Chapter 7 The Spar

Maeko woke the next morning. She felt refreshed and ready for the spar now but she would wait. She walked down to the dining hall and found everyone was awake already eating breakfast.

"Morning Maeko." Kagome said. She smiled back at her and sat at her usual spot. She saw that Sesshoumaru wasn't at the table. She watched as the others talked and ate. She finished eating and went out to the garden leaving the arguing Sango and Miroku. She sat on the bench enjoying the fresh scent of flowers. It made her think of the old times at home. She uses to play in the gardens with her little sister. How she missed her. She saw Kagome was walking towards her She smiled at her. "How are things going Kagome." She asked.

"Oh okay I suppose."

She nodded and yet she could sense something bothered her still. She had felt it the other night but didn't ask upon it. "Umm Kagome not to intrude but you seem bothered by something, can I help you?" she asked.

She heard Kagome sigh. "I don't know." They sat there for a while then Kagome blurted out "Well I umm. I well hmm how do I say this I'm confused about Inuyasha." She could see the cheeks blush.

"Oh. That huh. Well have you talked to him about this?" She inquired.

"No!" Kagome replied quickly.

"Well I think you care for him don't you Kagome?" she asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"Do you care more for him maybe like love him." She saw again her cheeks redden even more.

"Well that's why I'm confused."

"Well it's obvious that he cares for you."

"How do you know?"

"Oh I just know. Maybe when you feel the time is right you can talk to him about this."

"But there's a problem umm Kikyou." Kagome said.

"Well by the looks of her the other night I don't think she's a problem Kagome." She said.

Soon they saw Sango run up to them. "Kagome-chan, Inuyasha is fighting with Sesshoumaru." She said.

Maeko got up. "Let's go watch Kagome." But she soon saw Kagome was way ahead of her. She shouldn't fret so much isn't like he's going to kill him. She walked down towards the other side and saw the brothers in a battle. She saw the last blow as Inuyasha flew down into the ground from a hit from Sesshoumaru. That was too bad, she thought. She watched as Inuyasha struggled up.

"Inuyasha you need to think before you hit me. Try to figure out the outcome. You know tactics." Sesshoumaru said glumly.

"So I see Sesshoumaru is actually trying to train his little brother." She said.

"Trying is the key word." Said Miroku.

She saw Inuyasha huff and puff. "Oh take a rest Inuyasha." She drew her Katana. "My turn." She said. They all watch as Maeko entered the ring. "You promised" she smiled at him. She took her battle stance.

"Now the rules are first round you don't have any weapons, then next round one weapon is allowed. The next you pick another different weapon. The third/last round will determine the winner." Miroku said. She nodded and laid her katana on the ground. Then her daggers. She took her battle stance and waited for him. They slowly started walking around each other then she lunged out with a right swing. She knew he would dodge that. She kept swinging with her yokai speed. He dodged matching her own speed. She knew he was just waiting for the perfect chance to get her. She kept her guard up waiting for it, too.

From below Kagome watched at amazement the two was fighting with great speed. At some points she could only see blurs of actions. She saw that Maeko fought with different techniques a lot. She figures she must have had many trainers. She didn't know Maeko was such a good fighter because she didn't look like one. She was graceful and serene. Now her determined side showed and her skills.

Maeko saw her chance at winning this spar. She jumped quickly into the sky making a somersault and ending up behind him. She grabs his arms and twists it behind him. "Do you give up Sesshoumaru?" she asks. She suddenly felt her heart beat faster and her palms sweat. What the hell is going on she thought. "Well." She asked. Her only answer was silence. Many was watching and waiting what was going to happen now. Could the Sesshoumaru of Western Lands been defeated in a simple spar? Of course not.

Sesshoumaru was slightly shocked that she bested him at this match but he also saw a loophole. Soon he felt her heart quickens and her breathing slightly labored. What was wrong with her, he thought. She wasn't in any sort of pain. He couldn't understand. He then decided to act upon the flaw. Using his feet he quickly snaps it back, tripping her. He swiftly turns around and now held her own arms. He twisted them behind and used his feet to lock her legs. "Now who is going to give up." His only reply was a grunt.

"I declare winner of the first round to Sesshoumaru. It was fought bravely by the beautiful Maeko though." Miroku exclaimed. Sango shot him and evil look and he coward down in her gaze. "Now to round two." Miroku announces. "What is your weapon Sesshoumaru?" asks Miroku. He decided upon his whip and pulls it out.

He sees Maeko draw out her katana. He didn't know how to put this but he felt joy in sparring with her. He didn't know why. It was just a spar nothing special about it. Yet he knew something was special about even though he tried not to admit it. He bows and stands up. He sees her bow back and the battle started. He threw his whip out only to miss her. He kept throwing then. He knew this would tire her soon. He saw her burst with speed and raise her sword up. He quickly throws his whip out and wraps it around her sword. He draws back as the sword was taken from her grasp. She glared at him but smiled smartly. "Your now weaponless why are you smiling." He asked. He retracts his whip and throws it at her only to hit nothing but air. He looks back and sees she was standing by her sword. He should of known a mistake like that could lead to his downfall. She grabs her sword and readies herself. He throws out his whip and saw it swirl around her sword. It was his turn to smirk. He pulls on it and felt a tug back.

"Not this time" She smirked.

The flicks his wrist slightly and controlling the electrical charge he didn't want to kill her. So he lowered the voltage and then sent it out. He heard her grit her teeth as the charge coursed through her body. Angered seem to flow from her. He saw the sword suddenly flashing red and the sword crackled with too much energy sending the flow back to him. He clenched his teeth and knew it would pass soon. After it faded he felt a wave of heat come at him. He looked up to see the sword continued to glow. Yanking hard on his whip he drew it back. His flesh burned and his blood seem to be on fire coursing through his veins. He knelt slightly then fell to his knees. It burned so much. He gritted his teeth. He never encountered this kind of attack. "Winner of round two Maeko!!" exclaimed Miroku.

Maeko watched her opponent knell. It was sad she had to do that but he shouldn't have gone for the sword. She remembered learning this attack from her very own mother. She walked up to him and placed her hand under his chin bringing his face up to look at her. She saw shock in his eyes and admiration? She wasn't quiet sure but she placed her hand on his forehead and closed her eyes letting her cooling touch spread.

He saw her hand fall on his forehead and soon the burning sensation ceased and he felt normal. He was surprised it was stopped so easily. He stood up and flexed his hands and it felt like new. He couldn't believe it. "You should teach me that." He merely said.

"Well can't be done." She replied.

"Why not?" he demanded.

"It is only in our clan."

He felt stares on him and looked at them. He saw the kitsune look down quickly. "Okay now for round three go at it."

Sesshoumaru stood up and unsheathed his sword. The rival to the Tetsusaiga the Toukijin. He saw her draw out her katana. Her sword doesn't even match this one he thought. He taps into his yokai powers and quickly speeds up to her. He slashes but was blocked with her sword. They kept at it when suddenly a blue inferno came at him. He dodged it easily but became more cautious. He saw her eyes brighten and another one came at him then another all in repetition. He dodged quickly and felt his sweat fall across his face. He saw her began to rise up and hover above the ground. Then he saw a flame trail out and span out into a circle around him. It spreads quickly making the circle smaller and smaller. He jumps up and lands on the other side. Soon the flame trails back and continues to try to capture him. He looks up to see her watch him intently. She stopped the flames 5 feet from him. He uses his yokai speed and quickly jumps up and charges at her with his sword. He mets with her sword and they went into an intense sword battle. They went at great speed any human eye couldn't catch. Suddenly the land erupted into blue flames covering the fight. The flames obsurred their vision. They could only catch glimpses as the flames lept out. The group had to back up from the scorching heat. The flames lessened to reveal Maeko knelling down and Sesshoumaru's sword was aimed at her throat barely centimeters away but also her sword aimed at his stomach. The flames ceased and only scorch marks remained.

"Looks like a draw." Said Miroku. Everyone clapped at the show.

"Good job Maeko that was amazing." Said Sango.

He saw her smile modestly. Everyone left to go eat dinner.

Maeko looks up to see Sesshoumaru starring at her. She held out her own hand. "Good spar Sesshoumaru." she said. She smiled brightly. "I haven't had a good spar since when I was younger in my village." She only saw him nod and leave for the dinning hall. At least I got a nod, she thought.

A/N: Well that was fun...reviews!!!!!!