InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Feud: A Marriage Made In Heaven ❯ Learning to Trust ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: Nothing to see here… Keep moving, keep moving!

 

 

A/N: Sorry for the LOOOONNNNGGGG delay everyone. This HUGE block just came out of nowhere… and WAM!! I couldn't remember where this story was going… the other 2 Books are coming along better then this one. But, we're back on track!!

 

 

Chapter 9: Learning to Trust

 

 

Kagome and Kikyo watched quietly as Sango abruptly stood and left the room. They exchanged worried looks, but didn't bother to stop her. Sango had to find her own reasons to trust her husband… they all did.

“I wish we could help her…” whispered Kagome sadly.

Kikyo silently agreed.

 

~*~

 

Sango walked with her head down as she made her way to her parent's bedroom in the east wing. Aioki, their mother's personal maid, had told her that her mistress was still in her bedroom so that's where Sango was headed.

 

She needed to talk to her mother.

 

Sango knew she was in love with her husband, but she also knew she didn't trust him. Her marriage already had enough problems and keeping her secret was going to cause more. She and her sisters had already come to terms with the fact that they would have to share there secret with there husbands sooner or later, but Sango had never imagined it would prove to be this difficult… or this painful.

 

She had come to discover that she didn't like lying to Miroku and it only made her feel worse since she felt like she couldn't tell him the truth.

 

There seemed to be no middle ground for them. She doubted her marriage would survive if it continued the way it was going.

 

She stopped in the doorway to her parent's bedroom as she silently observed her mother.

Her thick mass of fiery hair was pulled back into a loose tail at the nape of her neck. She wore a simple morning dress in a deep blue color that flattered her complexion without taking away from the fierce red of her hair. She stood at the large bay window with her back to the doorway, and therefore, to her daughter. Her pointed ears twitched every now and then, which told Sango her mother knew she was standing there, though Atsuki never turned to look at her.

 

Atsuki stared out the window, for all intents and purposes, but she saw nothing. Her mind was on her daughters; especially Sango, whom, she knew, was standing behind her. She'd figured her daughter would be coming to see her sooner or later, but in all honesty she had no idea what to tell Sango.

 

She understood very well the situation her daughters were in, and her heart went out to them, but she didn't know how she could help them. Atsuki had never been in a situation like the Emperor had put her daughters in and while she wanted to be able to help them she wasn't sure if she could.

 

Her girls were each very bright and giving women. They had grown up in troubled times and because of that she and her husband may have went a bit overboard in their protection of them. They were all special in many ways, not just in their unusual abilities, and Atsuki had wanted to make sure they had a chance at a different life, a safer life, then the one she and there father had to live. She didn't want them to have to fight for everything they wanted or deserved over something that happened long before they were even a thought in Atsuki's mind, much less born.

 

They deserved better then that.

 

`Was there anyone alive who even remembered what started the fighting in the first place?' She wondered if Toutousai-san could answer that question for her. She would have to remember to ask the next time she saw him.

 

Atsuki really couldn't say one way or the other whether it was a bad idea forcing them to marry the Masaharu sons. She didn't know a whole lot about the boys and what she had seen of them hadn't been bad as bad as she might have thought. She had been friends with Masaharu InuTaisho when she was a girl and she really couldn't imagine him bringing his sons up to be nasty and cruel. All the children looked really well together and she felt that if they had the courage (and the mind) to ignore their parents and the past and form their own opinions of each other this little experiment of the Emperor's just might work for everyone involved.

 

But, it wasn't going to be easy. Her daughters were going to have to learn to trust the very people they were brought up not to. Is it any wonder they were having so much trouble??

 

And Sango most of all.

 

Her eldest daughter's gift would prove useless to Sango, because her baby couldn't see her own future; only the future of others. Sango would have to rely on herself to get her through her marriage. For once her baby would have to trust in her own judgment.

 

`Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to have Sango wed first.' She pressed her fingertips to her temples as she felt a ache starting behind her eyes. In her opinion Kagome would have been better going first, but she was paired with Sesshoumaru and Masaharu had already decided he'd be last. Kikyo needed more time to understand what it would mean to be married to someone and what it meant for her, before she could even begin to make the marriage work, so she definitely didn't need to be first. What happened last night was proof of that and, Atsuki figured, that the scene between her daughter and InuYasha had only made things worse, but it was a first step for Kikyo. She would have to wait and see how her daughter was after the smoke settled. Not that any of this mattered; Sango and Miroku were already married.

 

“You shouldn't lurk in people's doorways, dear. It's rude.” Atsuki turned around and gave her daughter a smile. “Come in.”

 

She silently observed her daughter as she came into the room and over to her. Just from the color of Sango's clothing she knew her daughter wasn't feeling good. Brown was not a color Sango wore often. Then there was the fact her hair was hanging lose. Her Sango preferred to keep her long hair tied back in some way; the fact that it was lose only proved that something was bothering her baby.

 

Gently she grasped Sango's hand and led her over to a cream colored settee sitting against the wall beside the window. Sitting down, pulling Sango down with her, she situated herself along the arm as she softly ran the pad of her thumbs back and forth along her daughter's knuckles.

 

“Talk to me, sweetheart. What's bothering you?” she asked softly.

 

Sango slipped her hands out of her mother's as she wondered how to start. She'd come looking for her mother to talk to her, but she hadn't really thought of what she was going to say before hand. Sango sighed as she shifted positions to lie her head in her mom's lap, bending her knees and curling her feet up so they didn't hang over the edge.

 

Atsuki gave a surprised start when her head came down to rest in her lap. It had been a long time since Sango had done something like that. She hadn't been expecting the move, but she recovered quickly and began stroking her daughter's hair as she waited patiently for her to begin talking.

 

Sango snuggled into the touch as she inhaled her mother's familiar scent of vanilla and rain water. “Mama,” she tucked her arms around herself, “is it possible to love someone you don't trust?”

 

Atsuki blinked twice. Out of all the things she'd imagined Sango would say, that wasn't one of them. “Well… yes, it's possible, I would imagine. I would guess it all depends on what type of love you're talking about. I'm sure you would still love your sisters even if something happened to make you not trust them.”

 

“Yes, I would, but that's not what I meant. I meant in love; is it possible to be in love with someone you don't trust.”

 

“Hm,” she'd figured that's what was bothering Sango: Miroku. “Well, yes it's possible. Not a good idea though, but yes, it's very possible.”

 

“Why? Why is it possible? It shouldn't be okay to be in love with someone you don't trust!”

 

“Well sometimes the heart does things for which the mind doesn't understand,” she'd read that somewhere. “And no one said it's okay; it just is. I think that when you love someone, no matter what your mind tells you, your heart still has faith in them and that's why it has no reason not to love them. Your brain deals with facts, but your heart… your heart deals with emotions.”

 

“But, what if your heart's wrong? What do you do then?”

 

“You deal with it,” she sighed, running her hand through Sango's hair. “You don't know when you're wrong until you're proven wrong. You know,” gently Atsuki touched a hand to her daughter's chin and turned Sango's gaze in her direction, “that also goes for the mind too,” she tapped a finger on Sango's forehead, “it can also be wrong.”

 

Sango's eyes watered. “When do you know?”

 

“I don't know, baby,” she hated the look her answer put in her daughter's eyes. “Sometimes you never really know; sometimes it's an act of faith.” `And sometimes you find out your mind was right at the worst time,' she added to herself.

 

Sango nodded silently as a tear slipped down her cheek. She turned away from her mother then.

 

“Oh baby,” her heart broke as she saw Sango's tears. “Come here, sit up.” She helped Sango change positions then wiped at the tears on the younger woman's face before placing a hand under her cheek.

 

Sango rubbed the back of her hand along her cheeks as she eyed her mother.

 

“Listen to me,” began Atsuki quietly. “I can't tell you to trust your husband; that's up to you alone. What I can tell you is that you can trust your father and you can trust me. Your father would have never allowed you and your sisters to marry those boys if he didn't believe they would take care of you guys to his satisfaction,” she frowned, “well… to the best of their ablility anyway. I don't think there's any male out there that can take care of you and your sisters good enough to satisfy your father.”

 

Sango gave a watery grin at that. Her father could be a little over-protective.

 

Atsuki also smiled at the thought of her husband. Many use to say that Onigumo would never take to having only daughters… If only they could see the “infamous Naraku” now, she thought to herself.

 

“But you know your father…” she continued with a wiery sigh, “he'd take on the Emperor himself to protect his family. So, if he's allowing those boys to be with his girls then I'd stake my life that there's something there. It's up to you to find what that something is.”

 

“What if papa's wrong?”

 

A fire lit in Atsuki's eyes. “Then your papa will answer to me.”

 

Sango brightened with a smile before placing her forehead on her mother's shoulder.

 

Atsuki wrapped her arms around Sango in a tight hug. “Okay, no more tears now.” She rubbed her back then as Sango sniffled, “That's my girl. You're strong honey. Trust in your own judgment… even if it doesn't seem to make sense. Alright?”

 

Sango's liquid brown eyes met her mother's blue ones then. After a moment she nodded in agreement. “Thank you, mama.”

 

“You're welcome baby,” she smiled.

 

Sango gave her mom another swift hug before she stood up and headed for the door. Reaching the exit she stopped and turned back to look at her mother.

 

“Mama?”

 

Atsuki turned to look at her daughter and arched a brow. She hadn't moved from her position on the settee. “Yes?”

 

“Do you think I-” she cut herself off with a shake of her head, changing her mind. “Do you listen to your head or your heart more?”

 

“Me? With this hair??” she laughed silently, “my heart of course. Your father doesn't call me emotional for nothing… but, then I wouldn't be with him if it wasn't for my heart.”

 

Sango tilted her head in question, wanting to know what that last remark meant.

 

A twinkle lit her eyes as Atsuki shook her head, “I'll tell you when you're older.”

 

“Don't think I'm going to let this one go,” answered Sango with a grin.

 

“I know,” she rolled her eyes in feigned exasperation.

 

Sango really laughed then as she left the room.

 

Atsuki smiled to herself. Her baby was going to be okay…

 

 

~*~

 

Onigumo stood in front of the large window in his office with his hands clasped at his lower back. The window looked out on the front yard and from it you could see the entire front landscape but also part of the wall in the distance that surrounded the castle.

 

But, Lord Onigumo's eyes weren't on the landscape or the wall. He was watching the three men dismounting from their horses in front of his home. He watched silently as all three, with the same silvery white hair, adjusted their clothing and moved towards the entrance of his castle. He wondered to himself what had brought Masaharu and his sons to his home so early. Taking out the gold pocket watch he always carried, he gave it a glance before returning it to its original place. Only ten hours had passed since the Masaharus were last in his home.

 

He narrowed his red eyes as he watched them enter. He had a feeling he was about to learn the answer to his question very soon… and he wasn't going to like it.

 

If Onigumo had to guess, he figured they were there to ask him about what happened last night. He would ask if it were the other way around, so he couldn't fault them for it. Just what they imagined they'd get out of him, was what he wondered. They must realize if it was something he wanted to tell them he would have done so already, so why bother with asking the questions?

 

`Masaharu knows me better then that.'

 

As Onigumo waited for his guest to reach his office, his mind drifted back to the day he'd met the three younger Masaharus. He'd seen the satisfied look in Lord Masaharu's eyes when the lord's eldest son had delivered his warning to Onigumo. The fear he'd felt for his youngest daughter had shined in his eyes for a moment and he knew the lord… and possibly his son… had seen it. He also figured they didn't know the reason for that fear. Onigumo was pretty positive they thought the fear was his own. The notion was laughable. There weren't many things in this world he feared and what few things there were Lord Masaharu and his heir wasn't one of them.

 

The fact that they would even entertain the thought, much worse; believe it, was mildly insulting. He would enjoy disabusing them of that belief.

 

Onigumo worried for his youngest daughter, which is why he was glad she was going last. It would help her to see how well (hopefully) their marriages went before she followed them. He recognized the dominating spirit in the eldest Masaharu son and was sure the pup would make the mistake of trying to dominate his Kagome right from the start. Huge mistake. His daughters, all three of them, had their mother's fighting spirit… and Kagome had it the most. Kagome would refuse to be dominated and the more anyone tried the more she fought. Sesshoumaru Masaharu would most likely want to choke his daughter, and vice versa, before their first week of marriage was even over and probably want to kill her with a heavy, blunt object by the end of the second week. But, no matter what the Masaharu tried or threatened she wouldn't give in to him until she felt he deserved it. And the only way he would deserve it, in her mind, would be for him to earn her respect and trust first. Her loyalty would come with the marriage since it was his right, but anything else Sesshoumaru would have to earn on his own.

 

His Kagome would only be ruled when she allowed it and that was all there was to it.

Onigumo sighed as he rubbed a finger on his face in the space between his eyes. `Actually, all my girls won't allow domination over them. It would only be given.' The mere thought was giving him a headache. There were going to be fights; he just knew it. He didn't even want to think about that other Masaharu pup and his daughter Kikyo; not after last night. He hoped the pup wasn't one who liked to lie.

 

He, idly, wondered how many times he was going to feel like killing one of the pups as he hoped, subconsciously, that he didn't end up regretting not going to war with the Emperor instead.

 

“Excuse me, my lord?”

 

Onigumo partially turned and eyed the butler out of the corner of his eye. “Yes, Genju?”

 

“My lord,” bowed the servant, “his lordship Masaharu and his other two sons are here and requesting an audience with your lordship, sir.”

 

“Are they?” he arched a sardonic brow at his starchy servant. Genju was the oldest of all his servants. The butler had worked for his grandfather and had been the one to look after Onigumo as a child. The butler had practically raised him. He knew the butler as well as he knew anyone in his family and he knew from the starchy attitude that not only were the Masaharus in hearing range, but the Genju still hadn't decided if he liked the Lord of the Southern Territory and his children yet.

 

He took the latter as a good sign. If Genju's jury was still out then there must be something to the Masaharus that Onigumo hadn't seen yet.

 

Genju waited patiently for his master to tell him to allow the visitors in the room.

 

“Show them in Genju,” he grinned before turning back to the window and the view he was paying no attention to.

 

Genju fought not to roll his eyes at his young master's antics; he was use to them now. “Yes, my lord.”

 

Moments later InuTaisho Masaharu and his sons walked in the room.

 

Onigumo heard the door shut behind them, but did not turn to greet his guests right away. He let the silence grow for a moment longer before he finally turned around. He eyed each one of them individually before returning his gaze to the oldest of the three.

 

“Masaharu,” he nodded as he moved to his desk and gestured to the two chairs in front of it and waited for Masaharu to take a seat. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? I doubt you missed me; especially since you only just left here less than twelve hours ago.”

 

InuTaisho arched a brow from his seated position on the other side of the large desk. “Missed you? Not likely, no.”

 

Sesshoumaru and InuYasha took up standing positions behind there father. InuYasha rolled his eyes at the last comment from the other Taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru didn't even show he had heard it.

 

“As I gathered,” said Onigumo evenly. “So, again, why are you here?”

 

InuTaisho leaned back in his seat then, “to have a talk.”

 

“A talk?” he arched a brow, “and what do we have to talk about?”

 

“After that business from last night, I have a suspicion you haven't told us everything there is to know about your daughters.”

 

`Straight to the point. I like that.' Onigumo refrained from grinning. “Is that what this is all about? Last night?” He leaned back in his seat and, pressing his fingertips together, he steepled his hands in front of him as he rested his elbows on the arms of his chair.

 

“Yes,” answered InuTaisho, frankly. “I find I'm interested to know what that was all about.”

 

Onigumo decided not to pretend like he didn't know what Masaharu was talking about. He didn't want to look like he was trying to hard to hide something. His adversary would see right through it, and besides, Onigumo respected himself too much to play idiot.

 

“Really?,” he gave a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. “Why the sudden interest?”

 

“You don't think I should be interested in the women my sons have been ordered to marry?” he gave him a disbelieving look, “Especially when my youngest son is already married to one?”

 

“Some would say that your… interest is a little late,” he tried to give an innocent look. It didn't work; his mother once told him that crimson eyes could never look innocent after the age of three.

 

InuTaisho's eyes hardened. “What are you hiding Higurashi?”

 

“I have nothing to hide Masaharu,” he spread his hands to emphasize the fact.

 

“Of course,” nodded InuTaisho. He'd play his word game. “Let me rephrase: What are your daughters hiding?”

 

“A father can never know everything there is to know about his daughters.”

 

InuTaisho hid his irritation. This was getting him nowhere. “So, you're not going to tell us? Yet, you want my sons to marry your daughters.”

 

“I want nothing of the kind. And you well know it. This is the Emperor's game, not mine.”

 

“Yet you agreed to play.”

 

“As did you, Masaharu,” he countered; eyes hardening. “I agreed because to not to could cause an unnecessary war with Tao. What's your excuse?”

 

“Same,” he shrugged casually. “A war with the Emperor of Japan would not be a wise decision. If I'm to take that step it would have to be for the right reason.”

 

“True,” Onigumo agreed. “But to answer your initial question; No, I'm not going to tell you. That is a decision for them to make… and them alone. When they want your sons,” he eyed the two youkai standing behind there father before looking back at Masaharu, “to know, I'm sure they'll tell them.”

 

`So they are hiding something…' He didn't point his observation out. InuTaisho was sure that Higurashi gave the information on purpose. “There are other ways for me to find out, you realize?”

 

“You can try.”

 

“You don't think my sons can find out what your daughters are hiding.”

Onigumo looked at the eldest son then. “No, I don't. Not before my girls want them to know.”

 

`Did he just challenge me?' Sesshoumaru arched a brow then.

 

“But like I said,” continued Onigumo a moment later, “you're all welcome to try?”

 

“I have another question,” said InuTaisho with a nod. He'd leave the topic of The Secret alone for now. “Are your daughters youkai or not? I've heard many rumors and I've seen them. I want the truth.”

 

Something flashed in Onigumo's eyes as his jaw hardened, “What are you implying Masaharu?” If the other Taiyoukai even dared to say that his daughters weren't good enough for his sons… the Emperor was going to have his war.

 

“I'm not implying anything Higurashi,” he tried not to grin in the face of the other lord's anger. “Like I said; I've heard the rumors and you must admit your daughters do not look youkai, but they don't smell ningen either.”

 

“Then why are you asking? If they don't smell human then they can't be human.”

 

“Neither do they smell youkai,” spoke Sesshoumaru quietly, his gaze trained on the Taiyoukai sitting behind the desk.

 

InuTaisho arched a brow as InuYasha crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

 

Onigumo studied the three of them as they waited for his answer. He didn't sense any hostility or disapproval in their scent, just curiosity.

 

“They are neko youkais. You can be certain of that.”

 

“Why do they not look it? Do they have a true form?”

 

“You would have to ask Atsuki or my mother to explain it to you. While I understand the reason, I doubt I could explain or answer any questions I know you will have,” he shrugged. Onigumo was being honest there; he could tell them, but he was sure he'd only confuse them more. They were better off putting there questions to his mate. “As to your question about they're true form: What you see is what you get.”

 

“Are you sure they're yours?” asked InuTaisho.

 

The moment the last word cleared the inu-Taiyoukai's lips, Onigumo was perched on the other side of his desk with the sharp end of a silver letter opener at the other lord's neck.

 

His eyes had darkened to a blood red, almost black color as he held the sharp object steady. “Say what you will about me Masaharu, but do not speak of my wife to me in such away again. Next time I'll slit your throat from ear to ear.”

 

“And it would be the last move you made.”

 

Onigumo raised his eyes to Sesshoumaru's when he heard what the pup said. There was a fire in the golden orbs that would have impressed Onigumo at any other time.

 

“Are you sure about that pup?” his eyes narrowed.

 

Sesshoumaru flinched and took an involuntary step back when a sudden pain grew in his head. He fought himself from taking another step back and held his ground; eyes narrowed as he took the sharp pain.

 

“You're a great warrior Sesshoumaru and I have no doubt that one day, in time, you will be able to defeat me and your father, but you're not there yet.” He turned his eyes away from Sesshoumaru to InuYasha then focused his eyes on there father once more as he addressed him again, “Would you like me to call Atsuki in here and then you can call her loyalty into question personally? You grew up with her; how well do you think it will go Masaharu?”

 

Slowly, Onigumo with drew the weapon and stood up on his desk. He turned and moved back across it and dropped gracefully down to stand in front of his chair once more.

 

The pain in Sesshoumaru's head had ceased the moment Higurashi had focused his attention back on his father. He watched the Taiyoukai closely.

 

InuTaisho was on his feet as he glared across the desk at Higurashi. The whites of his eyes had changed to red as the once purple irises had become a bright blue.

 

“You would dare to threaten me!?” he deeply growled.

 

“Be glad it was only a threat,” responded Onigumo just as darkly. “You insulted my mate; I have killed for less.”

 

InuTaisho accepted that; Atsuki-though they were no longer as close as they used to be-did not deserve the remark. Truthfully, he was glad Higurashi didn't call the red-head to the office; she would have ripped him apart.

 

“I'll accept that,” he breathed quietly as his eyes reverted to their normal shade, “but leave your tricks with me. Attack my son again and I'll make slitting your throat look like mercy after I'm finished with you.”

 

Onigumo arched a brow, but said nothing. He'd promised his wife he'd try to get along and dammit, that's what he was going to do! Carefully he sat down as he returned their gazes and patiently let the silence grow. He had nothing more to say.

 

“So, where are they?” spoke InuTaisho, finally, in to the silence.

 

He blinked. “Where are who?”

 

“Your daughters,” replied InuTaisho, eyebrows raised, “Ladies Sango, Kikyo and Kagome?” then after a moment he added, “and where is my son?”

 

Onigumo gave them an inquiring look, his own eyebrows raised, as he discreetly pressed a button under his desk with his knee.

 

A few moments later the door to his office opened quietly as Genju appeared.

 

“My lord?” bowed the old servant.

 

“Genju where is Sango's new husband, young lord Miroku?”

 

“He's right behind me sir,” he replied while stepping out of the way to let Miroku enter the office unhindered.

 

Onigumo nodded at the darker headed Masaharu in greeting as the young inu-youkai approached his father and brothers.

 

“And my daughters, Genju, where are they?” Onigumo asked as he fought not to laugh. Any other time his butler would have told him to get off his ass and go find his daughters himself, but the old servant was putting on appearances for his guests.

 

It wasn't his fault he had a prideful butler… but he was enjoying the older youkai's torture. He had to give him credit though; no one who didn't know the old servant would have been able to tell the butler was getting agitated

 

“I believe they're in the dojo my lord,” Genju replied stiffly. He'd get his lordship brat back for this!

 

The laughter fell from Onigumo's eyes then. He kept his face blank as he took in the disturbing news. His daughter's never practiced this early. Something must be bothering one, or all, of them if they need to resort to training to release stress… which meant he'd have to get a hold of an architect soon.

 

“Thank you Genju,” he nodded distractedly.

 

Genju bowed, hiding his grin, and left the room. He shut the door quietly behind him.

Onigumo was lost in his own thoughts for a moment, but came out of them when he noticed the four peculiar gazes locked on him. “What?”

 

InuYasha lifted a brow. “The dojo?”

 

“Yes. Is there a problem?” he raised his own brow, shifting his eyes between the four of them. “I'm sure you've seen one before,” he stressed the word `seen'.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Thirty minutes earlier…

 

Sango ambled down the hall away from her parent's bedroom. She had been in a better mood after talking to her mother, but as soon as Atsuki was out of her sight Sango's mood had fallen again.

 

She still didn't know what to do about Miroku and herself and she hadn't told her mother about what happened to her that morning. Sango really didn't know what to tell her mother and until they discovered just who the lady from the mirror was she felt it was best to keep the incident between her and her sisters.

 

Which meant she'd still be lying to Miroku even if she decided to tell him everything else about herself; not that she'd decided to do that. Sango sighed as she wrapped her arms around herself as she continued walking, no destination in mind.

 

Her head was beginning to hurt from all the thinking she was doing. What she really needed was to release some energy before she did something she would come to regret later.

 

Sango stopped and looked around her then.

 

She frowned. She was near the south wing she realized as she looked into the room on her left and recognized the large conservatory. Her mother liked to spend time there pretending she knew something about plants other then how to kill them. She grinned to herself as a image of Kagome teasing there mother about her non-existent green thump came to her mind. Kagome liked to tease that if you listened closely you could hear the plants screaming in terror whenever their mother was near.

 

After a moment she remembered her destination and headed for the stairs at the end of the hall. If she took them down three flights and made a detour through the servant's quarters she could reach the dojo by the back hall that connected the south wing to the west wing where the large room sat at the back of the castle.

 

Anxiously she hurried down the stairs, stooping down to pick Kirara up on her way; the familiar never had any problems in finding her. She gave the little neko a scratch behind the ears as she vaguely wondered where the youkai cat had come from.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome and Kikyo were still in the same positions they were in when Sango left them an hour ago.

 

Kagome, perched on the floor in front of Kikyo's chair sighed as she leaned her chin on her raised knees. She was worried about Sango. Her oldest sister relied on her visions to point her in the right direction so much that, sometimes, she didn't know how to judge a situation for herself. You'd think Sango would, at least, know how to make decisions regarding herself without her gift since she never gets visions that deal with herself on a personal level, but no, that wasn't the case.

 

Absently, she ran her fingers along the dark fur of Dygee's head and back when he rubbed his body along her side. She gently wrapped her hand around his tail and gave it a soft tug when she reached the tip. She grinned subconsciously when he turned around and bumped his head against her hand in reproach as her mind continued to wander.

 

Truthfully, all of them relied on there gifts too much.

 

Sango was to afraid she'll make a wrong choice again and cause something bad to happen. Kikyo built such thick walls around herself that she didn't know how to come out from behind them or how to deal with her own feelings that made her feel anything other then serene patience… and anger. As for Kagome, she feared not having her gift to protect herself and the ones she loved.

 

Many who knew about her and her sisters thought Kagome's gift was the spiritual power she commanded through her hands, but that wasn't it. All of them had the spiritual power in one form or another. Her gift was that of a healer. She could heal almost any injury… the only catch was; she could feel the pain she healed while she was healing it. Kagome used her spiritual powers to protect her from the pain around her, but it wasn't easy. There was more pain around here then one would believe from sick babies to children to fighting injuries.

 

Pain; Kagome knew it well.

 

But, she wasn't worried about Kikyo and herself right now; she was worried about Sango. Kagome shut her eyes for a moment and slowly stretched out her ki in search of Sango's. She just wanted to know if Sango was still with there mother or, if not, if she was okay. She gave a small sigh and grinned when she felt her oldest sister's aura… but she didn't sense her mother. Where was San-Kagome's head snapped up and her eyes opened wide then.

Sango was in the dojo.

 

“Oh,” she breathed as she turned her gaze up to her sister sitting above her.

 

“What is it?” asked Kikyo with a tilt of her head.

 

“Sango is in the dojo.”

 

“Oh,” she blinked, mimicking Kagome's earlier statement. “Shall we go change and join her?”

 

Kagome thought for a moment then a slow grin began to stretch across her face. “Yes,” she responded, blue eyes twinkling.

 

Kikyo gave her a curious look, but didn't ask. She nodded calmly and waited for Kagome to stand, before she gathered Mala into her arms and stood.

 

Kagome, holding Dygee, smiled at her sister. “Meet you there?”

 

“All right,” nodded Kikyo.

 

They both exited the library swiftly and walked together towards their rooms. They separated when Kagome turned to enter her room after agreeing to meet at the dojo one last time.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Sango had deposited Kirara on a blanket in an out of the way corner of the large room, before she had changed her clothes in the dressing area adjacent to the training area. After she put on the tight black bodysuit she liked to wear when fighting and tied her hair up into a high ponytail, she quickly tied on a pair of shoes specially made for her to be able to grip the ground better, then moved back out into the dojo area.

 

The dojo consisted of a large hard wood floor that was covered with a thin mat. When you entered the room from the entrance door on the far left wall there were weapons of all types covering it all the way across from top to bottom. There were bows of varying sizes, swords of all kinds, axes, daggers, sais, whips, chains with weapons attached to them and some without, staffs, kamas, fighting fans, kwan daos, steel clubs, throwing knives and stars, nunchucks, batons and just about anything else her father could get his hands on.

And her and her sisters were trained to use them all.

 

Granted, they were better with some then others, and Sango's best weapon wasn't on the wall at all, but it sat in the corner between the left and back walls leaning against them. It wasn't her Hiraikotsu, but an imitation that she used for practicing. This one was made of a thick wood that had five weights imbedded inside of it; three to mimic the weight of the real Hiraikotsu and the extra 2 to make it heavier.

 

At the back of the dojo the wall was cover with a large tapestry depicting the first battle between the Higurashi and the Masaharu clan. It covered the entire wall except for the small section right before the back wall met the right wall where a doorway led to the changing rooms and the bathrooms where Sango was currently standing.

 

The right wall was the only bare wall in the room. Even the wall that held the entrance door had a large emblem of the family seal on it.

 

Sango bent over at the waist a couple of times and stretched her arms out to her sides to loosen herself up. She bent down and gave Kirara's fur a rub before moving over to the wall and selecting a bokken to practice with. Slowly she moved to the middle of the room, bowed to her imaginary opponent, then after assuming her position she lunged forward with her bokken pointed straight in front of her.

 

Quickly she brought her weapon up with a swooping motion as she twisted on the toes of her feet and bringing it down again. She twisted one way and then the other as she parried and thrust with her bokken. Gracefully she dropped and twisted as she swept her leg out to the side in a swift sweeping motion.

 

 

~*~

 

Kikyo and Kagome stood at the door quietly as they watched there older sister practicing with the wooden sword. They exchanged knowing looks before turning their gazes back on Sango. They both agreed that Sango was very good with the weapon.

But, maybe she could use some real competition.

 

Kagome smiled at Kikyo and was just about to move inside the room when Sango's voice reached their ears.

 

“Are you two here to watch or play?”

 

Kagome's eyes widened as a slow grin stretched across her face. Kikyo arched a brow.

 

“Well, we're going to play of course,” smiled Kagome as she moved into the room, Kikyo following behind her, “or at else we got all dressed up for nothing.”

 

Sango smiled as she eyed her baby sister in a pair of sweat pants and a black tank top that bared her midriff. Her hair was in a thick braid ending at the small of her back. She looked at Kikyo next and noted the pair of red hakamas and the white kimono shirt similar to the chihaya that their miko grandmother wore a lot.

 

“Alright,” grinned Sango as she moved over towards the wall to trade her bokken for a katana, “but no long range weapons. I don't want papa to ban us again.”

 

“Okay. Also,” blue eyes twinkled mischievously, “every woman for herself.”

 

Sango and Kikyo exchanged looks over Kagome's head for a moment before nodding in agreement. Sango gave a light shrug and moved to the middle of the room as Kagome and Kikyo chose there weapons. Kikyo quietly pulled down a double bladed sword, her right hand wrapping firmly around the hilt in the middle of the two blades, as Kagome grabbed a pair of butterfly swords then followed Kikyo to the middle of the room where Sango waited.

 

They stood together in a circle and touched there blades to each others. After exchanging grins they, simultaneously, flipped away from each other.

 

Sango, landing with her feet spread far apart, her left knee bent and facing forward, raised her katana over her head horizontally and her other arm stretched out in front of her. “Ready.”

 

Kikyo landed gracefully in a standing position with both feet together. Palm open wide, she spun the double bladed sword in a circle in front of her. Deftly she closed her fist around the hilt and stopped the sword in a horizontal position. “Ready.”

 

Smiling as she spun both butterfly blades with quick twist of her wrist, Kagome landed on one knee. Her arms were stretched out to either side, blades pointed behind her. “Begin.”

 

Immediately they all charged forward.

 

Their blades clashed once before they broke apart again. Kagome swiftly dropped to crouched position and spun, extending a leg towards them. Both Kikyo and Sango jumped to escape the attack to their feet as they attacked one another in the air with their weapons.

 

Sango landed gracefully then quickly spun and swung her weapon at Kagome, before spinning away again when Kagome blocked the blow.

 

Kikyo thrust one end of her double sword at Kagome then tilted it upwards and pushing the other end forwards.

 

Kagome blocked the first attack with one blade and use the flat of the other blade to block the second. With a push, she shoved Kikyo's sword away then swung the other blade towards her sister's neck. In a series of quick hand motions she continued to attack Kikyo.

 

Kikyo was pushed backwards as she blocked each blow.

 

Sango quickly swung her katana at Kagome's head causing the younger sister to jump backwards and break her attack on Kikyo. Sango grinned then gripped the swords' hilt in both hands. In a series of movements she attacked Kagome.

 

Kikyo moved towards the weapons wall and traded her double blade for a Kwan Dao. Quickly she moved back towards the fight and, with a leap in the air, she brought the blade end down into the middle of the battle. Sango and Kagome's blades crossed above her own and she swiftly brought it back up.

 

Sango and Kagome jumped backwards then. Kagome moved over toward the left wall as Sango and Kikyo engaged in battle. She grabbed a staff made of metal after putting the butterfly swords back.

 

Kikyo spun on the balls of her feet in a quick circle as she spun the bladed staff around over her head. Quickly, she brought the blade down in a curving motion.

 

Sango just missed getting her neck cut as she jumped backwards. She gave her sister a mocking bow with a grin before moving back in.

 

 

~*~

 

 

“You allow your daughters to use your dojo?” asked InuYasha with an arched brow.

 

“Of course,” answered Onigumo with a raised brow of his own.

 

“Why don't you three go see how they are doing?” suggested InuTaisho with a glint in his eye. “There's something I'd like to discuss with Lord Higurashi.”

 

Sesshoumaru looked down at his father then, but could not discern anything from his expression when InuTaisho returned his look. After a moment he nodded then turned and left the room; Miroku and InuYasha following behind him.

 

“Feh!” muttered InuYasha as the door shut behind him.

 

Onigumo watched the three of them leave and waited `til the door was closed before leveling a questioning look on InuTaisho.

 

“We have something more to discuss?” he asked skeptically.

 

“No,” he shook his head as the glint in his eyes grew, “I just think that my sons could use a little… lesson. It's time they learned that Lady Atsuki and there mother aren't the only women with certain… talents.”

 

“I see.” Onigumo thought about his daughters and the array of weapons they knew how to use, regardless of the other powers they possessed, and figured that those boys were in for interesting treat. “They know where the dojo is located?”

 

“They'll find it.”

 

 

~*~

 

 

Sango, Kikyo, and Kagome were on there third weapon switch when Sesshoumaru, Miroku, and InuYasha reached the dojo. They came to a halt in the doorway when they caught sight of the girls.

 

Kikyo had a pair of twin katanas, Sango had a Pudao, and Kagome was wielding a pair of sais. Miroku and InuYasha exchanged curious looks, but followed Sesshoumaru's lead and stayed where they were to watch.

 

**

 

Sango flipped the metal staff with its sharp blade behind her, wrapped her fist around the top of the staff and pressed it diagonally across her back; blade pointed towards the floor. She waited patiently for her sisters to attack.

 

They had switched there game plan after switching weapons again. Now, instead of every woman for herself they were doing two against one and it was Sango's turn to be the one.

Kikyo moved in slowly at first, using only one sword she swiped at Sango, who jumped out of the way of the blow as brought the staff from behind her.

 

Sango held the staff up with both hands, horizontally, to block an overhead attack, than pushed the blade end forward with an attack of her own. Kikyo crossed her katanas in an x shape as she bent over backwards to block a blow. She twisted around with one arm out-stretched and swiped in the direction of Sango's neck.

 

Changing tactics, Kikyo attacked with a series of quick slashes and swipes with the twin blades. For each strike Sango blocked she came back with two more.

 

Suddenly, a flash from her right caught her attention, and Sango turned just in time to block Kagome's attack. With a flick she twisted the staff in her hand and thrust the blade at Kagome's throat.

 

“I believe it's your turn Kagome do be the one.”

 

“We have an audience,” said Kagome, opening their link.

 

“We noticed,” responded Kikyo quietly.

 

Kagome severed the link as both her sisters attacked at once. She jumped backwards then, changing her grip on the sais to curve her pointer and ring finger over the horizontal bar on either side of the middle stake, she stalked forward and attacked.

 

Instead of going on the defensive first like both Sango and Kikyo had done, Kagome's weapon of choice was and offensive weapon and, deciding to stay with that thought, she decided to attack them head on. Deftly she spun on her toes, hair flying around her, as she parried, jabbed and thrust with the sais. Gracefully she dropped and swept Kikyo's feet out from under her then continued her attack on Sango.

 

Sango swiftly threw her arm forward, sliding the Pudao forward and catching it at its base. She used the blade to attack with while using the staff's length to keep Kagome at a distance.

For a while all Kagome could do was block Sango while blocking Kikyo too, but, in a quick reflex move, she caught the staff in the space between the middle prong and the outer curved prong of the sais.

 

Quickly, Sango pulled the Pudao back towards her then twisted it, letting the blade turn and clash with the sais. When her weapon was released, Sango attacked again with the large blade and staff.

 

Kagome spun as she dodged a blow from Sango and parried a hit from Kikyo, who was back on her feet. She aimed a kick at Sango then spun around and attacked Kikyo. The sound of their blades clashing rung through the room as they met each other blow for blow.

 

 

**

 

 

Sesshoumaru was intrigued.

 

He hadn't imagined the ladies had that much skill. Oh, he'd figured they'd had some training, especially after the way Lady Sango had thrown that large weapon at Miroku's on the day of the wedding, but he'd never imagined what he was witnessing. There movements were quick and precise. They all moved with a grace that could only be found in neko youkais. It was obvious that while they may not have the physical appearance of their family they did inherit the genes. It had been interesting to see.

 

Idly he wondered how they would hold up in a real battle as he turned and walked back the way he'd come.

 

Miroku and InuYasha watched them for a moment longer before following him.

 

 

**

 

Once again they jumped back from one another.

 

Sango, Kikyo and Kagome eyed each other for a moment before they started to laugh, except Kikyou, who only smiled. They dropped there weapons then collapsed to the ground, each lying on their backs with their heads touching in the middle like a star with only three points.

 

“You think they enjoyed the show?” smiled Sango; she was feeling much better.

 

“They were surprised,” smiled Kikyo gently.

 

“I bet they were,” said Kagome ruefully as she squeezed Kikyo's hand.

 

“I'm sure we'll hear about it sooner or later,” laughed Sango.

 

“Hmm.” Kagome didn't feel like talking about the Masaharu brothers; she had something more interesting on her mind. She grinned. “So tell us Sango, how was your night last night?”

 

Sango's face heated, “Kagome!”

 

“What?” she blinked innocently.

 

“That's not the issue here!”

 

“Let's make it the issue,” she suggested with a pout.

 

“Before I start you have to both agree to fair play when it's your turns.” She waited for Kikyo's nod and Kagome's muttered “of course” before she rolled her eyes and giggled. “Well,” she began, relenting, “Have I told you he has the most amazing hands?”

 

 

~*~

 

 

 

 

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