Painted by Shadows Under an Oak by Adrian Elijah Hill

Chapter 1

I do not own InuYasha or the characters mentioned in this fanfiction.

Kagome watched the shadows dance as the wind ruffled the leaves overhead. It was warm for early summer and the ground was surprisingly dry so she had brought the children to the clearing to play while the others polished weapons and did supply checks. The book in her lap had been long forgotten, her index finger still holding the place as she admired the display of youthful energy. Shippou bouced up and away as Rin almost succeeded in landing the flower ring on his umber locks, the girl pouted and took off after the kitsune. Silk rustled beside the miko and she turned to find the Lord on her Right.

"InuYasha getting on your nerves again?" Although he did not speak she could tell that she had been right by the marring of his perfect lips into a frown. The two brothers had come a long way on the road to civility, but every once in a while the hanyou would get worked up and he would lash out at the silent man. Kagome found the fights petty and weak, sure she paid attention to the Lord when they stopped for camps and she often walked beside him while they travelled. It was nothing personal against the hanyou, in her heart he would always be there but she enjoyed talking to the Lord. When he felt inclined to speak their conversations became deep and insightful for both of them and would quickly absorb them into a different world without the other members of the tachi.

"Okaa-san! Look!" Kagome and Sesshomaru swept their eyes across the field to find Rin sitting beside Shippou with her arms around his neck as he blushed. The daisy chain sat on his hair making his childish features more effeminate. Turning her eyes up to the lord Rin gave him a wink and then she grabbed Shippou by the sleeve and dropped onto the ground to stare at the sky. Sesshomaru glaced up at the woman who had opened her book once more and found the place she left off. Silently they sat in the shadows under the oak tree as they danced in the wind. After some time he leaned closer and when she turned to look at him she found his lips pressing into hers.

As soon as it had happened it was over, the Lord was leaning once more against the tree and watching the children without casting her a glance. Her fingers ghosted against them as her eyes examined his face for any signs. They had a silent companionship like the others did not, the closest she could come to comparing it would be to look at the monk and slayer. While they remained silent until InuYasha came to collect them she could not return to her book, or watch the children. She came back to herself when she caught sight of the elegant large hand extended in front of her face in assistance.

"You taste like sweet plums." He whispered against the shell of her ear as she moved ahead of him toward camp. Nervous and shaky she made dinner and offered bowls to each of the others before collecting her own. The chatter turned toward the meals and the supplies.

"I need to go home and get more ramen and probably some more trail bars."

"Can you bring back chocolate too?" Shippou pouted his lip and batted his eyes at her in hope.

"Alright, I'll bring you some chocolate, and some for Rin."

"Maybe you could get some of those hard doughs you brought before, they make good trail food snacks." Sango and Miroku smiled at her and she added the pretzels to the list while looking at the others. InuYasha was easy to guess, he would have her bring nothing but ramen if he could get away with it. Her eyes landed on the Lord and she cast her eyes to the ground with a blush on her cheeks.

"Would you like me to bring you anything back Sesshomaru-sama?" No one looked directly at him as he remained motionless and expressionless against the tree across from her. "Maybe some sweets, or chips, or something."

"I do not need anything from your time." He smiled then, faintly and they all noticed it. "Perhaps some plums, they are my favorite."