Sango was the first to recover from what she was seeing. Kagome was easily taking down a youkai. Miroku noticed that her bow and arrows were on the ground by a tree.
"I want the jewel. Give it to me, you pathetic human!" the youkai yelled. "Why would I give the jewel to a rat-faced youkai like you?" Kagome replied, using her training to keep her from getting beaten into the ground by the rather large rat youkai.
"Where did she learn that?" Miroku asked, looking to Sango. Sango shrugged. The sound of Miroku's voice snapped Inu-yasha out of his daze.
"Wench! You're going to be killed! Feh! Get over here, I'll get it!"
Inu-yasha yelled. Kagome stubbornly kept fighting. Inu-yasha pulled Tetsuiga out of the scabbard.
Kagome stood her ground as the youkai ran toward her, and before Inu-yasha could jump in Kagome stood in a fighting stance. Her legs locked, her arms braced. She held out her hand and a pink and purple aura came out.
"She used her priestess powers!" Shippo cried, running to Kagome when she gave the ok. When he landed in her arms Kagome's heart broke. "Shippo." Kagome mumbled into his hair.
Inu-yasha growled, "What were you thinking?" Kagome turned around to face the angry hanyou. "I was thinking that I could get another piece of the jewel, and keep the village safe." Kagome answered, putting Shippo on the ground. As Inu-yasha's temper rose even higher Kagome walked over to the dead youkai and grabbed the jewel that was embedded within its flesh.
"Kagome! You stupid wench! You could have gotten yourself killed!" Inu-yasha stormed. Kagome rolled her eyes, keeping her anger under control, barely. "Inu-yasha, I'm not the same weak Kagome, the jewel detector. I can take care of myself and this village. Now leave me alone."
With that she walked to pick up her arrows and her bow. Knowing Inu-yasha he wasn't through just yet. "What do you mean? Kagome, explain this!" Miroku and Sango looked on happily. 'Now this is the Inu-yasha and Kagome I know.' Sango thought.
"Lady Kagome, how did you learn to use your powers?" Miroku asked, sitting cross legged on the ground. Kagome smiled, "When I woke up and realized that I couldn't remember some things, I decided I didn't want to be weak Kagome anymore. I wanted to be someone that others could rely on and not think of as a problem." When she said this she looked at Inu-yasha, "I went to Sensei, and took a year of training. With my priestess powers I learned a lot faster then others. Sensei taught me how to control and unleash my powers, and my emotions."
Sango smiled, "I am happy for you Kagome."
Miroku and Shippo nodded at the same time to show they were as well.
Kagome looked to Inu-yasha, he hadn't said anything, but was just standing there looking at nothing. Kagome didn't tell them this to show how she'd changed or anything of that sort. But now that the others showed they supported her the one person she didn't think she cared to hear a comment from was the one person she waited for.
Inu-yasha stared at the endless rows of trees and thought about the Kagome that had traveled with them years ago. Then he looked at the Kagome in front of him. 'What happened to my Kagome?' Inu-yasha mentally smacked himself, 'When was she ever yours?'
"I'm getting tired, let's go back before someone worries." Kagome said. Lifting Shippo in her arms. Shippo stirred but did not awaken.
Sango and Miroku walked a little bit behind Kagome. Kirara mewed to them. Sango turned to see Inu-yasha gone. "Probably to hide in a tree." Sango said out loud. "What my dear Sango?" Sango turned a crimson red, "I was saying that Inu-yasha probably ran and hid in a tree."
Miroku nodded, "Maybe."
Later that night
As Sango, Miroku, Kirara and Shippo were asleep Kagome quietly snuck out of the hut. Since they'd gone back to her hut from the training field were she'd beaten that rat youkai she was hoping Inu-yasha would want to talk more. Unfortunately for her Inu-yasha never came in.
"So I'll look for him." Kagome said to herself, making her way to the training field. Every time she stepped here she remembered Sensei. The year of training and exercising. Everything. This place held memories, back then made her whine out loud, but now made her smile. She'd done it, and had changed herself into something better.
"Inu-yasha." Kagome softly called. The only answer she got was from the wind through the leaves. Kagome looked around but didn't see that bright red that she once dreamed of feeling it as she bunched her hands, holding it tight, while kissing Inu-yasha.
'Stupid girl! Wake up! You're over him!' her mind screamed. But her heart screamed differently. Kagome rubbed where her heart was, feeling a slight ache there. "Inu-yasha." She called again. Once again the only answer was the slight moan of the wind.
Then she seen it. About 40 yards away she spotted red. 'Inu-yasha!' her mind yelled. Only as she ran toward the spot of red did she notice how much she'd missed him. 'Stop running! You'll make him gloat and only expand his ego!' her mind bellowed.
Kagome stopped running and calmly walked the rest of the way. As she neared the spot she seen his head turn toward her. As she picked up her pace she noticed Inu-yasha was asleep. His head had only turned because she'd stepped on a twig and it snapped.
"Inu-yasha." Kagome whispered, tweaking his ears softly. Inu-yasha groaned, but still didn't awaken. "I've missed you." She secretly whispered.
