-1Finding Nirvana

Disclaimer: I own an inu Yasha doll…does that count?

Ch.1 Inner Peace

The rough grunt was forced from her lips upon the force of the blow connecting with her stomach. Her body ached, and her head throbbed in protest, yet still, she forced herself to stand and continue. Within seconds, determination settled into those midnight orbs as the miko seized the arm of her attacker and wrenched it behind their back in a single fluid movement. In the same slash of time, she slammed her foot into her the small of his back, hurtling him face first into the ground.

She watched as the man struggled to stand, her lips settling into a firm line as she held out her left hand, as though she held a bow, though no such weapon was at hand. Her right hand, drew back as though pulling the bow's string. She could feel the steady, warm flow of power that circulated towards her outstretched hands.

"This ends now! Celestial arrow!"

Her right hand released, and in s single streak of pink energy, the 'arrow' crossed the gap, slamming into her opponent with desolating force.

OoOoOoOo

"That was good. Great Job" the man congratulated the now blushing priestess. "you've improved quite a bit"

Her previous opponent, now standing from his sprawled position, turned a soft smile on his pupil, brushing his sandalwood hair back from his face, his uncovered green eye twinkling with glee. Kagome blushed deeper as she bowed to the man.

"Thank you Hakkai, I appreciate your patience with my training."
Hakkai merely chuckled, settling a hand on her shoulder as a balmy breeze swept through the small clearing in which they stood.

"No patience has been used, you pick up fast…however, I doubt that Sanzo's patience is so great"

"CRAP!" Kagome wrenched his hand from her shoulder, so she could check the time…2:36 "SHIT!!! I'M LATE!"

Without a second word, she whirled her body around and took off, using a small burst of her miko's powers to speed her up on the way to her family's shrine. She found herself in a dead stop by the God Tree, her motion stilled by two little words.

"You're late."
Kagome turned her gaze to the blonde Buddhist priest leaning against the tree, his eyebrows knitted downward in obvious displeasure, wrinkles marring the pale skin under his yellow monks garbs. Flushing, she fell into a deep bow.

"Sorry, the fight took longer than expected."

"Then you should have ended it sooner. Come"

Without another word, the great Priest Sanzo pivoted and began to lead his pupil through to woods to another small clearing in which lay a small stream, with an ever classic waterfall. Kagome failed to suppress the snort that followed their arrival...maybe she'd overestimated Sanzo. Waterfall. Come on, thanks but no thanks Hollywood.

"You've mastered meditation and concentration in a calm setting, however, there will be times when enlightenment and concentration is necessary in times of chaos. The waterfall, both loud and cold, is an accurate representation of that chaos, thus, today, meditation will take place under it. In one of those trees, hidden in their foliage, is a low energy puppet, much like a demon puppet, minus the ability to attack. Your goal is to locate and eliminate it using your mediation powers to locate it's week energy signature. Here…"

In his outstretched hand hung her black string bikini.

"You wouldn't want to ruin your miko's garbs."

OoOo 10 minutes later oOoO

So, here she sat, intent on finding that stupid puppet, however…there was a string of complications preventing her success…

The water beating on her shoulders was starting to hurt a bit

The water was cold

She was hungry

She had to PEE!!

Shrieking in frustration she flung herself out from under the waterfall.

"This is REDICULOUS!" she exploded at the now exasperated priest "How in Kami's name am I supposed to concentrate with so much distracting me?!"

"You're supposed to be able to tune it out. In a battle, when your friends are bleeding and counting on you, you have got to work around the distractions to locate the core and destroy it. This waterfall is meant to be distracting. It makes your mind wander with the noise, and make your body shiver with the cold. If you cannot do this, simply let me know and I will take my leave with Hakkai and you can continue hiding behind the hanyou."

Growling as he hit what he knew was a sore spot, she marched back to the stupid waterfall, cursing the arrogant pries with every passing minute…however, this time, she finally managed to clear her mind and, with considerable effort, obtain balance. Pleased to finally be getting somewhere, she stretched out her senses, numbing her body to the cold water. Within 4 minutes, she finally found the week energy signature. Concentrating, she guided her raised hand towards the energy, eyes still closed.

"Mercy's Kiss." She released her power from her hand in a beam, feeling the puppet energy disintegrate in seconds.

Reluctantly, as she pulled her shivering body from beneath the falls, she decided that allowing Sanzo to teach her had been a wise choice.

/flashback/

Kagome's back popped as she dropped the monstrous yellow bag from her shoulders to land with a loud 'thunk' on the floor.

"Kagome…" her mothers voice drifted up the stairs.

"Yeah mom?"

"Could I get you to run to the market for some rice, we're out."

Heaving a sigh, Kagome trekked down the stairs to get the money from her mother and headed out the door. Her mind continued to wander, even as her feet moved, to all that hat happened before she came back home.

//flashback in the flashback (confusing, huh?)//

"Kagome…" the hanyou had started "with…the attacks from Naraku growing more constant…we've needed some added…uh…strength and…" his ears flattened against his head as he rushed to finish, waiting to be sat "Kikyo will be joining us to help make things easier…" As he finished, his eyes squinted shut, waiting for a punishment that would not come.

Oh, oh it stung to be sure, but she knew that her beloved hanyou still loved the dead priestess dearly…and reluctantly, she could not begrudge his decision…so she mad one of her own as she spotted her stoic other half just past Inu Yasha. The lump in her throat throbbed painfully as she motioned for Kikyo to join their discussion. With each step the former miko too, the vice around kagome's wind pipe tightened until the pain was nearly choking her when Kikyo finally reached them. Forcing her insecurities aside, the woman of the future took Inu yasha's right hand and intertwined it with Kikyo's left in silent blessing of what she knew to be true. Both pairs of eyes, chocolate and amber widened in shock.

"I'm going home for a while…Kikyo…I'm going to trust you with all of them…especially this one…"she pointed a glance to the ever-so-confused puppy. "Don't let deception get the best of you this time…learn to trust each other"

Silently, kagome grasped Kikyo's free hand and lay it against the rosary around Inu yasha's neck.

"The word, I'm sure you know, Is 'osuwari'…the power is yours to control." the rosary glowed, as did Kikyo's hand, as she repeated the word.

"Kagome…are you sure?"
The younger miko nodded in the affirmative.

"Be happy Inu Yasha, I will see you when I return."

"Kagome…" Kikyo's soft voice captured the younger miko's attention "thank you…I begin to wonder if, in life, I might have one day possessed such selfless strength…"

Kagome chuckled as the lump grew tighter.

"You must have, after all…I am you, aren't I?"

Surprisingly, the older shook her head.

"A should we may share, but that strength…I have never possessed. Best to you, young miko. Shall we see you again soon."

Without another look back, Kagome dashed towards the well and flung herself into the time slip.

"Do you really think she'll come back?" Inu Yasha asked

In an unusual act, the icy miko smiled.

"In time"

//back to original flash back//

Kagome sighed as she paid for the rice and began to return home. 'did I make the right choice' she wondered, ignoring the world around her. Unbidden came the image of the tenderness in Inu yasha's eyes as he looked upon Kikyo. The lump returned 'yes…he'll be happy now…and so will she…no one deserves to be left alone…not even after death…perhaps…she might even escape the clutches of hell…and find a place for herself in heaven.'

Someone had once told Kagome that she forgave too easily…and she tended to think they may have been right.

So distracted was she by these thoughts, she didn't realize she was being followed until it was too late. Her scream was silenced behind a large, meaty, clammy hand as she found herself yanked into a shadowed ally.

"Well, pretty lady, why are you traveling alone" The slime that dripped from the voice that brushed her ear sent a wave of nausea ripping through the girl as a matching hand moved to caress her breast through her shirt. Without thinking, she slammed her left foot into his knee cap, satisfied with his howl of pain as she darted away. "Come back her, bitch!"

Before he could grab her, however, he found himself pinned by his throat to a wall, face to face with her smiling rescuer.

"Now then, it would seem that the lady is without need of your…attentions…I would suggest you leave before I'm obligated to hurt you" all of this was said in a balmy light tone, as though they spoke of the weather. Her assailant scrambled away as the kindly man, appearing no older than 21 or so, turned towards her.

"Are you okay?" He asked

"Yes…thank you…?"

"Hakkai, and this" he motioned to the stoic priest behind him. "is Sanzo…pleased to meet you…?"

"Kagome…"Her introduction trailed off as she finally pinpointed his aura "…you're a demon."

The priest snorted

"That's rather rude, after all, he saved your life."

Kagome Shook her head "Not if it's true…you are a demon, aren't you? I mean no insult, and have no problem…I just didn't know any had survived."

Clarity made it's way through Hakkai's features.

"Ah, a miko, yes?"
It was kagome's official day of blushing, she concluded, as she turned three more shades of red.

"Albeit untrained, but yes."

At this, Sanzo frowned.

"I can feel the power in your skin, and yet, you haven't trained to control it?"

"I had no one to teach me…"

Hakkai tsked.

"Then I find myself obligated…and delighted to help you." the kind smile spoke volumes

"Hakkai…you can teach her combat…however, power training and miko knowledge is something that must be passed from priest or priestess to priest or priestess. I will oversee her miko training."

"…thank you"

Once more, the priest snorted.

"I ain't doing this for you. That power could be dangerous if untrained."

/End flashback/

And so, her training had begun, and her she stood, four months later, after her fast track training had begun, next to the bone eaters well once more, bidding a tearful goodbye to her mentors.

"Thank you again" She managed, looking from the demon to the priest.

"Keep up your exercises. Diligence is the parent of control" Hakkai reminded her as he stepped forward to wrap her in a friendly hug, after a minute, the priest cleared his throat. Kagome gave one last squeeze before letting go and turning towards Sanzo. His hand stretched out towards her, baring a stack of papers, a quill and some ink, with which to make her seals. Smiling at his gesture, she surprised him by throwing her arms around him as well.

"Thank you"

Sanzo blushed slightly as she stepped back and accepted his gift, sliding it deftly into the pocket on the inside of her new miko's garbs. The top was the same pale yellow as Sanzo's own garbs, and her pants a deep black. She didn't know it, but they were Sanzo's colors…after all, he'd given them to her. Chancing one last look at the two, she turned and threw herself back into the time stream, her new strength in hand.

"We're really lucky we found her in time." Hakkai stated soberly as she disappeared.

Sanzo shook his head.

"She's not safe yet Hakkai…we can only hope that we managed to place a dent in her grim destiny."

OoOoOoOo

As the last of five hundred years slipped by her, she rose to her feet and began her climb from the well. Immediately as she hoisted herself over the lip of the wooden crater, she called forth her skills, allowing her aura and scent to drop away in an attempt to go unnoticed. With her newfound strength, the once unbearably heave yellow bag weighted next to nothing as it settled on her back. A burst of power and she sped for the village. While the speed was useful, she could only uphold if for small amounts of time before she had to resume walking. In this case, from the well to the outskirts of the same familiar village.

Kagome paused a moment, taking a deep breath of the clean, dusk air, her eyes drinking in the beauty of the sun as it sunk beyond the horizon. Her silent reverie faded, and she resumed her journey to Kaede's hut. It was still difficult to believe that four months had passed since she'd last spoke to the Elder woman. She rapped her knuckles lightly against the wooded frame before the answer reached her.

"Ye may enter." The wise voice drifted lazily past the matt, just loud enough for Kagome to hear.

Her smile was soft as she pushed aside the matt, treading lightly into the woman's abode. She let the chuckle past her lips once she heard the elder miko gasp.

"Kagome…ye have finally returned…and ye have changed."

With a nod, the younger set her back down and settled onto the floor across from Kaede.

"What has kept ye these past months?"

"Growing. I realized that, though I was happy that Inu Yasha was happy, I was still to hurt and weak to withstand seeing him with her, so I did what I could to see them happy, and improve myself. I went home to find the strength to return."

Kaede's smile was almost maternal…as though a mother looking upon her grown daughter in silent appreciation. In mere months, the young miko had grown from an uncertain child into this wise, strong woman before her, and Kaede could not stop her heart as it swelled with pride. "Ye seem to have gained more than the simple strength to face an old interest."

"In those months, I dedicated my energy to bettering myself in every way possible. And while I never managed to quell my fiery responses, I succeeded in harnessing my powers and learning to fight, under the tutelage of a very strong priest and his companion"

"Excellent tutelage I'd wager. Under the guidance of Sanzo, you couldn't help but improve."

Kagome blinked.

"How did you know it was Sanzo?"

At this, Kaede chuckled.

"Ye wear his colors, any who know Sanzo will know who taught ye."

Kagome flushed.

"THAT BASTARD! HE DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THAT!!!!"

"So child…what will ye do now?"
Calming her annoyance to answer the woman, she took a breath.

"I was going to join up with Inu Yasha…" Kagome's voice trailed at the look on Kaede's face.

"Kagome…Inu Yasha and the others haven't been back in two months. After ye left, they stopped in every week to see if you had returned….however…when it became apparent that you would not…they stopped checking."

Kagome sighed. She really had done a number here. Rising to her feet, she grasped her back and lifted the burned once more upon her back.

"Well, I'd better get going then…do you know which way they'd headed?"

"West…Be safe Kagome…and take these" Kaede advised, handing kagome a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Thank you Kaede. I'll see you soon…ish." She promised as she disappeared beyond the matt.

"ye have grown into a fine woman, kagome…may your new strength see you safe on the road ahead" Kaede uttered, sending that wish with the younger miko before she herself settled to sleep.

OoOoOoOo

To say that she was frustrated was to say that the sun was hot. The statement was correct, yet did not accurately represent the notion. The moon had reached it's peak position in the sky, and still kagome could not find inu yashas' energy signature. She had long sence stopped cursing her fat aloud, and settle for stewing quietly.

'your goal is to find and illiminate it using your meditation to locate it's weak energy signature."

Calming herself as she remembered training with Sanzo, Kagome stopped, rooting herself t where she stood, forcing her frustration to melt away…she concentrated, sifting before she felt the tug…it was distant, but it was there. Keeping hold of that energy, she burst into a run to find it's sorce. The forest whirled past her in an array of blurred grees and browns, running together as she made her way to the aura. Her pace slowed to a walk a mile outside their camp. She immediately masked her scent and aura, sneaking towards the camp with the intent of surprising them. However, the norion slid away like water in the river, as she came into view of the campsite. The fire crackled, dancing in the breezless summer night, illuminating the content figure of Sango resting contentedly on Miroku's lap, wrapped in his clothed arms, head settled on his shoulder. The feeling of contentment reached Kagome, even where she stood. Shippo lay curled into Kirara's side, sleeping soundly.

Looking farther, Kagome spotted Inu Yasha in his normal tree, Kikyo sleeping in his lap…peace. The one word described the scene before her perfectly. Smiling, she sent a quiet blessing, confirmed with a soft mewl from Kirara bidding kagome safety, and slipped away from the camp otherwise unnoticed, secure in the knowledge that their parths world cross again one day. Kagome continued onward, her new mission firm in mind…help the group by gathering shards independently, to help reduce Naraku's chances of getting them first. Kagome had never once seen the group so…relaxed and content. She supposed that time had worked its inexplicable magic in her absence, bringing the team closer together, into a sort of harmony. And while part of her longed to return, another part of her knew that to do so would have shattered that peace. She did not assume this in self loathing or blame, but rather accepted knowledge that it was too soon in their discovered peace to throw a new variable into the equation. She knew that she and Inu Yasha would fight, and place everyone back on edge…their bliss was too new to hold strong against a new member.

Pride had welle din her heart, now satisfied that she had made the right choices in both leaving for those months, and in giving inu Yasha away to Kikyo. The smile on the dead priestesses lips had been genuine, and Kagome was certain that the miko hadn't had anything to smile over in too long. But more than that was the new confidence she had senced in the hanyou holding kikyo. He had found his determining factor, and Kagome, while once pained, was now empowered with the knowledge that she had helped make a difference in removing herself and pushing Kikyo into the silver haired boys arms.

OoOoOoOo

The sun rose slowly, it's golden rays almost lazily caressing the sky with color, stroking the land with it's warm light, kissing the still wander miko's eep blue yese and raven locks, granting her the strength to continue walking. One foot in front of the other, she pushed herlef onward, certain that she senced a villiage in the distance. Finally succeeding in her litteral uphill journey, she looked to the base of the hil, her strength flooding back s she rushed into the sight before her.

A large bear youkai tore the roof from another house, carnal instincts apparent as It tore into the elder woman, reveling in her spilled blood. The villagers scattered in terror, and Kagome pushed through their knitts to a tall, bronze skinned man who appeared to be about late 30's. His long brown hair spiled down his back to his black trouser waistband.

"Sir…are you the village head?" She inquired, bringing his warm chocolate eyes to her form. He nodded. "What happened."

"Our village miko has been slain, and with her, our organization and hope."

Kagome growled, annoid that he would give up so easily.

"Get the women and children to your most fortified hut Make sure you take the injured with you, have the women who know of healing tend to them as best they can. I will see to this swine."

After a moment of hessitation, he turned towards the chaos, barking the orders that she had just given. She was pulled from her observations as a set of pale, cold arms that dripped with an evil aura snaked around her waist, pulling her back flush against a mass of solid chest that reaked of the same evil…but what alarmed her most was the obvious erection that rested between her buttocks. Turning her head slightly, she was able to see that mass of black hair that spilled over her shoulder as a set of cold, nerely ice lips caressed her ear.

"Ah miko. So you've returned after all…and no longer a girl…" his dangerous silk voice trailed as he brushed her breast through the thin fabric of her miko top. "But a lush woman." He growled. The voice was simple to identify, coupled with the lusty tinge behind it.

"Naraku."

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Butterfly: so…there we have it. First chapter. Yes, this is a SessXkag pairing. However, I feel that it would be far to convenient, and rushy, to have sesshomaru just sweep in out of nowhere because he 'happened to be patroling his lands at the same place, at the same time'. Not that I don't like those stories, because indeed, I have quite a few saved on my favorite links on my browser. However, I do find that it is to convenient. Sesshomaru wouldn't save her unless she proved interesting, and what does sessh find interesting? Power. And I had to make sure Kagome had plenty of it before the wonderful sexy beast himself showed up.

So. Hope you enjoyed. I'll update soon.

Please, read and review!!!