Changing

With Kagome

'He really has been practicing hard this whole time. He is only one level under Sasuke, and I haven't even seen him for three years. Most impressive, just need to do some refining and improve on his speed a bit more.' Kagome thought as she examined the spar between Sasuke and Naruto. The whole morning she had avoided a one on one talk with Sasuke, she didn't have to read minds to know what was on his. Kagome would be one of the first to admit to Sasuke being smart, strong, and attractive but she couldn't imagine having a relationship with him. In the past three years that had grown close and Kagome knew for a fact that she could live her life with someone like him. Their kiss in the woods had been his emotion and Kagome just getting caught up in the heat of the moment. She sighed as she realized that it was time for her to interrupt and give instruction. She made a point to slowly demonstrate all the forms, she helped them through them only making corrections every once in awhile. She was also thinking back on the conversation between Tsunade and her.

Flashback

"Kagome! Settle down." Tsunade said in an amused tone.

"Settle down? How can I settle down? Sasuke is a close friend of mine and he had a very naughty daydream about me while I was in the same room. Oh, and did I mention how yesterday morning before we set out to return he kissed me. Not some peck on the cheek either, we swapped saliva." Kagome said as she grabbed her head and plopped down in a chair facing Tsunade. Kagome only let go of her head when she registered Tsunade's laughter.

"There is nothing to worry about. You spend a lot of time together and you're young. Just forget and move on things will be okay. Besides you deserve to be happy so just make sure to be careful. Kagome said nothing as she left the room. She was glad that Tsunade had not seen the tears that had threatened to fall from her face.

End of Flashback

'I don't deserve to be happy. The only reason I'm here is to make sure that no one has to suffer like my friends did. I will do my job, nothing less nothing more. I didn't come here to be happy; I came here to atone for my failure. I was lucky enough to receive a second chance; I can't allow my stupid greed to ruin it. The best thing that she could do for everyone was to just let go of her feelings and focus on preparing them for the times ahead. Experience showed her that when evil and powerful people had a horrifying plan ahead, one had to push past their limits and fight without regard to their own life.'

"Kagome! Earth to Kagome." Naruto said as he stood looking right into her eyes, there was less than three inches in between them. She had zoned out shortly after telling them that they were done for the day.

"Naruto you don't need to leave yet, I think we should start where we left off the when you left." Kagome paused as she started going through her pockets, she didn't realize that Sasuke was still there watching. She paused when you finally found the bunched off cloth and smiled as she gestured for Naruto to turn around.

"What exactly are you doing?" Sasuke asked as he watched Kagome blind fold his so called rival. Kagome paused and looked him in the eye for a long moment. 'I should just try and act like nothing as happened. I can't do that, something as happened. I'll just have to channel Miroku, he could always clear a room of people.'

"Se-cr-et." Kagome said as she held her pointer finger up and shook it in a teasing way showing her not wanting him to ask. She smiled at Sasuke and noticed that he blushed before he walked away. She finished tying the cloth around Naruto's head, took two steps back only to immediately attack with a vicious swing that would have split him in to, had he not blocked. The Game was on.

With the Akegata Gang

"Oh, doesn't she look good enough to eat. I can see why Akegata wants her. Should we grab her now?" Bara said as he observed his target sparing with some her partner in orange.

"No, we'll wait until he leaves. We don't need a mob of Konoha ninjas chasing after us." Jishin said as he too observed their target.

"What makes you think that she'll stay behind?" Bara asked in a low whine from his place on a branch below him, Batsu sitting quietly by his side.

"She knows that we're here." Jishin said with a sickening laugh as he stared down at the girl. The other two just laughed quietly as they waited. Taking over sound was now starting to be some fun.

This is certainly shorter than some of my other updates, but I hope to have the next one up shortly. So please review and enjoy, the next chapter looks to be very exciting.

Thanks,

AliKat89