Chapter 32

That evening the hunters and demons sat together having a meal. They had heard that their quarry was not far. He had a home up in the hills above gorge where the river bends to the south.

Sesshoumaru had not yet caught his scent. He was annoyed that he would have to rely on the others to lead the hunt. Sesshoumaru was not the following sort. He preferred to lead.

Katame worked to keep the camp running smoothly. She had prepared supper and now she was settled down and was brushing her sons hair getting them ready for bed. Sesshoumaru was watching her and she knew it.

She smiled at her husband and whispered loudly to her son.

"Your father is jealous. I think he wants me to do his hair as well."

Kagome burst out laughing. "Maybe we should put his hair in pig tails. Don't you think he'd look cute?"

"Yeah he'd look cute all right, especially as he tears your head off your shoulders." Inuyasha warned his wife. She did like to bug Sesshoumaru, but it did sometimes backfire on her.

Sesshoumaru just smiled a Kagome and reached for his wife. "Come here you bad little girl."

She came over to him and knelt behind him and started to brush his hair. "I just thought of something. How am I going to give you a bath out here?"

"Don't worry Katame. Knowing you the way I do. You will probably have the boys carve a tub out of some rock for you." She leaned over his shoulder.

"What a good idea. How long do you think it will take?" She laughed and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I have to get the boys settled down for the night. I'll be right back." She ran off to tuck the boys in.

Sango muttered under her breath to Miroku. "Did he bring her here just to slave for him?"

Zip! Sesshoumaru had her by the arm. "Katame is no slave. You would do well to remember that." He let her go and went to take his wife off to someplace private where they could talk.

"Tomorrow I will work with you on your training early in the morning. Then I will have to leave to continue the hunt. I want you get to bed early. I will not be easy on you so be prepared."

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The next morning the hunters woke to the sound of swords clashing. Sesshoumaru had kept his word and he was working Katame hard.

She was good. She was able to ward of blow after blow. Sesshoumaru let her have a moment to compose herself.

"I'm going to speed up. A real demon attack would have you working much harder. Are you ready? Keep your eyes on my blade and don't slow down even a little bit. Now."

Clang, smash, clang, clang.

Everyone came running, swords drawn and battle ready. They all stopped short when they saw who was battling whom.

"Keep your sword up and focus on my blade. Watch me closely. Try to anticipate my moves."

"What's going on here?" Inuyasha hadn't been informed of Katame and Kagome's training.

"Oh... dad, uncle Sesshoumaru is teaching aunt Katame how to fight with a sword. Aunt Katame asked us to train her and mom to fight so if an enemy came while you were gone, they could defend themselves. She's pretty good isn't she?" Sugumi explained. "Uncle Sesshoumaru tested her himself. He didn't like her training herself and thought she wouldn't be any good. But right away she was able to block him."

CLANG, clang, clang, ting.

Katame's sword went flying. "Watch out!" Katame called.

Inuyasha caught it before it hit the ground. "Sesshoumaru are you trying to kill your wife? I thought you liked her." He handed the sword back to Katame. He was heaving hard from the exertion.

"It's ok lord Inuyasha. He's training me to use this." She was bent over trying to catch her breath.

"That's enough for today woman. Go and rest a moment before we eat." Katame went down to the river and jumped in. She was dripping with sweat and needed to cool off.

When she was gone. Inuyasha questioned Sesshoumaru. "Why are you training her? She can't handle a battle situation. She's only human.

"Ahemm. I'm only human." Sango was standing there listening. Her arms crossed across her chest. "If I can handle a battle so can she. Besides, I thought she did really well. How long has she been training?"

"A little over two weeks. They started just after we left. She asked to boys to train her. And yes she is doing well. This is my first session with her."

"Whoa. She learns fast." Inuyasha looked back toward the camp. "Just what did Kagome learn while I was gone."

"She has been working on her target practice. She apparently has gotten quite accurate with the bow and arrow." Sesshoumaru said.

Katame had returned to the camp and was busy helping Kagome fix the group their breakfasts. The boys had gotten the water and had started a fire for their mothers.

"Samoto would you get your father. Tell him his breakfast is ready." Samoto ran to the group and made the announcement.

Inumouru was the first to get his bowl.

"You little fiend, are you going first again. You should let your father and the hunters go first. They are going to be out hunting all day."

"Father says that I'm going too. So I need to eat." He reached out for the pot.

"Ahhhh, look at those dirty hands. No way you are going to eat with those filthy paws. Wash them now. Samoto, Sugumi let me see those hands. Hmmm, go wash all of you now."

"Awww mom."

"Do you have a problem with your hearing, young demon? I distinctly heard her say, wash. Or would you prefer something worse?" Sesshoumaru glared at the boys. The boys ran for the river and washed their hands as fast as possible. Better to wash willingly than to face Sesshoumaru's wrath.

Katame always made sure the boys got plenty to eat but these little demons always acted like they were facing a terrible famine and this would be their last meal ever.

The boys returned and ate their fill. After breakfast, everyone left for the hunt. They would try to pick up Naraku's scent first and try to get a better idea of where the Man-made demon was hiding before doing anything to alert him to their presence.