A/N: Hello EVERYONE!! Sorry but this chapter will be a little... confusing? Anyway thanks for reviewing and at the end of the chapter there'll be a glossary for the Japanese words ok?

And thanks to blah blah blah I really didn't know all of that sorry, but plz bear with me ok?

Enjoy!

White Plum

Between Lust and Love

Chapter 8: Mistakes mix with a Fight

The next morning I found myself sat on my futon, I hadn't slept, I was still tired from the fighting, but I didn't want anyone to know that 'This Sesshoumaru knows no weakness' I convinced myself, but then again I didn't feel like having breakfast it was then that a servant knocked on the door, with a monotonous voice I instructed "Do not disturb me, I won't have breakfast today." With that the servant walked away from my door, I laid on the futon once again, closing my eyes now and then, trying to get some rest.

I couldn't, even though my muscles were sore from the battle, my mind didn't seem to want to rest at all. Something kept me awake, and I knew what it was.

"Ka-go-me..." I spelled. Even though she was now leaving in his palace, not like a slave be more like a true guest, he realized he didn't know anything about her. She was a mystery to him. She was happy and cheerful, but deep inside he could feel she was sad and lost. He wanted to know so many things: how did she get involved with Kouga or why she possessed such stranger powers, all of the answers to those questions were still unknown to him. He decided to get to know her better today, he stood up from his bed and went to his closet to put on his daily gi and hakama.

Kagome was kneeling in the forest in front of a recent grave. She had asked Shinobu and the rest of the servants to dig a grave for Kouga's body, even though he had hurt her in numerous occasions she still thought he deserved a proper burial and that included a prayer, which she dispatched herself. She heard footsteps coming from behind her, she lifted her head from the grave and looked at Sesshoumaru's unpleased look, he was frowning at her. Well maybe not AT her but more, at the gesture she was doing, she was praying to his enemy, the one who had tried to kill him and at the same time take her away to live a slave's life again! "What do you think you're doing?" he inquired, she calmly answered "I'm praying for his soul." The peace in her voice made him growl, he quickly took her wrist and made her stand up, he was now angry.

"How dare you wish your enemy, no, OUR enemy a "peaceful" rest?" He snorted, he noticed that didn't have a affect on her, and let go of her wrist violently, she held a defiant look on her face and spat "He deserves a proper burial." He snapped at her 'How dare she do this? This bastard tried to kill me!!' for all he knew what Kouga deserved was to be youkai meal and then the rest of his wasted corps thrown into the river and THEN fall into oblivion. How could she be so kind as to offer him the honor of a proper burial?! He couldn't take it anymore, he couldn't see how his forest was contaminated by that filthy youkai's body. He quickly took the shovel near the recent grave and was about to unbury the wolf-youkai's corps but then he felt Kagome's hands trying to take the shovel away from his grip.

'I will not aloud him to do this!' I thought before taking the shovel in my hands, I knew Sesshoumaru would get pissed, but I also knew he wasn't doing the right thing. I yelled at him "Stop it Sesshoumaru!!" I tried to take the shovel from his strong grip, but I was unable to. He snorted and growled at me, his eyes turning red, he reached with his other clawed hand to my shoulder, backing me away from him, I started yelling some more "Stop!! Don't do it!!" but before I knew I felt a strong hand hit my cheek. I fell to the floor, reaching my hand to touch the flushed cheek. I felt tears forming in my eyes, I quickly stood up and not even looking at his face I yelled, as hard as I could "WHY?? CAN'T YOU SEE HE DESERVES THIS?!?" I heard the loud thud of the shovel falling on the ground, I knew he was trying to catch me but I quickly turned around an ran away from him and into my room.

I don't know why I did it. But I slapped her hard on her soft cheek, I was stunned by my own lose of control, normally I wouldn't be so impulsive. But somehow when I'm around her, I feel like my emotions take over me and I loose reason she has that effect on me. I looked at her on the ground, touching her flushed cheek, I suddenly felt bad about what I had just done, I wanted to reach for her and take her in my arms, she screamed something that pierced my heart, and before I knew I had let go of the shovel. She seemed to notice this for she had stood up and now I could smell the salt from her teary eyes. And then she ran away. I just stood there, looking down at my feet.

Shame.

Regret.

Stupid, I felt stupid. For once I regretted something. I knew I had hurt her, I knew she was upset but what I didn't know was what to do about it.

'Should I go after her?' I asked myself 'No, she might not want to talk to me.' I asked again in my head 'Then should I leave her alone?' that seemed to be the right choice. Before I turned to leave I noticed someone watching me, I turned around and saw Rin coming out of a tree not far from the grave, her small hands filled with flowers, she was probably going to offer them to the grave. She looked at me her eyes wide and her mouth open, she had seen the hole scene.

"Rin..." I whispered, she backed away, I could see in her eyes she was scared of me, that made me feel so low "Rin, come here." I kneeled on the ground and motioned her gently to come near me, she did so and came closer still a few feet away form me, I gestured her again "Come closer." This time she shook her head in denial, I felt guilty. She then started "Why did you hit Kagome-chan?" I looked down ashamed "I don't know." She sniffed trying to fight back her tears "She just wanted... she just wanted to make him rest in peace!!" she shout. I looked down again, I felt so low and dishonorable. She then came closer to me, with her little hands she lift my head and said "She wanted him to be at peace..." And with that she let go of the flowers and ran away, tears now soaking her face.

I was so ashamed, I didn't want to understand her, I just thought she was betraying me. I got carried away with my wrong suppositions and now, neither Kagome nor Rin can look at me in the face. I punched a nearby tree in disgust, for the first time I was disgust with himself, and for the first time I knew I had made a huge mistake. But I wasn't going to let that ruin me, I wanted to repay her, I wanted to comfort her and to ask for her forgiveness. I lean into the tree, looking down at my feet, my bangs covering my face.

I ran inside the palace, for a second I thought about going back to Kouga's grave but I couldn't, Sesshoumaru had gone too far. Tears were flowing down my cheeks as I ran inside my room, shutting the door and finally I let myself fall on my futon. 'How can he be so... uncaring?' I asked in my head. When I was burying Kouga's body I thought he would allowed it, that he would understand my reasons, but instead he had slapped me. The act didn't hurt as much as the feeling. I felt like nothing that had happen between us had changed him.

'And why do you think someone like you, a human, could change the way his heart beats?' I voice inside my head rang.

'Why do you think he's different from any other cold blooded youkai?' the voice stated again, I held my hands to my face.

He is different I repeated. He can love, he cares for... 'For whom? Apparently not you.' The thought of that made me cry louder, tears soaking my kimono. Why did I think he was any different? I felt so safe with him and now, now I don't know what to do, I feel like he doesn't care about me.

'He might just want my power, after all that was all InuYasha and Kouga wanted...' I chuckled sadly "Why am I such a fool... why do I keep hoping to be loved?"

He wasn't any different.

I came closer to her door, I sight when I heard her whispering to herself, and choking in her own sorrow, the strong smell of salt covering most of her own scent. I waited there, thinking of what I should say, what was I suppose to say to her, after what I had done?

'I have to talk to her.' I concluded in my head and opened the door. She gasped and grab the sheets of her futon while she curled around, a terrified look on her face, I hated seeing her like that. She started moving backwards but I stopped her before she did "I'm... not going to hurt you.." I confessed she stopped moving and looked at me, with raging defiant eyes, but behind that façade I could see the fear evolving her heart, I suddenly felt bad and kneeled in front of her, my head bowed, she gasped again.

I could see her look at my puzzled and before she could say something I began "I'm sorry for my rudeness." She let go of the sheets and now listened attentively "I didn't mean to hurt you, and for that I apologize." I ended, I didn't know what more to say, how could I explain to her what I felt in that moment? How betrayed I felt when I watched her mumbling prayers to the wolf-youkai's grave.

I felt hurt. I felt insignificant to her.

After a long silence I heard her whisper "Why?" I looked up from my position, new warm tears were falling from her eyes like a waterfall, I felt something stab my heart, but I kept still kneeling in front of her, and she continued "I just... he died Sesshoumaru, he died... fighting..." I looked confused all of the sudden, how was she able to do this? How was she able to forgive that youkai for making her life a living hell, for trying to kill her and chasing her like a dog. "How can you be so kind? So forgiven?" I asked.

She gasped at my question and answered "Because life is precious." I looked stunned at her, her eyes were somewhat dried and shone with a kindness I had never experienced before. "Because, the only thing I can do to make his weighting soul lighter is to forgive him for all the bad things he committed in his life." She smiled warmly when I nodded and now I sat in the same spot. "Then forgive me..." was all I could whisper, I felt my eyes closing and a strong pressure on my stomach and heart, was this how it felt to regret? To regret something with all my heart? I then felt her hands on my face, she lift it and looked at me in the eye, she was smiling happily and her gaze was soft and calming, I leaned into her gaze.

She whispered "I forgive you..." I felt as if a huge weight was off my chest and I couldn't help but touch the spot where my hand had hit her, I still felt bad about it, so I rubbed my thumb over it, caressing it in a slow motion.

Sesshoumaru stepped closer to her, taking, now with both hands, her face. Kagome flushed at this and she found herself closing her eyes. Their faces were coming closer and closer to each other, their lips separated by mere inches. He could feel her gulping in anxiety and her body's temperature rising at his touch, he was amused and moved his body closer to hers, now putting a firm hand on her waist making her body closer to his. She could hear him chuckle a little bit, she was warped in his strong grip and could feel his heart pounding in his chest and his hot breath spreading over her neck and cheeks, she felt the proximity and gulped again.

So close.

Lips almost touching.

When suddenly he pulled back, letting go of her and now stepping out of the room, shutting the door close, she stayed still for a moment trying to understand what just happen. She then heard Rin laughing outside of her room, she realized Sesshoumaru had backed away because he had heard little Rin. She flushed as red as a tomato. 'Then he was really about to...' she flushed more at the thought 'What is happening to me!? Why am I so embarrassed?' (maybe because a HOTTIE was about to kiss ya?! DUH!!) I then heard him talk to Rin and then she ran off to the gardens, he again stepped into the room.

'Is he planning to end what he started?' I suddenly hoped, I knew by then I was attracted to the taiyoukai, his silver bright long hair, his deep golden orbs, his strong yet delicate hands, and his tentative lips were so... tempting. She stopped thinking when she heard him saying "In the closet you'll find a training garment. Put it on and take your bow and arrows, I'll meet you at the dojo." With that he left, letting me alone in my thoughts.

'Shit! I'm falling for this guy, I'm such a baka!' I shouted in my head shaking it. I quickly opened the closet and found a training white gi and a red hakama I put it on took my bow and arrows and ran straight to the dojo.

I don't know what I was thinking, in a matter of seconds her skin seemed so fresh and delicate I couldn't avoid the urge of touching it. So soft and warm, I wanted to taste all of that, but then I heard Rin coming closer to the room. I quickly took action, let her go and step out of the room to greet Rin and send her away. She looked at me puzzled and asked.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, what are you doing in front of Kagome's room?" she seemed to brighten up and smiled widely at me "Oh!! Did you two talked? Is she happy now?" I faintly smiled and nod 'I think she's more than happy.' I chuckled in my mind. She smiled brightly and came to open the door but I stopped her "Rin, I need to discussed something more with.. Kagome." She seemed to get the point and ran off. After I entered I instructed her to meet me at the dojo. 'I might as well test her fighting skills...' I thought, but deep inside I knew I couldn't escape the previous situation.

The dojo, was silent when I stepped in, I had my bow on my right hand and a leather quiver hanging on my back, I don't know why but I felt as someone was watching me. Out of the shadows came a large figure, it was Sesshoumaru, he looked at me and then motioned me to stand in the middle of the court. I did as told and then he pointed his finger at the target in front of me, I looked at it, it was a small jar colored in red, I looked up at Sesshoumaru again. "I want you to aim at that target and with your eyes closed shoot an arrow, can you do that?" he asked with authority, I sighed and aimed at the jar.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember the exact location of the jar in my head. I sighed nervously and then I heard him say "No, I did not ask you to try to shoot at it. You need to visualize it, feel the energy..." his voice was a deep groan that made me squeal "How am I suppose to do that? It's not like it's alive!" I was frustrated. He asked me to open my eyes and then focused on me for a moment before taking my hand in his "Can you feel it?" I flushed "What?" He smirked.

"Can you feel the heat coming from my body?" he said, I could only nod. "Can you say that, because my body in warm, because I breath and move, I am alive?" I was puzzled for a moment before looking again at the jar "Are you trying to say the jar is alive?" I was so confused, he shook his head slightly. He let go of my hand, I felt disappointed but paid attention to him. "We are all made of clay, just like that jar. We are the union of natural elements, are bodies are made out of them, then the jar is only a body, he doesn't possess a soul." I nodded in agreement. "If our bodies are made of clay that means there's energy in them." I nodded again. "Then the only thing you should focus on is the energy emanating from the jar, not it's shape nor it's size." I nodded finally understanding what he meant. He backed away from me, I stepped in front of the jar and closed my eyes.

'Feel the energy...' I repeated in my head, then in the darkness of my thoughts I could see light, and then I could see clearly, the walls, the floor of the dojo everything tainted in a golden light, then in front of me the jar. It was glowing intently, I could now raise my bow, aim and in the second I shot the arrow the jar was gone, the pieces falling to the floor like a rain of golden dust, I opened my eyes to see the same result. I turned around to see Sesshoumaru looking contently at me.

"Good, you shall practice on this, but not today." He came to one of the walls and pulled out a pair of shinais that were hanging. He threw one at me which I caught with my other hand, I looked at him "We shall now train your martial arts. You seem to know how to handle the bow and now we'll see what you can do with a sword."

He smirked, knowing this would be fun.

She gulped, knowing this would be awful.

She put her bow on the ground near one of the walls. And so did Sesshoumaru with Tokijin. They both stepped in the middle of the court, a few feet away from each other. Sesshoumaru adopted a stance and Kagome did as she could to pull out her own stance, she didn't know what she was doing. He then swung himself at her, bringing the shinai right to her head, she merely blocked the attack and stood her ground. She knew how to defend herself, that was a plus. He attacked again but this time charging her sides and hitting them "softly" (Sesshoumaru-like softness of course), she lost her balance and fell, he brought the shinai to her throat announcing his victory.

"You did not use what I just taught you." He frowned, she was breathing hard and stood up. "How am I suppose to focus when I'm being attacked?" He got closer to her, again the shinai to her throat, tentatively making her face him, her nose almost touching his.

"In the battlefield there are no rules, either you kill or die." With that he turned around took Tokijin and before leaving the room ordered "You will have an instructor to teach you how to fight." She pouted and reclaimed "I know how to defend myself, thank you very much!" he quickly turned again to her and scolded "Even if you have that strange power you cannot always depend on it." She was speechless, he was obviously right about that. He left and she pouted louder "MOU!!!".

A/N: So what do ya think? Sorry if the part of the "energy" thing resembled a lot to The Matrix lol not my intention. Chapters from now on are focused and Kagome's training, she'll train her powers and learn how to use the sword and other weapons.

Glossary:

Gi and hakama: It's the traditional Japanese wear, gi being the upper part and hakama the lower part.

Baka: Idiot.

Kendo: The Way of the Sword is the art of Japanese Samurai Swordsmanship.

Shinai: The shinai is a bamboo sword used for training, it's different from the bokken which is a wooden sword is often used by senseis , and the katana which is an actual Japanese sword (it cuts lol)

Thanks to the people that review and don't worry more action will come up.

WP