Chapter 31

After they left Katame spoke with Kagome about their situation. The full-grown demons had left them in the protection of the boys. Boys who were little more than, six, five and four years old. They were big kids nearly as tall as Inuyasha, but they were still kids. Katame didn't feel safe.

"We have to learn to defend ourselves. It can't be that hard if the boys can learn at such a young age. You used to use a bow sometimes didn't you?"

"Yeah but I'm not that good at it. This has more to do with the magic in me than me, myself."

"Ok, we should start first thing in the morning. I'll get Inumouru and Samotoyame to teach me how to use a sword. You get your son to help you with your aim."

In the morning the women were in the courtyard Inu wasn't sure about the prospect of training his mother to fight.

"What if I hurt you? Father will skin me alive, if I hurt you."

"You're not going to hurt me my Inu." Katame reassured her son. "Besides I expect you to teach me to defend myself and if you don't at least try to hurt me. I won't learn. If your father doesn't like it he can beat me when he gets back. Now how do we start?

Inumouru got her his brother's bamboo rod and started with some basic moves. He taught her to block his blows.

Samoto called out encouragement to his mother. "Raise your arms." He called out. "Keep your poll in front of you and keep your eyes on his rod."

It was exhausting work but Katame wasn't about to give up. She knew how dangerous it could be to live at the palace. Now that the older demons were gone, it would be even more so.

Across the courtyard Kagome was working on her aim with Shippo and Sugumi. "Ok mom I want you to think hard about the target. Raise your bow to eye level and pull back as hard as you can. Look down the length of the arrow. As soon as you are ready let go."

Kagome fallowed her son's instructions to the letter. To her surprise it worked he hit the target halfway across the garden.

"Yeah! Did you see that? I actually hit the target." She jumped up and down and hugged her son. "Thank you Sugumi. This is great."

"Ok mom, let's move the target back a bit and try again." Sugumi was pleased his mom had hit the target, but in his estimation the target was painfully close. He didn't say that to his mother because she was so excited that she hit the target at all.

The women kept working on their new skills for the majority of the day. By mid afternoon they were exhausted and hungry.

"I've had enough for now. I have to make some supper. We will continue this tomorrow."

Katame was too tired to eat much and collapsed into bed that night.

The next morning she went at her training with a will. She insisted that Inumouru come at her as hard as he dared. She was determined to learn how to use a sword. She worked herself hard.

"Momma, you are really getting good at this, but you can't learn it all in just a couple of days. Remember we are half demons and are stronger than you. You need to take a break or you're going to collapse." Samoto was worried about his mother.

"I need to do this Samoto, what if an enemy comes while your father is away. You will need an adult who can fight. I may be only human and nowhere near as strong as you. But I have experience of years. I may be able to help. But not if I'm hiding in the back of the house."

She swung her bamboo rod as hard as she could at Inumouru.

Inu swung his and hit her on the top of the thigh. She crumpled to the ground.

"I'm sorry. Momma, are you ok? I'm so sorry. Father is going to kill me!"

"No, no my Inu. I'm fine I just wasn't expecting it that's all. I'll be fine, really." She got to her feet and tried again.

'She just doesn't quit.' Samotoyame thought to himself. 'No wonder father likes her so much.'

This continued for the next couple of weeks. Kagome could hit the target all the way across the courtyard. She was getting very good.

Katame had graduated to a metal sword. Of course there was no magic in it for her but it was sharp. Samoto and Inu were working hard to teach her how to dodge and block blows when an unexpected visitor arrived.

"What do you think you are doing?" Sesshoumaru stormed up grabbing the sword from his wife's hand. "I leave you alone and this is what you do. Are you trying to get yourself killed woman?" He dragged her from the yard. His sons left wondering if they were going to get beaten or just plain killed.

"You have no business using a sword..."

"Sesshoumaru listen to yourself will you. You don't like women because you think they're weak, and you have to watch over them. Right? So you go away on this quest of yours and leave me here with boys. Granted they're big, but they are still boys. They need an adult's experience to help them fight.

Now, I asked Inumouru and Samotoyame to train me the way you and Inuyasha trained them. I have been working very hard and I'm getting pretty good at it.

You should be happy that I at least try to defend myself. This way you don't have to worry so much. I'm not that weak Sesshoumaru. Give me at least that much credit."

Sesshoumaru hadn't heard his wife talk to him that way. Not since before he took her to mate. She was a feisty woman even for a human. But he would have to teach her a lesson.

"You think you are pretty good at this do you? You have not faced true a demon. Inumouru would have gone easy on you because you are his mother and a human as well. Now face me."

He drew his sword.

"Fine but if I'm not that bad at this. I want you to let me finish training."

Sesshoumaru brought his sword down on her and she blocked it. He drew back a bit surprised. His son's had done well either that or she was lucky. He tried a few more times.

She didn't have the strength to stand before him but she did put up a valiant struggle. She had blocked his blows and was still putting in a good effort. He swung again and the blade she held went flying, he had knocked it from her hand.

Sesshoumaru approached his wife. She was breathing hard from the exertion. He looked down at her and then across to his sons.

"You did a fine job of training her, but I will take over her training from now on." He smiled at his wife. "Any human who is capable of defending herself against me, deserves to be trained properly. I'm pleased with you, Katame you have done well in such a short time." He took his wife inside.

He wanted a bath and a meal and Katame. Not necessarily in that order.

Katame was serving her husband and sons their tea after the evening meal.

"I wasn't expecting you to come back so soon. Is your hunt over now?" Katame was hoping so. She didn't like Sesshoumaru being so far away.

"No it's not over yet I came back to see how things were here. I don't like leaving you alone. I've decided that you should join us. I will bring you back with me." He looked at Sugumi. "Are you able to fly your mother with me?"

"Yes uncle, I think so. When will we leave to join the others?"

"In the morning. Go and get your rest. You boys will have to run to keep up with me." He spoke to his sons.

---------------------------------------------------

Inumouru and Samotoyame ran and leaped through the trees to keep up with their father who was flying ahead of them carrying Katame. Sugumi was right behind him with his own mother clinging to him.

Kagome didn't like flying especially without the use of a plane.

Katame had no idea what a plane was but it must be important for Kagome to want one so badly.

Shippo was ridding in the hood of Samoto's shirt. He too, was hanging on for dear life. The sons of Sesshoumaru had a measure of their father's speed and were traveling fast.

"Slow down Samoto. I'm going to get sick at this pace." Shippo complained.

"If you get sick on me I'm going to throw you clear across the forest, you understand?"

They arrived just before midday. Inuyasha and the other hunters had gone scouting ahead. The camp was empty.

"You women stay here I will find the others." Sesshoumaru took off to find them.

"Inu, I saw a river back there. Could you and your brother bring me some water? I'm going to start a meal." The boys bowed to their mother and ran off to get the water.

Katame got to work rebuilding the fire and chopping some vegetables she had brought with her. She was a worker and enjoyed having things to do. She hated being left behind and was going to work hard to make sure Sesshoumaru never regretted bringing her.

Kagome busied herself unpacking some supplies that she had brought and was setting up a sleeping area for her and her husband when she found herself hurled into the air.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha had her and was swinging her around to face him. "I missed you." He grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her deeply. "Oh how I've missed you." He held her tightly.

"Inuyasha, remember I'm human. If you squeeze me any tighter you'll be missing me a whole lot more." She squirmed to get loose.

He wasn't going to let go. He kissed her again and whispered in her ear.

"Keep struggling Kagome and I might not let you go for the rest of the day and all of the night." She got the hint and went still.