A/N: Hey there!!! Thanks for the reveiws and i hope you're liking my story. This chapter might be shorter than the others.

Coming up some more action envolving some cute hanyou with a missing arm (--U)!

ENJOY!

WP

Between Lust and Love

Chapter 9: Training, Groping and Sighing

For the past 2 days Kagome had started her own training, not liking the idea of having an instructor coming to teach her how to use a sword, kunais, or whatever weapon Sesshoumaru wanted her to learn, and why did the taiyoukai want her to learn how to use a weapon anyway? She just couldn't understand that youkai, violent and impulsive at first, then kind and protective and he was starting to become bossy and demanding all of the sudden. She sighed from her spot in the garden, she was practicing with her bow, trying to focusing on the small yellow jar 30 meters away from her. Even though she could see the energy from the jar emanating in the distance, she was confuse by the other energies circling her. She had learn that living beings were brighter than objects, because they had a soul. Sesshoumaru had explained to her that in this way she would be able to recognize an adversary and read his movements.

But she just couldn't concentrate.

'Too much to think about.' She sighed again, she took the bandage covering her eyes and sat down on the grass, she lift her head up letting the smooth cold breeze swift her hair and refresh her face. She then sensed a huge amount of energy coming closer to her, she opened her eyes and recognized Sesshoumaru nearing her, she gave him a small smile and motioned him to sit next to her. Without thinking twice he did so.

"How are you?" she asked trying to pull out a conversation. It didn't work for he didn't answer just nodded, even so she was satisfied and enjoyed the silence between them. She was interrupted when he start saying "Tell me about you." He asked politely, she looked at him, he was awkwardly embarrassed she could feel it even if his face didn't show it.

"What do you want to know?" she asked trying to tease him a little bit, she knew he wasn't a talkative person. He shrug and sigh "I don't know, just tell me." He said simply, Kagome knew he wasn't going to reply the next time so she started "Well... a year ago I lost my family..." she said sadly, this made Sesshoumaru look at her, wishing she wouldn't cry, he hated to see her crying. She recovered and hold in a tear "We lived in a small village, I don't remember much though. I remember a huge field, green and wide as wide as the eye could see. I remember my mother, but not her face, and my father, and..." she held it there before continuing "my brother..." Sesshoumaru asked "How is it you don't remember them?" she chuckled at the question, to her it was obvious "Well that happen before I was Kouga's slave. They died when a horde of youkais attacked the village, well my father died in the war but my mother and brother..." she stopped and then started again "I remember trying to save them and then a pile of wood fell on my head, that's why I can't remember..." she stayed quiet. Sesshoumaru felt bad for asking.

"That's why you don't remember having this powers?" he asked, she nodded.

A long silence. And before anyone could say anything more Rin came running towards them.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!!" she shouted, Sesshoumaru stood and looked at her "What is it Rin?" She was breathing hard form the running and before saying anything pulled his hakama and started saying "There's a weird man at the gate, he says he wants to talk to Sesshoumaru-sama, but his scary..." he patted her head lightly and without a word went inside. Kagome stayed with Rin, she hugged her and tickled her a little bit laughing hard before asking "How is the man like Rin-chan?". Rin thought for a moment putting her finger over her chin "He has short hair, green eyes, and he's weird..." Kagome looked at her puzzled "How... weird?" she asked.

Rin smiled "Very weird!" and ran off, leaving Kagome who also headed to the palace. She could hear people talking in the dinning room, before she could stay in the shadow and listen Sesshoumaru had discovered her "Kagome, stop hiding and come inside." 'Damn!' were her thoughts, as she gently opened the paper door and entered the room, the man at the other side of the table, stood to greet her, eyes wide as he noticed her.

"Damn Sesshoumaru what a catch!!" he exclaimed, this made Kagome skip and glare at the individual, he was wearing a bleu-marine cape and a red bandana, he had green eyes and only one strip on both his cheeks, like Sesshoumaru but instead they were green matching his eyes. She didn't like the guys attitude. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, slightly amused by Kagome's reaction. "Kagome please sit." He ordered, silently she kneeled between the both of them, disgusted by the newcomer's stare. Sesshoumaru noticed this and introduced "This is Shinosuke-san he's the prince of the Southern Lands." The youkai came closer to Kagome and kneeled in front of her, taking her hand in his clawed one and kissing it softly "Dozo yoroshiku Kagome-sama." He said in a playful tone. 'God his arrogant!' she thought at the same time. Sesshoumaru held a growl in his throat at this, but thought that it wouldn't be convenient to kill the prince of the Southern Lands, at least not until he became Lord.

After the little scene Sesshoumaru introduced Kagome "This is Kagome, she's.... Rin's attendant." Shinosuke's eyebrow twitched "Oh, I thought she was one of your mistress. So she keeps an eye on the little one, interesting." Kagome recorded the words "one of your mistress" with anger. Was he having mistress? Was he really that kind of guy? Sesshoumaru wasn't pleased with this small chat and ended it going straight to the point "Shinosuke-san has brought you your new instructors Kagome." Kagome answered back "So there's more than one?". Before they could answer Shinosuke interrupted standing up "May I present you our finest warriors." He helped Kagome to stand, gallantly and led her and Sesshoumaru to the gardens where servants were circling a couple of humans, a man and a woman more precisely. They stood in front of them.

Shinosuke announced "This is our finest human martial arts fighter, as Sesshoumaru requested..." he bowed and pulled the young woman to the front. She had long brownish hair tide up in a high pony tail. She was wearing a black tight garment with a pink armor covering most of her: chest, legs, arms and back were protected, she bowed low and introduced herself "Sango, demon-exterminator." Sesshoumaru seemed mad at this "How dare you bring me a taiji!!" Shinosuke quickly baked away "But my Lord, you request the finest ones and none of our warriors is stronger than her!".

Kagome came closer to Sango, she quickly bowed politely as she was used to, but Kagome lift her head up saying "There is no need for such a formal procedure." Then smiled when the exterminator looked at her puzzled. She turned to Sesshoumaru and said "I like her. She can keep me company, can we keep her?" Sesshoumaru frown but sigh and nodded, she smiled at him and came to his side once again. Sango retreated to the back and the man, who looked like a monk came forward.

Shinosuke stated "This, is Miroku, he's a monk but masters magic spells and the art of divination." Miroku bowed as low as Sango had once bowed, he was wearing a long purple and black robe, his hair was short and he held a golden staff. (in this fic he does not have the Kazaana (black hole)!!)

Kagome could feel something strange about this monk. But then looked at Sesshoumaru who was inspecting the monk carefully as if he would be a threat for him.

Miroku looked up to Kagome and couldn't help himself "May the heavens be blessed! I think I have found a fallen angel!" he said while holding Kagome's hands, who was now blushing in deep red, Sesshoumaru on the other hand had planed to shred the monk into pieces, but before anyone could do anything a large boomerang hit Miroku's head, slamming him to the ground. The boomerang was Sango's who was now glaring daggers at the sore monk "How dare you do that?! Show some respect for God's sake!!" She kicked his sides and bowed deeply at Sesshoumaru "Please forgive him my Lord, this will never happen again! I swear by my honor and life, just forgive his life!" Sesshoumaru stared at the bowing woman and growled deeply, but Kagome put a hand over his and squeezed it, he turned to look at her and she smiled at him.

'If that is what you wish...' he sighed and ordered a few servants to lead the new instructors to their rooms while he took care of business with Shinosuke. "You too Kagome, you might as well show them around the palace." With that he entered the dining room with Shinosuke and let Kagome to her luck.

Sango quickly bowed at her "My Lady please forgive Houshi-sama!" Kagome looked at her embarrassed and pouted "Would you stop doing that? It's not like I'm a high classy lady!!" she smiled at Sango "Sango... right? You don't need to do all of that with me... maybe with Sesshoumaru but not with me!" she laugh. Sango glared at Miroku who was now standing (for the moment) "You're lucky she's so nice!! What were you thinking?!" Miroku grinned at Sango "You were worried?" Sango blushed "Huh? N-No... I mean yes of course! You could've gotten killed!!". Miroku took Sango's hands in his and looked deep into her eyes "Does this mean...?" she sighed and looked menacingly at him "No Miroku I will NOT bear you're child, for the 47th time!!" All of this made Kagome laugh, they obviously liked each other, but Sango was too stubborn to admit it.

Miroku looked at Kagome and smiled "She does seem nice... hum... Kagome-sama?" Kagome stopped laughing and smiled "What is it?" Miroku looked at her intensely "Are you one of Lord Sesshoumaru's mistresses?" Kagome was now blushing hard and looking at the floor but exclaimed "Of course not! I'm just his guest that's all!" she answered a tint of disappointment in her voice. This shocked Miroku who had thought Kagome was Sesshoumaru's mate for the way they acted around each other. Shinobu came to them and announced "You're rooms are ready, please follow me."

Shinobu took them to the side opposite to Kagome and Rin's bedrooms, they passed the reception hall, some of the more guest-rooms, Sesshoumaru's studio and finally reached the rooms, both Sango and Miroku had a room for each other.

Miroku sighed "And I was hoping I'd stayed with Sango..." he whispered, Shinobu heard this and questioned "Do you wish to share a room? We can put a bigger futon for the two of you." Kagome had to giggle, the moment was priceless: Miroku had immediately accepted Shinobu's suggestion and Sango had quickly punch him hard in the face, knocking him and started apologizing to Shinobu, who only nodded, bowed at Kagome and retreated.

"I swear Houshi-sama, if you keep doing that you're going to kill us both!" she then felt something on her behind and turned red from anger before kicking Miroku's ribs and screaming "STOP GROPPING ME YOU PERVERT!!" Kagome laugh as hard as she could, it had being a long time since she laugh that hard, she was in tears, and clutching her stomach.

This did bring a little light to the palace, she was glad to have another friend other than Shinobu, it's not like she didn't like her, but she was still a youkai. Kagome wanted someone like her to talk to.

After a few hours Kagome had showed them the hole palace, Sango was amazed by the garden and Miroku by the huge amount of guest rooms. Kagome seemed very pleased with the new comers and finally retired to take a well-deserved bath, she greeted her new friends farewell and headed to her room to get her things and then to the springs. Shinobu had given her an aromatic bar that was said to be of some sort of remedy. (a.k.a: Soap XD) She entered the hot springs her muscles relaxing at the heat of the water, her long raven hair floating on it's surface, Kagome was thankful.

"Gee, I really enjoy this springs..." she sighed laying into a dragon shaped stone on the back of the pool.

She closed her eyes for a second thinking again at Miroku's question. Somehow she couldn't keep thinking about the idea of being Sesshoumaru's mate, she knew she had feelings for him, very strong ones indeed, but she also knew how he felt about a human and a youkai mating. 'For the way he talked about his half-brother, I just know he won't allow himself to fall for me, no matter how much I try...' she sighed disappointed at this. She could recall all of the moments she had blushed and felt awkward with Sesshoumaru around, the worst part of it was he actually enjoyed making her feel nervous and embarrassed.

'Enough of that guy!' she scolded in her head.

After the hot bath, she slipped into her night-yukata and went towards her room.

"I can't believe, I'm attracted to him..." she whispered "I mean heaven knows how hot and sexy he is, but hell also knows what an arrogant selfish jerk he can be." She entered her room and found Shinobu putting some new kimono's in her dresser, she welcomed her "Kagome-san, I'm sorry I entered your room without permission but Lord Sesshoumaru requested to give you these." Two new kimonos were neatly folded inside the dresser, I smiled widely "I think he's trying to spoil me!" I laugh and Shinobu smiled. "Lord Sesshoumaru seems very fond of you." I was now blushing and sat down on her futon motioning Shinobu to do the same.

They were silent for a moment and then Kagome asked "Shinobu... do all demon Lords have... mistresses?" Shinobu looked at her surprised "Well of course! It depends of their rank that is." Kagome looked up "How so?" Shinobu answered "You see, the more ranked the demon is the more mistresses he can possess of course it depends on the demon's interests. For example Lord Shinosuke is known for his many mistresses, his a charming youkai and has at least 4 of them." Kagome was shocked 'FOUR?!' she then lowered her head and looked at her knees for a moment 'Does that mean Sesshoumaru has it's own mistresses?' Shinobu felt her insecurity and added "Oh but M'Lord is not so keen of mistresses, he had one once but it was only because Lord Inutashou requested it. He's the reserved kind of youkai, he believes one should give himself only to his mate, I say his a fine youkai." She stooped and Kagome looked relieved 'So he's not that kind of person...' she sighed.

Shinobu saw this and added "You know Kagome-sama, in all of my years being Lord Sesshoumaru's personal medic I have never seeing him so close to someone, not even Rin-sama. I hear you're also interested in him?" she asked cunningly, she had hit the spot, Kagome was blushing which proved her point.

Kagome nodded before saying "But please do not tell him! Even if his interested in me I fear he won't accept his own feelings..." she said disappointed Shinobu looked at her in shock "How so, M'Lady?" Kagome looked down before answering "Because I'm a human..." They stayed silent for a while before Kagome asked Shinobu to leave so she could sleep. Shinobu did as ordered and left her in her room. Kagome laid on her futon looking at the ceiling.

'Yes, he could never love me... He fears being like his father and he doesn't want to make the same mistake as he did...' she sighed, and closed her eyes falling asleep.

A/N: Yey Sango and Miroku are there!! I love Miroku! He's funny !! Well hope you liked the chappie!

Glossary:

Taiji: Demon exterminator.

Houshi-sama: Polite way of calling a priest (I guess).

WP