It was well past dawn when Kagome awoke, her eyes crusted and body aching from the cramped position she’d passed out in last night. Lying partway on her stomach, she dragged her pruny fingers out from the sticky seam of her thighs, a grimace pulling at her lips at the sensation. With a groan, she

Kagome tore through the forest in blind desperation, sheer adrenaline fueling her as she crashed through the brush and branches that attempted to ensnare her. Her yukata snagged and ripped, her hair and skin as well. As the night wind lashed against her, she raced back toward the castle as fast as her tripping feet

The bow slipped from Kagome’s fingers, her strung arrow clattering to the floor. She should have known her spell wouldn’t be strong enough to throw Sesshoumaru off her trail. Maybe he hadn’t been in close enough range until now, or hadn’t been paying close enough attention. Maybe she’d let the enchantment slip during her sleep,

‘Keep the secret’ resumed with a vengeance, Kagome and Mayuri raising the stakes absurdly higher with each successive round. By the time they squeezed back through the fence, both women were in mute, red-faced hysterics. The moment the vines swung shut behind them, they doubled-over, laughing themselves hoarse. “We did it,” Kagome gasped, clutching her

Ascending the steps of a wide veranda, the two women drew to a stop before one of the palace’s outer doors. Mayuri bent low at the waist, the ends of her loosely bound hair nearly brushing the floorboards. “Let me know if there is anything at all that you need.” “Thank you, I—” “Kaa-san!” Both