A/N: I am so sorry for leaving you guys hanging for so long! My work shift got changed, and then I've had to work A LOT of over time. But, enough with the excuses. I'm back on my normal shift now, so I should be pumping out chapters fairly regularly once again. Fluffy chapter! Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.

"Oh, Sesshomaru, I just feel so guilty," Kagome sighed glumly as she watched Rin scour the flowery meadow near their encampment for the most perfect blossoms. "If I had just been strong enough to tough it out with Inuyasha until Naraku was gone, none of this would have happened, and Rin wouldn't be so miserable right now."

"Leaving took more strength than staying," the Demon Lord replied ignoring the sting of her thoughtless comment. He realized that she was hurting for Rin's sake and placed a loving hand on her shoulder instead of becoming cross. It was endearing to see her so heartbroken over his young ward's grief.

"I guess you're right," she said leaning her head back into his chest and smiling contentedly. "Anyway, there isn't much that would convince me to give you up. But I still can't help feeling that I'm partially to blame."

"You did not invite Naraku to kidnap you," remarked the inuyoukai tersely, his amber eyes narrowing at the thought. Kagome turned around and encircled Sesshomaru's waist with her arms, her hands absently massaging the lean muscles along his spine as she pressed herself against his firm chest. His mind went hazy, and his eyelids grew heavy as her fingers worked deftly over knots that he was sure had been present for years now. The youkai growled gently in pleasure eliciting a soft giggle from the young woman who, much to his dismay, had ended her relaxing ministrations.

Coming out of his daze, he turned his attention back to the grieving child who being entirely too thorough in her search for the right flowers for the deceased imp's grave. He watched as her bare feet padded nimbly through the long grass as she examined blossom and after blossom, sometimes picking them and throwing others away. Wordlessly, Sesshomaru pried himself out of Kagome's grasp and moved sinuously to the young girl's side.

"None of them are good enough," she sniffled, throwing her bouquet upon the ground in frustration. Sesshomaru reached his arm out and pulled the girl to his side in an embrace. Rin froze, only moving to stare up at the inuyoukai in wide-eyed astonishment. He had never shown her so much affection so openly.

"Jaken will appreciate whatever you flowers you collect for him," Sesshomaru asserted, bending to retrieve the white flowers she had thrown into the overgrown grass. His silver hair moved so fluidly as he bent that it reminded Kagome of quicksilver. She watched as he handed the bundle of flowers back to the girl, her guilt-ridden heart swelling with joy at his tenderness toward Rin.

"Do you really think so?" Rin asked, rubbing her puffy eyes with one small and grass-stained hand.

"I do," Sesshomaru maintained with an almost imperceptible nod. His ward's light brown eyes moved to the bouquet in her hand and gave a poignant sigh.

"I guess that I'm ready to say goodbye now, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin whispered, her eyes becoming sad and laden with tears as she spoke the words. The inuyoukai grabbed the girl's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before leading her to Kagome.

The miko was floored by Sesshomaru's tender actions. Although he had been cold the night before, he was now doing his very best to help her feel better. Kagome smiled to herself, wondering if her words had gotten through to him, or if he would've been so tender toward the girl without prodding.

x.X.x

After they had all said their piece over Jaken's final resting place (even the laconic Sesshomaru), and Rin had left her flowers for him, Sesshomaru had insisted that they find a new place to make camp. And so the four of them set off deeper into the forest, walking for hours until finally Sesshomaru had decided it was time to stop, a welcome relief to Kagome's aching legs.

He had settled on a tiny clearing within a copse of trees so thick that the overhanging branches hid the sky from view. Kagome surmised that he had chosen the spot carefully, so they would be better hidden from any unwanted visitors, but it was a wonder that Ah-Uh was able to pick his way through the tightly packed clusters of trees. It was definitely not a spot Kagome would want to stay at for long.

Now they sat around a small fire, Rin propped against Ah-Un's side snoring softly. The poor girl was both physically and emotionally exhausted. Kagome's expression fell a little as thought about Rin's grief. She prodded the fire with a brittle stick causing a few bright sparks to leap into the air as she tried to come to grips with her guilt.

"There is a hot spring nearby if you would like to bathe," Sesshomaru offered, the reflection of flickering flames dancing in his amber eyes. The sudden noise startled Kagome, drawing her from her thoughts.

"Oh, that would be amazing," she breathed excitedly. Not only was she still covered in Naraku's scent, but, after the day's hike, she was now coated in sweat and dirt. She was positive her odor was starting to become offensive, and her hair had not felt so disgusting in a very long time. "Which way is it?" she inquired rising to gather her overstuffed backpack.

"I will show you," replied the inuyoukai also rising. He tossed a few handfuls of moist dirt onto the fire until it was smothered and cast a knowing glance Ah-Un's way before grasping a now sightless Kagome's hand tightly in his own.

The hot spring was only a few minutes' walk away from their current encampment, but far enough away that Kagome's eyes had adjusted to the surrounding darkness as they arrived. She could see the steam rising from the warm water, and her aching body longed for a good soak. In a hurry, to bathe, she dropped her bag on the ground and began to rummage for all her bathing amenities.

"I've got it from her, thanks," Kagome murmured dismissively, not bothering to look up at the Demon Lord who was towering her over silently. Sesshomaru pursed his lips slightly and arched one perfect brow as he watched her.

"I will not be leaving you unattended," came his annoyed reply as the woman started tugging at the shoes on her feet. Who was she to think that she could dismiss him so easily?

"Well you're not watching me bathe," she retorted flippantly, wishing that the inuyoukai before her would hurry back to camp so she could undress.

"That is not my intention," he answered indifferently, his countenance expressionless. "I merely wish to prevent a repetition of recent events."

"Well I'm not getting undressed until you go back to camp," she remarked folding her arms across her chest, a note vexation clear in her girlish voice.

"I only intend to keep watch. I do not understand your reluctance to bathe in my presence. I have already seen you divested of clothing," he rejoined logically, his mind wandering at the memory. He could easily picture her perfectly toned body, curves in all the right places, dripping wet and glistening. He closed his eyes a moment remembering the flawless shape of her naked breasts and the damp curls that graced the virgin mound between her legs. Suddenly he felt himself aching to touch her.

"Well that's not something I'm ready to make a habit of right now," she snapped impatiently, interrupting Sesshomaru's concupiscent fantasy. She could feel a scarlet blush making its way across her cheeks, but she fought to ignore it.

"Be that as it may, until Naraku is defeated, I will not be leaving you unattended. It is your choice whether you bathe or not," he asserted coolly, trying to keep his aggravation out of his tone. He couldn't understand why it mattered. He had already seen all she had to offer. It wasn't as though he was requesting to join her, though the thought was not an unpleasant one. All he desired was her safety.

"Fine," she assented reluctantly through gritted teeth. "But you have to turn around. At least until I'm in the water," she added, noting his sour expression at the thought of his eyes leaving their post for a moment.

He did as she asked trying to keep the pervasive thoughts of her naked form from overtaking his mind as his sensitive ears heard the small splash of her sliding into the steamy water. He could feel himself stiffening in the most erogenous of places in spite of the almost incoherent grumblings about lack of privacy coming from the bathing miko's direction. The inuyoukai took a deep breath and cleared his mind of unseemly thoughts. It would not do for him to be distracted by impure thoughts while he was supposed to be focused on preventing another incident with Naraku.

Kagome sunk low in the water as she mumbled to herself angrily. How dare that arrogant youkai assume that just because he had accidentally caught a glimpse of her without her clothes once, that he was welcome to view her nudity if he so pleased. She scrubbed at her filthy hair furiously as she fumed. They didn't even have an established relationship yet. So what if they kissed a few times? What kind of girl did he think she was?

'Well…I guess we did say those three words,' she considered thoughtfully as she reached for her conditioner and pouring a dollop into her open palm. 'But still...It's not like I can call him my boyfriend. We don't go on dates. In this era, there really isn't such a thing as dating like there is in my era. Formal marriages in the Feudal Era are arranged, and that's between humans. I don't really know anything about youkai courtship.'

Kagome sighed as she ran her fingers through her slick hair, removing all the snags and tangles from her thick mane. She was letting her mind run off with her again. What did it matter? She was happy, and she was sure he was happy. He hadn't forced himself on her or asked anything of her that made her uncomfortable. Well, except for this whole hanging around while she bathed thing. Nothing really mattered in that aspect until Naraku was gone and the Shikon no Tama was whole again. That was her priority, not some indefinable relationship with an incredibly handsome Youkai Lord. She peered up at him surreptitiously from over her shoulder, but his eyes were focused on the tree line away from her.

She felt relieved but disappointed all at once. She probably would have been incredibly mortified if his eyes had been upon her. But, it would have been incredibly flattering if he had been trying to sneak a peek at her while she bathed. She took a deep breath before rinsing her hair in the warm water, thinking to herself that her strange combination of curious and naïve was incredibly frustrating.

She almost wished that she could throw herself at him, not feel ashamed as hungry eyes studied her nude form with anticipation. Kissing him was so sensual and exciting. She couldn't even imagine how exhilarating it would be to move beyond that. The longing ache within her belly stirred as she felt a needy heat between her legs. Ignoring the feeling, Kagome scrubbed away at the layers of grime on her skin, suddenly in a hurry to finish bathing.

Sesshomaru, sensing a spike in the woman's pheromones, turned his gaze to the bathing woman whose back was turned toward him and inhaled deeply. She was aroused. He felt himself stiffen beneath his hakama again as if his body was trying to answer her need. He was confident her thoughts were on him, but he could not help but wonder where her mind had turned to elicit such thoughts. There wasn't much he wouldn't give to know the details of such intimate ponderings. His skin felt as though it were on fire at the idea of watching her fantasies as they played out in her mind's eye.

He had been with women before, sure, but none were Kagome. He had never met a woman as pure and innocent as the miko. He would take his time with her, be gentle and loving. He would show her how tender he could be, and he would savor every moment. He closed his eyes as his mind wandered, and he let it go this time, imagining her pleasured hisses and moans.

"Uhm, I'm going to get out now," a very discomfited Kagome squeaked from the water. Wordlessly, the inuyoukai turned in a flutter of white silk, so the miko would feel more comfortable as she climbed out of the warm water. The flowery scent of her soaps were wafting through the air, putting the Demon Lord's already hazy mind into an even deeper fog. He waited a long while, his mind still wandering, until he felt the woman lace her dainty fingers with his.

Hand in hand, the pair wended their way through the thickets of trees that stood between them and their campsite. They took their time, savoring the privacy of this time spent together in the surrounding blackness. Neither Sesshomaru nor Kagome knew what challenges tomorrow would bring, but together they were prepared to face anything. As they reached their small clearing in the forest, the pair knew that all they could really be certain of was that one day, very soon, they would be face to face with Naraku once again. Their troubles were far from over.