InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cloak and Dagger ❯ Relations ( Chapter 5 )

Three weeks. It had been three long weeks since Kagome had begun her lessons with Sesshomaru, and things were getting better. Or worse, depending on what “things” you were talking about. Her combat skills were greatly improved. She no longer missed any target when she was using her bow. She was also getting to be quite skilled with a sword. It was a wonder that she was doing so well at that activity, since she was unable to practice with one when Sesshomaru was not around. She was trying to keep the whole thing a secret from the others, and there would certainly be questions if she started donning a sword along with her bow.

 

Things within the inu-tachi were a different story. Her relationship with Inuyasha had become strained, since the night that she had been forced to sit him into the ground so many times that it threw out his back. He had now taken to ignoring her whenever possible, excluding the times that she would leave to meet with her new tutor. As she passed into the trees, she could always feel his golden eyes shooting daggers at her. But, for the last three weeks, he had said nothing more on the issue of her leaving alone to practice her archery.

 

The others were more curious. Many time Sango had offered to join Kagome during her training sessions, and it had been quite the trial to convince the taijiya that she would rather practice alone. Kagome's reasons for this sounded weak even to herself, and she was always getting curious glances from her friend as she left. Sango was no one's fool, and Kagome knew that the slayer knew that something more was going on, but so far she seemed to have decided to let Kagome keep her secrets.

 

Shippo had tried to follow her on more than one occasion, and although he was getting more and more skilled at the art of stalking, it was still far too simple for the miko to sense his aura. The kit was left pouting nightly and had even begun to sleep curled up in Kirara's tail rather than wait up for the miko to return late in the night.

 

The only member of the party who seemed to have no outward interest in Kagome's training sessions was Miroku. He had said nothing to Kagome about her secret activities. The only thing he had bothered to do was ogle her more defined thighs.

 

Hey, at least all the hard work had some bonuses.

 

Tonight they would begin hand to hand combat. That's what Sesshomaru had told her on their last meeting. Although they would continue her work with the sword, he felt that she was acceptably utilizing the bow and arrow, and was progressing, however slowly in his esteemed opinion, with the sword. That left hand to hand, and Kagome had to admit that she was dreading it. Although some might find wrestling with a gorgeous demon a plus, she recognized the fact that she would be fighting a man who was a master of all combat arts. He was well-muscled, well trained, and over 6 feet tall. Kagome already thought that she was royally screwed.

 

So it was with great trepidation that she threw her bow over her shoulder and slung her quiver across her back and marched into the woods, her back on fire from Inuyasha's cold stare. She continued her march until she reached a small clearing in the center of the woods. There was a hot spring near it's edge, and she began to hope that Sesshomaru would pull a no show. She could use a good soak, her muscles still sore and aching from their last session. She moved closer to the warm waters, letting the steam caress her skin and closed her eyes while voicing a soft sigh.

 

“YAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!”

 

She couldn't help the scream that burst forth from her lungs as large hands gripped her shoulders. Immediately, one of the hands snapped over her mouth, claws raking against her cheek, as a deep and cool baritone said softly next to her ear, “You were unprepared for an attack miko. That was quite unwise.”

 

The heat of his breath flowing across her sensitive ear made her shiver, and he slowly released his hold on her mouth. Rather than just removing his hand, he let it move slowly over her mouth, one long, claw tipped finger gently stroking across her lower lip as his hand left her face. Kagome noticed that she had for some reason stopped breathing, and inhaled deeply to soothe the burning sensation in her lungs. She looked up into the elegant face of her tutor, and she noticed that he wore a slight frown.

 

“This Sesshomaru has been training you for nearly a month now miko, and yet you seem to have not paid attention to anything that you have been told. You must ALWAYS be ready for an attack. Enemies do not typically announce their intentions.”

 

“I know.” She hated being scolded like a little child! But he had a point; he ALWAYS had a point actually, and it was rather infuriating.

 

“Hn. This Sesshomaru hopes that you do in fact understand, or the world will be short one miko very easily.” The taiyoukai paused, allowing his words to sink in before telling her, “Let us begin.”

 

“Holy crap!” Kagome yelled out as Sesshomaru took a quick swing at her head. She barely managed to duck the unexpected blow, and before she understood what had happened next, she was flat on her back on the ground. Blinking blearily up into the dusky night sky, she watched as Sesshomaru's face came into her line of sight.

 

“You need much more practice little ningen.”

 

And then Kagome passed out.

 

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