A/N: Short, yes. Long time for me to update, yes. Reason, writer's block. Again. So, instead of waiting longer, I'm posting a shorter-than-normal chapter this time. If this upsets you, not my fault. Blame the creativity gods for having me write this in the first place, then abandoning me to fend for myself.
Okay, so a little plea for help. I'm getting towards a place where I haven't planned a thing to happen afterwards. Needless to say, I'm getting stuck. So here's my plea. I need anyone with a creative mind and an idea or two to give me some suggestion for events to happen. Things like ways of getting Kagome and Youko/Suuichi to fall for each other, and ways to bring Toguro and Naraku more into the story as villans. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I'll most likely try to use it.
Okay, many people miss Yuuki. Unfortunately, he's extremely hard for me to write in character. If people want him back so badly, I need to know whether or not you care if he's in character. If you don't, I may be able to write a little scene with him and Souta in the next chapter. If not, I'll just stick with my origional plan. He will be back within the next chapter or two, I can tell you honestly. However, his appearance may be brief, so I'm just warning you.
inunkuramaRmine: A lot of people are saying that, but I'm being lazy. I'm lacking in the sleep department lately, and it's hard writing him. So...no Yuuki for a little bit.
foreveryourssnow: You sound a lot like me and my sis. Always fighting over the computer... She's also taller, but I'm the older one. I like your random comments in your reviews, and I was reading them late at night on a bad day. Made me feel a lot better. I don't mind long reviews, either. I don't get many like that, and as to personal lifes, I'll read whatever you write. Never missed a review yet! I'm sorry I can't answer all of your sixteen or so reviews here, but I will say this. I'm glad I was able to make you laugh!
Captain Starseeker: I'm going to point you to my A/N for why Yuuki isn't being written. As for when they find out about each other...probably around eight or so chapters. I need some help before then, though, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also, I don't know where I've been. Probably in my own little world, planning world domination...XD Thank you for two very entusiastic reviews.
Inu-babe666: I'm working on the fluff, but having trouble. Read my A/N for details.
silver pup: Do you know how many suggestions I've gotten for that? And I didn't even put it in...XP Sorry!
Falling Tenshi: I'm always open for new readers. Seems that the longer my story gets, the harder it is to write but the more reviews and readers I get. Thank you for reading!
DarkGoddessAluthri: Well, I won't say who is training. But I've had people suggest both Kaede and Genkai. I agree that she's a little kooky, but it seems like lots of people have that problem. Myself included. I actually like Tsubaki a lot, so I had to put her in somewhere. Still debating on whether or not I should have her appear again...
Kurama'sFoxyMiko: I don't think I'm going to have another Yuuki scene for a bit. Well, unless I skip about two weeks worth of events. Which becomes more and more tempting all the time.
Silent Angel of the Dark Forest: How many people have suggested that so far? Seven? Well, since I don't want to repeat myself, read my A/N.
ranchan23: See my A/N for your answer.
vixenia: You'll see. And as for the Yuuki bit, I'm referring everyone to my A/N. Thanks for sticking with me!
Shadow Girl: You'll have to wait and see. You're probably closest, though.
atamagaokashii Ookami: That's a nice idea for later. I have a couple things that need to happen before then, though, but I'll keep all of your suggestions in mind.
Sakura Blossom-Cilla-85: The romance is currently stuck in a little whole in my head. I'm working on it, but it's proving to be difficult. Hence my earlier plea for help. That's an interesting suggestion, but I don't think I want to go as far as that yet. You're the first person to suggest things for what she could learn, though. I would've been glad to use your idea if I hadn't already planned out this chapter.
Susan: Referring people to my A/N, again. And again, thank you for beta-ing my stories! I really appreciate it!
Thanks to mizushoubai, AnimeMoonlightGoddess, BlueMonkey89, regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan, Hoshiko Megami, pitbull123, and Ryukotsusei.
Kagome watched the landscape fly past her as Sango drove her to her new teacher's house -temple, technically. Apparently it was far enough that Sango herself had decided to stay the night. She had packed her own pack of clothing before her and Kagome set out. Souta had agreed to take Yuuki for the next three days, and Himitsu was covering her for work. Now Kagome was free to concentrate on miko stuff, as she liked to think of her training. All she had to remember was that when she got a night off, she owed Himi a night on the town.
The music playing in the car blasted Kagome and Sango's ears. You'd think that a nice, friendly doctor like Sango would listen to oldies music or something the like. No, Kagome mused, she had to be a rock fan. Kagome shook her head as she caught her friend bobbing her head to the beat and singing along to the current song.
"Sango, why do you like this stuff?" Kagome asked her friend. "Why can't you be like a normal person and like people like Utada?"
Sango made a face. "That kind of music has no soul to it. Give me Amy Lee any day!" She smiled as Kagome grimaced. "Kags, it's my goal to lose my hearing long before I turn thirty."
Kagome glared. "Not all of us want to go deaf, you know."
Sango ignored her and continued to sing along, turning the car down an old dirt road. Night was settling over the world as they continued down the dark lane. Sango began to slow as they came up to a forested area. "We're almost there. Just beyond that bend."
Sango was as good as her word; as Sango turned the wheel of the old station wagon, a large temple spread out before the two women like a bird in flight. Cutting the engine, Sango stepped out of the baby-blue vehicle. "Welcome to your new training facility." She spread her hand before her. "Shall we go hunt down your new teacher?"
Kagome stepped out and took a good look around. The temple was old that was for sure. Trees on all sides also surrounded it, only the dirt road leading from the wilderness to a world of humanity. It was nice and peaceful at this hour. The entire building had an air about it that immediately calmed Kagome.
"This is an amazing place," she said quietly.
Sango nodded. "Took me forever to find it, too."
Kagome was about to ask why, when a voice cut in. It was harsh with age, but kind. "That would be because we here don't like people coming to us for every little problem."
Kagome turned to face the speaker. Kind black eyes met brown as the woman began to assess the new arrival. Her grey hair, bordering white, was kept back in with a white ribbon. Her outfit fit the image that Kagome had always had with regard to priestesses. Red hakama and white haori stood out against the ever-darkening sky. Her arms were folded behind her back, and her back was hunched over with age. Few wrinkles touched her face, however, which told anyone who looked upon her that she could be older than her appearance. A black eye-patch covered one of her eyes, which gave her an air of mystery about her.
Kagome bowed respectfully. "My name is Kagome. I don't know if Sango has told you yet about why I'm here-" She was cut off again as the old woman spoke up.
"Ay, she told us why ye were looking for a teacher. My name is Kaede, and I am one of the teachers here. Come, I will show you around and introduce ye to the others." She didn't wait for an answer as she turned and began to walk towards the temple.
Kagome looked at Sango, who shrugged and began to follow. Kagome sighed and hurried to catch up with them.
All three women entered through a doorway into the temple. "We have been told that ye are staying for a few days, so ye have a room ready for ye down that hall." Priestess Kaede pointed to a hall to the left, just inside the door. She continued onward, moving straight ahead as she pointed out various rooms of importance. "There's where ye'll be working with a weapon, and beyond that room is where ye can find food."
Kagome paid attention to every detail she was told. Something about this Kaede woman made Kagome respect her, and she hadn't even known her for more that a few minutes. That impressed her more that the temple did, and she almost said as much. Almost.
At that moment, they entered a new room and met the other two people living there. When Kaede, Sango and Kagome walked in on them, they stopped whatever they had been doing and turned to greet them.
The first woman had light, scraggily pink hair that reached just below her shoulders. Her eyes were as muddy as Kagome's own, but had more experience behind them than anyone Kagome had ever met. She was much shorter than anyone else in the room, reaching just a few inches over four feet. Her outfit reminded Kagome of a Chinese fighting uniform that she had come across in a thrift store one day. Her face was much like Kaede's, aged without aging.
The other woman was a lot taller than any other of the room's occupants. Her brown hair was swept back behind her ears, falling down to the middle of her back. Her eyes were a much lighter brown than Kagome's, bordering almost a tan color. She looked to be about mid-twenties, possibly early thirties. As Kagome watched, she rolled up her white shirt sleeves and pulled out a cigarette. She was the only one of the three-temple resider's to wear normal, everyday clothing.
Kagome bowed to them as Kaede introduced the first woman as Genkai, and the second as Shizuru. Sango followed Kagome's example.
Genkai spoke up, her voice sounding like she had a permanent sore throat as she spoke, "So, you're the girl who over-reacted and lost control, are you?" She eyed Kagome, who shifted uneasily under her gaze. "Looks to me like you are an offensive type."
Kaede nodded. "I thought ye'd agree with that. Offensive would be her strongest point, with a bow as the main weapon." Genkai nodded.
Shizuru lit her cigarette. When she spoke, she sounded like she was from another world, or knew things that no human should. "She also has high power levels that rival even you, Master Genkai."
Kagome blinked in confusion. What was all this about offensive and bows and power? Weren't they supposed to ask her what weapon she wanted to use or something? Kagome decided she needed to speak up.
"Excuse me, but I was already learning offensive with the katana," she stressed. "Shouldn't I continue what I've already started?"
She received a look from the three women that would've turned milk sour. It was Genkai that responded. Harshly. "You numbskull, don't you even know the first thing about being a miko?" Kagome, eyes wide in shock at being yelled at already, shook her head meekly. "Each miko; each one has a strong point in three categories. Either they're an offensive miko, a defensive miko, or a healer. With offensive types, they each have a weapon they are most compatible with. That's why they go to a teacher. Any half-wit can train themselves. It's learning to use their weapon properly that they seek training!"
Kagome blinked. "Oh," she said quietly.
"Yes, oh." Genkai turned and addressed Shizuru. "Go show her to her room, and then you're done." Shizuru bowed respectfully and walked to Kagome.
"You can follow me." She gripped Kagome by the elbow, who followed obediently. "Don't mind Genkai, or Kaede. Genkai tends to get a little cranky, and Kaede is a little outspoken at times."
Kagome shook her head, blinking rapidly. "What about Sango?" she asked.
"She'll be talking with the other two for a while." Shizuru opened a door, and Kagome wondered belatedly how they had gotten there. "You can stay with me in my room, since this is the only guest room at the moment."
Kagome saw her bags lying in the middle of a stream of light and wondered aloud how they got there. Shizuru laughed before answering, finishing her cigarette. "Oh, there are plenty of mysteries around here. You'll just have to get used to weird things happening for no reason." Walking to a table and putting out the cigarette, she flipped on a light to illuminate the room.
Kagome's mind registered that this was a very plain room. One bed was pushed against the wall, and the table with the ash tray on it, stood at the end of the bed. The only other furnishings were a wardrobe in one corner, and a chair opposite of that.
Shizuru sat on the bed and motioned for Kagome to enter. "It's not much, but at least it's private. If you want, you can have the bed. It wouldn't be the first time I've slept on the floor."
Kagome nodded and yawned. "Sorry," she said while blushing. "It's been a long day."
Shizuru nodded and stood. "I'll leave you to settle in, then. You can feel free to fall asleep when you're ready. I'll take care not to wake you when I fall asleep myself." Before Kagome could object, she was gone.
Shrugging it off, Kagome began to put her things away. The chore was done in a matter of minutes, and by then Kagome couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. With a sigh, she collapsed on the bed, still fully clothed. She was asleep in the blink of an eye.
End Chapter
Any questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please review!