InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Battle of Heart and Land ❯ Training ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: Thanks guys :)

-MissKatt

Disclaimer: All things Inuyasha are copyrighted to Rumiko Takahashi!

The Battle of Heart and Land

By MissKatt

Chapter Six: Training

She rubbed her head and looked to see what she had tripped over. Long behold it was one of the people tormenting her mind at the moment.

“Do you still fail to see?” His voice was silky and smooth, not rough like his half sibling.

Kagome furrowed her brows at the dark lord in front of her. He was leaning on the ledge of the second story railing. She had failed to notice that she had gotten as far the second story. She also didn't take note that one side of the second story was open the outside, lined with a stone half wall.

“Did you lose your voice as well?” Sesshoumaru questioned, peering down at her over his shoulder.

“N-no! I was just thinking!” She said, suddenly finding her words.

“Do you often think after falling?” His tone was smug, almost amused by her pain. Ugh, lately he seemed to always have a way to make her feel stupid.

“You're mean. Do you know that?” Kagome asked, crossing her arms over her chest. He stared at her briefly before the corner of his mouth twitched up into a very small smile.

“Yes, I do,” He replied. “The question is: do you know you are still sitting on the ground?” She flushed and sighed before picking herself off the ground. She stood up and brushed her thin, silk robe off.

“Well thanks for the help!” She said sarcastically, putting her hands on her hips.

“I reminded you, did I not?” He lifted a brow at her and she sighed in exasperation. The two fell into silence and she fidgeted awkwardly. Should she bring up what happened on the field? She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and saw that he had turned his attention back to the outside world. The moonlight hit him perfectly, making his silver hair glow with its natural beauty. He tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear and saw his injured hand.

“What happened to your hand?” She asked, staring at it. He brought his hand down and took a glimpse of it before resting it back on the stone wall.

“You,” He said curtly. “Do you not recall?” She paled a little. She did that to Sesshoumaru? Is that what happened when she held up her hand in defense? Regret began to nag at her.

“Oh, I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru,” She said earnestly. She didn't mean to hurt him; she just wanted him to stop hurting her. “Will you be okay?”

“It will be gone by the morning. It will take more than that to truly harm me.” He remarked coolly, eyes still staring out at his land.

“Oh, well that's good then.” She said, feeling awkward. Of course she didn't hurt him! He was Sesshoumaru after all. “Hey,” She blurted out suddenly, causing him to glance in her direction. “Why…why did you attack me?” She asked, feeling suddenly nervous to question him. She couldn't forget that even though he cared for Rin, it didn't mean he wasn't the killing perfection anymore.

“I was asked to do so,” Sesshoumaru replied and looked back to the night sky. He really did not need to explain himself to the female, but he found no harm in doing so.

“Oh,” Was all she said, not quite knowing what to say. The only person who he would possibly take orders from is Inukimi. Hmm, what was she to think of that? “Well, thanks I guess. I mean despite my body hurting everywhere, I gained some new tricks.” When he didn't respond she felt the awkwardness sink in again. He wasn't much for words, was he? “Alright, then I suppose I'll see you around.” She then turned and began to walk towards her room.

“Tomorrow you will be taught the skill of the sword.” He informed her. She turned around to say something, but he was already gone. She sighed and then walked to her room. She slid opened the wooden doors and walked in, closing the doors behind her.

“Oh!” She said out loud, surprised by the steaming bowl on the little table by the balcony doors. She walked over and saw a note by the bowl. Reading the ancient kanji was something she was still getting used to, so it took her awhile to read it.

Kagome-sama,

I thought you may be hungry. You seemed troubled earlier and food can always help. Enjoy and feel better.

-Yune

“Yune-san,” Kagome said softly and smiled. She kneeled down at the table and placed the note down. She picked up the bowl and breathed in the heavenly smell. She didn't know what was in it, but it reminded her of a miso soup. She tested it with a sip and felt the warmth spread through her. It was delicious! She quickly scarfed it down, not realizing how hungry she truly was. She plopped down on her cloud-like bed afterwards and enjoyed the familiar comfort of it.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

“Kagome-sama!” Kagome felt herself being shaken violently. “Geez! You are harder to wake up than Jaken-sama!”

“Rin-chan, do I really have to get up?” She groaned and was met with the girl's laugh.

“Yes! You are to start training today! Yune-san brought us food. I thought I would eat breakfast with you this morning.” She said, beaming at the half-asleep Kagome. The older girl smiled. She couldn't let the teenager down, especially since she hadn't seen her in such a long time. Kagome sat up in bed and was very surprised to find she wasn't sore at all anymore. “Here, Kagome-sama.” Rin held up Kagome's clothes, which were pretty much the same as yesterday, and the miko took them from her and dressed. The two then sat down at the table and began to eat their breakfast while chatting.

“So, Rin-chan, any boys around here that you like?” She asked and laughed as the little girl's face tensed and turned bright red.

“N-no! Why would ask, Kagome-sama?” The girl then started to stuff her face to try to hide her face from Kagome.

“Rin-chan, it's okay! You're fourteen! You're supposed to find boys cute at this age!” Kagome said with a smile. She remembered back to when she first came through the Bone Eater's Well. She had been fifteen and had her whole life had turned upside down. Demons, death, pain, heart ache. She had been through a lot more than she thought fifteen year olds should go through. But she had also had her first love; then lost it. She had made a bunch of new friends; would she lose them too? Could she adapt back to her friends in Tokyo? None of her friends in her time could ever imagine what she had been through.

“I know, Kagome-sama, but it is not that easy,” Rin said softly and looked down at her hands, finding her chopsticks very interesting all of a sudden. Kagome lowered her bowl and looked at the girl questioningly. Rin sighed and continued on, eyes still down. “Who would want to take a wife whom is daughter to the Prince of the Western Lands?”

Kagome suddenly understood. Human males were probably terrified of Sesshoumaru, even the ones who served under him. To them, Rin carried a lot of baggage. How could they ever measure up to an inuyoukai's expectations? “What happened to you and Kohaku? You two always made a cute couple.” Rin flushed.

“I do not know, Kagome-sama,” The girl looked up, suddenly looking a lot more mature that Kagome remembered. Her eyes were lidded with sadness, shoulders drooped slightly. “I have not heard word from him in a while.”

“He will come around, Rin-chan, I'm sure of it. I remember how much he used to admire you.” The miko said, trying to be optimistic for the younger girl. To be honest, she hadn't heard from Kohaku in the past two years. He came around when his nieces and nephew were born, but then he was gone.

“I hope so, Kagome-sama,” She breathed and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them, all sadness gone from her face. “Anyways, let us get you ready!” The teenager moved behind Kagome and began to brush her hair. She tied it up into a ponytail and then stood. “If you are ready?” She asked and opened the doors.

“I suppose. Although, I'm not sore today like I thought I would be,” Kagome said, following the girl down the hall. She tested her arms, raising them up and down, and moving her head from right to left. Nothing was tense or knotted.

“Yes, Yune-san added some herbs to your soup to help with that.” Rin commented and smiled up at the priestess.

“Oh, that would explain it. I feel much better.” Kagome smiled back down at her and then sighed when they reached a different set of double doors. “We're not training outside?” She questioned.

“No, Inukimi had the training field cleared for today so she could push Inuyasha-sama to his limit. Well, that is what she said at least.” She replied and opened up the doors. “Ah, you are here already, Sesshoumaru-sama!” Kagome looked around the room. It was a very large dojo. She had never really seen one in person except for in Tokyo when she would take her little brother to karate class. This was three times as big. She then looked at Sesshoumaru who was standing by the wall of lined wooden swords; bokkens, she remembered they were called. He was wearing simple black hakama, like hers, that were tucked into his normal boots. His kimono top was white, with its usual blue flower patter around the neck, and sleeves that reached just below his elbows, showing off the two magenta stripes on each of his wrists. As he had said, his hand had healed perfectly.

Sesshoumaru glanced over at the two females as they walked in. “You are late.” Rin pursed her lips together in a pout.

“Gomen, Sesshoumaru-sama, we had breakfast together. Do not be angry.” She continued to pout and Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and turned his head away. Damn this human child. How did she do that? How did she succeed in making him feel guilty for them being late?

“You are excused. Rin, Jaken is looking for you.” He replied.

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!” She said cheerfully and skipped out of the room, closing the doors behind her. Kagome looked around for a minute in silence, trying not to focus on how different, a good different, Sesshoumaru looked. He looked more at ease without his pelt or amour. He glanced at her again.

“Shall we begin?” He asked and took two of the bokkens off the wall.

“W-wait a minute. YOU are my sensei?” She couldn't believe it. After he had kicked her ass yesterday, he was going to kick her ass again today?! She couldn't suppress the groan that escaped from her lips.

“No whining.” He said shortly and handed her the bokken. She grabbed it awkwardly, never actually handling a sword before. “No, like this.” He scolded and held his own bokken in front of her, showing her where to place her hands.

“Like this?” She asked, trying to place her hands how his were. It didn't help that her hands were smaller than his. When he nodded, she looked down at the wooden blade. She nervously raised her blue eyes to him, afraid to ask. “Now what?” He stood there looking at her with a raised brow.

“Attack me.” He said as if it were the most obviously thing to do.

“What?” She asked, mildly shocked. She didn't know how to begin to attack with a sword! Was he really just going to show her how hold it and that was it?

“Attack.” He repeated coolly. His golden eyes were focused on her, watching her inner turmoil so clearly displayed on her face. Was it really so hard to swing the bokken? Perhaps she really was weak.

“Uh, okay…here I come,” She said awkwardly and jogged over to him. She paused when he got in front of him, raised the bokken, and poked him in the shoulder with it. “Hyah..?” He merely raised his brow at her.

“Do not insult me. Surely you have seen Inuyasha fight. Charge fast and swing hard.” He could not believe how utterly pathetic that was. She had not even tried to harm him. Was she trying to be amusing?

“I wasn't sure…” She offered lamely, biting her lip. She probably just seemed super lame in front of Sesshoumaru. She mentally kicked herself. `Greeeaaaat way to show that you're a big tough fighter, Kagome!' she thought to herself.

“Go.” He commanded coldly and she felt every fiber in her body scream to obey. She did not want to make the killing perfection mad; she had seen what he was capable of.

“Alright!” The miko pushed up her sleeves and ran at the dark lord with all the speed she could force in her legs. Once she was close enough, she raised the bokken over her head and swung it down hard at him.

“CLACK”

“Huh?” Kagome blinked in surprise as he managed to block her swing with his bokken with one hand; very effortlessly, actually. “Oof!” He pushed against her blade, still with one hand on the bokken, and sent her reeling backwards. “Hey!”

“Again.” He ordered again. That had been better, but it had been very…Inuyasha like. Which was bad.

“Wha-” He cut her off with his piercing stare. “Argh. Ok!” She launched herself at him again. She was met with the same thing block, except this time he used his other hand to punch her in the side.

“Kyah!” She stumbled away from him, holding her side. “What was that for!?” He punched her! How mean!

“To show you where your openings are. Now you know where to swing without leaving that spot open.” He replied and lowered his sword. “Again, Priestess.”

“Okay…” She said and hesitated before running at him again, this time swinging horizontally at his chest. He blocked it again and this time smacked her in the head. “OW!” She groaned and held the side of her head, feeling a headache creeping up on her. “What the fuck, Sesshoumaru!”

“You hesitated. Again, human.” When she just stared up at him with her blue eyes, he narrowed his amber ones. “Again.”

“Why should I? You keep hurting me!” She huffed, crossing her arms with the bokken still in her hand.

“What do you think war is? Fun?” She had been there for the battle with Naraku; practically fought him for three years straight. Did she find that fun? Was she so naive that she thought this battle for going to be easier? He believed she would have a rude awakening if so.

Once again, the great inuyoukai in front of her managed to make her feel utterly stupid. “No, but-” He wouldn't allow her to finish speaking.

“Again, Miko.” He kept cutting her off! It infuriated her!

“It's Kagome!” What was so hard with her name? She called him by his name.

“Again!” His tone of voice actually went up a notch. He was becoming greatly annoyed with the human in front of him. Would she not just listen to him? How many times had he told her to attack? Four?

“Fine!” She shouted and charged at him again. She was met with the same result and he punched her in the same side he did the first time. “Fuck! What the hell!?”

“I told you to protect that side. You should not have to be hit there twice in order to learn so.” Sesshoumaru pinned his golden eyes on her. She was definitely spending too much time with Inuyasha. Ladies, no, mikos should not speak in such a manner. “Again.”

This time she didn't fight with him. Now that she was pissed off, she had the vehemence to beat his ass into the ground. She knew it would never happen, with him being Sesshoumaru and all, but she could hope! She put her legs to work and swung diagonally at him. He deflected the attack with his bokken. This time she saw him slash towards her other side and moved the bokken to block it, swinging her left hand at him, hand lit up with her pink aura, barely catching his face as he jumped back.

He widened his eyes slightly once they were apart from each other. She had actually managed to touch him. He didn't think she would get that far for a long time, if at all. Not to mention she had used her purifying powers, leaving his face stinging a bit. Speaking of, what was with this girl and slapping him?

Kagome was hunched over, hands on her knees as she breathed heavily. She had an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction running through her. It may have just been her finger tips, but she had definitely made contact! She took a deep breath and then stood up straight. She put her hands on her hips and a smug smile on her face. She looked at Sesshoumaru and was going to say a smart remark until she saw his face.

“Oh my God, Sesshoumaru!” She quickly walked over to stand in front of him. There were four burn stripes on his cheek and they looked painful.

“Hm?” He asked with a quirked eyebrow. Now what?

“Are you okay? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you.” Well, that was a lie. She wanted to cause him pain for hurting her, but now that she had, she felt bad. He was only training her after all.

He stared down at her, eye brow still raised. Was she really apologizing for hurting him? She hadn't really. The stinging was gone and by nightfall it would be almost gone. Still, he had hurt her and he knew he had, so why was she apologizing for `hurting' him? That was the point in training people in the skill of the sword. You would defend the places where you got hurt in the past. It made you a better swordsman in the future and taught you to guard your vulnerable places.

“It is fine.” He replied and put his bokken back up on the wall. “That will conclude today's lesson. We will continue tomorrow.”

“B-but, are you sure? It looks pretty bad.” She bit her lip and looked down at the ground. She really didn't like hurting people, especially not people who are trying to help her.

“Little Miko, do not try to make it seem like you have hurt me more than you have. It is but a scratch. It will be gone soon.” He said and walked towards the dojo exit.

“It's Kagome.” She replied and put her hands on her hips. Here she was apologizing and he was as infuriating as always. He paused to acknowledge her speaking and then left the room.

She sighed and placed her bokken on the wall as well before leaving. She left the room and failed to see her sensei anywhere in sight. She walked down the hallway and just began to roam the castle, trying to get a better feel for her surroundings.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

“Ah! My precious son! You have decided to bless us with your presence! And you brought Bakusaiga!” Inukimi said happily as she saw Sesshoumaru walk onto the training field. Inuyasha stood up straight and turned his attention on his half-brother.

“Keh! What are you doing here?” Inuyasha asked bitterly. He set Tessaiga down briefly and picked up his discarded under shirt to wipe his face off. He had taken off his fire rat kimono top and thrown it on the floor, leaving his chest bare.

“I have come to see your lack of progress, of course.” He replied and ignored his brother's line of cursing as he walked over to his mother.

“Oh! Sessho-chan, what happened to your face?” Inukimi asked, standing up from her cushions to take her son's face in her hands, turning it to examine the burn marks. He moved his head away from her and glanced at Inuyasha as he began to laugh hysterically.

“Ha! What's wrong, Sesshoumaru? Did a cat demon get you? Did a little kitty attack the great big dog?” He mocked.

“Hardly. It was that Priestess. What was her name..? Oh yes, Kagome.” It was the first time he had said her name and it seemed to roll nicely off his tongue. He smirked when the half breed suddenly tensed at the name of his woman. “Oh how concerned she became when she saw I was wounded. She came rushing to my side to aid me.” Oh yes, he very much enjoyed playing with Inuyasha's emotions. The way his face turned bright red from anger was very pleasing to Sesshoumaru.

“Kagome?” He questioned quietly and then picked up Tessaiga. “You asshole! I told you to stay away from her!”

“Ho? Are you challenging me, little half-breed?” He smirked again and withdrew Bakusaiga from its sheath.

A/N: So, tell me what you think! :) Thank you guys so much for reading and reviewing :) please continue to do so! The more reviews I get, the more I get encouraged to write!