AN: Thanks to all the wonderful reviewers, I've had nothing but positive response, and am extremely grateful! Oh! And FYI: Kane means '(of)the eastern sky.' Now, on with the show!

"It is when power is wedded to chronic fear that it becomes formidable." Eric Hoffer

Walking With TITANS

By Rockrgrl9049

'Women take far too long to preform such menial tasks as dressing themselves,' Sesshoumaru grumbled within the confines of his own mind. His impatience was undetectable on the surface, of course. He was just getting a bit peeved about having to sit in his living room for well more than twenty minutes, simply waiting for Hiragashi and The Taijia to 'pick out a training outfit.' Honestly, how long could that take? His silent rambles were cut short however, when Kagome popped out of the bedroom, decked out in a periwinkle blue cami top and fitted pale yellow sweats. He would admit . . . she looked nice, but did it really take twenty minutes to pick that out!

"You realize that we are going to a debriefing, then training, and not to a beauty pageant, correct?"

"Aw, is he saying that I look good in his own roundabout way, Sango," Asked Kagome in an overly exaggerated tenor, eliciting titters of laughter from the elder girl.

Sango tried her best to, and eventually did, reign in her laughter, after all, the source of her new friend's merriment was her superior. And Sango very much liked her position as a sniper and explosives/haz. mat. specialist.

"Yes, well you are dismissed to do as you will Agent Taijia. Kagome, if you would follow me," the Taiyouki concluded with finality in his tone, rising from his seat on the sofa to make his may to the door, Kagome in tow.

Kagome followed fairly diligently, trying her best to memorize the various twists and turns flying by at seemingly warp speed. After about the thirtieth right turn and sixtieth left one, Kagome gave up her feeble and half-hearted attempts to commit to memory the winding route. Roughly fifteen minutes later, the pair arrived at two very large mahogany doors. Depicted in the intricate wood carvings of the double doors were innumerable epic battle scenes. The entire masterpiece must have taken a lifetime to complete! Kagome was ripped rather rudely from her admiration when her 'companion' cleared his throat exceedingly loudly to capture her attention.

Turning a miffed glare in his direction, she inquired, "Yes?"

Hiding a smirk, he replied, "Oh, it was nothing, I was just beginning to wonder if you knew how to operate a door . . . "

Kagome only frowned in response and turned back to the colossal set of doors, locating a pair of handles, latching onto them, and pulling them with all her weight backward.

After about five or so minutes watching the petite female struggle with all her might to open the doors, the Taiyouki tapped her on the shoulder, motioned for her to step out of the way, and proceeded to part the doors effortlessly. Turning to face Kagome, he stooped into a mock bow and taunted, "Ladies first . . . "

"By all means, go ahead then."

A deep rumble blossomed in Sesshoumaru's chest as he was about to reprimand his charge, before he was interrupted by a booming voice.

"'Gome Girl?"

At the sound of her childhood nickname, Kagome immediately turned her attention to the cavernous office that the open doorway had revealed. Sitting behind a gigantic mahogany desk was a broad shouldered and aging man with shoulder length ebony and silver blended hair pulled into a low pony tail. His forest green eyes twinkled with mirth as recognition blazed to life in the miko' s unmistakable cerulean gaze.

"Uncle," Kagome wondered ambivalently.

"Hello, my 'Gome Girl."

At this, the young woman smiled her heart-stopping smile, and flung herself toward one of her favorite people in the entire world. He wasn't actually her uncle, he was more of a godfather, in fact. She had always called him Uncle when she was younger because of his and her father's close, brotherlike relationship. In all actuality, he was the person she had planned on looking for if she had ever gotten out of Necromancer Inc. on her own. But, he and her father had practiced law together . . . what was he doing here?

Her unvoiced question must have must have reflected onto her features, because the aging man sighed deeply and motioned for her and her all but forgotten escort to take seats. With no little amount of wariness and confusion, Kagome took the proffered chair and looked up to her 'Uncle.'

"This will take awhile, and it will be very confusing, but I want you to stick with me and just wait until I'm finished to ask me all the questions I'm sure you will have. All right?"

At Kagome's nod of understanding, the General continued, "You are now in Asgard Military Facility: Top Security Class Black Ops Division, and Training Ground of the TITANS.

First I will explain to you the concept of the TITANS; the abbreviation stands for: Technologically Intensified and Trained All-purpose Neutralizing Squadrons. More than fifty years ago this program was initiated with a handful of test subjects with a specific . . . heritage. I know your jii-chan was a priest, and that he told you stories of youki and noble Taiyouki . . . You see, I mention this fact because these subjects were descendants of ancient demon bloodlines. In fact, Sesshoumaru here is a Celestial Inu Youki and the Prince of the Western Lands."

Kagome looked to her . . . chaperone for affirmation, and noted his nod of accordance. 'Surprisingly, that doesn't amaze me at all . . . he has a sort of noble bearing about him that tipped me off.'

"At any rate, these test subjects were descendants of demon lines of inu, kaze, neko, torii, ookami, etc. The theory was that if we could isolate the innate genetic traits that induced demonic characteristics, were could enhance them and augment super soldiers; they would be unparalleled. The tests were successful and the TITANS were born. All TITANS within these walls that you will meet and are still active Agents are Second Generation TITANS. Keep in mind that you are not born a TITAN. You are augmented to become one. These procedures are highly grievous and have an extremely high mortality rate in subjects without demonic heritage. These techniques include enhancing of speed, agility, endurance, eyesight, and flexibility. But, those are the only real definites, any other changes depend solely on the subject and their legacy. To use your guardian as an example once again, Sesshoumaru developed keen senses, a demonic 'true' form and an alternate state of matter, among other things.

Kagome, I know that you were told that you father was a lawyer and associate of mine, but this was a cover-up for our true professions. Your father and I both were TITANS, I am now retired and work instead as a General and Commander of the Squadrons. Your father on the other hand . . . he was not killed in a car crash. He died a warrior's death in the line of duty, protecting his country. I'm so sorry Kagome," the General's hunter green eyes darkened in sorrow and pity for the tiny woman he had cared for since the moment she had come into his life. At the sight of her aquamarine eyes' watering, he motioned for her to come around the desk and enveloped her in a paternalistic and profoundly comforting hug. He patted her back in a consoling gesture as he carefully monitored her scent with his keen nose; abhorring the fragrance of salt that shadowed her unique jasmine essence.

Though he would never admit it aloud, Sesshoumaru actually acknowledged and registered that his ward was feeling unhappy, which if you knew him, was scarily out of character for him. Normally, he was completely aloof to the goings on around his person. The fact that he even cared enough to realize spoke volumes. Watching the older male comfort the girl, he thought, 'One more shower that she'll have to take now, or she will smell of forests and summer sunshine for eternity. Foolish earth inu . . . '

Once he felt that he had adequately consoled his 'Gome Girl, the General released the girl to go back around to her previously vacated seat. As soon as she had settled again, he continued, "Now then, TITANS have demonic traits that we prefer to keep hidden, as to better blend in with the general populace. These wards however, are usually forgone within the base. For example . . . ," the general prompted as he dropped his own seal to demonstrate. His shoulder length hair now cascaded down past her line of vision (as he was sitting down), and markings appeared on his visage. Two emerald lines curled, vine-like, along either of his cheekbones and looped then ended just below the middle of his eyes, whom were accented nicely by a thin line of golden eyeshadow-like markings, as well as an intricate golden and sage-green leaf design on his brow. In further study, she also noted a considerable lengthening of the man's nails and canines, as well as the delicate curving of his ears to an elfish point. He smiled a rakish grin, and said, "Kane, Earth Elemental Inu Demon and Lord of the Eastern Lands, at your service."

Kagome smiled in return and brightened ten fold as she asked, "Do you have a tail too!"

Kane rolled his eyes knowingly and replied, "I should have guessed . . . ," as he called forth his tail. Kagome squeaked in delight as his ebony tail plopped into existence on his desk. As she pet the fur she confided to her Uncle in a stage whisper, "Sesshoumaru has the fluffiest tail I've yet to see . . . ," then grinned mischievously as her protector glowered at her from across the desk, somehow without changing his glacial facial expression.

"Is that so? Perhaps the young Prince would privilege us by dropping his ward?"

Sesshoumaru's features still did not so much as twitch in annoyance that he surely felt, as he nodded curtly and waved his hand, dismissing the spell. Kagome watched from behind her Uncle's fluffy, ebony tail as the very air about the man shimmered. A cloudlike cream hued tail appeared and wrapped itself about the Taiyouki's left shoulder, and twin magenta stripes curved gently upon his cheekbones and a westward facing, azure crescent moon sat gracefully between his parted bangs. The nails of his right hand seemed to glow a faint green and the same magenta of his twin stripes adorned his upper eyelids, accentuating further his beautiful tawny eyes.

The Lord of the Eastern Lands smiled knowingly at the look of awe on his godchild's face and made sure that his tail obscured her expression from the Taiyouki, 'May as well save her the embarrassment . . . ' After a moment more of observing her comatose expression, Kane expertly flicked Kagome's nose with the tip of said fluffy appendage, then steered his tail to safety as the girl sneezed reflexively.

"Now then, 'Gome, I believe it is time that you visit Totosai for a weapon . . . as you will be training to join the Moon Squadron."

"Ooh! Do I get a tail?"

Kane chuckled and responded, "Your father possessed one . . . "

"Yes! I get a tail . . . I get a tail," She chanted as she preformed a rather immature and highly abashing 'Happy Dance' as she called it.

Unable to contain himself, Sesshoumaru raised a single eyebrow in amusement, but controlled himself far better than Kane, who was close to crying with mirth.

At the sound of her Uncle's rambunctious laughter, Kagome returned her attentions to her actions, and preformed a commendable impression of a sunburned tomato. Laughing uneasily, she cued, "Now, what about this Totosai fellow?"

"Ah, yes Totosai, famed metal-smith," Kane replied, reigning in his laughter. "He will fashion your custom weapon. It will further strengthen and channel any powers you gain after the augmentation. You will be training with the resident mikos as well, but you will have to meet with them after the procedures. No sense in training powers that will quite possibly be altered in the near future, ne?"

"Hai."

"Well then, that is all I have to say for today. So Sesshoumaru, lead Kagome to Totosai if you would."

Once again the Taiyouki simply nodded, waving his hand to be rid of his cumbersome tail, but leaving his markings and such intact. Then as he rose, he intoned to Kagome, "Come along." With one last quick hug for her Uncle, the petite woman tailed after the Taiyouki obediently.

About fifteen minutes' worth of walking later, guardian and ward came upon two large metal doors, much like the mahogany ones they had recently encountered. This time, Kagome left the doors to Sesshoumaru, and stood aside as he swung them open. Beyond the open doorway, was an old-fashioned forge with some very new-age additions. Most of the decor looked as if it had come straight out of the Feudal Era, while some of the instruments that lay strewn about were lasers and the like. How . . . diverse. Glancing about the sunken room once more, Kagome spotted a small, stooped figure, perched precariously close to a large fire pit, and seemingly searching for some odd or end.

"Totosai," boomed the Taiyouki's commanding alto.

Kagome gasped as the little man jumped seemingly four feet into the air and nearly into the fire pit on his decent.

"Sesshoumaru, one of these days you will have to learn respect for your elders," Squawked the stoop little man as he hobbled up the embankment from the furnace and kiln area.

When the figure finally came into Kagome's line of vision, she noted his . . . looks. The little man was extremely boney, had buggy grey eyes, and whisker-like protrusions of a greying beard, complete with a.. a sparse goatee.

His scratchy voice again broke the silence, when he turned to Kagome and said, "Ah, what do we have here? A new addition to the Squadrons, aye? Hm, she'll do well with dual crescent blades, ne? Yes, yes that will do very well . . . will help her conduct her miko abilities . . . I'll use the super-alloy, and reenforced silver detailing . . . a few throwing stars as well . . . and close combat firearms, yes that will do nicely . . . ," he mumbled the latter to himself as he toddled back to the heart of his forge. Upon reaching his destination, he called back, "They will be ready within two days," And set himself diligently to the task ahead of him.

Kagome broke out of her stupor as she heard the Taiyouki leave the spot at her side en route for the doors. Jogging to catch up, she asked, "How does he know all of that without even speaking to me? And what if the weapons aren't compatible after the augmentation?"

"He knows those things because he can read auras, and they will remain compatible because the procedures change physical attributes, not spiritual ones," he replied flatly, and without faltering a step.

Kagome rolled her eyes and stuck out her lower lip, releasing a puff of air that ruffled her bangs in her annoyance.

The two walked endless and identical hallways for another ten minutes, and came to a huge lobby area. The huge reception area housed innumerable obsidian marble columns, and a huge slab of the same material that served as a reception desk. Sesshoumaru never broke his stride, and stalked straight for the sliding glass doors at the front of the room. Upon reaching them, he pulled them open and let Kagome pass through. Stepping outside, Kagome looked around, realizing that she was seemingly surrounded by military complexes, mountains, and towering pine trees. She was walled in; again. 'At least this time they mean me no harm, right?'

"Where are we going?"

"The Dojo, to train."

"Oh."

The imposing figure before her made a beeline for a large, eight story building to the right side of the compound, which she assumed to be the Dojo. They finally reached their destination and parted the doors to reveal one colossal room! The whole eight stories were open! Within was every sort of equipment and weapon or accommodations for any sort of training imaginable. Sparring rings, kick boxing equipment, yoga mats, boxing rings, indoor tracks and swimming pools and so much more was all housed within this enormous building.

"Hello Little One," Came Kouga's voice from across the sparring rings.

Sesshoumaru just mentally sighed and thought to himself, 'Oh, now this is not going to end well . . . for me at least.'

END CHAPTER

More soon I promise! Till next time, rate and review! Ja ne!