Chapter 21: Sword Training

A darkened figure walked down the cavernous empty halls that lined it's prison. For centuries this being had been stuck in limbo. Golden eyes looked ahead of him. Lining the walls of the darkened hallway were doors and ever so often he was able to open a door, but spending too long in the rooms these doors opened would force him back into his own darkened room and he'd have to start all over again. Twice now he'd been able to force a door open to help one or both of his sons. The last time had been to help his hanyou son reach his full potential. Now he had a new mission. Find a way to either cheat death and escape limbo or find his human mate and be reincarnated with her. Either way he needed to get out of these darkened halls.

Kagome breathed heavily as she swung her heavy wooden sword. Sesshomaru had dismissed all but her Miko trainers. She now would be trained by himself or Inuyasha. He believed Hechi would do great harm to her and her swordsmanship teacher hated hand and thus would be extra harsh on her; so he'd train her himself. Not that she was complaining. Both Inu brothers were great swordsmen and she knew she'd learn best from them.

Inuyasha brought his wooden sword up and blocked Kagome's hit. She was good but not good enough. As he swung his at her, he narrowly missed her head. Bringing it down for a strike he was impressed she'd reacted fast enough to block it. He jumped back as she swung the sword across his chest, missing by mere inches. She's getting faster. He thought as she charged him once again, he dodged her as he jumped to the side. He swung his sword at her side only her to change her direction; thus he missed by mere meters. Spinning on her heel she changed him once again this time their sword hit. Their strengths matched before he began pushing her back as she lost her footing he pushed her back and kicked at her only for her to tuck and roll out of his way.

They stayed on their sides of the dojo. Both panting, though Kagome's breath was faster. They'd been fighting for less than thirty minutes and yet Kagome felt like they'd been going at it for hours. Her arms felt like led. Suddenly the dojo door opened Sango standing there with Hiraikutsue in her arms. "Mind if I take over Inuyasha?" She asked with a smile as she walked up to them with her new slayer clothes. They were identical to her old ones, except these actually fit.

"Sure." he breathed as he went over to the bench and sat down to watch. He pulled a ladle out of the bucket of water and took a sip before turning to watch the two women.

"Now fighting me is different than fighting somebody like Inuyasha." Sango said as she brought her weapon up. "My weapon is long range, like your bow and it's a heavy base weapon, so it takes me longer to throw an attack. It's during this that I'm partially vulnerable but I'm completely vulnerable after I throw my weapon, however you've got to watch for the return attack." Kagome nodded as she took a deep breath and calmed her breathing; something Miroku had taught her.

The two women circled each other and as Sango raced forward and threw her weapon at Kagome, the former priestess knocked the weapon out of her way and spun out of the way as Sango went in for a surprise kick attack. Kagome slashed the wooden sword at Sango's side hard enough to make the slauer almost loose her footing as she landed. Picking Hiraikutsue up she raced towards Kagome and began flinging the bone made weapon at her sisters head. Kagome was now on the defense as she dodged and twisted out of the way of the weapon. Her feet moving in a blur as they barely touched the ground. It was then her body suddenly lit up as her powers suddenly flared to life. Something told her to fling her hand outward, but she resisted the urge as Sango pulled back from her attack and gave Kagome a second to regain control of herself.

"Enough!" Boomed a voice full of authority. This caused everyone to look towards the voice. Standing there was a female version of Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha snorted when he saw InuKazumi. "We're training, come back later."

Chuckling at him the elder Inu walked forward. "Yes, I see that." She crossed over towards Kagome. "However she is done for the day." She inhaled Kagome's scent. "If she goes any further today she won't be able to attend the summer festival in the village." She looked at Kagome. "Besides, I have my work cut out for me. As the future Western Lady she must be made to look presentable." Looking towards Sango she smirked. "You will come to this one's private chambers. Bring the little ones as well; including her son and brother."

Sango nodded numbly as she watched Kagome tiredly follow the silver haired beauty. Once the two were gone she looked at Inuyasha. "Who was that?"

His golden eyes met her brown ones. "Inu Kazumi; my father's former mate and the current Lady of the West." He sighed as he stood up and stretched. "Once Kagome and Sesshomaru mate Inu Kazumi will no longer be the Lady of the West; Kagome will."

"So basically Kagome is training to become Lady of the West?" Sango inquired as she and Inuyasha walked out of the dojo into the koi garden.

Inuyasha scratched his head. "Sorta." He said gaining a confused look from Sango. "You see once she becomes Sesshomaru's mate she'll be introduced to the Western Palace Lords and Ladies of the Court in the Palace. Here is where her fighting skills may be needed."

"Why?" Sango seriously didn't understand.

"She'll be issued Challenges." He stated. "She can refuse them; like mother did. However she'll be looked down upon as weak. If she accepts she'll have to fight." He paused as he looked up at the late afternoon sky. "These lessons she's getting may be the difference between life or death for her."

"Does Kagome know this will happen?" Sango asked as Inuyasha looked down at her with a frown.

"I don't know." He said as they continued their way into the shiro house.

M-Angel: A bit short, but the next one will be longer; I assure you. ^_^