A/N: This took a bit. Was getting writers block. Fixed that by taking a small break and writing a self-insert story. Got the juices flowing again. Lol.

~38~

Harry ran a hand through his hair as he stood over the furnace in Okita's smithy. To say the first day of Kimi's stay at the castle was eventful would be an understatement. No doubt he was on her shit list now. But Harry couldn't really find it in himself to regret anything; he had never been one for sneaking around. And if someone didn't like the way he did things, well then they could go bloody well fuck themselves.

He was Harry bloody fucking Potter and he did want he wanted!

"Oi stop spacing out over there runt, you're fluctuating!"

Harry jumped before realizing that the sheet of metal he was pounding into shape was starting to become warped from the constant stream of energy he was pouring in. He cursed before cutting off the energy and pounding out the edges to release some. When he was sure the energy was stable again he dipped the sword in water and watched as it cooled off. He put the piece of metal on the back table before sitting down for a break.

"You're making progress kid, but you still have a long way to go before you can make a decent sword."

Harry nodded before leaning back in his chair. He would admit that making his own sword would be fun, but it wasn't for the thought of making swords that he wanted to train under Okita. It was for the chance that he could make his own wands with the knowledge. Now that would be awesome.

"Oh yeah, before I forget."

It was only Harry's seeker reflexes that kept him from being smacked in the face by his sword Kusanagi. He lowered the sword and sent a glare at Okita before looking at it.

"Oh wow. That's a sheath?"

He heard Okita grunt as he got back to work.

"Of course it is kid."

Harry ran his fingers over the intricate carvings and jeweled settings that matched the swords pommel. It was beautiful.

"But it's so…pretty."

He jumped when Okita threw down his hammer in a fit of anger before pointing at Kusanagi.

"Well your fucking sword wouldn't accept anything but some pretty shit! Every sheath I tried putting on it that wasn't up to its standards was disintegrated!"

Harry blinked before staring at his sword amused.

"You're just a primadonna aren't you?"

The sword zapped him.

"Ow!"

He shook out the hand that was now steaming from the shock that had run through it. Such a moody sword…it really was pretty though. Like the handle, the sheath was made of some sort of white casting with intricate designs carved into it. It almost looked like marble to be honest. What he suspected was jade was added into the carvings to match the color of the sword. Dang…

"How much did this cost you?"

"A fucking pretty penny that's what. And you tell that dog…nicely of course…that I expect double! More than double!"

Harry chuckled before taking off his apron and bandana. He slid the sword into the sash at his waist and tested the weight against his hip. It felt pretty good actually. Fighting with swords had never been something that he needed in the future, but with how it was the main weapon of choice here, he was glad to have one at the ready. Spells weren't instantaneous and if people were able to dodge them…well. He was glad he had Kusanagi back.

He waved at Okita as he left the shop and transformed into his animagus form. That reminded him...

"So you want me to fight you?"

Harry was walking besides Inuyasha as they left the castle and headed towards the training yard. He had considered asking Sesshoumaru to help him test his limb enhancing experiment, but reconsidered when he thought about how fast Sesshoumaru himself was. Better to start off on something smaller.

"I need to test a spell I've been developing. Well, not really a spell, but more like…a theory."

Inuyasha huffed but didn't disagree to it.

"And you didn't ask Sesshoumaru because?"

"…you're easier to beat?"

He jumped out of the way of Tetsusaiga as Inuyasha swung it at him, a laugh escaping his lips as he did so. He had filled his legs with a bit of magic in preparation for Inuyasha's reaction so he gained quite a bit of distance with the jump. He had to crouch down as he skidded across the dry ground of the training pit. That had actually worked out quite well.

Harry jumped on his legs a bit as Inuyasha jumped over to join him. He was staring at Harry, no doubt wondering how he had managed to jump so far.

"Is this that theory of yours?"

Harry nodded with a grin before moving his fingers in a come-at-me motion. Inuyasha grinned as well before charging at him.

"Alright, but don't blame me if I kill you!"

Harry pumped magic into his muscles to increase his speed to dodge Inuyasha's swings. He could feel it coursing through the tendons and it filled him with a weird high. After a particularly hard swing by Inuyasha, Harry pumped a good amount of magic into his right foot and kicked Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha and Harry yelped in tandom as the Tetsusaiga was thrown forcefully to the side. It would have gone flying into a building if Inuyasha's grip wasn't so good.

Harry on the other hand was jumping around on one foot while holding the foot that he had kicked the sword with. Note to self: though fast, if he didn't enhance the strength of his muscles as well, he was just as likely to break himself when hitting things. He plopped onto the ground with a pout to inspect his foot.

"Oi, did you break it?"

Harry flinched when he used a diagnostic spell.

"Yeah, kind of smashed my toes to pieces."

Harry pulled out his wand and used a bone mending spell to heal his foot. The toes cracked as they realigned themselves, making Harry tense up from the pain. When the spell finished he wiggled his toes with a grin.

"There. All better."

Inuyasha grunted.

"You sure you still wanna fight?"

Harry grinned before drawing Kusanagi from its place at his hip. The sword pulsed in his hand, eager to spill blood.

"Don't worry; I think I got most of the kinks worked out now."

If he could get the ratio between speed boosts and strength boosts he'd be badass on the battlefield. Of course that was assuming there weren't any negative side effects. But he would worry about that later.

Harry used his magic to strengthen the toughness and strength of his muscles as Inuyasha came at him a second time. He brought his sword up to block Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga and grinned when he was able to push against Inuyasha on equal ground. He heard Inuyasha whistle in amazement before a devious grin came over his face.

"Guess it's time to stop holding back then huh?"

Harry blinked in confusion before he was thrown back by the force of Inuyasha's swing. The wind raced past his form as he flew through the air and Harry made sure to land on his feet instead of his ass. He chuckled from his spot crouching on the ground before rushing forward at top speeds, sword trailing behind him. Their swords clashed with sparks flying between the two, making a screeching sound as if the swords were shouting their own battlecry.

It was intoxicating Harry would admit; the thrill of fighting. But if there was one thing he liked better than fighting, it was winning. Harry brought an enhanced leg around for a whip kick and hit Inuyasha in the side, surprising him and sending him flying to the right. Back in his days in the auror corps Harry had been known for one thing, dirty fighting. He'd do anything to win.

"Oi! That was a cheap shot!"

"Anything's fair in love and war Inu-chan!"

At that moment, just as Harry moved forward to walk towards Inuyasha, a stinging pain made itself known on the side of his neck. A thunk not far off drew his attention and he looked towards the deadly looking arrow buried into the ground not far from where he was standing. If he hadn't moved at the last second…that arrow would have been buried in his neck.

"What…"

Harry shook off his stupor and quickly jumped towards the direction the arrow had come from. He landed in the tree the arrow had come from only to find the shooter long gone. He growled in irritation at the thought that someone had almost killed him.

"Hey, what the hell's going on?"

Harry turned towards Inuyasha who had joined him in the tree before looking back towards the training grounds where the arrow was still buried into the ground.

"Someone just tried to assassinate me."

He reached up and felt at the now wet line on his neck and frowned. There was no mistaking who was behind this; Sesshoumaru had warned him enough times about his mother's dislike of humans. He just hadn't realized how much she disliked them. But if she thought he was that easy to get rid of…she had another thing coming.

He wasn't called the boy-who-lived for nothing.

A/N: Aaaaand there we have it, the start of Kimi's various tries to kill Harry. What creative way will she try to kill him next? :D