Chapter 7

While Shippo had stayed asleep at the chair he had placed him at, Inuyasha continued to look through the books that his father had. He knew and could only hope that there was something here in his father's study that would help him get Kagome back no matter what the cost. Just as he had finished looking through another one of his father's book, Inuyasha looked up when he heard his brothers voice say, "I mean no disrespect but I had no idea that you had been taught how to read…can you write as well?"

"My mother was the daughter of a noble man, she made sure that I knew how to read and write. Kagome taught me as well, some things from her time that she taught I should know." Inuyasha growled.

"She hasn't returned I gather?" Sesshomaru stated as he took note of the sleeping pup by Inuyasha's side.

"No, I need your help." Inuyasha growled.

"What is it you need of this Sesshomaru?"

"I know you have probably read all of fathers book in here, did you ever read or do you ever remember reading about a way to get a mate back." Inuyasha growled.

"I have, but the method was if she had left you for abuse, I have no idea how it would work since your miko is not an ordinary mate." Sesshomaru explained.

"Do you remember which book it was in?" Inuyasha asked as he ignored his last comment.

"I do, but what do you think this will do?" Sesshomaru asked as he jumped up and reached for the book that he had read a century ago. "She is of a different time; this call will not affect her."

"I have to try something, I need her back." Inuyasha growled. "My pup needs his mother."

"So you recognize this fox kit as yours?" Sesshomaru questions as he handed the book to his brother.

"I do." Inuyasha answered without a second thought.

With a grin on his face, Sesshomaru turned around and began to look for another book for his brother to look over as he said, "Well then it would seem that you will also be needing the ritual to adopt him in demon terms."

"There's a way to do that?" Inuyasha asked as he looked up from the open book in hand to lock eyes with his brother.

"There is, however once the ritual has been completed you must present him to the lands as your first heir." Sesshomaru answered.

"I'm not doing the ritual until I have made Kagome my mate." Inuyasha stated in a stern voice.

"Very well then, a room has been prepared for you and your pup, you may take the books with you so that your son can have a proper bed to sleep in. I'll see you in the morning brother." Sesshomaru stated as he stood up to leave.

Knowing that he would need his rest so that he could go and get Kagome back without having to worry about resting, Inuyasha picked up Shippo and the two books his brother had given him to read and began to make his way to the bed room that had been prepared for. Inuyasha was not surprised when the room that had been prepared for him was the old room his mother and him stayed at when he was younger; Inuyasha placed Shippo on the bed before walking over to the desk to start looking for a way to get Kagome back. 'Damn it wench, you better not be doing anything reckless while I'm not with you.' Inuyasha thought as he began to read the first book.

Kagome had just arrived at the stage when she found everyone running around. Just as she had reached Mia and Sora, she took a step back as she tried to avoid their strange looks as she asked, "What's going on?"

"Well you see, Anna just got hurt and we need someone to fill in her part." Sora began.

"Kagome can you fill in for Anna?" Mia asked. "It would mean a lot to me and I'm sure you could do it."

"Um…but I don't even know the story you're putting on. How did Anna get hurt…maybe I could help her get better." Kagome answered. 'I'm not ready yet…I'm not sure if I could do this.'

"She shot herself on the shoulder while practicing shooting an arrow on the tight rope." Sora answered.

"Leon is Robin Hood and Sora here is Maid Marian." Mia added. "Do you know the story?"

"Not really…um…where is Anna?"

"They took her to the hospital since they had to remove the arrow." Sora answered.

"So will you help us?" Mia answered.

"She just started her training, if Anna couldn't do it what makes you think that she can?" Leon was heard as he landed next to Sora.

"Leon, just give her a chance, I'm sure she'll be able to do something." Sora hissed.

Not liking his silent challenge, Kagome locked eyes with Leon and said, "Alright, I'll take over but I'll use my own bow and arrow."

"You have a bow? Since when and why?" Sora asked.

"I was in the archery club back in high school. I brought it with since I have a lot of good memories with it." Kagome answered in a calm and even voice.

"Alright, now all we need to do is get Karlos to agree." Mia stated.

"How about you all go talk to him while I run and go and get my bow and arrow from my room. I won't take long." Kagome offered.

"Alright, we'll meet back here." Mia said as she turned to face everyone and said, "Alright everyone we're taking a ten minute break so that I can go and talk to Karlos about getting Kagome to fill in. We'll start again in ten."

Before Leon could offer to go with her, Kagome ran out of there like a bat out of hell and toward her room. She knew that her mother would kill her if she found out that she brought her bow and some of her arrows with her but she couldn't help it. A part of her just left safer knowing that she had a weapon to defend herself and her friends if it ever came down to it. Just as she had reached the beach on her way back, Kagome quickly and easily took aim as she hissed out, "Come out or get hurt."

"Kagome, what are you doing with that? Where did you get that from?" her father's voice was heard as he made himself known.

"Dad, jeez, don't scare me like that, I could have seriously hurt you." Kagome stated as she lowered her bow while placing the arrow back in its quiver. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I didn't see you at practice, now answer me." James answered. "Where did you get that from and what are you doing with it?"

"Of, I brought it with me since I was in the archery club back home. Mia asked me to fill in for Anna since she shot herself during practice." Kagome explained as she began to walk up ahead.

"Are you sure you'll be able to do this?" James asked in a worried voice.

"Yeah, I know I can do this. Please just trust me and let me do this." Kagome stated in a confident voice.

"Alright, if you're sure you want to do this." James said. "But the moment you almost get hit and the moment you get cut you are going to hand over the part to someone else."

"Fine, but that's not going to happen, feel free to watch since I might have to show Karlos and Mia that I can do this just fine." Kagome stated.

"Have you read over your part and your lines?" James asked as he walked along his daughter.

"Not yet since they haven't given it to me. But I'm sure I'll be fine with the line." Kagome stated with a smile on her face.

After a while of walking in silence, James turned to his daughter with a grin on his face and said, "You do know that you will have to practice with them with a safety net since no one is that confidant to practice with you without a net."

"I know, I'm sure I'll be able to block the net out somehow." Kagome stated before running up ahead when she noticed Leon's figure walking out. 'I'd be damned if I give him the chance to come and rush me.'

Once James and Leon walked in with Kagome at her side, she was not surprised when an upset Karlos walked up to them with a disappointed Mia at her side. Before Mia could say a word and before Karlos could say anything as well, Kagome took in a calming breath before she said, "I know that this is going to be tricky but I just ask that you give me a chance to prove to you that I can do this. Even if I do get hurt I will still do the part that you give me if you do not allow me to take Anna's place or if you wish to remove this part from the show but please just give me the chance to prove myself."

"James, she is your daughter and under your care…do you want her to go through with this?" Karlos asked as he turned to face his friend.

But before James could say a word, Kagome took in another deep breath and said, "I'm eighteen and legally I can do what I think is right without the permission of a parent."

"I'll allow it, only because I trust her when she says that she will not get hurt." James answered either way.

"Alright, but I'm not going to have anyone else up there with you until you prove that you can do this." Karlos stated.

"The mark where you're going to hit is already set up, all you have to do is make sure you hit the area by it, don't worry you don't have to hit it right on."

"Don't worry; I'll hit the bull's eye." Kagome whispered before she jumped up and onto the stage.

"Leon, I want you up there in case she does get hurt, make sure to catch her before she can hit the net like Anna did with the arrow." Mia was heard.

Knowing that it was just as a safety measure, Kagome waited for Leon to take his place so that she could know where he would be and so that she wouldn't let her miko energy near him. It wasn't until she noticed that he had decided to set himself up so close to her that she realized that she didn't know how to shot an arrow without putting miko energy into it. After taking in a deep breath and focusing so that her miko energy so that it would see Leon as a friend and not a target, Kagome began to move around on the tight ropes as she continued to jump higher while spinning. Before Mia could call out to her and tell her that she didn't have to be moving when she was firing since Anna had gotten hurt while trying to fire the arrow while on the tight rope, they watched with open mouths as Kagome hit her mark as she twisted in the air before making her way back to the tight rope.

Just as she had landed, Kagome turned to face Leon one to have her heart stopped when she noticed the look on his face. As she turned to look at everyone at the ground Kagome realized that she had been so focused on protecting Leon from her miko energy that he put a little bit too much into her arrow. What she didn't know was that she had put enough energy into her arrow so that her miko energy took the form of a small dragon that surrounded her arrow.

Just as she had landed at the bottom of the stage, Kagome was not surprised when Leon landed behind her with a protect aura around him. Before anyone could start asking questions, Kagome was not surprised when her father reached her and asked, "Kagome how did you do that?"

"Do what, I was spinning, it was either I focused on my target or I risked hitting someone and I sure as hell didn't want to hit anyone." Kagome answered with a smile on her face.

"I think what your father is trying to ask you is what was that pink glow around your arrow?" Karlos was heard as everyone stood behind him while looking at her funny.

Knowing that there was no way around it, Kagome turned to her father and answered in Japanese, "I was in the archery club back in my high school but I found out that I was a miko during middle school, the glow light around the arrow was my miko energy."

(A/N: For the record the bold will be what is side in Japanese…now on with the story and I hope you are enjoying it so far. )

"What did she say?" a girl was heard.

After clearing his throat and turning to face Karlos, James was heard say, "She said that she is a priestess, that the aura around the arrow was her energy."

"Priestess?" everyone was heard.

"Wow." Sora and May were heard.

Realizing that they weren't going to believe her father, Kagome turned to Leon and asked him, "Can I show them that my father is not lying? I won't hurt you, but I want them to see that I'm telling them the truth."

Leong glared at Kagome before letting out a low growling sound that only she would hear before he answered, "I do not want them to know what I am, we are in hiding for a reason. I will not help you."

After taking a calm breath and understanding where he was coming from, Kagome turned to everyone and said, "I really am a miko, what my father says is no lie. If you don't believe him then I can prove it to you all."

"How?" Karlos asked before anyone else could say a word.

"I can heal Anna of the wound she gives herself. Whether you want her in the show or not I can heal her, I'm not going to fight for the part but if Anna really wants to do this then I can heal her every time she gets hurt until she gets it right."

"Wait a minute; you don't have to prove anything to anyone." James was heard.

"She already said that she would prove herself!" some girls were heard.

"Yeah, prove it!" some of the guys were heard while those that were all demons in hiding just locked eyes with her.

"I'm sorry James but she is the one that offered to prove herself. I cannot let her get away with this." Karlos was heard before he turned to Sora, and Mia to added, "Go and get Anna. Bring the Kate with you in case she proves that she was just lying."

Knowing that they had no choice but to do what they were told the two girls ran off with their friends close behind. While others sat down to wait for this lying girl to 'prove' herself as a priestess, Kagome took in a deep breath as she placed her bow down and close to Leon knowing that he would keep watch over it. As she began to mediate so that she would have complete control over her powers, Kagome was not surprised when she heard her father say, "You don't have to do this you know, you don't have to waken yourself just to prove to them that you are a miko."

After taking another calming breath, Kagome kept her eyes closed as she said, "I know I don't have to but I want to, I know that they won't believe if I don't do this. I don't think I can stand the whispering behind my back or the rumors that this would start if I don't do this…besides I'm a well trained miko, I'll be fine."

Realizing that they were just being looked at funny, James took a step back and said, "Alright, if it's what you want to do and if you're sure that this will not drain you then I won't stop you."

"Thank you." Kagome whispered as she kept her eyes closed. 'Since I've never tried this I just hope to god that this works. I'm sure I can do this, Kaede explained it to me once, I just never got the chance to try it…but I know I can do this…I have to do this.'

Once her father was far enough away, Leong let out a long sigh and said, "He's right, you don't have to do this."

"I know, but I want to do this, since this is my first time doing this just stay way so that I don't risk exposing you. Tell the rest that are in hiding to do the same. I have already been told the process but it's my first time trying it so just to be safe stand clear of me." Kagome answered.

Knowing that he would only be worrying her if he stayed close by, Leon placed her bow right next to her before he began to make his way up to the top of the sitting area where he would watch. If she was left drained then he would go home and speak with his mother so that he would be able to bring her back some herbs that would help her recover. 'Mother would want to know and I'm sure that father knows what's going on…at least I hope he knows what's going on.' Leon couldn't help but think as the other few demons that were hiding alongside the humans that were employed by Karlos sat down by him.

By the time she had been done mediating, Kagome opened her eyes only to watch as Anna walked in with Sora and Mia at her side. Behind them was a blond woman whom she figured was Kate, the doctor that was employed by Karlos. After taking another calming breath, Kagome smiled at Anna and asked, "Did they explain to you what's going on here?"

"Yeah, do I need to remove the sling?" Anna asked as she referred to the cloth that held her arms against her chest.

"Yeah, but don't worry, you won't feel a thing." Kagome told her as she placed her now glowing hand on over the wound so that Anna could carefully but quickly remove the sling.

Sora looked at Kagome and said, "You really are a priestess aren't you?"

"Yeah, so don't worry about your friend, I promise that she'll be fine." Kagome answered.

Once the sling was off, Kagome closed her eyes and began to heal Anna. The wound wasn't as serious as most wounds she had been taught to heal and since it was a simple healing, Kagome knew that she would do it right. Just as she had finished healing her, Kagome pulled away and said, "It wasn't that serious of a wound so you don't have to worry about it leaving a scar."

"I was never worried about that." Anna whispered with a smile on her face before she said, "Thank you."

"Anna, show us." Karlos was heard.

"Not yet, I need look over the area first." Kate was heard as she walked over to the two girls.

"I was able to tell that it didn't hit anything major so she should be able to start on the stage after a good night's rest." Kagome told Kate with a smile on her face.

After looking over the wound, Kate nodded her head in agreement and said, "You're right, she just needs to relax her muscle for the night and she'll be able to start on the stage tomorrow."

"Anna show us your wound." Karlos was heard again.

With a smile on her face, Anna removed her shirt and showed them all that she no longer had her wound. Once they had all seen the proof, Anna looked at everyone and said, "She wasn't lying, she really is a priestess."

While everyone just started at her with an open mouth, the demons in the back that sat with Leon all turned to look at each other and whispered, "It would seem she wasn't lying when she said that she was a well trained miko."

"So it seems, but can we trust her enough to know that she will not reveal us." Another was heard.

"I think we can trust her, in fact I'm not worried about anything." The girl cat demon hissed in Kagome's defense before making her way down to greet Kagome properly.

"What do you think Leon?" the others were heard.

"I agree with the cat…we'll be able to trust her." Leon growled before he made his way down.

With a smile on his face, James turned to Karlos and asked, "So, are you going to allow her to fill in?"

"Actually, if Anna still wants the part I'll step down." Kagome was heard before Karlos could say a word.

"Are you kidding me, there is no way I'm doing something that painful again, you go ahead and take the part, I'll cover you." Anna stated with a grin on her face.

"Anna are you sure about this?" Mia was heard.

"Yes, Karlos I want to give Kagome my spot." Anna stated as she locked eyes with the boss.

"Alright, Mia start the practice, I think you all have had a long enough break." Karlos stated before he took his leave.

"Yes sir, alright guys let's start from the top." Mia was heard as she began to make her way to the front of the stage.

With a smile on her face, Kagome turned to Mia while everyone took their place and asked, "Um…for the performance are you going to want me to use my miko energy or are you going to want me to shot an arrow without it glowing?"

"Well I don't know, I'll think about it and then we'll see how it looks with your glowing arrow and without." Mia answered. "I guess for now the important thing for you to do right now would be for you to go and learn your lines and you're routine. I'm sure Anna can help you."

"Alright, but when do I start to practice with the rest of you?" Kagome asked in a worried voice.

"Um…how about two days." Mia was heard.

"The show will be put up soon. She has one day." Leon was heard before he jumped up and onto the stage.

"Please try as best as you can." Sora added. "We need to all practice together."

"I'll have it ready by the end of the day…come on Anna, if you want I can show you what I was doing." Kagome was heard as she began to lead the way to the practice room.

"Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to have to practice a lot or change it?" Anna mumbled.

With a smile on her face, Kagome turned to face Anna and answered, "Because you're probably right…come on its not that bad."

"Sure and getting hit with an arrow doesn't hurt at all." Anna stated.

"Not really." Kagome whispered as she walked up ahead. 'After you've been hit with demon attacks and poisoned, tricked, and shot with an arrow you learn how to deal with pain…at least I did.'

A/N: Well there you have it, please let me know what you all think. I know that Leon really doesn't do kids shows for those of you who have watched Kaleido Stage but I just couldn't help it. That and you all know that Sora has softened him up a bit. Please let me know what you all think of the story so far…REIVEW!

Darkiceone