"Michiko, we will start training tonight."
Michiko, who'd just stepped into the clearing with Rin, opened her eyes wider.
"N-nani? Start training tonight, Sesshomaru-sama?
"Hai. You are a taiyoukai, daughter of the Lord of the Northern Land and Lady of the Western lands. You should start training early. I will teach you."
"Well... ok, then!!" Michiko suddenly let a small smile flit across her face.
"That way, I can protect Rin-chan if anything wants to hurt her!!"
Sesshomaru turned away, but before he walked away, Michiko caught the words, "If you wish."
Now-----
"Let's go."
With those words, Sesshomaru turned away and strided into the dark woods. Michiko hurried to catch up with her half-brother,
leaving their camp where Jaken and Rin were fast asleep, being watched over by Ah-Un. As they walked side-by-side, Michiko couldn't help but glance her head at Sesshomaru. So noble, so wise, so godlike... I wonder what type of training got Sesshomaru-sama these results... An expression of curiosity flitted lightly across Michiko's face, but Sesshomaru caught it.
"Never let expression onto your face, Michiko. You must work hard on that. When you are in battle, your opponents will read your emotions and rely on them to defeat you. Without emotions, however, you will have a much increased chance of winning.
Even when hit, do not show emotion or expression. Be unfazed. That is your first lesson."
So it's not just physical training; it's also mental training... thought Michiko.
And thus, began the little taiyoukai's training.
-----
I've never been this tired in my life, thought Michiko, leaning on a tree for support, panting hard. Sesshomaru-sama's really good. Wow; I wonder how long it took for him to learn all this.
"Michiko."
Her name coming from Sesshomaru-sama made Michiko look up for a second.
"You have gotton to a good start. Your strength is speed, especially. I noticed that the first time you awoke and hid behind me. You have excellent legs for sprinting and endurance. You hid behind me extremely quickly, as well. Another one of your strengths seem to be poison. When I tested you, your poison burned right through the tree. At your age, it should only go about three-fourths of the way. However, you need to work on emptiness and immunity. Like all youkai your age, you are all hyper almost all the time, and will be like that until you reach adolesence. I suggest you start on empty emotions now, though. It shouldn't be that hard, considering your past."
Michiko felt like she'd been punched brutally in the stomach. How... how could he talk about my past so casually?!! Oh, this hurts so bad... She barely listened to the rest of Sesshomaru's words, even though she was aware he was aware of that.
"Do you understand, Michiko?" Growled Sesshomaru.
Michiko jerked back into reality, but did and said nothing.
"I said, do you understand, Michiko?" Sesshomaru swiped his poison claws lightly across Michiko's cheek, on the the word "understand".
Michiko gasped and pulled away instinctively. How... how could my half-brother do this to me?! Oh, this hurts even worse, both physically and mentally!! Tears shot down her cheeks, a few dozen at a time. First my family dies... and now this!
Kami, how am I going to cope with my half-brother?!
-----
Birds chirped curiously at Michiko's dead face, unknowing her suffering. The birds' sounds were deaf to Michiko's ears, however. She thought only of Sesshomaru's physical punishment across her cheek which was already healing. He did it because... because I just didn't talk and agree with him?! Just because of that?! Why do I always have to agree with him? He is my half-brother and my elder, but that doesn't mean he can treat me that way! Especially because in the first place, he claimed that I would be able to remove emotion and expression because of my past. It's not fair, Michiko thought bitterly.
A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Michiko-chan! Are you ok? What happened?!"
"Nothing, Rin-chan." Michiko swept past the onnanoko without another word.
Rin hurried to catch up with Michiko, not letting Michiko's pain reach her.
"What's that on your face? It looks like a whip mark! Did those villagers do it to you? Maybe you should let Sesshomaru-sama look at it!"
Sesshomaru's name only made Michiko's blood boil even more. He was the cause of all of this! All the cause of her anguish and agony! Why did she have to go through all this?!!
I will pay him back one day. For sure.
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Translations:
-chan: used for young people, classmates, friends, etc.
kami: god
onnanoko: girl
-sama: used for extremely respected people
taiyoukai: great demon
youkai: demon
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(Author's note: Not a lot of translations, I know. But besides that, what do you think Michiko will do? Will she really betray Sesshomaru? Tell me your guesses and wishes!)