Shayril: Hey, everybody! I'm back, FINALLY!

Kalika: It's about time! I want to see what happens.

Navi: And I was hoping that you'd finally gotten over this phase of your life.

Shayril: I told you a long time ago that it wasn't a phase. I'm here to stay for as long as the ideas keep flowing.

Navi: Then, where have you been for so long? Hmmmm?

Kagome: That's something I'd like to know. You just left me and Sesshou hanging.

Shayril: Well, at first, I had a MAJOR case of writer's block. I'm serious. If you had dropped this thing in the Atlantic, England would have joined Atlantis at the bottom of the sea. Then, after endless chipping away at the damned thing I was all ready to come back.

Inuyasha: But?

Shayril: (Sadly) But then my grandma died of cancer and that kind of killed my mood for a couple weeks.

Kagome: (With a sympathetic look on her face) Oh you poor thing! (Glares at Inuyasha) How could you scold her for that! You insensitive jerk!

Inuyasha: (Sputtering) B… But… It wasn't… I only

Navi: (Shakes her head) Don't even try. You'll never succeed.

Inuyasha: (Deflates) Yeah, I guess you're right.

Shayril: (Waving away the attention) I'm fine. Really. On to the chapter.

Tarnished Armor

Training Days

Bright and early the next morning Kagome and Sesshoumaru met on the training grounds. He decided the best place to start her training was with her new youkai powers. Remembering that there had been several occasions over the past few weeks that she had accidentally destroyed something by underestimating her strength, he chose that power to begin with. It took her some time to get used to judging how much strength she put behind her actions, but eventually she was able to control it. At which time he moved on to speed. She had a better handle on controlling that, so he did not spend much time on it. By the time he finished, it was time for breakfast.

"Come," he said. "We should eat. When we return I will teach you how to use your strength and speed in hand to hand combat."

She looked like she was about to argue, but then she merely nodded. Then, a mischievous look entered her eyes. "Race ya!" she called as she took off.

Before he could think about it, Sesshoumaru was dashing to catch up with her. They sped past servants and guards, leaving nothing but a slight breeze to mark that they had been there. He was beginning to pull ahead of her, despite her head start. Soon, he was several feet ahead of her and a satisfied glint entered his eyes. That glint quickly disappeared when he felt her brush past him and saw the doors of the dining hall open and close ahead of him. Moments later he stepped through the doors to find Kagome sitting in her usual seat as if she had been there all along. He didn't show it, of course, but he was impressed, though not surprised. As he took his seat beside her, she grinned at him.

"I win," she said primly.

He did not bother hiding the amusement dancing in his eyes as he began to serve himself. Deep down his heart was glad. She had not shown this playful side of herself in what seemed like eternity. It was good to have it back. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that he wasn't the only one who thought so as everyone else at the table shared relieved smiles.

"You must not release your strength until the last moment," Sesshoumaru instructed. "If you put all of your strength behind the swing of the blow there will be no strength in the blow itself. Rely on your speed to bring the blow to your target and release your strength just before impact."

Kagome nodded her understanding as she once again took up a fighting stance against the guard that was her sparring partner. Her intended stood back and watched as they began sparring for the fifth time. He could tell that she grasped the concept of what he was telling her. It was the execution that she was having trouble with. She was improving, though. It was just a matter of time before she reached her full potential. As it was she soon bested her partner for the third time in a row. This time she sent him flying into a wall. Her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened in horror as he groaned in pain.

"Gomen! I did not intend to hit you so hard," she apologized.

The guard slowly rose to his feet. "No apology is necessary, Kagome-sama. I am used to it."

"Does this happen often?"

He nodded ruefully. "Sesshoumaru-sama, are you certain that she truly needs this training?"

He glared at the young youkai, but Kagome could see the slightest glint of amusement in his eyes. "I would not be training her if she did not need it."

The younger male swallowed hard. "Yes, my Lord. Forgive me."

"You are dismissed, Yoshi."

The young guard bowed before leaving the training grounds in a hurry. Sesshoumaru was taken aback when Kagome smacked him on the arm. He looked down to see her scowling at him.

"Why do you have to scare him like that?" she demanded.

"I did not set out to frighten him. If he was, then it was his own doing. He should learn not to let himself be intimidated," he replied coolly.

She sighed in exasperation, but her lips soon quirked into a small smile. "I suppose you're right."

"Of course, I am," he said with a slightly haughty tone to his voice. "Now, shall we continue your training?"

Kagome nodded and once again took up her stance. He had been prepared to end the session for the day, not wanting to make her uncomfortable by putting her up against himself so soon. Her playful smack had changed his mind. If she was able to be playful with him, then he saw no reason why she couldn't handle sparring.

Every day beginning at dawn and ending two hours before lunch Kagome and Sesshoumaru trained. By the end of the first week Kagome could best anyone in hand-to-hand combat and she could fight her betrothed to a draw. The second week was dedicated to learning about the different poisons in her claws and how to activate them. There were three different poisons. There was a green poison that was acidic. It burned anything that it touched and gave off an odor similar to that of sulfur. Then, there was a purple poison that paralyzed a victim either by touch or by ingesting it. And the third poison was translucent and it put victims to sleep, also by ingestion or contact. Neither of the last two poisons had a scent.

Once she knew how to activate them, they spent a few days learning to control the flow so that it didn't come out in rivers. It was on the fifth day of working with the poisons that they learned she had another. They stood in the training grounds as Kagome attempted to control the acid so finely that she produced only one single drop. She had refined it to the point where only a few drops escaped and was focusing on one drop when a servant came running out to announce that breakfast was ready to be served. Kagome's concentration was shattered and a stream of the acidic poison came spraying out of her claws and hit the woman in the face.

Kagome immediately cut off the flow and ran to the woman with a horrified look on her face. She lay on the ground with her hands covering what was left of her face, screaming in pain. Sesshoumaru was beside them as well, berating both of them for their carelessness. Kagome briefly turned from the injured woman to face him.

"Shut up!" she snarled. "Now is not the time."

He was so shocked that he blinked at her, but she wasn't paying attention. She had turned back to the woman and was attempting to ease her pain with her miko powers. The young female's cries had reduced to whimpers, but the acid was still burning away her skin. Kagome felt so helpless and wished that she could just take away the woman's pain completely. It was then that the most amazing thing happened. The hand the gently covered the woman's began to glow. A pinkish liquid seeped from Kagome's claws and dripped onto the mangled face of the injured servant. With each drop that fell the woman's whimpers slowly began to die down. As she began to sit up, Kagome pulled back and both she and Sesshoumaru looked on in wonder as the woman lowered her hands to reveal a face that was free of burns. Her own eyes reflected wonder as she gently felt her face, finding it whole.

"Arigato, Kagome-sama. Arigato, for healing me," she said, joyfully.

The Northern Princess shook her head. "Do not thank me. I was the one who injured you in the first place."

"The fault was mine, my Lady. I should not have disturbed you when you were so deep in concentration."

"The fault lies with both of you," Sesshoumaru interjected. "For you were both careless. And you are both fortunate that this new serum revealed itself when it did."

The servant grinned. "I suppose my mother knew what she was doing when she named me, after all."

"What is your name?" Kagome asked.

"My name is Kichi, my Lady."

She grinned, "Your mother did name you well."

They all rose to their feet and Kichi bowed to them before she headed off into the castle. Kagome's eyes filled with regret as she watched the woman leaving.

"Come," Sesshoumaru said in his usual icy voice. "We should go join everyone for breakfast before they begin asking questions."

She nodded, following behind him quietly as they made their way to the dining hall. They had only just entered the castle when her silence got to him. He cursed inwardly at the knowledge that he was going soft. Still, he stopped and turned to her.

"It will do you no good to dwell on this," he told her. "Let it go."

She stared up at him wide-eyed. "That girl almost lost her face because of me, Sesshoumaru!"

"But she did not. She is whole and has already put it behind her. You should do the same. If you had not been able to heal her than it would be appropriate to feel so guilty."

"How can you say that?"

Her betrothed gave a slight shrug. "Because it is the truth. If people were to allow themselves to dwell on everything that almost goes wrong then that would be all they ever do and nothing of importance would get done."

For a moment he thought that she would protest again, but she looked up at him thoughtfully. Then, she smiled brightly up at him.

"I guess you're right," she admitted. "You know something? You're pretty smart…. Sometimes."

One elegant eyebrow arched. "Sometimes?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes, sometimes. No one can be right all of the time. And that's the best you're going to get from me, so don't push it."

"I suppose it is better than nothing."

Without another word they started towards the dining hall again. Not stopping until they were seated at the table being served. Inu-Taisho noticed the atmosphere around them was much more relaxed than it had been in a good long time, too long, as far as he was concerned. Still, it was good to see and he was glad that it didn't take longer.

Shayril: Well, there ya have it. Let me know what you think.

Kagome: I kick ass! And that new serum is wicked!

Sesshoumaru: (One eyebrow arching) Apparently, she approves of the new chapter.

Inuyasha: Looks like. Too bad she doesn't hate you anymore.

Sesshoumaru: And why is that?

Inuyasha: Because you're an evil bastard and that means that I don't have a chance with her.

Sesshoumaru: You never had a chance with her.

Shayril: He's right, you know. This story is distinctly labeled as a Sesshoumaru and Kagome pairing. And if it isn't, it will be.

Inuyasha; But that's not fair!

Shayril: Life's not fair. Get used to it. Pai-chan wanted it that way when she started the story and I'm not gonna change it. Besides, I like Sess/Kag pairings better. Which is why the bulk of my stories will be labeled such. Unless, of course, it's a crossover like 'Shards and Cards' and it's sequel.

Inuyasha: But why!

Shayril: Because, the idea of the cold, distant Demon Prince falling in love with the impetuous, young miko that wears her heart on her sleeve appeals to me more than the rash, ill-tempered brat who can't make up his mind.

(Sesshoumaru smirks while Inuyasha protests and calls Shayril names. Shayril gives him a deadly glare.)

Kalika: Ummm… Inuyasha, I don't think you want to piss off Shayril-sama.

Inuyasha: Feh! What can she do to me?

Shayril: (Smiling sweetly) Well, I could always go with my favorite and strap you to a chair in front of a T.V. playing nothing except Teletubbies, Barney, and Blues Clues. (Everyone pales visibly) Or I could make you gay and pair you with Kouga….

Kouga: Hey! What did I do!

Shayril: You annoy me. Anyway, as I was saying. Or I could have you turned into a girl and pair you with Jaken. Or I could….

Inuyasha: (Backing away with his hands up in surrender and fear in his eyes) N… Now, no need f… for that. I'll be g… good.

Shayril: Good boy.

Navi: (Shuddering) Not even I can torture people the way she can. And I do it for a living.

Aliri: She's downright scary, she is.

Shayril: (Cheerfully) Okay, folks, time to go. Hopefully, the next update won't take too long. See ya then.