"OH It's the Same ole' Song but with a different theme since you been gone"…

-The Four Tops

Hey all! This is the third chapter, things are getting interesting and I am not completely sure how this is all going to work out, so bear with me. I hope you enjoy the fic! Remember, Read and Review!

Chapter 3: Regimens and Requirements

Kagome fell into a room. All it contained was a bed, a table and a chair. She looked down to see that she was wearing a blue yukata and white pants. As she stood up, a woman with the traditional red and white miko uniform came in the door. She was about Kagome's height. She had gray hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked about 50 in age.

"So, I see you're ready. Come with me." Kagome followed the older woman out of her room and out of the building. She was in a village full of people with every day lives. She noticed that she was in Feudal Japan. When she looked to the right she saw women and children walking and running around the dirt path into the market. She looked to the right to see men faraway making and planting crops in the fields. The town was very happy and peaceful. Kagome felt she could get used to the town. As she and the woman walked forward, they approached more wooded areas with trees and animal life. Kagome noticed them walking towards a river. The woman stopped there at the riverbank. She turned to face Kagome.

"Now, you are the bathe in the river for 3 days. No food just the water around you. You are cleansing your body of anything impure in it. Use this time the rethink and make certain that ye want to undergo this training."

"Ano…miko-sama what's your name?"

"I am Kaiko. You are to just let go over everything. You are to let go of any thoughts besides to train you miko abilities. Other thoughts could interfere with your concentration. My one rule is never question me or my methods. Now once you get into the water you will be invisible to everyone but myself. Remember, clear you mind of everything." Kaiko began walking away and disappeared.

Kagome looked around and sighed. She sat on a nearby rock and noticed that there was a robe lying there folded. Kagome changed quickly into the robe and walked into the water. As the water level increased, she began floating in the water. She cleared her mind of everything that made her emotions react uncontrollably. Kagome tried not to think of the recent events.

Kagome never quite got over Inuyasha being dragged to hell, Kikyo smiling, Shippo and the others dying. It still brought tears to her eyes but she would not let that control her. This also motivated her to become stronger. They were trying to protect her, the poor untrained miko from the future. She refused to be labeled that anymore. Kagome had been fighting with herself for hours trying to clear this memory but it kept coming back to her like a haunting dream.

She sighed as she turned face up in the water. She looked at the moon glistening above her. The moon had always been comforting for her and it helped her relax. Kagome's raven hair was spread out in the water as it shimmered under the night sky giving the appearance of it being the color midnight blue. As she relaxed in the water, she felt herself getting sleepy so she retreated to the shallow water and laid on the rocks. The last thought she had was Remi, Rin and Sesshoumaru…

"When will Kagome-Onee-Chan be back?" Rin looked up at Remi as she stroked her hair.

"She'll be back soon." 'I hope. I wonder will she be okay.' She looked back down at Rin's big brown eyes. "She's alright Rin-Chan. She'll be back soon."

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru was in his study doing work. He couldn't seem to concentrate with Rin making such a fuss over Kagome not being there. 'With the way Rin's acting, I may never get rid of her.' He dismissed such thoughts and went back to work.

Kagome was getting back into her clothes as Kaiko walked towards the forest. Kagome ran to catch up with her.

"You need to learn to get ready quicker and your senses are dull. You didn't even know I was right there until I shook you slightly. We have a lot to cover in our short time together." Kagome sighed. ' I thought my powers were alright.'

'For an untrained miko your powers are amazing but they also need to be tuned and trained.' Kagome looked to see Kaiko smiling.

"That's just a taste of what you'll be able to do. Now come, I'll introduce you to your other classmate." Kagome just nodded and followed Kaiko to the big building.

"Here, we are going to test you and see what you can already do. Then we will decide what kind of training to put you through."

"Kaiko-sama, what are the different kinds of training?"

"Well, since you have a limited time to be hear, all of them will be accelerated and be very difficult. Failure won't be tolerated. There are 4 different kinds of training. You could go through beginning training which teaches you all the basics of being a miko. The intermediate training teaches you the basics, herbal studies plus gives you experience in a regimen. The advanced one teaches the basics, herbal studies, incorporated with survival and tracking along with experience. The most difficult level is the expert level, which teaches you any and everything you need to know to be a miko, deals with physical fitness, herbal studies, survival training and then experience."

"I think I can do the expert level, if you'll allow me."

"You know that many people can't handle the pressure of the expert level."

"I am aware of everything you said but I want to learn everything I can about it. I want to do the expert training." Kaiko smiled.

"I like your ambition Kagome are you absolutely sure that is what you want to do?"

"Hai, Kaiko-sama, I am sure." Kaiko sighed.

"Alright then, let me introduce you to the other student who was interested in this." Kaiko motioned someone over. As Kagome saw her walk over, her eyes widened. It was none other than Chaka standing there in the flesh. Though she looked a few years younger than Chaka in the present there was no mistaking her.

"Kagome this is Chaka."

"Konnichiwa, Chaka-san."

"Konnichiwa, Kagome-san."

"Now that introductions are done, lets continue." Kagome and Chaka followed Kaiko to another area.

There was another big building. It looked thin from the out side but when you went inside you noticed how sturdy it was. The first thing you see when you go inside is a dojo and archer room. Then there is a room that's completely empty its all white and then there's a window at the top, like a simulation room.

In the back of the building was a lot of open space. It was marked like some sort of trail. To the right was another building it looked rather small and beside was a waterfall hot spring. Kagome looked at everything surprised and in awe.

"Here will be where all of your training will take place. And to the right is where you'll be staying. You are to be here at dawn and leave at dusk. I will know if you are late or not and I will know if you leave early. I will be here to train you personally everyday. I don't care whether its raining or not, you are to be hear on time, is that understood?" Kagome and Chaka nodded.

"Good, welcome to your first day of training." They were now in the dojo and archer room. "Today, I will test to see how good you are with a bow and arrow and unlike the other training regimens you will also learn to use a short sword. So pick up a bow and a quiver and we can begin." Kagome confident picked up the bow and a quiver of arrows with a smirk. Chaka's expression didn't change. They looked at Kaiko for further instructions.

"Now look at the targets in front of you. Chaka, you go first. I want you to concentrate all of your energy at the target." Chaka nodded her head and looked at the target. The arrow started pulsing and glowing purple. Chaka closed her eyes briefly and then opened them. She fired the arrow and hit the target dead in the middle as well as cracked the wall.

"Ano, Kaiko-sensei, my arrows have never done anything but purify. I'm not sure if it will have much of an affect."

"Go ahead, let's see what you can do." Kagome looked at the other target. She swallowed and relaxed. 'Okay, I can do this.' She pulled the string back and concentrated. Her arrow glowed bright blue as she closed her eyes. As she opened them, she let the arrow fly. It hit the arrow dead center, the crack in the wall disappeared, and the wall looked brand new. Kaiko nodded in approval.

"Interesting, Chaka your power is useful in a battle because it can be used as a weapon to destroy something. Though in this line of work, it complicates things because some people are possessed or otherwise and are killed. Kagome's power however has manifested into a healing and purifying power. This can be used when possessed or otherwise people but for demons only purifies them and sometimes they are not defeated."

"Hmm," mused Kaiko, "its funny how things manifest differently. We need to get your powers to develop where it can be either or depending on the intention of the user. Can either of you use you power through your hands?" Kagome nodded her head slowly.

"Kaiko-Sama, I can but if I don't concentrate I just purify anything I touch." Kagome said.

"I've never been able to manage using my powers through my hands." Said Chaka quietly.

" Okay Kagome, lets see what you have. I want you to concentrate your power on that statue." Kagome nodded and went to the statue. She concentrated on it and it disintegrated. Kagome slumped to her knees.

"Please, don't overexert yourself Kagome. That's not what this is about. Its about learning balance and control over your power." Kagome struggled to get up but she made herself get up and walk behind Kaiko. 'I can't fail at this. I have to be strong for myself and my friends.'

"Okay, Kagome, since you can do that, have your arrows ever been a combination of that power and your purifying power?"

"Hai, but only twice."

"Okay, this power will come in handy when you are disarmed or caught off guard by a dangerous adversary. It can also be useful when your enemies are impenetrable by any weapons. Some of your enemies are going to have thick skin or armor that can't be penetrated by arrows or swords or guns. So you must always be prepared for any situation. This regimen will stretch your human senses and power to the limit. Do both of you still want to under go this training?" Both Kagome and Chaka nodded.

"Okay, then here." Kaiko summoned equipment for each of them. It consisted of weights for each of their arms and legs, two blue suits with matching armor (Think Sango's outfit), two sheathed swords along with two bows, and a list.

The list had what you are to do before you come, things you do after training, requirements and what you could eat. Before you came to training you had to run 1-½ miles to and from your destination, bathe and eat breakfast and keep an herbal garden. After training, you are to meditate, eat dinner, run another 1-½ miles to and from your destination and sleep until dawn. Each month the amount you run increases by a 1-½ mile. Kagome gaped when she looked at the list. 'In the last month I'll be running 36 miles a day.'

The next part was the worst though. The requirements said that you are to where your equipment at all times and everyday. That includes the weights as well. "All of these are your requirements. Now I will let you to rest for today but tomorrow your routine starts. If I were you I would figure out where I'm running to and only one break because I'll be watching. See you tomorrow. Don't be late. I don't think you'll enjoy the consequences." Kaiko suddenly disappeared, leaving Chaka and Kagome there.

"Well, Chaka-san, how about we run together that way we aren't late and we can become friends."

"Okay, there's nothing against that in the rules." Kagome smiled as Chaka and her headed to the house behind the dojo.

End of Chapter 3