Sorry for the long time between updates. I've been busy and feeling rather uninspired. Thanks for all the comments! I love reading what you guys think :)
"Watch Rin, like this," Kagome lunged forward and stabbed her wooden sword into the air. Rin held her play sword the same way and tried to imitate Kagome's movements. Rin did the motion fairly well but she stumbled forward one step when she stabbed the air with all her might.
"Good job. Let try it again. This time use your strength to push against the sword but don't follow it," Kagome winked. Rin nodded and tried again. She did much better this time and did not stumble.
"Nice!" Kagome clapped.
"Do you think daddy will help me with my training?" Rin said suddenly and then clapped her hands over her mouth, dropping her sword. She stood very still, her eyes wide. Kagome knelt down in front of her and gave her a tight hug.
"I'm sure he will," Kagome felt Rin's arms wrap around her shoulders.
"Lets finish with a practice match!" Rin grabbed her sword again and both the girls knew it was time to forget about what Rin had said... for the moment, anyway.
"You're on," Kagome twirled her sword in her hand and stood ready. The small girl attacked her and Kagome blocked. She swung her sword around to attempt to slice at Rin's waist from the side. Rin saw it coming and blocked Kagome's sword. Rin pushed Kagome back and they both steadied themselves again.
"Good job Rin," Kagome said seriously. Rin slashed downwards again and Kagome blocked with a perpendicular motion. Kagome thrust her sword sideways and sent Rin's hand recoiling. Rin kept a tight grip on her sword but Kagome used the tip of her sword to launch Rin's hilt out of her hand and into the air. The sword landed a ways behind her and Kagome pointed her sword at Rin's neck.
"You win, again," Rin pouted.
"I do, but you did a really good job. When you beat me you'll know it was for real. There's not much fun in a victory if I just let you win," Kagome told her and Rin nodded.
"I know, but I feel like I'm not getting any better," Rin sighed.
"You are! You are getting better at focusing on what you opponent is doing," Kagome smiled to reassure her. "I'm sure Sesshomaru will be able to give you some good advice. You can show him what you know so far." Rin's face brightened at the idea.
"When do you think he'll come visit us next?" Rin asked.
"I'm not sure. Soon, I would think," Kagome said and she definitely hoped it was true. Rin asked if she could go pick flowers with Shippo and once she had Kagome's permission Rin was off as fast as lightening. Kagome put away their swords and when she turned around Sesshomaru was standing behind her.
"My goodness! Sesshomaru! Don't do that," Kagome put her hand over her heart after she jumped in fright.
"Hn," He replied as Kagome continued to catch her breath. "What have you been teaching Rin?"
"Just simple swords play. I learned a tiny bit from Inuyasha," Kagome shrugged. She was quiet for a moment and then added, "she would love it if you could teach her more."
"Hn," Sesshomaru gave a slow nod.
"I need to talk to you about to something," Kagome told him, "do you have a moment?" Sesshomaru made no move to leave so Kagome took a seat on her front steps. She wanted to talk about their "relationship," but, not only was she too much a chicken, she felt that there were more important things to talk about.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked evenly. Kagome arched a brow but said nothing. He seemed slightly nervous.
"Sango and I have been sensing something lately. The winds feel different but that's the only indication that something is up. We don't know what it is. Have you felt anything?"She asked.
"Yes. Inuyasha is on his way to speak with you about it. He should arrive tomorrow. We have not discussed it much," Sesshomaru told her. Kagome nodded.
"What is it?" She asked.
"There is a strong breeze coming from Naraku's old cave," Sesshomaru explained.
"Where Onigumo was?" Kagome questioned and Sesshomaru nodded.
"That is why the air has been different. It is most likely nothing to worry about. We will look into it tomorrow," He said.
"You and me?" Kagome looked at him suspiciously.
"No, Inuyasha and this Sesshomaru," He told her.
"I'm coming to!" Kagome snapped, outraged that they would not include her.
"You can follow us but you are not part of this," Sesshomaru looked down at her. Kagome stood up and put her hands on her hips.
"Let hell I'm not! I helped kill Naraku too you know," Kagome growled.
"We shall fight for it," Sesshomaru said smoothly and grabbed the wooden swords leaning up against the house. Kagome snatched hers out of his hand and huffed, she knew the outcome already. Rin and Shippo walked towards the house. They watch the adults ready themselves.
"Why are they fighting?" Rin asked Shippo.
"I'm not sure. Kagome is pretty scary when she's angry though. Maybe Sesshomaru said something to upset her," Shippo shrugged.
"Probably. It's so like them to fight fire with fire," Rin huffed and then excitedly exclaimed, "lets watch!"
Kagome lunged at Sesshomaru and he blocked her strike. Kagome jumped back and swung at him again. He side stepped her and reached for her with his sword. Kagome narrowly missed his swipe and stumbled back a few steps. He appeared in front of her and she blocked his blow just before it came down over her head.
"No demon speed. I'll play dirty too if you're going to be that way," Kagome bit and sent a charge of her powers through her sword into his. The shock made him step back slightly.
"Fine. No tricks," He agreed and readied his sword again. Kagome smirked and swung to hit his legs. He blocked low and drove her and her sword upwards to meet him. He pushed her back slightly and slipped his sword under hers, launching it into the air and effectively disarming her.
"You are not coming along tomorrow," He said firmly.
"Fine," Kagome frowned but she was already plotting at the back of her mind how she would tag along. Sesshomaru eyed her, he could sense the change in her scent and he knew she was up to something.
"You did better than this one expected. Perhaps you are more fit to teach Rin that this one first thought," Sesshomaru put their swords way. He smirked slightly when he heard her growl and fume behind him.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin ran towards him. She stopped a couple feet away and bowed. Sesshomaru stepped forward and ran his claws through Rin's hair playfully. The shocked, joyful expression on Rin's face made Kagome unbelievably happy. She couldn't keep the enormous grin off her face, even when Sesshomaru sent her a warning look. One step at a time, Kagome thought.
"Lets spar again sometime," Kagome winked at him. Though Sesshomaru's face remained neutral, she could see the mirth in his eyes at her suggestion.
"Will you teach me how to fight?" Rin asked carefully.
"This Sesshomaru can show you the basics," He nodded and Rin clapped her hands excitedly. Kagome sat on her front steps and watched as Sesshomaru handed both Rin and Shippo a sword. Kagome listen to him speak, she closed her eyes so she could isolate the sound. In her inner darkness everything he said seemed to surround her. Kagome knew one of the things she liked most about him was his voice.
Kagome opened her eyes to see Sesshomaru send the children off to spar with one another. Good choice, Kagome thought. She knew that Rin would not take lightly to fighting against Sesshomaru. Rin wanted nothing more than to impress him and it was evident in every move she made. Rin and Shippo practiced disarming each other. Each time Rin managed to knock Shippo's sword out of his hand she would glance up at Sesshomaru to see his reaction. Kagome could see Rin was growing frustrated with her Lord's lack of response.
When the kids resumed their practice once again, Kagome went over to him and placed her hand on his forearm. He looked down at her with slight surprise. She motioned with her finger for him to lean down. Sesshomaru hesitated at first, unsure of her intentions. Kagome's intentions were not all innocent. She moved his hair away from his ears very gently, making sure to caress the shell of his ear ever so slightly. She moved her lips to his ear and whispered to him for a brief moment. Sesshomaru's expression remained the same and when Kagome pulled away he straightened. Shippo knocked the sword out of Rin's hand just as Kagome took a seat on her front step once again.
"One more time!" Kagome cheered and the two children looked at Kagome with bright smiles on their faces. Rin eyed Sesshomaru again and Kagome shot her eyes up to meet his.
At the end of the next battle, Rin had disarmed Shippo once again. She did it quickly and skilfully, and Kagome was proud of Shippo for not using his demonic strength or fox magic to cheat.
"Well done!" Kagome gave shippo a big hug. It was hard for her to wrap him up in her arms as she use to, he was getting too big. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru.
"Well done Rin. You show great potential," Sesshomaru knelled down and embraced her as well. Rin's eyes were huge but she leapt into Sesshomaru's arms even further. Kagome pulled Shippo away a bit and got him to help her put away the swords.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said, her words held a double meaning.
"I will come again soon to train you some more," Sesshomaru ruffled her hair. He took off into the woods and Rin ran to Kagome. Shippo had taken off to chase Sango and Miroku's kids.
"Kagome?" Rin asked quietly.
"How are you doing?" Kagome knelt down in front of her and gave her a gentle hug. Rin noticed how different Kagome's hugs were from Sesshomaru's, Kagome's hug felt so open and welcoming while Sesshomaru felt tense and uncertain.
"I feel that things are changing with Lord Sesshomaru and I. I don't know if I understand," Rin said as her brows knit together in confusion.
"Let me tell you about it," Kagome brought her over to sit on her front step. "Sesshomaru and you travelled together for a long time. I know he thinks of you as one of his own." Rin nodded in agreement.
"However, after we killed Naraku and you came to live with us, your relationship with humans and with him has changed. You understand human family values, I think you picked those up from me," Kagome continued, "I know that makes you seek after human forms of affects and I have encouraged Sesshomaru to show you that."
"So he's only doing it because you told him to?" Rin frowned.
"Rin, think about what you just said," Kagome smirked and Rin grinned.
"Oh, right. No one tells Sesshomaru what to do," Rin nodded.
"Exactly. All I did was draw his attention to the changes in you. He is not use to giving affection and I don't think he values it as much as you and I do, but so far he's shown that he's willing to change that for you." Kagome finished.
"I should thank him," Rin said.
"No. I don't think drawing attention to it would help. Approach him with love and he'll return it slowly. You don't need to thank him for what he must do," Kagome ran her fingers through Rin's hair.
"Do you love him?" Rin asked and Kagome coughed in shock.
"Rin! Where did you get that idea?" Kagome blurted.
"You are sometimes red when he is here and he seems to tolerate you," Rin stated bluntly.
"And toleration is love?" Kagome arched a brow.
"In Sesshomaru's world, I think so," Rin laughed.
"Maybe. We don't know each other well enough yet," Kagome told the child but Rin scoffed. Kagome supposed that was a little ridiculous.
"Don't think about it any more. You and Sesshomaru will be just fine," Kagome told Rin and the small girl nodded and then ran off to play with Shippo.