Chapter 6

A/N: I never knew how motivating reviews were until I read my first one, so I promise that each review will ensure an update. And will keep me from giving up on this story. Really(: Thanks to all of you who have reviewed. Constructive criticism is okay! Just not flames, please. If you don't like it, just let your lack of reviewing speak for you. Okay, well, here's chapter 6 of Love, Purify! Enjoy.

Kagome glanced at her mother's closed bedroom door as she passed by it in the hallway, her curiosity probing her, tempting her to press her ear against it to hear just what exactly Sesshoumaru was doing. Ever since he got here he had locked himself in there, only allowing her to come in when she was delivering lunch and dinner or when she was told to bring him coffee or tea. He would've remained unknown to his friends if Kurama and Yusuke hadn't sensed Sesshoumaru's demonic aura arise when he was angry at Kagome for spilling tea all over his pants.

Telling her friends about Sesshoumaru seemed to put them all at ease somewhat, especially when she explained who he was and what his intentions were regarding his stay here at her shrine. But, even with this newfound knowledge, they refused her idea of having them stop visiting her due to the fact that she was already protected. They had told her that it was best to be safe and they still should be around her as much as possible.

With a contented sigh, Kagome plopped down on her couch in the living room, her thoughts continuing to occupy her mind, distracting her from boredom. She recalled the difficulty she had trying to convince her aunty that it was okay for her to live at the shrine separated from her remaining family, and when she told her she was living with a very strong, capable man to protect her, her aunt's expression turned into one of utter disbelief and shock. "But, Kagome, that's immodest!" She had said. It was then Kagome couldn't take her words back to rephrase it in attempt to make the statement less… Well, to make the statement not seem like she just picked up a man and decided to live with him. It was a long argument, but when her aunty gave up she threw her hands up in the air and muttered underneath her breath before giving Kagome a hug, telling her that she just wished for her safety and to be on guard.

In a way, Kagome felt a little guilt of having everybody worrying over her. All of her family: her aunty, brothers, and even distant relatives in different cities that were notified of the entire incident from Aunt Shiori. She would count Sesshoumaru too, although it was more of making sure his life wasn't forfeit rather than her own, but still. And Keiko, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama…

Wait, Kagome thought. And what about this Hiei? If she remembered correctly, Yusuke said that this man, Hiei, watched over at night. Taking a look at the clock, Kagome read it to be a little past 9:00 pm, and, taking a look outside the living room window, she took in the darkness of night and the absence of the sun. It was right about this time when Hiei was said to be watching her home and ensuring her safety.

Well, it's better now than never… Having this thought in her mind, Kagome stood from the comfort of her couch and headed out the front door, letting the colder wind of the night blow against her body. She made her way forward so that she was in front of the well house, all her senses on alert trying to find any aura that may be nearby. How could this man have hidden from her this entire time? Kagome needed to sharpen her senses more or, maybe, she simply needed to be alert more often for, with her concentrating on finding his presence, she could sense a small amount of demon energy hiding away in the shadows of the trees surrounding the shrine.

"I know you're there!" Kagome yelled out. "Please come out! I wish to speak with you!" After a few, long moments of silence passed by, Kagome decided to yell out once more. "Hiei! Come out!" Then, realizing it sounded like a demand, she added a little quietly, "Please?"

This seemed to do the trick, for a black figure jumped from the trees growing behind the well house and landed in front of her. The darkness clouded the figure causing Kagome to squint. "Uhh… Just wait a minute, let me turn on the outdoor lights." It took a few seconds, but after Kagome had turned on the switch placed next to the front door and turned her head to fully view Hiei, she smiled and began approaching him.

"I'm Higurashi Kagome, as you might already know," She began. "You're Hiei, if I'm not mistaken?" The silence between them made Kagome inwardly sigh, her smile fading. Then, when she was about to speak, she heard his voice. "What do you want?" The smile that faded widened at his response. "I want… Help." Kagome expected the silence from him, taking this as an invitation to continue explaining herself. "I'm in need of training and… I find myself to be lacking fighting abilities. The others have told me that you're very strong and, well, I don't want to bother them because they have school and have other things to worry about. They tell me you have free time so I was wondering… You know, that you could…"

Hiei eyed her with an intense gaze as she continued talking and let everything she said sink into his brain. So she wanted him to train her. He let his eyes roam over her body, assessing her seemingly frail stature. Sure, her muscles in her arms were well-toned, but he wondered just how much fighting she had been through in her life. It must've been a small amount; she must've been pushed into the sidelines to be protected as others did the fighting for her. "…I've done my fair share of battles, so I have experience in defending myself using my spiritual powers." Hiei raised his brow at this before speaking, "You expect me to train you in spiritual powers? You are a miko, right? You are wasting your time, I can't train miko abilities." He turned away, ready to retreat back into the trees, but refrained upon hearing her speak.

"Wait! Just in hand to hand combat! And in sharpening my senses. Please, I don't want to be seen as this weak woman who needs to rely on everyone to be protected and safe… It'll probably even make your job easier." Hiei faced her.

"Then let's see what you can do."

Sensing his demonic aura spike, Kagome narrowed her eyes and readied herself. She barely dodged his punch, moving her head swiftly to the side, her left arm pushing his forearm away from her face. He was fast. For a flash of a moment, his fast speed made her recall the whole incident in the alleyway and the way those punches came at her in a blur.

I am not going repeat the same mistake.

He pulled his arm back as soon as he missed and, with incredible speed, aimed for her stomach. She caught it with her right hand and ducked when he punched with his left, taking the opportunity to swing her legs in a half-circular motion across the cement in attempt to trip him. He jumped, but Kagome foresaw this and reached up, grabbing his leg and yanking him downwards. Once his arm was within her reach, she went to grab for it and twisted it and pressed his back against her chest as she used her other arm to constrict his throat. Hiei held back a hiss as he felt immobilized and a surge of what could only be holy powers causing his throat and arm to burn. After a few moments of them in this position, Kagome let go, a smirk on her face.

She could see that he was not pleased as he turned to face her, his eyes holding a bit of irritation. "You said you only wanted training in hand-to-hand combat. I was not expecting your spiritual powers." The smirk plastered on her face then turned into a shy smile and she rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Well… You were so fast, and I suspect that you're so strong as well. It was sort of a reflex, knowing my opponent possessed high abilities… So. They just… Sorta just came out."

Despite her foul play, Hiei admitted that he was impressed. She kept up with his speed (to his surprise), she countered with the right movements, and she displayed the very good use of her spiritual powers. They would aid her in more ways than one if she demonstrated any further skill regarding her miko abilities.

Ignoring her explanation for her foul play, he began stating his observations to Kagome. "You really think I'm good?" She asked, hope in her heart. Hiei nodded, "Well, for your first impression you demonstrated a good amount of skill. But I still have doubts." Kagome's smile took a downturn and she sighed.

"So, why did you not display such skill before your ribs were broken?"

"You know," Kagome said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm asking myself that question right now. I know it sounds lame, but maybe it was because I was sick. I didn't think I would let myself get caught off guard…"

Right then and there Hiei decided to cut her off, pinning her against the wall of the house as he held her throat in a tight grip. Kagome gagged at the loss of air, and scratched at his wrists before taking a firm hold of them. Again, Hiei found himself holding back a hiss but instead narrowed his eyes in concentration as his wrists began to burn immensely at her touch. He could hear the sizzling of his skin and see the heat rise from beneath her palms. "Use your power to the full extent." Kagome's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously, still summoning some of her purification powers to burn him in hopes that he would let go. An idea popped into her head the moment Hiei raised her higher so that her feet were dangling, but she hesitated in carrying it out. "Do it." She shook her head once more, her anger rising and her patience thinning.

"He's asking for it. Do it, Kagome." Hiei turned his gaze from Kagome's face to the face of a rather tall man with silver hair and golden eyes standing at the house doorway. It was at this time that Kagome was pissed, and she damned the notion of not kicking Hiei in the crotch to spare him pain. So she did just that. Hiei immediately let go and grabbed his manhood intending to soothe the stinging sensation.

Kagome glowered over him. "Trying to get me to use my full purification powers are foolish, Hiei. I couldn't do it because purifying you would mean killing you! You were giving me a choice to either kill or be killed! And, if Sesshoumaru di -," She glanced at the silver-haired demon, paused, then cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, if Sesshoumaru-sama… Didn't intervene, you probably would've killed me, wouldn't you?" A glare made its way to the young man's face as his attention was fully on her. "No, I wouldn't have. You still had time to spare, you stupid woman." That only served as wood to Kagome's fiery temper. "Oh, so now I'm the stupid woman? The one who was stupid was you! Agh." Kagome took a deep breath and placed her hands on her hips. "I really should kick you in the crotch again. I really should, shouldn't I?"

It was amusing to say the least, but Sesshoumaru set aside that amusement as he looked the young man dressed in all black up and down. He could sense the amount of power this man held but did not unleash. He was holding back his abilities. While Kagome demonstrated good skills (as he saw through the kitchen window), he couldn't help but wonder what kind of battle would be fought if both this Hiei and Kagome were to use their full-blown power.

By now, Kagome and Hiei were at it again, engaging in combat for a third time. Sesshoumaru stood there and observed the fighting style of both fighters, but paid special attention to particularly Kagome and her movements. As the battle continued on without any further insults from the two, Sesshoumaru did see strength within the miko. Perhaps she truly was hindered simply because of her sickness? The idea was reassuring.

It was a few minutes passed 11 when Kagome decided to call it quits for the night, Sesshoumaru having left an hour before. Although she felt tired and sweaty, she gave Hiei the natural, brilliant smile that caught the interest of any man she'd come across. Hiei, although noticing her unique, intricate beauty, was left unfazed. "Thank you for sparring with me and training with me, Hiei." Her only response was a nod. "You know… You can come inside and -," Kagome couldn't finish for Hiei interrupted. "It's easier to detect threats from outside."

"Oh… Okay. Well, goodnight." She waved at him before making her way inside her home. Hiei watched her retreating figure, his mind on the training session they just had. He was holding back, but he could tell the woman was holding back her own abilities as well. Her fighting was not as bad as he had predicted them to be and had come to the conclusion that the day she was attacked, she was definitely distracted by something. She seemed to be the type who can handle situations like that on her own and, because of that, he had a good amount of respect for her.

But still – they all had to be safe. In order to not risk the failure of the mission they still must be around her. They couldn't have another assault like the last happen again. It was awhile before Hiei decided to perch atop a branch of a nearby tree, retreating to the usual silence of the night that he enjoyed before Kagome's training session came in.

Meanwhile, Kagome plopped upon her bed, relishing in the warmth and comfort of the sheets although she felt sticky with sweat. While the idea of getting up in five minutes in order to take a long, relaxing shower lay within her mind, she had no time to carry it out for sleep claimed her exhausted body too fast before she could even lift a finger.