InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waking Powers ❯ Training ( Chapter 7 )

- Chapter 7. -

Training

Hououza - Thank you very much for all the reviews. It helps me continue to write the story when I know that someone appreciates it and reads it. And I'm glad that you liked the way Inuyasha and Miroku played out. I was a little worried about that chapter.

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Kagome was waiting in Kaede's hut for the old miko. She was supposed to be practicing some uses of her miko-power, but had grown tired of it when she managed to do what she was supposed to do on her second try. After she had managed it once, it was fairly easy to do it again. Kaede had praised her and said that she was a natural, but Kagome didn't feel that she deserved the praise… It really wasn't that hard.

The group had been cooped up in the village for an entire week, much to Inuyasha's dismay. Not that he was eager to look for shards anymore. No, It was more the fact that he was restless and he had never felt comfortable where there were a lot of humans. Granted the villagers didn't chase him and try to kill him any more, nor did they speak ill of him. No, what bothered him now was that they ignored him altogether. It could drive anyone insane, at least Inuyasha felt that way.

Bloody Kagome and her bloody power that's running amok! He nearly fumed as he made his way towards Kaede's hut with the old miko trotting behind him, trying to keep up. He had been sent to make sure Kaede was safe when she collected herbs in the forest. I'm being treated as a fucking bodyguard. No, a bloody servant. `Inuyasha can you hunt some food for us please?' `Inuyasha go and make sure Kaede's fine.' `Inuyasha we need some firewood.' He mimicked Sango's voice in his head as he made his way towards the hut. She was driving him crazy and every time he tried to protest she would glare at him with eyes that could make hell freeze over. He was too stubborn to admit that she scared him and used the excuse that he owed her after what he did to Miroku…

Kagome looked up from the floor when she sensed Inuyasha's and Kaede's auras in the room. She had felt them before they entered the outskirts of the village. At first she had been surprised at how quickly her powers were growing when she had begun to get control over them. Kaede however had explained that Kagome's powers had been strong all along, she just never learned how to use all her potential. Now it seemed normal that she was able to feel and name every aura in the village. Auras that were stronger than normal human's, she was able to feel at an even greater scale, like Miroku's, Kaede's, Inuyasha's, Kirara's and Shippo's.

Smiling she rose from the floor and noticed Inuyasha's sulky expression. She quickly became concerned over him, he had been this way the entire week. She suspected that he just was grumpy because they had been forced to stay in the village due to her powers. He always got a foul mood when something hindered him in his search for shards.

"Don't worry Inuyasha," she began. "Kaede says that we can begin shard hunting again tomorrow." She smiled to him again, hoping that his mood would lighten. His heavy aura was beginning to depress her too. As her senses had become better, she had also become more sensitive to her surroundings and sometimes she even mirrored other people's mood with frightening accuracy. It was some form of empathy she had never experienced before.

Inuyasha stared at her a moment before he replied with a `keh!' and went to sit in a corner, his back resting against the wall.

Kagome sighed and turned towards Kaede, trying to keep her mood light. I refuse to be affected by him. For once he will not get to me.

Kaede studied Kagome closely when she came into the hut. The child had done remarkable things in a very short time. She would have thought it impossible if she hadn't been here to witness it with her own eyes. She just hoped that what Kagome learned would be enough to keep her alive long enough to figure out what caused the problems with her powers. The world would loose a lot if it lost Kagome.

"How is the training going today Kagome?" She asked as she sat down in front of her. "It's going great Kaede. Do you want me to show you?" Kaede nodded and gestured for her to continue. "That would be nice child."

Kagome smiled brightly and lifted her right hand, keeping it palm up. Pretty soon a small globe of glowing light appeared, floating in the air some inches over her hand. Kaede nodded approvingly, the child had indeed learned a lot. And what a wondrous child she was. She had no doubt that Kagome was stronger in spirit than her late sister Kikyo. Kikyo had had her faults; she had looked at her powers as something that stopped her from doing what she wanted. Kaede suspected that Kikyo hadn't even really loved Inuyasha. It pained her to think that way about her sister, after all Kikyo had been so `pure'. She was kind and good hearted when it came to humans, but she didn't have the same feelings for youkai. She was willing to care for Onigumo and he had a darker heart than most demons, but Kikyo wouldn't accept it. To her, youkai were evil and humans were good. That's the wonderful thing about Kagome, it's what makes her so special, so strong. She sees youkai and humans in the same light, accepting that both can be good and both can be evil.

Shaking her head slightly, Kaede returned her attention to the girl in front of her. "That's very good Kagome. Now let's try something different. This light can be used to find your way when it's dark, but it also has other qualities. For one, it has purifying powers, much like your arrows and when you use it, weaker youkai with evil hearts will have trouble getting close to you." Kagome nodded to show that she understood. "Good," Kaede continued. "The light can be more useful if you have more control over it. If you have to fight, it can be distracting to hold it over your hand. You have to learn how to make it float close to you without your support. It's not really difficult; concentrate on the globe and…"

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Inuyasha sat listening in the corner of the hut. Neither Kaede nor Kagome knew it, but his mother had been a miko too. Not as powerful as Kikyo and Kagome, but she had still been strong and she had taught him some of what she was able to do and how it worked. It had been helpful to him when he was younger, trying to survive in the world when he still was too weak to do so.

Blinking from the strong light floating over Kagome's palm he focused on Kagome instead. She was smiling, her eyes seemed to glow with an inner light because of the globe reflecting in them. He felt old and familiar feelings rush through him when he looked at her now. She was so beautiful, so happy, so full of life. Enjoying and rejoicing in everything it had to give. He envied her and at the same time he was happy for her. He wanted her to stay this way forever. This is who she is. He thought. She's free and happy, and pure; and how I want her to be mine. He shook his head to dispel the thought. What are you thinking about? He scolded himself. Even if she wanted me, I can't have her. I'm only a filthy hanyou and I'll ruin her. Ruin the very thing I love.

Scowling to himself he rose and walked to the door, turning back at the last second to look at her again. Even from the little he knew from his mother he could estimate Kagome's power. To say it simply, it was overwhelming. I can't allow myself to destroy her.

He walked out, leaving them alone in the hut.

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Miroku looked over at Inuyasha when he came out of Kaede's hut. He was scowling a no one in particular and looked trouble about something. Glancing over at Sango who was resting her back against another hut and polishing her Bone Boomerang he really couldn't blame him. Even if Kagome wasn't aware of it, everybody else knew that Sango had begun to boss him around. The villagers seemed to find it amusing that the female exterminator was able to push the hanyou around to do errands for her.

Shaking his head, Miroku made his way over to Sango. He had tried to talk to her about it before, making her leave Inuyasha alone, but she had just snorted and turned her back at him. The reaction had stunned Miroku at the moment, but later Sango had told him that she was paying him back for throwing her across the room. She had complained about her still having a sore back.

Miroku grinned. He had offered to help her with that and the look on her face before she hit him had been worth it. If she ever agreed to marry him, he would make sure that he went through with the suggestion.

Sitting down next to Sango, she apparently noticed his expression because she scooted some inches away form him.

"What do you want houshi-sama?" He managed to put on an innocent expression when he turned to look at her. "Why, Sango I am hurt. Do I really need a reason to sit next to such a lovely lady as you?"

For once, Sango didn't blush at his complimenting comment. She instead arched an eyebrow and looked at him suspiciously. "Fine!" She finally said. "But if you try to grope me, I swear you'll regret it."

The innocent expression faltered for a second before he managed to put it up again. I swear it, the woman can read thoughts. It's scary. "The thought never crossed my mind." He answered her, praying to Buddha to forgive him the little white lie. Sango grunted and turned back to polishing her weapon. "Sure it didn't." Miroku failed to notice the sarcasm in her voice and smiled, showing off a dazzling smile that hadn't failed him yet in his hunt for woman.

It failed him now…

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Inuyasha watched Kaede's hut from the edge of the forest. The night was approaching when Kagome finally made her way outside. He watched as she made his way over to Sango and Miroku. With his delicate ears he was able to hear what they were saying, despite the distance separating them. She was going back to her own time to get supplies before the next shard hunt tomorrow. He scowled to himself and followed after her when she walked into the forest towards the well.

If she thinks that she can leave without telling me first I'll teach her something else. He wasn't exactly sure what he would do, but she wouldn't like it. And he didn't care if she sat him a thousand times for it.

When he came through the clearing and saw the well he was surprised to see Kagome waiting for him in front of it. She was obviously waiting because she was sitting, resting her back against the well. For a moment he thought she was asleep because her eyes were closed, her head tilted backwards to rest on the well's edge. She was so beautiful, the evening light and the shadows from the surrounding trees playing over her frail form. He barely caught the sigh trying to escape from his lips and as always the sight and smell of her awoke feelings that he tried, but failed to ignore. She opened her eyes and slowly raised her head, looking straight at him with something that he could only describe as a surprised expression.

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A/n: sorry for the late update, I was on my summer vacation. Thanks to the people who review. I'm really grateful.