A/N: Wow, you guys probably hate me, like if we were in a relationship here's what's going on, I forgot Valentine's Day, then I gave you a gift a day late that isn't finished and haven't finished something I promised to finish a week ago. If we were in a relationship, you would dump me. Look, this whole week has been a frenzy, I've been beyond stressed about stupid stuff and I haven't been able to sleep through the night, I keep waking up at like 4 am, then Friday and Saturday I went out of town and had no access to my laptop because the battery died and I had nowhere to charge it. Then on Valentine's Day, I went a little crazy and cleaned the entire house trying to make myself tired so I'd sleep the whole night, it didn't work by the way, so I wasted writing time doing that. This chapter is not edited either, I'm hoping to get this chapter and the last chapter fully edited, but I'm not going to guarantee a day, love you guys, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Edited :D
Kikyo stared up at the ceiling, no school today so she was stuck in the house, Mai and Koshiro were downstairs eating breakfast, probably wondering what was keeping her. She finally stood and walked downstairs.
"Kikyo," Mai smiled. "I was just telling Koshiro that we should go out to the range together today."
Koshiro smiled up at her. "Truly, I had no idea you would enjoy something such as that."
Kikyo sat and picked up a breakfast roll. "I do enjoy it." She smiled.
"Well, why don't we go shoot together, I'll show you a couple of tricks." Koshiro smiled.
"Perhaps Sesshomaru would enjoy joining us." Mai said.
Koshiro frowned and shook his head. "Sesshomaru never enjoyed archery, he's like his mother in that way."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room, Kikyo finally broke it after several minutes. "Sesshomaru is a bit of a downer anyway, he'd probably criticize us the entire time."
"Exactly, we don't need him." Koshiro smiled. "Well, the best time to shoot is the morning, are you guys ready to head out there?"
"I'd actually like to invite someone to join us if that's okay." Kikyo spoke.
Mai smiled. "Of course, the more the merrier."
Kikyo smiled back and rose from her seat. "Excuse me."
A short while later there was a knock at the door, Kikyo opened it and found Isao's smiling face on the other side. "Come in." She smiled and led him to where Koshiro and Mai waited near the back door. "This is my instructor Isao."
"It's a pleasure Isao." Mai smiled.
Koshiro shook his hand and smiled. "Okay, let's head out."
As they walked Kikyo and Koshiro fell behind.
"So you're living with them now?" Koshiro asked.
"Yeah, it's confusing, but essentially they're my guardians until I turn 18."
Koshiro smiled. "I'm glad you got out of that situation with your mom, it was getting dangerous."
Kikyo looked away. "I'd rather not talk about it, now come on, I invited you so you'd show off some of your archery skills." Kikyo pulled him forward and they jogged to catch up with Koshiro and Mai who stood under an awning.
Kikyo pulled her bow from over her shoulder and held it lightly in one of her hands. Koshiro opened a cabinet and showed Isao and Mai the various bows they had, it didn't take long for Isao and Koshiro to get into a conversation about the mechanics of bows.
Mai walked over to her and smiled. "I don't really understand what they're saying, so I'm hoping you'll help me out Kikyo."
Kikyo smiled. "Of course, come on." Kikyo picked a bow and grabbed a quiver of arrows, she handed them to Mai and led her to the barrier. "Okay, since you're right-handed, you're going to stand facing the right. Perfect, make sure your feet stay about shoulder width apart. Now, hold your bow with your left hand and keep it pointed at the ground, now load an arrow, like this." Kikyo paused and showed her how to load an arrow. "Now raise your bow and as you do pull the string back, now steady, aim, and shoot!"
Mai shot the arrow and it went a short ways before plummeting to the ground, a light blush rose to her cheeks.
"Don't worry, it takes practice, just make sure you practice good form and the rest will be easy." After a few more tips from Kikyo, Mai was shooting arrows which reached the 50-meter target. "Keep practicing, your aim will get better."
Kikyo glanced down to where Isao and Koshiro were chatting near the 100-meter target, they shared a hearty laugh and Kikyo smiled. She walked to the 200-meter target.
"Hey, Kikyo," Koshiro spoke. "That target is for the more advanced, not even I can hit it, you should probably move to a lower one."
Isao grinned and Kikyo smirked back, she loaded an arrow and glanced down her bow, taking aim, finally she released the arrow and watched as it traveled through the air. It hit the bullseye and she smiled happily.
"Perfect as usual Kikyo." Isao smiled.
"Maybe I'll have to take some tips from you Kikyo." Koshiro laughed.
Kikyo turned back to the target and continued to shoot, she loaded another arrow and prepared to shoot it, as she released a cold voice spoke from behind her. "They told me I'd find you all out here." Sesshomaru spoke, Kikyo's arrow fell short and stuck in the ground.
Isao seemed uncomfortable, but he said nothing. "Son," Koshiro spoke. "I didn't know you'd be over today."
"I just had a couple of business matters to discuss with you, but I can see you're busy wasting your time playing children's games instead of supporting our business."
"They aren't children's games, and I'm not abandoning our business, I just know the importance of taking a break and building relationships with my family."
Sesshomaru glanced over at Kikyo, then he scoffed. "Ridiculous, none of these people qualify as your family."
Koshiro glared at Sesshomaru. "I'm done with your hissy fit Sesshomaru, Mai is my wife and she is certainly my family, because of recent events we are hosting Kikyo as a guest at our home, and she certainly doesn't deserve your coldness. Now, you're going to grow up and accept Mai, and remember the manners your mother and I worked so hard to instill upon you, then you're going to apologize to Kikyo and her friend."
Sesshomaru glared back. "And if I refuse?"
"If you refuse you can leave, I won't speak to you again until you grow up and learn your place in the family!"
Sesshomaru turned and began to walk away. Mai held a sad look and a small flicker of regret appeared in Koshiro's eyes for a moment, before disappearing, he turned too and began to speak with Isao again.
Kikyo watched Sesshomaru's retreating figure, then she took off after him, carrying her bow at her side. "Sesshomaru!" She finally caught up with him and was stumbling trying to keep up with his long strides, finally, she fell into pace beside him. "You're messing things up, you know."
"No, I'm not, you heard my father, he's done with me unless I accept that woman as my mother!"
"No one asked you to accept her as your mother, he asked you to accept her as his wife, Sesshomaru!" She stood in front of him, cutting him off. "Mai isn't a bad woman, she's been more of a mother to me than my real mother ever was, and I see it in her eyes, she really wants to get along with you."
"There's a difference between us, you needed a substitute mother, I don't, my mother was an amazing woman who didn't deserve the type of betrayal my dad committed with that woman back there!"
Kikyo stared up at him, I needed a substitute mother, huh. "Sesshomaru, you aren't a bad person, and Mai isn't either, regardless of the difference in our situations that doesn't change." This time, Kikyo stepped out of the way, her eyes had a glint of sadness, something that had mostly disappeared upon moving in with Mai. However, now the reality of her situation hit her.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed, sorry again.
