The scent of fear was thick in the court yard; the guards wrinkled their noses in distaste as they waited. A young monk was visibly quivering in fear. The sun was bright and the fresh wind that blew was sweet and smelling of bountiful spring. Time passed birds sang and the guards shuffled restlessly waiting, lifting their faces to the wind to clear away the smell of the human boy.

The sun caught and reflected brightly off a luminescent silver pelt for a moment. One of the younger troops stepped forward to urge the prisoners to their feet before rejoining ranks. A dissatisfied tsk sounded from the shadows.

"Tell me… could you not acquire a better specimen of monk?"

"My lady monks of higher caliber have been difficult to locate, we found this apprentice to offer you in the meantime"

The boy blanched further at the term 'offer' and whimpered piteously. The elegant woman slanted a cold glare in his direction. A younger male stood behind her, his gaze however was curious. He took a few bold steps forward scenting the air to find the smell of fear speaking to his inner predator in a way that signified this being was most definitely prey.

"My… it is truly a pity. I had hoped to teach about reiki and the troubles caused by the followers of Buddha but this houshi has such weak spirit energy I am not sure I should continue"

She observed the captive further with a disappointed huff. Sesshomaru regarded her solemnly before trying to discern what manner of power this human might possess. For all intents and purposes all he could tell was that it was a terrified, sweaty, partially starved human boy. He carried no weapon; he could smell that the boy carried some type of incense, an ink stone, and a collection of musty parchment. Bald head and poor cloth was developing a theory that the guards had captured an apprentice loremaster and not a warrior monks apprentice at all.

"He seems neither strong nor edible."

Amusement crinkled the corners of his mother's mouth and she lifted her sleeve to hide it but the bright sparkle did not leave her eyes. She glided in a semicircle to view him from multiple angles. Slowly she ebbed youki to press against the human testing for a reaction. The boy wisely kept his eyes submissively to the ground but this did not keep him from observing the richness of pattern and color on the lady's kimono or the luxuriant trailing pelt.

"Eat them?" she murmured "We do not partake the flesh of lowly creatures" Eyes narrowed as she clipped her last word. Ever in motion she flowed to her original place beneath the eaves drumming her long fingers against her arm in thought.

"Boy have you any knowledge of sutras or barriers?"

The question brought a light into the young males' eyes and he withdrew a handful of paper from his voluminous sleeves. With the charms in hand his demeanor transformed from fearful to smug. "Beware demons! These were taught to me by my master!" his confident declaration was met with bemused skepticism.

"Oh ho? The mouse plays at having fangs does he? Well then the day is not a complete waste"

with an expansive gesture she indicated for the young monk to take his best shot. He wilted slightly but chanted the activation charm and flung it in her direction. She caught it with her thumb and index claws a slight crackle flared, before she incinerated the paper scrap with poison and flushed the residue with a quick burst of youki.

"Now my son, do as I have done"

Sesshomaru stepped forward gamely he repeated the motion and beckoned for the monk to attack once more. The first he caught stuck and felt as if it were trying to penetrate past his skin. With an alarmed growl instinct took over in a rush of strong youki. Briefly the scent of burning ink filled the courtyard to leave a humble piece of blank paper. Astonished whispers of approval echoed softly against the flagstones, and sesshomaru preened inwardly. The young monk staggered back a step in disbelief before tripping over his own robes and falling with an audible thud.

"Did you feel the reiki? The spirit energy that attempts to harm us?" sesshomaru nodded and the lecture continued "Monks store their energy through prayer into sutras, their prayers often call on powers greater than their own. The more experienced the monk the more troublesome the sutra, those who are skilled can be almost as bothersome as kitsune. The easiest way to deal with a sutra is to destroy it before it reaches you. "

A guard moved forward to urge the human to his feet by spear tip. "No, no he shall sit" Inukimi waggled a disapproving claw tip "Little mouse can you erect a barrier on your own?"

"My name is ungai, lady, and yes" he opined

She gave a dismissive wave "Well if we must be proper I shall call you little human, well then if you can… proceed"

Sesshomaru leaned his ear in the general direction trying to pick apart and decipher the words the boy chanted in low even tones. It all sounded like gibberish, yet within a few moments an unstable sheen of light began to form a shimmering bubble. The lady approached the barrier with a delicate sniff and tested it with a quick tap. "Not good enough make it stronger" she tapped at it impatiently as if he were a fish under a layer of ice in the pond. Each tap seemed as though the egg shell thin wall of energy would be punctured. She continued to tap while initiating the last segment of the lesson. "A barrier is a defense made of the monks reiki or spirit energy usually anchored by a weapon usually a staff called shakujou the pilgrim's staff. The shakujou can be used for the exorcisms of lesser spirit beasts. Barriers typically indicate that the houshi is protecting something most likely his own life." she paused thoughtfully as her last tap did not cause ripples or near punctures to the barrier. She nodded approvingly "Break it. Then we shall be done." An attendant moved quietly to her lady's side and softly murmured an inquiry, which was met with a nod.

Sesshomaru gave the interaction minimal attention before focusing his youki, his concentration was palpable as he attempted to condense a vague cloud into a concentrated tool. Energy crackled and a whip of light snaked from his claws to flick at the barrier. The energy present did not try to invade but rather his youki was repelled. Bearing down he struck hard the barrier wavered but remained intact, the boy inside had hurried his chanting his brow beaded with sweat and creased with strain. Thinking back on several lessons from tutors sesshomaru considered a number of tactics. Distraction and goading had been a tip from an older wolf from the north; he had found this tactic obnoxious and said as much. The wolf had laughed and responded it made the difference between ending a battle in minutes or waiting hours for an opening. He abandoned the notion it wasn't his style to yammer at an enemy. A trickle of scent wafted close heavy and sweet like fruit just a reaching its prime.

Trust in your own power.

Lifting his eyes away from the objective he saw the serene face of his former nursemaid and he matched the words to the speaker with a nod.

My power is my own none can take it for it is great and it is mine.

Refocusing the bite of the lash, it cracked loudly against the barrier and crushed it. As the whip descended sesshomaru let it dissipate a hairs width away from the boys face. The eyes of the young monk held the hollow resigned calm that comes to prey when they realize death is unavoidable. When the killing blow did not meet its mark the young monk looked if nothing else confused more than relieved. Sesshomaru noted this before returning to his mother with a short bow.

"It is a start. Faster next time, more grace in your movements. You have done well come sit and be at ease" Servants had brought neat stacks of refreshments sesshomaru took a seat and was served. The lady eyed the captive who was doing his level best not to eye the food longingly.

"Little human"

"Ungai my lady"

"I am not without mercy little human, surely we in the lands of the west are more cultured than humans. You have performed your purpose well enough that you may be rewarded"

Selecting a stick of dumplings, several sashimi pieces and mochi she placed all on a crescent shaped plate. A maid took this and a cup of tea and placed it in the dirt as if to feed a pet. Most would have taken this as an insult, the monk humbly accepted with a bow that touched his head to the ground. Few creatures could turn up their noses at fare as fine as that which pleased the discerning tastes of the House of The West.

"You shall keep the plate and cup, the guards shall escort you to the road. Your life or death thereafter are not our concern little human"

Stunned relief was the immediate response before the answer quavered to her ear

"Thank you Inu-kami"

"Foolish little creature" she laughed "I am Inu-kimi"

and with that she rose from her place and left with sesshomaru in her wake.