AlexandriteSky: As always, I'm very, very sorry for the delayed update! Unfortunately, there was a death in my family this year that left me completely unable to write, especially with a fic like this which has a more light-hearted nature. I'm not looking for sympathy – I just wanted to explain myself and my long absence. Thank you so much to all my faithful readers for not abandoning me! I hope that this chapter does not disappoint!

Many, many thanks to: The Stars that Guide, rosewolf44, birdy22, AnonymousMoodswings, AkaNeko-Sesshy, Psyka, Sesshoumaru mate, Azumigurl, RubyDivine, CoffeeHouseGirl274, Kathy, Deathstarling556, Demonic Host, FEARFLUFFLY, kittykritik, Hilda9Achillius9Fitra, kouga's older woman, Yohanzzon, Princess Miele, Devilgirl4, firetalon90, OrihimeKurosakiInoue, shintochick, lovelymaiden, llebreknit, Redglade, PhoenixBlade, LoveInTheBattleField, AriaSessho, supermangageek23, and lovelymaiden for your wonderful reviews! This chapter is for all of you!

"No."

"Yes."

Kagome inhaled deeply before repeating her previous reply with added conviction.

"No."

"Yes."

The tiny woman stomped her feet against the ground.

"NO!"

"…Yes."

Kagome's face was a rather amusing shade of red as she hastily snatched the item in question from Sesshomaru's grasp, invoking the demon's barely restrained ire.

"Wench." He snarled, accompanied by a deep rumble of his throat that was both low and intimidating. "You will return it to me." Molten eyes pinned down rebellious sapphire ones as Sesshomaru loomed over the source of his irritation, dwarfing her with his much larger build. Unperturbed by his daunting gesture Kagome met his gaze defiantly, and for a moment the shopkeeper flailed helplessly as his shop threatened to burst into flames solely from the intensity of their mutual glares.

"Not a chance. You are not getting this as Rin's present." Kagome said at last, spinning around smartly on her heels and marching towards the sweating cashier. The raven-haired girl addressed the worker with a pleasant smile, though her eyes were sharper than daggers as they locked onto her target. "Would you kindly put this back for us?" she asked, sliding the item across the counter.

The man swallowed nervously and reached forward. "S-Sure, I'll just-"

He squeaked as a clawed hand slammed on top of the merchandise, and suddenly he was assaulted by a murderous gaze that promised death should he fail to relinquish his grasp.

"Leave it."

The man instantly withdrew his hand in fear. He didn't need supernatural powers to know that this youkai was not to be trifled with – practically every pore in the tall male's figure exuded mortal peril. The moment he released his grip, however, a sudden spike of energy scorched his side, and the woman was leaning over the counter after knocking the item out from underneath her companion's grip.

"Take it." She snapped, holding it out with icy sapphire drilling through the employee's pitiful form.

Her companion bared his fangs, revealing outrageously sharp canines that seemed longer than before. "If you dare lay a finger on it, I will cut your hands off." He threatened, eyes bleeding red.

The girl's expression was livid and she leaned even closer.

"If you don't take it, I'll cut something else off –and it won't be your hands." She snarled, eyes flashing just as dangerously as her partner's.

The storekeeper had never felt such fear in his entire life.

"Erm…E-Excuse me?" he managed to stammer while the two continued to bicker. "I-If you don't mind, I can hold onto this while you discuss what you want to do? P-Perhaps outside? I-I'm afraid you're disturbing the other customers."

Kagome froze before glancing at their surroundings. "I don't see anybody else here." She frowned.

"H-Hai." He replied, his voice cracking from anxiety. "They all ran away while you two were fighting."

"…" The female had the decency to look sheepish, while the silver-haired youkai simply looked away with a disinterested snort. "Eh..." She said awkwardly, rubbing behind her neck before hastily bowing. "I'm sorry for our misconduct!"

Sesshomaru snorted once again. "Do not attempt to speak for me, wench." He snarled. "I act however I please, whenever it pleases me to do so; I am not bound by human interpretations of ethicality-"

"He's sorry too." Kagome cut in. The shop keeper watched, wide-eyed, as the small female forcibly dragged the impressive youkai to the exit while ignoring the constant stream of threats and insults that followed.

Once outside, Sesshomaru threw off Kagome's grip with such force that the raven-haired girl gave a small cry as she held her smarting hand. Even she could see that the silver-haired male was livid – possibly even more so than when she had woken him up that morning. The small hairs of her neck and arms rose underneath the youkai's burning gaze, and it took all the courage she had to not take a step back as Sesshomaru slowly advanced closer with his fangs and claws glistening underneath the morning sun.

Sesshomaru had never been so thoroughly humiliated in his life. Not only did the bitch refuse to comply with his wishes, she had openly defied him in front of the eyes of another; such behavior was unheard of towards one of his lineage. With all thoughts of reason and consequences absent, Sesshomaru's hand found its way around her delicate neck before shoving her against the nearest wall, eliciting a gasp of surprise from between pink lips.

Kagome didn't say a word – couldn't, with Sesshomaru's grip crushing her windpipe, yet sapphire eyes swirled with unrestrained emotion as they slowly lifted to meet his own. Her fear was evident through the trembling of her lithe frame, resulting in flushed cheeks and glassy eyes, yet her gaze was unwavering even as his hold tightened.

Even now, in the face of overwhelming power, she would not submit.

"Are you stupid?" Sesshomaru snarled harshly. "Do you not see how pitiful you are in comparison to my strength?"

Kagome made a choking sound, reminding the youkai of her fragile mortality. Disgusted at his own lack of self-control, the silver-haired male released her with a low growl, watching unsympathetically as she crumpled to the floor while clutching her neck. The girl coughed a few times before glancing upwards, evidence of Sesshomaru's assault fresh on her skin as it slowly darkened into a purplish blemish.

Sesshomaru's gut churned and he whirled around.

"Do not appear before me again." He spoke stonily, his throat tight. He moved to start walking away, only to be stopped by a hand on his sleeve.

"Just because you're strong, I should fear you?" Kagome's voice was barely audible, yet Sesshomaru heard every word clearly.

The youkai was speechless.

Did this woman have no sense of self-preservation whatsoever?

No, that wasn't true.

Kagome's hands were shaking as they clutched onto the fabric of his sleeve, betraying her apprehension. It was obvious that she was still highly affected by the event that had just transpired, but her grip only tightened as Sesshomaru attempted to move away.

The silver-haired youkai found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the female's small form as she slowly lifted her eyes off of the ground to bore into his own. Despite her shaken demeanor, sapphire orbs were strong even as her chest rose and fell erratically.

"You're strong." She stated flatly. "But I'm not weak."

Her hands became encased in a gentle pink hue, and Sesshomaru watched with poorly masked surprise as they rose to the marks on her neck, hovering over them until they too glowed pink. Dark lashes fluttered against creamy ivory cheeks as Kagome concentrated, and moments later the evidence of his attack faded until they could no longer be seen.

Sesshomaru understood only too well the implications of Kagome's power. His father's second mate could use such abilities as well, though until now he had yet to meet another female who could.

"You're a miko." His voice escaped in a low growl as Kagome's eyes opened, her power receding back into her body.

"Yup." She answered, face darkening. "And if you ever try something like that again, I'll purify your ass to oblivion."

Luxurious raven tresses rippled around slender shoulders as if to reinforce the girl's threat, and though Sesshomaru knew he should defend his pride he found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the enticing sight.

Once again, he was haunted by the same emotion that had plagued him the night he had first witnessed her strength.

Desire.

Taking a step forward, Sesshomaru was excited to see the female stand her ground, face hardened with rebelliousness.

"Kagome." He spoke, the name escaping his lips in a low rumble.

The raven-haired girl started at the sound of her name, having never heard it said before from Sesshomaru's mouth. A shiver ran up her spine against her will at the huskiness of the youkai's voice, and suddenly her anger fled as soon as it had come, leaving only an inexplicable anticipation as Sesshomaru took yet another step forward.

"S-Sesshomaru?" she questioned, eyes widening innocently after noticing the silver-haired male's sudden proximity. Tendrils of smooth, silver hair tickled her arms as the tall youkai's handsome face approached her own, and heat unfurled within her belly as Sesshomaru's breath mixed with her own.

Kagome's eyes squeezed shut, her mind unable to comprehend this sudden turn of events and instead choosing to shut off entirely. Contrary to the murderous nature of his previous youki, it now pulsed gently around her, leaving the raven-haired girl breathless and confused.

The moment sapphire became eclipsed by soft lids, Sesshomaru's trance shattered. Looking down at the girl's quivering face, the youkai released a loud sigh before eluding pink lips in favor of seeking the freshly healed skin he had mercilessly bruised earlier. The demon within him whined at the missed opportunity but Sesshomaru ignored it, instead brushing aside raven locks in order to swipe his tongue against a dark spot that Kagome had failed to restore, causing the swelling to reduce immediately.

The raven-haired girl's eyes shot open at the feeling of Sesshomaru's tongue against her nape, and she released an ungracious squeak before jumping back, her face bright red as one hand instantly touched the point of contact.

"W-W-WHAT?" she stuttered, eyes wider than the silver-haired youkai had ever seen them before. It was tremendously rewarding to see the girl in such a flabbergasted state after being forced to entertain her numerous whims for the past few weeks, and Sesshomaru couldn't restrain the coy smirk that crossed his face as she continued to grasp for composure.

"You missed a spot." He explained casually, his tone tinted with a hint of smugness.

Kagome's mouth opened and closed repeatedly as she continued to stare at him, all of her usual assuredness absent. Her eyes narrowed as Sesshomaru's lips stretched even farther, and her cheeks flushed darker as she realized the silver-haired youkai was laughing at her.

"You're making fun of me!" she exclaimed with horror.

Golden eyes flickered. "Indeed."

"I-I-Wha-…" Kagome spluttered with her brows furrowed and lips pursed in utter bewilderment. "Why!?"

Why indeed?

Even Sesshomaru was forced to acknowledge that his behavior was out of character, yet seeing Kagome's distraught state was gratifying enough for him to dismiss it for the moment. The taste of her skin still tingled on the tip of his tongue, teasing it with its light and faintly sweet scent.

"Because it pleased me to do so." He answered with an arch of his brow.

Kagome's expression was priceless. It was a mixture of incredulity and embarrassment which seemed to radiate from each and every pore; her complexion continued to redden before she finally turned around to hide flushed cheeks.

"You're so confusing." Her voice was muffled.

"As are you." Sesshomaru replied, eyes narrowed.

Kagome's mouth fell open. "You must be kidding me. How am I the confusing one!?"

"You did not fight back despite having the capability of doing so. Why?"

A glint of sapphire appeared as Kagome glanced at him shyly, her back still turned in his direction.

"I was reflecting." She explained.

A vein twitched on Sesshomaru's forehead. "Answers should be informative, or else they serve no purpose." He snapped impatiently.

Why did this girl excel at making everything as complicated as it could possibly be?

With a sigh, Kagome whirled around to face him at last, her countenance back its usual collected state. "I was thinking that…I might have been in the wrong earlier." She elaborated with her arms crossed. "Maybe…I was out of line."

The narrowing of molten eyes urged her to continue.

"Mou…" the girl protested before jutting out her lower lip. "Fine. I shouldn't have been so against the present you picked out for Rin – it was your decision to make, not mine. I thought that it was reasonable for you to be angry…though you definitely didn't have to take it so far." She finished with an accusatory glare. "Asshole."

Sesshomaru was taken aback. Of all things, he had not expected a show of humility – it unbalanced him, and made the churning of his gut stronger than before.

"But don't think that means I'll let it happen a second time!" Kagome's voice hardened as her chest puffed out. "I've got my pride, you know!"

Sapphire eyes were as hard as steel as they glared at him, and the tall youkai once again felt his demon throb with want. It liked that this tiny human female had the guts to stand up to him, and it approved of her level way of thinking.

Pride was a sentiment that Sesshomaru most definitely understood.

"It will not happen again." He stated monotonously, reaching out so that his claws ghosted across her skin. Kagome shivered but remained unmoving, and his demon purred in approval.

"Good." Her voice, though less certain than before, still held strong. For a moment the two elapsed into silence, both reflecting on what had just transpired between them. Finally, Kagome broke the tension with a question she had been meaning to ask since the very beginning of the incident.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Hn." Sesshomaru snorted.

"…Do you honestly think it's a good idea to buy a katana for an eight year old girl?"

Sesshomaru was mildly offended. "I received my first blade when I was four."

"But…that's a little dangerous, isn't it?" Kagome's voice was troubled.

Sesshomaru snorted. "Hardly. Inuyasha cut off my arm once, but it only took two days to regrow."

"…"

"..."

"..."

The youkai was startled by a sudden burst of energy at his side, and he turned to see Kagome glaring at him with renewed vigor.

"You. Are. Picking. Something. Else." She ground out.

Sesshomaru scowled in reply.

"Sis, where were you!? The party started ages ago!" Souta exclaimed as he ran up to his older sister.

"Sorry, squirt." Kagome replied, ruffling his hair while glancing at the sulking youkai standing at her side. "We...got distracted."

"Rin was worried you guys weren't coming." the boy frowned, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"We'll go make it up to her, I promise." the raven-haired girl replied with a gentle smile. "You're so nice to your girlfriend, Souta."

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Souta yelled before running off to play with the other kids scrambling around the spacious yard. Kagome giggled before turning to her companion, who looked as though he was contemplating using his superhuman speed to escape the premises. "Come on." she encouraged, tugging on his sleeve. "Let's go find Rin and give her our presents!"

They found the girl seated at the place of honor at the large table set on the patio, and when they approached the girl's eyes sparkled brighter than several stars combined as she leaped to her feet, knocking over several bowls of chips and dip in the process.

"KAGOME!" she cheered, scrambling up to them. "...Sessho." she added shyly, peering up at the tall silver-haired youkai. "Thanks for comin'!"

Her eyes lowered to her feet which shifted timidly. "...I thought you might not want to come. 'Cos you're adults and stuff." she admitted, her bottom lip trembling uncertainly.

"Of course we came, Rin." Kagome replied warmly, squatting down so that they were of equal eye-level. With a glare she motioned for Sesshomaru to do the same, and when he refused (why did he even bother?) the raven-haired female jerked him downwards with a forceful tug. Finally, the silver-haired youkai settled for an elegant sitting position, leaving Rin beaming happily.

"We were late because we were picking out your presents!" Kagome continued, holding out three wrapped boxes. The first was tiny, no larger than the size of a small fist, and this was the one that Kagome chose to immediately present to the small girl. "Open this one first, Rin! It's from me!"

Sesshomaru was mildly curious as Rin delicately unwrapped the foil, wondering what his female companion had chosen. He had expected her to get something larger in size in celebration of such an 'important' event and had been surprised when she had retrieved the smallest present of the three they had brought. After minutes of careful unraveling, Rin skillfully made her way to its contents, and she gave a delighted gasp before throwing herself into Kagome's arms.

"Thank you, Kagome!" she breathed happily, tears collecting at the corners of her eyes. "I love them!"

Clutched within her tiny hands were three hairbands, each decorated with small crystal beads shaped as various kinds of flowers.

Sesshomaru resisted the urge face-palm, instead settling for running one hand through his hair.

He was disappointed in himself for even being surprised.

"I'm glad." the female replied gently, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head. "Now open these two! They're from Sesshomaru!"

Rin's eyes, against all odds, grew even wider than before as she turned towards the stoic youkai.

"Y-you got me two presents?" she asked incredulously, as if doubting her own ears. Her cheeks flushed when he nodded his affirmation before hurriedly opening the first one, leaving the larger present for last. The first revealed itself to be a moderately sized stuffed dog, which Rin squealed upon unwrapping. It was white with long fur, and it had been the only gift Sesshomaru of the ones Kagome had presented before him that he had been able to restrain himself from incinerating.

"It's so cute! I love him." Rin squeezed the toy to her tightly, practically gushing with happiness. "Thank you, Sessho!"

The inu-youkai gave a silent nod, at a loss for what else to say. Sesshomaru was thankful that the girl did not thrown herself at him as she had done to Kagome previously - he was already at the cusp of his tolerance for things and activities that he normally avoided like the plague.

He was at an eight year old's birthday party, for heaven's sake.

"Good for you, Rin." Kagome encouraged with a smile before retrieving the last present. "Now this last present is very special - so special that you have to wait until you're older before playing with it! Sesshomaru spent a lot of time picking it out for you."

Sesshomaru snorted. "It only took time because of your incessant nagging-"

He was immediately silenced by a sharp glare. Unperturbed by their exchange, Rin excitedly began unwrapping her final present, and when she did her breath escaped her in an awed exclamation.

The inu-youkai observed the young girl's reaction attentively, wondering how the small female would react to receiving such an honorable gift. To his surprise, the girl did not disappoint - Rin eyed her new blade with reverence, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as they tickled its sheath.

"It's beautiful." she sighed, voice dropping to a whisper. Before Sesshomaru could process what was occurring the little girl was suddenly in his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck. "Thank you, Sessho." she murmured, her voice saturated with wonder. "I'll take great care of it."

The silver-haired male remained frozen until Rin finally released her hold, her tiny body shaking with happiness as she scampered off to retrieve her friends and show them her precious new gifts. Sesshomaru was allowed a moment to recover before he caught sight of his companion's face, causing his scowl to deepen.

"Woman. I insist you wipe that smile off your face."

Kagome's shit-eating grin only grew wider at the silver-haired male's protest.

"Not a chance."

AlexandriteSky: I honestly wrote a completely different chapter before my computer crashed, and somehow it developed a life of its own when I rewrote it…I hope that it was still enjoyable to read! Thank you to all my readers, and please leave a review on your way out!