InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fate Entwined ❯ Of Parties and Training ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait in between this chapter and the last. After I got over being sick I had a bit of trouble coming up with what to write. I also admittedly got distracted by a lot of other things such as other stories, movies, and drawing to name a few. I feel like I'm out of practice, but I hope that this chapter is up to standards with the last five. I was shocked to find this story has been nominated for



Words Count: 4,056 words

Chapter 6: Of Parties and Training

   There was laughter and talk all around her. Smoke, music, dancing, youki and talk filled her senses. So many sounds an colors were were making her dizzy. On top of it all the youki from so many was beginning to press in on her making her feel suffocated. It was no surprise when she finally managed to sneak away from one very obnoxious and obviously drunk snake youkai, to wander through the garden that surrounded the pagoda. Sighing as the peaceful sound of the night washed over her she made her way passed a cropping of sakura tree's and settled herself on the ground at the base of one. Looking up at the sky she began to relax somewhat.

    Looking at the night sky had always been a relaxing passed time for her and she especially loved the night sky here as she could see more stars then she ever would in her time. For a brief moment thoughts of moments like this in which she sat and talked with Inuyasha invaded her mind, bringing a melancholy to her that she hadn’t felt earlier. Se was relieved from these thoughts soon enough by the presence of one she was not expecting. Looking to her side she saw none other than Sesshomaru standing just slightly behind her.

   “Sesshomaru-sama?” she said the question plain to hear in her voice.

   He did not say anything at first, in fact he didn't even glance at her. She stared at him for a moment more wondering why he was here when he had made it clear that he had no interest in being in her presence. Huffing in annoyance she turned her attention back to the sky determined to not let him ruin her peace, even if her mood was not the best. She nearly jumped when he finally spoke, and turned to him not sure if she had actually heard him. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but she realized that she had almost forgotten he was even there. Was she so comfortable in his presence that she had let her guard down that much?

   “I will help train you in self-defense,” he said snapping her out of her thoughts once more.

   She looked up at him in shock. Did the ice lord just say he would help her? She wondered if hell had frozen over. Shaking her head slightly, she focused back on him, trying to empty her head of the many questions wanting to surface.

   “Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama,” she said in reply.

   “Do not misunderstand my intentions,” he said his eyes narrowing slightly, “ I am only doing this because I do not need a weak pup getting in my way. Do not expect this Sesshomaru to go easy on you. If you can not even defend yourself against me, than you have no chance against other youkai, including any who may wish to be your mate.”

   Kagome bristled at his comment clearly hearing what he was not voicing. She had to hold back the growl that was threatening to release itself and instead huffed and turned her attention back to the sky. If he was going to be rude, than she would give him the same treatment. She could feel his own ire rise slightly at the brush off she gave him and internally she was doing a victory dance, though she made sure it didn't show on the outside.

   Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he glared down at her. The ungrateful pup, she should be very grateful that he was lowering himself enough to teach her. He had the urge then to wrap his claws around her throat and force her to submit to him. He watched as she continued to ignore him in favor of looking up at the night sky. Her face held a soft glow illuminated by the moon light. Her hair seemed to have more of a blue sheen to it then when he first saw her when she arrived at the palace. He had noticed it when he first approached her a few minutes ago that her scent held a deep sadness. He saw that sadness reflected clearly in her eyes when she had turned her attention to him.

   He didn't understand why, but for some reason her sadness bothered him. In the back of his mind he could feel his beast whimpering, wanting to reach out and take that sadness away from her. Mentally he shook himself, such thoughts were below him, he most definitely did not want to comfort her. Outwardly he remained the same, the only change that was noticeable was his slight shift in stance. He gave a mental growl of annoyance and decided he would head back to the party. He had originally come out here to escape from the noise and the vial, power hungry bitches whom thought themselves worthy of being his mate.

   As if he would mate any of them. All they cared about was the power he had. He would not touch any of them, even with a ten foot pole though, they were all corrupt. He knew for a fact, by scent alone that half of them were no longer pure. She however, was pure and her scent was clean. He mentally shook himself from his dangerous line of thought, and without a word or a backward glance he gracefully made his way back into the slowly forming pit of debauchery. For that it was the party was turning into as the hour grew later and the noble ate and drank their fill.

   Kagome let loose the breathe that she was unconsciously holding in, as her shoulders slumped somewhat. She hadn't realized how tense she was with him near her, and now that he was gone she felt more weary then minutes ago. With one final thought of prayer to the friends and family she hoped to one day see again she rose and also made her way back into the mess of drunken party goers. She tried to ignore the stench of sweat and arousal coming from two such youkai as she made her way back into the pagoda and began her search for Touga. Finding him in the middle of it all laughing loudly with another youkai, she carefully picked her way across the space and knelt by the sitting pair.

   Touga did not acknowledge her right away though he knew she was there. At the moment she walked towards him he was listening to a particularly funny incident that his friend was telling him of. An incident that involved his friends son, his nursemaid and a bucket of wash water. Out of the corner of his eye he observed his new pack-mate taking in her unease and the linger sorrow in her scent as well as her irritation. Finally he held up his hand to silence his friends drunken banter and turned his attention to the obviously distressed female.

   “What is wrong Kagome?”

   “I wish to retire for the night my lord,” she formally replied to his question, “I grow tired and I have a long day ahead of me.”

   “Very well,” he began, “You may be excused for the evening. Be sure to let my lady know before you retire.”

   “Thank you my lord,” she said as she bowed slightly and stood.

   Once more Kagome carefully picked her way through the drunken crowed. She made her way to a more secluded and thankfully less rowdy section of the pagoda. There she found Megumi with a few other youkai woman who refused to take place in the debauchery that was forming. To give things a calmer air and to help section them off, Megumi had a few servants pull the thick almost translucent white drapes down and around their little circle.

   “My lady,” Kagome began as she knelt by Megumi on her side of the drapes.

   “Yes pup,” Megumi replied endearingly.

   “I am retiring for the night and came to wish you a good eve.”

   “You have told my lord?”

   “Indeed my lady, for he was the one who granted me permission.”

   “Very well then, I bid you a good eve pup. Rest well, tomorrow will be a busy day.”

   Kagome bowed, then bid goodnight to the other ladies gathered with Megumi. Instead of trying to make he way back through the crowd of youkai she turned to her right and made her way back out into the garden. In a few minutes she was on the other end of the garden and walking up the steps into the main building of the palace. As she passed a few of the servants that were still up at this late hour, she smiled acknowledging them with a small bow of their head. The servants bowed deeply as she passed murmuring 'my lady' in reverence. This caused her to blush slightly as she still wasn't used to such treatment. She made her way through the building quickly, wanting to get back to the room that starting tomorrow would no longer be hers. She passed a few more servants as she made her way out onto the walkway that led to the guest wing were she had been staying.

   Kagome walked down the walkway taking a moment to admire the garden in her passing. Entering the building she turned down the hall which housed her room, stopping briefly in front of Izayoi's room. No light filtered through the screens. With the spells on the room there was no way to know if she was still in there or if Inuyasha and her had been moved to their new quarters. Kagome gave a small smile and walked the remaining distance to her room and opened to door. Stepping into her room she closed the door and then prepared for bed.

   The next morning found Kagome waking well before the dawn with Nabi bustling about her. Blinking sleep filled eyes as she was shaken by Nabi again she sat up. With a yawn she stretched her arms above her head before rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

   “Whats going on?” Kagome asked sleepily.

   “We must hurry and get you ready Kagome-sama,” was Nabi's reply, “Sesshomaru-sama will not stand for tardiness.”

   “Huh?” was her intelligent reply.

   Nabi giggled as she placed bundle of cloth on top of the chest.

   “Have you forgotten your training with my lord?”

   Kagome's eyes widened as what Nabi said hit her. She was up quickly and removing her sleeping kimono faster than she had dressed in it last night. Any vestiges of sleep long gone from her countenance and mind. Nabi giggled again as she rolled up the futon while her mistress dressed in the hakama and gi. Nabi then brushed and braided Kagome's hair while she practically inhaled her breakfast.

   “Why does the ice king need to train so early?” questioned grumpily as she made sure she was presentable.

   Nabi giggled again but did not answer that question. Instead she usher Kagome out the door.

   “You must go now Kagome-sama,” she said as she pushed her out the door, “I will escort you to your new chambers after your lessons.”

    Kagome stumbled slightly as she readjusted her tail and then stuck her tongue out at Nabi. In the blink of an eye she was gone, streaking down the pathways and corridors until she arrived at the training grounds. Stopping at the gate she made sure nothing was out of place, snorting as she thought about why she was trying to look perfect. Was she trying to impress the ice block? Shaking her head free of those thoughts she pushed the gate open and made her way up the step of the dojo and towards the door of one of the training rooms, where she could feel his presence. Walking through the open door she found him standing there staring at her with his ever unreadable facade.

   “You will do well to remember to be hear at this time each morning,” he spoke as she entered the room.

   Gritting her teeth she replied in the affirmative. Sesshomaru moved around her body slowly, his eyes taking in everything with a calculating gaze. Finally he stopped, standing in front of her once more.

   “We shall begin with hand to hand combat,” he stated, “When I am satisfied that you are learned, than we shall move to weapons. You will not learn about your youkai abilities from me, nor will you learn to use them until you are able to fight without them.”

   He took a few steps away from her then, spreading his feet apart he took up a stance.

   “Now take up a stance and defend yourself.”

   She barely had time to copy his stance before he was in front of her once again and pushing her back with a well placed palm to her stomach. She was pushed backwards a few feet, falling flat on her back.

   “Pathetic.”

 &nb sp; She heard him say in a soft tone with the barest hint of condescending disdain. She saw red in that moment, growling in anger she disappeared from sight. She had enough of his blatant dislike and disrespect for her. She had tried to be nice and polite and he seemed to throw it back at her. She brought her claws down on him only to be blocked and then slammed into the floor. She felt his claws around her neck, applying just enough force to allow only a little air. She snarled as she clawed at him and trying to dislodge his hold.

   “Control yourself,” he growled at her, “do not let your anger control your actions, for it could cost you your life. If you allow such small petty things to anger you so easily you will die quickly in a true fight.”

   With that he released her took a few steps back.

   “Now stand and take your stance again.”

   Kagome stood slowly, rubbing her throat as her vision cleared. Taking a deep breath she calmed and centered herself as she lowered into the stance again. This time Sesshomaru moved around her making corrections to her stance and pointing out the weaknesses.

   “Your stance must be firm, defense solid, otherwise you give your enemies the advantage.”

   So the next few hours passed with Kagome taking up the defense while Sesshomaru attacked again, and again. He was constantly correcting her, drilling her. Finally he came at her with a forward attack. She crossed her arms in front of her effectively blocking the heal of his hand as the force of the attack pushed her back a few inches. She grinned at him as she realized she had finally blocked his attack and managed to remain standing. The grin vanished, however, when she saw the smirk gracing his own lips. She had no time to block him as he body twisted around and his leg slammed into her side, once more knocking her to the ground a few feet away.

   “Do not let your guard down.”

   Kagome rolled over onto her back and let out a breathy giggle. For a moment the thought that Sesshomaru must think she had lost her mind entered her brain, which allowed a few more giggles to escape before she sat up and looked towards him. As always his face was expressionless, but as she looked in his eyes she saw the barest glimpse of, dare she think of it, approval.

   “You have done well for your first training session, however we are not done. Get up, we will now work on strength exercises, after that we will work on stamina.”

   As the next 5 hours passed, she lifted various weights, did push ups, pull ups, ran several times around the entire palace and did various other exercises. When she felt she could take no more, she was given a brief respite. She collapsed on the wood floor of the walkway surrounding the dojo building. It was well into the afternoon now and the training grounds as well as the dojo and other buildings of the grounds were now filled with soldiers, guards and others currently training. Her break didn't last long though as Sesshomaru called for her to stand before him in one of the outside training rings.

    He stood in the middle of the ring, those who had been sparring before cleared the ring, standing on the edge of the ring now. She sighed and stood, grumbling about slave drivers as she stood and made her way to the center of the ring and stood before him. Without him having to tell her she took up her stance, watching him as he lowered into his own. In a blur of silver he was gone and she was jumping up and to the side to avoid the leg that was now sweeping under where she had been standing. Again he disappeared and she was on guard watching and listening for him. She swung around her left arm coming up to block one attack while her other moved to block another. She moved quickly dropping to the ground the sweep her legs under him in a move he had pulled only moments ago. Of course he dodged the attack and moved in again. She disappeared In a blur of black and white as his claws crashed into the ground were she had been standing.

   Sesshomaru was only slightly surprised that she was now on the offensive, but at the same time a challenge is what he needed. He redoubled his movements catching her fist as she came down for an attack and tossing he to the side. He watched as she flipped and landed on her feet with one hand supporting her. He charged at her once more feinting an attack to the left before coming in from the left. She blocked each one of his attacks occasionally trying to retaliate with an attack of her own. A crowd began to gather around them many soldiers murmuring in awe tat he female that was taking on Sesshomaru. Many of them were young and new to the compound and so they did not know that Sesshomaru was training her nor that she was a part of the house of the west. One of the commanders in charge of training the men also joined the circle of spectators. He knew who she was and what they were doing. He took in her stance and the way she guarded and attacked. Clumsy as her movements were, she was progressing quite fast for one who had never fought before. He knew with the proper teaching and time, she would grow to become a formidable opponent.

   Kagome continued her defense trying to find an opening in her opponents onslaught of attacks. Finally she saw her chance and she dropped down to the ground feigning another leg sweep before she disappeared to come up behind him. She thought she finally had him as her claws came down on him, she was in for a surprise though when he turned and caught her. He flipped their positions then his claws on her throat as he pinned her down to the ground. She panted from the exertion of the fight and from their previous exercises. She looked up into Sesshomaru's eyes and she could see the approval in his eyes and something else. Slowly he stood removing his hand from her neck. He held out that same hand to her as a silent offer to help her up. She blinked in slight shock before a small smile graced her lips as she took his hand allowing him to lift her up.

   “Good job, we will continue are lessons tomorrow,” he said as he turned and walked away.

   Kagome continued to stare at the spot in which he had been standing before she was broken from her daze by the clapping, hollering and whistles coming from the gathered crowed. She blinked in surprise and looked at all the gathered youkai and blush coming to her face as she heard the many compliments and other things they were saying.

   “That's it! The show is over, break it up,” came the shout of the commander who had been watching the match, “back to training everyone.”

   Slowly the crowed dispersed, the young youkai going back to their training.

   “You put on a good show little lady,” said the commander as he turned and went back to shouting orders at the youkai training.

   Kagome's blush deepened. She was knocked out of her thoughts by someone calling her name. She turned to see Nabi waving at her from the entrance to the training grounds. Kagome smiled and ran over to her.

   “I saw the ending of your match with Sesshomaru-sama,” she said when Kagome arrived next to her, “you did a god job Kagome-sama. Now let me show you to your new room and get you cleaned up.”

   Nabi led Kagome to the private area reserved for the royal family and into the building. They went inside and in the opposite direction from the room Megumi and her and met in. turning down a few halls they finally stopped in front of a door which Nabi opened to reveal the room inside. The room was  about the size of Megumi's private meeting room, with a table and a few cushions laid out. There were a few other tables with vases and lanterns placed around the room and the shoji screen leading outside were partially open.

   “This is the main room, where you will receive guests,” Nabi said gesturing to the room before walking over to a door off to the side, “and this is your bedroom.”

   Nabi opened the door and motioned for Kagome to come forward. Kagome walked over to the door way and looked in to see the room within. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight before her eyes. The room within was exquisite while still being somewhat simple. There was a fairly large futon unrolled in the middle of the room with a light pink comforter covered in white sakura petals. A couple soft rugs of white fur covered portions of the tatami matted floor. Off to the left against the wall was an armoire that was maybe a few inches taller than her. Next to that was a chest. Both were made of a dark stained oak. In each of the corners of the room were paper lanterns hanging on wrought iron stands, inlaid with silver. On the other side where one of the shoji screens what open was another table with a cushion. On the table was a stack of papers with a couple brushes, a bock of ink and a few other implements for writing.

   “I moved all of your clothes and belongings in here earlier today.”

   “Thank you,” Kagome smiled turning to her, “I really love this new room. Its lovely.”

   Nabi giggled at her charges energetic response. With a slight suggestion of getting cleaned up she grabbed Kagome a bathing Kimono and led her out of the room tot he royal families private spring.

   Elsewhere in the palace a messenger had just delivered a report.

   “You are sure?”

   “Not one hundred percent sure yet my lord,” replied the messenger, “we are still waiting to hear from the others.”

   “Very well. Report to me once you have received more information. I shall take this up with the other lords.”

   “Of course My lord.” said the messenger as they bowed out of the room.

   Touga sighed. He had hoped that he would have more time before that arrogant dragon would make his next move. He would have to tell his mates and make sure that protection of secured for Izayoi and Inuyasha. He knew that Sesshomaru had taken over Kagome's training for now, but he would also need to know of this. He would like to, if possible shield Kagome from this conflict, but somehow he knew that it would not happen that way. He only prayed that the messenger was wrong.

~To Be Continued.
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