Previously:

After some time, Sesshomaru's silhouette showed in the distance. Kagome sat up from her post next to the tree trunk and walked towards him. Their eyes connected for a moment before they started off towards his castle.

For now, she couldn't see any of the secrets the demon lord's eyes held. But she had plenty of time to wait for the day that she could see past his barrier.

Chapter Ten

So It Begins

Kagome was awakened by her own excitement. Today was the day. She would officially start her training today. She kicked off the soft sheets and made her way to the large window. Only now did she realize that one of the panes was a door leading to the balcony outside. She stepped into the cold morning air.

The girl stared at the horizon, waiting for the sun to appear. Just as beams of golden light began to peek over the treetops, there was a tap on the glass. Kagome turned to see Tami smiling with clothing in her hands.

"Good to see you awake, Milady," she said. "Lord Sesshomaru requested you go to the training grounds immediately after you change and have breakfast."

Excitement bubbled in her eyes. She thanked the servant as she grabbed the clothes and went straight towards the bathroom. Inspecting the clothes, she noticed they were much like Sango's demon slayer outfit. It had armor pieces in select areas like the shoulder, forearms, chest, thighs, and shins but was close fitting for easier mobility.

Its weight was something she wasn't used to, but she ignored it and looked for her weapons in the cozy living room outside the bathroom. After a moment, Tami reappeared and informed her that they were in the training grounds already after being sharpened and polished.

Kagome nodded and headed down the stairs. She stopped by the dining room and picked up a fresh orange. After peeling it, she headed to the North Wing. Its sweet juice dripped from her mouth as she opened the large doors. Sesshomaru was at the other end staring at the sky. The girl wiped her hands on what clothing was left uncovered from metal armor plates and made her way over to him.

She looked into the sky, wondering what he was staring at. Finally, he faced her. "Let's begin." She grinned in anticipation. "Your senses have improved since you been in the wild on your own," he started as he walked towards a weapon rack. "However, they could be much better."

He grabbed a bow and quiver, which she recognized as her own. Handing them over, she equipped them both as he circled around her. She tensed as a black cloth was suddenly placed over her eyes but relaxed when she realized Sesshomaru was tying it behind her head.

"Shoot an arrow wherever you sense me," his voice sounded behind her. Then he was gone.

Adrenaline sparked through her limbs as she took on this new challenge. She was as still as a statue, hardly even breathing. There wasn't a single sound for several moments as she listened carefully. Suddenly, a twig snapped, and she immediately shot an arrow. She heard it hit something soft, probably one of the straw dummies. Leaves rustled behind her, and she shot again.

It was silent for a while. The girl waited patiently keeping perfectly still. At least an hour passed. She almost wondered if he'd down right left her, but certain it was another of his tests, she stayed put.

"Pitiful," his voice whispered. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was right next to her. She swung her bow and shot, but she knew he would've been on the other side of the field by then.

The whispered word rang out in her mind like a gong. It reminded her of past memories and a past life. Determination flared and she strained to hear everything.

The girl shot with pinpoint accuracy where she heard a ruffle. She didn't hear it hit anything, however. Lifting the blindfold, she saw Sesshomaru standing before her holding her arrow in between two fingers right by his head. Satisfaction sparkled in her eyes until he spoke.

"You would be dead right now had I been a real enemy," he growled. "I was standing right next to you for nearly an hour." Kagome narrowed her eyes at his coldness but listened nonetheless. Snapping the arrow in half, he said, "Your ears are not the only useful tools to you. Find my aura."

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

He narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "You must have realized you could sense a demon's presence. You're sensing their aura. Humans have one as well, but it isn't as strong, so it's harder to detect. By a being's aura, you can tell their power level as well as their location. Being a miko, the ability is a bit easier for you."

She nodded and replaced the blindfold over her eyes. "I'm ready," she said confidently.

Kagome closed her eyes behind the cloth, keeping perfectly still. She'd always noticed auras at a distance, but once they were in close proximity, she unintentionally ignored them. Sesshomaru would have the strongest of all since his rank was so superior to the rest of them. Picking out his aura among the several demon servants in the house as well as her own was more difficult than she thought.

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The half-demon's eyes pierced hers, searching for any sign of deception.

"So you know nothing?" he finally asked.

"Nothing," she snapped. She knew her attitude never pleased him, but he couldn't deny that other than Kanna, she was his most useful detachment. That was why he always chose her to do his dirty work. All she was in his pathetic life was a tool. Once he was done with his stupid scheme, he'd kill her and it'd be over.

Her owner turned and glared out the window, occupied with his own thoughts.

She snapped her fan open and closed impatiently. "Forgive me, but would it not be easier to just look for it yourself?"

His eyes darted towards her. They held so much hostility that she flinched. "Of course I'll get it once it is found, but I have no reason to waste time in looking for it myself. Although at this rate, I'll have to since none of you pathetic demons are of any help."

"It's not like you're even too busy to do it yourself," she mumbled. A sudden sharp pain twisted in her chest. She cried out and collapsed to the floor instantly. She looked up to see him squeezing the organ that chained her to him.

"Speak out of place once more," the half-demon dared. She grit her teeth and glared at him as she tried to recover. "Leave," he commanded.

She stood still clutching the clothing around her chest as if this would make it feel less painful. "Yes Master," she growled in reply as she stepped through the sliding door.

The wind witch went straight outside the building, hoping for some fresh air, but the damnable demon's miasma prevented any sort of rejuvenation. Impatient, she cast her feather and jumped on it, lifting high into the air. Once out of the purple cloud, she took a deep breath. A breeze shifted her hair and kimono and ruffled the white feathers.

Her eyes scanned the beautiful landscape. She was tired of all this. She wanted to be free like the wind. But she had no way of becoming what she craved most. Her only hope was her enemies.

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Her eyes fluttered open lazily from her position against the wall. After a yawn, she looked at the mat where she expected to see the monk, her only companion for now since Inuyasha had taken off again with Shippo and Kirara in tow. Panic flared in her mind as she saw that it was empty. She must have dozed off while watching over him. Brown hair trailing, she stood up and grabbed her boomerang that was leaning against the wall next to the door.

She stepped from the bamboo curtain with her eyes scanning the small village clearing. Thick and moist fog limited her visibility greatly. Nonetheless, the demon slayer explored the area in search of her friend. There were only a couple other villagers awake at this hour.

She made her way to the outskirts and scanned the hilly landscape. She found what she was looking for sitting against the hillside staring into the thick white blanket. Breathing a sigh of relief and relaxing her grip on her weapon, she made her way over to him.

She placed her boomerang next to her and sat a few inches from him before saying, "You shouldn't be up and about with that poison still in your bloodstream, Miroku."

He was silent. His serious and distant expression made uneasiness creep into her body. She cleared her throat and asked quietly, "Are you okay?"

She was met with silence again. On another day her suspicions would have made her glance at his hands to make sure they weren't anywhere close to her behind. But her gaze stayed focused on his eyes. They were staring into a distance she couldn't see.

Just before she was about to break the silence again, he finally spoke. "Sango."

For some reason, her heart jumped at the sound of her name from his lips.

"We've been together for nearly four years," he said softly still staring at the same distant spot. "There have been plenty of good and bad memories." He paused before continuing. "Most of those good memories were because of you."

Sango's cheeks heated and her eyes widened a bit. Where was he going with this?

There was a pause. Without looking at her, he said, "You know I love you right?"

She coughed slightly before stuttering, "I, um, I-I thought…" She trailed off, thinking of all the times he'd groped her behind, all the pet names he'd adopted for her, and all the goofy looks he's sent her way. But he did that with every woman he met. She figured she was treated no differently than those he'd known for five minutes.

"You were always different. And I knew that from the first day I met you. That's why I never asked you to bear my children." Sango's eyes widened as realization sunk in. "Anyway," Miroku continued, "I just thought you should know. Just in case something happens."

She instantly thought of the poison that was still coursing through his body. Was it that bad? But he was holding his Wind Tunnel hand as he said it. She grew silent as she studied his saddened face.

His eyes turned to focus on the fog. "I don't know what it is, but something tells me that finding Kagome will lead to the end of this whole Naraku ordeal. But if we don't find her…" He trailed off, doubt and sadness filling his eyes. He cleared his throat and said, "Well, I just wanted you to know."

It was silent for a long moment.

"I love you too," she finally said, unable to look at him as she said this, her cheeks blazing. He looked over at her. Even though his face was out of her vision, she knew he was smiling.

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His eyes narrowed as he scanned the foliage around him for any sort of movement. He had been charged with a mission and he'd die before he failed. He sniffed at the crisp morning air. A grin formed across his face as he detected his target. He would finally receive approval today.

His eyes soon found the moving shape. It walked through the forest carelessly. He quietly sneaked closer as he prepared to attack. It'd soon be all over.

"Fox Fire!" the demon shouted at the top of his lungs as blue flames burst from his palm. His prey, an innocent rabbit, now alert, jumped as flames singed its white fur. It darted through the surrounding bushes and disappeared.

"So close," the little fox said as he snapped his fingers in frustration.

"How the hell do you expect to kill anything if you're shouting all the god damn time?" a familiar voice scolded from the bushes. The red-kimonoed hanyou stepped from the foliage, shaking his head. Kirara meowed from his shoulder, hungrily eyeing the rabbit dangling from his claws.

"Inuyasha! You said you weren't gonna help!" Shippo whined. "That was supposed to be my kill…" He kicked at the dirt with his head down in disappointment.

The half demon shrugged. "What does it matter as long as we have something to eat?"

"You won't ever let me prove myself," Shippo mumbled.

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha began to walk through the forest. "It was getting late, and I was hungry a long time ago. You can get the next one."

"You said that last time," the kitsune grumbled.

Ignoring the comment, Inuyasha continued to the edge of the forest. He'd had time to gather wood and make a camp long ago. The two reached the camp fire just as the sun disappeared behind the hills.

Inuyasha studied the dusky sunset as the rabbit roasted. Her face flashed through his mind as he remembered the two of them staring at the same sky nearly two years before. He blinked the image away and turned the rabbit to cook on the other side. His eyes settled on Shippo and Kirara. Shippo was practicing his fox fire on the cat demon.

Lately, Shippo had been practicing his skills a lot more than playing around. It only made sense though. At this age, if he were in his clan, he would be on his way to becoming a young man, one who could fight as a warrior to protect others. Inuyasha noticed more and more on the days he took Shippo with him how much he was changing. The tiny child demon that joined the group nearly four years ago was now more than just a boy to pick on. The reason Inuyasha took him on his trips was so Shippo could learn from him more easily and become the warrior he aspired to be.

The fox demon also reminded him so much of her. She protected him like he was her own kit. Even through his change, Inuyasha could still see the innocent sparkle in his eyes that could get her to sympathize with anything. By now, he could honestly say he missed her subduing "sits."

Absently, he called the two over and they ate. Memories ran through his mind as they often did. He let the mental movie play as Shippo looked at him thoughtfully. He often saw that lost look in his eyes. And he knew he was always thinking about Kagome during those times. Not wanting to interrupt, Shippo looked at Kirara and nodded toward the field. He wanted to practice his melee attacks now.

Some time after the two left, Inuyasha finally stood up. He let the fire burn but wandered to a tree, jumped in its branches, and made himself comfortable. The stars were sparkling in the sky by now.

A breeze ruffled his silver hair. His nose picked up a familiar and unwanted scent. His body tensed, but he made no effort to get up.

"My, if it isn't the half demon Inuyasha," her voice carried down from above him. He looked up and saw her white feather through the branches until it shrank as she stepped on the grassy hilltop. She flashed him a grin.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Let me make it easier on you. I don't know where the jewel shard is Kagura, so you can leave."

Kagura frowned playfully. "Aw, don't be like that. I simply came to make a friendly visit."

The hanyou glanced at her doubtfully. "Really."

Kagura nodded. "It does get quite boring running the same old wild goose chase. I have to find something to entertain me every once in a while."

"Find your entertainment somewhere else," Inuyasha growled.

Kagura grinned mischievously. "Oh, but I'm sure there's plenty here." She furrowed her brow and mentioned, "At least I hope so. Your brother certainly won't have fun with me ever again."

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "And why would I care about him?" Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen his half brother in quite some time. Not that he was complaining.

Kagura smirked. "Oh, I just thought you mind find it interesting that I smelled a very familiar scent on him when I got close."

Curiosity flashed through Inuyasha's eyes. Kagura waved her fan as she continued to grin at him. Finally he had to ask. "Who's scent?"

The wind demon suddenly took flight. "I'm sure you'd love to know," she called out mockingly as she disappeared past the forest and hills. This would give her plenty of entertainment for the time being.

Inuyasha sat rigidly on the branch, his mind swirling. What did this mean? Who could Kagura have been talking about? Was it… her?

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Hello everyone! Yes, I am alive and well. I'm SO sorry for the super late update. Senior year responsibilities hit me like a wall, and it's been pretty tough the last couple months. The love life has been kinda hectic as well, and we all know that can pretty much eff up anyone's world.

Anyway, what'd ya think about the chapter? I think it's a little shorter than normal, but I figured that was a good place to end it. Not to mention an update was long overdue. I'm not really sure how good it turned out though... I kinda noticed that there's not much humor in it. That almost bothers me since my last fanfic was purely based on humor. But I knew I wanted to focus mostly on action this time around, so I guess it's fine.

Anyway, so I guess the next chapter will have more of Kagome's training in it. There will probably be a time skip... I'm a little too lazy to go through explaining her whole training process. I kinda did that in this chapter. I'll just have key scenes here and there next chappie. There may be some Sesshomaru/Kagome time too. After ten chapters, it's about time they got closer. I gave Inuyasha a little something to work with too, so he'll have a scene or two too.

All this may or may not be spoiling the next chapter, but I'm saying all this so you guys won't feel too starved for the next chapter. I definitely can't promise when the next one will be finished, especially with everything else going on in my life. I'll definitely try to work on it as much as I can though. And on that note, I'll leave y'all alone now. Until next time!

Hiko