Chapter 9:
The next day, a very reluctant Inuyasha was half-dragged, half-carried through one of TDN's back entrances. The half-demon had not realized that Jonathan was so strong. Finally, he huffed and came in on his own. He would rather not have any of Kirsten's female colleagues watch him carried in over Jonathan's shoulder like a sack of rice.
"Just stop being silly," Kagome told him.
Inuyasha snorted and thrust his nose in the air. This did not work too well either, as he missed a corner and nearly walked into a wall.
"What's your problem?" Kagome said, annoyed. She gave him a push in the right direction.
"Inuyasha's pride was hurt yesterday," Kirsten said. "No guy likes to think that a mere woman can best him."
Kagome giggled. "Well, he did look kind of funny without his hakama. "
"Shut up, wench."
"Maybe I should try that instead of 'sitting' him next time." Kagome's grin grew positively wicked.
"I wouldn't recommend it," he said in her ear.
Inuyasha allowed his eyes to travel down Kagome's slight form with all the lasciviousness he could manage. It was not hard to do, since she was dressed, if he could use the term, in shorts and a halter-top. It had the desired effect. Kagome sucked in her breath at his heated look, unsure of how to react. For good measure, Inuyasha slowly licked his lips. Kagome gulped.
Jonathan's hand came down hard on his shoulder. He glanced over to find the older man grinning at him knowingly.
Kagome took the opportunity to increase her pace to join Kirsten, who had been walking ahead.
"Just be careful, son," Jonathan said quietly. "Teasing can be fun, but don't let it get out of hand."
"She asked for it."
"Maybe. But it will go hard with you if you don't treat women here with some modicum of respect. And believe me, you'd rather get the speech from me instead of Tamisé."
"Respect goes both ways."
Jonathan nodded. "Indeed it does. But here, you have to earn it. Yesterday, TC was just showing you the consequences of not taking the women trainees seriously."
"Are all the women here like them?"
Jonathan shook his head. "No, not at all. But they should not be treated with any less respect than our female warriors."
"I don't understand what goes on here," Inuyasha said. "It's like two separate worlds."
Jonathan grinned. "I'll let Tam and Tayne explain all to you and Kagome. Right now, Kirsten has more humiliation to dish out."
"Huh? Worse than yesterday?"
"Oh – much worse. She's going to put you in a sensor suit so more tests can be run." Jonathan wiggled his eyebrows at him suggestively. "And it's my job to keep away the hoards of women that will want to ogle you."
OoOoOo
Jonathan was right: it was much worse than yesterday.
First of all, Inuyasha had to get past Sharon again. Her gaze made him decidedly uncomfortable, even though her morning greeting was unexceptional.
Secondly, there was having to strip down in front of Kirsten. Inuyasha had not wanted to do so. She had offered to call Spider in to help with the suit, but he had shook his head. With a sigh, he started to remove his clothes, reminding himself that she had seen all he had to offer during the course of the physical yesterday.
Then there was the sensor suit itself. Inuyasha would have bolted from the room regardless of his state of undress if he had not remembered that Sharon was sitting right outside. Not to mention that the entire floor was full of other women.
Kirsten sighed and shook her head after he finished sputtering out rather inventive variations of 'I'm not wearing that!'
"Okay, Mr. Prim and Proper. Let's start with the feet, shall we?"
It took some time to get Inuyasha into the sensor suit. He was not sure he liked it, although he barely felt it on his skin. It covered every part of him from the neck down, including his feet. Kirsten showed him the release tabs at the waist, so he could relieve himself without taking the suit off. He was able to pull the gloves off and put them back on without help, although it took a little practice.
Kirsten walked around him, making sure that the suit fit properly and was not bunching or pulling.
"How does it feel?" she asked him.
"Like I'm wearing nothing," he replied. "I thought it would be heavy, but it's not."
"Ay-yi-yi, Kirsty, lass! Are you trying to start a riot?"
Tamisé was standing in the doorway, looking at Inuyasha with some consternation, while keeping an interested Sharon back with one hand. He came into the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
"What's with you, Tam? You've seen people in sensor suits before."
"Kirsty, love, take another look. I think I shall go find one of my old fighting kilts for the lad. And a sweatsuit. Do not move from this room until I'm back." He left as quickly as he had come.
"What's he going on about?" Kirsten muttered as she looked over the half-demon again. "Oh! Oh my. Yes, I see what he means."
"What?"
"Never mind, dear. We just need to cover you up a little."
Inuyasha looked down. "Uhh. Yeah."
It was a short while before Tamisé returned.
"Here you go, Inuyasha," Tamisé said and tossed him a leather garment.
The half-demon caught it neatly and held it up. "What's this?"
"A fighting kilt from my younger days. It'll cover you up without interfering with the sensor suit and Kirsty's visual."
"Thanks."
Kirsten helped him slide the kilt on and secure it around his waist. The strips of leather covered him to mid-thigh, but did not interfere with his movement at all.
"Oh, much better," Kirsten said.
"Indeed," Tamisé concurred, raising an eyebrow. "Here, lad. You'll need this for your weapon."
Inuyasha was given a sword harness to buckle about his waist. With some adjustment, the Tetsusaiga was secured in it to his satisfaction.
Kirsten insisted on putting Inuyasha's hair in a loose braid so she would be able to see more of his back. It felt strange to have his hair confined in such a manner, but he enjoyed the quick brushing she gave him and the feel of her fingers as she created the braid.
Her scent floated around him and he found it very pleasant indeed. Was she in heat? If so, then she smelled different from the way Sango and Kagome did when it was their time. Kirsten was wearing brightly patterned capri tights with an oversized tunic, and Inuyasha liked the way the clothing called attention to her shapely legs.
He had never paid much attention to women's legs until he met Kagome. It had taken him some time to get used to her strange clothes and the amount of skin they exposed. In the modern era, it seemed women could get away with wearing next to nothing in public. Inuyasha had been scandalized when he had gotten a glimpse of one of the bathing suits Kagome had brought with her. She had told him it was called a bikini and was perfectly acceptable. He had devoutly hoped she would never wear it in front of Miroku. He valued his friendship with the monk, and would hate to ruin it by being obliged to knock him silly over Kagome.
Kirsten ruffled his hair and patted him on the back to announce she was done with getting him ready. Tamisé circled about him, studying him with an experienced eye.
"Okay," the big alien said. "You'll do." He tossed more clothes in Inuyasha's direction. "You might want to put on this tracksuit to traverse the corridors. It'll be a little bulky with the kilt underneath, but it'll keep you from being mobbed."
"How far do we have to go?" Inuyasha asked, as he pulled on the tracksuit.
"The lowest basement level," Tamisé replied. "I've got Cerberus holding an elevator for us. Spider's at the training room already."
The tall redhead opened the door and took a quick look about. Tamisé motioned Inuyasha forward. "Come on then, lad. Let's move before we have an audience."
Inuyasha did not have to be told twice. They went quickly to the elevator lobby without encountering too many people. As promised, there was an elevator just for them.
There were six sub-basements to the TDN building, and they found themselves standing outside a room on the lowest level. Kirsten had been explaining the layout of the building to Inuyasha on the way down, but he had only been listening with half an ear. They were greeted at the training room door by a mixed group of people.
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks. Well, at least there were as many men as there were women. And they all looked friendly. None of them had rocks or other projectiles in their hands, as far as he could see.
"Back, back!" Tamisé ordered, sweeping his hand in front of him. "You'll scare the lad half to death, you will."
"But we just want to watch, Tam," one of the men said.
"Not today, David. You are all making him nervous. Let us get this testing done this morning. I've got a reception planned tonight at Tayne's and you can all meet him then. Didn't you get the memo?"
There was a collective sigh of disappointment and the group dispersed.
"Sorry, lad," Tamisé apologized. "They're just curious, you know. The men are annoyed that the women got introduced to you first. But never mind. Like I said, we're having a party for you and Kagome tonight at Tayne's house."
"No one's ever given me a party before," Inuyasha said. He was deeply touched by the gesture. As a half-demon, he was usually not welcome at such events.
Tamisé clapped him on the shoulder. "We treat everyone equally here, Inuyasha. We are many different races all together, and I don't tolerate any prejudices among my people. If anyone gives you trouble of any sort, you let me know."
The half-demon stared at the redhead with something very akin to hero-worship in his eyes. He was unaware of Kirsten's smile.
"Come on, then," Kirsten said, pulling on the half-demon's arm. "Spider's waiting.
The door opened into an observation area that seemed crammed with equipment. Spider was hunched over a monitor, banging it with the side of his fist.
"You piece of shit!"
Inuyasha had his hand on his sword before he realized that Spider was not talking to him.
"What's the trouble?" Tamisé said.
"Ahhh. Not coming on line properly."
"Cerberus," Tamisé said to the room in general. "Equipment check, please. Honestly, Spider, I don't know why you won't ask Cerberus to help you. There – everything looks on-line now. "
"Okay – I think we're ready to begin," Kirsten said to Inuyasha. "The feeds from the sensor suit you're wearing will send information directly into this computer. From here, we can then see exactly how you're moving and where you might be weakest. I'm concerned about these losses of balance you seem to have. The problem might be simply that you're not in a stable enough position.
"For today, though, I'm going to have Tam lead you through a series of exercises, so we can get a measure of your strength and endurance. We won't do too much today so you don't get worn out. Don't want you too tired to go to your own party."
Tamisé had shed the tracksuit he had been wearing. Inuyasha took one look and gulped. The handsome alien was clad in tights and a tunic, with what looked like soft slippers on his feet. Every inch of his lean, muscular body proclaimed him warrior and Inuyasha had no trouble believing that Tamisé could trounce Sesshomaru if he had a mind to.
"Well, lad," Tamisé said with a grin. "Let's go into the training room and start with a warm-up."
Inuyasha snorted. "I don't need a warm-up."
"Well I do," the alien retorted. "I'm much older than I look. However, I think you still have a few years on me."
Kirsten punched Tamisé in the arm. "Just stop. You're confusing him."
Inuyasha felt that he had been confused since the moment he had set foot on the jet. He followed Tamisé into the training area, and at the alien's instructions, went through some completely unnecessary stretching.
OoOoOo
"That's two hundred push-ups, Tam," Kirsten's voice said over the intercom. "His heart rate has increased only slightly."
Tamisé snorted. Inuyasha had not broken a sweat yet, and the red-haired alien was running out of exercises – and ideas.
"Alright then, lad. Getting bored of this stuff, are you?"
Inuyasha lowered himself to the floor and rested his chin on his folded arms. "Bored isn't the word. How is this going to help me kill Naraku?"
"Patience, patience," Tamisé chided. "Let's see if I can get you to do something a little more fun, perhaps." He grinned at the half-demon. "You might want to roll over there by the wall if you're going to lie down on the job. I'm going to have Cerberus pop up some equipment."
"I'm fine where I am."
"Have it your way. Cerberus – let's get some equipment up, please."
"Of course, Tamisé," the computer replied. "What would you like?"
"A series of six uneven bars with varied spacing between them and a balance beam."
"Do you want the standard beam or the wider?"
"Let's start with the wider. And some music, please. Random play from my personal list."
Inuyasha yelped as the floor seemed to move beneath him. He found himself stomach down and clutching at what seemed to be a length of wood that was bearing him upwards.
Tamisé laughed. "I told you to move. I see you've found the balance beam."
Inuyasha rolled off the beam and landed heavily on the floor. "This is the weirdest place I've ever been in. Is it all magic?"
"Not at all. It's all science."
Inuyasha looked up at him. "Kagome said man has travelled to the moon. Is it true?"
"Oh yes. Humans haven't done that for a very long time, though."
"Have you been to the moon?"
Tamisé laughed again. "I come from a lot farther away than the moon, lad. Let's leave that discussion for another time, eh? Right now, I'd like to show you how these uneven bars are used, and then I want you to try some things on them. Cerberus, some suitable music, if you please."
The room filled with sound, but Tamisé shook his head. "Not that one, thanks." The computer switched to another song. "There – that's fine. Back it up, Cerberus, and begin again on my mark."
Tamisé went over to the first of the uneven bars. He picked something up from the floor that Inuyasha could not see and dusted it over his hands. Inuyasha sneezed at the powdery residue in the air.
"Just chalk, lad. Helps protect the hands. Alright Cerberus – mark."
The music began again and Inuyasha watched with his mouth agape as Tamisé leaped into the air, catching the first bar neatly. He swung himself around the bar, building momentum, then launched himself to the next. Tamisé worked with the music to create what Inuyasha could only describe as dance, as he swung himself in and around the series of bars. When the music ended, Tamisé dropped to the floor, dusting his hands.
"Think you can do something like that, lad?"
"Uhhh…"
"Come on. Give it a shot. I'll spot you."
"What?"
"I'll be below to catch you if you fall." Tamisé put his hands on his hips. "You said you wanted something more challenging."
"Alright. Could I have the same song? I kinda liked it."
"You heard the man, Cerberus."
"Of course. Just give me your mark when you are ready, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha swung around. "The computer spoke to me!"
Tamisé smiled. "I had Jonathan add in a command so Cerberus will respond to you just as he does for us."
"I guess Kagome would think it was 'cool'. What does Cerberus look like, anyway?"
"I'll take you to his clean room later. Right now, I'd like you to think about those bars. Ready? You should chalk your hands."
Inuyasha shook his head. "I've been moving through trees since I was old enough to walk. My hands are pretty tough. 'Sides, that stuff makes me sneeze."
"Alright, lad. Whatever you think is best. You know your capabilities and we don't. That's why we're doing all this."
Without further ado, Inuyasha jumped up and caught one of the bars. He hung there for a moment as the music began again, then started to swing to build momentum. In seconds, he was weaving in and around the bars as Tamisé had done, letting the music take him. When he finished and jumped down, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"That was so…so…"
"Incredible?" Tamisé was also smiling. "You're a natural gymnast. Want to try again with some different music?"
"Yeah!"
Inuyasha launched himself upwards again, this time starting with one of the higher bars. He was thoroughly enjoying himself. But suddenly, just as he was transferring between bars, he felt the Beads activate and pull him towards the floor. He had time only for a frightened squawk before he hit hard.
"Oh Xi! Kirsten! Kirsty, come quick!"
Kirsten came into the training room at a dead run. Tamisé was already kneeling beside the fallen half-demon, afraid to touch him. The way Inuyasha had crumpled made Kirsten fear that he had broken his neck in the fall.
"I don't know what happened, Kirsty," Tamisé said. "One minute he was fine and having fun and the next…"
Kirsten moved her hands over the half-demon's body, looking for broken bones. Together, she and Tamisé laid him out more comfortably on the floor, trying not to jostle him too much.
"I think Kagome activated the Beads of Subjugation by accident," Kirsten replied. "I had her in Alaina's aerobics class this morning, and she had just come in to see me. She said she needed to sit down – and that's when our boy went for a loop."
"She… she's always doing that to me…" Inuyasha tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"Spider – what have you got on the monitors? I don't want to move him any more in case I cause more damage."
"No vertebrae broken, thank God," Spider said over the intercom. "A concussion, for sure. Kirsty – you won't believe this! The situation is resolving itself!"
"How do you mean?"
"His body is repairing the damage – and quickly too. You can see it happening right on the monitor! Oh lordy – I've got to get that bloodwork from yesterday finished!"
"So he has a healing factor like Jon and me?"
"It's a whole lot faster than yours. Kagome's pestering me to go in there."
"Let her in, Spider."
Kagome rushed into the room and flung herself down beside Inuyasha. She took up his hand and held it to her cheek.
"Oh Inuyasha! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to say it. Are you alright?"
Inuyasha gave the girl a weak smile. "I'll live." He struggled to sit up. "I feel a lot better now."
Tamisé helped the half-demon sit up. Kagome put her arms about Inuyasha's neck and hugged him.
"Oh, thank goodness!"
Before he could put his arms around her, Kagome drew back and looked down at him. "What the heck are you wearing?"
"A sensor suit, Kirsty calls it. It shows her how I move."
"Yeah, and it shows everything else too!" Kagome retorted. "Geez! And you freaked out over my bikini!"
"I kinda like it," Inuyasha said, with a grin. "Don't you?"
Kagome blushed several different shades of red.
"And it looks better without the kilt. Do you want to see?"
"Inuyasha, don't you dare! I'll say it again! I will! And this time I won't care if you break your stupid neck."
Kagome stood up and went marching from the room, muttering under her breath about double standards. Inuyasha fell back, holding his sides while he laughed.
"Well, if he can laugh about it, he must be okay," Kirsten said, getting to her feet. "I want to see the records of the last few minutes."
Inuyasha got to his feet, still holding his sides while his laughter subsided. "Did you see her face? Oh, that was priceless!" He staggered a little and Kirsten put her hands out to steady him.
"Easy there, fella."
At that moment, an incensed Kagome stuck her head back into the room. "Don't you laugh at me, Inuyasha! Sit boy!"
"Eeep!"
Inuyasha fell forward again, taking Kirsten with him. He landed on top of her with his face firmly planted in the middle of her chest. This time, Tamisé was rolling on the floor, laughing.
"I fail to see what is so funny," Kirsten ground out. The half-demon's weight had knocked the wind out of her and she pushed at him ineffectually. "Get offa me, you!"
"I can't! The spell hasn't worn off yet!" Inuyasha's voice was muffled.
"Oh just great! All this needs is for Jon to walk in right now," Kirsten moaned.
Tamisé just laughed harder.
