Disclaimers Notice: No, nay, nope, nuh-uh, no way.

Authors Beginning Note: Important! I will temperarily be on haiatus (or however you spell that-basically a pause) for 2 weeks(possibly one if I have time during the week days).

This is because I have a deadline to make on a short (short-is that possible?) story to hopefully get published (cross the fingers everyone-this is going to be interesting) And I only have weekends to type it.

Also because I have relatives visiting.

My birthday is in there too.

So, I'm really really sorry! When I get my next chapter typed up, I'll make sure it's a good one! In fact, I'll even take suggestions on what should happen next if it will make you happy (not saying I'll 100 make it fly, but if it will make you happy).

Shout it Outs!

Rayame 325-I just couldn't imagine Hakkaku and Ginta choosing any differnt.-Love is a possability...

Draechaeli-Yes, I decided that all of the six wolves needed to stick together. Hakkaku, Ginta, Natsuko and Mariko are too loyal of friends to abandon Kouga and Ayame now! Rin is Kawaii! In my opinion, one of the most Kawaii characters there are!

Chapter 49

I'm a ½ Demon Training to be a Miko

Inuyasha grumbled. He hated this. While he enjoyed being around Kagome, he did not share the same feelings being around Miyako-the miko witch, as he so dubbed her.

"Yoshino! Are you even paying attention?" Inuyasha snapped out of his reverie of the many ways he could chop her up. Miyako's eyes blazed.

"We have less than a week, and you still can't master getting to your powers yet. I'm beginning to wonder if you are even a miko." Inuyasha was afraid of that, but crossed his arms in front of him, looking much like a rebellious and spoiled girl.

"Lady Miyako, perhaps I would have more luck training the girl." Keio offered. Miyako scrutinized the girl.

"Very well. However, if she proves unsatisfactory, than I refuse to have time wasted on training her." She muttered a few things before turning back to Kagome, who was concentrating on making a rock float in air as long as possible. This is a technique she was finally getting the hang of.

"You know, you should not vex her so. Even with your sword, she would be quite a challenge."

"Feh. I'm not afraid of an old witch like her." Inuyasha found a sharp tip at his throat.

"Don't ever call Priestess Miyako a witch, or any other name of disrespect." Keio said, eerily in a normal tone.

He has a soft spot for the miko witch...

"Feh." Inuyasha let no emotion pass. Keio seemed satisfied.

"So now, as for your training..."

"What training? I'm not a miko."

"But you do have a power of sorts. If you concentrate right, you can use it just like a Miko can, the technique may differ, but the results are the same." He said.

"Wouldn't Miroku get a hoot. I'm a half demon training to be a Miko." Inuyasha sneered.

"Exactly." Keio smiled. Inuyasha felt himself at ease.

Even if he has weird taste in women...I guess he's okay to talk with...

"We'll do your weapons training at nights, and Miko training during the day. We'll wait however to start tonight, I'll take you to another place, like when I showed you images of the past, that way no one will get hurt, or miss us."

"What?"

"Well, think of it like taking you to another dimension so to speak. We'll train there, but we'll do it when we stop camp later. Which means we won't get to much sleep, unless we can barter for a horse and ride during the day..."

"It will be better if we start on your techniques with Tetsusaiga, it should make it easier, then I highly doubt you even know how to hold a bow properly, let alone shoot an arrow, so we'll just cover that lightly."

"Kagome's the one with the arrows, and I fight just fine using Tetsusaiga." Inuyasha argued stubbornly.

"Inuyasha...look at her." Inuyasha was startled in Keio's sudden mood change.

"Who?" But Inuyasha knew fully well whom he meant.

"Kagome...look at her really hard." Inuyasha did and turned back to his solemn companion.

"Now, imagine her run through by a rod, a splintered arrow, thousands of swords right through the chest, a hand through her stomach, her blood spilled onto the ground, or even hammered in the skull." Inuyasha looked horrified.

"That is what could happen to her if she isn't careful. She needs to be protected, and you're the only one who can do that. Believe it or not, this is not going to be some piece of cake, a single battle with a demon, and once it's defeated, you can call a quites and go back to Keade's. You need to be strong and have skill. Thinking couldn't hurt either. There are going to be thousands of skilled warriors and demon alike there, and you need to be ready to defend her life at all costs." Keio seemed lost to the world, his eyes were distant, so distant and far as to not even be in this time.

"Why do I need to protect her so badly?" Inuyasha was curious as to he meant. He would of course protect Kagome regardles, but something in Keio's attitude declared there to be soemthing that needed to be let out. He saw Keio's eyes swirl with a dark gray cloud in them, and when it disappeared, the normal white was there to replace it.

"Because, she is the balance between good and evil. Her future is undecided. Not even I can see what it's going to be like." Inuyasha felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He stopped where he stood, and flicked his eyes to her form, almost believing she had disappeared.

"Inuyasha! You shouldn't lag behind." Shippo said popping out of no where, making the half demon jump in air and nearly fall.

"What's got you all spooked?"

"Feh." Inuyasha was confused beyond all doubt, irritable, and scared. He looked up at the gray sky. It was about to rain. And hard. Hopefully the forest would thicken and provide some sort of protection, but he highly doubted that.

"C'mon Shippo." Inuyasha said sullenly and began treading forward amidst the throng of Miko's, blending in among them. Shippo hopped onto his shoulder.

A small green demon was pacing in his quarters, his staff with him. He was uneasy and restless with this new sense of solitude. Three days he had gone without seeing his master, and he was beginning to wonder if his being was even remembered.

Rin had visited him often, trying to cheer him up from his gloomy mood by forcing him to wander around and explore the huge castle, but it wasn't the same without lord Sesshoumaru to accompany them through the dangerous terrain of Japan.

Then someone knocked at the door.

"Who is it?" He rang out in his usual squak.

"I have a message for you from Lord Sesshoumaru. He said it is of great importance.

"Well, what are you waiting for, come in already!" He hopped excitedly.

"Jakan. Lord Sesshoumaru requests your presence in his study." A servant Yukai said, bowing.

"I knew master Sesshoumaru wouldn't forget about me!" He nearly cried. The servant girl looked confused.

"Very well. I shall go to him this instant."

"Eh hem." The servant said.

"Yes, what now?!" Jakan said impatiently.

"Before you go see the Lord Sesshoumaru, might I suggest another...selection of attire?" Jakan looked down at his plain morning robe.

"Oh my gosh! I can't go to Lord Sesshoumaru like this! How disgraceful!"

"If you wish, I will inform the master of your slight delay, and that you will soon be in his study as requested."

"Yes yes, you go do that." Jakan waved his hand, not even fully paying attention as he rummage through his closet, stressing on what he should wear. She nearly closed the door behind her when Rin popped up out of nowhere.

"Excuse me." She said slipping in. The servant smiled, and then fully closed the door, rushing off through the halls.

"What is bothering you so, Jakan?"

"I cannot find anything suitable to where! You see I've been asked to come to a very important meeting with Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Why not where what you always wear?" Rin cocked her head to the side. Jakan noticed that she wore the same clothes she had during their trip, only they had been washed, ironed, and sewn together.

"You silly girl! You cannot wear such casual clothes in the presence of the all mighty Lord Sesshoumaru!"

"Why not? He did not mind before." Jakan continued to fuss and wine, until in the end, he ended up walking next to the chipper Rin, in the same-if not cleaner and patched- clothes he had worn traveling.

"Rin, go find Hosomi for me."

"As you wish my Lord! Rin will do!" She quickly skipped off, humming.

"Jakan, close the door behind you."

"Oh yes, of course my Lord." Sesshoumaru stood tall and straight, looking out of the tall clear window with the curtains pulled aside, out to the east. He was silent.

"Um...you wished to talk to me of something, my Lord?" Jakan said side ways, a bit awkward.

"I will be setting out at dawn, to go fight Naraku and his army."

"What! But my Lord..."

"I have made up my mind Jakan. You will stay here with Rin and protect her if an attack should occur in my absence."

"My Lord..."

"Do I make my self understood?"

"But..."

"Jakan." The retainer sighed. He knew his master was not to be swayed by his pleading, or arguing.

"I understand."

"Good."

"Will you be telling Rin? She will worry, not that I care, but still she is just only a human." Jakan said non-chalantly, but inside he was worried about the girl. She knew more than she let on, and if she could, would try to convince Sesshoumaru to stay.

Sesshoumaru didn't reply. Jakan sighed. He also knew Sesshoumaru knew this, and would avoid such a confrontation as best as possible.

"You wanted to speak with me my Lord?" Hosomi appeared. Rin was smiling jovially, and Jakan exited the room, Rin in follow. A slight breeze came up and the door was shut, leaving the two in the grandly adorned walls and carpeted floors of the halls.

"What bothers you Jakan?" His staff dragged on the floor, and his face was low.

"Nothing that a silly girl like you would understand." Rin stopped, and Jakan didn't notice, instead he kept going.

"Lord Sesshoumaru must be leaving soon." Rin said softly and looked over her shoulder at the door.

"Rin will talk to him tomorrow in the noon time. He is always in a good mood then. Rin will talk to Lord Sesshoumaru when he is in a good mood." With that decided, she ambled in search of new places to find.

"Your not tapping in got your powers fully enough." Miyako reprimanded. Kagome sighed, letting the stone drop into her hand.

"I'm trying." Miyako would hear none of it.

"Not well enough." She sighed. She knew she was being harsh on the girl, and her irritable mood was not helping. Rain was coming, she could feel the buzz in the air, feel the flies sticking to her, and the airs thickness blocked her ability to breath, but she remained composed. Her company however, did not supress their complaints as well as she, and this annoyed her as much.

"Let's try something else. Here." She handed her a bow and arrow, and took her off of the path, out of the way of the others that were walking.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

"I want you to aim at that tree."

"What? Why should I kill a perfectly good tree?"

"Aim at it, don't let the arrow go." Kagome dropped a few of her belongings to the ground so she could. Taking a breath, she knocked and arrow onto her bow, drew the string back, and aimed.

I must be getting stronger...my hands aren't quivering as much as they used to...you go girl...

"Close your eyes." Kagome looked at her mentor quizzically before doing so.

"The power you feel that surges through you to your arrow, search for it purposefully, don't just let it come, go to it." Kagome did, she felt a well inside her, a deep well, that kept pulling her. She stood frozen to her spot, unable to breath, and began to break out in a sweat. She tried to let go of the bow and arrow, just let them drop to the ground, but something held them pasted to her.

It's too much...too much...where is it all coming from...I can't control it...

It coursed through her body, making every part of her burn with pain, than she screamed.

"Inuyasha!" She knew it was stupid to scream that, that he wouldn't come, that he was probably miles away, but she didn't care. Instantly 'Yoshino' was at her side, and retched the bow and arrow away from her. She dropped into his arms, and he seathed in anger at Miyako.

"What did you do to her!"

"Nothing." Miyako looked worn out, but she was shaking inside.

"Nothing my ass!"

"It was not of my doing. Her powers are vast. She needed to know how just how much so."

"Than how the hell do you explain this?"

"Her powers are wild, she has them just barely under her control. I needed to show her that. Otherwise she might kill those around her, or even herself if they go unbridled." Inuyasha calmed down a little, but he was still holding against the woman. He didn't like her, didn't trust her, and the feeling was mutual on her side.

"Keio, ask for Sumi's horse please. We'll need it to carry the girl." Inuyasha growled.

"I'll carry Kagome. The mule can carry our stuff if you want." He knew very well Kagome couldn't ride, and was not about to strap her on the beast.

Miyako was not happy with the girls attitude, and decided as such, needed reprimanded. So she slapped her. Her hand striking his face was loud and sharp. Inuyasha bowed his head, his bangs covering all emotion on his face, but the growl that came out of his throat was unmistakeable.

Before he could be stopped, Inuyasha slapped the woman back and stood over her shocked face.

"Don't you ever touch me, or Kagome." Miyako, for the first time, was afraid of someone that was supposedly weaker than her, and nodded.

"Inuyasha." Keio said gravely. Inuyasha glared, but said nothing else. Just placed Kagome on his back and began walking forth. Miyako was stunned.

"Lade Miyako, I am very sorry for Yoshino's poor display of manners." Miyako was still stunned.

"Lady Miyako?" Keio looked in her eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Who is that?"

"Who?"

"That girl?"

"Yoshino." Miyako slapped Keio. Looking angry and hurt.

"Don't lie to me Keio. I know better than that." Keio in turn looked emotionless, Miyako knew she had hurt him, but didn't care at the moment.

"Who she is, is not something you should know. Just don't hurt Kagome or endanger her-even if it is for training. If you must, take her to another dimension if you think it will help. Those two are connected, their fates intertwined." Miyako tuned her back to him, her body as rigid as it was, shook as well.

"Go ask Sumi for her horse. Be a waste to leave this junk here." She stalked off. Keio slumped against the tree nearest him.

Why won't you understand...I can't tell you everything I see...to do kill someone...or ruin them...this isn't just some talent...some toy...fun to play with...then if you don't like it...throw it away and get a new one...it has it's consequences...it is a burden...a curse...everyday...I see...everyday...I'm forced to see...millions die...I see...you die...

Keio stood back up and quickly got the horse, and loaded it with Inuyasha and Kagome's things and lead it back onto the path that they were walking.

His eyes were the color of dark gray.