Chapter 9

Unexpected Encounters

Kagome was humming happily in her room, prematurely dressing in her miko robes. He had agreed to let Kaede train her more, and she was ecstatic to break the boring routine she had been used to as of late.

She really enjoyed learning things about her powers she had never known before. Sure, she had several scrolls and books about mikos at the shrine, but some of the text had been so ancient and used words she had never heard before, that she could hardly concentrate on the subject.

Now, she had a teacher, and she couldn't be happier. She was halfway finished dressing, when she heard her door slam open. Gasping, she turned, covering her ribbon wrapped chest with her arms. She saw Sesshomaru, flat lipped, with eyes slightly wider than normal. He promptly turned his back to her. Her face felt hotter than the summer sun.

"There are enemies at the gate. You will remain in your room until further notice. Kinu will keep you safe while this Sesshomaru is gone." With that he was gone, and Kinu replaced the spot he had been previously standing. She would have died with embarrassment if she hadn't been equally concerned about the enemies.

"Pardon the intrusion, Lady Kagome." Kinu nodded, and began helping Kagome with her robes. She watched Kinu's serious face with one of concern.

"Are we going to be alright, Kinu?" Kinu nodded, and urged her to sit in one of the decorative chairs in the room.

"Lord Sesshomaru will allow no harm to come to you. The foes at the gates are powerless against his strength." Kagome nodded, believing what she had said. Sesshomaru was more powerful than anyone she had ever met before, she had complete faith in his abilities. Yet, she was still concerned for his well-being, even more so than her own.

She had grown close to him, and she did not want harm to come to him for her sake. She itched to do something more than just sit around. Kinu was now sitting on her legs, facing the main door to the room. "Be patient, my Lady. He will be finished sooner than later."

Kagome had no other choice but to watch out of her window, and wait until he returned.

-S-

He had seen her half dressed, and something inside him stirred. Forgotten were the doubts of bringing her to the castle, they were replaced with thoughts of her delicate frame which danced in his head. Just when he thought she had caused all the trouble within her power, this happened.

He growled to himself, making his way to the battle courtyard, coming into view of the unoccupied soldiers who were currently not engaged in battle. He made his way to the head general of his army.

"Hiroto." The hawk demon turned with a grin. Walking up to Sesshomaru with no hesitation, no fear. As to be expected from a long time ally, and friend.

"Lord Sesshomaru, kind of you to finally join us. There are not many enemies left, but there is a quite powerful forest demon that we need your help with." Hiroto looked around before adding under his breath. "I thought you could use a break from paper work."

Sesshomaru would have smirked if he didn't have an image to maintain. In essence, they could handle themselves just fine, but he would get to release some pent up energy.

"Very well, Hiroto." Sesshomaru made his way over the gates with ease, surveying the large demon that was nearly the size of his beast. It's limbs seemed to be made with several individual trees, while it's body was a mass of rotted wood and foliage. It's eyes glowed with a bright green through slits in it's face. It towered above his soldiers with ease. This would be enjoyable.

Sesshomaru grasped the hilt of his Tokijin, releasing it from it's reinforced scabbard. He let the evil sword show it's immense powers with a powerful blast of demonic energy. His soldiers on the battlefield, and the immense demon, turned to look at him. He internally smirked.

The large demon made slow, but wide steps towards him, and he didn't miss a beat to speed up it's arm, slicing Tokijin through it. The demon howled in anger and pain; music to his ears. It swatted at him, but he avoided it easily, hovering in the air before him. The arm fell with a large boom as it indented the earth.

"Tell your master he'll have to do better than send a dim witted sprite to defeat me." With that, he wrapped his poison whip around the creatures neck, and pulled it to fall forward, close enough to lop off it's head. Before he had a chance, he sensed something behind him. He turned to see Kagome walking through the battlefield, unaware of the battle around her. What the hell was she doing here!

He looked to the falling giant. She would be crushed by the massive demon if he didn't reverse his previous actions. He kicked off it's wooden chest, sending it flying the opposite way, simultaneously turning to rush to her side. He stopped in front of her, noticing the blank look in her grey eyes, much different from the usual sparkle.

"Miko, return to the castle immediately!" She mearly started glowing with an excessive amount of energy. He had a hard time getting close to her, in fact as her body continually grew in power, the more he was pushed away. He realized his army would be harmed if he didn't remove them from the field. "Everyone retreat immediately!" His booming voice made his soldiers hesitate, but ultimately, upon viewing the girl, ran back behind the castle walls, leaving half dead, confused enemies behind.

"Miko! Come back to your senses!" He reached out, ignoring the burning in his hands and the front of his body. It felt like he was grabbing the sun. Her build up of powers were growing by the second, and it was becoming unbearable. "Kagome! Snap out of it!" Her eyes snapped into focus, and her powers were released with a loud shock wave, causing a blast that took out those that remained in the field, including the massive tree demon. He was shocked he had not been disintegrated by her powers, and she looked at him with concerned eyes that welled with tears. He noticed the pink energy that swirled around him in a soothing manner, much different than the bright electric blue energy that had exploded before.

"Sesshomaru... what happened? I-I'm so sorry, I-..." She placed her hands on his shoulders. He didn't have time to respond before her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she collapsed in his arms. The pink aura diminished, and the burned areas of his body were healed. He looked around at the blackened ash piles that were previously enemy demons. His soldiers came out of the gates cautiously, staring at the two of them. He looked down at her, concerned, and perplexed.

Indeed, what had happened?