“So, I’ve been thinking,” Kagome began, setting down her half-empty bowl of stew, “about what our next move should be.” Maybe it was the gravity in her tone, or the fact that she had never been one to pass up a meal, but at her words, the others paused as well, setting their own lunches

Days later, Sesshoumaru could still smell her on his skin, feel her phantom touch caressing him beneath his clothes. He was as mad for her as he had ever been, perhaps more. What had sated him in the moment had left him ravaged with want in the wake of it. Restlessly, he prowled his territories,

The next few days passed in utter boredom for Kagome. After reopening her wound, Kaede had made it her personal mission to be on the younger miko’s case about not straining her arm, and so she was forced to idle about and try to amuse herself as best she could without doing any sort of

Kagome stumbled back with a gasp. Before her, Sesshoumaru stood, the sword in his hand still locked with Toutousai’s hammer and glowing so bright it was almost gold. He stared down at Tessaiga’s true form, an expression of rare surprise showing on his normally stoic face. “Kagome-chan!” Shippou cried as he sprinted toward her, Sango

“Toutousai,” Sesshoumaru said. “I see you have answered my summons.” “Indeed I have,” the old smith returned, muttering dryly aside, “not that I had much choice in the matter.” Turning back to the daiyoukai, he pointed his long-handled hammer at him. “So, you’re in need of repairs, eh? I’ll not touch that infernal Tokijin, if

Kagome awoke at dawn, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Sometime in the night, the fire had gone out, but she and Shippou were still comfortably warm, snuggled against Entei’s toasty flank. Yawning, she sat up and stretched, Shippou doing the same, one tiny clawed fist rubbing across his eyes. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked Kagome groggily, tugging

As daylight waned, Kagome, Sesshoumaru and Entei struck out for the twilit village. Glancing sidelong at the impassive demon lord, she was glad to see that he was more or less back to his former intimidating self. Youkai genetics were truly a remarkable thing. As if to reinforce the notion, her injured limb gave an

It was late in the afternoon when he found the girl again. Perched atop a knoll outside the village, she gazed out at the snow-flecked horizon. Her breath rose in a fine mist before her, winter sunlight gilding the dark waving fall of her hair. Beside her in the dead grass, the horse youkai from

She retreated a step. “I…I’ll just be going now…”