"Ready yourself. We leave soon. The miko is about to be woken up." The warrior told Shippou as a woman slowly made her way down the hall. Sliding a door open the woman disappeared inside a dark room.
"Miss wake up. You must get up and dressed. The master will be waiting for you." Kagome opened her eyes to see the lady she had talked to before dinner.
"Good morning. It's nice to see a friendly face and not someone who is afraid to be in the same room with me."
"A good morning to you miss. What would you desire to wear this day?"
"I forgot to get the clothes before I retired last night."
"Your clothing is here." The woman with sky blue eyes pointed at the foot of the futon.
"Thank you for bringing them."
"Tis my duty. We will talk later. You must get dressed then eat." Ten minutes later Kagome was heading to the training room.
"Morning Sesshoumaru. What will be taught today?" She walked over and stopped in front of him.
"You'll be taught physical techniques to defend one's self."
"You're speaking about hand to hand combat right? I thought that you were going to teach me how to use other weapons?"
"One must learn to remain on their feet before one learns weaponry." As he spoke two warriors came walking in and slightly bowed to Sesshoumaru as he stopped and stood by Kagome. Kagome watched as the warriors faced each other. They looked over at Sesshoumaru and he gave a nod. "One prepares for the task at hand by remaining calm and focusing on what's happening in front of you. Pay no attention to any illusions the opponent tries to create, instead watch for their real strengths and weaknesses. A warrior believes everyone looks, but a successful fighter sees what is happening, even if it is something he or she does not want to see. Often situations are ignored because one chooses not to face it.
Illusions they create in their minds cause big problems later. Practical sense, many do not spot aggression until they are harmed. Once you conquer fear, worry, and illusions. You will have a great part of the battle won."
"How can someone remain totally calm when the outcome to a situation could mean life or death to those around you? Does that means something to you?"
"One's self-concept determines success. Mushin is a no-mindedness or without thinking approach to this. This refers to the ability to avoid negative self-concept."
"I do not fully understand what you are trying to tell me." Kagome looked from the warriors to Sesshoumaru.
"Clearing one's mind and letting no self-doubt invade. A samurai or student can execute techniques gracefully, quickly, and efficiently. One's ultimate aim is not to put any emotional barriers in their way. Self-consciousness and self-doubt are enemies of effectiveness."
"So how do you go about doing that?"
"First one is to relax and clear your mind of action. Realize you can do something, thereafter concentrate not on yourself. One will find without self-doubt one's actions will be extremely effective."
"How can you be so sure on the outcome?"
"Assume positive mental position. Think not defeat."
"If I had to face someone with your battle history let's face it I would have no chance. I am positive that I would be defeated."
"Take a strong body position, look forward with confidence. This physical and mental state will be seen by your opponent as a sign of danger. If one thinks and acts that way one will succeed. Once a fight begins, spot your opening quickly, close in, and strike."
"What if you think you see an opening, but not sure?"
"Hesitate not or allow your opponent time to regroup. Hesitation often leads to defeat. Makoto is a concept of action. It is seen as sincerity, in a sense this gives not a full justice to the concept. To those trained as samurai it is meant that one must put everything into any act. All one's heart, spirit, mind, and physical strength should be put in, with nothing held back. When one obeys this one's power is tremendous. A warrior must be conditioned to strike with Isshin, or one mind. Tackle any situation, task, or even battle with focused concentration." He stopped and had Kagome look at the two warriors. "See the young warrior? He has in his eyes a single purpose. When you center on a single purpose all your power, strength and abilities can be translated into the task. Most use only small part of their abilities on any task. Those who make themselves weak by doing so become distracted by outside factors. One lesson to teach is focusing the mind on one purpose and become totally committed. Put your energy behind something, success will be yours."
"How could one my size fight someone like your size or bigger?"
"Sometimes one could win by using an opponent's attack, blending the opponent's attack into your counterattack. Instead of blocking an attack, one directs it further in the direction it was going. Once the opponent is over-extended, he defeats himself. This allows one to take advantage of the opponent's power. More aggressively your opponent pushes, the easier you can pull your opponent off balance. Then it is not who is more powerful, but who is more capable of directing the other's energy to control the situation. This strategy can be applied, not only to fighting, but in variety of other situations."
"Is there any opportunities of taking advantage of an enemy who's faster?"
"By taking advantage of the suki in the opponent's attention. Suki is an unguarded moment. Find your own weaknesses and practice defenses to cover them. Everyone has gaps in their defenses."
"So that means the great Sesshoumaru has gaps in his defenses then as well don't you."
"This Sesshoumaru has no weaknesses."
"Is that why you have only one arm?" She knew this would be a sore reminder.
"The half breed caught this Sesshoumaru off guard."
"So you admit you did have a weak moment."
"The better you are at finding your own in training, the less
likely an opponent can take advantage of them to harm you. Likewise
look for gaps in your opponent's defense. Once spotted, quickly take
advantage of the unguarded spot. Kufu is applied equally to small,
everyday tasks and large problems in life. The meaning means giving
one's self completely to finding a solution. The big meaning means to
struggle or wrestle until one can conquer a problem. One must learn to
Kufu with a problem, to stay with it, trying again and again to
overcome it."
The two warriors stopped and looked at Sesshoumaru. He then gave them both a slight nod of his head before they made their way over to the door but stopped as the door slid open and in came a frantic girl with a missing tooth.
"He's not in here either." Rin sounded down-hearted.
"Who are you talking about Rin?" Kagome asked.
"Shippou."
"He should be close."
"Shippou was not in room or at morning meal. Does Sesshoumaru-sama know where Shippou is?" He did not answer.
"Well Sesshoumaru do you know where he is?" Kagome turned and looked at him as well.
"My warrior took him to the village by the dry well as dawn greeted the sky, as he requested."
"He was not yours to agree to this. Sure I talked to you about this, but he was my charge, like Rin is to you. You had..."
"He's a youkai child not a human's." As he said this the female servant that woke up Kagome that morning walked over to Rin. The air started to feel strange. Kagome turned and took a step.
"Rin is a human and not a youkai." She took another step. He went to stop her. She pushed him away then walked to the door. The two warriors stepped aside to let her pass. Rin looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru. She watched as Sesshoumaru left as well.
"What happened? Why are they mad? Is it because of Rin?"
"No child this was not your doing. That is between the two of them. Come I'll take you to the main building." The woman and Rin left the training room.
"What right does he think he has to have Shippou taken anywhere? Sure I've talked to him and asked him to take Shippou if needed, but taking him without saying a word first. Sure he may be the lord of the domain, but Shippou and I are not subjects to the rule of this domain. So therefore our decisions can be made on our own and not for us." Kagome said to herself as she walked to her room. Inside her room she sat on the futon in the center of the room. A half hour later Kagome had been in her room the door slid open.
"Miss the mid-day meal is being served. Please follow me."
"Please inform the master of this domain that I will not be taking the mid-day meal. After you inform his lordship please would you return to this room." The woman bowed. Figuring that it will take a bit before the woman would make it back to the room she stretched out on the futon. As she was getting comfortable her door opened.
"You wished my return to your room?"
"Please come and take a seat." Kagome patted on the futon. You said the warrior priestess Midoriko was once within these walls. What was she like in personality?"
"The warrior priestess was not here long. Lord Sesshoumaru's father met with her then she left."
"What was the name of Sesshoumaru's father?"
"The name of the one who sired lord Sesshoumaru was lord InuTaisho."
"What was he like and what did he look like?"
"Lord InuTaisho was swift in his actions when it came to delivering
justice. Highly protective to that which was his, very caring for
humans and did not feel threatened by them. Lord Sesshoumaru is the
exact image of his father. The only things different is InuTaisho had
one stripe on his cheeks. The colors of the stripes were a bluish
purple and he had no markings on his forehead. His pelt went from
shoulder to shoulder and lay mere inches off the ground."
"Wow he sounded like a really nice person to of met and really nice to look upon."
"He was a catch for the eyes to behold yes." The woman said. "Tell me what the kitsune means to you?"
"I feel protective over him. I don't want to see him hurt or sick. I started feeling that way towards him when he told Inuyasha and I that his whole entire family was killed." She stopped as a thought struck her. "I am acting like and feel like a mother towards Shippou."
"So you think of the kitsune as a son."
"Yes, but maybe since I'm a miko and human maybe I should..." She went both sad and silent. Forgetting that there was someone in her room she walked out of the room and made her way down the hall then made her way outside. She continued walking and did not know that she had walked out of the main gate. No one at the gate tried to stop her as she walked passed them. Kagome carried on another five minutes before she stopped and took a seat by a tree.
Back in the room that Kagome sadly walked out of the woman in whom Kagome had been talking to stood up then left the room to find Kagome. On her search she came upon Rin running down the hall towards Kagome's room but was told she was not in the room. As the woman was nearing the dining hall Sesshoumaru slid the door open.
"The miko summon her and bring her to my study."
"She left her room. May I speak freely M'lord?" Sesshoumaru nodded. "The relationship between the miko and the kitsune, did you know anything about it or the extent of that relationship?"
"This was not a concern to take to mind."
"What was learned from the miko is that she thinks of the kitsune as a son and has thought so for a long time. Before leaving her room sad, she said something that I understood not because she had not finished it before she left."
"Explain that which was not understood."
"She spoke this, 'Maybe since I'm a miko and human, maybe I should...' She stopped there and walked out of the room. I am heading around looking for her."
"Upon finding her bring her to the study." Looking throughout the domain and the garden she could not find Kagome anywhere so the woman walked to the study and lightly knocked. "Enter." The woman bowed upon entering the study. "The miko where is she? She listens not to a summons?"
"The miko was not found within the domain or garden."
"Tend to Rin." Sesshoumaru remained on the cushion. Word got around that he sought to speak to Kagome as well as know where she was. A knock came from the wood of the shoji screen door. "Enter."
"Forgive me M'lord, but I and a few others saw the miko walk out the main gate while in deep thought. We thought not to stop her. For that forgive us."
"Time duration that passed had been what upon seeing her?"
"Not long sir."
"You're dismissed." Sesshoumaru waited a bit before he left the study to head for the main gate.
Within the forest sitting by herself thinking about what she might have to do the next time she sees her friends again. The thought of it made her even sadder.
"This must be my lucky day. Finding the said miko that hunts the jewel shards by herself without her friends nearby to protect her." Kagome looked up from where she sat to see a large grotesque youkai with big open sores that had green smelly liquid oozing out.
"How do you know if my friends are not somewhere close in fact some place in hearing range?" Kagome slowly stood up with her back towards the tree. She reached behind her for her bow and an arrow and found not her bow or arrows.
"It seems you are missing something." The hideous youkai reached out and grabbed a hold of her. "Now where are those shards that you carry?"
"The shards are with the group." The two did not realized that there was a third person that had shown up.
"You carry them." The beast reached into Kagome's shirt manhandling her breasts while searching for the bottle that contained the shards that she normally wore. "Your body is quiet pleasing to the touch."
"I said that I don't have them." Her hand glowed pink as she reached out her hand towards the youkai's face sending purifying light towards him which made the youkai drop her to grab his face. She got to her feet. "This is for manhandling my breasts." She kicked the creature as hard as she could in the groin. Just before it reached out to grab at her again it stopped and fell over towards her landing on the ground not moving or breathing. She looked up to see the western lord.
"You leave the safety of my domain without a weapon. Not wise even for a miko."
"I was unaware that I left the grounds of your home." She turned to head back to the domain.
"The kitsune is upon your heart and mind as a son is that correct?"
"Yes, but when I see the group again I am going to have it known that a search for a youkai family to raise Shippou. Being around and being raised by one and not a human miko would be damaging. He's a youkai and needs to be raised by one and not a human." Sesshoumaru swiftly moved from where he stood to now standing in front of Kagome. "Please let me pass lord Sesshoumaru."
"Use not my title upon speaking with me."
"It is your title and needs to..." She stopped when she felt a clawed finger go under and touched the skin under her chin.
"You who have used my name its not right to hear using titles. This morning brought dishonor for to many." He paused. "The fox pup has the mother that the fates has chosen for him to replace his birth family. This Sesshoumaru spoke wrong of the human miko Kagome."
"You apologize to a human female?" A voice came behind them.
"Return to help watch over Rin!"
"But, M'lord?"
"Jaken."
"Yes master." Jaken turned and left.
"I have to stop and wonder to myself on the reason why you would apologize to a human let alone a human female one at that. That is so very not you. What has made this change within you?" She watched as Sesshoumaru did not answer but turned then headed back towards his dwelling.
"Come Rin will be waiting."
"Sesshoumaru are there any paintings done of your father lord InuTaisho?" This made Sesshoumaru stop and slightly look back at her.
"That name has not been mentioned since before his death."