Chapter 6:

Clank!

Katsume's blade met with Rin's.

"Good." Rin said.

Katsume spun, and sliced her blade again, Rin protecting herself with her sword.

She was 17 now, an age she finally decided to learn some self-defense.

Suddenly, her sword was knocked out of her hands, and a blade was pointed at her, as if ready to make a kill.

"Never lose focus." Rin said.

Katsume sighed, "Sorry."

"I think we've done enough today." Rin smiled at her.

"yeah. I can't fight well human or demon." Katsume said.

"Hey." Rin put an arm around her, "What did we say? It doesn't matter what you are. It's who you are that matters. You are Katsume, and you are my daughter. No matter what, we are always here for you."

Katsume nodded, then changed subject, "Can I go see Kaito now?"

Rin sighed, "Yes. But I will be fixing dinner soon."

Katsume smiled, "Ok!"

She took off, following Kaito's scent.

Kaito was doing a perimeter check, when he heard Katsume call his name.

After taking one last glance at the edges of the territory, he returned to human form, going off to find Katsume.

They nearly crashed into one another, Katsume stopping right as their bodies touched.

He smiled down at her.

Katsume blushed and took a couple steps back, "Sorry."

"How did your training go?" Kaito asked.

"I suck." She said plainly.

"Oh Kat. It wasn't that bad." Kaito said.

"But I'm not giving up. I want to be as strong as you guys." Katsume said.

Kaito laughed, she's grown so much, yet he always saw her as his sweet, innocent, Kat.

"Uhm." Katsume broke him from his trance, "I need to get to the den. Want to come?"

"Yeah. Sure." He said.

She smiled at him and led the way.

When she turned from him, he mentally slapped himself,

'Snap out of it, Kaito!' He told himself, but followed her still.

He watched from outside the den as Katsume sat with Rin and Sesshomaru, eating a cooked fish.

'Go eat, Kaito. We will wait here.' Akira said, approaching him.

Kaito glanced back at Katsume. Even today, he never wanted to leave her side.

Sighing, he took off to hunt, promising her inwardly that he would soon return.