Acknowledgement by Daniella

Acknowledgement

Hellooo! Pleasure people, my name is Daniela! I've been a member here for a long time, but I've never written any fic or know how to speak a word of English, so forgive me for the mistakes (I'm using google help!)

.... But well, I wanted to write this fic because I want your opinion of my way of writing (I'm thinking of writing a book!) And so be honest!

(Ah! And in part the accompanying music, enjoy!)

Acknowledgement

Kagome was about to release her last arrow intact at the three survivors of the youkai horde that had invaded the village that morning. Crops, crops, cattle and chickens were destroyed on the path they followed behind the young miko. Her arm burned with trembling from the time she raised the arrow and the blood that flowed from her shoulder ran down the entire sleeve of her white kosode, staining it in rich red.

The Azusa-Yumi barely focused on the three Hibagon youkai right in front of the woman. Red eyes and feral mouths watched evilly smiling at the two small, weak human women. The biggest of them, who looked like the leader, took two steps forward menacingly, both girls shivering imperceptibly in warning with a rumbling sound, prepared for an upcoming attack.

“Ne~...miko-onna. Why don't you lower that little stick and join the brat, I assure you that your death will be less painful if you obey us.” The youkai licked his lips as he said this, clearly not guaranteeing his proposal.

“Kagome–nessan….” A Rin huddled on her back whimpers dejectedly. Kagome gritted her teeth. With her face plastered with nervousness, the miko aimed even harder, while she thought of a way to put an end to this bunch of lunatic demons that lived invading and destroying the village in recent months. For some reason, several attempts by youkai and ayakashi to kidnap the young wing of the lord of the West have been made since six months ago. The why.... Never answered.

And speaking of Lord of the West....

Before the three demons could notice, blood and guts soaked the trees and grass around the clearing. A glowing green whip went straight back to its spellcaster.

The Inu-Daiyoukai appeared walking slowly through the trees behind the remains of these lesser beings, his white tattsuke-hakama passing through the bushes and low branches was the first sight of his resplendent form that overshadowed the hideous image. Despite the mess, not a drop of blood or organ fell on the two women.

Kagome looked at the ghostly being through half-closed eyes, in the back of her head she wanted to show how upset she was for that youkai dog(!), about all this mess in the village. Honestly, she wanted to stab her last arrow at him so he would know.

'Just because he's a gentleman doesn't mean he can act so... So... SPLENDID!'

Ahhh.... Never mind, there would never be a word insulting enough for that 'perfect-in-all', The Lord of the West.

"SIR SESSHOUMARU!" Soon, a young Rin departed running to her dear savior, the joy and happiness painted on her teenage appearance cut through the woman's critical (or flattering) daydreams. The girl gave the youkai a big hug around the waist of the youkai, her love and admiration for once again being saved by her master made her immensely happy. Then the grumbling Jaken-sama appeared from behind his lord, eyes bulging with pride looking down on the carnage wrought by the hands of his divine master.

"HAH! Foolish, these lesser demons! Do you really think you can harm MY LORD?! Your useless allies didn't even bother to make my master disdain Bakusaiga's mighty blade, shouldn't even show their shameful faces-"

"Jaken." The imp was interrupted from his speech when his master knocked him out with his boot. Looking at his ward, the lord asks her, "Are you hurt, Rin?"

Pulling her face away from where she clung, the girl broke into a huge smile and responds. “No, my lord! Kagome-nessan took good care of me, she was amazing!”

Smiling, said woman looks at the girl lovingly. “This is nothing Rin-chan, my job is to purify every demon that comes to harm you or anyone else in the village. Any man in the village could have done the same!” ‘That's clear, if they hadn't run away!’

“But you were the only one who stayed and fought Kagome-nessan! Everyone else has fled to safety! You had to face them all the demons alone, you even got hurt!" Rin responds with conviction.

Kagome was about to reply that it was nothing when inu-Daiyoukai decided to act. Taking slow but confidently calculated steps, he disentangled himself from Rin and got very close to where the miko was down. Lightly noting the extent of his wound still flowing with blood, the youkai subtly raised a single eyebrow at the woman.

"Miko... Your companions, where are they?" The simple question floated in the air like the canticle lower than the birdsong, the woman took a moment to notice the question being asked and fumbled with it.

“W-well... Sango-chan and Miroku-san went to the hunters old village to say prayers, they also wanted the children to know their relatives; Shippo-chan is in a Kitsune village learning more spells; Kohaku-kun is traveling with Kirara and InuYasha….” The miko stopped when she thought of her fiance Hanyou.

'He hasn't come back from his hunting trips for a while, I don't even know he remembers our wedding date and I'm not even going to talk about it with HIS(!) brother, so....' Thinking about what to say about InuYasha, she doesn't even even noticed the eyes fixed on her face or how those same eyes admired her body seconds.

".... InuYasha is a kinda petty these days, so he decided to wander around looking for spots where there are more hunting animals!" Kagome decided to tell half the truth, there was nothing for her to deny the man, he wouldn't be interested. “….That's why there was such an uproar in the village, but that doesn't mean I couldn't take care of everything myself! I just..."

She was silenced with her snort. The Inu-youkai would hardly know it would work. For more strong and… Magnificent was the power inside that tiny lush body. His wit and ingenuity were helpful, but physical strength was non-existent.

For this very reason that.... Western Lord next words were....

"Hn."

Snorting, Kagome returned her gaze to the man with a sarcastic smile. They both stare at each other languidly moments, trying to find fault with each other to see who would give in first. Sesshomaru would probe Kagome's aura and Kagome would explore Sesshomaru's body. Two different poles face to face interacting in the most similar ways. But the curious tension, attractive as it was, was cut off by a spark of pain hitting the miko's arm, and.... As much as she wanted to win this unofficial contest, she renounced her stubbornness and obtained the proper utensils to amendment.

Removing the pieces of bandage always hidden in the kosode's sleeves for emergencies, the miko tied the strip on her injured arm with the help of young Rin, leaving the wound to be taken care of after she returned to her cabin. Turning to face the listless man, she gave another of her smiles reserved only for that cold, indifferent jerk.

“Oniisan~! What brings you here again!? I see you have arrived well enough time to save me once more from a terrible fate! Thank you~!" Sacarina spilled from her lips like water.

Still watching the woman on the floor, Sesshomaru made the only sound that would answer all these annoying or useless questions...

"Hn."

His Veins jumped, the sanctuary woman chanted her mantras to all possible deities that would not make her commit self-murder(!). Starting to get up from the floor already covered in red splatters. The miko moved in an attempt to pull herself up with her single good arm, but when her foot steadied right above a loose rock, her fall was only stopped by the sleeve of a pure white furisode appearing in her line of vision and soon the woman was on her own feet.

A little shocked (and a little embarrassed) but still having her good manners, Kagome turned to thank the man when she saw him already a few feet away from her. As if he had never helped the woman not even with the the battle, nor the fall, the Daiyoukai continued walking, giving full attention to his euphoric pupil who came in tow.

Kagome looked at Dai, then simply shrugged.

‘Don't like to see yourself doing an act of kindness? Okay then!'

OoOoO

Not a week later, carts laden with bales of rice, vegetables and new animals arrived in the village to make up for the unexpected losses. All of this was portrayed by the villagers as a gift given by the Western Lord for keeping his ward safe even when invaders destroyed everything. The lost crops were stored, the miko Kagome saying that some could be saved and the rest would be used to plant new crops.

In the midst of all this, the people of the village prepared a large pile of relics, that they had obtained from the shrine or the neighboring villages, to present to their benefactor Inu-youkai. Fine fabrics, glittering jewelry and artifacts were placed in simple wooden chests, but very well preserved. Swords were also donated from the village sanctuary and objects said to be of use to demons were also placed in the piles of crates, all awaiting the arrival of their new owner. However this could not be delivered to the owner by anyone and not even Rin could deliver such items alone.

Which left the job to our main heroine. Kagome was chosen to give the gifts.

Sitting on the dais waiting for the lord, and accompanied by a sleeper an Kirara, she soon sees the monk and hunter couple approaching with their various children.

"Ohayoo~, Kagome-chan!" Sango speaks. She was bouncing little three-year-old Hisui. Beside her, her husband looked at miko doubtfully.

Smiling, she responds. “Sango-chan! Miroku-san! Ohayoo!”

“Kagome-sama, are you sure you want to wait?! I don't think Lord Sesshomaru is showing up anytime soon, we don't even know if he will same come!" Miroku speaks next. Looking at the monk, she says with a carefree face.

“No need to worry, I don't think he will slight with Rin-chan! She herself guaranteed that he would come!"

"I hope Lord Sesshomaru arrives soon and you can get out of this hot sun quickly!" Sango continues. His eyes drooped at any point, waiting for the man to appear.

"And speaking of  Lord of the Western.... InuYasha hasn't shown up yet?!" Miroku soon realized how stupid he was when his wife  cast  that 'you're-dead-tonight-monk-libertine!' look. Sweating in a cold sweat, the holy man tried to apologize to the crestfallen woman sitting on the dais.

“K-Kagome-chan! S-sorry about that! You must be very angry that InuYasha isn't here, b-but for the glory of the BUDDHA(!), I'm sure he'll show up s-soon!” The monk prayed that the woman's anger would not stray to him.

Not sure what to expect, the couple waited for the moment when the miko burst into flames with hatred and rancor from the treacherous mestizo, but what they didn't expect was...

“Hihihi....~! It's okay miroku-kun~, InuYasha doesn't indignate to come,..." His bright smile was torture for the pair's eyes, the saccharmos acquired over the years was always coated in glittery glitter and sweet words filled with venom sugary. Nobody knew for sure which ones were true and which ones were false. “... I make a point of leaving him out of our... 'Idolatation' of his BROTHER. I don't want blood spilled for nothing.”

"R-right..." The couple nervously stood for a few moments before they went to do their chores, Kirara woke up in the middle of it and walked away to some corner. Miko was alone again. Some time passed and the midday sun was already passing slowly through the clouds. The landscape distracted the woman for a while, but soon it became irritating.

Determined not to be idle,, the sacred woman circled the closed boxes, curious about the items kept by the villagers.

"Hmm, let's see.... What kind of things here would please a philanthropist-fief like the dog lord..." Muttering as she fussed over the fabrics and jewelry, a wire of youki electrical discharge passed unnoticed by her until the moment on what a hot breath ignited his ear.  Her body naturally straightened and froze as another body curled up close to hers and the cold from the metal plate seared her back.

The air crackled with force, tense and electric, but untouched. The area of the clearing where the podium was, before full of life, is now very silent. The miko knew that what was behind her wouldn't hurt her, but the irrational fear that ran down her spine was always an instinctive act.

Craving.

Hunting.

Devouring.

"Miko..." The baritone almost sounded breathless.

"H-hum...?" Palpitations resounded like lightning in the rib cage. Tingling descended from the abused ear by that sinful voice.

Impure.

Dangerous.

"Haven't you been taught not to be curious about what doesn't belong to you...?" Suddenly all the oppressive power was gone, the magnetic force that held the woman was gone in a second, and if not for the arm muscle holding her in that second, perhaps the grace as a woman in a robe would have melted along with the last live neurons in your brain.

“....O-oniis-ssan!? N-no…I don't….” A powerful hand gripped the slender arm tightly, her inner core boiled.

The youkai came out from behind the shaken woman to the objects laid out on the dais, totally ignoring the result of her bold moves. Analyzing all the old stuff laid out like an offering, the youkai man looked quizzically at various useless utensils.

Kagome contemplated his sharp gaze, always looking for a second at each item before discarding and go to the next one. The woman was eager to see if anything there might interest the man, but none of the artifacts seemed to be pleasant enough for the empathetic aristocrat.

Uneasy and nervous she remained whether the man would degrade with her for offending him by offering such simple props.

"Hmmm.... S-Sesshomaru...Sama?..." He didn't even look at her, more interested in seeing the sealed swords.

".... Did you... like one of the pieces?"

Silence.

Always enigmatic.

"Sesshomaru-..." In a flash the youkai found himself again in front of the woman for her full attention.

"Does unreasonable things like that satisfy you, miko?"

"Wha... What...?" The woman didn't understand her words, which makes the youkai even more fearless.

"I don't like to repeat myself.... Do you pleases that me to leave with the profit, while you don't receive the merit due for your work?"

 What's this it should to mean?

“Uh-uh.... Well, you were the one who ended up wiping out all the demons that attacked us in the end, I just bought time. I think you really deserved it for-”

“So you think it's right to do all the work, risking your life, sacrificing part of your powers and limbs while others hide and thank me for an act I didn't even do. That sounds like a big stupidity.” The man coolly corrected the woman's way of looking, without denigrating her strength and skill (... a lot).

"Wha? Not! You-...you really helped! You SAVED me!"

"Correct. I saved you. Not them, not the village. But you and Rin.”

The woman was silent at that. Was he right. She was the one who spent the effort defeating the youkai. Men and young people fled, only she remained.

“B-but…. I have to thank you somehow! How can I let myself be saved and not give anything in return?!”

"There is something you could give me, but that would be impossible now..."

"What? Why?" She was surprised. Something she can give him that he knows and she doesn't?

“….” Sesshomaru looked deep into her eyes. A strange haze traced her striking ambers before disappearing into her fringe shadows. Her gaze strayed to some point above her head for seconds; breaths before imperceptible moved rhythmically stronger with the simple contemplation of conception of senses and very strong desires too strong to pour.

"InuYasha is on his way here." As soon as he said it, the lord disappeared in a second.

Without truly knowing the lord's deep feelings, the woman stood there thinking confusedly about what had just happened. The cold, calculating Sesshomaru-sama she knew proved to be more and more... not so asymptomatic.

OoOoO

Days after Sesshomaru's weird mannerisms, Kagome resolved that she would give a gift of thanks to the Lord of the West in any way she could.

Whether he wanted to or not!

Researching things a man like Lord Sesshomaru might like, the woman decided to question the only people who might have any knowledge of the man-dog's taste. In this madness befallen the futuristic woman, Rin, Jaken and Myouga were kind of kidnapped or quarantined until some valuable information was spurted out.

Without threat...

All three were sitting in seiza aligned up, all with their eyes closed and in nervous silence waiting for the miko to speak. It was easy to bring them, Rin loved talking to Kagome, Myouga was close to the area and catching him was not difficult using the right words, already Jaken....

The snarling and frothing frog, was tethered and finally aroused from its forced sleep (just cause of the swollen red bumps and the fine marks of a bow that ensured this).

"Well, well, well... I gathered the three of you here because I need important information from a certain Demon Lord..." Walking back and forth, the woman held her tamagushi raised like an old paddle that her old teacher of school held to intimidate students, as if ready to punish anyone against their will. Rocky face and steady eyes, she kept the calm burning in her to know about every useful gossip possible.

“… Things he likes… Dislikes…. The types of interests he has… Or…” The miko stopped, making a drama. ".... The existence of somebody that captivate him."

Silence knocked for a instants.

“Erhhh… Miss Kagome? I know I'm a pretty old flea, but do I hear right...? Do you want to know about... Sesshomaru-sama's likes?” Myouga was a little skeptical.

"But of course! I want to give him a special gift. For saving me every time those monsters attacked us. So it has to be very specific, something that pleases you.”

“Yes…I understand, but…Don't you think you're taking a lot of chances? I-I mean.... As for master InuYasha!?”

“What have InuYasha? He's not the one I want to satisfy!"

Okay, maybe it was more than a little bit, but... Really. Master InuYasha's fiancée suddenly decided to switch from one brother to another? Just like that?!

“M-Miss Kagome... Do you wish to draw Master Sesshomaru's attention to you? Something like... a cut?” Myouga continues. At the same time, Rin and Jaken gasped at the prospect of the flea. One of happiness, the other of horror.

“Hmm…Like a royal ceremony? I think... Yes, of course! I'm sure he would appreciate it.”

“E-eh? That's not quite what I said, I meant that—” The flea was cut short when Rin accidentally (or didn't) knock him away.

 "I also think Sesshomaru-Sama would love it, Kagome-nessan!" The big girl clapped her hands jovially as she smiled. Rin has always dreamed of something like this. Lord Sesshomaru never seemed to have much interest in romantic relationships before, claiming to always go in search of that 'Supreme Conquest', but now who would say-.... His lord, unknowingly, managed to win even the purest heart in the world that it had belonged to his own brother!

Kagome smiles at the girl's response. She looks at the flea as she speaks, wanting his question. "I need you to tell me something he's interested in, something like.... An Accessory!"

"Accessory?" Myouga felt the unease somewhere in the pit of her stomach burning.

"IT'S! Or maybe a toy!"

"Toy?!?!" Myouga was already passing out.

"I don't know!... Maybe a kimono!"

The old flea no longer knew what to think of the young woman who faced horrendous enemies, caused incredible deeds and changed the perspective of the minds of thousands of beings. On the other hand, the current Inu-Taisho had indeed become someone tolerant of humans and worthy of indulgence, however...

"VILE BITCH, HOW DARE YOU!!!" The screaming croak caught everyone's attention.

Jaken, who had loosened his grip after much effort, went into combat mode on the cabin's floor.

“YOU INSOLENT! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY BELOVED LORD'S TASTES, DON'T YOU DARE TO PRESENT HIM WITH YOUR FILTHY GARBAGE!!!"

"Well then help me give him the proper gift!"

"AND WHY WOULD I DO THAT!?!"

“To please him! Maybe that will make Sesshomaru recognize his hard work and stop him beating him up for being boring all the time!”

"FINE!"

And Jaken was caught. Wrapped in the woman's ruse, he told her everything that should have been what Sesshomaru liked. Myouga and Rin watched curiously as the imp youkai drain everything and anything, digging his own grave before even realizing what a mess he'd done. Myouga shook her head in thought, her little arms crossed arching to escape the future disgrace that would fall on everyone's heads in that cabin.

‘Ohhh, my great and late master! I ask that your great patience be inherited in your eldest son, for I don't think I'll run away from seeing him sooner than I think!'

OoOoO

After spending an entire night talking to Jaken (and oddly enough he is a great conversation partner), Rin and Myouga also put their ideas (Myouga's was kind of grudgingly). The little youkai imp's idea was the first, so he went off traveling a few days later to find the 'gift' and in the meantime, Kagome prepared to surround the frigid youkai.

# BEST PRESENT: 1ST ATTEMPT: Sesshōseki! (By Jaken's opinion) #

It took a few days for Jaken to return from his journey from the mission he'd proclaimed, 'my lord's-perfect-gift' carrying something round wrapped in some cloth.

Curious, Kagome asked him what it was.

"Ne~ Jaken, what is this?!"

“A Sesshōseki*!” he says happily.

"U-um-..What?"

"A Sesshōseki!"

 “Erhhh… Jaken-san? Should we do it with a... Sesshōseki?”

"FOOL!" Jaken quacks. “This stone is the perfect gift for Sesshomaru-sama! What could be better for a being with my lord's name, than a stone of the same name!"

"Ahhh~,  of course.... Nothing better than a stone called 'Killing stone'(!), to be the 'perfect gift'!"

"Correct!"

Veins nearly burst from Kagome's eyes. His once-bright mood vanished into a dark haze of fury.

But before she killed him, his lord had already arrived.

"MY LORD!" Jumping with glee, the imp completely ignored the furious woman. Master Seshoumaru looked pointedly at the miko in question. Wondering what the problem was today.

“My lord, look! Silly miko and I have your present!”

Intrigued. Sesshumaru shifts the miko's vision to the youkai by lifting the wrapped object as far as he can. Lifting an eyebrow, he looked at the miko again.

Seeing the mistake Jaken was making, the startled woman went to take the package out of the man's reach.

"JAKEN NO!"

Heading towards the package, but the miko didn't expect to trip in the air and fall straight to the cursed stone. If not for the massive-bodied sculpture that stopped her fall at the time, there might not have been such an absent-minded priestess in the village any longer.

Standing again, the woman closed herself off from the world because she was embarrassed once again, in front of him.

 "Miko." Sesshomaru calls.

"Y-yes?"

"What's the reason for this?"

Sighing, the woman pats the wrinkles in her robe and stares determinedly at those beautiful amber gems. “I can't stand being saved for you and not thanking you back! So I decided to thank you anyway!”

The tall youkai peered at her for a while and then slowly closed his eyes. Thinking.

"It is not necessary." He answers.

“Of course it is necessary! You always save me.”

"I don't need thanks."

"And WHY not?"

"It's not what I want."

“HUH?!” Kagome tried to argue, but he was already gone.

“GAAARH! YOU FOOL, LOOK WHAT YOU DID! NOW HOW WILL MY LORD USE MY GIFT?!”

“Neee~ Jaken-san? Do you want to know what the best use is for this stone?! Hmm~?!”

OoOoO

After the killer stone disaster, it was time for Rin's idea to take shape.

The girl was so happy to have a chance to help the two best people she saw as her parents, that she ran off into the woods looking for the right gift.

# BEST PRESENT: 2ND ATTEMPT: Saboten-No-Hana! (By Rin's opinion) #

After a few hours of waiting, Kagome caught sight of young Rin coming down from the meadow to clearing where she was standing. When she got very close, kagome noticed the girl's condition.

“Rin-chan!?! What there was? What happened to her clothes?!”

The girl did not respond. Panting, sweaty and in tattered clothes, but happy with what she found, the girl offers the gift.

Despite her condition, what the young woman found is of course(!)... was a flower. But unlike the other flowers the girl already had found, this one was different.

The flower was large, with numerous purple and white petals joined in a spiral, identical to those of a chrysanthemum, the only difference being that they were more open and delicate.

“Wow Rin-chan, how beautiful! Where did you find this flower?!”

Smiling tiredly, she replies. “You won't believe Kagome-nessan! I found this single flower growing on a strange tree!"

"Strange tree?"

"Yes! It was long, without branches, totally green and with lots of thorns! It was hard to catch her, but I did it! Now I'm sure Sesshouaru-sama will love her!”

Ignoring the girl's last words, Kagome looked curiously at the flower. ‘Huh? From what Rin described, this is a cactus flower, but how did it get here?’

Oblivious to Rin's chatter with someone else, the miko keep thinking. ‘Hmm... Maybe a migratory bird brought the seed here? She looks like an American species. Do birds migrate so far?’

"...me-nessan!... Gome-nessan!... KAGOME-NESSAN!" Startled, Kagome turned to the worried girl.

"Sorry Rin-chan, I didn't hear you-" It wasn't until that second that she noticed the third participant.

Sesshomaru casually looked at miko like she was an intruder. Seeing as she got so distracted that she didn't even notice the youkai's agitated youki, Kagome lets out an embarrassed laugh as she focuses fully on the girl calling for her.

"Yes Rin-chan, did you want to ask me something?"

Happy, the girl asks. “Kagome-nessan, I was talking to Lord Ssesshoumaru about what you had told me about your knowledge of the meaning of flowers! Kagome-nessan, can you say the meaning of this one?”

“O-of course! Let me see…” Thinking about what the girl had said, she tried to remember her mother's old botanical Feng-shui magazine.

“Let's see… I think it was… love or… bad luck?… No, it was Tsubaki*. Bara* maybe?... No, wrong again. I think it was darker... Hmm, I think it waaas....Erhh...- Ah! I already know! It was lecher…-” Kagome widened her eyes and quickly closed her mouth with what she almost blurted out. Waving if there were any bees nearby, Kagome tried to dodge the confused girl.

“L-look Rin-chan… I don't think I remember that one. But know what? She looks so much better with you.”

“S-seriously! But I thought it was for Lode Sessho-...!”

“Nn-nomm, namm, no need dear! Sesshomaru-sama might have another thing!” Blinking, Kagome disguised it to look like she wanted to be alone with the youkai.

Falling for the trick, Rin gasped and quickly came out blushing at the miko's intentions.

Sighing in relief, Kagome didn't even notice the youkai's sinful gaze when she said another thing.

“Oniisan, I'm sorry! But i think i ruined your present.”

“Hn. Everything is fine. It still wasn't what I wanted.” And once again he was gone.

Kagome gaped as he disappeared in a flash, not knowing what to do.

OoOoO

Still determined (and with her only last hope), Kagome poured all her strength into Myouga's gift. The flea disappeared for weeks, right after Jaken, in search of something of 'unparalleled' value.

Kagome were already thinking that he fled away when out of nowhere... The old youkai descended from the top of a raven directly on his neck.

# BEST PRESENT: 3rd ATTEMPT: Cintāmani! (By Myouga's opinion) .: It is serious?! #

"Ouch!" Hitting the sting spot, the miko saw the little shattered flea youkai swell up to normal shape.

“I wonder if you will ever die…” The woman says with thinly veiled anger.

“Your words hurt me, Miss Kagome. I didn't even show my gift.” Sitting on her palm, the flea offers a silk bag embroidered with a sea dragon.

Excited, Kagome lets the flea fall and opens the bag quickly. Opening her palm, the curious miko sees the shiny round object descend through the slit and rolls into her hand.

“....? It's-...? Is...? An-...? A JEWEL?!"

"Impressive isn't it?" Myouga says cheerfully. “It is a Cintāmani*, a wishing gem! I asked Hōsenki to make one identical to that of the goddess Kichijōten*, but of course this single gem can only fulfill one wish.”

"Nope."

"I know Miss Kagome, but the truth is it's hard to make another like-"

"Nope."

“H-huh? Miss Kagome? Some problem?"

"NOPE!"

“W-WAIT! M-MISS KAGOME! W-WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT WAS THERE? W-WHY DO YOU LOOK AT ME?!"

“Nopenopenopenope, not again nonono, why? Why? WHYEEE?!”

"Miko." Sesshomaru quickly reached miko when he felt his annoyance. What he didn't expect was...

"O-oniissan...help meeeee!" In the woman's hands there were two strange things. On the left, a horrified flea. And on the right, that damn ball.

And what he replied was.

"Nope."

After hours of calming the  nerves and miko's uncontrolled powers,, Sesshomaru handled the situation as best he could.

The miko grabbed about your physique like a lost Nihonzaru* cub. Whining and apologizing for everything. The miko's face was flushed red, swollen and snotty, pressed to the top of  immaculate furisode now splotchy.

“I-i'm sorry…Hic! I promise never again-Hic!- Never AGAIN(!), I trust a flea!” Blowing his nose on the sleeve of the garment, the youkai watched as his smooth face scrunched up in disgust at the mucus that stuck to the fabric.

Noting her sad eyes, The youkai studies her reverently, curious how her eyes have changed from a bright blue river to the dark and aggressive ocean.

"Why do you keep doing this miko?"

"H-hum-Hic?" She interrogates unintelligent.

"Why do you want to thank me?" he asks again. This time Sesshomaru was intrigued. Why does miko keep doing this if there was no other interest?

"Why wouldn't I?" Kaome leaned against his lap, only now realizing that she was sitting on his lap in the middle of the woods, alone (!), (Myouga fled a few seconds after Sesshomau's arrival, frightened by the sight of his face, the coward).

“I've told you before. It is not necessary."

"How is it not necessary?"

"That's not what I want."

'SO WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Kagome got mad at him. Whenever she asked him, he'd run away from the subject, run and make her so upset. Dammit, she just an answer!

"You would not be able to grant what I wish."

“Why am I not able to grant your wish Sesshomaru? What is missing? What do I need to do? What do you wish?”

Sesshomaru looked deep into those watery eyes, wondering whether or not to reveal his feelings. Kagome's bright eyes looked at him with conviction that she wouldn't let him give up. Anything, whatever it was she could do to interrogate him. She would.

"I fancy you." Sesshomaru revealed.

Ready.

No more and no less.

Everything or anything fell silent in that liberating moment, only the sun and breeze in the leaves were his observers.

"W-w...what?" Kagome was breathless.

"I want you. I've wanted you for a long time. So many times I thought how much I want you around when I visit Rin, how much I want you around when I travel the world. How badly I want you by my side. But on top of that... I want you closer until the day when I'm gone.”

"Do you...you want me around... that much?" Kagome spoke as she pointed at herself with a finger. Sesshomaru nodded in confirmation.

“Weeell… close?” He confirmed it again.

"So you... do you want to be... my... friend?" she asks sly.

‘So that was it! Sesshomaru just wanted to be my friend! I finally discovered his desire!”

The only thing she didn't expect was the youkai's expression when she said that.

Kagome happily thought of the event as she closed her eyes with glee. ‘Sesshomaru didn't hate her after all?! He wants me around as a friend!’ She was so internally unconscious of the man that when she finally looked back into his lord's face, the fright and fear she took was...

.... So fatal and dismal. As if her worst living nightmare had come back and haunted her with her many 'children'!

Sesshomaru was...

He was...

Waaas he...?

Frustration.

That's what Sesshomaru felt rising in his temples.

There's no way to explain the look in the old man's eyes at that time. Those eyes that were closed. Narrows. Wrinkled. The face once carved from stone, now filled with drawn and stretched lines. Lips tightly closed. A hand that crossed his face and touched the tips of his fingers to the bridge of his wrinkled nose.

In short everything.

He was very frustrated.

“Erhhhh......? Sesshomaru? All right?" The miko brings her face close to the youkai. Fear of her was obvious of course, but so was her desire to help.

⇒  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nx1pXS62kM)

"Why did you do that?" came the muffled reply.

“Th-that? This what?"

Moving in a flash, the youkai pinned her to the grass. "That. You do not realize?" Sesshomaru stares at those big bright blue globes dryly. The nervous miko didn't know how to respond with that, too busy with the position they were in. Tense minutes passed over the beings thrown on the grass. The current Inu-Taisho, Sesshomaru, who admired the woman of his dreams, and the famous Shinko Miko, Kagome, who appreciated him in return. Both didn't deviate even for a second.

  "No... I don't know-..." Kagome tried to answer him, but...

"I love you."

Kagome glared at him. Wondering... What(?), Why(?), AND HOW(?!), did this happen.

“That… About that, II don't know what to say! I do not-! I've never had to go through any of this before! It's-it's hard! I…” The woman closed her eyes and chattered meaninglessly at the confession. Not trusting that she would be able to see him in the eyes and not… fall into temptation.

So when what had been expected for a long time happened, Kagome could only sink into the bottomless pit of the thin, narrow, but warm and inviting lips of the eager-aged man.

The kiss lasted for minutes. None concerned with breath or time stuck together. The embrace of newly formed lovers was new, but filled with the sick heat of sheltered passion and the joy of exploring the body and secrets with the simple touch of opposing energies. So charged that it spilled across the grassy field like liquid mist, condensing the pale pink to the electrifying green and making crackles and sparks bright as stars above them.

“A-ahn~...!” Kagome gasps after the kiss breaks. Her skin burned hot red in the explosion of joint feelings. 

“H-hn….” Sesshomaru grunts tenth. Eyelids closed and a thin blush imprinted on his cheekbones to the tips of his elven ears, he was almost unnoticed by the vibrant blue gems, but the sight was splendid. 

"Okay... I get it... you want me very close." Kagome laughs. Sesshomaru glared, and could only smile back.

“Hn. Good."

“But…” Kagome taunts him. "What right do you have to call me DUMB!"

"When did I say that?" Now Sesshomaru is the one who was confused.

"UP THERE!"

“I don't know what miko is saying. I don't remember any time calling you offensively.”

“Heh... If we had SONS! How LONG would it take them to realize they're in love.”

“Pups…” Sesshomaru says calmly.

"What?!" Kagome stayed confused.

“We'll have puppies,” He says in that same tone. “Six at the most. Inu is always born in litters, that's how I was conceived.”

"YOU HAVE MORE BROTHERS?!"

"Yes. I have."

"LIKE? HOW? WHEN? WHY DID I NEVER KNOW ANY OF THEM?! WHY INUYASHA NEVER MEET ANY OF THEM?!”

“The presence of my brothers and sisters is unnecessary in these lands. I was the only one with the strength and honor needed to inherit the regions my father protected. All my brothers have their own provinces on the mainland to run, alongside our mother. And InuYasha doesn't need to know that, he's a bastard after all.”

"This is... all so absurd!"

"You'll get used to it soon."

“But... While InuYasha?” Kagome the dubious question. "You know, he and I are still engaged!"

What Sesshomaru simply was.

"Hn."

"SESSHOUMARU!"

Sesshomaru laughs at her outburst and pulls her closer to him.

“Forget InuYasha, woman~.”

OoOoO

It took some time after the episode called 'Biggest event in the village since the apparition of the crazy miko  jewel-breaker (including the one she that broke just per a simple tantrum). Many things have changed as a result of several unprecedented factors.

To which were:

The clarification for every of villager that... Kagome would now live as a traveling miko, beside her new lover, who made a point of saying (in turn, made Kagome say instead) that she would not accept anything that came from human beings other than those he only truly protects.

(Many agreed with this as they felt the dark chill that flooded the center of the village when miko clarified the adv very clearly.)

The other was.

Inuyasha.

When the hanyou finally appeared, he was soon evicted by Kagome. Her saying that he should have said he didn't want to marry her. And what he simply said was...

(“KEH! Like you're looking forward to getting stuck in a goddamn wedding and being pushed into making thousands of stinky brats! FUCKING NO(!), WOMAN!”)

The result was simply a series of 'sits',  insults sharp, o-fudas paralyzing , a direct attack with the sharp point of a Hiraikotsu, bites from a giant cat, three huge flaming tops (courtesy of newcomer Shippo!) and the occasional green and eroding whip.

But after all. It was a good start. The new couple ended their trip of confusion and love in the best possible way. Together they walked across the sun bridge towards their new destination. Linked by the feeling and the conscious adoration they felt, they would come to have many tales and adventures that followed through time.

And if anyone noticed the litter of six puppies in tow, no one commented...

~fim~

Sesshōseki: Called "Killing Stone" is a stone that is said to kill anyone who comes in contact with it.

Saboten-No-Hana: Cactus flower. In Hanakotoba (the language of flowers in Japan), it means lust and sex. The other flowers are: Tsubaki (Red Camellia), meaning love or bad luck (for samurai) and Bara (White Rose), Innocence.

Cintāmani: A mani gem; magic jewel, which manifests everything you want. According to one's wishes: treasures, clothing and food can be manifested, while sickness and suffering can be removed, water can be purified, etc.

Goddess Kichijōten: Goddess of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Nihonzaru: Japanese monkey.