Frost-Bite

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha or the Yu Yu Hakusho characters.

Meanings:

`Thought'

"Speech"

Beast

When you see something like this So… (Its a word drawn out: Like soooooo)

I wanted to let you all know the trio are crossing the mountains so its going to take a little over a month to where Toran and Kagome need to be. Along the way Toran and Kariudo are training Kagome until they reach a certain point where Kariudo can no longer travel with them. Males are not allowed to know the destination of Koorime Island however most already do and just choose to leave it be. There is much more to come.

'Breaking the Ice'

Chapter 8

The raven haired teen was breathing heavily holding onto a rope larger than her fist the ends tied that were being held by Toran and Kariudo as Kagome ran in place, jumped up to do several somersaults while holding onto the rope before landing on the lake of ice once more then dropping down she stretched her body doing twenty-five push ups then crouched doing her best at break dancing using her feet to kick out while she spun in place then jumped back up onto her feet she began running in place all over again.

Toran was a bit creative coming up with all kinds of training exercises to build up Kagome's stamina. Must have been a few hours that the miko had been doing the routine on ice, now it was time for some jumping lessons. Using her ice whip Toran snatched Kagome's foot knocking her down from the last somersault down hard onto the ice setting her off on a spin to rival the weaving wheel. Kagome had blinked not believing what Toran had suggested, they wanted her to run around the lake which was not bad but what had her blinking back disbelief had been the part where she was to jump into the snow banks as fast as she could and jump out and back to running around the lake of ice.

Toran wasn't joking. Kagome ran around the lake then jumped into the snowbank making her look like a deer with a broken leg seeing how she couldn't jump high enough to escape the build up of snow. When she completed three turns of running the lake of ice and jumping snow banks they had her use her reiki to shield herself to wind her reiki tightly around herself to smother her scent and hide her aura. Kagome finally achieved this on the twenty-fifth try. She kept at it until Kariudo said that was enough training with her reiki that they didn't want to wear her out due to the lack of use and that they'd pick up on that again tomorrow, but for now he had another training exercise to do before giving a break for the night.

Walking over to where Kariudo stood under a low bearing branch smiling tiredly at the lion she looked to his easy stance wondering what he had in mind with the cloth. He had asked if she knew how to climb a tree without help. Kagome wanted to laugh at the thought. She used to love climbing trees and indoor rock climbing as a pass time growing up with her friends which had been a blast, but she wasn't going to let him know that until the time called for it.

Kagome somehow knew this was going to be another one of her daily training exercises as they made their way up the mountain. Kariudo wanted to see if Kagome could climb first then he'd have her do the most daring afterward. Besides he had to have a little fun in training Kagome and he knew she had not a clue what the cloth was for. Kariudo was delighted by the threatened payback Kagome promised when she found out he was serious.

"Oh no way in hell am I doing that. No freaking way. Un-un, get yourself another guinea pig I'm not it." Kagome stomped her foot her voice getting a little louder with each syllable as she ranted at the lion.

"Kagome this is not up for debate you must learn this, you have a beast use it to help you that is what they are for after all. I cannot have you embark on your journey without knowing this. It is vital to living, trust me when I say that as a fact. Life is hard and comes with it hard work no one not even the humans go without learning what they need in order to survive unless they are meager farm workers and help even then they are trained in their duties even if they don't like it doing the chore it is a must in life not even the youkai so get that look out of your eyes. I'm not picking on humans, hanyo or youkai for that matter its just a sad fact of life." Kariudo carefully worded out knowing he hit a sore spot with Kagome.

"I get it, really I understand, but I don't have to like it." Kagome pouted as began climbing the branch of the tree with no trouble which a lazy smile came from the lion. 'I knew she could do it, all it took was some convincing.' Again he smiled as she jumped back down landing on her own two feet before climbing up the trunk of the tree then jumping with arms out grasping the branch and pulling herself up then jumping back down. Kagome did this for ten counts then stopped seeing Kariudo wave the cloth in the air knowing her time was up.

What Kariudo had in mind was blindfolding her before she climbed up the tree then jump from one branch to another then to the next branch was like asking her to walk the plank in ocean waters while sharks swam in a circle waiting to devour her flesh and bone. Yeah just how she likes it. Not. Kagome knew this was not funny and took it seriously like he said use your senses now that they are acute. Kagome tried her first jump and made it although she squatted down hugging the tree like a life line while the felines scolded her for it. Up again Kagome stood on a perch getting the feeling of how far the branches were away from her with a step back she took the jump like a natural fledgling flying from its nest for the first time.

Kagome was happy even more that she made the jump. One jump good job made it to the next branch, second jump luck was with her, the third jump lets just say a sneaky lion had set an iron spring onto the branch so when Kagome landed on it she sprung wildly into the air while Toran told her to control her body and use her senses to reach the next branch. Once Kagome touched down the branch, it snapped sending her sprawling down into the snow face first. Spewing snow from her mouth Kagome got up dusting the snow off her clothes. A million things ran through her brain but once Yuki caught her attention and she zoned out from the real world talking to her beast about their new learning exercises.

You almost made it! Had we jumped when the spring let loose we would have cleared the branch to a safer spot. Yes the lion is at fault however, they are training us to get stronger. Do not take it to heart at how they do this.

Kagome gaped at her beast then thought over what she said. Yes they were training and yes she wanted to learn but damn its gonna take a long time just to boost her stamina until her body could move like that of an youkai or hanyo. Letting out a sigh Kagome spoke to her beast agreeing with the odd methods of training. Kagome nodded her head giving the felines the signal that she was going to try again this time she would give it her all. Slowly dusk came and went Toran decided that Kagome had enough training for the day and deserved a very hearty meal consisting of veal soup with roasted fish and berries.

That night they discussed other ways of training, Kagome gave them some insight on some of the things she would like to learn but would have to find someone who was more schooled in the art of karate, ti-chi, The Five Lights Center (Focuses on self-realization through: movement, touch, meditation, breath work and communication), Kagome even gave some pointers on yoga and what karate was. She had never bothered to look in the library at home to find out when certain things began like martial arts or how it progressed but she was sure it was before this time if ninja movies era was correct. There are other marital arts she would love to learn but that could be for a later time should she come across someone doing another type of marital arts she knew from her time.

The night easily passed with the how to's and your doing well, but of course need more training. Kagome nodded in agreement as she finished her dinner she yawned stretching as she stood to rinse off her wooden bowls Kariudo made for her. Kagome dipped her bowls into the snow using her hand to rinse out the gunk taking a deep breath and holding it for five seconds before letting it out she did the process four more times. Kagome felt so at peace even though her chest continued with the numbing throng of her missing piece of soul she touched the spot hoping to ease the longing shaking her head Kagome gathered her bowls and set them near the fire to dry out. Taking her bedroll out and flipping it open Kagome settled in wishing her companions a quiet good night before falling fast asleep.

A month later.

"Come on Miko run, jump, twist and do that somersault thing you do and land. Now lets try that as you run around the pond but with some added force coming your way." Who would have thought that ice darts and whips would get a person running in place while trying to actually run and dodge the projectiles aiming for the the feet which led to nowhere but falling on her arse and sliding like an idiot while yelling insane things.

"Remember keep your senses open and for the sake of my ears no yelling obscene things" Kagome panted they were working on new moves and she was getting better, no where near their expertise but better than she was before she wasn't useless anymore she was sure if she had to Kagome could take out a human male or a lower level demon on her own with her fists alone.

Now they had her running the ice again with a few twists as if she were actually a track runner for the love of God. She had made the last two jumps of the wooden hurdles however she missed seeing the lower one which she was to slide under after the jump but tripped over it instead causing her to do a somersault landing on her backside sliding several feet away from the up turned hurdle. Kagome tried to dig into the ice using the clawed gloves to let out some frustration yet all that it earn her is another calling to get her ass up and lets try that again. 'Really the nerve of some people not say which people but people nonetheless. This caused her beast to chuckle it was times like this that Kagome's anger melted away as if it never existed and that caused her to sigh.

'I'm counting on you to help me or at least keep me aware of things that I'm already trying to keep my senses out for.' Her beast chuckled again agreeing to help when needed.

Kagome decided to deviate from the new tactics and try something unreal, after her last jump she ran towards the end of the pond jumping up and with a touch of magic ice formed on her boots. Landing Kagome began to twirl and spin and jump around the ice. She loved ice skating and she hadn't done it in two years. She was surprised she could still do some moves but now she wanted to test her strength against the youkai that was training her.

"Miko what have you done to the boots to allow you to dance on ice." Toran watch in wonder as Kagome skidded to a stop then started skating away faster than a human could run.

What Toran saw took her breath away. Kariudo hung from the tree to get a better look as Kagome came skating his way. What he saw on the bottom of her boot and what it allowed her to do was mind numbing. He as well as Toran looked on in amazement Kagome made several spins then jumped then skated then began a scratch spin that made her blur to the normal eye then did a sit spin raising up to do a scratch spin then stopped and bowed to Toran then to Kariudo whose mouth was hanging open.

"What was that and how did you learn such a thing?" Kagome was thrilled she got one point to Toran's confusion.

"That is called ice skating, humans do it as a form of pass time even a way to spar against one another." Kariudo bounded over lifting Kagome up and twirled around as he muttered how much he adored the show.

"Put her down you fool." Toran bopped him on the head with the stick she still held in her hand snapping it at Kagome when she would lose focus on her training.

"Okay, okay don't want to upset the kitty or she'll... Hey, I was hey come on ouch... Toran stop already. Ouch." Kariudo mumbled as Toran kept swapping him in the head or the back and the behind then put her attention on Kagome who backed away slowly until she stumbled and fell on her rear.

"Now how will this help you?" Now it was Kagome's turn to shine and she hoped Toran liked her train of thought.

"I used the element of ice to make the blades you see on the boots. It allows me to move much quicker than any human but it only works on ice surfaces there is another way to move quickly on snow only if I could make them but don't have any fat to smooth the texture of the wood once they were made." Toran blinked, Kariudo frowned knowing it was him that would be making whatever the miko had in mind.

"Skis much like ice skates can move quickly in the environment it was made for. You just got to witness what a little ice skates can do and I intend to use them as a weapon while with skis I would be able to cross the distance quickly using snow. Imagine how long it would take for me to cross the mountain without aid. Better yet how about going down the mountain? That's when the skis come into play." Kagome looked at both of them before she continued with her little speech.

"The skis are quick, and can move daringly around trees when going down a mountain. Jumps were another way of sparing with other humans. When a human traveled down the mountain it would take many hours or days, weeks even." Toran was getting to understand where the miko was going with this.

"The question I have is how do you make them? We will discuss this after a full demonstration of what these ice skates can do." Kagome nodded while a huge smile crossed her features. This was going to be so much fun.

Hours later.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Kagome voiced as her beast suggested that she use one of her elemental abilities to help stop her spinning.

Thinking of what Toran was using Kagome called upon the power of ice to make a small ramp in order to slide up and hopefully fall onto her feet. Well lets say that didn't go as planned as Kagome slid off the ramp she landed on both feet the the momentum still moved her a few feet forward. At least she wasn't spinning anymore and Toran took advantage of her musing once again. Using her ice whip she smacked Kagome on the behind causing her to yell and start running. Kariudo took the time to call on the winds to make the snow blow like a blizzard toward Kagome.

She couldn't see yet she kept feeling the sting of Toran's whip she'd get them both but she had to stop their attack movements so she decided to try something different. Calling on the water Kagome thought of raining ice picks low and behold it had Kariudo running while Toran created a shield of ice to cover herself while Kagome skated around the pond getting ready for her next attack.

"Nice trick, but you have to do better than that Kagome." Toran scolded knowing the miko was trying hard to catch them off guard. Toran called for the ice to form small spikes which would rise then fall back down to nothing then rise even higher (think about the wave at a baseball game.) then change again while large hail the size of softballs shot down at her from the sky it was never ending giving Kagome only a second to come up with a way to defend herself from being hit from both high and low.

Her brain working on a new attack since her current plan was not working. Taking a chance to figure what course of action to take other than keep skating or jumping when she saw the whip coming to close for comfort. Kagome tightened her reiki around her like Toran taught her but with a swish and a jump Kagome disappeared from their view. Kagome made a barrier to help hide her scent and aura from the neko until she could come up with a plan. Thinking hard Kagome thought if Toran was using high and low tactics then she would use side to side as Kariudo was doing yet she'd upped the ante.

"I'm coming for you Toran." Kagome smiled while concentrating on her powers allowing her beast Yuki to give her advice.

Call upon the wind and water create cyclones of all different sizes do not stop there. Once you have more then enough create shards from the ice as Toran had done however, instead of a wave like pattern have them angle as if to pierce then retract at different angles and work from there. Then attack head on with your staff and create what you called a stop block behind Toran to catch her off guard.

Kagome smiled 'That just might work! Oh I know I'll try to create Inu Yasha's adamant barrage' as the twisters she created using what she saw from the dragon strike, they picked up spinning blurring Toran and Kariudo's sight, giving Kagome the chance to attack from the side. Kagome was happy to get advice from Yuki they've been working with the ice technique for over a week now and Kagome had to admit she was having a blast even though she ended up on the ground more times than she rather count.

Do not call out your attacks like a fool, it would only give you away. Unless you miscall your attack and called it something that would fool them to making the wrong move giving you an advantage.

Now that stopped Kagome in her tracks, thinking about what Yuki said made some sense but then using said false attack all the time would end up disastrous with her luck. A one time thing would work but not all the time and she was wary to use mislead attacks more than once in any battle because it would always turn back on you no matter how much you tried to keep it a secret.

'It would work as a one time thing Yuki, having others hear or see me battle would soon give me away at one point and time.' Yuki nodded in agreement, it was a thought none the less and she was sure it would work this one time round.

A one time trick then we can modify our attacks with using those clawed gloves and boots you've been clawing the ice with.

Kagome smiled oh yeah remembering how she caught Kariudo's hair with the clawed gloves pulling his hair backwards and flipping him over onto the snow bank it did work nonetheless. 'You got it Yuki we'll try for the legs his hakama is pretty baggy so the claws could work if I can get between his legs with out him knowing what I'm up too.' Kagome dodged an ice shard the size of a house that Toran tossed at her then snowballs that Kariudo kept throwing at her trying to break her concentration, but it didn't work.

Kagome began using the ice as a way to slide her way towards Kariudo only for Toran to use her ice whip hitting Kagome's legs causing her to face plant on the ice as her body slid until she used the claws to jump up into the air about six feet stunning the duo with a look of surprise then jumped from their position letting Kagome land on the snow bank they were hiding behind.

"Wow that was so cool, didn't know I could jump that high." Kagome beamed up at Toran while Kariudo patted her back in good gesture.

"It seems the more we train the more you are learning what you can do physically. You still need a lot of work but you did good today." Toran praised Kagome.

End Chapter.

I had enjoyed writing this chapter, although it did take some time but I finally got the chapter out. Okay I hope for more than five reviews it helps me keep focused so start using those keyboard for some good use...