So I know it's been a TERRIBLY long time since I last updated, but I'm back and I just got through rewriting all the chapters up until this point of the story. While they weren't huge changes, some details may be different so if you have the time I recommend going back through (not to mention it's a good refresher). Thanks to everyone who stuck around and also for all the wonderful reviews I received in the past (if you are confused I recently changed my pen name from Inu Girl For Life)

Kagome giggled quietly. She and Inuyasha hardly ever played like that, he was always being so stupid or picking a fight with her; actually those things usually went hand in hand. It was refreshing not seeing him so serious all the time. She realized he'd stopped moving and had an intense blush on his face. He immediately looked away from her, but kept cutting his eyes her direction every so often.

What on earth? She looked down only to have a matching blush soon appear on her face. "Eeeek!" She covered herself in a flash, sinking as far into the water as she could. Inuyasha took off his haori and tossed it in her direction. Kagome caught it effortlessly, waded into shallower water, and pulled it over her body. "Th-thanks," she stuttered due to her immense embarrassment.

"Keh," came his usual reply. He stood up out of the water, and Kagome could tell from his expression that he was back to being all business—not that she minded after the awkward situation that just occurred.

She decided to break the uncomfortable silence. "So how'd I do?" she inquired.

Inuyasha, ever grateful to her perception to his discomfort, pondered her question for a moment. "Well, at first, pretty rotten…" Upon seeing the glare forming on Kagome's face, he hurriedly finished his thought, "But once you loosened up a bit, you did pretty damn good I guess."

"You're just saying that," Kagome sighed out of disappointment in herself more than anger at Inuyasha.

"No, I'm not! You sniffed me out didn't you? You followed the smell of the river? Those are the only ways you could have found me. It'll come naturally in no time so quit looking so depressed."

"I don't look depressed! Geez, can we go back and work on something else already?" Kagome half pleaded. She hated how everything always turned into a fight with them.

Inuyasha picked up Tetsusaiga from where he'd discarded it earlier and headed into the forest once more, walking this time. "We'll go back to the clearing and work on your defenses. Now maybe I won't have to swoop in and save your ass all the time."

Kagome was about to retort when she noticed the smirk on his face, so she just settled for, "Whatever."

Inuyasha looked over at her as they walked. She was soaking wet and he did feel a little bad about that, but it was a fairly warm day and their little river tryst had been worth it. He did wonder though why she'd chosen the priestess robes instead of wearing the fire rat robe he'd given her. Maybe she didn't like it.

Kagome, still self-conscious about her now translucent robes practically exposing her, felt his gaze on her. "What?!" she snapped, gathering his haori a little tighter around her body.

"I was just wondering why you wore those robes instead of the fire rat ones I got you. They'd be a lot better for training ya know." He tried to play off his hurt, masking it under the pretenses of practicality.

"Oh yeah, I meant to mention that to you. Since they were so tailored they're a bit snug with my transformation, and since none of the other kimonos I got were appropriate I just thought I'd borrow these. If it's possible we'll need to get the fire rat robes retailored at some point. Who did them anyway?"

Inuyasha could only shake his head…sometimes he wondered about her and how much she could ramble. "Totosai made them. He made mine, too."

Kagome blanched slightly; she couldn't picture the slightly loony demon tailoring clothes. The more she thought of it, though, it was sort of appropriate since he used his fire to make weapons. What better armor to go with that than robe of the fire rat?

He took her concentrated expression to be one of concern. "Keh, don't worry about it. We'll take them by first chance we get while we're traveling. Now, see if you can keep up on the way back."

"Wha-?" Her question was silently answered as Inuyasha took off running again. "Inuyasha!" Damning him, she followed after him, determined not to fall behind this time.

When they finally made it back to the clearing on the edge of the village, Kagome burst through the trees just a few seconds after Inuyahsa. It had been much easier for her to dodge trees on the way back since she could just mimic his path.

After the two caught their breath and Kagome retrieved some water from Kaede's hut, they were ready to begin basic defenses. Inuyasha showed her the best ways to use her claws for defense and how to evade an attack when necessary. After a couple of hours and several shredded trees later, the duo finally stopped for some lunch.

~One Hell of a Surprise~

After a hodge-podge meal of ramen, oden, and other various dishes, Kagome returned to her training

"Hey wench, try shooting one of your miko arrows. I wanna make sure your priestess powers haven't crapped out."

Kagome rolled her eyes but obliged anyway. She had secretly been wondering the same thing. She retrieved her bow and quiver, which had been unceremoniously dropped in outside Kaede's hut when lunch was announced. Throwing the quiver over her shoulder, she reached behind her, grabbed an arrow, and notched it in her trusty bow. If by some chance her powers did not awaken when she called, she would be devastated. She pulled her spiritual energy from within herself and tried to infuse it into the arrow, but was shocked to find she was met with opposition. She could feel her opposing powers raging inside her, fighting for dominance. While her reiki had more experience and control—although not much—her youki was new and uncontrolled and very strong. Finally her spiritual energy slightly broke free, resulting in an arrow that could barely be called a spiritual arrow. She shot it anyway into the tree she was aiming at; at least she was still accurate. Kagome looked into Inuyasha's eyes, nervousness visible in her own.

"I'm not sure, but I think once my powers balance out I should be alright. It was a battle just to do that much, like my powers were canceling each other out," she paused for a thoughtful moment. "Unless my spiritual powers are ebbing and that was the tail-end of them!" Now the nervous look in her eye had transformed into one of pure terror.

"Keh, there's no way you'd be born with both kinds of powers only to have them leave. Just keep practicin'!"

While Inuyasha's words were simple, he did have a point. Surely the kamis had a purpose in mind when bestowing her with spiritual powers. Her half-demon nature could not be helped since she was born of a demon, and the gods had knowingly given her miko powers on top of this. She was quite possibly the only one of her kind. She could only hope they knew what they were doing…

So I know it's really short, but I wanted to get this out before I lost motivation again. I'm already working on the next chapter and hopefully *fingers crossed* I will have it out next Sunday (I'm trying to keep myself on an updating schedule this time around so I don't fall off like last time. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it!