I continued to practice my archery skills on Naraku's demons over the next couple of days. My skill growing and growing with each passing day. Naraku confessed that he was proud of my progress but I wasn't at the level of Kikyo yet. "I can do better than you," was all that I said to him in my defense. He then gave me a smirk and walked back inside the castle. I smiled too as I continued to shoot demons left and right. I even continued practicing long after Naraku had told me I could stop. Nuh uh. I was determined to surpass this Kikyo chick in skill since he had the gall to compare me to her. I don't like losing.
Also within the passing days, something else changed about me too. Where as I once feared Naraku, I didn't fear him anymore. Part of the reason was because of a talk that I had had with Kagura. She told me that if Naraku ever got out of line, I could purify him with my arrows. In fact, she even asked me to do it. I smiled as I declined. Another reason that I didn't fear him now was because I was actually beginning to like him. He may be a cold and devious man, but at least he took me in. I mean, his motives for doing that were completely selfish, but I still had a roof over my head. I had also kind of gotten to know him a little bit. About how he came to be and why so many people are after him. I kind of felt sorry for the guy, even though he brought most of this on himself. Still, I couldn't help but feel a little compassion for him.
I continued to practice into the wee hours of the night. I guess Naraku had gotten tired of hearing the sounds of screaming demons for he was now standing on the castle porch staring at me. He gave me a smirk.
"I admire your dedication Tayo," he said. I smiled back at him.
"I want to be perfect, ya know, since you claim that I'm not." I shot another demon. He stepped off of the porch and started to walk towards me. He took his hand and lowered my bow.
"Still, you need rest," he said, eyes staring into mine. He really did have some gorgeous eyes. They were, unique to say the least. I shook my head and lifted the bow again, but Naraku snatched it away from me. He turned and started to walk back towards the castle.
"Hey!" I protested.
"Go to bed," he told me without turning, "tommorrow we shall truly test your skills against the demon, Inuyasha. He is strong so you need to be well rested." He continued to walk into the castle. I followed him inside. He was right. I did need some sleep, for I was exhausted from all of my training. I went to my room and fell on my bed. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillows.