's bag and glanced at the girl out of the corner of her eye. "You still look worthy enough to join the ranks of nobility."

"Is there something you're trying to get at?" Kagome asked with a suspicious look.

"No," said Midoriko, dragging the word out.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Look, Sesshoumaru and I just aren't going to be together. So what does it matter if I look worthy of him or not?"

"Who said anything about Sesshoumaru being the nobility in question?" countered Midoriko.

The girl flushed and turned away again. "You know," she said a few moments later, after she had paled to a light pink, "a few days ago, you would have died rather than suggest that I be in the same room as Sesshoumaru alone."

The elder woman considered this for a moment. "That is true. But I have decided that everything must be given a renewed chance. Sesshoumaru was willing to do a lot for you in that battle, even saving me, when it was the last thing he wanted to do. I must respect him for his convictions." She shrugged. "We will never be friends. But it is possible that I will be friends with another demon one day because your taiyoukai has shown me that demons are more than the monsters I thought them to be."

"I'm impressed, Midoriko."

The miko arched an eyebrow. "Please do not say that. I am trying, but I do not guarantee success."

Kagome smiled. "I do. It's a pretty big thing to learn that you were wrong and take it in stride. I don't think you'll be so quick to discount a demon again."

"You forget that I did not discount Nameless."

The young woman nodded. "Well, most demons aren't going to walk up to you and offer you all of your hopes and dreams. Or they might, but I hope you'll be more wary about trusting that sort at least."

Midoriko let out a soft chuckle. "I hope so too. I'm getting too old to cling to such childish dreams."

"They're not childish," Kagome said. "I would give anything to see my father again."

The priestess gave her a steady look. "Would you?" she asked, a lilt in her voice. "You would do the same anything as me?"

Kagome smiled sadly. "Well, maybe not anything..." She let out a long sigh. "But there are some things that are worth anything, I'm sure."

"Like saving the whole of Time and Fate?" asked Midoriko gently.

"Yeah, I guess so," Kagome answered heavily.

"You heard the witch," said Midoriko, coming closer and laying a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Everything must work out as it's supposed to. Why can't you and Sesshoumaru be part of that?"

Kagome let out a despondent laugh. "You sound like a matchmaker. Who would have thought?"

"The biases I am fighting are nothing compared to my wish for your happiness, Kagome," replied Midoriko.

The young miko smiled up at her friend. "That's nice of you to say, Midoriko."

Midoriko shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I would prefer it if you did not repeat that to Sesshoumaru."

Kagome crossed her heart. "Your secret is safe." She smiled and stood. "We should get back. Sesshoumaru has probably caught breakfast by now. He promised fish."

"I would be ready to eat brambles at this point, thorns and all," Midoriko said, putting a hand over her rumbling stomach. "We haven't eaten since before the battle."

"I know," said the younger woman, as they walked away from the clearing that had been their makeshift hair salon. "Last time we ate a decent meal, we were on opposite sides."

"Nameless was telling me how I would be his empress, a dark miko with the power to kill dissenters," Midoriko said with a shake of her head.

Kagome smiled grimly. "I don't think that Sesshoumaru and I said more than a few words to each other. Not until we saw the mountaintop anyway." She looked at the miko at her side. "You knew we weren't coming up the path, didn't you? You were the first one to look at us."

Midoriko nodded. "I knew."

"And you didn't tell Nameless?"

"I did not see why he had the right to know. He never really had my allegiance. He only trapped my common sense in promises of a resurrected family," Midoriko replied.

Kagome smiled. "Well, I'm glad you didn't tell him. I had hope when I saw you looking towards us."

"Me too," answered Midoriko truthfully, returning the smile.

They fell silent for a moment as shafts of sunlight began to fall through the treetops. It was getting to be quite a late morning, but even Sesshoumaru hadn't seemed to mind. They were all so sore and bruised from the previous day's battle that they had all slept without anyone acting as a guard. It was foolish perhaps, but the entire mountain seemed more cheerful after Nameless's demise. Even now, Kagome felt perfectly safe and warm.

Not that it was enough to entirely erase her doubts and troubles.

"You will act normally around him, won't you?" asked Midoriko, reading her companion's thoughts. "Last night, after we returned from the witch, you were already acting differently. He is concerned."

Kagome lowered her eyes. "Why does it matter? He'll forget soon enough."

"And he'll remember again," Midoriko argued. "If he remembers that you felt guilty, he will think there is a good reason for that guilt. He should remember a pleasant last few days with you." She paused. "Besides, I do not have nearly your ability to keep up a conversation from morning until night. And someone has to keep silence at bay."

"How can I act normally when I know what he's going to turn into?" she asked.

"So he is a true monster in the future," Midoriko replied softly.

Kagome sighed. "No, not really. Well, I suppose some would see him like that. But he's truly quite honorable. He just has his own set of values and does not tolerate anyone interfering in his plans. He's been known to kill people for simply standing in his path, but he's also taken in a young girl as his own daughter."

"His own daughter?" asked the elder miko. "I would find that hard to believe even if you told me that this Sesshoumaru did that."

"Well, maybe not like his own daughter," Kagome conceded. "But he cares for her. He's saved her life when it did nothing but endanger his own goals. I think in his own way, he loves her."

Midoriko took a deep breath. "Alright. So what's the problem?" she asked. She watched as Kagome frowned. "It seems to me that it is the same Sesshoumaru – quick to pull his sword on someone, but willing to save those that he loves."

Kagome blushed unexpectedly and she quickly pressed her palms to her cheeks. "I suppose. But he's so much colder in the future."

"Oh? And have you been sleeping in his lap in the future as well?" Midoriko asked, her voice rising with her sarcasm.

"No!" gasped Kagome. She caught Midoriko's glance and bit her lip. "Okay, I guess I haven't exactly given him a chance in the future. But he's still different. Bitter and bloodthirsty and angry."

"Once again, you are forcing me into the position of Sesshoumaru's advocate. It's not something I'm used to, Kagome," admonished the elder woman. "But you are being quite ridiculous. You know practically nothing of the future taiyoukai. You should not be so quick to judge." She huffed. "Now, I refuse to say anything more on the subject. I feel very strange as it is."

Kagome finally smiled again, although it was weak. "Okay, sorry. I'll try, I promise. I promised the witch too." She spread her arms. "Here's to the return of the normal, cheerful Kagome!"

Midoriko nodded, wearing a tight smile. "You're going to need your characteristic cheer, Kagome."

The two women exchanged a look. Sesshoumaru, hearing that time was of the essence, had generously offered to carry them down the mountain on his cloud. As far as he was able, at least. But it would still bring them far enough so that they would reach Midoriko's village by the day's end.

"Who knows what we'll find there?" Kagome murmured. "You should have some faith."

Midoriko let out a breath, the corners of her lips turning up. "You're right. Here's to the return of the normal, faithful Midoriko."

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Sesshoumaru stood upon the precipice and looked down. The sky had turned pearly gray a few hours before, warning of the coming storm, and the wind pressed his silk clothing against him, showing off his form. But he continued to look down upon the crowd that gathered at the base of the mountains, around the mouth of the pass. They were in turn staring at the path, which would soon produce Kagome, Midoriko and the fire-cat. And the taiyoukai himself, of course.

He stepped back and out of sight, contemplating what should be done. The villagers were armed, but poorly. He could easily slay them if the need arose, but he knew that Kagome would protest strongly, as women and children were among those at the mountain's base. He had no great taste for killing women and children either and he found their presence most irksome. Why would the village men be so foolish to bring such liabilities when it seemed as if they were prepared for battle?

Sighing inwardly, he turned and gracefully made his way down the other side of the mountain, to where his three female companions waited. Kagome turned to see him first. "Well?" she asked immediately, her eyes wide with concern. She had been a nervous wreck since he had first announced that he could smell a congregation of the villagers on the other side of the pass.

"They are there," he replied. "All of them, with their farming tools as weapons and their women and child as easy targets."

"Sesshoumaru..."

He held up his hand to silence her. "I will not hurt them if it is not necessary." He looked to Midoriko. "Why are they here?"

The elder woman shrugged from where she was sitting with Akemi in her lap. "I'm not sure. I am uncertain how they even knew we were coming."

"Most likely, they saw my cloud as we descended the mountain," he said.

"What are we going to do? We have to go through that pass or make a significant detour out of their sight," said Kagome, clutching at the shards that hung around her neck in a brand new jar. "We can't afford to lose the time."

"I will go through," said Midoriko, standing up and putting Akemi on her shoulder. "I will ask them their intentions and explain the situation. They will not hurt me."

Kagome shook her head. "You don't know that. They're desperate people, Midoriko."

"Only because I made them so, after they had almost recovered from the disaster ten years ago," said the other miko, her mouth turning down.

"At least have Sesshoumaru with you."

The taiyoukai scowled. "I will not leave you here alone, Kagome." He glared as the girl opened her mouth to protest. "Do not even consider it. We will all go. It is the only way to ensure our collective safety."

"But not theirs," argued Midoriko.

"No," agreed Sesshoumaru, "not theirs. But if they are so desperate to attack a taiyoukai again, they are desperate to the point of suicidal. And those that wish to kill themselves on my claws will not receive my pity."

They were all unhappy about the decision, but none of them could think of anything that would better serve their safety and pressing time constraints, and so they began their trek through the pass. The steep slopes of the mountains on either side of them seemed to close in on them as they walked and the clouds turned angry above their heads. Even the two miko could smell the rain in the air. Akemi began to twitch her tail.

Droplets began to dampen their hair as the path opened before them and the first of the villagers appeared. Sesshoumaru stepped in front of Kagome as the rain thickened. All the young miko could see were his shoulders, plastered with wet silk, and his braid of silver hair.

Midoriko was ahead of them, her arms wrapped around a soggy, irritated fire-cat. "Why are you here?" she called, above the rising wind. "It is cold and it is raining. Go home."

Kagome could not see the man who answered. "Why is the demon with you?" he asked.

"Because he is my ally. Yours too, if you would only calm yourselves and listen to me," Midoriko replied. "But not here. These children will get sick! Why have you brought them?"

There was a pause. Kagome tried to peek around Sesshoumaru form, but he nudged her back into place. "Because if we die, we will die together," answered the same voice as before.

"Who is dying? I see no death approaching."

"You have failed Nameless!" another voice shouted immediately. "And now you're allies with that monster? He'll kill us!"

There was a loud swell of agreement from the crowd. "Demons massacred this village once and now it'll happen again!" a woman shouted.

"You've brought this filth into our lives and we'll die for it!" said another.

"And what does this one want? Our last remaining daughters?" one sneered.

"Hey!" Kagome placed a firm hand on Sesshoumaru's arm and rounded to face the crowd. "He is not filth. And he does not want your daughters. That's just disgusting bigotry. He is here as a favor to me, and you're lucky to have him on your side! If you would justlisten to Midoriko for half of a second, you would know that you have nothing to worry about!"

The villagers fell silent and stared. Kagome felt Sesshoumaru's hand on her elbow, pulling her back. "What?" she asked, turning to him. "They obviously just want to insult you! They're not going to try anything."

"It is much appreciated, Kagome," he murmured so low that she felt the words rather than heard them. "But you forget that you are a ghost to them. You died here."

"Oh." She looked back at the stricken villagers and at Midoriko, who was watching with a mixture of concern and amusement. "I'm sorry. I'm not a ghost," she said to the crowd.

"There isn't any way you can be alive though," one woman said, the same one that had spoken before.

Kagome looked to Sesshoumaru. Tenseiga was not supposed to be common knowledge. Toga would have every demon and human in Japan coming to him if they knew he could resurrect the dead. "Youkai medicine is far beyond your human capabilities," Sesshoumaru intoned, looking disdainfully down at the woman as he brought Kagome close to his side.

The crowd murmured among themselves and Midoriko took the opportunity to bring the focus back to the issue at hand. "Where is Ruka-san?" she asked, referring to the ancient headwoman of the village.

Kagome glanced up at the storm forming directly over their heads. "Is that something we can figure out somewhere else?" she asked. "Preferably somewhere dry?" She shook her head to prove her point, sending droplets of rain flying everywhere.

Lightening split across the sky before Midoriko could reply, a tremendous boom of thunder following immediately. "That was very close," Sesshoumaru said, his nose flaring slightly. "We must take cover."

"Let's go to the village," Kagome called to Midoriko. "We can look for Ruka and explain everything there."

But the villagers did not move, even when a growl rose from deep within Sesshoumaru's chest. "We will not have that monster and that undead priestess in our village," said a man.

Kagome stiffened in Sesshoumaru's arms and he could smell the sudden anger and envy that came from her. He did not understand why the man's words affected Kagome so deeply, but then again, he did not care. "Miko," Sesshoumaru snarled, "control them. Immediately."

"I'm trying," Midoriko said, her voice plaintive. She looked back to the crowd. "Listen to me. Nameless is dead! You have nothing to worry about. Please, we must leave this place!"

They whispered furiously among themselves for a moment. "How? How did he die?"

"We killed him together," Midoriko said, gesturing to her companions. "He died and his army dispersed or died with him."

Sesshoumaru's arms tightened around Kagome as the other miko spoke. "We can't get any more soaking wet than we are already," the young miko murmured to him as she kept an eye on the villagers.

"It is not the rain that concerns me," he replied.

"Impossible!" the villagers were shouting. "Three cannot bring down an army! You're lying to us again! You promised us our happiness and our families!"

Midoriko's tears began to mingle with the rain. "I know and I do not blame you for your skepticism, but through all of this, I have only been concerned with your safety. Nothing has changed that!" she cried.

Before she could say anything else though, Sesshoumaru arm wrapped around the miko and pulled her up and over the heads of the crowd. Midoriko shrieked in alarm, as did Kagome. Behind them, the cliff that had stood over them splintered and exploded in a shower of sparks as a lightening bolt hit it. Beneath them, the villagers scattered and screamed.

Kagome twisted in Sesshoumaru's grip as he came back towards earth. As soon as his feet touched the ground, she broke free and ran back. "Kagome!" he called, surprised at her escape.

"They're hurt!" she yelled back, not turning around.

Midoriko followed, looking back to beckon to the taiyoukai. "We'll need help!"

Kagome returned to chaos. Several villagers were still running in the opposite direction, screaming about the deadly power of Nameless, or Sesshoumaru or even her. Some hovered around the accident scene, holding their limbs and their heads and moaning. But it was to the unlucky few trapped underneath the fallen rock that Kagome ran. Blood was beginning to mix with the rain and wails of pain pierced the air.

"Will it strike again?" she asked as Sesshoumaru easily caught up.

"I will take you away again if it does," he murmured. "I only knew for certain a second before it happened."

"I know," she said and the trust in her voice surprised him. She was certain he would never endanger these irritating humans, he realized, even though he hated them so passionately for what they did to her. "Help me, Sesshoumaru."

He looked to see a young woman pinned beneath a large stone. It was unlikely she would live, but he lifted it off of her as Kagome knelt down. "Kagome," he began, seeing the woman's injuries properly. Now he was certain she would not live.

"It'll be okay," she was saying to the woman. She brushed back the woman's hair and looked up at the taiyoukai. He saw that she knew the woman's fate. "I don't have anything to numb the pain," she said to him, wincing as the woman began to cry.

He knelt down in the mud and brought up one hand, letting it glow with green poison. "I do," he said.

"Don't let them see," she whispered back, nodding to the other villagers. Midoriko was moving among them, alternately telling some to stay where they were and others that they could safely walk back to the village. "They'll think you're killing her."

Sesshoumaru shrugged, displaying a nonchalance that he did not truly feel. He had never cared for scenes like this, where the innocent were crying in pain. Not that these people were innocent, he reminded himself as he touched his poison claws to the woman's wounds. But they were more innocent than the warriors that fell on the battlefield.

The woman quieted and he looked up to see Kagome moving onto the next victim. She was already muddy and covered in blood and her teeth were chattering, but she lifted a sizable rock off a man's leg and began to murmur assurances to him.

She was stronger than even he suspected.

The taiyoukai stood up and followed, moving down a rough line and clearing away the debris. He found three more that had died instantly and another that he applied his poison to, so that he would slip into the darkness without pain. Kagome was now behind him, moving efficiently and wrapping up injuries as she comforted. She never seemed to hurry, but she kept pace and soon, the injured ones that could move were walking back to the village. A few were carried, but except for five of them, they would all live.

Sesshoumaru lifted a small girl into his arms as Kagome stood between two villagers, serving as their crutch. Midoriko was already halfway to the village, helping another man that had a crushed foot and with Akemi trailing behind them.

"Are you going to kill us?" asked the little girl in his arms. She wiped the rain from her face and peered up at him.

The taiyoukai turned his cold, golden eyes down to her. "If I was planning to kill you, I would not be carrying you to the village," he said.

"Why aren't you going to kill us?"

"Do you wish me to?" he asked with a frown. Her eyes widened and he sighed inwardly as he began to walk. "I do not kill children."

"But you kill grown-ups," she argued.

He raised an eyebrow. "Yes," he said, "but not here. Not today."

"You kill bad grown-ups," she said. "Like my uncle. He hurt the lady." She pointed back towards Kagome, who was walking slowly behind them. "My mama says he was crazy."

"Agreed," Sesshoumaru said. He paused and looked at her leg, which was blossoming in red, purple and black bruises. "Are you in pain?"

The girl bit her lip and shook her head. She was lying, but he decided to respect her bravery rather than question it. "Is that demon really dead like Lady Midoriko said?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied.

The girl frowned in thought for a moment. "Does that mean my papa isn't coming back?"

"He will not come back," Sesshoumaru confirmed.

She nodded. "That's okay. I don't miss him. He died before I was born," she said.

"And your mother?"

The little girl shrugged. "Mama said that she doesn't remember what he looks like," she said. "She says that she only remembers how he smelled." She wrinkled her nose.

Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to look back over his shoulder. Instead, he took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of ginger and citrus that permeated his clothing, even when it was sopping wet. "I suspect," he said after a moment, "that that is a good thing."

"That's what Mama says. She says she'll always remember it."

The storm still cracked and boomed behind them as they entered the village. Midoriko was there already, bandaging up the wounds of those that had run and ushering them all into their homes. She looked up at the taiyoukai as he approached and smiled softly. "Her mother has been looking for her," she said, pointing back over his shoulder.

A woman came forward tentatively and reached out for her daughter. Sesshoumaru willingly surrendered the little girl and both of them listened as she rattled off about how kind the demon had been to her. The mother finally turned her eyes to the taiyoukai and bowed. "Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru," she murmured.

The demon nodded. "Her leg needs a better splint," he said, "or it will heal incorrectly. That is only temporary."

The mother bowed again. "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Hm," he muttered moving away.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" cried the girl and he looked back. "Will you come back?"

Kagome glanced up from where she was passing off her patients to others. She was listening with surprise in her eyes. "Taiyoukai are always around," he answered, earning himself smiles from both the little girl and the miko.

The rain was already easing up as the storm moved east and away from the valley, but Midoriko and Kagome urged the villagers to go inside and get some warmth and rest. "You need those comforts for yourself," Sesshoumaru said as Kagome prodded the last of the accident victims into his home. A few men were walking into the distance at the base of the mountain to gather the dead.

Kagome sighed and wiped a wet, muddy lock from her forehead. "We can't. I have to get back. Time is pressing down on us."

Midoriko looked towards the large hut at the end of the row. Ruka was standing in the doorway, her gnarled hand on the frame. She looked frailer than Kagome remembered. "I must speak with Ruka-san," said the elder miko. "But I would like to accompany you on the rest of your journey."

"That will allow us the chance to clean up," he said, before Kagome could protest. "We will return here before nightfall."

"But..."

"I will transform," Sesshoumaru said, interrupting the young miko. "I can easily carry both of you on my back and we will recover the lost time and more."

Kagome's exhaustion was such that she could only nod in agreement and Midoriko waved good-bye as he shouldered Kagome's filthy yellow bag, took the young miko into his arms and jumped into the air. She shivered. "Where are we going?" she murmured sleepily.

"There is a hot spring nearby," he said. "They are plentiful in this region."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful," she said against his shoulder.

"I will only allow you in if you promise that you will not fall asleep and drown," he warned, trying to twist his body in the air so that she was more sheltered from the wind.

Kagome smiled up at him. "I promise."

In just a few minutes, Sesshoumaru alighted on the edge of a hot spring. It had two pools, separated by a small wall of rock over which you could easily see if you tried. He could smell the villagers' scents everywhere. This was the spring they used on a regular basis, but they would not be coming here tonight. And it was not raining here.

He set her down and she stretched, her spine popping easily. "Okay, turn around," she said. "And close your eyes too."

Sesshoumaru complied and listened as her wet clothes came off and were laid with care upon the warm rocks. He waited until he heard the splash of water that meant she was in the spring before he began to shed his weapons and outer kimono.

"What are you doing?" Kagome squealed at his back.

He turned to see her red-faced and chin-deep in the water. He arched an irritated eyebrow at the swirls of steam obscuring her from view. "Surely you do not intend to condemn me to be filthy while you are clean?" he asked. "I will go into the other pool."

"But you can see," Kagome protested.

He smirked. "If I chose to, I could have seen long ago." He quickly sobered. "Do you not trust my wishes to merely get clean?"

Kagome frowned at him. "Well, yes, I suppose..."

"Then our problem is not a problem," he said, and he continued to disrobe.

She flushed scarlet and turned around. "Sesshoumaru! You're being so... not you!"

"On the contrary, I find nothing embarrassing about the unclothed form and have only kept my distance in the past because I have had no similar need to bathe. But I do now," he said.

"Okay," she muttered, sinking deeper into the pool so that only her ears and eyes were above the water. Her heart was skittering in a frantic beat, even when she heard that he was safely ensconced in his own side of the spring. But finally, the need to breathe overwhelmed her and she lifted her head out of the water.

"You promised me that you would not drown," he said.

"I didn't drown," she replied breathily. She hesitantly turned to look at him and found that he was sitting with his eyes closed against the farthest rock, covered in water up to his collarbone. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved, but quickly decided she was relieved. Yes, she told herself, relieved. Of course.

Kami, he had beautiful shoulders.

"You are staring," he said, cracking one eye open.

Kagome turned scarlet again. "No, I'm not," she argued. She huffed and turned away to grab her shampoo. "I'm no Miroku."

"The monk?" he questioned. "The one you travel with?"

She nodded and looked back at him. "He's just a lecher," she said.

Sesshoumaru was no longer relaxed. "You failed to mention this before," he said. "What exactly does he do?"

Kagome arched an eyebrow. "He's harmless," she replied. "And you're starting to sound like Inuyasha."

The taiyoukai scowled and forced himself to sit back again. "I doubt that."

"It doesn't mean anything," she said with a shrug, pouring some shampoo into her palm and began to rub it into her hair. "Inuyasha has Kikyo, remember? But he's my friend and he's protective of me. So is Miroku, for that matter. As much of a lecher he is, he does protect me when the times call for it. Besides," she added, "he hasn't done anything since he and Sango got together. I told you about that."

"You failed to mention what he acted like before they were 'together'," Sesshoumaru said, trying to temper the irritation in his voice.

"He's very well-behaved now," she said with a smile. "Hold on."

She dipped under the water, scrubbing at her hair and washing out the shampoo. When she rose up again, she barely bit back a shriek. Sesshoumaru was at the rock wall, staring over it. "You're one to talk!" she said, crossing her arms underwater and staying down low. "Pervert."

He nodded absently and Kagome noticed that he was not looking directly at her, only at his claws tapping against the rock. She straightened up a bit. "What's wrong?" she asked, hesitantly moving closer.

"It simply occurred to me," he said, "that it is all irrelevant."

"What is?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged, still keeping his eyes upon his hand, which was tapping more furiously now. "I am betrothed to a dragon," he said. "I have no place to be protective of anyone other than my intended mate."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat and he looked up at her. He had heard it, but she schooled her features. "You forgot this until now?" she asked.

"I... I did," he replied, sounding slightly surprised. "Perhaps I did not wish to remember."

"Tomorrow you go back to your normal life and to her then?" Kagome murmured.

Sesshoumaru shook his head and Kagome realized that his hair was unbound, like the Sesshoumaru she remembered from so long ago, and yet in the future. "No, I never go to her. I do not want her."

Kagome swallowed and tried to catch the breath that suddenly had escaped her. "I... Sesshoumaru..." She fell silent and frowned.

He leaned forward over the rock. "What is it?"

"I forgot to tell you. Your father and I spoke after, after our fight," she said the word with a sad heaviness, "and he told me that he had refused Ryokotsusei's offer. You're not betrothed to his daughter. You never were, officially."

Sesshoumaru stared. "I am not mated to a dragon?"

Kagome frowned for a moment. "I wouldn't lie."

"Of course not," he said, shaking himself slightly. "It is simply surprising. I wonder what he has arranged instead. My father has rarely considered my own feelings on such matters."

"That's not true," Kagome protested. "He thinks about them a lot. That's why he sent the messenger away."

Sesshoumaru gave her a scrutinizing look. "He would not have done so without a good reason. For example," he said, "he might have chosen someone else."

The girl blushed yet again. "He did," she murmured.

The taiyoukai's gaze fell back to his hand. "Yes, of course he did." He seemed to be trying very hard not to bury his claws into the rock. "Do you know who it is? Is it Touran?"

"Yes, I know. No, it's not Touran."

The catch in her voice forced his eyes back to her face. "Kagome," he began, "is it you?"

She drew a long, shaky breath before she nodded. "I-It's getting kinda warm," she whispered after a long moment of silence. She began to back up when his hand reached over and caught her wrist, pulling her back to the rock. Kagome looked up into fiery eyes.

"He chose you?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Yes," she answered, lowering her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" he questioned, suddenly harsh. He let out a frustrated sigh as she gave him a startled glance. "Kagome, if my father chose you then he is willing to stand up to those that would oppose my taking of a human mate."

Kagome blinked. "But he said he told you to take me as your mate."

"That was not enough," Sesshoumaru said. "That is passively allowing me to do as I wished. If my father actually turned away a mate like Ryokotsusei's daughter and asked you instead, he actively is allowing me to have you and you alone."

The girl lowered her head, laughing grimly. "I think you're making too much of a distinction."

"No," he said, growling lightly and pulling her even closer so that they were both pressed against the rock. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did not wish to remember," she repeated his words. She saw hurt begin to enter his eyes and quickly added, "I didn't think it would matter to you!"

He sighed heavily. "Kagome, it matters," he said. "I would choose no one in this world except for you."

The strength in her legs drifted away and she sank into the water slightly. "And I wouldn't choose anyone but you," she murmured. She shook her head as he opened his mouth. "Not even Inuyasha. Especially not Inuyasha."

He nodded and their fingers intertwined. A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Suddenly, I wish that I had defied your wishes and come into your pool."

Kagome blushed. "Sesshoumaru..."

He held up his free hand and closed his eyes for a moment. "Do not say it. I know that whatever responsibility I had has been at least partially erased, but that yours remains."

Kagome nodded. "Yes, I'm sorry."

"Now that is something to be sorry for," he said.

She smiled at him. "Two jokes in as many moments. Have I changed you so much?"

He shook his head. "Perhaps I have always been amusing and you have never noticed it before," he said.

"No, I don't think so," she replied. "Your jokes have never been that amusing."

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow as she laughed softly. "I see. I shall remain serious then."

"Oh, no, don't do that," she said, leaning forward. "I like it. In small doses."

"Very well. In small doses." His eyes drifted down to her lips, before he pulled away. "We must dress. We have a long way to go tonight."

Kagome nodded and drew back as well. The hot spring no longer felt that warm. "Alright," she murmured, "I'll go first. Close your eyes."

They dressed successively but quickly, even though Kagome's hands were shaking. He just admitted that he wanted to take her as his mate, she silently mused. But did that mean he loved her? Or not? Perhaps she was simply the most agreeable female he knew? Was that enough?

It felt so natural, saying what she had said and hearing what he had said in return. It was like an ending to a long story. But they both knew that it hadn't solved any of their problems. It was a story without an ending and Kagome found herself fearing what was to come. Her strength was failing again and she wasn't sure she could return to Inuyasha's time.

"I am dressed," Sesshoumaru announced and she looked back from where she was sitting with her still damp clothes folded in her lap.

Kagome stood and packed away her old kimono, folding it in plastic so that it wouldn't make everything else wet. "Alright, I'm ready." She looked at him. "Are you sure that you want to transform tonight?"

He looked at her for a moment. "I thought that time was of the essence," he murmured.

The girl nodded, hoisting her bag back on her shoulders and coming to his side. "It is," she conceded. "Let's go."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and crouched slightly to jump into the air, but paused. "I might not be able to do this again," he said.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. She sighed and her arms went around his neck and into his still unbound hair, scraping her nails lightly upon his nape. Sesshoumaru drew her close and his fangs pressed against her lips, making her open her mouth slightly. He tasted like cinnamon and raspberries and everything else Kagome loved and yet could not name. Too soon though, he moved away.

Kagome smiled and touched his cheek. It was definitely rosier than usual, but she did not mention it as he turned his head and pressed another kiss to her palm. "We should go," he murmured.

She withdrew her hand. "Thank you."

He nodded once and then jumped into the sky.

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A/N: How much do you hate me? Hopefully not a lot as this was a VERY difficult chapter to write. But, it's done and I'm quite happy with it. I hope that the whole confession scene made sense. They've admitted things (not everything!) but it's still not enough to bring them together. Le sigh. Poor Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

I hope to get the next chapter out WAY quicker than this one – I actually know most of what's going to happen, for instance. It'll be shorter, I think, but that does usually mean quicker too. So it's a trade-off.