�Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.�

--Anonymous--

It was almost time, and he couldn�t wait.

Midnight was soon approaching, and Sesshoumaru was impatient. He wished to return to the barrier in which Kohana resided, but it was not yet time, and so he had to wait. His hands twitched in anticipation slightly, but it was not noticeable, which he was thankful for.

Hoping to pass the time by a bit quicker, he opted to half-listen to his wards� conversation. If he kept thinking of Kohana like he had been all day, time would slow down, and he would become more anxious.

Rin and Jaken were still talking despite the late time, but they were prepared for the night�s rest, Rin lying on her back, hands behind her head, and Jaken leaning against Ah-Uhn�s scaly stomach. At the moment, the two were talking about the stars. Rin was looking up at them and pointing out the particularly pretty ones, and Jaken protested against everything she said, saying that there was no difference between any of them.

�What�s so special about tiny balls of light?� Jaken complained, staff resting in his arms.

Rin smiled up at the sky, for she was becoming tired and did not want to turn to Jaken for a quick grin. �They�re so pretty!� she commented, not really answering the imp�s question. �Master Jaken, what are stars made of?�

He scoffed, pretending as though he knew the answer, although he didn�t. After all, the answer wasn�t discovered until centuries later, closer to Kagome�s time period. �Don�t be foolish!� he bragged. �Stars are made of pieces of the sun that broke off, of course!�

Rin gaped happily. She was still a young girl, and her imagination was wild, like most children�s. �Ah! That�s why the sun doesn�t come out with the stars, right, Master Jaken? Because the sun is already shining pieces of itself everywhere in the sky?�

�Of course not,� Jaken continued to try and prove Rin wrong, despite the fact that his answer was just a guess as well. �The sun has to move on simply because it does, but it broke off some pieces of it so the sun could still see the moon.�

Sesshoumaru�s eyes darted quickly to the green youkai. Since when had he been caught up in such fiction and romanticism? Perhaps Rin was finally starting to rub off on the imp. Having to baby-sit a child could give him some imagination once in a while. Then again, Jaken was old, after all, and older beings tended to be constant in such storytelling.

�Are you sure?� Rin pushed, not fully believing Jaken, but her eyes sparkling with the possibilities anyway. �What if the stars aren�t pieces of the sun? What if they�re just fireflies? Why else would they come out at nighttime?�

Jaken continued to complain, trying to convince the young girl. He was never right when it came to he and Sesshoumaru, of course, so he wished to seem intelligent, just like he was seen by the other youkai of his kind before he became Sesshoumaru�s ward.

Speaking of Sesshoumaru, he had just stopped listening to the stories. Time wasn�t going any faster for him, but Jaken�s tale had stirred some thoughts in his mind.

The stars�made from the sun? That was a foolish lie, wasn�t it? However, the idea of the sun�s desire to see the moon was something to ponder.

The stars did not have the same radiance as the sun, and they seemed to be holding back from the sun�s true self. It was as though the sun simply wanted to see the moon, to pay it a visit, but it only hinted at its secrets of the daytime, for the moon did not leave a part of itself to see the sun, as the sun did for the moon.

The sun left remains behind, the stars, so the moon would not be alone, but at the same time, the sun did not want to be alone either. The sun wanted the moon�s company, although it could not completely show itself. The stars twinkled with conversation, but they did not express everything that they truly were. The stars did not tell the moon that they were part of the sun. They did not tell the moon of their life in the daytime, as the full sun that they originally were.

And the moon accepted the secrets. However, the moon was not a baka, and it still seemed to know more about the sun than it let on. The moon knew the sun was brighter and more powerful, but the moon also knew that it had its own power.

The moon made the tide in the water.

The water� Kohana.

Sesshoumaru came to realization. Perhaps Jaken�s story held truth, however fiction-like it seemed to be.

Kohana must be the moon, for she caused the water to become something special. Sesshoumaru had never particularly cared about the water, nor did he pay it much attention, but now that he had met Kohana, the water had played a bigger part of his schedule, although it had only been a few nights that he knew of her.

And if Kohana was the moon�was he, Lord Sesshoumaru, the sun?

The sun had power. The sun was strong. The sun held secrets that it did not reveal to the moon, although the moon seemed to already know these secrets.

Maybe that was why Kohana did not fully explain how she knew who Sesshoumaru or his wards were before he told her. She seemed to be hiding something, but she also seemed to know what he himself was trying to hide.

He was hiding the fact that he was dangerous, and the fact that she shouldn�t be so comfortable around him. Shouldn�t she be scared? Just because she lived underwater, it didn�t mean he couldn�t harm her. He was also hiding the fact that he never acted the way he did around her. He had opened up to her so easily, immediately sending the stars the sun emitted to visit her.

And he was lonely. The sun was lonely. Why else would the sun leave the stars behind to speak with the moon? And the moon was lonely as well, otherwise it wouldn�t put up with the stars at all. Sesshoumaru was beginning to understand.

He was lonely. Kohana was lonely. And although they were hiding things from each other, they enjoyed each other�s presence. They enjoyed last night�s conversation, although it was short. He asked to see her again, and she agreed. They were happy speaking with each other.

But were they only speaking together because they were lonely?

Or were they intrigued by each other?

After all, there were days the moon was still out when the sun rose. There were sunsets where stars came out early. And there was Kohana�s star-shaped necklace that Sesshoumaru still saw in the daytime around Rin�s neck.

And was it a mere coincidence that a crescent moon adorned Sesshoumaru�s forehead, and a star on Kohana�s? Perhaps they were symbols of each other, showing their bond that fate allowed. A piece of the sun was on the moon�s face, and the moon was on the sun�s. Kohana held Sesshoumaru�s sun-like symbol of a star, and Sesshoumaru held Kohana�s moon.

Was Jaken�s story accurate? Did the sun spread out into stars because they were so very interested in the moon and its celestial beauty?

Sesshoumaru raised his head elegantly to the moon, checking the time.

It was midnight.

And the sun would again meet the moon in the moon�s natural habitat:

By the water, in the still of the night.

Kagome floated on her back in the lake, already transformed, again using her magic to secure the sakura blossom Sesshoumaru had given her behind her ear. She waited for Sesshoumaru to appear, that is, if he didn�t decide to leave after that tryst with Inuyasha.

No, he wouldn�t! she thought to herself. If he wouldn�t look away from that flower earlier, doesn�t that mean that he wanted to come see me�or Kohana? She shook her head slightly, sending ripples through the water. He�ll come. He has to!

She continued to float, trying to convince herself that Sesshoumaru would come, and she didn�t notice that he already had.

�You seem apathetic.�

Kagome started, immediately sitting up in the water. Her eyes sparkled with happy surprise. �You scared me,� she laughed joyously. He had come!

Sesshoumaru�s expression barely changed, his eyes only becoming a slight bit softer. He was determined to act correctly tonight, like he should, rather than his foolish, bumbling, lovesick self that he had shown last night. He also couldn�t help but feel content that the cherry blossom he had given to her the night before was still behind her ear.

�My apologies,� he muttered, glad to see �Kohana� again. �I assumed you were paying enough attention to sense me.�

Kagome rolled her eyes humorously, beginning to wade toward Sesshoumaru, as he was standing by the edge of the cliff, and she was out by the rock she transformed at. �Ano, excuse me for thinking.�

�And what was it that you were thinking about?� he swallowed lightly, urging his slight nervousness down. It would not do to act like a coward tonight.

�None of your business,� Kagome stuck her tongue out at him childishly.

You would do well to put that tongue back inside your mouth before I put it in mine. Sesshoumaru stiffened. No, he did not just think that! What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking such immature thoughts as this? He had never been one to have these kinds of thoughts, so why were they starting now?

He said nothing, still tongue-tied at his thoughts, but he opted to sit on the grassy cliff�s edge, for he would then be closer to Kohana. He pulled a leg upwards to rest his one arm upon, allowing his other leg to hang off the edge, his slipper-like shoe slightly in the water.

Kagome swam closer to the cliff, resting her hands on the edge, next to Sesshoumaru�s left leg. She looked up at him with a small smile before she made her admittance. �I was� Ano, I didn�t think you would come.�

Sesshoumaru looked at her, a puzzled look in his eye. �What gave you such an idea?�

Kagome didn�t know what to say. She couldn�t very well tell him that she knew of his meeting with her and his half-brother, as well as Miroku and Shippou. �I don�t know,� she shrugged. �But it doesn�t matter now. You�re here now, aren�t you?�

��Hai.�

They sat in silence for a minute or so, their gazes traveling from the scenery to the other. Kagome wanted to break the silence, although the current one wasn�t exactly awkward. If Sesshoumaru came all this way to speak with her, shouldn�t they speak?

But, honestly, she didn�t want to just talk all night. She did want to converse with him, but she didn�t want to just sit here all night doing so, either. Surely they could do something while talking?

After another silent moment, she came up with a plan. It was slightly childish, but it would be fun, and Kagome knew as a fact that the taiyoukai needed to have fun at least once in a while. The youkai was such a stiff.

�Come swim with me,� she smiled up at him, suggesting the idea more than commanding it.

To say Sesshoumaru was startled would be an understatement. He started at the request, abruptly shifting his head down at her. �Swim?�

Kagome grinned, her pearly teeth matching the pearls in her hair and the cloth covering her upper-body. She nodded twice excitingly, her eyes twinkling as she pleaded with the demon. �Hai! Just a quick swim, I promise, and just right here, too. You don�t have to swim all the way out into the lake, just swim with me and help me find shells at the bottom.�

�Shells? Why is it you need them?�

She laughed happily. �To make necklaces, silly! We�ll find the prettiest little shells and bring them back up here. You don�t have to make anything if you don�t want to, but I�d like to make some while we talk.�

Kagome, what are you doing? she mentally scolded herself. This is Inuyasha�s half-brother, for crying out loud! He�s dangerous, and he�s practically been an enemy for the past two years! Why are you so casual with him? Why do you want to swim with him?

Because I want to. Kagome shook the thoughts off. Besides, the plan is to befriend him well enough to reassure myself that he won't be babbling; my request is absolutely necessary!

Sesshoumaru didn�t seem to notice Kagome�s � or Kohana�s � inner battle. He was still slightly shocked at her request. This underwater tenshi wished to swim with him? She wished to continue talking with him? There was no option of refusal! Still, he swore to himself earlier that he wouldn�t act so boldly, as he had the night before. He would act more like himself, calm and emotionless, yet he would be kind to the extent, assuring himself that she would not get upset and leave him.

�Fine.�

Kagome smiled, glad with success to have made Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, to actually agree with her suggestion. �Right, then, let�s go!�

She began wading out into the sea, though not far, as Sesshoumaru had an inner struggle of his own.

Should I�? Iie, I cannot do that. I only have one arm, and she would be repulsed to see such a thing. No, I cannot undress my upper body for this swim. Then again, all my clothing shall become wet, and I must return to the others in perfect condition to avoid such insolent questions.

�Sesshoumaru? Are you coming?�

He was brought out of his thoughts, still uncertain as what to do. ��Hai.� He had to make a quick decision, so he moved closer to the edge of the cliff, still fully clothed.

Kagome noticed, however, and she innocently asked, �Are you honestly going to swim with so many layers?�

Sesshoumaru swallowed, saying nothing. This beautiful mermaid�would see his lack of an arm. Would she be frightened? Still�she practically asked him to dress down.

Slightly hesitant, although he did not let it show, he removed his bulky armor, setting it on the grass. He then discarded both his inner and outer haori, but he left his yellow heku obi to hold up his hakamas. His fluffy boa-like accessory, shoes, and odori tabi socks (which he didn�t necessarily have to wear, as he was not wearing sandals), he also removed, not wanting to soak them as well.

Although he tried not to look shameful, he was self-conscious about his lack of appendage. Unfortunately, Kagome did eventually notice.

First, however, she realized her mistake at asking Sesshoumaru to leave some clothing behind. When she requested it, she simply knew that it would be hard to swim with so much weight put on, as the water pressure was hard enough for one without a fin and the proper durability; but when he actually took off his upper clothing, she remembered that he was a male, and was undressing before her.

Her cheeks turned a graceful cherry red, although Sesshoumaru never did catch it in his own embarrassment. She couldn�t stop her adolescent and hormone-driven eyes from trailing across his naked chest; it was her female instinct, although she was pure and innocent as the protector of the Shikon no Tama.

Still, she had no idea that the demon lord could look like that! And she thought he had been beautiful enough before! She knew he was strong, but she never thought about the muscular build he must�ve had because of it.

It was then, as her eyes studied Sesshoumaru�s form, that she noticed his arm, or lack of it, to be precise. She sadly gazed at his empty side as he slid gracefully into the water before her, the water stopping just above his stomach.

Sesshoumaru finally noticed Kagome�s stare, and he looked down at her with something akin to shame, unaware that he could feel such a thing. He believed that she would swim away from him once she spotted it, and he was therefore surprised when she moved closer and rested her right hand gently on the closed, healed skin.

Kagome didn�t fully know what she was doing, but she pitied the inu youkai for Inuyasha�s attack, despite it all. She carefully traced her fingers against his smooth, pale skin, looking at it sadly.

Sesshoumaru was glad that �Kohana� had not fled, but he was overcome with another worry that she would not approve of his situation, nor his weakness against his own half-brother, a hanyou, no less. He stared at her beautiful face, his fear refusing to show on his face. His icy barriers were on high alert, guarded and thick with determination for his true emotions to remain hidden.

Kagome was empathetic for Sesshoumaru, and although she pitied him, it was not too much of it. She pitied him because she did not believe he deserved such treatment. Yes, it was true that he had done cruel things in his long life, and he had never really been sorry, but throughout all that, he had never actually deserved such a loss.

For every bad thing he had done, he had performed good to make up for it. He had sheltered Rin, put up with Jaken, allowed Inuyasha to escape during most battles (he surely could have killed Inuyasha easily, and he obviously chose not to), and he had even saved her, Kagome, a time or two. He was not an entirely bad demon, and he deserved the arm that was taken away from him. He was a demon obsessed with his own strength and power, and she was sure that such a drastic injury and amputation was a disgrace to most other youkai; or, at least, it was an embarrassment in the taiyoukai's sun-kissed eyes.

She had never wanted to do anything more than to regenerate his arm for him with her miko abilities. Still, she had not the experience to do so, at least not yet. She made a mental note to speak to Kaede in the morning. She would be taught how to help Sesshoumaru, and � although this was not part of her original motive, she knew � she would soon make him happy again. That is�if he were unhappy without it. She would have to ask him, wouldn�t she?

Kagome did not look away from her hand�s movements against Sesshoumaru�s skin. If she had, she would�ve noticed his uneasy gaze at her.

She spent another moment empathizing with him, and she was overcome with it. She found herself moving closer to him, gently pressing herself against him in a warm embrace that she hadn't even known she had given him, her hand remaining where it was on his stubby upper arm and her forehead against his chest.

Sesshoumaru was shocked. Why was she hugging him so? Was she not disgusted by him?

It took him a few seconds to relax under her embrace, happy that Kohana had neither been repulsed nor upset with him. Instead, the beauty that he had been struck over for the past three days was embracing him gently, tenderly.

She had accepted him, despite his flaws.

Relieved, he stared down at her affectionately, allowing his emotion to come out through his eyes just this once for the night, considering she was not looking anyway, and he unknowingly lifted his one whole arm to hold her closer.

Kagome was surprised at his gesture, but she understood. He needed someone to accept his disability, his one physical flaw, and now that she had, he was pleased.

She smiled softly. They had somewhat been enemies for the past two years, but despite all that, she found that she could understand him in just two nights. She was glad that she could help him, and she believed that they had sincerely tightened their bond because of these past few minutes. They were closer, and perhaps they were even classified as friends, despite their wariness of each other and Kagome's conflicting feelings concerning her selfish hopes and her caring nature.

Kagome smiled.

They were friends.

Friends who were slightly attracted to each other.

Oh, and there was the fact that Sesshoumaru didn�t know who she was.

Okay, so they were friends with secrets, but at least that was a start.

These two �friends with secrets� continued to hold onto each other for a few more moments, neither of them sincerely wanting to let go. It was rather comfortable, this embrace.

�Are you ever sad?� Kagome whispered, although she knew Sesshoumaru could hear her. �Do you ever wish that you had two arms, like everyone else?�

Sesshoumaru didn�t know what to say, but he found himself responding. ��Hai.�

Kagome hugged him closer, feeling him tense with shame. She could tell that he was ashamed for wanting what others had, even humans, for the majority also had both limbs. �It�s okay,� she admitted. �It�s okay to wish that way. It�s only natural, ne?� She almost reluctantly pulled away, smiling up at him. �But, you know, only one arm�doesn�t make you any less of who you are.�

Sesshoumaru stared at her, his golden eyes sparkling with relief and happiness.

�Just because you have one arm, it doesn�t mean that you�re any different. I know you are still one of the strongest youkai out there, and I know you aren�t weak. Even with one arm, you�re still fortunate, and you�re still unique.� She smiled at him even wider. �You�re still Sesshoumaru.�

Sesshoumaru stared at her longingly. Her understanding of him thrilled him and calmed him into being content. He allowed his arm to slowly release the mermaid from his hold, his clawed fingers immediately missing her soft skin, and they stood apart.

The blue waters still surrounded them, stopping above his stomach, yet below Kohana�s chest. There was a visible aura around the lake, a peaceful aquamarine one that rose in artificial steam, making the night look more beautiful, even with the moonlight gently caressing both demon and mermaid.

The beauty of their surroundings only allowed Sesshoumaru to admire Kohana�s own beauty. He had realized that she had both inner and outer beauty, and he was content. He was no longer afraid of this mermaid, like he was before. She was still an enigma that he wished to discover, but she was no longer a dangerous being whom he did not know. He had always hoped that by learning more about her, his attraction would decrease. However, it only proved to have an opposite reaction, and he found himself longing for the mermaid more than before.

�Arigatou,� Sesshoumaru thanked sincerely, albeit emotionlessly.

Kagome smiled at the thanks, and she grabbed his hand, trying to lighten the mood. �C�mon,� she tugged him farther into the water, �let�s go get those shells.�

Sesshoumaru was grateful for the change of subject, and he waded in the water, following Kohana. Soon the water flowed right below his shoulders, but Kohana was still floating in the water, allowing her to remain above the water at the same height as before.

�Right,� she smiled, �just help me find small, pretty shells, okay?� She did not say it forcefully, and Sesshoumaru was aware that she wanted him to relax. �You can start looking now. If you find any shells and can�t carry them all, you can put it up on the grass.� She looked behind her at the lake. �I�ll go get some string, alright? I�ll hurry back, I promise.�

Sesshoumaru nodded once in understanding. He waited for her to leave, as it was only polite.

She smiled one last time before turning and diving gracefully into the sea. The last he saw of her was her fin, sparkling in the moonlight. He waited a few moments after she departed, not really knowing why, before he dove underwater.

His cheeks were not puffed out by lack of oxygen, for he was a demon, and therefore held more lung capacity. His hair, however, was still long, and it flowed around him, blinding his view once in a while.

He forced his body to sink to the bottom of the underwater floor so he could find shells for Kohana. He didn�t understand why she had asked him to find small, pretty shells, for that was what most of them were like in the first place. In fact, the shells were lovely, not to mention flawless. This lake was truly magical, with its beautiful creatures�

In no time at all, the grass was littered with shells of all kinds. There were brown ones, pink ones, shiny black ones, funny-shaped ones that were different colors, blue ones that camouflaged in the water, miniature conch shells, golden worm seashells, beaded periwinkles, tiny junonias, banded tulips, wentletraps, lion�s paws, and angel wings.

Sesshoumaru was about to stop his collecting, sure that Kohana would soon return, but something tugged at him to go down one last time.

He swam all the way to the bottom, still by the cliff, and he looked for something, although he was unsure what. He turned his head as he looked, and what caught his eyes startled him, drawing him closer.

He saw the tiny bush of red glass lilies, most likely the same bush that Kohana had gone for his gift last night. He bent down, closer to the niche in which it laid. He studied each flower carefully, and he was delighted to discover that none of these lilies were near as beautiful as the one he had received; but perhaps the one he had was beautiful because it was Kohana who had given it to him.

Sesshoumaru was about to pull back, content with the slight flaws the other flowers had, but he remembered the tug in that direction that he somehow felt, and he moved closer to the hole in the cliff�s edge. He moved another inch closer, and it was enough.

Something sparkled.

Intrigued, Sesshoumaru reached out for it. It was mostly hidden by the sand, and only the slightest bit emerged from its hiding place. Still, he was able to retrieve it, and was surprised at its light weight. It was not until he grabbed it carefully and swam up to the shore for air that he actually examined his treasure.

Hai, it was a shell, but this was nothing like he had ever before seen. This shell was a pretty blue on one side, a blue that matched the color of the crescent moon on his own forehead. On the other side, the shell was completely pearly, matching Kohana�s accessories.

The shell seemed to be a species of its own, for it was thick, yet not bulky. It was hard, but smooth in texture. It glimmered extravagantly, but it wasn�t blinding. It was small in size, but it was larger than any of the other shells Sesshoumaru had collected, about the size of one of the red flowers printed on his outer haori.

But that was not what was strange about it. True, it was beautiful, as well as unique, but there was something else that caught his attention about it:

It was in the shape of a crescent moon.

It looked exactly like the mark on Sesshoumaru�s forehead when it was flipped to the blue side. He couldn�t help but remember the star-shaped necklace Rin had found that had once belonged to Kohana. That piece of simple yet beautiful jewelry looked just like the mark on Kohana�s forehead.

Perhaps this was like what he had been thinking earlier, before he came into the barrier tonight. When Jaken told his story about the sun, the moon, and the stars, Sesshoumaru noticed the similarities between himself and Kohana.

But now�another similarity?

Was it a mere coincidence that Sesshoumaru�s ward held the image of Kohana�s star, which she had given to Rin? And now that Sesshoumaru himself had found something that mimicked his own symbol, was it not ironic that Kohana would have it, as he planned on giving it to her when she returned?

No, he would not give it to her when she returned, not so soon.

He had other plans for this remarkable shell.

He pocketed it in his hakamas, again sitting on the grassy cliff�s edge, just before Kagome emerged from the lake, her hair flipping back magnificently and the string in her hands.

�Gomen nasai,� she apologized. �I know I was gone for a while.�

Sesshoumaru shrugged his clothes back on as she spoke, not paying attention to how soaked his hair was. �It�s nothing,� he commented. �You were not away so long.�

Kagome�s eyes strayed to the pile of shells beside him. �Of course not,� she said in polite sarcasm.

Sesshoumaru caught this and held back a smirk. He still vowed not to show so much emotion tonight. �I'm rather prompt.�

�Apparently so.�

Kagome swam closer to the edge of the cliff as Sesshoumaru sat in the same position he was in before he had gone into the water. She set the silver string on the ground, shifting her body so as to lean on her elbows on the grass, therefore being closer to Sesshoumaru.

She again held the string, expanding the length as she wanted before nibbling on the edge to cut it. Sesshoumaru watched carefully, swallowing as he studied Kohana�s delicate teeth gnawing on the string.

�It�s special string,� Kagome interrupted his thoughts, which had began to wander in ways he was not used to, �made by some married mermaids who work on underwater artwork. The string is made of a type of silver only known to merpeople, and it�s light and delicate, but completely strong, so you don�t have to worry about it breaking. Only a merperson�s teeth can cut it, you see?�

Sesshoumaru nodded once as she tied a knot at one end of the string. Before she reached out for the shells, however, she turned to him. �Would you like to make one?�

He turned away, refusing her offer. He would not be acting like himself if he stooped so low as to make jewelry. Then again�

�Alright,� Kagome shrugged, a bit disappointed. She turned back to her work and brought some shells closer to her, beginning to string some together randomly. �So, what do you want to talk about?�

Sesshoumaru did not reply, but instead stared at the ball of mermaid string. His silence caused Kagome to look up at him curiously, and he caught her gaze. Making up his mind, he reached his hand out to the string, picking it up. Aware that Kagome was still watching him, he extended the string to a certain length, saying nothing.

The length he was choosing was much shorter than that Kagome had picked, but he did so on purpose. When he had finished, he looked back to Kagome, holding out the string to her, his finger marking the area in which he wished for her to cut for him.

She understood, and, taking the string from him carefully, she bit into it, severing the thread. �Here,� she said softly, keeping the ball of string and handing the length of it to Sesshoumaru, who took it patiently.

�Arigatou,� he nodded slightly, earning a grateful smile from the mermaid. It wasn�t every day she heard the demon lord thank someone twice in one night. He tied a knot in one end, once Kagome had turned away to work on her own creation.

�So,� Kagome continued, �what brings you to the area, anyway, Sesshoumaru?� She had wondered this earlier, when he practically claimed to Inuyasha that he was just passing through. There was no way she believed that, and although she knew why he was staying here, she did not know why he came in the first place.

Sesshoumaru searched the shell pile for the most beautiful shells he could find, picking one up carefully. �There is no particular reason,� he lied. He wasn�t sure he wanted to tell her that he came to steal something from his half-brother. What would she think of him then?

�You�re lying.� Chikuso, she could tell?

�I am.� And since when did he admit such things?

Kagome looked up at him for a brief moment. �Are you going to explain?�

Sesshoumaru threaded another shell onto the string. He was nearly halfway done already. �I suppose.�

�Go on, then.�

He paused for a moment, unsure how to admit his purpose of being there. �Tetsusaiga.�

Kagome looked up again, her necklace nearly finished, a disappointed and uneasy frown on her face. �That sword�doesn�t belong to you.�

He focused on his craft, not wanting to make eye contact with her, knowing she was not pleased; he simply picked up another lovely shell. �No,� he muttered, looking away, �it doesn�t.�

She didn�t look away from his face, prepared to analyze it to see if he would lie or not. �Then why do you want it?� She knew the answer, of course, but she wanted to test him.

�I do not believe I have said I wanted it.�

�You do, though,� she commented.

�Hai,� Sesshoumaru fidgeted once, at loss for words. He seemed to be speechless a lot lately. He then remembered her earlier question, and he tried to answer as best as he could without causing Kohana to dislike him. �The Tetsusaiga is powerful.�

�So are you,� Kagome sighed.

�Therefore, I am more deserving of it than Inuyasha, my half-brother.� He didn�t know that she already was aware of the whole story, let alone the fact that she had once loved the said hanyou. She did not know if he still loved her or if he had moved on, like she was beginning to, but she didn�t stay on that mental topic too long.

�You�re wrong,� Kagome said softly, letting Sesshoumaru know that she did not mean it in a cruel way. �You're already so strong, so you don't need a weapon like the Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha, though, isn't as powerful as you, and he needs his sword. I'm aware of the Tetsusaiga�s powers, and it seems to me that Inuyasha would need it more than you would. You can defend yourself in many ways, but Inuyasha needs more power supplied for him.�

Sesshoumaru looked up at her, finally. �If I am correct, you have the Tenseiga. You deserve this sword because it can teach you to love and protect, therefore making you a better person. You're strong physically, but not so much socially. Now, you are also becoming stronger in that way. Why else would you be protecting Rin? And if you were not improving, would you still be talking to me?

�Inuyasha is stronger socially, for he has his companions, and that is why he needs the Tetsusaiga, to become stronger physically. You see? You each have the sword you do because it can teach you both to become stronger in the ways you weren�t before.�

Kagome smiled softly at Sesshoumaru, who was paying close attention to her words. After a moment, she giggled, turning away from his scrutinizing stare. �Gomen, I�m not making much sense, am I?�

Sesshoumaru�s gaze softened slightly, despite his deep frown. �Hai, you make perfect sense.� He looked away, out into the lake. �Perhaps you are correct. Both Inuyasha and I are changing, now that we use our swords our otou-san has passed down to us.�

Kagome looked back up at him. �Have you used to Tenseiga?�

Sesshoumaru made eye contact with her. �Hai, both on Jaken and Rin.�

Kagome was startled. She put her necklace down carefully, not looking away from Sesshoumaru�s golden eyes. �They...have both died?�

He nodded once. �The sword smith Kaijinbou had killed Jaken with my other sword, the Toukijin. Before I even knew Rin�s name, she had been destroyed by a pack of demonic wolves.�

Kagome�s eyes widened with horror, not making the connection between Kouga's wolves with the ones Sesshoumaru spoke of. She remained silent for many seconds, staring at the grass before her, horrified. �That�s...terrible!� she gasped sincerely once she found her voice. Rin was such a young girl! Why was it fair for her to die at such a young age? Even now, she was a carefree, innocent girl; how could such a child die so tragically, messily? She even pitied Jaken, despite his annoying self; he did not deserve such a death! He was a loyal ward, and although he was rude, he was mostly so simply to defend his master. Jaken...and Rin... She was suddenly very thankful for Sesshoumaru�s sudden changes of heart.

Kagome�s horror-filled eyes were replaced with hesitant warmth and a teary thankfulness. �You see? You really are changing.�

Sesshoumaru returned to his craft, picking up another seashell, attempting to veer off topic; he did not want to think of Kohana's obvious kindness shown in her eyes; such compassion touched him too well, and he did not do well with such foreign emotions, even if it was not he who felt them; he did not know how to accept them correctly. �Perhaps.�

The two spent another moment in silence as they worked on their art. When Sesshoumaru was half-through with his piece, he carefully took the moon-shaped shell from his pocket, making certain that Kagome did not see it, and strung it carefully.

�Will you still try to steal it?� Kagome muttered. She did not have to remind him what she meant.

�I do not know,� Sesshoumaru answered truthfully. �Your reasoning is enough for me to not need to, but I have tried to take the sword for so long, I do not know if I can easily stop. Despite such reasoning, I am still uncertain.�

Kagome nodded. �I understand.� She smiled, which Sesshoumaru caught. What had he done to deserve such an understanding companion as Kohana?

There was a longer period in which the two were again silent, working on their jewelry. They both finished around the same time, tying the knots together in completion. There weren�t many extra shells left, and they left them on the cliff.

Kagome, who had finished first, surprised Sesshoumaru, who had been tying the final knot. She put the necklace down first before leaning back on the side of the plateau, pushing herself up to sit on top of it.

Sesshoumaru stared, aware of the close proximity of their bodies. �I was not aware that you could leave the water.�

Kagome laughed. �I can if my fin is still in it,� she explained, gesturing to her tail in the lake, �and I can�t stay up here too long or I�ll dehydrate. Other merpeople can only stand being the slightest bit above water for a while, unlike me, but I go through the same situation as they do when I sit almost fully above water.�

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. �Then how is it you can sit on that rock?� He looked to the boulder where he had first seen Kohana a few nights ago.

�It�s in the lake,� she said, �and since it�s surrounded by the water of the merpeople, I can sit on it however I like.�

�I see,� he nodded. He turned back to his work, finishing the knot. Once he had done so, he stiffened slightly as he felt Kagome�s hand on his left clothed shoulder, the one where there was no arm attached. He turned to her curiously.

�Here,� she smiled, reaching above his head. When she brought her arms back down, the navy blue patterns still sparkling on them, he looked around his neck, immediately seeing the seashell necklace she had just been working on.

He was even more surprised as she reached behind him, gathering his silken, still wet hair to move out from beneath the necklace, causing him to shiver at the sensation of her fingers running through his hair. When it was released, she swept his hair carefully and slowly onto his right shoulder.

�There,� she grinned, �a good luck charm.� Sesshoumaru laid the work he had made onto the grass, out of Kagome�s view, as he reached his hand upward to finger his new necklace. �Promise to never take it off?�

He mentally grinned wide at how close they were becoming, both physically and socially, although he forced his face to remain expressionless. �I promise,� he swore sincerely. Even if she hadn�t asked him to never take it off, he never would�ve.

�But only,� he replied, holding her wrist gently toward him before letting it go, although she kept it floating in the air, which was just what he wanted her to do, �if you promise to never remove this.�

With that, he picked up his cluster of seashells, carefully slipping it onto her wrist as a bracelet. The glimmering seashell he had found earlier, the one shaped like a crescent moon, dangled from the middle, catching the moonlight magnificently.

Sesshoumaru was glad when she gasped quietly, bringing her wrist closer to her to examine it. She was clearly stunned by the beauty of the special shell, as well as the many other beautiful ones surrounding it.

�Oh, I promise!� she cried happily, a large smile across her face. �I�ll never take it off!� She looked up at him, grinning. �It�s beautiful, Sesshoumaru.�

He very nearly smiled back at her, but he remembered his promise to himself to show no emotion. Still, the tiniest slip of a smile got away from him, and although he didn�t notice, Kagome did; and she was happy, knowing that the cold demon lord had smiled at her twice since last night; the thought of her original plan with Sesshoumaru did not cross her mind in the slightest.

They stared into each other�s eyes for a moment or two, but something interrupted them.

Like last night, Kagome felt a strong pulse through her fin.

�Oh,� she moaned disappointingly, �not again!� She looked at the taiyoukai sadly. �Gomen nasai, Sesshoumaru.� He stared at her, confused. �I must leave again,� she frowned.

�Why?� He did not want her to leave so soon.

She knew he deserved an explanation, and she gave it to him. �Merpeople�can contact other merpeople by sending pulsing waves to their fins. Both last night and tonight, my dear friend, Nayida, has called to me in such a way.�

She looked up at him, a slight mischievous glance in her eye. �You remember Nayida?� she teased. He understood easily. The night he had officially met �Kohana�, he had eavesdropped on her conversation with Nayida, the bright orange mermaid. His guilty nod urged her to go on.

�Ano, you see,� she became saddened again, �she is calling me now, and I must go to her.� She gave him a sad smile. �I have to leave.�

Sesshoumaru nodded once. �I understand.� But he didn't want her to go. �Tomorrow?�

She smiled. �Hai, tomorrow.� She slid into the lake, the sakura blossom still in her hair and the bracelet still on her wrist. She turned back to Sesshoumaru, fingering her bracelet again. �Arigatou�for my good luck charm.�

He sighed through his nose softly. �And for mine.�

Kagome turned to swim away, but she twisted her head around again to say her last words to him for the night. �Remember your promise.� She didn�t wait for him to agree before she dove into the water, following the pulse to Nayida.

Sesshoumaru sat in his spot, hair still dripping, for a few minutes after she had left.

He fingered his necklace and brought it to his lips in a light kiss.

And he smiled.

Kagome swam through the water, although it did not take too long to find Nayida. She called out to her, swimming closer and laughing joyously, for she had just had a fun night with Sesshoumaru, as surprising as it was.

�Nayida,� she called happily, �guess what just happened!� She wanted to scream it out, laughing, about her time with Sesshoumaru. He had changed right in front of her, so quickly, and she was excited with childish glee.

Nayida, however, did not look it. She had a stern frown on her face, a small glare in her bright eyes. �I know what just happened,� she spat.

Kagome immediately noticed her friend�s uneasiness, stopping in front of her. �Nayida? What�s wrong?�

�You�re what�s wrong!� she cried. �I saw you, Kagome!� Kagome was stunned, not for Nayida�s confession, but because no one here underwater had ever called her Kagome, not even her father. �I saw you!�

Kagome was confused. �Saw me? What do you mean?�

Nayida glared. �I saw you with that demon!�

Kagome shook her head, not understanding. �Nani? Why does that matter?�

Nayida shook her head angrily. �Because you were with him! Above water! On the land!�

�I don�t understand,� Kagome said. �Why is that wrong?�

�Because,� Nayida grit her teeth, �he is a demon. You are a mermaid and a ningen. Three different species, and they do not mix!� She moved her hands as she spoke, upset. �You do not come visit us, your underwater friends, because you wish to be with that demon!�

Kagome began to glare slightly. �So what? I don�t come down here often because my father is always looking around for me. I have always stayed above water, so why are you getting mad at me now?�

�Because you are with a youkai!� Nayida cried. �Stay away from that monster! It�s bad enough that demons and humans do not mix. If you approach him as a mermaid, it won�t work either.� Her glare softened slightly. �I�m your friend, Kagome, and I�m trying to protect you.�

She shook her head again. �Protect me? There�s nothing to protect me from.�

�Hai, there is,� Nayida�s voice became quiet. �First of all, if your father finds out--�

�He won�t,� Kagome assured her, �and even if he does, it doesn�t matter to me.�

�But you have to make the final choice eventually, Kagome,� Nayida reminded her. �It will be hard with a demon like him in your way.�

�It is not yet time for my decision,� she said, �and I won�t worry about it now.�

�But that isn�t all, Hime! That man is a demon, and he is not to be trusted!�

Kagome narrowed her eyebrows. �Who�s to say that? You don�t know Sesshoumaru!�

�Sesshoumaru?� Nayida raised a brow.

�Hai, Sesshoumaru.� Kagome looked away for a moment. �He is not as dangerous as he seems, and he is my friend. I won�t allow you or anyone else to separate us and destroy our...relationship.� She hesitated, her voice faltering. �I understand that it�s hard, with me living three lives as a human five hundred years in the future, a miko during the daytime, and a mermaid at night, and with he being a youkai, it is hard, but that matters naught to me.�

�It isn�t safe,� Nayida pushed.

�We don�t know that,� Kagome whispered. �But I trust Sesshoumaru, and that�s all that matters.� She bowed her head slightly. �Now, if you don�t mind, Nayida, I�d like to return to my place above the water. Sesshoumaru�s probably gone by now, but I�d like to be alone.�

With that said, she swam away, upset that her friend had been so anti-supportive of her.

Nayida watched her swim away sadly. �Gomen, Kagome,� she whispered, �but I need to protect you. I saw you together�and I am sure of it. You will both fall in love with one another, and I fear things will not go as planned.�

Nayida turned around and swam away, into the darkness of the lake.

--TBC--