A/n I'm really sorry i havn't updated but i had midterms and also I am busy posting on fiction press. I know that excuses arn't good but oh well. Here it is. Enjoy.

Chapter 10

Testing.

Kagome sat her desk, wiping sweat from her brow, she flipped the page of her history text book. Narrowing her eyes she forced her mind to intake the information on the wars of the east and west. Seconds ticked by that ever slowly turned into minutes, forming the hours of another sleepless midsummer night.

After history came etiquette. Kagome had spent a lot of her precious time learning how to bend and scrape in front of others. Squaring her shoulders she practiced the bow fit for a partisan to a sovereign.

Her back hurt and her neck was sour after the many hours she had put into studying. The great exam of mid summer was approaching. Every page and squire had to take it. The first year knights had to too.

Kagome slammed the book shut and straightened. Walking over to an open window she let the summer wind sweep over her sweat covered for head to her sweat stained shirt. Looking down she loosened the strings that held her shirt closed, that hid her identity.

Setting her elbows on the window she looked out at the royal forest in all its dark beauty. Kaede had once told her that light bugs came out and played at night in the royal forest. Kagome grinned slightly, she had been right.

The flickering back and forth of the lights made a good impression of the night sky. The stars blinking and an occasional falling one streaked down.

"Meow." Kagome looked down at Akira who had crept up quietly. Bending down she stroked his fur. He had grown again. Now, instead prying on mice and squirrels, he had been hunting down wolves and other animals of that size. He was the size of what a normal panther should be and a lot smarter.

He understood her language and understood her language teacher a lot better than she did. Kagome made a face. Imagine that, a cat smatter than her. Akira made a low whining noise. Kagome rolled her eyes. It was what he did when he got bored.

"You boy, need to find a hobby." Akira snorted and mewed again. Kagome sighed and opened the door. Pointing out to the grounds she said.

"Twenty laps." Kagome swore she saw Akira roll his eyes. The great feline slunk out and broke into a run. Closing the door Kagome rubbed her eyes. She had set out to train Akira in fighting, not that he needed it but she decided he would be a good partner in war. Stretching she groaned and decided that it would be better to rest her mind for the test the next day.

-Next Day-

Ding Dong.

Kagome covered her ears with a pillow as the bell was giving out its evil vibes. Rolling she fell off her bed with an "umph" onto an warm object that meowed in protest. Kagome groaned and got up, patting Akira apologetically.

"Sorry boy. By the way, practice those claws while I'm gone. When I come back I expect it to be perfect." She got dressed and headed toward the mess hall. Taking her breakfast she sat next to a distraught Miroku. Grinning she clapped him on his back.

"Cheer up, it's not the end of the world." Miroku sighed and picked up his fork.

"I didn't get to language." Miroku stated forlornly.

"It's alright. You will still pass. Did you study Inuyasha?" Inuyasha grinned widely and nodded, stuffing food into his mouth. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Even if I don't pass the written portion I'll definitely pass for the physical portion." Inuyasha announced. Sesshoumaru on his right raised an eyebrow.

"I'll probably pass both portions." He said lazily. Kagome snorted. He turned to her and smirked. "Unlike you Higurashi, tripping over your own feet in wrestling?" She narrowed her eyes and bit into her apple.

"Yeah but I can beat you in archery any day, even if I was down with the worst fever on record and a cellulites infection in one eye."

"I bet you can Higurashi." Sesshoumaru said patronizingly. She humphed and bit into her apple again furiously. Chuckling he returned to his soup. As His Grace entered the mess hall, all the occupants rose.

"We will begin the examinations now. Starting with the written portion and ending with the combat portion. All of you will be tested on the same subject as not to spread answers. Please follow me and we will start with history."

As they all got seated Toutosai came out and handed out paper and a writing utensil. Standing in the front he announced that they had till the next bell to finish and that the questions were on the board. Kagome grinned as she read he questions, answering them quickly.

None of them had been on the who did what and died when…except the last one. Kagome groaned. They had twenty minutes and she had finished all except that one. I wouldn't fail Kagome mused to herself. Sighing she looked over at the others.

Her eyes lit on Sesshoumaru. You could practically see stars coming out. Calming herself down she went into his mind and searched around. Pulling out she very happily put down Lord Hiroshio died seven hundred fifty six years ago.

Dropping her pen on the desk she rubbed her hands together and looked up to see a glaring taiyoukai.

-Cheating is what the none talented do Higurashi, though I already knew you weren't talented, you didn't have to stoop so low as to steal the answer from me.- Kagome turned red and glared right back.

-You were thinking to loud- She retorted. He raised a brow.

-oh really- he thought back. She nodded.

-Maybe you should think quieter- Kagome suggested. He smirked slightly and suddenly her mind was filled with graphic images of what he had been doing with his chamber maid a few nights ago.

Kagome gasped and fell out of her chair with an umph. Coughing heavily she got up to find that every one including Toutosai was staring at her. Scowling at Sesshoumaru she got up, righted her chair and sat down. Sesshoumaru was looking as innocent as ever, checking over his test. She would get him back before the end of this she vowed.