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I have been editing and I did some heavy editing in the previous chapter. Please give it a read, especially the lower part. Thank you!
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Let the training begin!
So for centuries to come, she trained in the Realm of Shadows.
She trained in every art of fighting; Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and many others. She learned to handle each and every weapon known in the world either to man or demon in a native-like ease. Even without her powers she made her body become strong. After all, a fit fighter has a better chance to win.
Lady Midoriko taught her all about miko powers that was to be known. She learned to call them on a thought. It turned out her powers were so intense and vast that they were pure spiritual magic, thus she could do anything with merely a thought. She didn't need any spells. She just needed to will and manipulate her powers. It was through her will that she could do anything and make anything happen. Change her Will to Word.
But that doesn't mean she wasn't taught about 'them', them being the spells and the rituals. According to Lady Midoriko, she may not need them, but that doesn't mean that others won't as well. She will have opponents who will use these spells and she should know what spell does what. By learning spells and having their knowledge, she could keep an ace up her sleeve, by keeping her powers a learned to fake the intensity of her powers.
She wasn't only taught in fighting but also in battle skills, every language be it human or demonic, battle plans, strategies, about various battles, rituals, codes of courts whether it be human or demonic, about every subject known around the world, the laws, etiquette, history, eloquent speech, cooking, hunting, perfect hostess and much more. As Lord Inu had said before that he wouldn't go easy, well he didn't. That man was a slave driver through and through!
Who knew there were so many laws and rules to go about in a court? Really, if she ever got the chance to time travel, she will kill the person who thought of court etiquettes!
Step by step she learned to remove the block from her powers. The biggest surprise she had gotten when she removed the block from her powers was that she could manipulate her powers to be used in demonic form as well. Lord Inu had been ecstatic by this, and she had bemoaned her fate! And whatever enthusiasm she had.
For the first time she had realised that there was a reason the demonic Lord was called the Great Dog General. Lord Inu was ruthless to a fault, and did not take any excuses! That man was a slave driver! Sesshomaru could not hold a candle against that man…err…demon! She was sure of it.
Neither Lady Midoriko nor Lord Inu no Taisho had gone easy on her. No, they had outright treated her like a slave! Well, she had a suspicion that a slave would be better off than her.
With the mix effort from both the Lady and the Lord she had learned, to some extent, how to use her powers in demonic form. She was not good in that field, and there was much to be learned. There was only so much both of them could teach her. She could use her powers to manipulate plants and shadows. But she had a barest mount of control on them. Most of the times, both the elements would get out of control and instead of attacking her opponents, they would attack her. Though she could control them through her spiritual powers, but when her powers were changed into demonic, then it was not an easy task. After all she was born a human, a powerful human, but human none the less.
She could control wind and fire as well. On these two elements she had much better control, but there was much to be desired.
At the end of the day, she knew that this training was what she wanted, what she needed. So far she and her group had only been saved by luck and chance in some cases, though that is not to say that Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku and Kirara did not fight or anything else. It was just manner of saying. They were at war and if what Lord Inu had said was correct, then they would have died, if they had continued as they were.
Lord Inu had told her that Naraku had started gathering forces, forces of elite fighters. She seriously wasn't aware of that. There wasn't a peep of that. Moreover, there was something on the horizon. A greater power was rising courtesy of Naraku himself. She had to be ready in all cases! Lord Inu or Lady Midoriko knew nothing more than that. After all there is only so much information spirits can gain or depart. She knew that if they knew anything, they would have told her. So, she knew it wasn't the case of latter.
It was unknown. It scared her a bit. She had to fight off Naraku, not only that but she had her future to think about. What of that? She had so much to do and on top of that this unknown scared her.
While she was being trained from the legends of the era she had also formed a family out of them. Truthfully, she didn't know when Lady Midoriko became Mimi or when Lord Inu became an Old Coot.
Midoriko became like an older sister to her, with her understanding gazes and comforting reassurances. Lord Inu no Taisho became like a grandpa with his enthusiasm about some long ago battles and his random tales of travelling, dances, women, and much more. That man…err…demon, was sometimes eccentric at best and gave competition to her senile grandpa!
And now the time had come to depart from her family.
She felt tears well up in her eyes as she stood before her spiritual family, but she cared not. She had learned so much from them. She had not only learned to become a fighter, but had also learned so much about life as well. She very much wanted to just stomp her foot and deny going back, but she knew that that was not possible.
If only.
Every time life gave her something, and like a greedy child it took it back. She just wanted…wanted to for once not to give it back.
She looked at both of them sadly, but with resignation, knowing no matter how much she wanted, this time she had no right to be selfish. Lord Inu would finally depart to the Realm of Death, as he should have centuries ago. He could not rest because of her, and now he would finally. And Lady Midoriko, she would forever be hung between these two Realms if she did not go back and complete her duty to gather the Jewel and complete it once and for all.
Lady Midoriko looked at the younger miko, who was not so young anymore. So much had happened in these centuries. It seemed like it was yesterday when this little miko had come into this Realm as per the decision of Lady Fate. She wished that she could have some time more with the younger miko, but knew how irrational that was.
With a voice which held poorly veiled sadness, she said, "Kagome, my child, we all knew that this day would come. No matter how much we wish, you have to go. Your duty awaits you. But remember that we will never forget you even in the afterlife. Don't forget to cherish the life you have. Always remember what we have taught you."
Lord Inu, or as he had come to be called by the two women, the old coot, said, "Little one, I will not lie to you and say that I wish for you to go and complete your duty. I wish for you stay with me here, but we both know how idiotic and irrational that wish is. In this time that I have spent with you, I have come to see as you as my own. Do not lose yourself in self-pity or in grief over our loss. Remember what I have taught you and put it to good use."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the Great Dog General found himself hugged by the younger miko.
Kagome looked at the Inu Lord and said, "Don't say that! It is not idiotic. I want to stay as well! I don't want to go. I don't wan…na..."
Her voice broke as she cried. The sound was muffled as she buried her face into the chest of the Inu Lord, but was no less heart-breaking.
Lord Inu no Taisho held the younger miko close to him as she cried her heart out. He felt his heart clench. Tears prickled in his eyes and he looked at Lady Midoriko to see her silently crying as well. After what seemed like eternity to him, his little one finally stopped crying. As he held the young miko, the tears which he had tried to hold in slipped from his hold and now left silvery tracks in their wake.
Kagome tilted her face and looked towards him. Her heart clenched as she looked at the tear tracks on the face of the Inu Lord. With a trembling hand she wiped the tears and said in voice hoarse from crying,
"I promise you, I will never forget you. Neither you nor Mimi! I will make both of you proud, and neither of your teachings will go to waste."
As she said this she looked towards the mentioned miko, to see Lady Midoriko looking at her with tear filled proud eyes.
Disentangling herself from the Inu Lord, she moved towards Lady Midoriko and hugged her with all her might. A small part of her did not want to let go of her older sister type figure, but she knew she had to.
So with a heavy heart she let go of Lady Midoriko and then with a determined glint in her blue eyes she looked at both of them and said, "I cannot thank both of you enough. You both have given me things that no one else has ever agreed to give. You have given me self-confidence, the will to defend myself and most importantly made me stronger and helped me find myself. Both of you helped me to leave the shadow of Kikyo and gain myself again."
Lady Midoriko looked at the younger miko now turned fighter and said, "We are proud of you, child!"
Lord Inu nodded in acquiescence and said in a haughty tone, "And you would do well not to forget what we taught you, little one, or I will find a way to haunt you for the rest of your life and I will make sure Mimi would be able to as well. So if you do not want to be haunted by two slighted spirits, you better keep our teachings in mind!"
Kagome giggled at his haughty tone, and all three of them shared a smile at that, but nodding in agreement to the threat. She then composed herself as her mentors gained a serious look on them.
Lady Midoriko looked at Kagome, her younger sister type figure, and said,
"Child, it is time for you to go."
Seeing the Kagome nod solemnly at that, she continued,
"Remember that we will send you to the time we brought you here from. You will have all the knowledge you have gained as well as power. There will be not a block on your power, but remember to let loose the soul of Lady Kikyo as soon as possible. You will only get one chance, do not lose it. Otherwise you will have to pay a price and none of us know what will happen."
Once again Kagome gave a solemn nod at that, and so Lady Midoriko spoke again,
"No matter what happens, don't ever lose your calm. Remember child, accept things as they are. Do not let any obstacles block your path, no matter what they are."
She finished with a sad face.
Kagome only smiled a little, and hugged her female mentor tightly, "I will remember Mimi. Do not worry. I will not let anything come between me and my goals."
Lord Inu no Taisho looked at the hugging females and said, "Now dear…"
Seeing that he gotten the attention of both the females, he continued,
"Little one, we cannot give you anything, but there is something I have left for you back in the Living Realm. When Lady Fate had assigned me as your mentor, I had collected a sum of money, weapons and some odds for you. I wanted everything ready, for it was not known to me when you would arrive. I wish for you to go and collect them."
As he finished saying the request, he once again found himself arm full of the younger miko who said something in quick succession. All he could only make out was,
"You didn't have to –", "thank you –" and "love you!"
Chuckling at the younger miko, he said,
"Yes, I had to. There is no need to thank me, dear, and I love you as well. Now listen to me!"
Flushing a bit, Kagome disentangled herself from the Inu lord and looked at him, giving him her full attention,
"I want you to go to Sesshomaru and ask him to take you to the Eldest of us all. The elder one will know why you would have come and will give you what I have left for you."
"Sesshomaru? The Lord Sesshomaru? Are you sure? Have you gone out of your mind? He will never take me let alone even listen to me." Kagome answered in a disbelieving voice to the Inu Lord as he finished giving her instructions.
"Now, little one, we have taught you this much. Surely, you can handle this small task?" Lord Inu no Taisho asked the younger miko, while an eyebrow rose in question towards her.
Kagome felt blood rush towards her face, "Uh…yeah, I will go ask him. Anything else?" she stumbled on her words.
Lord Inu looked towards Kagome with a small mischievous smile, making Kagome feel wary suddenly,
"Ah, yes! There is something else. When you go to Sesshomaru, tell him that the 'The time has come for the bloom of Sakura's'. Tell him to go tell this phrase to the Eldest."
"Huh? What does that mean, old coot? Are you on one of your eccentricities?" Kagome asked the Inu Lord with wariness colouring her voice.
There was nothing good going to come from that smile, she just knew it!
"Ah! There is nothing for you to worry about my little one. I assure you that it is no eccentricity of mine." Lord Inu no Taisho said.
For once he did not even take any offence at the detested nickname of his. He gave the mischievous smile of his again, which was shared by Lady Midoriko as well.
Ah-ah, nothing good! Kagome looked at both of her mentors. There was something fishy going on here. She was sure of it!
Seeing a wary and questioning look on the face of Kagome, once again both the mentors shared a look which spoke volumes, and made Kagome even more suspicious.
Lord Inu said, "Little one, do not worry. I assure you, you will know it in time. Now you just do this work of mine. And remember not to tell Sesshomaru that I have given this message. Just say that it's important."
Kagome looked at the dog demon suspiciously and thought,
Not to tell Sesshomaru? Definitely Fishy! Anyway, he says this as if this is easier said than done. Sesshomaru would probably kill me before following my advice. Oh well, I have to do this no matter what. Though I wonder what these two are planning….with the way these two go it must be something interesting. Well I will see in time. Now I just have to remember to tell Sesshomaru about it.
Lord Inu no Taisho and Lady Midoriko looked at their apprentice and unconsciously smiled at her thoughtful face. Both of them felt proud of her, and in their heart wished her the best of luck. None of them knew what lay ahead of her, and could only wish for her to be strong and be able to cross the hurdles which Destiny and Fate may throw at her.
They both knew Kagome may have come a long way in her training, and may have left the shadow created by Inuyasha and Kikyo, but there was so much left to be desired. No matter how much she hid it from them, both of them knew her heart had shattered that fateful night. Kagome may have forgiven Inuyasha and have overcome her misplaced love for Inuyasha, but she would never be able to forget what he had done to her. In some ways both of them were happy at this. They did not wish for her to forget what had been done to her. This way, she would be cautious and would not give away her heart so easily.
They only wished that she would be able to find someone who would pick up the shards of her shattered heart and mend it once again. Someone who would make her feel in love once more, and who would not destroy her as Inuyasha has done so. Someone, be they whoever be, who will protect her instead of hurting her and see her for who she was and let her fight her battles and support her.
Both of them wished that she would be able to find someone who would share her burden and be happy about it, instead of thinking of it as some responsibility, but moreover someone who would not see her as some baggage.
Lady Midoriko shared a look with Inu Lord, and said,
"It is time, child."
Kagome felt herself slouch. She did not wish to go, but knew that she had to. She looked at both of her mentors and with a final nod of farewell and some bone crushing hugs with lots of 'miss you's' and 'love you's' later, she readied herself.
Kagome knew she would never forget her time with these two. Lord Inu, also known as the Old Coot, was her best friend and a type of a grandpa. He could be stoic in one moment and then childish in the next. He was a great confidant as well. Both of them had shared much between themselves. She could tell anything to him and never be scared that he would make fun of it or something else. She could be a child with him and have fun. He was a slave driver yes, but he knew how to have fun. Truth be told, he was a good buddy. And in return Lord Inu had shared his feelings and thoughts with her, making her his confidant. He was, in some ways, like a part of her.
On the other hand Lady Midoriko had become like an older sister to her, whom she shared all her worries with. She was like an idol to her. Mimi would reassure her when she would feel worried with nothing but a hug and a few words. She could not share all her thoughts or what she had seen or done with Mimi, but she could come to Mimi and know that Mimi would take her with open arms. No questions, nothing expected, just acceptance. She was just like the Inu Lord. Mimi – like him – completed a part of her.
She would always remember them, no matter what. So what if she could not be with them. She would cherish their memories.
As Lady Midoriko and Lord Inu spoke in an ancient language, her world whirled around her. Soon black spots covered her vision, and she fell into the land of unconsciousness.
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