A/N: Hello, everyone! This is chapter two

! Thank all of you for visiting so far, but I would really like some reviews. It would be good for the soul!

Disclaimer: I, again, must say that I do not own Inuyasha. All merchandise and work is owned by Rumiko Takahashi-sama.

Jaded Deceit

Chapter Two: A Marriage Proposal; Interrupted/A Boy in Training

By: Kate the Inuyoukai

Kagome's plan was not working out as she had first hoped. After her brother's disappearance, Kagome had asked Jin to notify the other villages of the demon's attack. She had asked that every demon sighted be recorded in detail and sent to the Moonlit Shrine. So many demons had been sighted in only the first month of the disppearance, and none of them had fit the description of the culprit given to her by Jin from the hunter who had witnessed the attack.

"Kagome, please." Jin said softly as he took the scroll away from her, "There are far too many demons in this region. You cannot do this and fight them all."

"You mean I cannot do this because of who I am," she stated bitterly as she took the scroll back. "I can do this... it is my fault that Souta is gone."

Jin's purple eyes widened at this, "K-Kagome..."

"I must redeem myself... it is my duty as an older sister," she spoke softly as she stared up at him. "Even if it costs me my life." Kagome furrowed her brow in determination. "I've lost my whole family to demon attacks. It's only right that I give mine to avenge him."

He sighed, running his hand through his thick obsidian hair. "Souta was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The villagers never found a body, so he might still be alive somewhere..." He gently pulled her to his chest, "Please. Wasting your life away searching for a demon isn't worth your time-"

He was cut off when she slapped him hard on his right cheek, leaving an irritated red mark with an evil sting.

"Who are you to hold me in your arms and then tell me my cause is useless?!" She stood over him with anger flaming in her depths.

He growled, losing his patience for the first time, "Because I want you to start a new family with me!"

Kagome gasped, her eyes widening and her hand flying up to cover her mouth as she looked down on him with shock. A blush stained his cheeks and she knelt down beside him.

"Y-you mean..." Their eyes met and for a moment they felt time stand still.

"Kagome Higurashi, miko and caretaker of our humble village," he started as he took her hand. "Will you do the honor of becoming my wife?"

"You wish to marry me?" She touched his cheek, still red from her hand.

Jin smiled and lifted his hand to her's, "Will you?"

Kagome smiled, about to give him her life when an armed soldier entered her hut, unannounced, "Master Jin!"

They moved away from eachother quickly, causing Jin to glare slightly, "What is it?"

"The Eastern Lord has declared war... the peace treaty we once held with them has been nullified."

Jin stood abruptly, "What?!"

"They are calling us out, milord. Here is the battle contract." A scroll was handed to him and his eyes quickly moved over the parchment.

"Then there is nothing I can do," he said sullenly as he rolled up the thick paper. "Prepare the soldiers, Lieutenant. We battle at dawn..."

"Yes, sir!"

Kagome stood with a worried gaze, "Jin, I-"

"I'm sorry, Kagome," he muttered before going. She averted her gaze, her limbs growing weak as she fell to her knees.

"My answer was yes..."

--

A right hand jab was quickly dodged with demonic speed, followed by a back kick that hit nothing but air.

"You are concentrating too hard on your movements. Relax your body and try to think like your opponent." Sesshomaru stated as he dodged another jab.

"Hai!"

He quickly knelt and swerved his body with his leg out, his hands holding him steady as the boy he was teaching tripped and fell back on his rump.

"Keep your eyes on your opponent's, synronize your chi and anticipate your opponent's speed and movement. Never attack on impulse."

"Hai," the boy jumped to his feet.

"Remember your own strengths and weaknesses and never reveal them to your attacker. It leaves an opening in your defenses and you will most certainly be defeated."

A punch finally hit him, causing him to smile smally at his pupil, "Well done."

Sesshomaru watched Souta as he began to fight with the grace and speed he himself used in battle. In a few more weeks he planned to begin training him to properly use a sword. He's a fast learner, he thought as he blocked a kick to his side.

"Let us stop for today."

Souta nodded, out of breath. They had been training like this every day far a month, and Sesshomaru was becoming quite fond of the teen.

"Tomorrow we will look for word of the half breed. I am certain now that if we have a run in with him you will no doubt be abe to defend yourself against him."

Souta cleaned his face off in a near stream, thinking about how much he missed the Moonlit Shrine and his sister. I have a duty to fulfill. If it weren;t for Lord Sesshomaru I'd be long gone, still... I wonder how she fares. He was brought out of his reverie when he heard the demon lord's armor thud on the ground. He turned to see Sesshomaru leaning against a tree, his eyes closed and his tail wrapping around him for warmth.

"You should rest, boy," he said in a monotone voice, "We leave at dawn..."

--

A/N: Again, I'm sorry that the chapter is so short, but that most likely means that there will be more chapters! I know what you guys are thinking. "Where's all the lemony goodness?! What the hell is up with this story?!" I promise you, patience is a good and honorable thing. The love and gooiness will be coming... maybe not next chapter, or the chapter after that... but you won't know until you find out, now, will you??