InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Spellbound Destiny ❯ Chapter 7: Miko Training ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer:  I don't own Inuyasha.  Takahashi Rumiko is the wonderful creator.  ^_^

Author's Note:  The chant in this chapter I came up with on my own.   The words are made up of the basics of the Japanese language.  When reading my description of Tendo no Mai, think of a cross between ballet and acrobatics using a katana as a prop.  I'm also sorry this chapter is coming out so late.  I had hoped to get it out a lot sooner but work has been giving me more hours and I've been too tired afterward to do too much on the story.  Thanks for all the reviews and I will continue to write as I can.  I will not abandon this story.  Now enjoy the next chapter. ^_^

Pronunciations:
Rymir – Rye*mere
Asotan – Ah*so*tah*n

Spellbound Destiny

Chapter 7: Miko Training

It was three days before Kaede cleared both Sango and Kagome ready for travel.  Sango's back wound no longer needed a poultice, just light bandaging whenever her skin became irritated.  And the affects of the drug had worn off by the morning of the second day?allowing her to regain her full memory.  Kagome's neck was completely healed with only a slight discoloration left from the bruise.

Inuyasha felt relieved and ready to leave.  He chaffed at the idea of staying any longer.  Naraku was out there, planning and scheming and they had to find something that would stop him.  And soon.  He was not putting Kagome at risk again.  Not ever.  He failed once with Kikyou, he would make damn sure he didn't fail again.  He would protect Kagome's life.

Inuyasha sat by the doorway.  His foot tapped and an eyebrow twitched in his mounting frustration.  His arms were folded in his sleeves.  He watch, annoyed, as the three humans readied themselves.  They took forever.  All he needed was a direction.  He didn't need extra clothes, extra food or all the other things his companions insisted they take.

Kaede spoke in quiet undertones to the two women.  Sango looked over her shoulder to Miroku's corner periodically, making sure his hands were in sight and he wasn't creeping closer to her.  Kagome nodded her head in understanding after a point Kaede made.  It was all very domestic.

Inuyasha stood.  “I'll wait for you outside,” he directed to them.  It was his way of making them hurry.  And it work.  Not but five minutes later, his three companions walked out of Kaede's hut, packs slung across their backs and waving their last farewells.  “Which way towards your village, Sango?” he asked a bit impatiently.

Sango looked up to the sky, thinking and calculating.  “It'll take at least two weeks by foot from here, maybe three if there's bad weather.  The village is hidden deep on the southern border of Haedai and Rymir with the Asotan Mountains creating a natural border around the back.”

Inuyasha nodded his understanding.  He wasn't sure how much had changed in the last fifty years but he remembered a hunting path that wasn't used often enough to cause problems.  If it was still there, he'd prefer to use that than a well traversed road to make it to the border.  Once they were at the border, they could move along it in the proper direction to the village.  That way, no one could follow their path without Inuyasha knowing about it.

Of course, the trip would have been a lot shorter had it been just him and Sango.  He could carry her on his back and run at top speed to get them to the village in about half the time.  But he had promised Kagome she could go and the monk would have just tagged along regardless if Inuyasha had given permission or not.  It was not the best of situations but it would do.  He grudgingly acknowledged that he liked the company, if only to himself.

By the time Inuyasha's mind left his thoughts, Aniri was already well behind them and they traveled at a steady pace.  He ignored his three companions' chatter and focused solely on his instincts.  He scented the air.  His ears twitched every few seconds to catch the tiniest noise.  His senses were completely open and filtering their surroundings, looking for anything that might be out of place.  So far, nothing was.  But that could change at a moment's notice.  He wanted to be ready if it did.

In the pauses with her conversation with Sango, Kagome watched Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye.  She didn't want him to notice her.   Even though he seemed preoccupied, it would still be embarrassing to be caught.  He seemed wired for action, as if every nerve ending stood to attention, waiting for something to approach and attack them.  He was very quiet?not bothering to talk to them at all.

They continued like that until the sun began to set.  Inuyasha found a clearing for them and deemed it safe to camp in for the night.  While Sango and Kagome fixed a fire and rolled out the bedrolls, Miroku and Inuyasha hunted for food.  All they needed was meat since Kaede had given them a small pot and a package of vegetables for their first night.  They would salt and wrap up any extra meat for tomorrow's breakfast.

Kagome tried her hardest not to feel hurt by Inuyasha's quiet demeanor.  She busied herself with normal camp chores,  but it was hard.  She had hoped that this trip would open him up a bit more but he was as closed to her as he had been back at the palace.  His total focus on their surroundings ruined any chances for them to talk and get to know each other better.  She was secretly hoping that they could start over, as it were, and become friends.  That seemed highly unlikely with the way things were going.

Kagome looked up as Inuyasha walked back into camp, three rabbits slung over his shoulder.  Miroku was close behind him, empty handed, a dreamy expression across his face.

“There's a hot spring near by if you and Sango want to go after dinner,” Inuyasha commented without looking at her.  That explained Miroku's face.  His fantasies were running wild in his head.  “I'll make sure the bozu doesn't interrupt.”

“Arigatou,” Kagome whispered.  

Her gaze lingered on Inuyasha's form as he bent by the fire and stripped the fur off the rabbits.  She marveled at how beautiful he was.  Not in the way a woman was.  No, not feminine at all.  Even though she could not see the outline of his body, she remembered the feel of it as she had ridden on his back.  The sleek muscles, the strong arms, the long fingers tapered with claws that he held cautiously against her skin?protecting her from their sharp edges.  His long silver hair was so unlike anyone else's she had ever known.  With it's silky texture and gorgeous shine, it almost made her envious.  And those ears.  They were so cute, she wanted to rub them every time she saw them.

Kagome turned away, a blush staining her cheeks.  They weren't married yet.  She should not be thinking like that, not right now, not after just meeting him two weeks ago.  Besides, she might be willing to marry him but nothing said he would keep the contract.  After everything was said and done, he could back out and then where would she be?  Still fantasizing about him, no doubt, unable to touch or experience anything.  

Kagome turned to preparing some of the vegetables for the stew.  She kept her eyes away from Inuyasha and tried to stop her wayward thoughts.  That's when the idea came to her.  “Hey, Sango-chan, tell us about your family.”

Sango looked up from her work, a small smile coming to her face.  “There's just my father, brother and me.  My mother died in child birth with Kohaku.  My father is...was...the leader of our village.  He ran the Taijiya warriors.  Kohaku's first battle was to be at that palace.  He was finally ready to become a full fledged warrior.  I can't believe he's gone.”

Kagome felt for her friend.  She didn't know what she would have done if she watched her brother die before her eyes, helpless to stop it.  As it was, Souta had escaped along with her and their mother.  If not for their father's sacrifice, they would have died that night.  “Tell me what he was like.”

Sango smiled wistfully, placing the cut vegetables she had in the pot.  “He was kind and caring.  Almost too kind for our type of life.  He never liked hurting creatures.  He was nervous about his first battle, scared and afraid he wouldn't be able to do it.  He practiced hard everyday and wanted to make our father proud.”

“A good kid.”

“Very.”  Sango wiped tears from her eyes.  Somehow, though, the pain didn't hurt as much now.  It felt good to talk about her brother.  “My father was a commanding man.  He was strict but gave us a kind hand in our training.  He made sure we had everything we needed.”

“He never remarried?”

“No.  Mother was the love of his life.  There was no other woman who could capture his heart.  He devoted the rest of his life to us and the village.”

“A good man,” Miroku commented for the first time since they had arrived at camp.

Sango stilled and looked over to him, watching his hands closely.  “Hai.  Not like someone I know.”

Kagome smiled secretively.  For all their banter, Sango and Miroku made a cute couple.  She periodically stirred the pot as the two talked quietly across from her.  She wished them well.  They each deserved to have someone to love and cherish.  

Kagome turned her attention back to Inuyasha.  He sat, the rabbits already cut into small bite sized pieces and placed in the pot, with the furs next to him.  He tied them to a stick and placed them against a tree.  She assumed he would be drying them out to use for something later.  Now if only he could be as open as the other couple, they could actually get somewhere whenever they talked instead of always fighting?or in some cases just ignoring each other.

Kagome caught bits and pieces of what Sango and Miroku talked about together as she poured the stew into bowls and sat back to enjoy the food.  She liked the fact she didn't need to talk, to provided the “entertainment” and could just sit back and enjoy the company.  The atmosphere was actually quite pleasant with her two friends fighting and then whispering after Miroku's hand would strayed.  It was then that she began to feel strange.  Almost like when Midoriko came to her the first time but the difference was that she was awake and the voice didn't echo inside her head.  The dream world did not appear before her.  It made her feel like she needed to leave?needed to be alone.

Kagome stood and placed her empty bowl on the ground next to the pot and the dead fire.  “I'm going to go to the hot springs,” she commented nonchalantly.  She turned and left in the general direction Inuyasha had entered the camp in. not even waiting for a reply or instructions from the men.

She walked blindly at first, not really knowing which way to go, then let her own senses guide her.  She came to a clearing where she could barely make out the rushing of water.  It was a tranquil place, full of peace and perfect for...whatever she had come to do.

Kagome closed her eyes and stilled her breathing to an even, slow pace.  Her mind became quiet, the sounds of the forest beating a tattoo like a heart beat within her soul.  A figure began to form in front of her.  It was like a ghost at first, glowing a slight pink.  Then it took on a more solid form.

Kagome opened her eyes to look at the figure of Midoriko.  She appeared the same as in Kagome's mind but Midoriko's body was partly transparent and seemed to float slightly off the ground, never quite touching.

Midoriko smiled at her.  “Good job.”

“How...?”  Kagome was stunned into silence.

“I made you become aware of some of your powers and through your help, am able to materialize here in the mortal plane.  It is time that I begin your training.”

“I don't have the weapons yet.”

“That's okay.  The first lesson you need to learn is how to feel your powers and how to connect to them.  Since you have embarked on this journey to the Taijiya village, I thought it best to get started early in case you come into any trouble.  This first step would have had to be taken anyway before we focused on the weapons.  You need to know the fundamentals of how your powers work.  Once I give you the basic lesson, you can practice anywhere and then we will move to other techniques.”

Kagome nodded swiftly.  She watched Midoriko relax her body and clasp her hands in front of her with her index fingers and thumbs pointing up at the sky.  “When you first start to connect with your powers, it's helpful to find a relaxing body position.  It does not have to be the same one as mine, just anything that helps you to relax and focus.”

Kagome thought for a minute then took a deep breath and sat on the ground, legs crossed and hands held on each knee with her palms facing up.  She had seen some monks who traveled through Linmere meditate like that and had copied them a few times in her own meditation.  It spoke to her of calmness, of relaxation and peace.

“Wonderful.  The next step is a chant.  The words don't mean anything; it's the sound and inflection of your voice that helps center you and keep you within your own self.  Do whatever you feel is comfortable for you: close your eyes or leave them open, breathe normally or in a special rhythm.  It's all up to you.”

Kagome nodded and closed her eyes?an easier way for her to concentrate.  She controlled her breathing into a steady rhythm, in through her nose and out through her mouth.  Midoriko continued, speaking the chant with heavy inflections on the ends of all the words.  “Rima, shoto, kina, bebo, hame, nito, jine, shuri, muke, tsute.”

Kagome repeated the chant the same way Midoriko had spoken it several times to get use to it.  She slowly became aware that her inner focus sharpened.  She saw several streamers of light behind her closed eyes and felt power surging through them and into her soul.  She grasped the power and let it flow through her whole body.  A light pink glow suffused her skin.

“Excellent,” Midoriko said.  “Feel that power, get use to it, then let it go and call it back.  The more you let it go and call it back, the easier it will be when you have to use it in a battle.  Let the power shimmer just under your skin, always there and always ready, waiting to be called on.”

Kagome did as Midoriko directed.  She felt the power wane and called it back several times.  Her skin glowed light pink and dimmed again to her natural tone.  It flashed each time she called her power to her: pink then natural then back to pink until it built up inside her.  She felt a tingling in her fingertips.  All she wanted to do was release the pressure that was building up.  Without thought, she directed her right hand up and out away from her body.  She allowed the power to flow out of her into a tree in a steady stream of pink light.

Midoriko looked on, amazed.  “Very good.  No one's been able to harness their power so quickly.  To be able to shoot a bolt on the first calling is amazing.  You learn quick.”

Kagome let the power dissipate and calmed her nerves.  Her heart had sped up when her power surged and her eyes had opened wide.  The feel of her power also startled her.  It didn't feel wrong or bad but it didn't feel good.  It was...justice...in a way.  That's what it felt like.  Justice.  Divine power, divine justice.  It was her right to call forth that power and deal the true justice bestowed upon her to those that were evil.

“What an odd feeling,” Kagome remarked.  The power left her abruptly only to come back to simmer just beneath the surface of her skin.

“It will take time to get use to it.  Most people believe that the miko were created to deal punishment to youkai that harmed humans.  It is a great power, one that—just like any power—can corrupt if it is used improperly or for one's own selfish needs.”

Kagome understood what she meant.  It was glorious to feel as if she were invincible, able to control the fates at the mere flick of her fingers.  Anyone with a weak will would be over taken by that power.  She, however, was much stronger than that.  Her power would not take her over?not without some sort of outside help.

“Your first lesson is over.  You now have the skills to call your power at will.  Keep practicing and if ever there is a time when you feel as if your life is in danger, do not hesitate to use it.”

“Hai.  I will remember everything you have taught me.”  Kagome stood, the new found knowledge trapped in her mind forever.  There was no way she would ever forget.  “Arigatou,” Kagome said while she bowed respectfully to Midoriko.  

Midoriko bowed back in return and smiled adoringly.  “Your welcome.  It's an honor to watch over you and help you grow.  I'll always be inside you whenever you have need of me.  Try on your own to create your inner self and your special place.  Then you can call on me inside your mind whenever you need to.”

In the blink of an eye, Midoriko's transparent floating body disappeared, her words still echoing inside Kagome.  Kagome turned towards the sound of the water and made her way to the hot springs, mentally and physically exhausted.  It would be nice to take a quick dip.

She was just entering the pool of water when Sango came through the bushes.  “I thought you would be almost done by now,” Sango said with a start.

Kagome smiled at her.  “I left because I needed to be alone for a little while before I made my way here.  You can join me now if you'd like.”

Sango disrobed and entered the pool, sinking down to allow the water to lap at her shoulders.  Kagome rested against a rock and gazed at the older girl.  “I'm here if you need to talk about anything.  I know this must be hard, not knowing if what Naraku said about your village is true or not.”

“Arigatou.  I've been trained to be strong, to not let my feelings get in the way but sometimes, especially at night, I cannot stop the fear that creeps up on me.  How did you do it, Kagome-chan?  How did you stay in control after Naraku attacked your home?”

Kagome looked up at the dark sky.  She found the moon and watched it as it slowly moved towards the middle.  Her emotions took her back to the darkest time in her life.  Tears welled and wanted to fall but she refused to allow them control over her.  The pain would always be with her but she could live again.    

“It was hard,” Kagome began.  “I couldn't tell my mother that I felt everything that went on in our palace.  My powers are so strong that even then, I could feel every youkai that was nearby.  I think it was because we had to run, had to hide, that I was able to leave behind some of those dark emotions.  I mourned my father's death silently, in private, whenever I had a moment to myself.  It took a while—a few years—before I was able to come out of my shell and find the joy of life again.  I helped my brother through his darker moments and, eventually, we all healed enough to move on.”

Kagome paused to take a deep breath.  Some of her old memories swelled and tried to take over, to put her back in the dark corner of her soul she did not want to be in again.  She would not let them.  Many years had passed and things were different now.  She had no need of that place anymore.  

“During that first year, my mother put on a mask when in front of others but once back in her own home, she cried herself to sleep.  There were times when I hated the creatures who attacked us, cursed them in my head and wished them all to the deepest part of hell.  But, Sango-chan, that is not a place for you to go right now because of what-ifs.  Wait until we get to your village to mourn its loss if it is destroyed.  Let yourself be carried away by your emotions for a while but only then.  Tearing yourself up over what might be will not help you.”

Sango looked at Kagome with new eyes.  Kagome's words rang with a wisdom well beyond her years and the emotions that ran across her face were heart breaking to see.  Sango wasn't sure she would have been able to stay sane had she had Kagome's powers and the feelings of the youkai that had attacked running around in her head.  Not with untrained powers and at such a young age.  “Hai, you're right.  I'll try not to think about the what-ifs.”

Kagome smiled.  “Good.  I don't want to see your fears take over.  It's not a nice place to be in.”

Kagome dunked her head under the water to fully wet her hair and came back up when her lungs needed air.  Sango handed her a small bar of soap.  Kagome looked at it strangely.  Sango laughed.  “It's something my village created.  We have a special skin darkening cream that prevents youkai from catching our scent and hides us in the dark.  It's really hard to get off our skin so we designed something that helped.  It's also great for regular bathing.”

Kagome took the bar in her hand and brought it to her nose.  It smelled like azaleas.  She dipped it into the water and then began to bathe herself like she usually did.  The soap created small lathered bubbles.  When she was done with herself, she gave it to Sango, marveling at the soft feel on her skin and the hint of azaleas coming from it.

When Sango was finished with her own bathing, the two women dressed and headed back to camp to sleep for the night.  Kagome didn't tell anyone about her training with Midoriko and Inuyasha didn't bother to talk to her?yet again.  She curled up on her bedroll and fell asleep, exhausted from the day's events.

O o O o O o O o O

Blackness greeted Naraku's red eyes as he opened them after a deep meditation, the candles all burned out.  It was time.  He finally came up with a plan after a week and a half of contemplation.  It wasn't what he had hoped for but it would do.  He needed practice, though, before he tried to take Kagome.

Naraku stood up and called out to his surroundings, finding and commanding all the youkai near him to come to him.  They would be his test subjects.  If he couldn't keep control of his body while mind controlling the youkai, then he would have to pull outside help.  That was something he did not wish to do.   

The first youkai to heed his call was a small bear child.  Naraku chained it to the floor and sat back at a distance perfect for watching without being in the direct line of its claws or teeth.  He started the process slow, working through his own mental locks to access the power that usually took him over.  It sat caged in his mind, biting at the bit to be free.  He released it.

Naraku's body relaxed visibly and the power shimmered in his eyes, darkening them to a deeper burgundy.  He directed his focus onto the bear child's small mind, staring straight into his eyes.  He felt himself leave his own mind, shift through  the air and into the mind of the bear child.  Its mind was very simple.  His likes and dislikes were on the surface and his instincts were all that took over the youkai child's thoughts when in danger.  

Soon, Naraku had the youkai child's mind mapped out completely.  Now all he had to do was take the last step to controlling its mind at the same time as he controlled his own body.  Steeling himself for the ramifications, Naraku took the plunge and made the youkai child struggle against his bonds.  At the same time, Naraku let a small part of himself float back into his body and tried to move.  It didn't work.

Naraku found himself slammed back into his own body with a jolt and lost his hold on the bear child.  His breathing was labored and sweat dripped down his back.  He cursed.  How was he going to make it work?  The answer eluded him.

O o O o O o O o O

The first week was uneventful for the group of four traveling to the Taijiya village.  Kagome found time each night to practice her power calling until it became second nature to her.  She could call it at will at any time without the aid of the chant or the relaxation pose.

When they reached the last village before the hunting trail, Kagome bought her weapons.  The katana was wrapped in cloth with a strap that allowed it to rest along side her shoulder pack while the quiver filled with arrows and the long bow were strapped to her back like any normal archer's gear would be.

Inuyasha stayed mainly silent and focused on everything but Kagome, as usual, and only commented when Miroku let his hands wander.  Kagome found her gaze moving to him every chance she could to stare at him without being noticed.  She couldn't explain it.  She was drawn to him.

“So, were are we camping tonight?” Miroku commented to the air.  Kagome shook herself out of her thoughts, looking to Inuyasha for direction.

Inuyasha turned to face the sky, calculating how much day light they had left.  “We'll walk for another two hours before stopping.  There's a camp that's hidden from the path we can use.”

Miroku nodded and went back to chatting with Sango.  Kagome stayed in her own little world?partially listening to Sango and Miroku.  She missed the beautiful sunset and the fact that Inuyasha had turned his attention to her.  In the last week, Inuyasha noticed a change in Kagome.  He was puzzled by it.  He didn't know what it was, couldn't put his finger on it.

He watched a slight breeze pick up tendrils of Kagome's loose hair; watched the graceful way her hand came up to tuck it behind an ear and how her face lit with laughter at some joke Miroku made.  Her attention seemed divided.  Her deep chocolate eyes were slightly clouded.  Her lips?perfectly plump and shaped for kissing?glistened as she licked them to moisten them.  She turned her head away and gazed out at the forest, that clouded far away look growing stronger in her eyes.  Something was definitely different about her.  He only wished he knew what it was.

“We're here,” Inuyasha said as he shoved his thoughts to the back of his mind.  He needed to check the perimeter of the camp to make sure no one had been there recently.  He also needed to hunt for dinner and make sure that they were safe from anyone who might stumble upon them later.  He needed to focus, not fantasize about Kagome's lips kissing him or her gentle hands caressing his chest.

Inuyasha shook his head.  “Miroku, stay with the women.  I'll be back after I check out the area.”

The three humans watched Inuyasha walk away broodingly, not evening waiting for a response.  “What's up with him?”

Kagome looked puzzled.  Sango shook her head.  “I don't know.”

Miroku shrugged and began to work on preparing a fire.  Sango cleared three spots close to where the fire would be for them to place their bedrolls.  Sango made sure her bedroll was close to Kagome's and Miroku's spot was across from them.  She did not need to be awakened in the middle of the night by wandering hands.

Kagome kept to herself during her chores.  She explored the new found feelings her powers gave her.  They were amazing.  She had tried many times over the past week to make her own inner self and a secret place but so far she couldn't hold the image in her mind.  She could create it but it would start to disappear within a few minutes.

Kagome looked up at her two busy companions.  She felt somewhat guilty for not telling them about her powers but they were so new to her, she wanted to explore them herself before she was bombarded with questions about what she could and couldn't do.

She kept trying to create her inner self as she took off the bow and quiver and unpacked her katana.  As her fingers gracefully caressed the hilt, a whisper came to her.  The whisper was exactly like how Midoriko called her that first time.  Her time to train again had come.

Kagome stood and placed the katana on her hip, strapped there by the ties on her miko robes.  She had been given a set by Kaede and changed into them when her kimono became too restricting for their forest travel.  The whisper grew louder, not distinct words but that same feeling of wanting to be alone.

“I'm going to go out to the forest for a little while.  I wont be far.”

Sango looked up in startlement.  “Shouldn't you wait for Inuyasha to come back to say it's safe?”

“I can't wait that long.  He'll be able to track me and like I said, I'm not going far,” Kagome threw over her shoulder as she            walked passed the two stunned humans and entered the forest.  She followed an invisible path out to a secluded clearing.  She breathed in deeply of the fresh clean air and listened to the chorus the crickets made.  The sun had been down for the last hour and the moon slowly crept up over the tree line—a sliver missing from its full form.  It gave off enough light that she didn't need any torches or a fire to light the clearing.

Kagome closed her eyes and drew up the image of Midoriko.  A pink glow suffused the clearing and Midoriko's partially transparent floating figure appeared.  “Very good.  Your getting much better at this.”

Kagome smiled.  “Arigatou.  It's getting easier when I know what you feel like and can make the distinction between my power and what's left of yours.”

Midoriko glanced at the katana that rested at Kagome's side.  “I see you have your katana.  That's good.  I called to you so we can start your lessons with it.  I will show you the intricate moves Tendo no Mai uses.  I cannot physically touch you since my true physical form is no longer here but I'm hoping you'll be able study the moves just by watching.”

Midoriko paused to make sure Kagome understood what she wanted her to do.  “Now, Tendo no Mai is very much like a dance.  The moves were derived from an old dance form brought here from one of the countries that no longer exists.  Instead of using something like a fan or the bells, a katana is the only prop and is incorporated as a weapon.”  

Midoriko drew her katana without a sound.  She held the katana out at her side, the tip pointing down yet not touching the ground.  She slowly made an arch up until the katana was above her head then brought it down in front of her, her hand held level with the middle of her neck just.  She brought up her other hand in an arch that mirrored the other and gripped the hilt with both hands.

Kagome watched as Midoriko moved, her katana an extension of her body.  She was in awe of Midoriko.  She twirled and contorted her body with such grace and agility?it was amazing.  Each move had a specific purpose: to stab, to slash, to hit, to maim, to hold.  It was truly a dance, an art and a weapon.

Midoriko twirled again, bringing her katana up and over head head.  She ended the twirl in a lunge as she stabbed at an invisible enemy.  She turned the stab into a slash as she moved backwards out of the way of an invisible attack.  Then she brought her arms in close to her body, her katana wavering like a snake to keep an enemy away?a masterful illusion.

Suddenly, Midoriko twirled out to the right, then to the left, her katana flashing a silver pink glow each time it left her side and stabbed out at an invisible enemy.  She ended the motion by standing still, her feet together and her legs bent slightly, twirling the katana up over her head.  She moved quickly forward after catching it to decapitate her invisible enemy.

Midoriko sheathed her katana, her demonstration done.  Kagome stood up, awe struck?she had sat down to study the moves when Midoriko started.  “That was amazing.”

“It is very impressive.  After you have mastered the form, you can modify it to fit your needs.  I'll got through it again slower so you can see every little movement I make.”

Kagome sat back down on her rock and watched as Midoriko went through the same moves but slower.  She saw every minute detail, ingraining it into her mind.  If Midoriko was still alive, Kagome was sure she would have seen each muscle move and each breath Midoriko took.  When Midoriko stopped and sheathed her katana again, Kagome stood.  “Let me try it.”

Kagome moved away from the rocks and took up the first position, letting her hand get use to the weight of the katana.  She started slowly, copying what she had seen.  She allowed her body time to get use to the way she needed to move and contort, feeling odd muscles that she never used before stretch and strain.  Midoriko gave her advice, letting her know when her arms needed to be held closer to her body, when she needed to move a few seconds faster, how she needed to hold her body to move into the next position.

That's how Inuyasha found them.  When Sango and Miroku had told him she had just left camp, without saying why or how long she would be, his first feeling was anger then he had gotten worried.  He could smell her trail and she hadn't gotten far but there was something he felt in the air around her scent that was off.

“Very good.  Tilt you arm a little bit more to the left.  That's it.  Now move you right foot forward then over to the right,” Midoriko directed.  She moved her hands over Kagome's body without touching, directing where she needed to place her limbs.

Inuyasha watched the two women move there bodies in a way he had never seen before.  He was entranced.  He felt himself lean against a tree as he watched without meaning to, unable to look away.  His anger abated and his worry disappeared.  It was beautiful?Kagome's body and the strange dance.  It was an art and a practical way to move offensively and defensively.  A way to protect one's body while attacking at the same time.  The moves were graceful and sleek and, he admitted to himself, seductive?that is, if you weren't the one facing the attack.

Inuyasha became distracted, forgetting about the katana moves and just watced Kagome's body.  As she worked, repeating the same moves over and over, sweat dampened her miko robes.  They adhered to her body, making every line and shape visible to his golden eyes.  Her breasts swayed and he wanted to touch them, mold them to his hands and tweak her nipples.  He wanted his lips on her own and his hands wrapped up in her sweat slicked hair.  He wanted her out of breath because he was tormenting her body in the most delicious way, not because of some long lost fighting technique.

Inuyasha turned away before his fantasies took over and he moved to fulfill them.  He curled his fingers into his palms, letting the tips of his claws prick his skin.  The pain helped him to keep his wits.

“You did very well, Kagome.  You have the moves now.  Next time, we'll try to infuse your katana with your powers.  For now, just practice as you can.”

“Hai.  I'll try.”

“Just don't overwork yourself,” Midoriko threw to her as her figure faded away.  Kagome sheathed her katana and yawned.

“So this is where you've been,” Inuyasha said loudly.  His unexpected nearness made Kagome jump slightly at the sound of his voice.

“Inuyasha, what are you doing here?”  Kagome placed a hand over her racing heart.  Guilt crept up on her for not telling him were she was going but she quickly squashed it.

“Finding you.  You left camp and made Sango and Miroku worried.”

Kagome blinked uncomprehendingly.  She figured Sango and Miroku were worried about her due to her sudden rush from camp.  But was Inuyasha worried as well?  Was that why he went to find her?  “Were you worried too?”

“Keh.  Why would I be worried?” Inuyasha retorted.  He looked anywhere but at her to hide his true feelings.  Of course he was worried, but he didn't want her to know that.  “I just came so Sango and Miroku wouldn't keep bothering me about it.”

Kagome paled, saddened and hurt by the news.  Instead of giving into the temptation to let them bring down her mood, she looked to anger to mask her other emotions.  It was irrational of her but she couldn't think of anything else to do.  “You didn't have to come yourself, you know.  Sango and Miroku could have fond me themselves without trouble.”

Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head at her angered voice.  His sensitive ears didn't like her tone.  “Keh.  And what were you doing?  Why did you disappear to go out and...and do that?”  Inuyasha gestured wildly to the clearing.  He gave her back his own anger.  Let's see how she liked that!

“It's training.  I need to do it.”

“Why didn't you tell any of us?”

“Because!  It's none of your business!”  Kagome's voice rose but she held back at the last minute from shouting at the top of her lungs.  Instead, she yelled in an angry whisper at him.  She didn't realize that she threw Inuyasha's own words from the start of their trip right back at him.  Her emotions clogged her mind and she turned away from him, unable to think clearly.  She balled her fists by her sides and stalked out of the clearing.

“Keh,” she heard Inuyasha huff as he walked behind her.  He watched Kagome's back and gazed half admiringly as her hips swayed in anger.  

It is my business.  You are my business, Inuyasha thought.  It was too embarrassing voice aloud but he could admit it to himself.  And the thought of her hurt only added to his already short temper.  She could have been attacked by a stray youkai or bandits or tripped over some hidden root and broken a leg.  The thought of her injured was something he never wanted to think about.  The question of why he cared never popped into his mind.

Kagome felt her anger grow with each step.  It insulated her heart from the many other emotions that wanted to take her on a tumultuous ride.  She didn't understand what she felt anymore.  It was quite ridiculous, actually.  Kagome sighed and allowed her anger to loosen its hold on her, slowing her stride half way back to camp.  

To stop herself from feeling anything hurtful, she allowed her anger to grow out of proportion to the point where she snapped back at Inuyasha?doing the same thing she wished for him to stop.  It was so unlike her.  It did anger her that Inuyasha couldn't even be the tiniest bit nicer to her after so many days spent in each others company.  And for the life of her, she didn't know how to bridge the gap he set between them.  Didn't know how to make him trust her, to open up to her.  But that wasn't a reason for her to become so angry at him.  It wasn't his fault.

And he did have the right to be mad at her?this time.  She hadn't told anyone why she left or what she'd been doing every night.  There were some serious dangers out in the forest.  Anything could have happened to her without anyone the wiser.  Guilt and remorse crept up on her.  She wanted to tell him she was sorry but one glace back at him told her he would not accept it.  Not right now.  He was still too furious with her.

Upon entering the camp, Kagome felt both mentally and physically exhausted as she let the last bit of her anger die. Unable to give voice to the many things she felt, she quietly walked over to her bedroll and lay down, her back towards her three companions.  She didn't have the energy to face them and their many questions.  

Sango and Miroku looked at each other in bewilderment.  Neither were sure what had gone on between their two friends.  With a shrug, they finished their meal in silence.  And when Sango left the campfire to go to her own bedroll, she swore she heard Kagome murmur baka.  But whether Kagome was commenting on herself or on Inuyasha, Sango couldn't tell.

It only took an hour before Kagome realized that no matter how tired she was, she was not going to sleep.  She tossed and turned, her thoughts keeping her awake.  All the emotions from earlier came rushing back.  Too many for her to take in all at once.  But one thought and feeling pervaded her heart and mind.  She wanted Inuyasha's love.  She looked back on the fond memories of her parents when her father was alive and knew she wanted that with Inuyasha.  It was strong, much stronger than before she met Inuyasha.

The thought startled Kagome.  She sat up in her bedroll, the cool air stinging her warm arms.  Love.  She wanted love but not just from anyone, she wanted Inuyasha's love.  When had she wanted his love with such a vengeance?  She didn't know.  But it was indeed what she wanted.

Was it because she liked him?  For all his gruff and grump ways, Inuyasha was pursuing his own kind of justice for the woman he loved fifty years ago.  He would not admit it but it was an honorable thing to do.  And for all the times people have hated him or called him names because he was a hanyou, he didn't hold a grudge against all humans or youkai?just the ones who bad mouthed him.  Yes, she did like him.  She just didn't understand him.

Kagome felt a resolve build deep inside her.  From that moment on, she would make it her personal mission to get Inuyasha to open up to her.  One way or another, before they were married, they would at least talk without fighting.  She hoped there could be more but for now, talking would be good.  Maybe, during this trip, she could get Sango and Miroku to leave them alone for a little while?  It would certainly help.  They hadn't been alone since they met.

Kagome lay back down, a smile on her face and oblivious to the two golden eyes that watched her from the top of a tree.  Inuyasha sat back on his branch, content for now.  He wondered why Kagome hadn't told them about her nightly training with Midoriko.  Did she not trust them enough?  It was grating to feel that she did not place her trust in him.  After all he was a hanyou.  Why would she tell him something so personal and ask him to watch out for her when she could have a normal human or a full youkai be her body guard?

And Kikyou hadn't trusted him enough to tell him what Naraku had done to her either.  Why would Kagome, a girl he'd known for only a few short weeks, tell him her every secret when the woman he loved for far longer hadn't?  How could he get her to trust him enough to let him protect her?

The thoughts circled his mind until he could no longer deal with them.  With a shake of his head, he bounded down from the tree to walk along the perimeter of their camp one last time before he let sleep take over.
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