InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Leaving ❯ Training and Blood ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

Sesshoumaru stepped through the doors into Kagome's house and rested his head on the door. He barely restrained the urge to break it in his claws and instead opted for a low, dangerous growl that resounded deep within his chest. He felt the presence of his brother behind him and viciously snarled at him. Inuyasha stepped back at the warning and growled in reply. Kagome said no. Inuyasha could tell just by the way Sesshoumaru was acting. Inuyasha started to back away and head toward the kitchen to wait out his brother's frustration when his voice reached his ears. "Are you still able to pass through the well?"

Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder to his brother, clearly shocked. It was unlike him to mess with fate not to mention to try to do it twice in the same day. "Sesshoumaru…"

Sesshoumaru turned around and faced his brother, a menacingly glare reflected at Inuyasha. "Does it still give you leave to pass or does it not?"

Inuyasha bowed his head. "She doesn't stay that way forever… she bounces right back to how she is now…"

Sesshoumaru sped forward and grabbed his brother by the throat. "Answer the question." His reply was cold and unstable, deadly undertones laced its steely edge. Sesshoumaru's eyes tinted red and he tightened his grip. "I will not repeat myself again."

Inuyasha shuddered by bowed his head in defeat. "Yes."

Sesshoumaru dropped him. "Go through. Stop that night from taking place when the time comes."

Inuyasha stood up and glanced out the window. Kagome had still not come back and he was glad. He regarded Sesshoumaru with an understanding look. "I can't do that… I'm sorry."

Sesshoumaru lashed out at his brother, fury and hurt radiating off of his trembling frame. "WHY? Filthy mongrel!" He snarled and pinned Inuyasha to the floor, his claws close to piercing his skin. Inuyasha gave no resistance but simply rested his hand on Sesshoumaru's arm. Sesshoumaru flinched back from his touch and backhanded him. He stood and practically flew up the stairs to Kagome's room. He stepped in and tried to calm himself with Kagome's scent. He only acted this way when it concerned her.

Inuyasha stood and rubbed his cheek. This whole thing was a touchy situation especially to Sesshoumaru. He walked despairingly up the stairs and down the hall to Kagome's room. When he walked in, Sesshoumaru was just standing there, looking at a picture of her in a frame on her desk. He sighed and closed the door behind them. "She will understand… you know this… I know this. No one else knows about it."

Sesshoumaru never took his eyes from the picture, but his distress was almost tangible. He lowered his head and clenched his fists. His claws dug into the skin of his palms, nearly drawing blood. "I do not want to be the cause of her tears again. I was stupid. I was selfish. I was…"

"Young…" Inuyasha finished for him. "We all were. And we all grow."

Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes to the window and looked out at the waning moon, its crescent shape matching Sesshoumaru's birthmark. The stars were out, shining brilliantly, oblivious to the bittersweet emotional turmoil within Sesshoumaru's heart. "I do not deserve her…"

Inuyasha sighed and walked toward the doorway. "No one does… To this very day, I still don't understand why she would choose you of all people…" He chanced a glance over his shoulder. Sesshoumaru was still staring out the window. "In time you will understand why I cannot help you in this matter." Inuyasha turned and left. Sesshoumaru stayed in the room. His brother knew something… something he had yet to figure out. Perhaps fate had a strange way of making things work. In time… in due time…

…

Kagome sat on the lip of the well, still in her own time. She was still trying to decipher Sesshoumaru's proposition. He was not one to try and change things that were `meant to be.' So why would he be willing to risk his current existence for her? It must have been something incredibly bad… He had told her that she would be saved from a horrid fate. But what did that mean? She shuddered and drew her knees to her chest. Well… if she had survived it before, then she would do so again… if not for herself, then for the fate of her friends.

She stood with a determined grace and walked toward her home. Time had gone incredibly quickly that day and she was sure that her brooding had taken up a large chunk of it. The moon was rising quickly above the trees. She had to go. She walked into her house and stepped out of her shoes. Inuyasha was walking down the stairs. She immediately noticed the red bruise on his cheek and rushed up to him. "What happened?" She brushed her fingers over the wound lightly and he flinched. She quickly drew her hand back but he grabbed it in his own.

"I know why you won't let us tell you… and I know why he wants to tell you. All I can say is… don't fear it. Don't think about it." He pulled her into a crushing hug and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "Let everything go by as it normally would and when the times comes, deal with it then. Okay, Kagome?" His ears crushed flat to his skull when he felt Kagome sigh, releasing the tension in her.

Kagome pulled back and looked him in the eye, a carefree expression adorned on her features. "Inuyasha… nothing is normal anymore… not since I was pulled into the well, but… for you… I'll try." She watched him breath a sigh of relief and smiled in spite of the whole situation. "Now, before that gets worse, please put some ice on it."

Inuyasha chuckled at her. "Keh! It'll be fine, wench!" He side stepped her and headed toward the kitchen. Kagome felt the corners of her mouth lift up when she heard the fridge getting pulled open. She giggled to herself and hurried up the stairs.

She hurried down the hall and slowed as she reached her room. She could sense his presence from within and sighed. She stepped inside and shut the door behind her. There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments, as they stood unmoving from their spots within her room. He still stood, staring out at the stars, his face once again masked in to the world, a cold expression hiding his more delicate features. Her eyes darted back from his face to her shoes and she stood, unsure of what would come next. It was he who broke their silent reverie. "The moon has almost completely risen above the trees…"

Kagome looked up but his eyes were still fixed on the sky. It was somewhat distressing to see him this way. She stepped forward and stood in front of him, brushing her fingertips against his face to redirect his gaze to her. His gaze never wavered and she found that a lump had formed in her throat due to his forbidding behavior. "Sesshoumaru… look at me…" He had yet to move and tears formed in her eyes. She removed her hand from his cheek and stepped forward fisting her hands in his shirt. "Sesshoumaru… please…"

Perhaps it was the desperation in her voice… or perhaps it was the way she pressed herself against him so perfectly… or perhaps it was the smell of her unshed tears but he tore his gaze from the sky and looked into her teary, blue eyes. "You have already established that you do not desire to know the past for fear of the existence of your companions. There is something of the past that ails me, therefore, despite your prodding, the information will remain withheld." He turned and started to make his way to her bedroom door, but her almost inaudible whispers made their way to his sensitive ears.

"It wasn't the life of my companions that made me stop you from telling me." She turned to face his back once more and wrapped her arms around herself. The chill breeze blowing through the open window tangled her hair around her, as the curtains trailed loosely in its embrace. "It was you."

Sesshoumaru turned around and met her eyes. "You came across me but two, three days past. You are oblivious to your sentiments."

"Am I?" Kagome fisted her hands at hr sides and raised her eyes boldly to meet his. She hadn't asked for all of this and now he was insulting her with her emotions. "I was not the one who came out of nowhere and stopped you from leaving. I wasn't the one who chased you through the forest and then cornered you against the Goshinboku. I wasn't the one who kissed you!"

Sesshoumaru had her pressed back on her bed before she could blink, a threatening growl coming from his throat and it vibrated in his chest. "You had no complaints the next time it happened."

Kagome glared at him while recalling their kiss the next time they met. She hadn't kissed him then either. "You practically sucked my bottom lip into your mouth! What did you expect me to do? Sit there and wait until you stopped? It's an impulsive reaction! Why? Why did you kiss me to begin with?" Her alarm suddenly went off and she glanced at it. Midnight. "Shimatta! I'm late!" She pushed Sesshoumaru off of her and went to her closet and pulled out a pair of baggy pants. She slipped them on under her skirt and then pulled that off. With a glance back at Sesshoumaru she headed for her bedroom door but stopped. She turned around and walked up to him. She waited until he looked up at her and then she kissed him… and she kissed him hard. His hands landed on her waist and he pulled her close but the kiss ended almost as soon as it had begun. She was pulling away and leaving. As she reached her door once more, she glanced over her shoulder at him. "I won't change… and I'll never leave… you should know that…" With those departing words she opened her door and raced toward the well. She swore that one day she would get that answer from him no matter what it took.

…

Kagome climbed up the vines and practically threw herself out of the well. She was late and if she knew he would kill her… not literally… she hoped. She staggered off, running wildly, blindly following her feet to the well-known rendezvous point. She made it record breaking time and immediately collapsed to her knees, a hand to her chest as she struggled to regain breath into her burning lungs. Shapes were floating past her closed eyelids and she knew that she had pushed herself a bit much just to reach him in time… despite the fact that she was already…

"Late." Sesshoumaru's cold voice sprang forth from the depths of the trees across the bridge. She brought her eyes up to look at him and she did… but it was brief for in the next instant she found herself sprawled on her back with a heavy burden on her chest. She grunted and tried to shift beneath him but he didn't budge. His foot was digging into her ribcage. She grimaced in slight discomfort.

"Sorry I'm… late…" She giggled somewhat nervously and tried to push his foot up but he only pressed harder and she bit her lip to keep from yelping in pain. "Sess…" She gasped when he pressed harder and tears sprung to her eyes. "Stop it! That… hurts…" The only thing keeping her breathing was the fact that she held back his foot if only slightly from totally crushing her ribcage. "What are you… doing?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her nonchalantly and released some of the pressure from her stomach. "Assess the situation. Use your mind. How would you get out of this?" Kagome growled at him but it was cut short when he re-added that extra pressure. "Training has begun…"

The two of them stayed like that for a while until Kagome at least tried to kick him off. That's when the real fun began. She was taught vital points of the body, different acrobatic movements, flips, stances, and verbal assault… although she actually had just added that one on the list. Both were too caught up in their "session" to really give a damn about the presence that lurked in a nearby tree. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes and watched the graceful movements of his brother and the sloppy copy of Kagome's attempts. The girl was determined, he would give her that, but he couldn't really see her in the same light that he saw someone like Sango. Then again Sango had been taught since she was a child how to fight and attack. Kagome was just… Kagome.

He crossed his arms over his chest and gave his usual "Keh!" as he jumped down from the trees and headed back to the camp. At least he knew that they weren't… doing… stuff. He broke off into a run and bounded into the camp in no time. Kagome was hiding things from them… from him. It wasn't just her late night visits to his brother that he was worried about… when she had come back from her time, she had his scent all over her even more so then when she left. That was what worried him. "I'll find out, Kagome… sooner or later." He settled into his tree above the others and dozed off into a light sleep.

Back near the bridge Kagome was once again pinned with Sesshoumaru's foot digging into her ribcage. "You know… this is such a cheap shot…" She grabbed his foot and twisted as fast and hard as she could and rolled from beneath him, quickly standing and going into one of the defensive positions she'd picked up on. Unfortunately Sesshoumaru wasn't where he was supposed to be. She looked around but there was nothing. She took a deep breath and told herself to calm down. She closed her eyes and tried to sense his location. There was prickling on the back of her neck and she felt a shiver run down her spine. She turned instinctively and raised her arms in front of her.

Something hard collided with them and a sharp jolt pierced through her arm. That was going to leave a bruise in the morning. The force of the blow was enough to send her staggering back and another blow struck her in the gut. She recoiled in shock rather then pain and doubled over. That would hurt in the morning too… alas for all her effort she ended up sprawled on the floor her wrists held on either side of her head by the inu youkai above her. She grimaced and brought her legs up on either side of his waist… how had he managed to get there… again. "Cheap shot… I'm just a beginner for crying out loud!"

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow delicately and semi-glared at her. "Do not be so weak, miko. You did remarkably well for a weak, pathetic human." He kept still above her as he watched in slight amusement as she struggled to try and get from under him. Her efforts were useless due to the fact that he had positioned himself in a way that she couldn't escape. "Stop struggling. Admit defeat and perhaps I will consider releasing you."

She glared back at him defiantly. "I don't surrender to anyone and I most definitely will never admit defeat to you! You… you… did you just compliment me?" That innocent little question seemed to get to him for just a moment and she smirked. "I don't know whether I should be flattered or insulted."

"Be neither." He stood with his usual gracefulness and Kagome was glad that she didn't have to `admit defeat' to that bastard. He was basically just telling her to submit. The girl had always had a mind of her own and this pompous jerk wouldn't change that. She followed his actions and suppressed a groan. She was bruised in some areas and completely sore. The moon was disappearing beneath the tops of the trees. She'd been doing this all night just because he'd told her to be there.

She stifled a yawn and started to stretch. "If I may be so bold as to inquire… what the hell is wrong with you?" She turned to look at him but he was already walking on the wooden bridge and halfway across it. Her brows furrowed in confusion and she made to follow him but he lifted a hand, not bothering to look back at her. She stopped and stood at the edge of the wooden link to the other land. The winds picked up and she shivered in its sudden spurt as it tossed her hair wickedly around her face. "When?" The wind carried her whisper to his ears and he lowered his hand.

His head rose up slightly as he gazed at the fading stars. Dawn was approaching rather quickly. His pale, silken strands whipped around his form in the wind's sudden pick up at their departure. "You should know the answer to that… miko." He departed in a flurry of white and left the human girl standing there alone as she stared at the last place he stood.

Kagome ran a hand through her hair, drawing the raven locks from her face. "I know… I'll be here… tomorrow, when the moon has risen above the treetops, I'll be here…"

…

Inuyasha watched again as the young miko walked tiredly into the camp. She immediately slipped out of her shoes and into the warmth of her sleeping bag where a young kitsune had nestled in the night before. Shippou, feeling the added warmth of his surrogate mother and recognizing her soothing scent, buried his head in her bosom and kept sleeping. Kagome instinctively wrapped the young boy to herself and once her head landed on the soft confines of her makeshift bed, she was instantly asleep. Her breathing evened out immediately and her grip on Shippou slackened a bit.

Inuyasha gazed down at the rest of the Shikon hunters. It seems that they too had witnessed the scene. Miroku glanced from Kagome to Sango and then up to Inuyasha. Sango did the same. It was Miroku who inevitably broke the deafening silence. "She won't stop if we tell her to and we all know this. It's best if she just does this on her own and I do not believe that Sesshoumaru intends her harm… quite the opposite."

Sango sat up in her own makeshift bed and glanced from Kagome to Miroku. "There are but few remaining shards left. With her outings like these, we may never find them before Naraku gets to them. She'll be exhausted during the day. We can't let her go back. Defeating Naraku has always been our first priority…"

"Let her go if she wants to… it's her choice." Inuyasha turned his gaze up the still dark sky. The stars were fading one by one through the leafy confines of the trees. Dawn was approaching… and Kagome had only just gone to sleep.

"Inuyasha…" Sango sighed and curled back down into her covers. The hanyou was usually as stubborn as a bull, especially when it came down to Kagome. The girl always managed to get under his skin. He would always make a fuss when she would leave to go to her time. Now she was going out late to do god knows what with Sesshoumaru. What made this situation any different? "Inu… yasha?"

"It's her own choice to make…" Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and continued to gaze at the leafy tree covering of the forest. It was correct to assume that he'd just ended that conversation.

Miroku sighed and leaned back against his tree where he was perched. "It always has been her choice, hasn't it, Inuyasha?" He got a growl in reply and he closed his eyes and allowed his head to drop. "She had chosen you… and you denied her… now, again, she must choose… the only question that remains… is will he make the same mistake?"

The area returned to its quiet state as it had been but Miroku's words echoed in the minds of those who had heard him… in this case, Inuyasha.

…

Kagome was exhausted. She woke up around midday. Apparently the group had been waiting for her to rouse because they were situated around a dull looking fire, talking quietly amongst themselves. And that was how she found them. She opened her eyes and tried to move. Everything hurt and she tried to suppress a groan but it came out as a muffled whimper. Inuyasha gave her a look of surprise and slowly walked over to her.

"Oi, wench… what's wrong with you?" And that was the way Inuyasha expressed his concern. Kagome gave him a short glare and covered her body with the sleeping bag. She checked under the covers and flinched. Her arms were badly bruised from that brutal attack from last night, as well as her abdomen. Her legs weren't faring any better as there were black and blue marks covering her claves and thighs. Sesshoumaru was a brutal teacher… good, but brutal. As if her bruising weren't enough, the soreness of her limbs that attacked her was downright vicious. She groaned and plopped back down into the covers, trying her best to stay still.

"I'm fine, Inuyasha… just… um… a little sore…" Miroku perked right up and an evil grin spread over his face.

"Shut it, lech…" Miroku closed his mouth at Sango's words and plastered an innocent, hurt look on his face.

"I am but a humble monk, my dearest Sango…" Sango gave a snort and turned back to Kagome who had by this point curled into a ball beneath the thick covers of her makeshift bed. Miroku stood and walked next to the bundle that was Kagome. "Why are you sore? And where are you sore?"

Sango quickly stood and grabbed Miroku's ear dragging him back a few paces. "Get your mind out of the gutter!"

He yelped in pain and walked with Sango to lessen the pressure. "It was an honest question!"

Inuyasha sighed and crouched down next to Kagome. "Get up and let me see."

"No…" She curled further into the sleeping bag and whimpered. Inuyasha growled in warning.

"Kagome, if you don't get up I'll drag you out of there!"

"No, don't! I'm… uh… naked!"

"Come out, Kagome-sama!" Miroku all but shouted. In reply, Hiraikotsu was swiftly brought down on his head. "Take your time, Kagome-sama…"

"Humble, my ass…" Sango muttered.

Miroku grinned. "Yes Sango… it is quite humble, I must say so myself." His hand traveled down and was quickly slapped away by a blushing, furious taijiyah.

"Didn't we go through something like this yesterday with Kagome?" Shippou asked as he hopped up onto Inuyasha's shoulder. There was movement beneath the covers of Kagome's bed and a few groans and grunts. Finally, she stuck her hand out.

"There… now you definitely can't open it…" Kagome mumbled through the thick covers of the blanket.

Inuyasha raised his brows in mild annoyance and surprise. "And why the hell not?"

A bundle came flying out of the covers and landed somewhere near Miroku's feet… a bundle of… clothes. "Because I really am naked…"

Miroku bent down and picked up a silky white pair of panties. A blush spread over both his and Inuyasha's face. "I think she's telling the truth, Inuyasha…"

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and fought the rising blush on his cheeks. "Keh! Like I care, she's still going to come out whether I have to drag her out or not!"

There was a sharp gasp from the sleeping bag. "Hentai! Osuwari!"

Inuyasha's face met the dirt in a matter of seconds. Miroku shook his head. "It seems that my condition is contagious… first Kagome-sama and now Inuyasha…" He brought his cursed hand in front of his face and grinned. He turned to Sango and put his hand on her breast. "Infect!"

A loud pounding sound echoed through the forest. Miroku lay twitching next to Inuyasha who was still struggling with the sit spell. Sango clenched her fist in front of her face, a scowl replacing her usual nonchalant expression. Kagome stuck her head out of the sleeping bag and looked at the two on the floor. "Now's my chance! Sango get my towel from my bag, please!"

Sango nodded and strode over to Kagome's yellow bag, stepping on Miroku in the process. She rummaged through it and took out Kagome's towel, tossing it at her while she rummaged for the spare that she had in the bag. She slung the bag on her shoulder and walked to where Kagome now stood, clothed in only her towel. "I know where there is a hot spring nearby…"

The spell decided to wear off at that particular moment and Inuyasha sprang up, grasping Kagome's wrist. "You're not going until you let me see!" The look of shock that passed over all their faces was priceless and it took a moment for Inuyasha to comprehend the message that he just sent across everyone's mind. "Wait! That's not what I meant-"

"Osuwari!"

Inuyasha crashed landed next to Miroku again, grumbling about misunderstandings. Miroku, by this time had stopped twitching but was smart enough to stay sprawled on the floor. "I guess it's true. You really have caught my condition…"

Sango's fist connected with the back of Miroku's head again. "Will you shut up!" It was more of a demand then a question and Miroku quickly did as was told. Sango turned toward the forest and started walking, Kagome following behind her.

Shippou absently trailed after them when Inuyasha's voice reached his ears. "Oi, runt! Find out what's wrong with Kagome, got it?"

Shippou nodded enthusiastically and scurried off after his surrogate mother and aunt.

…

The girls chatted idly as they made their way down an unknown path toward the hot spring. Shippou was perched on Kagome's shoulder and she was only lagging behind slightly. Of course, Shippou didn't fail to notice the lingering scent of the taiyoukai on her but he said nothing. That wasn't his business… not yet anyway. Although if he heard correctly earlier that morning then it would become his business soon. If Kagome was his surrogate mother and she were to mate with Sesshoumaru then he would ultimately become his surrogate father. He shuddered at the thought and leapt down happily from Kagome's shoulder as the hot spring came into view.

Kagome sighed in relief when Shippou raced toward the water. The slight pressure he'd place on her shoulder had given her a strain. How was she supposed to do everything she did like the night before if she could hardly move without extreme pain coursing through her limbs? It was impossible. The short walk to the spring had put quite a strain on her but she knew the hot water would be good for her muscles. Finally they reached it and she stepped out of her towel, letting it pool around her feet. She stepped slowly into the water until it reached just below her chin. She sat down on the ledge and let her head loll back to rest on the rocks. The effect of the water on her limbs was almost instantaneous.

Sango watched the girl as she closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She brought out the bathing supplies and shed he own clothing. Slipping in next to Kagome, she too let her head loll back as the water seeped over her muscles. The silence was welcome but tense, only Shippou made any kind of noise as he splashed merrily in the hot water. Neither wanting to break the calm of the moment, they remained quiet for a few more moment. But alas, the quiet was shattered. "Kagome-chan," Sango whispered softly, "Where do you go so late at night?"

Kagome tensed but relaxed almost instantly. "I go home… and then I come back." It was a blatant lie but Sesshoumaru didn't seem to want the others to know about what he was doing with her. It would only arouse suspicion… not to mention the fact that just the day before, he had so openly declared that Kagome was not open for others… not at the moment anyway. Kouga had been the… recipient of that message.

Sango frowned at her but didn't press the matter. She had her secrets so it was only fair to let Kagome have hers… unless her secret was in some way causing her harm. "Kagome-chan… when you're `at home' do you get hurt?"

Kagome sighed. Technically she wouldn't be telling Sango about Sesshoumaru but in a way she knew that Sango had an idea as to what happened so late at night. So, she decided to go with the… practical but effective way of telling Sango what went on. "My brother, Souta, and I have… play fights. And I usually end up getting bruised or I'm sore the next morning if we roughhouse too much. Other then that, I'm fine… `Souta' goes fairly easy on me… but I assure you, Sango-chan… he would never do anything to actually hurt me… at least, I don't think so…"

Sango reached out for the soap and a little washcloth. She made a nice lather and started to wash Shippou who had been uncharacteristically quiet through their whole exchange. Shippou may have been young, but he was in no sense stupid. The boy, also being kitsune, was very clever and he used his innocence to get what he needed most of the time. Now was a perfect example. He was allowed to bathe with the girls because he was too young to now any better whereas someone like Miroku would be immediately bashed on the head with Sango's Hiraikotsu and left to twitch on the forest floor.

Sango looked over to Kagome who was still sitting contently in the soothing waters. "How can you be sure?"

Kagome sighed again and opened her eyes. Sango was gently washing behind Shippou's ears with an expression of uncertainty plastered on her face. Her concern was genuine and Kagome wished that she could tell the girl everything… but she couldn't. If she wouldn't let Sesshoumaru tell her about the past, she couldn't tell anyone about the future… not even Inuyasha and that alone would be quite the difficult task. "I can't…"

Sango was by now thoroughly confused. Sesshoumaru had tried to kill them on many an occasion and now he was `roughhousing' as Kagome so eloquently stated with her during the night. For what reason? Sango doubted if Kagome even knew… or Sesshoumaru, himself, for that matter. " Do you trust him?"

"You once gave me your trust. Do I still have it?"

Kagome didn't even have to think about the answer… by now it just came naturally. "Yes… I trust him… completely."

…

The days seemed to drag on endlessly and uneventfully. There was the occasional demon that came to attack random towns for no apparent reason but other then that life was seemingly boring. Kagome had stayed in the feudal era for nearly two weeks now without return and she always left the camp late and came back just before dawn. No one asked questions because they already knew thanks to "Shippou Undercover - Loyal Spy to Inuyasha Bound by Threat or Treat." Although no one had actually seen proof of her `play fights' with `Souta', they could tell by the way she winced when she accidentally brushed up against something or just how she seemingly just wanted to plop down and take a rest. She hardly got enough sleep as it was and she was doing some assignments for school although she hadn't really complained as often as she used to about taking those tests.

Another thing that caught the attention of the group was how quick she was to respond nowadays during battle with "lesser youkai" as Inuyasha name them. Instead of hiding behind those in the group who were known to protect her, everyone, she was now capable of doing some of her own fighting. She strung her arrows much more easily than she used to and her aim was impeccable except for the occasional miss but that was to be expected. Another thing that was very obvious was her change in style. She still wore her school uniform but now she was often seen wearing slacks and a tank top… a loose tank top, mind you. Also she almost always kept her hair tied back now during the nights and Miroku had grown rather fond of her new… pajamas.

To recap, when she would come back in the wee hours of the morning, she wouldn't change into her cute animal printed sleepwear. Instead, she would slip under her covers and simply wriggle out of her clothes until she was stripped down to her under garments and then she would sleep. Unfortunately, the first day she had done it, no one was aware of that fact and Inuyasha had quite simply thrown the covers off of her to rouse her from her slumber. Thankfully for her, training was light that night and the bruising had gone down from their other sessions. To put it simply, he and Miroku stared with their jaws hanging loosely from their faces and then Kagome shrieked, pulled the covers back up and Inuyasha was sprawled on the ground two seconds later eating dirt with Miroku beside him, twitching as a lump formed on his head, courtesy of Sango. Life was good.

So now, Kagome sat on a tree stump near the camp overlooking a river as she caught up with some of her work. Tonight she'd go to training and then she'd go home. She had to at least give in the assignments and take a couple tests. Her studies were hard but with a little practice she'd be able to get the hang of it… except in math. Math was and to this day still is her worst subject. She sighed. At least homework wasn't a major problem except in Sex Ed. Her latest assignment: Bring in a condom because Inuyasha had run out and he liked to fling them at students when he was bored. She groaned. She'd often wondered why Miroku hadn't taught that class. It did seem to be more in his field… but then she realized. Her gym uniform consisted of a shirt and those flimsy underwear-looking shorts… or underwear. Whatever they were called, they showed off a very nice view of legs and body shape… rather, the ass shape. That was Miroku's expertise.

She snorted and finished up her work. It was a little past midday that meant she had a lot of time to just relax… something she was in desperate need of. She set her books bag into her yellow bag but quickly retracted her hand with a sharp cry. She gazed at her palm and frowned. There was a deep gash in her palm and it was starting to bleed… badly. Cursing her bad luck, she dumped the contents of her bag onto the grass and frowned. She gathered the shard of what was once her mirror and placed them in a small section on her bag, careful not to cut herself again with the sharp edges. Unfortunately, she'd left her first aid kit back in Kaede's hut…

She shoved her things back into her bag using her uncut hand and walked down a small hill to the nearby river. She kneeled at its banks and slowly dipped her hand into the cold water, grimacing as the wound stung. The blood mixed with the water and the red washed away with its slow moving current. When she thought it had been cleaned fairly adequately, she sat back and ripped off a piece of her shirt, turning it into a makeshift bandage at least until she was able to return. She sighed and lay back on the tall grass, holding her throbbing hand close to her chest.

The clouds swirled slowly in her view of the bright blue skies and she smiled contently, ignoring the pain from her hand. But her smile faded and was replaced by a look of confusion as a familiar presence made itself known to her. Why would he be here at this time of day? She still had a few hours until her session… and surely he didn't just want to be around her. He hadn't… done anything with her, not even a small kiss, since they started training. And she hadn't seen her future mate since they started training either. She sighed and sat up, still cradling her hand. "Don't just stay there… what do you want, Sesshoumaru?"

Less then a minute later, she was once again sprawled on her back in the tall grass. But there was a new addition as a large weight settled on top of her. She looked up and glared at the taiyoukai who just ignored her and plucked her hand up from its cozy position against her chest. "How did you get this?" He unwound the makeshift bandage and laid it out carefully to the side of them. Blood still poured from the wound but not as heavily as before. Bringing her hand to his lips, his tongue darted out and lapped at the blood that was starting to pool in her palm. Again he noticed the almost sweet taste in her blood as he started to suck gently on the wound.

Kagome watched with half lidded eyes as the familiar tingles swept up her arm and spread throughout her frame. Unconsciously, she moaned softly as his gentle pulls with his mouth became almost vicious. She vaguely rendered the fact that his golden eyes were now tinted with red just like the first time he had sucked on the wound in the ravine. Shivers ran down her spine and she closed her eyes reveling in the sensation of his mouth… moving up her arm… to her neck. A startled, painful cry shot forth from her lips as his nails sliced a wound in her neck. The wound wouldn't scar, of that he was sure but it was enough so he could easily taste her blood again.

Sesshoumaru watched through a haze as her red blood started to flow freely from the new wound on her neck. He braced his hands on either side of her head, nudging her face to the left with his head for better access to her blood. Again, his tongue darted out and licked at the thick, crimson fluid. She shuddered beneath him and he gently sucked at the sensitive flesh of her neckline, becoming more forceful and insistent with each pull of her tangy blood. He heard her moan again and move restlessly beneath him but her movements stopped when he growled, his chest vibrating with the low, condescending sound.

Kagome was truly unable to gain any coherent thought but that fact was plainly shown on her face with her brows knit together, eyes closed and lips slightly parted. He gave another insistent tug on her neck and she gave a short high-pitched cry. His ministrations were wreaking havoc on her senses and her mind was currently swimming. Her breath shortened to quick pants as he gave one last final, rough pull… but it only led to something more confusing. Sesshoumaru was watching her from above as her calmed her racing heart and slid her eyes open to look at him. "You never answered my question."

She looked up somewhat frightened to see that his eyes were almost completely red except for the flickers of golden specs remaining. Kagome tilted her head to the side and studied him further. In her opinion he looked… a little dangerous… a lot more dangerous actually than he already was… actually he looked like he was ready to kill the next person who moved or in this case, dared to disturb them. She was stunned by the fact that he could look that way without having to lift an eyebrow. He looked… really… sexy. She mentally slapped herself for the improper thought and blushed. A low growl alerted her to him again and she realized that she still hadn't said anything. His eyes had been sort of a… distraction. "Um… I…" What did he ask her? "What was… um… um?"

Sesshoumaru growled in annoyance and reached for her hand again, licking the now healed area with a single lap of his doglike tongue. "How did you get the wound?"

"Eww… Sesshoumaru germs!" She pulled her hand back and pressed her finger against his lips as she realized he was going to insult her. She was greatly surprised when his tongue came out and wrapped around the single digit, drawing it into his mouth. "Eww…" She repeated, albeit in a more playful, high-pitched squeal. "All right, all right! I cut myself with a shard from my mirror in my bag. I didn't know that it broke in there and I reached in and it stuck me… now will you give me back my finger."

Sesshoumaru let her retract her finger from his mouth and gazed down at her through his still red eyes. Of course, he didn't know about the change in color and she hadn't said anything… yet. She squirmed under his gaze and he stood, bringing her up with him. She was still staring at his eyes and it was rather unsettling. "What is it, wench?" He still hadn't shown the annoyance on his face but it was clear in his eyes.

Kagome bit down on her bottom lip and walked away from him to where she had left her bag. "Your eyes are a different color… that's all." She called over her shoulder and jogged the rest of the way up the hill. But soon she found herself caught up in another of Sesshoumaru's ways of showing affection. She was pinned back against a tree, his neck around her throat. She could breathe perfectly fine and he'd done no damage to her. She sighed and looked at his eyes again. "They're red now with lingering traces of gold… although the red seems to be fading, but it's slow. The same thing happened the first time you went all vampire on me… and then your eyes were fine practically the next day. But now your eyes are much redder than they were before… is that even normal?"

Sesshoumaru let her go and turned around to look in the direction he'd come from. He could hear the distant sounds of those who traveled with him, namely Rin and Jaken. "Come… we will find out the cause of this." He picked Kagome up and slung her over his shoulder and sped away to where his loyal servant was. The green toad, despite what so many thought of him, had a vast knowledge of practically everything. He should know something about the side effects her blood had on him… anything…