That night, I enter my rooms and pause, inhaling deeply the scent of Kagome before sighing heavily. Today had been a long day. InuYasha's initial lesson took several hours, causing me to miss lunch with Kagome, and then a meeting with the generals forced me to miss dinner. As such, I have not seen my intended since she left to train this morning and I have sorely missed her presence.

"Sess? That you?" she calls from the bedroom.

"It is." I reply as I step up behind her to wrap my arms around her. "I have missed you, kotori." I whisper, burying my nose against the crook of her neck.

"I missed you, too. What were you doing all day, you're not normally... well, not not busy, but not busy elsewhere." She turns and slips her arms around my waist.

"InuYasha accepted the training. I introduced him to his instructor and then stayed to observe. He was worried about losing control, as he will not be using Tetsusaiga until he can control it's size to be that of a normal blade, rather than the full fang."

"Well, that makes sense. Can't really learn the basics if you've got a four foot long sword to swing." she jokes.

"Hn, indeed. I also offered to help him master his control of the fang."

"Oh, I bet he loved that..."

"He accepted. However, it was only after I informed him that I would not have any need to touch the blade. Regardless that I have no desire for it now, I understand his trepidation regarding myself and Tetsusaiga."

"Yeah, I don't think that'll go away anytime soon, sadly. So, his first day go well then?" She pulls back from me to step behind her screens to change for bed, as I slip behind mine to do the same.

"He is... capable. He has many habits to unlearn, however I do not think he is unteachable. He has a certain knack, though it is hard to discern entirely through his wont to swing a blade like a club."

"Oh, I bet." she chuckles. "Is he more capable than me?" She means it as a joke, but her voice becomes soft, uncertain.

"From what I have seen of you both, no." I say as we both step out towards the bed. I stride up to her and cup her face gently. "You have a natural aptitude that was untainted and it has allowed you to flourish quickly and well. He may reach that point after he has the habits broken, but it will take much longer for him to unlearn and then relearn. You need not ever compare yourself to him, kotori." I rub my thumbs across her cheeks gently.

"I know. I know, I shouldn't. It's... it's just hard sometimes not to. Swords were always his thing, and I feel like I shouldn't be better, but at the same time, I want to be better than him. It doesn't make any sense, I know." She closes her eyes and leans into my palms, sighing.

"I understand completely." Her eyes snap open and connect with mine. "I understand wanting to surpass, yet not, and being unsure if you ever will." I lean forward to touch my forehead to hers gently. "However, we should sleep. It is very late."

Kagome giggles as she pulls away and climbs into bed, waiting for me to settle to curl up against my side comfortably before allowing sleep to take her. I follow shortly after to wisps of memories featuring boisterous laughs, blue stripes and mischievous golden eyes.