After Mike closed the door Mei moved around the room silently assessing everyone, with a serious expression. She allowed her aura to fluctuate erratically as she passed by the two yokai, but paused beside Daniel. "Still meditating daily?" she asked him.
He nodded.
When she moved on, he let out a light breath.
Satisfied with her inspection of the Americans, Mei moved on to Kagome and Aya.
She looked Aya in the eye and murmured "healing can be a pleasant experience, when you take the time to learn it properly. Take that time."
Kagome was slightly intimidated by the older woman, and she let it show.
"Relax, little one," Mei whispered. "We're here to assist in your training, too. You're going to need it."
At that moment, Mike came back into the study, followed by Mio.
"Mei, control yourself," Mio scolded. "You're scaring everyone. A powerful Miko like you shouldn't go around scaring the crap out of people."
Mei made a silly face at Kagome then rolled her eyes.
"Mio, I am fully in control!" she fussed. "I can't help it they don't know how to play!"
Mike laughed, easing the tension in the room slightly. "Mei, your idea of play is seriously warped!"
Take finally spoke, from his position near the door. "I believe we're here for training purposes rather than play, mate. We should discuss what will be needed." He looked to Kagome and Aya. "You have some combat experience, yes?"
Kagome nodded but remained thoughtfully silent, her eyes now trained on Take.
Finally, she spoke. "Your aura feels familiar… Do I know you from somewhere?"
His eyes widened slightly, but Mei spoke before he could. "I should hope his aura is familiar… We visit the Higurashi Shrine every chance we get!"
"Oh," Kagome said quietly.
"Now that that's out of the way, what kind of combat experience do you ladies have?" Mei asked, crossing her arms.
Aya looked around sheepishly before she responded. "My last battle was over three thousand years ago…"
She looked at Elias for guidance. He shifted behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, but didn't say anything.
"We've been attached and dormant since then," she finally said. "No chance for battle."
Kagome looked from Aya to Mei. "I helped defeat Naraku four years ago. I've travelled with my friends exterminating rogue demons and healing where needed since then," she told them.
Take snorted. Mei swiped at him and Elias growled something in Inu. The yokai in the room stiffened at his reminder.
Rather than saying anything in response, he moved to embrace Mei, in a similar fashion to Elias and Aya.
"Kagome," Mei started. "What kind of training do you have with your reiki?"
It was Kagome's turn to look sheepish. "I'm self taught," she said. "I can put up a protective barrier and shoot purification arrows. Oh, and I've been able to help others heal!"
Mei shook her head. "This won't do…" she looked at Mike. "You still have contacts overseas, right?"
Mike looked confused, "yeah… why?"
"Because holy power with limited training won't be any good if her scrawny butt gets taken out before she can use it," Mei said. Kagome squawked indignantly. "She needs to learn basic hand to hand before anything else. Something that will be easy to retain but highly effective."
"So what does that have to do with overseas contacts?" Mike asked.
Take spoke up against Mei's shoulder. "Mike… Where can you find one of the most effective fighting forces that doesn't eschew the complete training of women?"
Mike thought for a moment, but before he could say anything James was nearly bouncing in excitement with a response.
"Israel," he said quickly. "I still have contacts there. The girls wouldn't necessarily be able to train with their defense force, but I do know the primary discipline they train in is Krav Maga- it's something of a melange of styles, but the primary goal is to end the fight as quickly as possible."
Take grunted in response. Mei spoke in his stead. "So they need to go to Israel to be properly trained in Krav Maga, yes?"
Mike was quick to answer. "Not necessarily. I'm sure there are dojos here that teach it."
James immediately vetoed that. "No, the best place for them to train is in Israel, where the style was developed. One of my contacts is a master. I'm sure he would be willing to help."
"Now wait one damned minute, here," Kagome started. "I am not—"
She was quickly cut off by Aya. "You are, you will, and you will enjoy it." she said heatedly.
Kagome tried to argue, but was once again cut off by Aya. "Kagome, if I have to tie your ass up and fly you there myself, I will!"
Mei and Mio giggled at that, which had Kagome glaring at both of them.
"She will, you know…" Mei said. "Phoenix yokai don't respond well to being told no."
Elias snorted. "I don't think anyone thats told her no has actually survived to tell about it."
Take started to speak, but before he could there was a knock at the study door.
Mike and Mio were noticeably startled, as there was no one in the house that they knew of who could be on the other side of the door.
As he was closest, Take opened the door and visibly relaxed.
Tsukuyomi was on the other side.
Mei took the moon god's hand and dragged him into the study.
"To what do we owe the honor, Tsukuyomi?" Mio asked.
The moon god looked around the room. "Aya, Elias, you have about ten weeks before Kagome is to return. Training should start soon, if it is to be effective," he said.
At that moment, Bishamon popped in, startling everyone.
"More like eight, Tsuki," he said. "he shows mild signs of giving in."
The Japanese yokai were all a bit shocked… Well, except Take. He just smirked.
"Then it's settled. James, Daniel, and the two young ladies fly out for Israel in the morning," Take said. "Training will begin there, and will be taken further upon their return in 4 weeks."
Kagome was visibly unsettled by this. "Wait a minute!" she yelled. "Don't I get a say in this?!"
There was a chorus of variations of "no" in response from every other occupant of the room.
"What the hell is all this training for, then?" she questioned. "Will you at least tell me that?"
Tsukuyomi and Bishamon exchanged glances. Bishamon quietly excused himself to return to the dream plane to assist Amaterasu.
"Kagome," Tsukuyomi started. "You and your mate will—"
"I don't have a mate yet," Kagome huffed.
"Your future mate, then," Tsukuyomi corrected. "The two of you, along with your companions, will face an evil far greater than Naraku. You and he must work together to defeat this evil, or it will cause the destruction of the world as you know it."
Kagome rolled her eyes at the moon god. "Isn't there always some world changing evil to defeat? Why is this one so different?"
"Simple, child. Every few millennia, our brother, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, tries to take control of this world with the help of whichever shinigami he has won over to his cause," a new voice stated.
Kagome looked confused at the new arrival. Tsukuyomi and the others were both relieved and concerned.
"Dearest sister," Tsukuyomi started. "If you're here, who's with him?"
*****end flashback*****
Kagome looked at Aya's feet. "How do I not remember that happening?" she mused.
"You were more focused on the training you were going through," Daniel told her.
"It was quite demanding, Kags," Aya reminded her. "I wasn't thinking too much about it, either."
James and Paul each gave a small shove with their yoki. "Time to get back to it, ladies." Paul said.
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a/n: And the rest of the flash back. That was more difficult than I thought it would be… I've been having a bit of a block lately, so I've been writing the bits that keep spinning in my head rather than the chapters that should actually happen before. Still hope you silent lot are enjoying my spin on things, even though I know I'm hitting a few things that have been done to death. Until next time…
And before I forget:
Cast of Original Characters
Aya— a Soul Rider, Kagome's "sister" and Phoenix yokai
Elias— Aya's mate, another Soul Rider, and Golden Inu
Mike— 4-tailed Kitsune, American Marine, General, and Aya's "dad"
Mio— Mike's human mate, Aya's "mom"
Mei— Mio's sister, Miko, assisting with Kagome's training
Take— Mei's mate. Assisting with Kagome's training.
Paul— American Marine, Cougar yokai, assisting with Kagome's training
Daniel— American Marine, human Priest, assisting with Kagome's training
James— American Army, Eagle yokai, assisting with Kagome's training
John and David— human, military, dismissed after initial altercation with Kagome.