Chapter Twenty-Four

I know, I know, I know. This chapter is very late and quite obviously short, and I really do apologize for this, but let me try to explain:

After thanksgiving was said and done, I took an extra day to clean up all the pots and pans so I wouldn't have to worry about doing them that same night. So there's one right there.

Two: After that, I ended up with a nagging pain in my side and an upset stomach up until early this morning. I had no idea what it was, but I was in serious pain, I couldn't stand up straight at all, I could barely even walk -more like hobble- anywhere. I couldn't even manage to cook anything for dinner either. I thought it might have been my appendix but, while it was on the right side, it wasn't in the right place.

I haven't gone to the doctor's about it yet, but I suspect it's just a kidney stone. At least I'm hoping it is, because I know for sure it's not my appendix anymore, there's no way I could go through four days of that much pain without it bursting then it suddenly backing off without making me sick. My mom said if the pain lasts until the end of the week, she's forcing me into the ER because she thinks it might be my ovary, but I don't want to think or talk about that.

Anyway, I know it's not like I couldn't have typed while sick or anything, but one thing I do know about myself is whenever I even feel the slightest bit under the weather, I sleep. A LOT. So I couldn't really stay awake long enough to type anything other than the beginning half of this chapter. And even that wasn't posted because my stupid computer decided to go ahead and update to windows 10 overnight while I was sleeping. And granted it was my fault for not saving it, I do have to say in my defense, it shouldn't have updated on it's own. (In case some of you don't know, when your computer updates something like that, it has to shut down to complete the process, that's why I lost the file.)

Anyway, that's about it so, I really, really do hope you forgive me for how long it took to post this and how short the chapter is.

-I do NOT own Inuyasha or it's characters

-I DO own Sonya, Niki and the plot

~TL S0nya

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Staring across the yard at her teacher, Niki scowled at his knowing smile he sent her way. Two hours. Two hours! Of her dodging his attacks the most she could. Of dipping and rolling around on the ground just to avoid his fists and feet.

Two hours of endless torture.

There were even moments where she twisted in ways she had no idea she even could before. Not to m mention it hurt while doing it, but the look of surprise on his face was well worth the strain in her muscles.

But now Niki was tired, achy and irritated beyond reasoning. And from the looks of things, he wasn't planning on letting up anytime soon either. 'I've only got one shot at this...' Gritting her teeth, she watched him warily, eyes narrowed as he shifted in front of her, one foot sliding forward slightly as he moved.

Thanks to years of wrestling around with her older -and much bigger- brother. Niki had plenty of... Well she could call it training thinking back on it, on taking down people bigger and heavier than her. It all had to do with balance and leverage, if she could only manage to get in the right position.

Shifting her feet herself, Niki frowned at her teacher and tensed her muscles for another onslaught. Granted she managed to dodge a lot of the attacks he sent her way, he still managed to land several good blows, leaving behind bruises that throbbed painfully.

Resisting the urge to blink the sweat from her eyes, Niki crouched farther down and held her hands at the ready when her teacher sprang forward, obvious intent in his eyes as he clenched a fist at his side. Growling softly to herself, she ducked down slightly and managed to wedge her leg between both of his. With a smirk of triumph, she grabbed his outstretched arm and managed to settle his weight on her back and rolled him off onto the ground, easily flipping him onto his back in the process.

Straightening back up, she dusted her hands off on her pants and sent a withering glare down at her teacher as he gaped up at her in surprise. "Don't mess with a girl that knows how to take on people bigger than her." She snapped, making him blink before turning around and stalking back into the shiro, intent on confiscating the hot spring for a good hour or two.

"Careful, Senshi*, if you continue looking at the headman's woman like that you may find yourself without a home." One of the onlooking guards chided lightly as he got to his feet and dusted off his hakima, forcefully tearing his eyes from the woman while doing so. "I do not know what you mean."

"Of course you don't." The same guard chuckled and leaned against the retaining wall, arms folded over his chest. "A woman willing to take on training as well as being as smart as she is... Not something you will normally see. A rarity."

"She also tends to be painful on the ears." Senshi retorted, making the guard laugh lightly as he fell in step beside him on the way back to the barracks. "That may be, but still... Fair on the eyes."

"Hmph." Senshi snorted and disappeared inside the building without another word. He knew better than to even contemplate anything along those lines with the Lady. Even though she and the headman were not married- 'Mated, demons mate' he reminded himself silently- it was painfully obvious to all there he intended on making it happen in the near future.

After all, it wasn't too long after he replaced the old headman the exact reason behind it. Apparently the fool had attempted to set up a surprise wedding with her in the old fashion, where she had no say in the matter. And even being loyal to the headman, that alone was enough to bring many of the servants and soldiers around to the demon's side. None of them even believed the man to be capable of something like that, yet the proof was undeniable when the miko had come forward to the village in an attempt to assuage them to their new headman.

Shaking his head, Senshi began sorting through some papers left for him on his desk, several of them being from new guards asking about periods of rest so they may visit family or even fiancee's.

No, it would not do to become attached to Lady Niki. It would only end up with him being on the wrong end of the headman's claws.

*Senshi- Literally meaning 'warrior' (I know sort of a obvious name, but I really couldn't think of anything else. Besides, it's fun to say.)

A small sigh of relief slipped from Niki's lips as she slid deeper into the hot water, simply enjoying herself as it soothed the aches and pains spotting her body. Slipping down farther, she let the water drift up above her lips and stopped, blowing out some bubbles with a small huff. 'Stupid teacher. Who does he think he is punching me like that?' Straightening back up, she ran her fingers through her hair with a frown. 'That's not fair, I know he's just training me. I suppose it's how he was trained so I guess it makes sense...'

Reaching over, she plucked the bottle of shampoo from the ledge and poured some into the palm of her hand before working it through her hair slowly, simply enjoying the familiar motions of washing as her eyes fell closed.

'Hmmm... I suppose I should make it up to him for being so... Well, for being such a pain in the ass. But I really don't know how.' Dropping her hands back down in the water, Niki opened her eyes and stared at her rippling reflection thoughtfully. 'Maybe I'll talk to Touga about giving him a day or two off to go do... Whatever it is guys do. He's probably got a girlfriend or family he hasn't seen in a while.' Nodding slightly to herself, she finished up her bath quicker than expected and left in search of the master of the house.

"Touga, please would you just stop writing and listen to me?" Planting her hands on her hips, Niki glared at the demon across the desk from her as he continued ignoring her presence in favor for the papers in front of him.

A few more seconds of faint sounds of brushstrokes had her clenching her fists in irritation. "Come on, I know I'm not easy to ignore. I know for a fact I can be the most irritating thing you come across in your long life. Now would you just pay attention?"

A soft sigh followed by the click of the bamboo brush being sent down made Niki settle back on the cushion she was sitting on. Folding his hands on the table, Touga finally brought his eyes up from the paper in front of him and onto the frustrated woman across from him with some measure of amusement. "Yes?"

"Don't you 'yes' me. I've been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes, you dog." Folding her arms, Niki tipped her nose up in the air and turned away from him, only furthering his amusement with her actions. "Very well then, what is it that you want?"

Heaving a small sigh, she let it go and looked back over at Touga with a frown. "Look, I just wanted to suggest you give my teacher some time off. I mean I haven't exactly been the best student and I know he's just trying to do what I asked so..." Trailing off, she fidgeted slightly in her seat, fingers twisting in the hem of her shirt nervously. 'Why do I have to be so damn socially awkward at a time like this?' She swore inwardly and frowned down at her knees. "Look, I just think he deserves a break or something, alright?"

Choosing to stay silent, Touga tapped a claw against the back of his hand in idle thought. It did seem Senshi was more tired than normally, he simply attributed it to his additional training of Niki and nothing more than that. But if he were to factor in Niki's obvious ranting and irritation every day, it would make sense.

"Perhaps you are correct. He does seem long overdue for some time to himself." Touga finally allowed, watching as she lifted her head up and smiled hopefully at him. "However, it does not mean you will go without training either during his time away. I will personally see to it during this time." He added, watching with glee as the sparkle in her eyes died back down.

"I will speak to him on this matter after the nighttime meal." With a wave of his clawed hand, Touga dismissed Niki without another thought, his mind already turning to more urgent matters as his eyes drifted back down to the papers in front of him once more.

"Alright." Sighing softly, Niki got up and moved towards the door then paused, glancing back at him with a small frown. "Are you going to eat with me?"

Blinking up at her, Touga almost shot a look of surprise in her direction at the question but barely managed to reign it in just in time. "Hm? Of course." Seeing the small smile she sent his way, he repressed the urge to get up and gather the woman into his arms before she left the room and clenched a hand once the door shut behind her. 'It would seem she has become accustomed to my presence...' He mused idly, eyes still focused on the door. Hopefully it wouldn't be much longer before she started asking for him to go into the village with her like she did once a week.

He could only wait, patience was key when it came to her and he only hoped he wouldn't have to be too patient before she finally gave into him.