Disclaimer: Why do I have to repeat myself?
Chapter 7
Kagome woke up the next day in a little hut. All she could remember is that she was showing Kikyo her powers, and then blank. "You fainted yesterday. Don't worry, you're safe." Kikyo said as she walked into the hut. "Oh did I?" Kagome said, a little embarrassed. "I will teach you how to control your powers…" "But?" Kagome said. "You have to let me die. My promise to InuYasha was that I would not rest until he is dead. And now that he's gone… I have no further purpose here in this life. Then you will get the rest of your soul." Kagome sat there quietly, watching Kikyo stir some herbs together. "Our first lesson will start today." Kikyo broke the silence. "We will see how strong your powers are right now. Then we will develop." She pointed to corner that contained 2 bows and 2 quivers of arrows. "We will find demons and kill them." "Okay." Kagome grabbed her quiver and bow, Kikyo did the same, and both mikos set out to kill.
After an hour of intense demon slaying, the two mikos took a break by a small river. "You are good with arrows." Kikyo said. "We must get started on creating barriers and concentrating your powers so that you can use them without arrows." Kagome stared at Kikyo exasperatedly. "Why so much in one day?" "This is not just for one day, or a week. As a matter of fact, I don't know how long this will take. But I know so far that you are a quick learner. And with that in mind, I hope that this will be quick." Kikyo returned to staring into the river. "Tomorrow, we will start meditating. It is the only way to enhance your powers." Kikyo got up and walked off towards the hut.
After the little spat with Shippo, InuYasha left towards Kagome's apartment. 'She sold our house.' InuYasha thought. He reached the apartment and used the key that Sango gave him to open the door. Kagome's scent overwhelmed him. It reduced him to tears. He hadn't seen Kagome in so long, and he was beginning to feel like he really died. He couldn't do anything about this feeling of loneliness and dread. He had to let Kagome finish her training. No matter how long it took.
Kagome woke up the next morning, feeling sore from the day before. "So many demons after the jewel." She said to herself as she unconsciously clutched at the jewel hanging around her neck. "Kagome, we must start our meditating." Kikyo stood in the doorways leading outside. "We will need nothing for today." Kikyo said as she turned and waited for Kagome. After Kagome got dressed, Kikyo led her to a clear field. It stretched out in all directions, and not a village in sight. "This spot will be perfect." Kikyo broke the silence. She sat cross-legged and motioned for Kagome to do the same. "Now, I want you to clear your thoughts and take deep breaths." Kagome closed her eyes, and started to take deep breaths. "Now," Kikyo said after 5 minutes, "I want you to think of all the good things that you have done. Your powers will be stronger and more pure if you feed them only good deeds, and not evil." Kikyo and Kagome sat across from each other, each alike but so different. Kagome focused on her life with InuYasha. Her fantasies about the future children, the numerous times they fought side by side. Usually this would be enough to make her depressed, but she felt InuYasha was out there somewhere, waiting on her. A warm feeling began to settle in her stomach. This was a unusual feeling to Kagome, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The warm feeling began to rise unto her chest, and it spread to her arms and legs. "Kagome, you should be feeling warmth now, am I correct?" Kikyo asked quietly. Kagome nodded her head, afraid that if she spoke, the warmth will leave her body. By now, the feeling had spread throughout her whole body, and Kagome was still thinking about InuYasha. His golden eyes; his silver hair. His claws that so tenderly stroked her when they made love. "Open your eyes, Kagome, and look at me"
Kagome opened her eyes slowly and gasped. She was totally surrounded by an orb or pinkish-purple light. The same color the Shikon no Tama gave off when it was purified. "This is your shield." Kikyo informed her. Kagome moved her head around and stared in amazement. "This shield will protect you from anything that will cause you harm. Even another priestess." With that, Kikyo stood and walked about 3 feet away from Kagome and her shield. Kikyo raised her right hand, and an orb of purple light shot out from her hand. It was coming straight for Kagome. Kagome clenched her eyes tight and waited for some kind of pain, but it never came. She opened her eyes and saw Kikyo walking towards her. "That one shot took most of my energy." Kagome stood and her shield faded away. She lightly touched the jewel and she found it to be warm to the touch.
On the walk back home, Kagome felt more relaxed and down to earth than she ever felt. When they reached the hut, it was already nightfall. Before it got too dark, the two mikos gathered enough firewood to last them through the night. "Why gather all this firewood when we have nothing to eat?" Kikyo questioned. "Don't worry. I have some food from my time." After Kagome had prepared the ramen, Kikyo looked at the cup hesitantly. Kagome noticed this and said, "Don't worry… InuYasha used to eat this all the time." She said the last part of the sentence quietly. "Kagome, I hope that you don't hold anything against me. I can't say that I have not held any ill will towards you… and I wish that this time that we will spend together will be time spent helping you." Kikyo sat with a bowl of ramen in her hands. She took her chopsticks and took a bite. To her surprise, it didn't taste so bad.
