Water-Rose: This chapter is dedicated to WolfGemini for being a great friend, for being my twin sis, for being my proof reader, and because I dedicated a chapter to evil-gnome-empress...

Sword Fighting 101

The group walked in silence. It was a cloudy day, matching the mood of the group. The four sisters were banished from the village. The villagers did want to burn them, but Kagome even from what she had heard wouldn't allow it. So now the four girls were temporarily traveling with them, at least until they could find a more suitable village. Inuyasha had brought up Kaede's village as a solution, but the girls wanted to be much farther away from their own village. Which Inuyasha thought was just a hassle and pointless but he wasn't going to argue with anyone. The men agreed to keep some of the happenings a secret, mainly for Kazuki's sake. Shippo had somehow taking a liking to Meia who was stroking his head as she carried him. Kazuki hadn't said much since he slapped Toyo, he had tried apologizing for it once but all she did was defensively touch the fist-sized bruise on her cheek. They traveled for about an hour when Kenshin finally broke the silence.

"Kazuki, perhaps tonight we can start your training." He said as they continued to walk. "You said you wanted to learn to sword fight that you did."

Kazuki looked at him dully, "Fine with me…anyone else tired…" He droned. He let out a yawn stretching his arms into the air. "Can we take a break…?" His eyelids were slowly closing but he quickly snapped them open.

Miroku looked at him funny. "We just started walking an hour ago, didn't you sleep well?""

He let out a large yawn again and drooped his head. "No…I woke up really early and couldn't get…" He yawned again and stopped to stretch. He jogged to catch up with the group. "I guess I'm just not used to sleeping on the ground…" He started to walk with his eyes closed. "Make sure I don't walk into anything…"

"Tree." Sango said.

Slam

"I said tree…" She reminded.

"Ow…thanks…I guess" He brushed himself off and jogged again to catch up. "Are we almost there?"

Chika looked at the surroundings and then nodded. "There should be a village somewhere around here."

Akako stuck her nose up and closed her eyes. "Hmph, how would you know?"

"Tree…" Kazuki stated.

She jumped and looked around. She noticed there was no tree and started getting red. "YOU JERK!" He snickered but soon it grew quiet again.

After several long minutes of silence they found themselves at a very small village. The villagers were kind and more then willing to take in the girls. Some even claimed to remember them. Of course they didn't know their new names. It was true what Toyo said; all of their families had been killed so no one would insist on finding them. An old man recalled one of the attackers saying something about the a stupid wench wanting four girls, so she could have her pick of the litter…What a disturbing concept. Akako agreed she would behave and make sure to keep an eye on Toyo. Toyo had agreed to behave, but they didn't quite trust her. They did, however, trust Chika and Meia a little more. The villagers were overjoyed to have the daughters returned so were more then willing to allow the group stay.

While the group took a break; Shippo played with the children, Kirara slept, Kagome and Sango helped the sisters adjust, Miroku asked random women to bare his children, and Sanosuke laughed every time he was turned down; Kazuki and Kenshin decided they would train. They found a field some ways off from the village. Kazuki had borrowed a sword from a warrior, who was busy talking to Chika…Anyways, Kenshin was showing him all the stances when all of a sudden Kenshin stopped what he was doing and looked towards the forest area they had come from.

"What…is it?" Kazuki asked trying to see whatever Kenshin was seeing. He put his hand above his eyes and noticed a white figure heading towards them. "Inuyasha?"

Kenshin looked at Kazuki then back at the figure. "He's is back at the village…but I sense he is a demon that I do."

Kenshin was right; the white figure was a demon. The demon had long silvery hair, bright yellow eyes, and markings on his face. He wore clothes of a lord and had only one arm, which wasn't obvious at first since his sleeves were so damn big. The demon of course, was Lord Sesshomaru.

"Wait for me Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken yelled as he scampered across the field to catch up with his master, tripping on every rock and pebble as he went. He kneeled at Sesshomaru's feet. "Please forgive me Lord Sesshomaru! The girl was most difficult when you left, but I managed to catch up!"

The dog demon ignored the toad and brought his attention to the two redheads. He cocked his head to the side and glared at them, "Do you by any chance know where Inuyasha is. I can smell him on your clothes."

Kazuki sniffed himself not knowing that people actually had distinct scents. He looked up at the demon and groaned, "I don't smell that bad do I?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Kazuki for the rude statement.

"Just answer the question." Sesshomaru said dryly. "Tell me where the half-breed is."

"What are your intentions with Inuyasha?" Kenshin questioned. He kept eye contact and narrowed his eyes. "You sound as if you mean harm to him."

"How dare you question Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken shouted. "It is not of your concern that he plans on taking the Tetsuseiga!" He slapped his mouth shut. Sesshomaru looked at him and just so happened to kick him a good few yards.

Kenshin closed his eyes and took hold of his sword. "I'm sorry, that I am, but if you plan on harming him or any of his followers you must go through me. He looked at Kazuki then smiled his cheerful smile, "Wish me luck and takes notes won't you? Let's call this a visual lesson?" He nodded and plopped himself on a nearby rock. There was no doubt in Kazuki's mind that the man would be a threat to the great swordsman.

He whistled and hooted. "Come on Kenshin! Show him whose boss!" He sat there with his arms in the air and narrowed his eyes at Jaken who was jumping up and down cheering. He turned his head, arms still in the air, and glared. "What…are you?" Jaken ignored the statement and Kazuki brought his attention to the two men.

Sesshomaru took hold of his sword and glared down at Kenshin. Both stood there waiting for the other to move. A breeze went by blowing the tall grass and their hair. As soon as the breeze was gone Kenshin withdrew his sword and charged. He tried to hit Sesshomaru in the shoulder blade but Sesshomaru swiftly moved to the side evading his attack.

"Please don't tell me that's your best?" Sesshomaru said cockily.

Kenshin turned to face him and smiled, "Never underestimate your opponent until they're defeated Sesshomaru." He stopped smiling and turned his head slightly to Kazuki. "Are you taking notes?"

Kazuki lifted up a pencil and notepad he had gotten out of his backpack. He starting jotting down notes on it and relaying them aloud, "Never underestimate…opponent…"

Sesshomaru looked at the boy with a bored expression. These fools were just in his way and less then amusing. He turned towards Kenshin and cocked his head. "I hope your student doesn't take you too seriously." Kenshin smiled and got into another fighting position. This time Sesshomaru charged and slashed but as soon as he thought he struck the man was gone. His eyes widened as he pondered where he could've gone. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. He slid fell and slid a few feet. He growled and stood up only to see Kenshin standing where he once had. Sesshomaru smiled. "It appears you're stronger then I thought." He shook his head and charged. "Too bad that I know must kill you!" But to his dismay once again Kenshin had dodged. This time Sesshomaru took no time to think and he turned around and block Kenshin's sword with his own. "Do you really think I'm that foolish?"

Kenshin back jumped back and glowered, "I can always hope…" He glanced at Kazuki. "Another thing, opponents rarely fall for the same trick twice." Kazuki jotted down some more notes.

While Kenshin was talking Sesshomaru took the opportunity to slash him across the chest. Kenshin fell back and lay across the ground bleeding. He slowly lifted himself and got ready to strike again.

"Perhaps I'm forgetting some things myself, never let your guard down…" He didn't bother to turn his head this time fearing that Sesshomaru would take the chance to finish him off.

"You're going to get yourself killed…" Sesshomaru said in his usual tone. He charged again and jumped up planning on pinning him to the ground with his sword thinking Kenshin wasn't quite ready. Kenshin did the best thing he could and stuck his sword straight in the air so Sesshomaru would have to back down, for if he were to strike they both would have nice holes through the stomach. Sesshomaru knew this and managed to fall to the side landing gracefully on his feet. He glared for a moment then he noticed that oddness of Kenshin's sword. For once he was dumbfounded. "It's backwards?"

Kenshin smiled and stood up, "It's a reverse blade," He laughed nervously, "I thought you would have noticed that when I struck you the first time."

"You're not even taking this seriously…are you?"

Kenshin shook his head, "When there are people at danger I take all my fights seriously. I don't see why you would ask such a preposterous question." He let out a light chuckle. Sesshomaru nodded towards his sword and Kenshin looked at it like it was nothing special. "Oh, you want to know why the blade is backwards? I have no intentions on killing you, defeating yes, but killing you I don't."

Sesshomaru smiled. "I see how it is." His smile faded. "But I cannot guarantee you the same fate." He charged again.

The manslayer managed to block every strike but he couldn't manage to stop blocking. Every time he thought Sesshomaru let his guard down he would just strike again. Sesshomaru may not have been faster but he had a lot more stamina. He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up. The strikes against their swords though they weren't hitting Kenshin it seemed like it was still harming him, as if the sword had some unknown power to it. Sesshomaru was more worried about his pride. No way was he letting a human defeat him. Kenshin may have been getting more exhausted but Sesshomaru was too and neither were showing it. As Sesshomaru grew more tired he realized Kenshin was getting more and more chances to hit him, but yet he took none. He growled out of frustration and put more force into his next strike. The power of the strike took Kenshin off guard and he was pushed to the ground. Sesshomaru pointed his sword at Kenshin's nose. Kenshin stared at it but didn't move. If he moved he knew Sesshomaru would just make the kill more painful.

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru! Finish him off!" Jaken cheered. Kazuki knocked him out and stood up about ready to go aid his friend but Kenshin stuck out his arm and hand in a stop position.

Sesshomaru teasingly tapped the nose a few times on Kenshin's nose. "A man who won't kill…and who doesn't attack when they have the chance." He stopped taping and a thought struck his mind and his eyes widened. He glowered at Kenshin, "You…"

Kenshin smiled, "You've figured it out did you?"

Sesshomaru let out a soft chuckle. "I give you credit, you're no normal man. To think you used such a simple plan. But you were even willing to let yourself get killed just to wear me out?" He sheathed his sword and started walking towards the forest. He stopped and turned his head. "What is your name?"

"Kenshin, my name is Kenshin."

"Kenshin…" Sesshomaru whispered. He began walking again. "Next time we fight Kenshin, it'll be a real fight."

Jaken jumped up and scampered after his lord. "Wait for me Lord Sesshomaru!"

Kazuki helped Kenshin to his feet. "So you were just trying to wear him out? Just so he wouldn't be able to fight the others?" He laughed. "You're something ya know that Kenshin!" He gave him a hard smack on the back. Kenshin fell to the ground unconscious still bleeding from his chest. "OH SHIT!" He looked around nervously. He sighed, "Dammit…guess I gotta carry him…" He lifted Kenshin onto his back and started walking towards the village. He smiled at Kenshin who was softly breathing. "I was wrong Kenshin, you don't scare me." He looked at the now starry sky. "You and I are nothing alike…It's the Battousi I'm scared of…it's me I'm scared of…"

In the distance stood Salali once again. She was stroking her pet rat and shaking her head. "You have no idea…"

Next Time On Inuyasha! Great now Kazuki has to carry Kenshin half a mile to the village and he has to explain that. What the hell does Koga want? Maybe it has something to do with that giant rat…Next time on Inuyasha, The Giant Rat. See you soon!