Chapter 8: The Art of Courting

She gathered her stuff quickly and headed out of home tree, making sure no one was following her. The last time she was in a good mood, Tsu'tey had followed her to the springs, though she knew he didn't find her attractive, not like the Na'vi women that were throwing themselves at him recently. She knew she did not compare to their woman so was not jealous over this. She just made it to the springs and undressed and left the makeshift soap and shampoo on the shore. She had managed to blend it together before she was placed in a foul mood. She dove in and surfaced, her hair sticking to her back and the water glistening on her skin.

She came to the shore and started to rub the mixture into her hair before she rubbed the other mixture into her skin. She dove back into the water and rinsed off before just lying on the surface of the water, looking up at the branches of the trees. She smiled as a few prolemuris stopped on a branch to gaze down at her before they continued to swing away. She swam back to the shore and got dressed after wringing out her hair. She threw on all of the necklaces and grabbed her stuff before heading to home tree.

She walked into home tree only for someone to approach her.

"Kagome," the male called. She turned to see which male it was. It seemed to be Neyfiru. He was tall and one of the better hunters of the tribe. His hair was braided and there were feathers throughout the braids. His queue was over his shoulder and his tail seemed to be swaying slightly.

"Neyfiru," she greeted back.

"You seem to be doing well today." He looked down at her. She was attractive in his eyes, but too bad she did not posses the height or skin coloring of his people.

"I am." She started to walk towards her chamber. "What do you need of me, Neyfiru?"

"I was wondering if you would go for a walk with me through the forest," he said, going straight to the point.

"I have some things I need to take care of," she said, not giving him an answer.

"Anything I can help with?" He asked.

"Nothing that would excite you," she remarked. "Just gathering some herbs."

"I will accompany you then," he said as he continued to walk with her. He had to slow down his strides, but he didn't mind.

"That isn't necessary," she replied as she entered her chamber. She placed the dirty items of clothes in a basket and placed the mixtures on the shelf by the bed she had made for herself.

"I know, but I insist."

"Kagome," someone called from the door.

"Good morning, Sesshomaru-sama," she greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"Kikyo is not feeling well," he remarked before looking at the male. He looked back to Kagome. "To'at is also looking for you."

"Ah yes, her lessons in healing." Kagome nodded. "I will see to Kikyo and then find To'at. She is so eager to learn. I was hoping there would be more like her, willing to learn the art of healing." She sighed and shook her head. "Well, bring me to Kikyo so I can treat her." Sesshomaru gave a brief nod before taking her to Kikyo. Neyfiru followed after her.

Kagome looked at Kikyo and knelt beside her. She concentrated and spread her aura and miko power out over Kikyo and checked everything. She retracted her aura. "Kikyo, how often do you feel sick?"

"Just in the mornings," she replied.

"It isn't anything serious. Morning sickness. You are pregnant. So far the child is developing fine." She smiled softly at Kikyo. "You are a good mother, Kikyo." She took Kikyo's hand into her own and forced a small amount of energy into her. The sickness left Kikyo. "There, you should be good for today. Go ahead and take the mixtures by my bed to clean yourself with in the hot spring nearby. Would you like me to go with you?"

"Please," Kikyo said as she stood.

"Very well." She lead Kikyo away as Neyfiru followed after them. Sesshomaru stopped him.

"It is inappropriate for you to watch a woman bathe that isn't your mate."

"What would you know?" Neyfiru asked as he hissed at Sesshomaru.

"I know more than you think," he remarked. "I know Tsu'tey looks to court her."

"He has his hands full with other Na'vi women."

"It does not mean he will court them. He watches her, like a predator stalking prey. I recognize the look." He glared at the male. "Kagome is family to me. In demon custom, the male is to ask then challenge the alpha of the female's family for rights to court her."

"We are not in demon lands," he mocked.

"But Kagome is my family and I am her alpha. I warn you now, stay away from her." He pushed past the Na'vi male and went to look for the village leader, Jakesully. He would tell him of this custom.

...

Kikyo relaxed in the warm water. It relaxed the sore muscles of her current pregnancy and she was even more relaxed as Kagome massaged the mixture into her hair. She washed it out and rubbed the mixture into her own skin.

"This spring is so nice," she remarked as she continued to relax.

"I know." She smiled at the content look on Kikyo's face. "You are good for Inuyasha."

"He is protective of me. He is probably flipping his lid trying to find me."

"Sesshomaru will tell him where you went. He is the alpha after all." Kikyo nodded and Kagome helped her out. She dried her off and dried Kikyo's hair as much as possible before helping her get dressed. She placed a shawl she wove over Kikyo's shoulders. She sat Kikyo on a rock covered in moss and took out her brush like object before brushing out Kikyo's hair. She braided Kikyo's hair into several braids, entwining white feathers and blue reeds into Kikyo's hair. She tied them off with some black reeds. She placed everything in a sack and walked with Kikyo back into home tree.

"There you are," Inuyasha said as they walked in.

"I took her to bathe, Inuyasha," Kagome said. "She wasn't feeling well. The springs did her some good." She placed Kikyo's hand in the crook of Inuyasha's arm. "I will get her some food shortly." She walked away and back to her chamber were she pulled out some meat, fruits, and vegetables. She boiled the meat and vegetables, lightly seasoning with some dried herbs that would help Kikyo with the pregnancy. She poured it into a bowl like item and placed the fruit on a dish and took it to Kikyo.

"None of this is for you, Inuyasha." She saw him look about ready to protest. "I made it with herbs to help with the pregnancy. You can go hunt for food. Kikyo is safe here." He grumbled but got up to hunt for his food. "I got things I need to do. Eat up." Kikyo nodded and sat down and started to eat the soup and fruits.

...

"I see." Jakesully looked at Sesshomaru. "Na'vi ways are different, but Kagome isn't a Na'vi. Things will be done your way when it comes to her."

"Good." He looked Jakesully in the eyes. "Tsu'tey is the only one that has my pleasing to court Kagome. But before he takes her as his, he will have to defeat me in a fight."

"Alright." He sighed. This was not going to be easy. He knew Sesshomaru was fierce and a good warrior from the few times he had gone hunting with him. Tsu'tey would have his work cut out for him. "I will discuss this with Neytiri, Mo'at, Eytukan, and Tsu'tey." Sesshomaru nodded.

"I have to go see to my mate and child." Jakesully nodded and watched him leave before approaching his mate and her parents. He had found Tsu'tey on the way to his mate and her parents and dragged him along with him.

"I have spoken with Sesshomaru about some… things. Neyfiru was talking to Kagome and had made to follow her and Kikyo to the hot springs, where they were going to bathe. Sesshomaru stopped him and had told him it was inappropriate of him to watch a woman bathe that was not his mate. He didn't seem to care. Sesshomaru told me that Kagome is like a little sister to him and said that he would be the deciding factor to who she married. The only male he approves of courting her is Tsu'tey. He is giving Tsu'tey the right to court Kagome, however, before they mate Tsu'tey must defeat him in a fight. Only then will Tsu'tey be allowed to mate her."

"I see," Tsu'tey said. He wasn't exactly on good terms with the high strung demon but at least he approved of him for Kagome. He would find Kagome before the night and go for a walk with her as the sun started to set. He would not do this for any others. "I will court her. It will take some time, but I will also train to further hone my skills." They nodded. "If I am to do things his way, then so be it."

"Eywa appreciates you doing this," Mo'at said.

"I am not doing it for Eywa," he commented. "I am doing this for Kagome."

"Good answer," Sesshomaru said as he walked in. "Had you done it for any other reason, I would have had to deny you her hand." They looked at him. "I wish to speak with you, Tsu'tey." Tsu'tey's eyes narrowed but he didn't deny Sesshomaru. He just followed after him.

...

Kagome stood with To'at, more young Na'vi crowding around them. A lot of them wanted to learn about healing, but also fighting. They knew both were essential to their survival. So now they were listening to what Kagome said, several Na'vi men and women watching to make sure she didn't do anything to the children, but they seemed enraptured to everything she was saying taking note to what she held up as she held up another plant that looked similar to it. She explained the differences and why they should avoid the other plant, which was toxic to them.

They asked questions, getting answers and Kagome seemed to smile. She was glad to see that they took an interest to what she was telling them. She never noticed Tsu'tey and Sesshomaru walk past at a distance, Tsu'tey watching her as he listened to Sesshomaru.

"I think that is all for today" she told the children, who made sounds of disappointment. "I'll teach you more tomorrow." They smiled and ran off to play. She chuckled at their enthusiasm. She looked to To'at. "You know more than they do."

"I've been learning for longer than they have," she commented.

"Come, I will teach you some archery."

"Archery? I am too young to learn archery."

"You are never too young," Kagome said. She handed a bow to her then an arrow. "Now I want you to aim for that tree."

"But it is so far away."

"You only have to aim. I want to see how you do." She watched To'at nodded and shoot, but the arrow went off course. "Not bad. But there are several things you need to take into account, like the direction of the wind, and the strength. Some things farther away, you have to aim a bit higher to ensure you hit what you are aiming at. Now try again." She watched as To'at felt the breeze. She aimed a little higher and a little to the left of the tree before releasing. It had hit the tree. "See, that wasn't so bad."

"I did it." She looked to her mentor to see a soft smile on her face. This woman was kind and patient with her.

"Keep practicing and you'll be sure to out due the males of your tribe." To'at nodded. "Go play now."

"I think I want to practice more."

"Alright. Be in before dark."

"I will." She kept practicing as Kagome walked away to gather more herbs. Usually she would go and gather herbs with Kagome, but she wanted to make Kagome proud of her archery.

...

Tsu'tey watched as she taught the children about herbs he was listening to Sesshomaru telling him more about Kagome. He turned and looked back to Sesshomaru. He could see Sesshomaru looking at him but still talking.

"Kagome seems to be good with children," Tsu'tey said.

"Kagome adores children. She had once seen to my human ward. Demon and human children took to her. It is no surprise the Na'vi children took to her as well." Tsu'tey nodded. "She has one hell of an attitude, and I would not advise angering her. She is attractive then as well, but she is fully capable of doing bodily harm. She is protective of those she cares about as well, and compassionate. She will see to any injured, even if they have tried to harm her in the past. I know from experience, as does my half brother." Tsu'tey nodded. "But do not take forever to tell her how you feel. You will lose her if you wait too long." Tsu'tey was taking all of this in. There was much more to her than he thought.

Author's Note: Here is the next chapter. To clear a few things up, I have the AVATAR Survival Guide, so I will be using it for future chapters. A prolemuris is the creatures that swing through the trees and are blue. Neyfiru is an original character. But read, review and as always ENJOY!