InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Returning the Favor ❯ Enter Thy Mind ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Azuka
Kagome finds herself at the mercy of a stranger, brutally abused and broken, she seeks comfort in the most unlikely of places. Will her fears never be put to rest, will she become trapped or will her Master allow her leave?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Mystery / Hentai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.18.2008 | Updated On: 08.02.2012 | Pages: 1 | Words: 7.1K | Visits: 1.2K | Status: Work In Progress

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co.
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Parental Advisory: The content of this Fictional Story would not be considered ‘appropriate’ for reader’s under the age of Seventeen. Therefore I must implore that those faint of heart, easily angered or disturbed; and under the age of seventeen, not ready any Fictional Story that I have concocted from the bases of an Anime. Thank You.

Author: Azuka O’Hara

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Chapter One: Enter thy Mind; Witness thy Terror
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She stared dumbly up at the sky, her mind drawing a total and complete blank. She blinked then brought her face down to rub her eyes, before looking back up and making a face. “Seriously?” She whined at no one before grabbing a cord of vegetation and looked down with a sigh. “C’mon Kagome… No use in standing all alone in this well. I mean, how crazy would you look if someone looked down and saw you talking to yourself.” She closed her eyes with a hiss of self disgust before setting her left foot firmly on the wall and hauling herself up. She grunted as she stretched to grab another web of twisting vines and pulling herself up another foot. “Damn.” She panted, looking down to gauge the distance, and whined sharply when she saw the well bottom only a few feet below her. She looked back up and sighed.

Pulling herself over the rim, she grunted, letting herself rest with her chest taking her dead weight on the wooden rim. She pushed herself up and slipped a foot in between her hands and stood, hopping off the rim and landing with a huff. She ran her palms down the sides of her jeans as she looked around in wonder. “Looks like were not in Kansas anymore Toto.” She said with a sigh as she walked forward into the beautiful midday forest. Where am I anyway? Am I dead? Dreaming?

 She came out of the forest and lifted her hand to cover her eyes from the blinding light and winced as her eyes adjusted and showed her something that looked straight out of a History Book. Rice fields, wooden huts, cows and villagers. She groaned and dropped her hand, looking behind her to see the path to the clearing of the well. Looking back, she scratched her elbow before turning and making her way back. She stopped and looked down at the well and sighed. “Maybe if I jump back in…” “Hmn? Who are you?” Kagome turned around, surprised and started. She found herself suddenly face to face with a man dressed in black and purple. His hair spilled from his head like spilled ink. “Whoa…” She gasped as she looked into his blood red eyes. He frowned and lifted his hand to her throat and lifting her easily. Kagome choked and wrapped her hands around his wrists, her eyes widening as her heartbeat skyrocketed and her mind went blank. “Why do you stand before the Bone Eater’s well-.” The man’s face broke into comical surprise, before falling into a leering amusement that sent chills down Kagome’s back. The man released her suddenly, and Kagome cried out sharply as her back cracked against the corner of the well, ripping through her t shirt. She arched her back and hissed as she twisted as if to evade the pain. The man snarled and grabbed her by her hair, haling her to her feet. “You are you, bitch. Why do you possess the Shikon no tama without succumbing to its will?” Kagome screamed as she kicked her legs helplessly, her fingers digging into his wrist. “Let me go! Please! Stop!” The man snarled and shook her before slamming her into the ground and hovering over her with his hand still tangled in her hair. “Shut up.” He ordered evenly as she continued to scream. “I said shut up!” Kagome’s jaws snapped shut with a click, her eyes widen as she stared at him, tears pouring out of her eyes. Her chest heaved and air hissed through her nose and teeth. The man narrowed his eyes at her. “What is your name?” Kagome’s left eye twitched but she answered him. “Kagome-da? Tell me mortal, what tie do you have with this well?” She began to tremble as the adrenaline slowly drained from her body, leaving her terribly frightened and wounded. She began to sob. “I’m sorry… I-I-I-don’t… I don’t know what your t-t-t-talking about.” The displeasure that ran through his eyes made her scream even as he began to lift her. He slammed her into a tree twice before he released a breath as if calming himself, before he leaned in. “Do not lie to me, bitch. I saw you emerge, I saw you attempt to return. Is this how you came to possess the Shikon no Tama?” Kagome continued to sob softly, her body limp as he held her aloof by her hair alone. Her head was screaming in pain as the hairs began to break, feeling as if they were pulling chunks of flesh with them. As it were, blood was already leaking down the back of her neck from the abuse her skull had taken, not to mention the burning, wet path that slowly smeared down her back from the shoulder wound she received from her first attack with the beast before her. I have to be dead… no one can help me… I died in the well and… and now I’m stuck I’m stuck here being punished…
 “Answer.” He commanded, his voice on the verge of snapping once again. Kagome cracked an eye. “Why don’t… you just take it then…this jewel…” She whispered, anger swelling under the realization that she was looking at her death. She was dead; she’d come to terms with the fact. However, that didn’t mean she was going to go alone quietly. The man’s eyes widened in anger as he pulled her off the tree, slamming her back into it hard enough to make Kagome’s mind momentarily shut down, before rebooting and sending shocking waves of pain down her back. She screamed again as another gush of warm blood oozed from the gaping wound on the back of her head. “Enough.” She gasped as the pressure was suddenly released from her hair, allowing her to crumble freely to the ground. She didn’t bother to resist the fall, stilling where she landed and allowing the darkness to swamp her being. “Wake up, bitch.” Her eyes sprang open as pain lurched through her spine. She winced, opening her mouth in a silent scream as she eyes screwed shut. Her spin insisted she twist herself in an ungodly position to resist the pain. Uncurling, she grunted as the pain ebbed, and opened her eyes to see two men fighting mere feet from her. One was the beast who attacked her, the newcomer was unfamiliar with stark opposing features and colors, to the man who abused her.

Suddenly she was shoved onto her back, she groaned and arched her back, her protesting wounds making her roll back onto her side. “Woman. Can you understand me?” Kagome opened an eye to see a mass of white standing in a torrent of green, yellow and blue. “Y-yes…” “What tie do you have with Naraku?” Kagome whimpered, her chest caving with the impending doom that question insinuated. “I don’t know! I swear! Please, you’ve gotta believe me!” She pleaded as she tried to push herself up. With the change in elevation, her equilibrium protested with a wave of nausea and a splitting headache. She dropped back to the ground with a defeated groan, panting with the effort it took to move. Something dug into the back of her torn shirt and pulled her up to her feet. She instantly gagged and cried out as she grabbed her head. Something smoothed under her legs and curved around her back, a warm chest urging her to lean into it and sleep. “You mustn’t sleep, woman. You will die and I have questions you must answer.” She tried to open her eyes, but pain exploded behind her eyes. “k.” She whimpered, the arms tightened around her. “What is your name?” “Kagome.” “How old are you?” Kagome lifted a hand to her forehead and sighed. “Seventeen…” “Are you trained?” her head pulsed madly and she whimpered sharply. “Trained?” “You are a priestess.” Kagome coughed softly, wincing as the wounds on her back pulled. “No.” She was set down, a warm thigh and knee bracing her back. She felt her shirt being removed and gasped as the dried blood stuck to the cotton and opened her wounds. “You are heavily wounded. Can you sit unassisted?” She placed her hand near her hip and attempted to pull away from the mans embrace but fell back against him with a sharp whine. “What… What happened to me?” She looked up to see golden eyes and wild black eyebrows. White/blue hair and magenta strips on his cheeks. “You do not recall.” He lifted his hand to lift one of her eyelids open, lifting his chin to look down his nose at her. Kagome grunted and looked away. “What can you remember?” Kagome shook her head. “I don’t… I don’t know.” The man nodded and reached behind her to cup spring water in his hand, urging her forward with his knee, he warned her before dropping the water onto her back. She hissed but relaxed as it soothed the overheated flesh. He repeated this until the wounds had cleaned themselves before he studied the strange chest wrapping she wore, the clasps that held the two back pieces together. The girl hadn’t moved and he frowned. “Kagome.” The girl’s head swayed to the side, turning an ear to him before frowning. “Kagome?” He arched an eyebrow. “That is your name.” She blinked and looked up at him. “Is it? Why does my head hurt? Who are you?” The man sighed and scooped another hand full of water onto her back. “My name is Sesshomaru, I am the Taiyoukia of the Western Lands, Ruler of the House of Moon. You, girl, were under the mercy of an evil hanyou.” Kagome nodded, seemingly to recall blood red eyes and tangible hatred. “Okay… That means you saved me, right? Do I know you?” Sesshomaru stared at her before bending his attention back to her wounds. “No. This Sesshomaru does not know you.” Kagome blinked and shifted with a wince. “So… What happens now then? Where do I go from here?” Sesshomaru sighed and pulled the girl to her feet as she grasped her head in pain. “You will return to your senses once your head has healed. This Sesshomaru will accompany you until then.” Kagome blinked then nodded. “okay…” He frowned and pulled from his sleeve a small pouch of coins. He handed it to her, along with her torn shirt. “We are two miles from a human village. You will buy new clothing and a bow.” Kagome stared up at him before looking down at the pouch in her hand. She frowned as her vision began to swim. Her knees felt weak and she sighed. Sesshomaru reached out and caught her just as her knees gave out. She whimpered softly against him. “Do not sleep, miko. You will die.” Kagome groaned and lifted her palm to her head. “It hurts…” Sesshomaru frowned and touched his fingertips to her damp forehead. He easily invaded her mortal mind. Everything was clouded and locked. Nothing made sense in the chaos except for the pain and the pulsing need to sleep. He quickly dispersed the need and replaced it with hunger. The girl instantly groaned and gripped her stomach as she slumped against him. He pulled out of her mind and stared down at her. She was flushed, fresh tears were rolling down her cheeks, but her hands still lingered on her wounds as she sought comfort in his arms. He frowned down at her before closing his eyes. This woman has something Naraku wants. Desperately enough that he would attack her on his own without the aid of his minions. I sense something about her as well… A drawing sensation that orders I protect her. A calling… The Taiyoukia of the west growled softly as he once again ordered the woman away from the brink of slumber. “Come. Walk.” He urged her to move against him, keeping her tight to his side as she attempted to use her legs. “I can’t…” She cried, the pain of focusing her muscles was too much, the pressure of the pain was consuming. “You must. Remaining stationary will lull you into slumber, and ultimately your death.” Nodding, Kagome decided to trust ‘this Sesshomaru’ and leaned heavily against him, wondering why her clothing was so still and confining, while his was comfortable and beautiful. “What are you… I can’t…” She shook her head and came to a stop, disturbing the youkia lord who assisted her. “This Sesshomaru is what is known as Taiyoukia, apart of the Four Wind’s of Japan.” The wounded mortal female looked at the diabolical, angelic being beside her in surprise. “Four Winds…” Her ash colored eyes turned introspective as she mumbled the phrase repeatedly.

Sesshomaru stared down at her in wonder, before urging her to continue walking at a steady pace. The mortal refused to slip from the spell her mind had trapped itself in and focused instead of getting the mortal girl back into the Western Forest. Once within his borders he could tend to the mortal girl and receive the answer’s that ate away at his mind. Naraku wants her… She holds the Shikon no Tama inside of her… If Naraku… The gold of his eye bled scarlet, green outlining his split pupil as his anger sharpened. He glanced down at the helpless mortal under his arm and snorted. She reeked of her previous fear, it clung so tightly to her body that the stink of her blood and tears was almost completely masked under its intensity. He shifted his gaze back ahead of them to the field before them, a marker that the Taiyoukia recognized as two hundred yards from his destination. He stopped and picked up the woman, she didn’t protest, and enveloped himself into an orb of power and rocketed across the distance that took only seconds. Landing the Taiyoukia released the woman and stared down at her in concern when she still refused to acknowledge her surroundings. He faced her and cupped her jaw sharply and lifted her eyes up to his with a small bark of command. She shivered, her eyes instantly clearing and locking onto him. She gasped and the scent of her fear spiked, making his nose wrinkle in displeasure. He released her and took a step back. “Now that you are back to your senses, there is a Hot Spring beyond those tree’s.” Gesturing to his right, he brought his eyes back to hers. “You do know how to bathe yourself.” The sentence was a command, telling her that if she opposed that he would slay her. She swallowed and nervously glanced down and to the side before looking back at him. How hard could it be? “H-hai.” He frowned and slipped his hands into his sleeves, his back straightening. “You will make your way back to this point when you are finished. When you arrive, this Sesshomaru will have an assortment of clothing and a meal for you. Understand that once you are well fed, bathed and clothed, you will give this Sesshomaru the information that is required, should you wish to continuing living. Her spine straightened as he suddenly became a ball of glowing green energy and zipped out of sight faster than she could keep track of. Swallowing she turned towards the Hot Spring he had informed her of and pushed her way through the brush and around the trees until she came to a rock encased pool of clear, steaming hot water. Moss grew on the damp rock surfaces, the forest feeding off the constant moisture and heat; which encouraged vine’s and mushrooms, flowers of questionable breeding and exotic creatures.

The forest floor of the Hot Spring was spongy, thick with vines, moss and clovers. “This is beautiful…” She whispered as she peeled her clothing off without a second thought. She dipped her toes into the water to test the temperature and gasped when unnatural ripples lazily swept out, the waves glowing bright pink and illuminating the misty clearing. Pulling her toes free, Kagome stared wide eyed as the water settled, continuing to glow bright pink. “Oh wow…” Her eyes jumped from spot to spot on the glowing pool before slipping into it and gasping, blushing as her spine tightened. The tissue under her skin began to glow, igniting her body like a beacon. Intense warmth and laziness enveloped her; she reached up to her hug her torso as she tipped her head to the side, giving in to the pleasure that broke over her like a tsunami. The light in the Hot Spring suddenly pitched violently, sending up rays of energy as the air around the clearing vibrated under the intense pressure of the girl’s spirit. In an instant it was over, leaving a purity behind so brilliant that everything in the clearing seemed to sparkle, the foliage and vegetation rejuvenated and glittery. The water, where the miko slouched in exhaustion, full healed and panting, was drenched in water that glimmered pink against her skin as it rejoined the crystal clear waters of the Hot Spring.

Just as Kagome lifted her head, did someone standing on the threshold of the clearing turned heel and walked away. She is a priestess I’ve not seen since the first Demon War; the Warrior Priestess Midoriko, the Creator of the Shikon no Tama. His majestic silver hair wafted out softly behind him as he strode into the clearing where he’d set up camp. A comfortable bed of fur and grass lay out for the mortal woman, a healthy fire with a slab of venison resting on a crude wooden design over its open flames. A small tub of water, bandages, ointments and a set of clothing rested in a neat pile on the bedding. He observed his camp, before turning the roasting meat over and sitting down to prepare for the female’s arrival. As expected, she arrived shortly after he finished polishing his father’s useless heirloom. She walked over to the bedding instantly and began to dress in a sleeping youkata. She then made her way over to him, couching comfortably on the balls of her feet, with her knees still pressed together. “I never told you.. Arigatou.” She bowed a bit awkwardly from her position, but flashed him a cocksure grin that made him close his eyes in irritation. “This Sesshomaru requires answers from you girl.” Kagome nodded and brought her palms up to hold her chin, as she braced her elbows on her thighs. “What do you want to know?” “Are you trained?” She frowned sharply and looked at the fire. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what happened back there, but I think its pretty obvious what I am. I do think I know how to use a bow, though, but don’t ask me how I know that.” He watched her for a moment, then turned back to the fire. “Do you know who that demon was, who attacked you earlier?” She shook her head and he closed his eyes, folding his arms in his sleeves. “His name is Naraku, he is a demon lord of the South. He is supaida.”
“Spider?” He glared at her and she blushed, looking back into the fire. “So what does he want with me?” Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow. “That would be the question.” She looked at him sharply in surprise, then gasped. “I don’t know! Honestly!” He jerked his chin away with a huff. “This Sesshomaru, as well, knows this to be true.” Kagome sighed and stared longingly into the fire. “Do you know where I come from? Who I am?” She cast him a hopeful look and he stared at her emotionlessly, before glaring at her with a frown. “Of course not.” She sighed and closed her eyes. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he smelt her tears. “What you need to focus on, Priestess. Is training. This Sesshomaru is knowledgeable in this area of magic and energy.” He rose to his feet and barked at her to do the same. She gulped and slowly rose. When she looked at him, she found a stick in her face. She blinked and grasped it. “You will not be helpless while you travel with me, mortal. I refuse to be hindered by your presence.” She frowned and looked at him, he was drawing his sword. “No fair!” He scoffed at her and barked at her to follow his direction. He taught her how to stand, where to hold her shoulders. “This exercise will strengthen your wrists, resist me at all costs.” He lightly swatted the stick with the flat of his blade, satisfied when she held her ground with a soft grunt. “Ow!” He snorted and swatted at the stick again, a little harder this time. The stick was nearly flung from her grasp, but she managed to catch it again and danced on her feet with a sharp whine. “Stop it! That hurts!” He frowned and sharply cracked his blade into the stick, hardly moving it but sending sharp vibrations so intense that Kagome dropped the stick and sucked on her pulsing fingers. “AHH!” “You will stop your wining and continue. This Sesshomaru refuses you to be untrained while within his presence.” She obediently picked up the stick and resumed the position he’d just taught her. He swatted the stick, adding slightly more pressure than his last and Kagome winced, but held firm. He repeated this act until the girl began to cry, her fingers swollen and pulsing, but she refused to let the Taiyoukia degrade her with his insults again. Almost two hours of this torture, Kagome’s fingers couldn’t pick up the stick once it’d fallen and Sesshomaru conceded to a break. “Return to the Hot Spring, your stench offends me.” He dismissed her, sheathing his sword and checking on the roast. Kagome whimpered at his inability to sympathize and understand, before doing as she was told.

When she returned, a bowl of meat was cut beautifully into tiny squares that were easy to pick up with a single chopstick; the meat so tender it gave easily under any pressure. She speared a chunk and shakily brought it up to her lips. Sesshomaru watched her for a moment, then made himself comfortable for the night.

Once she was finished eating, Kagome placed the bowl down beside her and pulled the bucket of water closer to wash her hands, soaking them in the cool water. Pulling them out she applied ointment to her blistered fingers and wrapped them. Glancing at her savoir and captor, she laid out on the bedding and closed her eyes with a sigh.


For the next few weeks it took to reach the Gates of his Ancestral home, the Palace of the Moon; Kagome had been an attentive and fast-learning student. Once they had access to the private dojo inside the palace, Kagome found herself obsessed with pleasing her new lord. She impressed him with her ability to picked up on the most complicated of techniques, and execute them without much complication being her inexperience. Impressing him was what Kagome spent the next month so or under his care, doing. It kept her busy, kept her mind from wandering back to the most primal question that’s haunted her dreams since she first found Lord Sesshomaru, through bloody, broken eyes. Who was she?

Donning a beautiful white and baby blue kimono with honeycomb patterns on the neck and shoulders, with sakura petals around the waist. She swept her hands through her hair and made her way to the dojo. As she left, a personal companion, as she liked to call him, moved from her door side to her left shoulder. “Good Morning, Kagome-san. Did you sleep well?” Thank you, Kai, I did; no nightmares this time.” The tiger demon nodded as he folded his arms behind him. Bright orange, shaggy hair with black markings on his face and wrists, with bright honey gold eyes. A striped orange and black tail swayed out behind the demon as he walked with a certain hop in his step. “Why are you so giddy?” She asked suddenly in amusement as they turned down the eastern wing, which was devoted to all of Sesshomaru’s military needs. Many of the dojo’s were being used to train younger demon’s, and as they passed Kagome couldn’t helped but watch as many of the students were brutally whipped and beaten for disobeying or executing a technique that didn’t meet the teachers expectations. At the end of the hall was Sesshomaru’s Personal Dojo, which only she, Sesshomaru and of course her companion. “Today will be a good day.” “Oh?” “Hai.” Kagome smiled and shook her head as the demon moved aside the circular, beautiful black and red polished bamboo door. “You’re too much, sometimes, Kai-sama.” The tiger youkia chuckled and closed the door behind them before turning to watch the mortal woman make her way to the weapon racks that lined the spacious dojo. He followed and met her at the center. She placed metal claws over her hands, the individual fingers flexing under the influence of the natural flesh and bone. She had placed a vest of metal, with shoulder and hip guards. “Ah, so you wish to hone in on your hand-to-hand?” “I’ve had my eye on the metal claws for some time, I just never felt confident enough to try them out.” Kai snickered, his tail flicking happily as she sunk into a pose he’d seen himself in before; back when he was a kitten just learning the rough and tumble of hand-to-hand. He chuckled as he adopted a similar stance. Both were relaxed and playful, this was by no mean’s a spar on a normal level. This was a playful game. “Only after two months of training, you think yourself ready to face me at my own game?” Kagome smiled and shrugged as they began to circle one another. “Why not? Never know if you don’t try.” “True, true. You don’t know until you fall, that you can pick yourself up again.” Kagome smiled and lunged suddenly, swiping lazily. The tiger easily danced out of the attack and spinning back with his own claws. Kagome leapt back, but the youkia’s claws sparked against the metal of her shoulder and Kagome hissed, bouncing from foot to foot as she bobbed and weaved, before lunging at him again. Kai danced out of everyone of her attack, before lazily returning a single, striking blow.

Kagome was panting now, beads of sweat rolling down her neck as the weight of the metal vest continued to hinder her movements. She refused to allow her attacks to start or end sloppy, so Kagome decided to reserve her remaining strength and go on the defensive. Kai noticed immediately and intensified his attack. He leapt and twirled, landing a heel on her shoulder and a swipe that would have taken her head off, had she not dipped with the blow and forced herself to rise above it, pushing the youkia back into the air as his swipe skimmed the top of her head. Back-flipping, Kai landed in a wide crouch, before zigzagging instantly back towards her. Kagome lifted her arms with growing difficulty as she blocked his lazily, but powerful swipes. She cried out as her strength failed her and she crumbled under a double shoulder slam from her aerial opponent. Kai landed with one foot on either side of her hips. He crouched down at the panting, overheated human and cocked his head at her, his tail flicking out behind him as he contemplated her. Kagome cracked an eye, her throat pulsing with the intense pounding of her heart, sweat blurring her vision and the sound of her own bodily fluids deafened her. Kai rose and offered her a hand. Kagome grasped his wrist and he in turned curled powerful fingers around her weaker flesh and pulled her to her feet. He easily removed her armor and let it fall. Kagome sighed heavily as her body instantly felt like it was floating as the heavy vest was removed. “You did well today, Kagome.” Kai assured her as he blew gently on her forehead. Kagome’s eyes fluttered closed and her shoulders sagged. “Come, a bath and some food before we continue etiquette.” Kagome groaned. Though she seemed to excel in table manner and knew when she was required to be quiet and polite, she hated the rest of it. Learning how to walk in a kimono, how to walk in geta and how to

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The sun was beginning its descent when Kagome found herself in the Palace Gardens, sitting on a stone bench in a white youkata. Her hair was down, her face clean of makeup and her person free of anything man-made. She sat in tranquil silence, her mind clearing with every calming beat of her own heart. As she did, something began to pulse in the back of her mind. A flash of pain and torment. She jerked her chin slightly in effort to remove the startling presence in the back of her mind. Her eyebrow twitched and her chin jerked once again as the images ran through her mind at a startling rate, before dead silence once more. Kagome’s heartbeat was hammering now, and sweat had began to gather on her forehead. A flash of pink exploded behind her minds eye and with it came a rush of memories and emotions. Her eyes snapped open. “Two thousand six….” “Lady Kagome?” She gasped and rose quickly to her feet and turned to see Kai, dressed in a formal red and orange kimono that was checkered and stripped. She smiled at him and bowed with her hands in front of her. “Forgive me, Kai-sama. I was not paying attention.” One of the demon’s arms were lazily tucked into the fold of his haroi, the other resting along the hilt of his sword. “Are you alright, your soul seemed to be in flux…” Kagome shook her head and flashed him a smile. “I… I just remembered who I am, that’s all.” Kai’s eyes widened. “Oh?” Kagome smiled and nodded. “My name is Kagome Higurashi, I come from the year two thousand six, and the well, where Sesshomaru-sama, first found me, is how I can travel from there to here.” Kai blinked rapidly for a moment, before pulling his arm off his sword to scratch his cheek. “Two thousand six?” Kagome shrugged. “I don’t know how I happened, but suddenly I remembered everything! This is great! I have to tell Sesshomaru-sama!” She rushed past him, leaving the tiger demon alone to blink stupidly. “Well so much for a hopeful afternoon together…”

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“…and then I remembered how I got here and what happened before Naraku-teme attacked me! He kept asking me for something… I think it was about the Shikon no Tama, but he seemed more concerned with my connection to the well and how I was able to keep the Shikon no Tama without succumbing to its influence.” Sesshomaru nodded as he stared down the open shoji doors to his Study, looking at the bamboo that grew on the side of mountain, in which the House was built and engraved into. “You say this well leads you to the year two-thousand six, where you were born?” He turned a critical eye onto the mortal girl, kneeling on a pillow a few feet from him. “Hai. Without a doubt can I assure you of this.” Sesshomaru nodded and rose fluidly to his feet. “This Sesshomaru is beginning to understand…” Kagome lifted her head. “I’m almost sure of it, he knew that I came from the future. I’m not sure how, but he does.” Sesshomaru watched the girl as she spoke. “He wants the future, that’s why he was so adamant about the Bone Eater’s Well. Why he was so curious about how I was able to hold the Shikon no Tama without its influence of evil over me. I’m the key, and he knows it.” Sesshomaru looked away from her, back out to the tranquil scene of bamboo tree’s and mountain side. “I’m not safe here, Sesshomaru. If he gets me; all he needs if a few moments… He could destroy the future, change history and upset the balance of the universe! I have to go back, you have to take me back!” Sesshomaru snapped his eyes onto her to stop her babbling nonsense. “You are safe within these walls, mortal. However, your capture is impossible while you are under the protection of the House of Moon. If you fear Naraku, then he will be destroyed.” Kagome barely contained the startled gasp and blush of pleasure as the prince lay eyes on her once more. She looked down, unable to stare into those intense orbs of gold. Sesshomaru made his way towards her. “Rise. It is time to continue your training.” Kagome didn’t move. At her hesitance, Sesshomaru opened his mouth. “What are you training me for, anyway? I’m able to defend myself against other human’s, but I…” “Naraku will be destroyed. You will be the one to end his life.” Kagome looked up in surprise to see Sesshomaru, but he wasn’t looking at her, rather outside the shoji doors once more. Kagome smiled and ducked her head with a smile and a blush.

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Kagome cried out in pain as she lurched to the side under the swift, painful and merciless attack of her master. Her blade skittered across the floor as she clutched her bleeding hand to her waist. Sweat ran down the girl’s neck, burning her eyes and irritating the tender skin of her lips. She looked up to see Sesshomaru standing stoically before her. Kai stood behind him with one arm lazily tucked into the fold of his kimono. Kagome slowly fell to her knees, hissing as her thighs quivered and bunched painfully. She relaxed onto them gratefully and slumped forward to pant heavily and dispel the burning pain that ate away at her fingertips. “Rise.” Sesshomaru commanded. “take hold of your weapon and rise.” Kagome glanced up at him with a huff. His eyes narrowed sharply. “Rise, or be punished.” Kagome growled softly and placed her goof hand out before her to rolled half of her weight onto it and rise again. She wobbled for a moment before she bent to pick up her weapon. She turned and took up her stance, no sooner had she done this, did Sesshomaru attack again. She cried out sharply and grunted with each blocked strike, the vibrations ringing down onto her bruised, swollen fingertips and the gash following the web of her thumb and forefinger.

Sesshomaru pulled back after a moment and watched as the girl slumped painfully, but managed to keep her sword out before her. Now, we shall see what she is truly capable of. She is at her limit, will she break under the pressure, or will she grow? Sesshomaru moved forward again, twisting and delivering a solid, powerful strike that Kagome blocked, but couldn’t hold. The flat of her sword smacked her smartly on her temple, rocking her from her feet and onto her side. She grunted in pain as her sword skittered along the wooden floor. Her blood pooled on the polished floor form her hand and now her face. She grunted as she moved her hands under her and pushed her torso from the ground. Pulling her thigh in she managed to rise to her knees before she fell forward onto her elbows.

Kai glanced at Sesshomaru in concern, before looking back at the miko crawling in her own sweat and blood. Sesshomaru moved forward and pointed his blade at her back. “Rise.” Kagome closed her eyes, dropping her pounding forehead to the floor. “I… I can’t…” “You can, you simply refuse to comply.” He dropped the point of his blade onto her back as he walked to her side. The butt of the hilt held the weight of his palm as he held the sword to her back. He pressed down and the tip punctured. The girl gasped at the sharp pain and jerked slightly. Sesshomaru pulled the blade free and placed it onto another spot before pressing down again. Kagome cried out and fell under the impossibly light weight. Sesshomaru caught the blade, having anticipated her movement and frowned. “Rise.” Kagome sobbed and attempted to listen, pushing her hands under her and giving up. Sesshomaru frowned and with his demonic speed, punctured the girl’s back seventeen more times. Kagome bowed under the pain, crying out sharply, pleading with him to stop. Kai opened his mouth when Sesshomaru suddenly used his poison whip to pull the girl to her feet by her throat. Kagome struggled, snarling as the pain of the poisonous whip forced her to use her magic.
Her body suddenly went limp and Sesshomaru frowned. “Woman-.” Kagome’s eyes snapped open, glowing brilliant pink, she flung both her hands out to him, but the demon was faster, even startled. Just as Kagome’s magic tightened and released, Sesshomaru turned into a ball of green energy and zipped out of harms way. Kagome dropped to her feet, her energy already healing her wounds and rejuvenating her abused muscles. Her eyes continued to burn brightly with her own magic as she flung lashing, purifying winds at the youkia as he danced in and out of her sight and senses.

Kai smirked as the woman’s anger steadily rose, spiking higher with her spirits outburst of sudden power. Sesshomaru danced across the dojo floor, his toes barely touching the wooden floor as he wisped in and out of human sight. Kagome followed his movements easily, only a half step behind each of his movements. The energy coursing through her seemed to be directing her as well, for the longer she attacked and the longer he evaded, the easier he became to track down and anticipate.

Her features suddenly became translucent, glowing soft pink from the inside out as she smirked and snapped her wrist gracefully to the side. Sesshomaru at the same instant felt the hair on the back of his neck and arms freeze. He gracefully snapped his poisonous whip, surprised and intensely captivated when the poison snapped tightly around a pink whip that came out of Kagome’s fingertips. “Impossible…” He breathed, tugging back steadily on his end, watching as Kagome’s face contorted in struggle as she continued to hold her ground, neither pulling or giving.

“How are you doing this?” Kagome smirked, lifting her chin and suddenly flicking her right hand, sending an arrow or pink light. Sesshomaru snarled and used his left hand to create another whip, effectively destroying the arrow while snapping at Kagome’s right shoulder. The power-drunk priestess lurched her right shoulder back while holding her ground and flinging three arrows before lowering her arm to lurch and dip once again to evade his second whip, before lifting her hand again and firing six arrows this time. She broke through his defenses and managed a shot on his right shoulder, cracking his concentration and shattering the whip wrapped tightly around hers. Kagome actually giggled as she twirled her arm to lift and snap her own whip into his face and chest, managing to knock him back. Kagome, the moment the battle broke, fell to her knees; sweat rolling down her pale flesh, staining her kimono and drenching her hair. She was panting, her skin pulsating with the painful thud of her heartbeat. Sesshomaru rose from his knee in astonishment, before glancing at Kai. As if it were a signal, Kai shot towards Kagome, managing her catch her before she fell over backwards, resting her shoulders against his inner thigh as he cupped her face, watching as the pink glow faded from her eyes. “Kagome…?” She blinked, the familiar ash colored eyes flickering up to him in question, before the light faded and her eyelids fluttered. If it wasn’t for the heavy, powerful beat of her heart, and the quick, shuddering expansion of her chest and release; he would have thought her dead. “Wow…” He turned to his lord as the demon approached. “She mimicked my Poison Whip. It took a few centuries for me to master it; this priestess mimics it before I, myself could use it.” Kai looked back down in the miko in the cradle of his lap, before removing his hand from her face and sighing. “Take her to my Mother’s Chamber. While this Priestess is within the House of Moon, she will be an Honored Guest. This Priestess, she is connected to the Shikon no Tama, and somehow it has changed her.” Kai looked up at his Lord and Master, and for the first time since the demon lords mother had died, Sesshomaru wore an expression that was soft and concerned. Kai looked away and back down at the miko, still trembling in his arms, sweating and panting as if she’d just ran from the one side of Japan to the other.