Genkai grunted as she rolled over waking from her mid-day nap. Her bones creaked and snapped as she stood from her futon; opening her eyes she curved her back to realign it. At sixty-four she wasn't in the best shape of her life, but shit happens and people get old. Walking to the basin by the closet door she splashed the cool water on her face removing the sweat of the humid room.
Dressing in her fighting gi she prepared for her evening training session with her last pupil, dimwit Yusuke Urameshi. Even after he had graduated, receiving the bulk of her power at the Dark Tournament, he still needed the discipline that age did not provide. At twenty-six he was still as hot headed as he was at fifteen. Genkai thought of her child, would she have been as undisciplined and powerful as Yusuke, quickly she dismissed the thought, powerful yes but no child of hers would have been so difficult. Genkai pushed the thoughts away no use thinking about something she would never know.
Leaving her bedroom she walked with purpose to the main room, switching on the small T.V. she realized how quite the temple was. Feeling her age again she straightened her posture. With Yukina married to Kurabara, she was once again living in the temple alone, and the solidarity was at times overwhelming. She thought again of the child she lost, had she been able to care for her right, she wouldn't have been so alone for the last twenty-four years. A yell from the courtyard drew her attention from her thoughts, standing up she switched off the television, making her way to the front door. Stepping outside she expected to meet the dimwit but to her surprise he wasn't alone.
"It's her" she said to her self.
Yusuke walked with slumped shoulders to Genkai's. After working for the last eight hours the last thing he wanted to do was go get beet up by the old hag, but Keiko insisted that if he was going to continue to work for the Spirit World even if the missions were becoming fewer and less dangerous, that he was in top shape.
Even with Kurabara leaving the team and Kurama moving to the other side of the island for graduate school, he hadn't needed the extra help the few times Koenma had called. For the last year the only demons that had escaped the barrier were the lowest level possible. At first the spirit world worried that the demon world was planning something, but the few spies that the Spirit World had had reported that all was quiet on that front. After six months Yusuke decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and go with it. As he walked down the path to Genkai's house he felt a strange power emanating from somewhere ahead of him. His spiritual awareness was nowhere as strong as Kurabara's but the power coming from ahead was immense. Realizing it was coming from Genkai's Yusuke broke out in a full run. Genkai was still formidable with out her power, but he realized that he would have a tough time beating anyone that strong.
Kagome walked up to the temple steps ahead of her. Her Grandfather had left her with strange instructions in her will, ones that she still did not understand. Standing at the bottom of the steps she wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Although his death was a peaceful one, she still missed him greatly. So caught up in her grief she didn't notice her personal barrier dropping and her power flaring out around her. Sighing she started up the long trek to the temple. As she reached the top she felt the edges of a barrier guarding the temple. Although not painful, it reminded her of her own. Quickly pulling her powers back in she slammed her barrier back up blending it in with the surrounding aura. Closing her eyes she prayed that know one was around to feel that. So disappointed in her self she never noticed the demon watching her from the roof before disappearing. Quickly restarting up the stairs she felt that temples barrier once again. It felt warm and tingling to her senses, determining that she was not a threat, she passed through unharmed. "Strange" Kagome thought, "Why would such a strong barrier be here?" Her interest was severely peeked. Again she thought of her grandfather's request, wondering how all this was tied together.
As she stepped into the courtyard she heard a loud yell from the steps behind her. Immediately going on guard she pulled her power to the surface without dropping her barrier. "No use tipping off the enemy." She thought.
A man came running up the stairs, stopping short in front of her. He seemed surprised at the sight of her. He was tall about six feet; he was a fighter she could tell, and a very powerful one at that. She didn't feel as though he was a threat, so she relaxed her stance standing up, although she did not let her power recede. "Hello" she greeted him with a smile.
Yusuke raised an eyebrow at the strange girl in front of him. The power he had felt until moments ago was nowhere to be found. He was a bit surprised to find this young woman on guard as he came running up the stairs, but if the barrier around the temple let her through than he wasn't too concerned. Not really known for his tact he said the only thing that came to mind. "Yo, what do you want?"
'Well that's rude' Kagome thought. "I am here to see Ms. Genkai." She answered truthfully.
"Don't be an ass, Dimwit." Came a voice from behind. Kagome turned around to see an older woman standing at the door of the house. She was shorter than Kagome with light pink hair that looked to be graying. Taking a deep breath she stepped towards the elderly woman. "Ms. Genkai, I am Kagome Highurashi. My grandfather recently died and in his will he asked that I bring you this letter." Pulling out the letter from her back pocket she handed it to the woman before her.
Genkai's hands shook as she took the letter, 'After all this time' she thought. 'It's come down to this.' Her attention as brought back to Yusuke as he stepped on a branch lying on the ground. "Go start your training Dimwit" She snapped at him. Yusuke looked at his teacher startled, his eyes slightly widening. "Now, you lazy ass." Taking a long look at the girl, he glanced at his teacher before nodding. Kagome and Genkai watched as he walked away before turning their attention towards each other. "Come in" Genkai invited Kagome.