Kagome stretched as she looked outside of the cave that Sesshoumaru had restricted her to. She sighed as she thought of how long it would be until she saw anyone she knew or loved again. She did realize, however, that if the plan worked, the loneliness would be worth it. Kagome picked her backpack and carried it nearer to the entrance of the cave so that she could better see in it. She pulled out one of the dozens of cups of instant ramen noodles from her pack along with a pair of chopsticks. She frowned as she felt Sesshoumaru’s icy glare upon herself. "You know, as long as you’re keeping me here, perhaps you could show some hospitality…"

"I am Sesshoumaru, taiyokai of the Western Lands, I show hospitality to no human."

Kagome’s eyelids dropped in annoyance as she held the plastic cup up to Sesshoumaru. "I can’t eat like you do, I am human after all. I need warm food, not raw meat."

Sesshoumaru growled as he kicked Jaken awake. "Jaken, tend to the woman."

Kagome smiled in mock contentment as she sat back, waiting for Jaken to prepare a small fire for her. "So, Sesshoumaru, where’s the little girl?"

"Elsewhere."

"Why don’t you bring her here? At least then I would have someone else to talk to."

Sesshoumaru ignored Kagome’s comment as he studied her expression for a short while. "Tell me, what is it that you see in that half-wit hanyou, anyway?"

Kagome’s heart skipped a beat as her thoughts wandered to answer the question. "Well, he’s kind, and he protects me, and…"

"You mean he’s always been loyal to you? And, the fact that you’re here shows his flaw in being able to protect."

"He’s—well… that’s just what happened recently… he ran off with Kikyo, overnight… In fact… he does that sort of thing all the time. And he’s jealous and yells at me when I talk to Kouga-kun and he doesn’t let me study enough and he always insists that I give him all the ramen I bring back and he always so rude and… and…" Kagome stopped as she felt tears rolling over her cheeks. She blushed as she realized that she had been crying like a child in front of Sesshoumaru, whom was always emotionless. "I’m sorry… I got carried away. Never mind all of that…"

Sesshoumaru nodded as his gaze shifted and then fell upon Kagome’s bow and a nearly empty quiver of arrows. "Tell me, woman, how much has your aim improved since you tried to shoot at me several months ago?"

Kagome stared blankly at Sesshoumaru for a few moments, not believing that he had remembered the incident. That had indeed been several months previous, but it was also then that Kagome first realized that she loved Inu Yasha. She had took the risk of shooting her arrow at Sesshoumaru, regardless of what harm would come to her own life, because she wanted to buy time for Inu Yasha. Her aim was only slightly off, hitting the Tetsusaiga that Sesshoumaru had taken from Inu Yasha instead of hitting Sesshoumaru’s ‘borrowed arm’. "Well… I suppose my aim has improved, but I’m not perfect yet."

"So be it. You’re not to leave until you have perfected your aim."

"I can’t practice shooting in here, where do you propose that I practice shooting?"

Sesshoumaru quieted for a few moments, realizing that she was correct. If she had to practice, that would give opportunity for her location to be given out. "Woman, do you carry any of the Shikon shards with you?"

Kagome hesitated, but then nodded as she withdrew a small glass jar attached to a slender silver chain on her neck, holding five small shards in it. "We had more, but Kikyo stole them from me."

"Did she really overpower you, or did you allow her to do so because you didn’t want to offend Inu Yasha?"

"That’s—That’s not any of your business!" Kagome gasped as she realized the answer. She knew why it was, but she had not allowed herself to think about it—she had allowed that to happen because she did not want Inu Yasha to become cross with her for hurting Kikyo. [I do all of these things to compromise for Inu Yasha…. But… has he ever done anything like that for me?]

It was not until nearly an hour later that another word was spoken between the two. Kagome cleared her throat as the red of embarrassment rushed to her face. "Eh… where is it that I can go to… you know…"

"Woman, I do not speak in code. If there is something you need, then say it and perhaps I’ll humor your needs."

Kagome cleared her throat as she made her announcement, "I need to go potty."

Sesshoumaru glared at the woman, offended for some reason beyond his logic. His lip curled back in disgust as he pointed outside of the cave. "Jaken, follow her and make sure that she does not wander. Woman, to insure that you return, give me the Shikon shards."

Kagome hesitated, but soon realized that Sesshoumaru prided himself as being a man of honor. She pulled her necklace with the shards from her neck and deposited it in Sesshoumaru’s open hand as she walked out of the cave.

~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~A Few Moments Later~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

Sesshoumaru watched quietly as Kagome returned, followed by a rather irate Jaken. He held one of the Shikon shards between his thumb and index finger. "I have come to a solution to your problem of having to practice with your bow and arrow in the open. This shard, paired with a few drops of my blood can give the smell and a few minor attributes of a yokai. Your smell will not be recognized, your appearance will alter slightly, and what’s more, you won’t be able to use your powers as a miko until the shard is removed and you return to your human form."

Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru pushed the shard tip of the shard into his finger, causing a few drops of blood to run over the shard. The shard absorbed the blood and glowed for a few moments as Sesshoumaru handed the shard to Kagome. She took the shard and stared in disbelief as she saw that instead of glowing dark, as did most shards that had been held by a yokai, the shard shimmered with purity. [There is no evil in this shard… I cannot purify a shard that is not impure… but…] "Why is it that I should lose my abilities as a miko?"

"Neither yokai nor hanyou have purificational abilities such as those exhibited by a miko. If you shot off a few of those purification arrows, your situation may seem suspicious."

"I… I see." [What do I do? I don’t want to turn into some sort of monster by using this shard but I don’t think I have much of a choice…] Kagome examined the shard more closely, contemplating her choices. "D-do I have to?"

"Unless you want Jaken as a new shadow, I suggest you do so."

[I hate this! I can’t even make my own decisions—It’s like I’m a prisoner!] Kagome took in a deep breath as she pulled down the collar of her shirt and pressed the shard into her skin.