Kagome let out a large sigh. She had a lot on her mind as of late. She peered out the window from her place in the palace library. It was sunny outside and that made her smile. Kagome was seventeen which meant she was at the age where her aunt Izayoi and uncle Lord Toga would begin to find her a husband. Kagome had no desire to marry anyone but her aunt had been giving her the "we need to talk" look for two weeks now and Kagome could only avoid her for so long. The western palace was large, but not that large.
If her parents were still alive then it would be their job to find her a husband, but they were dead. They had been killed when Kagome was two and her younger brother Sota was just an infant. Her aunt Izayoi was already mated to Lord Toga at the time and Izayoi had taken Kagome and Sota in.
"Kagome?" Midoriko spoke suddenly, making Kagome jump.
"Sorry, I was thinking," Kagome mumbled.
"Well, it's almost time to end our lesson so lets have one last exercise. Try to focus your powers into a spherical ball," Midoriko instructed. Kagome sat with her legs crossed on a chair, by a desk that was covered with scrolls and scarp pieces of paper. When Lord Toga had discovered that Kagome was a miko he had quickly hired Midoriko to train her. Kagome had been taking lessons with the priestess since she was five. Their progress had been slow but now Kagome was working on refining her powers and gaining greater control over them. Her miko energy tended to flare up with the changing of her emotions and Midoriko thought it would be best to start a strict regiment of energy manipulation to reign in Kagome's powers. Kagome spent countless hours focusing her miko powers into a ball, a ray, just in the tips of her fingers, and on and on. Despite her frustration, Kagome could see that she was gaining more control over her powers and that her emotions had a diminished effect over their appearance. Kagome brought her hands close together and called forth a small ball of energy.
"Good. Now expand and then contract," Midoriko said gently. Kagome brought her hands farther apart and then back together. She then crushed the ball slowly between her palms until it disappeared. "I think we're all done for today." Kagome bowed deeply and thanked Midoriko for her lessons. The priestess rose and bowed and then took her leave. Kagome packed away all of her scrolls and scrap papers. She had been studying physics in the library before Midoriko arrived. Kagome was not allowed to receive a formal education like Sota was, since she was a girl, but she spent all of her free time pouring over scroll after scroll teaching herself. Kagome refused to be a step behind anyone and she valued her brain as an asset to her strength. When she glanced out the window she could see Sota running down the external walkway in his training uniform.
'Oh no! I'm going to be late!" Kagome rushed out the door and sprinted to her room.
Once in her room, she changed into her training uniform in record time and flung the door open once again. When she looked twice she saw Sesshomaru step out from behind the door with an annoyed look on his face.
"You almost hit me with that," He commented dryly.
"If you're here then I must not be as late as I think I am," Kagome smiled brightly.
"That is incorrect. We are both tremendously late," Sesshomaru smirked. Kagome shut her door and started down the hall at a light jog.
"Come on then!" Kagome waved him to follow her. Sesshomaru ran after her and soon caught up. Kagome had grown up around Sesshomaru and his half brother Inuyasha. Kagome and Sesshomaru both grew up together, however it took Kagome a great deal longer. She was only two when she first arrived at the western palace and even though Sesshomaru and her had both been fifteen years away from marrying age at the time, she had grown about four feet and 4 inches and Sesshomaru had stayed the same. He didn't really age during her childhood and into her teenage years but there were subtle changes in his face and body that indicated that he too was maturing. She also saw his attitude change. The Sesshomaru she remember from ten years ago was much more care free yet still loyal to his family. The Sesshomaru she knew now was hardened and callus at times. Sesshomaru's stride was long and powerful compared to her short quick steps as she fought to keep up to his pace. They arrived at the dojo to find Sota and Inuyasha already waiting there for them.
"You're late cousin," Inuyasha scolded her.
"Since when were you so concerned about my punctuality?" Kagome bit back.
"Come on sis! Let's practice!" Sota jumped up and grabbed his sword and practically threw hers right at Kagome. Kagome smiled at her little brother. She was pretty sure that fighting was his number one passion in life and he was always eager to practice. Kagome unsheathed her sword and walked towards the left side of the arena. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Sota and herself always practiced together as a "family," though Kagome mostly battled with Sota. Sesshomaru instructed them on their technique though Kagome often got the impression that he would rather not be there. Sesshomaru was, after all, very loyal to his father's command and if his father told Sesshomaru to instruct them then he would to the best of his ability. Kagome knew that Sesshomaru did not particularly like humans, after all, his father betrayed his mother with a human woman. Kagome thought it was this that made him turn more bitter over the years. His matured mind understood the situation differently than his adolescent one.
Kagome's attention was pulled back to Sota when he made himself ready and waited for Kagome to position herself accordingly. Kagome stretched out her sword in front of her and waited for Sota to rush into the fight. He always did and like clock work he came charging at her. Kagome side stepped him gracefully and Sota stumbled to come to a stop. He turned around and swung at Kagome. She blocked him down low and drove his sword back up. Sota stumbled back but swung down hard again. Kagome grunted a little with the force of his impact. She was pushed back a couple of steps. Sota had become strong over the last couple years and Kagome knew that the times when his older sister could easily beat him in a fight were coming to an end. Kagome twirled to the side as Sota tried to spear her with the sword.
"This ain't a dance Kagome!" Inuyasha jeered from the sidelines.
"Doesn't mean it can't look good," Kagome manged to bite out before she dodged another attack. She was growing tired so she swung her leg out to trip Sota and once he was firmly on the ground she stuck the tip of her sword to his throat.
"Good work bud," Kagome helped him up. Sota looked dejected.
"You still managed to beat me," Sota huffed.
"But you're getting better. Now to get some advice from Sesshomaru," Kagome patted him on the shoulder. Sota ran over to Sesshomaru were the taller demon knelt down to give his instructions. Kagome watch Sesshomaru maneuver the sword in Sota's hand to show him how to strike better and remind him to keep his wrist solid. Inuyasha jumped over to Kagome and nudged her.
"Mom wants to talk to you," Inuyasha said and Kagome sighed deeply.
"I know," Kagome rolled her eyes slightly.
"Ah so you know what it's about. How have you managed to evade that talk for so long?" Inuyasha grinned.
"I have my ways," Kagome gave him a cunning look.
"So avoidance?" Inuyasha said.
"Like the devil," Kagome muttered. Inuyasha chuckled to himself. He would be receiving that talk next year and he was looking forward to it. Sure, it meant that his parents would be picking his mate but he had another plan in mind all together. He was eager to tell Kagome about it once they had a chance to talk in private. Sesshomaru finished his talk with Sota and rose to his full height again. Inuyasha jumped in quickly.
"Our turn!" Inuyasha said excitedly.
"I have not spoken with Kagome," Sesshomaru replied.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to you after, since Inuyasha is so eager to get his butt kicked today," Kagome smirked.
"What'dya mean!" Inuyasha growled but he was already too pumped up about fighting with Sesshomaru that he quickly forgot anything else. Kagome stood aside with Sota to watch the two of them fight. Sota watched the boys like a student watching a teacher. He was trying to learn every skill and technique he could from the two men that he thought were the best fighters in the world. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sometimes fought hand to hand as well but today they were being civilized and used swords. Kagome watched Sota's eyes as they began to battle. He had so much focus that Kagome thought not even fire would distract him right now. Kagome turned her eyes to the battle as well. She did want to become better at using her sword but she also had a greater desire to train her miko powers. She had long since lost interest in watching the differences between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's sword techniques. Her eyes began to wonder to Sesshomaru himself. He was beautiful, if Kagome allowed herself to admit it. It was only recently that she had began to notice. She figured that her recent attentiveness to males had something to do with the timing of her aunt's interest in finding Kagome a husband.
Sesshomaru tripped Inuyasha the way Kagome had tripped Sota. He pointed his sword at Inuyasha's throat. Inuyasha grumbled but submitted. Sesshomaru took a couple of steps back and allowed Inuyasha to get up.
"You fall for the tricks of a child, halfbreed," Sesshomaru commented dryly.
"You're one to talk. You used the tricks of a girl," Inuyasha snapped back. Another thing Kagome had become very aware of was the hurt in Inuyasha's eyes every time Sesshomaru called him a halfbreed. It seemed like it did not affect him as much until this stage in his life, perhaps because his emotions were able to bounce back much faster in the past. Inuyasha grabbed a cloth and invited Sota to join him in the hot springs. The two boys left together, with Sota excitedly commenting and gesturing about Inuyasha's fighting ability.
"Your brother idolizes the halfbreed too much," Sesshomaru remarked.
"Jealous are we?" Kagome scoffed. Sesshomaru made a face but otherwise said nothing.
"You're wrists need work." Sesshomaru told her. Kagome gave an understanding nod. She listen as he once again explained how everything was in the wrist.
"It is your base. Without a solid foundation you will have nothing to go off of." Sesshomaru finished.
"Understood." Kagome said in a polite tone.
"Show me your downwards block again," Sesshomaru said and struck her sword with a solid swing. Kagome blocked downwards instinctively. He gave a nod and then swung his sword in a way that made her block upwards.
"Your arch is too high," Sesshomaru said. He raised his arm and pointed to where their swords had met, "here."
"Why is that important." Kagome said, sounding a little annoyed.
"Because it leaves you open to a physical strike." Sesshomaru said and before she could even blink, he attacked her. He shot his hand out and grabbed her hip. He swung his foot under her legs and used his arm to drive her down. He now had a solid hold on her and his sword was positioned above her, pointed at her throat. His body seems to encase hers and Kagome's mind wondered to feeling of it for the briefest moment.
"You didn't even warn me!" Kagome snapped. Her bones hurt from the force of impact.
"No enemy would." Sesshomaru said flatly. She glared up at him. Sesshomaru backed away and held out his hand to her. He helped her up and she placed her hands on her hips, annoyed.
"What else." Kagome asked, trying not to be too disrespectful.
"That is all for now." Sesshomaru told her. Kagome bowed and thanked him for the lesson. She left to go to her and her aunt's hot springs. Sesshomaru watched her leave with deep golden eyes. He had acted on impulse just a moment ago. He did not need to physically show her how an opponent could strike her but he had want to touch her, to place her beneath him. He shook off his feelings of dominance and headed to his own private hot springs. He was disappointed that his only fun activity was over for the day, he would have to spend the rest of the day with the eastern lord's daughter. This was his father latest pick for his mate. Sesshomaru hated the girl. She was far to tall and stuck up for her own good. Her neck was too long and her attitude was spoiled. Sesshomaru tried not to think about her until he needed to. Instead he headed quickly to his bath for some relaxation time.
