Maybe I am hiding in my own confusion,
Maybe we're just a picture in my head,
Maybe what if it could be the way I wish it was,
Maybe I don't wanna see it, the way it really is..

-The Way It Really Is

Chapter Seven: Reluctant Tutor

"As unfortunate as it is, Rimida is needed today elsewhere on my estate so I am temporarily taking his place as guard as well as beginning your training so you can learn how to better control the holy magic that you have access to." Sesshomaru explained as Kagome avoided meeting his golden eyes from where she was still holding the covers to her chest in the bed. He'd invaded her room before she'd gotten a chance to change out of her nightgown and the vulnerable position left her even more bashful than usual.

"You need to work on developing these powers so you don't use them without thinking about it as you've done a couple times in the past. You've accidentally caused harm in this way to some of my subordinates and this will help you cease to do such damage." he continued either without sensing her uncomfortable feelings at his presence or not caring that she felt such a way.

"I guess that makes sense, I don't want to hurt anyone." She nodded her accent and didn't move, still clinging the sheets against herself. "Can I be alone long enough to get dressed first?"

"I'll have Emera escort you to the training room when she's done with your treatment this morning. I will meet you there to work with you."

Kagome thought back on the morning's events with a mixed curiosity for what she would get to learn from Sesshomaru and a nervousness as to how well she would do with it. She walked along and looked at racks of weapons covering one of the walls of the extensive training room. It was mostly an open area but in some parts there were practice dummies and mats of different materials than the wooden floor. She was getting a little bored given that she had to have been waiting at least an hour already for her rude benefactor.

"Rimida will have to work with you on combative teachings as well if you are going to remain in this era. I recall that you were good with a bow but it's a matter of luck that you survived so long without any training in a melee weapon." Sesshomaru observed upon his arrival to the room, looking as he always did. She'd half expected some sort of other outfit for training but she was proven wrong as she turned to look him over.

"Um, if you think I should." was the quiet reply. "I never thought about learning stuff like that. It's not really needed where I'm from."

"Here it is…but that is something I can mention to Rimida later. For now the first step of helping you with your powers would be to let you learn to feel them when they arise. I'm going to raise the level of my energy and yours should react to that. Are you ready?"

He didn't give her a chance to agree or not to the question, instead she could already feel his darker energy and something inside her wanting to rise up and defend against it. It was a oddly recognizable sensation and she just managed to catch herself from lashing back. The effort was more than she'd imagined though and it left her a little dizzy, she shook her head and frowned a bit.

"It's hard." She mumbled. "Could you not use so much pressure?"

The request fell on deaf ears, Sesshomaru was curious how far he could push her, he didn't fear the purifying powers of a human, the worst he would end up with was a small burn or possibly a headache. He heightened the dark energy of his power toward her, watching her fight to keep her own holier magic at a equal level. She was thus-far managing to cancel out the negative effects such a show of demonic power would have on a normal human but she was starting to sweat a little. He could smell the salt on her skin as she narrowed her eyes to concentrate on him.

"Please stop." She seemed ready to beg. "I don't want to hurt you."

"All the power you possess couldn't do me harm." Sesshomaru answered icily. "Your subconscious seems to remember a lot even if you can't…though what training you received was poor at best. You put too much into fighting back, you should be able to match this level without much thought…the fact that you are already nearing your limit means you have a lot left to learn."

He pressed a little further, he wanted to use this time to learn just what her limits were so when he came to check on her progress he would have a definite basis for comparison the next time he administered this particular test.

"Why are you still…?" She asked distractedly, her breath starting to come a little harder. "Doing this? …thought…you just wanted…know…if I could."

She couldn't even manage to complete whole sentences as he continued to release his demonic force toward her, letting it wash over her weakening shield. Watching as she started to tremble a little, her eyes annoyed now as she did her best not to fail at this strange test.

"Damn guy thinks he's just the best." She thought irritably as she tried to blink her vision clear of the blur that was threatening to send her into another feint. "I don't wanna let him win."

She was becoming much less worried for his well-being as she got more annoyed with his attitude, her emotions managing to help her hone her defenses. Though she never really stood much of a chance at the whole silent battles beginning, it was always just a matter of time and how slowly or quickly Sesshomaru chose to heighten how much he pressed her shield.

She lasted a whole ten minutes before he'd pushed her too far and she blacked out where she stood, his quick steps allowing him to catch her long before she would hit the floor. A final flare of her energy burning into his hands and offering him a moment of dizziness for the sudden shock to his system. His recovery from that was almost instant though he still had to give the sleeping girl an appraising glance at the impressive moment.

"Wake up." He then ordered, shaking her a little bit and settling her feet gently down so she could take her time to stand on them on her own. "Wake up!"

"Huh?" she asked groggily as she managed to take her own feet, now just being held steady until she came more to her senses. "Sesshomaru? Did I feint again?"

"Something like that." He let her go when she seemed able to stand by herself. "I believe that is enough training for the moment. I think you'll do better working with Rimida when he finds the time again. I'll take you back to your room."

"Wait…" Kagome frowned then. "Why did you keep going when I asked you to stop?"

"It was needed to see what your limits were, I can't figure out if you've developed if I don't know where you began." He answered truthfully with a shrug. "You weren't harmed by it, perhaps a bit of a spiritual work-out but nothing that hurt you."

"But I asked you to stop." She was growing more angry with him at the moment. "Don't you respect anyone enough to listen to them? If you are only gonna treat me as another of your servants then you should just take me back to the village you say I'm from now."

"And what should I treat you as? You are just a mortal." Sesshomaru replied without returning the favor of raising his voice as she had. "I think that you are tired after your expulsion of so much of your holy power, I'll escort you back to your room."

He motioned lightly and then she noted that his hand was burned, staring at where it disappeared; covered by his long sleeve.

"Did I hurt you while I wasn't awake?" She asked without the mad tone she'd had a moment ago. Eyes having a hint of regret to them. "I didn't mean to."

"I said before it will take time to learn how to control. It is not damage of any note." He replied with a small shrug. "Shall we head back then?"

"Oh…I guess." Kagome said, shaken a little by the thought that she'd done harm to someone of his power - even if it was only a small amount. "Thanks for trying to help teach me."

He didn't answer her comment, simply taking her back to her room and telling her to stay there until another guard could be summoned for her. She sighed a little at being stuck in her room but didn't mind the chance to lay down for a while after what had occurred. She didn't know if she should be grateful for everything he was trying to do or angry at the way he was doing it and she was frustrated about her whole position in this and missing home more and more with each passing day.

End Chapter

Well, not quite what I actually wanted. Kagome and Sesshy don't wanna contribute to my fiction here growl and raise a fist at them. I figure Kagome should just be frustrated by Sesshy but realize that he is helping in his own jerk-like way. Til next time.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

LovingoOKawaiiOoGirl - The gang will probably see Kagome without her memory but they should be some help in at least letting her know where she really is and making her think she's crazy heh.

Cream-Bunny 156 - Might give it some Drama…hopefully anyway - a little drama in fiction is what you need wise nod. So moving things along here.

Flirtymiyu - Glad you do, should like where I take this then.