"Again Toshiko," Sesshomaru raised his sword and relaxed in a bored stance as his apprentice mimicked him. Her eyes narrowed as she searched for any kind of weakness in his stance. They had been practicing nonstop in the summer heat of Feudal Japan and she was sweating in places she didn't know could sweat. However, there her master stood in the same outfit he always wore with that fluffy thing across his shoulders and he hadn't shown any sign of fatigue.
Half a second later, she raised her sword up and deflected Sesshomaru's attack. Blow after blow pushed her back and Toshiko realized she was headed for a small cliff. If I time this right, I can use this to my advantage. Toshiko smirked at the thought. Sesshomaru's blade slapped across her cheek and she let out a surprised yelp. A bruise formed instantly across her cheek where Bakusaiga hit her.
"You're not concentrating," Sesshomaru growled and frowned at her. "Is something wrong?" he lowered Bakusaiga and stared at her.
Toshiko blushed and shook her head, "No Master, I'm sorry. I'll concentrate harder on our training."
It was rare for Sesshomaru to show any emotion or worry for a half-breed, let alone for her. She stood up straight returning to her stance and lifted her blade toward Sesshomaru. He nodded and they continued for a little while longer when Toshiko's foot touched the edge of the cliff.
Sesshomaru swept his sword sideways at her and she dropped to the ground and parried, going underneath and behind him. As she came out of the roll, she kicked out at her Master and he tumbled toward the cliff. Sesshomaru reached out and grabbed Toshiko's leg, throwing her over the cliff and into a large puddle of mud as he clung to the cliff side.
"Ugh, gross!" Toshiko stood up knee deep in the mud and flicked her arms at the ground. Sesshomaru dropped down next to the puddle and started chuckling at the sight. The sound of her Master's laugh shocked her and Toshiko slipped backwards into the mud disappearing completely.
"That wasn't bad but you have to be more agile," Sesshomaru looked down at his apprentice as she squelched out of the mud.
"You know I can't move any faster than that," Toshiko growled and flung mud everywhere.
Sesshomaru glared and grabbed Toshiko by the throat, squeezing enough that she let out little whimpers of pain, "I told you to never say you can't, otherwise you're of no use to me."
Anger sliced through Toshiko as her Master's claws cut into her neck and blood trickled down her throat. She gripped his arms and thrashed as she tried to get him to let her go but all it did was anger him more.
"Stop acting like a worthless human!" Sesshomaru slammed her into the nearest tree, pinning her with his body. Her eyes flickered red for a second from behind a curtain of silver hair and then changed from their usual grey to an endless black. He loosened his hold and looked at Toshiko in surprise. Toshiko snarled and bit down on her Master's arm, tearing through tendons and freeing her own arm to slice at his face.
Sesshomaru stepped back an instant before her claws hit and reached down to where his sword hung on his hip. He cursed as he realized Bakusaiga was back above the cliff. "Toshi, control yourself," his voice softened as he swallowed his pride and crouched low enough to look submissive. Toshiko eyed him wearily and crept closer as she continued her low growl. The dominant part of Sesshomaru threatened to rise up and attack her as she neared him but years of perfecting his restraint kept him from moving.
Finally, Toshiko was within grabbing distance and Sesshomaru pounced on her. He pinned her down again and held her wrists tight against the ground, "Shh, Toshi. I'm not going to hurt you." Sesshomaru held her there until she stopped thrashing although her eyes were still a deep black. He winced, finally noticing the pain that was shooting through his arm but didn't dare let his apprentice go.