Previously:

The uneasiness fled and comfort came. She felt a sense of accomplishment, having got this far in her journey to be traveling next to a Lord himself.

Next, she'd be an officer. Then, she'd kill Naraku.

Chapter Eight

Hands On Experience

The demon stole glances at the girl by his waist. He sensed her quickened heart beat and heated cheeks, but even he didn't like being so close to her. His cloud was meant for only one though, so he had to keep her as close as possible so she wouldn't fall.

Her hair was just about as long as his. Silver and ebony waved in the sky like banners. Her blood scent from their duel two days ago kept drifting to his sensitive nose, distracting him every time.

"So what exactly are we up against here?" the girl spoke, catching his attention.

"The two dominate demon clans in the Western Lands," the demon started, "the panthers and tigers, are conflicting again. Both want the northern region because of its richness in food sources and water. But neither of them even lives in that region. They've most likely almost depleted the resources of their own lands, and therefore, are trying to take over new places. However, that area is already owned by humans. So now there are three groups fighting against one another. If they call in alliances to other demons or humans across the Western Lands, it could break out into a regional war."

Kagome nodded in understanding. "It's all about competition. So how do we fix it?"

"This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened. Usually they don't get this out of control, but to fix this, there will have to be negotiating. But most of the time, no one wants to comply, so I have to beat some sense into them before they agree."

Kagome grinned. "So that's where the fighting comes in."

Sesshomaru eyed the girl. Despite her purity of heart, she seemed to love fighting. She wasn't like that before. Her worry for others had consumed her, leaving her practically hopeless in battle. Now, it seemed she saw every battle as a test, a chance to prove herself. He knew how important that was to her, as it seemed to be the purpose of her journey. It would be interesting to see how far her determination would take her.

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Sesshomaru slowly brought the cloud to the forest floor. It disintegrated into puffs of smoke as it connected, its riders now walking on the ground.

"Up ahead is the Panther tribe," the demon lord spoke to his apprentice. "The leader's name is Pachi. Ask for him, and see what you can do to resolve this matter."

As he walked away, Kagome exclaimed, "You're gonna leave me here?"

He turned to face her as his cloud began to reappear. "I'm going to the Tiger clan. If we split up, this will go much quicker, which means your training can begin sooner."

Exasperated, she asked, "What makes you think a demon will actually talk to a human?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. She felt them pierce her own like a thousand needles. "Not all demons are mindless, power mad idiots like the ones you usually encounter." She heard the defensiveness in his voice and saw the passion in his eyes. "There are those who establish clans and packs in order to increase their chance of survival. They are the ones who have intelligence and can hold a decent conversation."

His cloud formed and lifted him high into the air. He turned back to her. "You will have to prove yourself to them, however. That is simply how demons earn respect. Without it, you will not be heard."

Kagome watched him fly off further west until she could no longer see his silver hair billowing in the wind. With a sigh, she set off in the direction of the panthers.

Keeping all of her senses focused, she ran through the forest terrain. Her hair snagged on several branches, so she tied it in a ponytail with a red ribbon. Sensing demons, the girl slowed to a stop in the middle of an open area. Demon eyes glared at her from the edges of the surrounding forest. Her hand instinctively rested on the hilt of her sword.

Three demons stepped from the shadows, each in their humanoid form. Their skin was the color of night. Each had light brown highlights trailing through their jet black hair. One had hair as long as her own, another had its hair in short spikes, and the last kept it at layered shoulder length. The fur they wore was as black as were their tails. The trio looked like darkness itself.

The short hair male demon spoke with an evil grin. "What have we here?" He jumped with cat-like grace so he was positioned behind Kagome. "Looks like you're lost, little lady."

The female with shoulder length hair positioned herself just in reach of Kagome's peripheral. "Indeed," she hissed. "And we were just looking for lunch."

Kagome turned her attention to the long haired demon. He seemed to be the oldest. "I wish to see your leader, Pachi," she spoke clearly.

As he sized her up, the other male laughed out loud. "A human wants to see our great leader? What kind of business does someone of your status have with him?" He said this in spite the fact that she had her bow and arrows along with her sword and dagger.

She didn't like that she couldn't see him, but she refused to move from her spot, or break eye contact with the other demon. "I understand your tribe has need of more land. I'm here as the negotiator."

"There's nothing to negotiate," the female hissed. "We take what we need."

"Seiga," the eldest growled in a deep voice. She silenced immediately, but continued to glare at the newcomer.

The other male took this time to chime in, "The tigers are trying to take what's already ours. We claimed it first."

"Tenji," the eldest warned.

"I believe the humans had it first," Kagome spoke before she thought better of it.

Suddenly, claws dug into her wrists as Tenji held her hands behind her back. "You would defend them, wouldn't you?" he growled into her ear.

Reflexes took over, and in a flash, Kagome snatched her arm away, brought it over her head to hook it around his, and flipped him over her body onto the forest floor. Seiga hissed and pounced immediately. Kagome simply grabbed her arm and flipped her on top of Tenji. With the air forced out of them, Kagome took this time to look at the remaining demon. "This is only wasting precious time."

He sighed. "My brother and sister have a tendency to attack first and ask questions later, so I apologize for their behavior. My name is Bico, and I'll take you to our leader now."

He began to walk towards the forest. Kagome triumphantly followed, stepping over the other two bodies.

As they walked, Kagome could sense others of the panther tribe. They all stared at her suspiciously from the safety of the forest. The two went deeper into the woods until they came to a clearing with a cave at the other end. Bico bowed as a broad shouldered panther jumped on the top of the cave like it was a podium. Kagome's eyes traveled along the clearing to see glowing eyes staring down at them from trees and forest floor. She took a deep breath and focused on the large panther.

It sat on its hind legs staring at her. Sun streamed down on it, lighting up the brown spots on its silky coat and the wisdom in its emerald eyes. Gray lined its muzzle along with battle scars. Tenji and Seiga ran past her and jumped next to the great animal, transforming into smaller panthers at the same time. They glared at her.

Bico stood and spoke. "Father, this human says she is here to negotiate land boundaries."

The panther jumped down from the cave and landed on two hands and two feet. He stood up in his humanoid form as tall as a giant. His hair and beard connected as one black mane dotted with gray and brown. His skin was as dark as his offspring's, if not darker. A long scar went from his forehead across his eyebrow and stopped at his jaw.

He nodded to his son who transformed and join his siblings. He stared at Kagome with slight hostility. After a long silence, he spoke in a deep voice that seemed to shake the ground they stood on. "There is nothing to negotiate. Our tribe has grown considerable in the last century. It is not a matter of what we want, but rather of what we need. Our territory will not sustain our grown population any longer."

Kagome held his gaze and considered her words carefully. "This is understandable, and the tiger clan is no doubt having the same issue. Regardless, the humans hold the territory both of you wishes to own. This does not settle well with the Lord of the Western Lands."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "And what would a human know of what settles with the Western Lands Lord?"

"He sent me personally to resolve this matter," she said glaring up at the demon.

"A human?" His mocking laugh rumbled the dirt and echoed through the forest. He regarded her with doubt in his eyes. "I believe not. Everyone knows of Lord Sesshomaru's distaste of humans, which is why I think he'd understand if the Tiger clan and Panther tribe take over their northern portion of this land."

"Then two demon races will fight. It will never end, regardless," Kagome growled.

Pachi shrugged. "It's survival of the fittest in this world. Whoever is the strongest of us three will conquer over the others, and that's the way it'll be."

"Survival of the fittest," Kagome echoed. She looked at him questioningly and said, "The fittest would learn how to adapt to their changing environment. If you have depleted your sources, find new ones. Extending your territory will only drain the land quicker."

Pachi glared at her. "Do you suggest that we eat grass and twigs? How will that make our young strong enough to fight off enemies?"

"If you were smart, you'd know to balance out what you eat in order to give nature time to replenish itself," Kagome stated.

A deep growl bubbled from his large chest. "Do not insult me human," he hissed.

Matching his hostile tone, she growled, "I say only what I believe to be the truth."

Finally fed up, Pachi lashed out at her. She quickly side stepped his claws, drew her sword and sent a counterattack to which he easily dodged. Immediately, the clearing was lined with demons in their humanoid or beast forms. They snarled, hissed, and cheered their leader on. Tenji and Seiga, back in their human forms, cheered the loudest while Bico silently stared at the match.

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The hanyou stared down into the ancient well's depths. Darkness and hopelessness stared back at him. Making up his mind, he jumped through as blue magic circled around his body. The dirt bottom met his feet and he looked up to see the ceiling of the well house. He couldn't back out now. Tentatively, he stepped jumped from the well and walked out the sliding door.

He hadn't been back to this place since that fateful day a year and a half ago when he discovered Kagome was no where to be found. Memories floated around in his head of all the times he'd come back to retrieve her after a break of the hectic life in the feudal era. She'd always take forever loading up her yellow backpack. Sometimes, he'd have to drag her back to his time when she'd put up a fight.

The house was quiet and empty when he walked in. He found himself going straight up the stairs and into Kagome's bedroom. Nothing had changed. Her mom had kept it exactly the way she left. Clothes were tossed about from her rushing to get her backpack filled. Her bed was unmade and school books for final exams were open on her desk.

Even after all this time, her scent lingered in every corner. He took a deep breath and then fell on top of her bed. He curled up into a ball and closed his eyes tightly. Maybe when he opened his eyes, she'd be there smiling, saying she was ready to leave. Maybe she'd be glaring, telling him to get his lazy ass out of her bed. Maybe she'd ask nicely where he'd dragged her shoes off to. Maybe she'd be there.

His amber eyes opened to see a young man standing over him. His eyes, which resembled Kagome's, were filled with sadness as he stared down at him.

The hanyou sat up so his legs dangled off the edge of her bed. He didn't look at the young man. He didn't want to see those eyes.

"Inuyasha," he said in a voice that was much deeper than he last remembered.

Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Where's the old man?"

"Mom's helping him up the stairs." He eyed the hanyou, a question burning in his eyes. After a long silence, he finally said, "Is she here?"

Inuyasha blinked at his clawed feet. He shook his head.

The boy sighed and sat on the edge next to him. "Everything's changed," he said. His voice held more maturity than a fourteen year old should have. "Mom's holding up, but only because I'm here to keep her up."

Inuyasha stayed silent. Guilt floated in his heart. "I've been looking since I found out." He paused and sighed. "She must really hate me, Souta."

He shook his head. "She doesn't hate you. If anything, she loved you. Believe me, I read her diary."

He was trying to cheer him up, but Inuyasha didn't notice. "If she did love me, she doesn't anymore."

Souta looked downcast. He was silent until he asked, "Do you at least know why she left?"

Slowly, his mind recollected what happened three days after the fight with Naraku. "She didn't say a word before she left… but I sure did." He sighed. "It's my fault she's gone. My words finally chased her away... for good."

Souta looked at him. "You'll find her," he said with a little boy's confidence.

Inuyasha looked at him and gave a little smile.

"Souta?" a voice called from somewhere in the house. "I need help with the groceries!"

Souta smiled. "You'd better get out of here. Grandpa hasn't changed a bit."

The hanyou smiled at the memories of all the useless marked papers thrown at him. He stood up and opened Kagome's window. "Bye Souta," he said as he looked back at him. "Next time you see me, Kagome will be by my side."

With that, he flew out the window. Souta stood from the bed with a smile and headed down the stairs to seek out his mother.

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Sesshomaru's cloud bounced along the wind currents as he headed towards his destination. This matter would be resolved quickly, as no one would dare argue with him. Those who did quickly lost their lives, and they served as warnings to others.

He wondered how his apprentice would deal with her end. She didn't have the influence he had. Part of him wanted to observe and see how she used her intelligence this time. But things had to be finished as quickly as possible. He already had several ideas for her training, and he was impatient to get them started.

Suddenly he smelled a familiar and unwanted scent. His cloud descended and he drew his sword. Several trees went down as the slick silver sliced through them, creating a clearing. A shadowy form fled from his attack into the open just as he landed gracefully.

Sword ready, he glared at the demon. Red eyes glared back. Her ebony hair was up in a short ponytail with feathers tucked into the ribbon. She wore a plum and lavender kimono and held her trusty fan in her right hand.

"My, my Sesshomaru," her silky voice sounded. "Still as quick as ever, I see."

"What do you want Kagura?" he frowned. "I have no time for this."

She opened and closed her fan. "Just a daily check up, my dear."

"Out of the way, wench," he growled.

She frowned mockingly. "Aw, don't be like that." She took a step closer, lust glittering in her eyes. Sesshomaru knew of her yearning for him, but refused to acknowledge it even in his own mind. "Actually, I was wondering if you know anything about the last jewel shard," she said with casual curiosity.

"Still doing that pig's dirty work, I see," Sesshomaru said with a glare.

"Please," she rolled her eyes, exasperated. "That's what he thinks. I want to make sure Naraku doesn't find it. Once he has the whole jewel intact, he'll become a full-fledged demon, capable of destroying the world. What use would he have of me then? None, and so he'll kill me. I don't plan on dying any time soon," she said with narrowed eyes.

Kagura took another step closer and said smoothly, "So, do you know if it has shown up, or can I rest easy?"

The memory of Kagome's delicate hand summoning the precious shard from its shelter replayed over and over in his mind. "I wouldn't bother myself with that kind of information," he stated simply.

Kagura smiled mischievously at him. "You wouldn't lie to me, now would you Sesshomaru darling?"

He narrowed his eyes at the last word. "Do you want to die, wind witch?"

With a flick of her fan, heavily scented rose petals swirled around him with the wind. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes against the gust, trying to pinpoint Kagura's position. But the wind mingled her scent with the scent of the rose petals, and there were so many, his visual didn't help either. Suddenly, her face appeared, and her lips landed on his. In a flash, he swung his sword, dissipating the rose petal storm, but she was gone.

Fury boiled his blood as her sing-song voice sounded across the clearing. "I knew they'd be sweet," she smiled triumphantly, her finger trailing along her lips.

Sesshomaru's eyes began to bleed red. "You're dead, wench!" he stormed and sped after her. Her body traveled with the wind, so she easily dodged his raging attacks.

Infuriated, he swung where her next move would be. Kagura fearfully stared up at his looming sword, the wind around them immediately settling. But it never penetrated her pale skin. In fact, he was not looking at her, but off into the distance. A new scent hit his sensitive nose that seemed to drain him of every ounce of anger he had for the defenseless wind woman.

"Shit," he growled and took off through the woods, leaving Kagura dumbfounded, and slightly irritated.

He knew that scent. It was the smell of Kagome's blood.

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It's been over two months since I last updated. That means that over the whole summer break, I didn't write at all. I went crazy. Lol, I'm sooo sorry for the late update. Summer turned out to be just as hectic as the school year. I've straightened out most things, but my senior year of high school begins next week so I can't guarentee the next update time. I'll make sure it isn't another two and a half months though.

So, on another note, how was the chapter? Just to make sure y'all know, no, this isn't a Sesshomaru and Kagura pairing. I just realized she hadn't had a single appearance yet, so I gave her a little action. Not that I'm against the pairing... Not really for it either though... Never considered it, actually. Anyway, I know I was lazy with the details. I always am. I just like to get to the point.

Tell me if you guys think this is going too slow. I mean, it's the 8th chapter, and Sessy and Kagome still haven't had any really meaningful romantic scenes yet. I just don't want it to go too fast, especially since that definately doesn't go well with Sesshomaru's character, or Kagome's new one. I hope Kagome's new attitude doesn't turn anyone off either. She'll get in tune with her old self again once she starts hanging out with people again.

Anyway, I'm sure you all are tired of me rambling, so, until next time!

Hiko18