Chapter 21: Ways to Improve Oneself
Back in the Soul Society, on a such a moonlight evening, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake invited Sango and Miroku to have dinner with them at a local restaurant. "So this is where you guys have your break?" Miroku settles himself down in an empty seat in a private room at the back of the restaurant. Sango sits by him while Shunsui and Jushiro sit in their spots on the other side of the table. "Yeah. We have to be alerted as ever. We just don't do this for fun." Jushiro responds as a waitress brings in sake and other appetizers for the party of four. "I'm flatter to hear such things from you, Jushiro." Sango takes a sip of her tea, which is wise on her behalf because of the drinking age. Miroku rolls his eyes and sips a poured cup of sake. Jushiro and Shunsui are surprised to see him drink. "So Sango isn't a drinker but you are Miroku?" Shunsui tilts his head. Miroku sighs of pleasure as his creeks redden from the booze. "Yeah and I owe it all to my drunken master Mushin." He giggles since the booze is still in affect. Sango sweat drops, "He's usually like this whenever we have shelter in a random village back where we're from." She explains his behavior. Jushiro smiles in an understanding manner. "Don't worry. Shunsui here is the heaviest drinker despite his position of captain of the 8th squad." He waves his hand up and down. "But there's one thing I want to talk about." He changes the subject quickly.
Sango gives her attentive look while Miroku tries to do his part to know what Jushiro is going to tell them. "For every soul reaper to participate the Seireitei, we are aware of your Zanpakuto and your knowledge of the place. But you two, Shippo and Inuyasha are missing one crucial tactic." He said to them. Sango and Miroku look at each other and back to the white haired man. "Did you ever tried Kido?" Jushiro asks them. Both of them lifted an eyebrow. "Kido?" Sango asks him. Jushiro and Shunsui looked each other this time and back to the duo. "Kido is technique that every soul reaper possess when attending the Soul Academy." Jushiro begins his lecture. "You see, Kido is all about spell casting. There are 2 categories of Kido; Hado, Bakudo. Hado means 'Ways of Destructing.' While Bakudo means 'Ways Of Bindings." Jushiro explains so far. "If we were to demonstrate these moves we should be in more opening space." Shunsui suggests his options. Jushiro smiles in embarrassment. "Oh you're right, we shouldn't be doing this in such an enclosed area. All we need is your friends Inuyasha and Shippo to learn these moves. It's a way of self defense in this world." He gives his serious look back at them. Sango nods. "I'll let Shippo know immediately. The sooner we learn them the better we use them." Sango gives her answer with confidence. Miroku nods in agreement. "So then I'll have to retrieve Inuyasha from Squad 11." He gives his word to the group. "I don't think so, Miroku." Shunsui stops him. "Squad 11 isn't very reliable to use Kido, they only prefer the swordsmanship instead. Captain Zaraki tells the head Captain that he didn't really need it since he had so much power invested within him." Shunsui reasons the Squad 11's stubbornness. "But it wouldn't hurt to try." Sango protests him kindly. "He should know a thing or about this." Miroku agrees on Sango's terms. "He maybe in Squad 11 but they should all know about using Kido no matter what the situation they're in battle?" Sango urges on. Shunsui sighs in defeat, "Okay. But we much inform them as well." He gives up on them to stop Inuyasha from going over his head. But the irony of it all is that Inuyasha had to know everything there is if he were to protect Kagome from anything or anyone that were harm her in any way. "I think first thing in the morning, you guys should go to the world of the Living to give Inuyasha this message." Jushiro suggests them. "Likewise." Miroku quickly responds to him.
The next morning, Miroku and Sango are at the Sinkaimon gate. "Ok, you should sense Inuyasha's spiritual pressure." Shunsui gives his tip to the duo. "I think Sango and I would know exactly know Inuyasha would be." Sango assures him. Soon the Sinkaimon opens up for them. In front of them is a blinding light. "I don't think this will be long for us to get him back." Miroku turns around gives his last words to Shunsui. Shunsui didn't have to say anything else and let Miroku and Sango.
Back in the World of the Living, Inuyasha is in gigai form (human features) with Kagome by his side. They walk around in Karakura Town's park. So far none of them said a word. As a matter of fact, they can't come up with anything to talk about. Finally, Inuyasha couldn't stand the silent walk anymore makes the first, "So what was it that you were doing in Kisuke's basement?" He asks as they take a seat in a bench that was nearby. "Oh that was Uryu Ishida. He's a Quincy. His race is technically the ancestry of the Priests and Priestess." She blushes while dwindling her thumbs. Inuyasha doesn't want to one to judge Kagome's archery skills. "So I had something to pass the time. I don't want to be useless when we're in battle." She reasons why she needs to improve her archery. "Well you're not the only one whose been trying to improve your fighting skills." Inuyasha said to her.
Kagome looks up to him. "When Sango, Miroku, Sesshomaru and I arrived in the Soul Society, we were positioned into different squads that matched our Skills." He explains to her. "So which squad did you ended up in?" She asks him curiously. Inuyasha sighs, "I was sent to Squad 11. It's the strongest squad in the entire Soul Society. Shippo has been assigned to Squad 2, which specializes stealth moves. Sango and Miroku were nominated to be captains of Squad 3 and 5." Kagome couldn't believe what she has been told. Her friends, getting positions she would've imagine to be in. "But what about Sesshomaru?" She eagerly asks him. "Sesshomaru is in special training with Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad 6. I don't know how Byakuya would have an interest with him when we arrived." Kagome twitches her eyes. "If I were to know better, Sesshomaru and Byakuya might have a secret bond when they were kids." She comments him. She does have a point. For what Inuyasha knows about his brother more than anyone else, Sesshomaru might have such a thing. Soon a Sinkaimon portal opens up in front of them. Kagome gets an uneasy feeling who might come out of it.
The Japanese walls open up and out comes Miroku and Sango. "Inuyasha, it's a good thing you're here." Miroku smiles at him. Sango spots Kagome by Inuyasha's side. "Kagome, I'm glad you're okay." She runs to her and hugs her like crazy. "Sango, it's good to see you too. But why are you guys doing here?" Kagome hugs her back. Sango lets go of her, "We came here to take Inuyasha back with us. We've been ordered by Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake to retrieve for a special mission." Miroku said to them. Kagome's face falls to sadness. Inuyasha spots her look. "Before I return with you guys, I should return her to Urahara's Shop." He protests them for this short errand. Miroku and Sango look at each other. "Why would you take her there?" Miroku asks him. Inuyasha gets a little annoyed by him, "It's the safest place in this area. If she were out here without anyone with her, she could get hurt, or anything else I don't want her to hear." He explains to them. Sango steps forward, "We'll do it together." She encourages them. Kagome nods with a smile on her face and head to the Kisuke's shop.
Upon arriving at Kisuke's store, some familiar faces get their attentions. Uryu, Yoruichi, Ichigo and Rukia are just relaxing, coming up with ideas on what to do next. "Kagome, I see you made it okay." Uryu greets her as he comes up to her. Before Kagome was in arms reach, Inuyasha protectively grabs her shoulder. "Inuyasha it's okay, this is Uryu who has been training me to improve my archery skills." Kagome calms him as she gently grasps his hand. Inuyasha glares a little at the blue haired boy with glasses. "I see you made amends with your friend." Uryu changed the subjects. "Inuyasha, I knew you had some personal business to take care and I just stayed here just in case something happened." Ichigo gets his attention. Miroku and Sango smile at Yoruichi as she spots the crew. "I see you guys are improving your skills." She comments since Sango and Miroku are in the captain haori. "We just came this way to escort Kagome back here." Miroku said back. "We came here to pick up Inuyasha, but we didn't expect him and Kagome were together by the time we arrived." Sango explains their reason for come to the World of the Living in the first place.
Kisuke flips his fan open and place it in his face as he comes out of the shop, "I see, Kagome, I know you're still learning the basics but there may be in a point in time you use those powers to protect yourself." He said to Kagome. "But why is it that you need Inuyasha back all of a sudden?" Yoruichi asks them. "We came because Captain Ukitake, and Captain Kyoraku wanted to give us Kido Lessons." Sango answers the question. "Come to think of it, I never had a chance to use Kido ever since I became a soul reaper myself." Ichigo said with intrigue while holding his chin. "Now that you mentioned it, We were so focus on how to get you Zanpakuto back, we hardly ever teaching you how to use Kido. I think it would be a good idea that Ichigo comes along." Kisuke gives his option.
Sango and Miroku looked at each. "I don't think it'd hurt to have an extra student to learn Kido. Why don't we include him." Sango agrees on Kisuke's offer. "Ichigo, you want to come and learn Kido?" Miroku asks to get his attention. "Yeah. Better late than never right?" Ichigo responds with pride. "I think I should improve my Kido skills as well." Rukia wants to join in the group. "Why not? The more the merrier." Miroku smiles at the group.
Inuyasha grabs his Soul Candy and eats it. Inuyasha transform into his spirit form with his dog features in his standard Soul Reaper uniform. Ichigo on the other hand pulls out a badge out of his pocket and press it onto his chest. With contact, Ichigo is dressed in the same Uniform that Inuyasha's in, except his Zanpakuto is strapped and wrapped on his back with a red chain like robe that wraps from his upper right shoulder to his lower left side of his waist. "I'm ready whenever you are." Ichigo smiles at them as they head down to the basement of the store.
Everyone made it down to the Basement. Miroku and Sango are fascinated with the massive size of the basement. But now is not the time to admire the scenery. Up ahead is Kisuke's Senkaimon. "This here will take you back to the Soul Society." Kisuke explains his contraption as Tessai operated the portal. As the thing glows, "It's ready for you guys. Be care and don't get hit with those spells." Kisuke comments as the group. Miroku, Sango, Ichigo, and Rukia go in first. Miroku turns around to see Inuyasha embracing Kagome. "I don't want to leave you, but you should be improving your skills." Inuyasha tightens his embraces. Kagome nods, "Please improve your skills as well." She repeats his words. Once pulled away, Inuyasha kisses her lips before leaving her with Uryu, Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai.
Inuyasha reluctantly enters the light and shows a sad face and turns around to head back to the Soul Society. Kagome gave him her own sad face. As the doors close behind Inuyasha and his friends, Kagome walks to her archery trainer to resume her lessons.