Sango had told Kagome that she and Miroku were just going to go ahead and get married, making sure everyone they loved could be there and Sango wanted her to help plan it. Of course Kagome said yes, but in between training with Sesshoumaru, Midoriko, taking tips from Tokaruman, visiting with the children when she could and the wedding planning, Kagome was getting really tired. She ate while talking with Sango about any plans and what true sleep she got was inadequate for her human body.
But there was a bright side to all of this. Kagome was becoming much stronger. She had better control over her powers and, though still a little clumsy, she was able to keep from being thrown around by Sesshoumaru enough that she only sported a few new bruises. She was rather proud of herself, if she didn't say so herself.
Night one of training, for a while, was one of her best. She'd been so upset, having found out about the well being closed off by her own self in the future that she just went kind of numb and knew what she had to do in order to find them again.
Day two of training was a little more difficult. She was clumsy and tired from training with Midoriko, but she managed. Then of course Koga had shown up and all hell broke loose.
Day three, she was even more sore and had an almost constant cough. Sesshoumaru was a little sour with her for the kiss on the cheek she assumed, so he was faster and tougher on her. She got banged up pretty bad and when she got a nasty gash to her head, Sesshoumaru's father stepped in and made them stop training, angering Sesshoumaru a little more.
It was the morning of day four that she found out about the wedding and so training went better than expected because she was fairly happy and bouncy. Sesshoumaru continued to tell her she should not smile and grin the entire time he trained her, but she did anyway, still getting bruised up, but not as bad as the day before. And lucky her, she only got a decent slice on her thigh.
On day five, Kagome managed to be slammed into the ground once and a tree twice. That was pretty damn good to her, and then Midoriko taught her how to use the elements to her advantage. Not many priestesses could do so, and where Midoriko could control the rain, Kagome had found a knack to control air and water. She was very proud of herself, as was Midoriko.
Day six, Kagome helped with a lot of Sango's planning, and with both girls encouragement, so did Kikyo, relieving Inuyasha. They had realized Kikyo's pain towards life was not being included in it, and so they did their best to remedy that, especially since Kikyo had become so helpful toward them. Sesshoumaru's training her was a little brief, and from what Inu no Tashio explained, it was because the demon lord had a desire to sit and think. When Kagome inquired as to whether this was his form of meditation, the Inu youkai nodded once. Kagome came upon Sesshoumaru and, after asking, joined him beside the waterfall and meditated herself, feeling his attention on her, but did not speak of it. No need to make him angry so that they wouldn't have this peaceful time together.
Day seven, Kagome was shown certain motions to draw out her miko energy from Midoriko, and with her motions, the energy would swell inside of her and flow around her. When Sesshoumaru gave her a day of rest, this day, she practiced her movements under the watchful eyes of Kikyo, Keade and Tokaruman. Kikyo even joined her, both of their energy almost synchronized, flaring at the same power level, flowing at the same moments. Kagome, Keade realized, was almost as unnaturally graceful as Kikyo. Their expressions mirrored one another and their power. It was the first time they looked so alike, if you excluded each others clothes and eyes.
Day eight, Kagome decided it was time to adorn herself with the miko garb her blood and soul demanded. When she came to train with Sesshoumaru, he gave her a nod of approval, and at her request, most astonishingly assisted her in tying back her wavy black hair. Her smile was bright and cheery, making him regret the action as this affected him in some emotional sense. They commenced their training and Kagome was much better at predicting him, for which he was impressed.
On the ninth day, Kagome woke up and went running. She hadn't done it in so long, but she felt it was a needed past time. Her feet pushed against the ground loudly, and so Akin showed her how to appropriately run on the balls of her feet, deafening her movements. With practice, he told her she would be completely silent. Then, beneath Sesshoumaru and Tokaruman's watchful eye, Akin assisted in her training of how to master the elements of water and air. Kagome was thrilled and Sesshoumaru began to find her far more intriguing than he would have liked.
The tenth day was much more hectic. She'd trained with Sesshoumaru on fighting technique again and as she ate, discussed with Sango and Kikyo about what Sango should wear. They all decided it would be best to go outside of their small village to find something more befitting. Then Sango recalled her home may still have her mother's wedding kimono, so she and Miroku left to retrieve it. Kagome began to train with Sesshoumaru when Rin came running, calling her name. Both demon lord and miko went to the child, and come to find out, a woman in the village had gone into labor early. Keade was unwell, so Kagome assisted in the birthing seeing as Kikyo needed assistance.
The eleventh day Kagome found a wooden sword in her hands, standing across from Sesshoumaru. "You must learn more than hand to hand combat, as well as marksmanship. It is time to teach swordplay."
"Against you?" She half screeched.
He smirked, a playful, somehow malevolent glint in his eyes. "Prepare yourself miko." And before she had time to breathe, the demon lord was upon her. Kagome let out a startled gasp and fought clumsily back.
Needless to say, the Tai youkai cornered her and defeated her at every turn. She hadn't been so sore and so bruised in a long, long while. And of course, when she went to bed, Midoriko trained her in summoning her power into a sword and trained her more.
Day twelve, thirteen and fourteen followed much of the same fashion. The demon lord was so disappointed with her sword technique that he almost gave up hope when on day fifteen, Kagome was out before daylight, having hardly slept and was practicing alone, tripping a little, but not as badly as when she faced him as an opponent.
"What are you doing?" He asked her, the depth of his voice startling her.
"Uh… Training." She said.
"Alone?" He wondered.
Kagome blushed. "Yes."
"Am I not a well enough sensei?" He asked, not truly offended, simply trying to understand her. The miko confused him often.
"You're a perfect sensei!" She promised, the compliment surprising him somewhat. "It's just, I know I'm disappointing you." She hid her blue eyes from him, looking down at the wooden sword and her wrapped hands, where blisters had formed over the last few days. "I'm trying to be better at this so you won't give up on me."
Her words surprised him into silence for some moments. Then, after what felt like eternity to her, Sesshoumaru approached her and took her left hand around the sword within his large one, encasing it. "I had thought the sword was simply not for you." He admitted. "But I see it is merely so foreign you know not how to move."
He stood behind her, positioning her arms a certain way, listening to the pounding of her heart at his nearness, and slowly stepped away to observe her. "It is much like dancing." He pulled Tenseiga from his side and held it in the same angle. Then he began to do a few motions, spinning, swiping, extending his arm, thrusting the sword and doubling back with a quickness of the most graceful being she had ever seen. "I shall teach you in this manner for now. No sparring, simply follow me, mimic my motions until they become memory."
"And then?" She asked softly.
"And then we shall commence once more in battle." He smirked. Kagome offered him a bright smile and so began to follow him.
Day sixteen on until day twenty seven, Kagome trained with Sesshoumaru in this fashion. Through the time in between, not only did she learn from him, but she assisted Sango however she could, was surrounded by children, spent time learning of the elements with Akin and trained with Midoriko. The last few days consisted of her being measured by Sango and Kikyo for a kimono.
Day twenty eight, Sesshoumaru sparred with Kagome once more directly. And she impressed him greatly. For the next few days, she did not disappoint. Kagome only became more and more skilled and found herself being smacked by the wood of Sesshoumaru's sword less and less.
She moved on from this to training with a staff and Miroku was honored Sesshoumaru placed him in charge of this. The demon lord was always watching, correcting her form every once in a while if the monk missed something.
On day fifty seven, Kagome had mastered her sword and staff technique's enough that Sesshoumaru, when she asked if she needed training on these any longer, gave her a shake of his head. "We will not let that which you have learned grow weak, but it will not be an every day requirement."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Now," He commanded. "Show this Sesshoumaru what it is you have learned from Midoriko."
Kagome did and so they battled hand to hand, using everything she had learned thus far. But she had the next day, and the day after off. Because the day after would be Sango and Miroku's wedding and Sesshoumaru was kind enough to understand that she needed her beauty sleep.
Inu no Tashio walked the forest beside his son, something they had begun to do a little more often. "Do you not intend to be present for the wedding of the demon slayer and monk, Sesshoumaru?"
He gave his father a flat stare that clearly answered the once Taiyoukai's question. He gave a small chuckle and then sighed. "Well, because Kagome has decided to attend, I will take care of the kimono she will wear." Sesshoumaru turned to him, somewhat surprised. The demon smirked. "You were not thinking of doing so, were you?"
"Of course not. I have no need to do so." Sesshoumaru told him icily.
"Hn." His father commented, walking in silence beside his son for some time. The air was growing rather cold. Summer had said it's farewell during Kagome's training with Sesshoumaru and fall was three quarters of its way through. "Do you deny your love for the miko still?" He asked him.
"She is my ally." Sesshoumaru said simply, his eyes moving through the trees at his left, finding the miko in the nearby field with Shippo, Rin and Sango. She was smiling and talking as they walked, Shippo on her shoulder and Rin's hand in hers. Akin was not far behind them and Kilala, having taken a liking to the dragon demon, rested in his one armed hold. Sesshoumaru could swear he heard her purring from where he walked, but he could have been mistaken.
"She is quite a strong one." The once lord commented.
"Hn." Sesshoumaru murmured, his eyes moving away from her smiling form to his father's face. "Naraku has made no move to attack in some time, nor has his presence been felt through the realm. One wonders if this is perhaps the quiet before the storm." Sesshoumaru murmured to his father.
"I believe so." Inu no Tashio commented dryly. "It will be very soon. Do you think the miko is ready?"
Sesshoumaru's eyes moved back to the woman in question. "It is possible, but the hanyou grows in power." His words held a ring of distastefulness and ire that only someone who knew Sesshoumaru would be able to hear. "This Sesshoumaru can feel it."
"So, in essence, as our miko grows so strongly, as does our enemy." The Inu youkai's eyes were colder, less civil. "A problem, my son. I believe we have a problem."
"Hn."
"Perhaps Miren should meet the girl." His father offered.
Sesshoumaru turned the thought over in his mind, knowing his sensei had wished to see Kagome once conscious and well. Still, even after all of this time, the miko had not gotten completely well, something she shrugged off. "Perhaps." His father may have a point. It may very well have been time for Kagome to meet the demon Sesshoumaru called teacher.
"You're going to be so beautiful!" Rin exclaimed happily to Sango.
The demon slayer blushed, her brown eyes moving to the flowerless field. "Miroku has said this many times as well." Looking to Kagome, her eyes were overly lively, making the miko feel sorry for the girl. "But what if I am not? What if-"
"Sango, of course you'll be beautiful!" Kagome chastised. "You're going to be the most beautiful bride the world will ever see." Sango flushed, shaking her head. "Sango, I swear-"
"No, Kagome." The girl told her. "I know someone who will make a much more stunning bride some day."
Kagome frowned and Shippo laughed, guessing it. "You mean Kagome, huh?" He asked in a big grin.
Surprised blue eyes moved from him to Sango as Rin laughed, twirling around. "That's true! Kagome will be more beautiful than anyone else in the entire world!"
"Oh no." Kagome said, shaking her head. "You guys are nuts!"
Sango laughed. "But it is true." She promised. "You have eyes of water, Kagome, and the most beautiful skin."
"That doesn't make a beautiful bride." She grumbled. "It's the heart of a woman that makes a beautiful bride."
Sango smiled brightly. "Then you will be a Goddess." Kagome snorted, making everyone laugh.
Rin pulled at Shippo's tail and ran away suddenly, laughing. Sango had to admit that as the children ran off in a game of tag Kagome had shown them, that she was relieved to have this moment alone, aside from Akin, with Kagome. "I am afraid." Sango told her softly.
Kagome turned her eyes to Sango abruptly, the happiness dying from her face. "Of what? Marrying Miroku?"
"There is that." She admitted. "And what if Naraku appears at the wedding and catches us all off guard? I would never forgive myself if, because of being restricted by a wedding garb, some were hurt or worse yet, killed."
Kagome shook her head, eyes pained. "Sango, that won't happen. Naraku isn't going to get to anyone. Everything will be fine. I haven't had any visions lately, so everything should be perfect." Kagome laughed a little, making the girl smile. "But, why are you afraid to marry Miroku?"
"I-" Sango's faced turned several shades of red and she almost couldn't say it. It sounded silly even to her. "What if he is wrong and I do not make him happy?"
Kagome smiled encouragingly. "You'll make him happy." She promised, wrapping an arm around Sango's waist. "He loves you so much. You don't just see it in how he looks at you, but you can feel it rolling off of him in waves."
"I know, I just don't want to be a disappointment." She murmured.
Kagome's smile turned sad, her eyes wistful. "You will never disappoint him." Kagome told her, looking down at the golden grass they walked through. "Miroku will always love you and you will always know it. There won't be anything… He won't hold himself back from telling you or showing you." She swallowed. "You're both perfect for each other. A perfect fit."
Sango looked worriedly at her friend's face, seeing the sadness written deeply there and the doubt. Some days Sango could see beyond her barrier of happiness that everyone was so accustomed to, and other days she hid it so well it was only an instinct that told her something was amiss with her friend.
Stopping Kagome and turning her toward her, Sango asked with both hands on each of Kagome's arms. "Do you love him?" Kagome's eyes widened and a tremor moved through her. "And I mean, do you wish him to marry you? Do you want all the things I've spoken to you of about Miroku and I?"
Kagome's eyes watered, but she held the tears at bay. Akin remained as far away from them as he had been, simply listening to them. "I-I…" Kagome closed her eyes tightly and bit back the frustrated scream that wanted to erupt from her. "I didn't love him this much before, but… Sesshoumaru and I are together day in and day out. We train for hours, we meditate and if I train with someone else, he's usually there. The only place he doesn't follow me to is when I bathe."
Sango waited for the girl to say it, not wanting to rush her. Whatever Kagome needed to say, she would listen, no matter how long. "And before I knew it, I loved him so much that it started to hurt sometimes. It's never been this way, I've never felt this way before." Kagome promised.
Sango sighed gently, pulling her friend into a quick hug before looking into her deep, grey eyes again. "Do you want me to knock some sense into the Inu baka?" She asked.
Kagome laughed abruptly, tearfully. "You hit so hard, you might knock the sense right out of him."
Akin smirked as both girls laughed loudly and walked arm in arm toward Shippo and Rin. "Really though," Sango began. "What's there to love about the ice prince?"
Kagome smiled softly. "Everything he doesn't let anyone see and everything he does."
Sango asked. "What doesn't he let anyone see?"
Kagome smiled, her eyes warming. "How much he really does care about those close to him. And he's kind, truly. It wasn't a word I'd have ever expected to be able to give Sesshoumaru, but… he really is." She looked into Sango's eyes. "He refuses to give up on me. Every time I found a hurtle I didn't thing I'd cross, Sesshoumaru, in his own, odd ways, would encourage me, push me and help me surpass it."
Sango thought about the question for a moment, rolling over whether it was appropriate or not to ask a few times in her head. Then, deciding it was, she questioned. "Do you think he loves you Kagome?"
There was a moment of nothing, then Kagome nodded. "But I think he's afraid of me."
"Who wouldn't be?" And both girls laughed again, missing Akin's chuckle.
Sesshoumaru stood at the base of the field, his eyes meeting Kagome's as she topped a hill. She looked to Sango who nodded once and held Rin's hand. Shippo jumped to Sango's shoulder and Kagome made her way down to the Inu youkai, her eyes warring between blue and grey.
"Did you need something, Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked softly.
His eyes were void of anything, but they weren't. There was something about his gaze, and then his voice as he spoke, that reminded her of gentleness. "You will dine with me tonight, miko."
Flushing a little, Kagome nodded. "Where?"
He turned from her, his eyes beckoning her to follow. Kagome did so, disappearing into the forest with him, saying nothing as they made their way through it. It was not long before he had her in a small area around the roots of many trees where a fire was already going. "I will return." He told her, beginning to stroll of into the night.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" She called softly, going to step after him.
He stilled, looking at her over his shoulder. "Hn?"
She smiled a little at the sound, something familiar and warm to her now. "I could get something from the hut." She explained.
He shook his head once. "I will hunt for you." Then he left, the white of him disappearing into the vast forest.
Kagome sighed, sitting down at the base of a tree, her back propped against it. She sat silently, looking up through the leaves of the trees, her eyes scanning the bloody orange and red sky. Her hands absently played with the gold chain around her neck and the kanji, her fingers caressing the words gently.
She had the purity in her blood and soul.
She was being made into a warrior.
Now she had to work on bravery.
Heaving a sigh, Kagome continued to look up into the sky, allowing herself to feel the environment around her. If any enemy came forward, she would know it. Bravery, she thought, was something she lacked. She was afraid of a lot of things, so many things. She feared loosing those she loved, not having the one she truly wanted, and even of the battle against Naraku. Fear was most certainly not brave, was it?
Inuyasha was brave. He went headlong into battles and never acted like he was scared. He fought as hard as he could, protecting everyone and didn't complain of the coldness of fear keeping him from doing what he always did.
If only she could be that way. If only she could be like all of her friends. They were all so brave, all so strong. Kagome wanted to be strong, Kagome knew she needed to be strong. If she could be, then she could fight away the fear and make her family and friends proud. She could even make herself proud.
Movement caught her attention, white flashing in the near dark. The sky had become a pretty purple, soon to be navy. There were a few twinkling stars out in the vast blanket, but they did not stun her so much as Sesshoumaru. He always looked perfect, beyond it.
He was holding three hares, eyes already on her. "What do you think of?" He questioned, having seen the concentration on her face as he moved through the shadows.
She had just been thinking of how spotless he looked, but she didn't mention it. Instead, she sighed and told him. "About bravery."
A pale brow lifted. "For what purpose?"
He approached the fire, sitting near to it, beginning to skin the dead rabbits. Kagome didn't flinch at it, used to seeing the animals skinned for food. "I'm always afraid, and that's not being brave." She sighed. "I want to be courageous though. Just trying to figure out how I guess." She smiled softly.
Sesshoumaru's eyes became brighter, not quite angry, but irritated. "Bravery has nothing to do with having no fear." He practically scoffed in his seemingly stoic voice. The depth rumbled from his chest, telling her how firmly he believed that.
Kagome was intrigued, propping her hands up on her knees that were raised. "Then what does it have to do with?"
He smirked. "With having such and yet placing yourself into a situation because you know that you must, or that it is what should be done. Such situations require the greatest courage from ourselves and are difficult to muster it for. In essence, it is fear that brings out the greatest bravery in all beings." He put one of the skinned rabbits over a flame. "Fear, terror, such feelings are what make us the strongest when we face them head on."
Kagome bit her lip, blue eyes on his face. "Am I brave, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
His amber eyes moved up, the predatory aspect of them a comfort to her now. She feared them once, yet slowly, over time, over caring for him and he teaching her, they comforted her. "It is my belief you hold more bravery than what many of demon or human kind are able to muster."
Kagome's answering smile to his statement was one he had expected. Looking away from her, giving no real response to her happiness, he continued skinning the rabbits and she watched. He was quick, precise and moved with an ease that promised he had done this more than a thousand times before. No blood managed to ruin his pristine white sleeves, which was what she figured would be for Sesshoumaru, Mr. Perfection.
"So," Kagome wondered softly. "Why are you making a meal for me?"
Sesshoumaru looked up at her, his eyes flickering, warring. "I shall provide for you." He told her. "We will dine once again tomorrow evening." He continued his work.
Kagome smiled, taking a deeper, easier breath. "Are you being brave?"
He smirked, a snort, or perhaps chuckled leaving him. "I have never been anything but."
At that, a small joke he allowed to pass between them, Kagome laughed. The sound filled the night and eased him so that as the meat roasted, he freely spoke with her in quieter, yet somehow still very deep tones. Training with her for countless days for over a month deemed this to come about sooner or later. And more than once, he made her laugh.
And, also more than once, Sesshoumaru decided it was beautiful sound.
Okay, so, important thing here. Sesshoumaru now sees Kagome as a friend, like a real friend he can actually trust with showing more of himself. Kagome is someone he wishes to be happy, and in the companion/allied sense, he cares for her. Kaogme has fallen in love with him, and being as stubborn as he is, it will take a little bit for him to catch up.
Thank you for reading and please review.