I am so sorry about the late update. Something tells me that my updates are going to be sporadic. I've been dealing with some things lately and haven't had much inspiration, so please bare with me. On another note, I dyed my hair turquoise! It looks pretty damn good too! If any of you have a Tumblr you can keep up with me and even talk to me if you'd like. My URL is .com (:

S.N: This is probably my favorite chapter so far, so please tell me how it is!

Chapter 9

Kagome lay there in her red sleeping bag thinking things over in her head. She couldn't get what Sesshomaru had said out of her head and it was driving her crazy! Not only was he going to teach her how to fight properly, but he was going to teach her how to wield a sword as well. He has got to be kidding. Her, wield a sword? Did he not know her? She was the most clumsy girl, well now woman, in the entire feudal era! 'Well, at least he'll get a laugh out of things.' She thought to herself. She didn't understand why she couldn't just use her bow and arrows. It was what she was comfortable with after all. 'But it's probably better to know how to use more than one weapon just in case.' She mused. Sighing to herself she turned over to get more comfortable. Opening her eyes she noticed golden amber ones staring back at her. "Miko, you are unable to sleep." His soothing voice spoke. It wasn't a question, rather an observation. Had he been watching her? "Um, no. I have too much on my mind." She stated. "Hn. You should try and get some rest. Tomorrow we will begin our training and you should not expect me to go easy on you." Sesshomaru said smirking at her. Kagome groaned and turned onto her back. Looking up at the stars she wondered how tomorrow would actually go. 'It can't be that bad. I mean, i'm sure he won't kill me at least. Probably just beat the shit out of me.' She thought to herself laughing. Closing her eyes she fell asleep dreaming of eyes of gold. In a tree high above, Inuyasha growled lowly after hearing their conversation. 'That bastard. I bet he's got somethin' planned. Kagome is MINE and she knows it. She wouldn't fall for him...would she?' He thought to himself grimly. Little did he know that the pairs fate were forever intertwined and could not be cut even with Tetsuaiga itself.

Kagome awoke to a brash hanyou screaming in her ear. "Aye wench! Wake up we gotta get goin' if we're gonna kill Naraku!" Inuyasha yelled while gently kicking her in the side. Not being a morning person, Kagome sat up straight and gave him her deadliest glare. Inuyasha upon seeing this sunk back with his ears flat on his head. "Inuyasha, SIT!" Kagome screamed. "Little brother, you really are the idiot everyone claims you to be." Sesshomaru stated coolly walking back into camp. He had been away surveying their surroundings for any lurking demons. When he came back and heard Inuyasha screaming at Kagome his mood soured, more so than it already was. "I suggest you leave the miko alone if you wish to get out of that crater you have just created with your stupidity." He said flipping his hair behind his shoulder. Kagome got up and retrieved her toiletries bag, grabbed her bow, and headed to the hot spring. "Where do ya think you're goin'?!" Inuyasha screamed at her retreating back. "Inuyasha, leave Lady Kagome alone. You know as well as I do that she is not a morning person." Miroku stated while hitting him over the head lightly with his staff. "Feh. Whatever." Inuyasha said while turning around and crossing his arms. Sesshomaru watched as Kagome retreated into the woods and began to follow her. "And where the hell do ya think you're goin'?!" Inuyasha growled. Turning around, he quirked an eyebrow at the frothing hanyou. "If you will not see to her safety, dear little brother, then I will." He stated calmly before turning and disappearing into the woods. "Inuyasha is such a damn idiot. Doesn't he know that i'm not to be messed with in the morning! It's a wonder sometimes why i'm still even friends with him. I don't understand why he continues to treat me so badly. A year and a half ago I would have given anything to be with him. But now I would almost give anything to get him to shut up." Kagome sighed and squeezed some toothpaste onto her toothbrush. Behind her a branch snapped. Turning around quickly she spotted Sesshomaru standing behind her. "S-Seshmaru" she said with her mouth full of toothpaste. Sesshomaru took one look of her appearance and quirked the corner of his mouth up into a smirk. "Little miko, what exactly is it that you are doing?" He said while walking over to stand next to her. He looked down waiting on her reply. Kagome just stared at him in embarrassment, cheeks flushing a bright red. Turning and facing the stream that connected to the hot spring she spit the remaining toothpaste into the water. She cupped her hands and reached down into the water, scooped some up, and brought it to her lips. Sesshomaru just stared at her in curiosity. Swishing the water around she spit it back out. Grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste she stuck them into her bag and stood facing Sesshomaru. "I was brushing my teeth." She said while shrugging her shoulders. "Brushing your teeth? What for?" Sesshomaru asked curiously. Kagome just stared at him in confusion. "Because I wanted clean teeth and my breath smelled from sleeping all night..." She said blushing again. "You clean your teeth? Do all humans in your time do this?" He asked incredulously. "Yeah, humans in my time live longer because we keep ourselves clean and healthy. Brushing your teeth is a part of that. Besides, I would rather my breath smell good." She said shrugging her shoulders and turning to head back to camp. "We should get going before Inuyasha pitches another bitch fit." She said turning around to look at Sesshomaru who in turn strode up next to her. They began walking back to camp. Sesshomaru couldn't actually believe it. Humans had evolved so much to the point that they actually liked, no, enjoyed, being clean? That was just another thing to mark down as to why he was so drawn towards the miko. 'I wonder what she would taste like if I kissed her? Would she taste the way that "toothpaste" smelled?' Sesshomaru shook his head willing those thoughts away. 'Now is not the time to think such thoughts. I must get closer to her first.' He mused glancing sideways at the miko that seemed to always be the main object of his thoughts.

Walking back into camp, Kagome rolled up her sleeping bag and grabbed her backpack and walked over to Ah and Un. "Sesshomaru, do you mind if I strap these to him?" Kagome asked looking at the tall youkai lord. Nodding his head in affirmation, Kagome strapped her stuff to Ah and Un and walked up to Inuyasha. "Ready?" She asked smiling brightly. "Feh, took you long enough. Yeah let's head out." He said walking up to the front of the group to lead the way. Kagome resumed her spot at the back and walked in silence thinking about whatever happened to come to mind, which at the moment, was a certain demon lord. Said demon lord walked up next to her and looked down at her. "Miko, you do realize you have more right at the head of the pack. Do you not?" Kagome turned and looked at him in question. "What do you mean? Inuyasha usually leads us." Sesshomaru shook his head slightly. "It is clear to me and everyone else that you are the alpha of this pack. Inuyasha merely believes that he is, but you have more authority over him. The one with the most power should be the alpha. That, miko, is you. I can attest to that." Kagome, shocked at what he had just said, stared wide eyed at him. "I've never thought about that before. I'm happy just going with the flow of things though. It isn't my wish to lead. My duty is to destroy Naraku. That is my only wish. Let Inuyasha believe he is the alpha. It doesn't really matter to me." She stated. Sesshomaru was shocked to hear this. Usually most demonesses craved power. They craved to be alpha. Kagome was the first woman to claim that she had no interest in the matter. "Be that as it may, you should still assert your power when it comes to how he treats you. You shouldn't allow him to treat you so harshly and to talk to you the way he does." Kagome thought about this for a moment deciding he was right. She had had enough of his attitude and the way that he treated her like garbage. "You're right. But what should I do? He'll never listen to me." She stated sadly. Sesshomaru stopped walking and reached his left hand out grabbing her chin lightly. "You put him in his place. Use your power. Show him that you are not weak. Then, and only then, will he take you seriously. Though I would recommend not using your whole power. I would leave that until the final battle." He said smirking. Kagome gaped at him. What was wrong with him! This was not the Sesshomaru she had grown up to know. He was...different. More...gentle and dare she say nice? She had to be in an alternate universe. Just had to! She must have entered one when she jumped through the well the last time. Yeah, that had to be it. "What the hell are ya'll talkin' about back there?!" Inuyasha yelled noticing that they had stopped walking. Kagome whipped her head around and glared at him. "Oh nothing. We were just discussing the upcoming battle is all." She said calmly. Inuyasha crossed his arms and began walking again as did the rest of the group.

Coming to a stop Kagome crossed her arms. She knew this was a bad idea but damnit she was tired! They'd been walking all day! "Inuyasha, it's time to take a break. I'm tired and i'm sure the rest of the group could use a break as well." "I agree with the miko. I believe this would be the perfect time to begin training her." Sesshomaru spoke up. Inuyasha came to a stop and turned around glaring at them. Jumping into the air her landed right in front of them. "What the hell you mean you need a break! Training? Since when does Kagome need training?!" Inuyasha screamed sending birds flying into the air from the woods around them. Kagome sighed in exasperation and uncrossed her arms letting them fall to her sides. "Sesshomaru has promised to teach me how to fight properly as well as how to wield a sword, you know, just in case the occasion calls for it." She said sheepishly. Inuyasha just stood gaping at her practically frothing at the mouth. Miroku and Sango stood in the back exchanging glances at each other. "This isn't going to end well." Sango stated while Miroku nodded his head in agreement. "TRAINING?! Why the hell would you need training?! You aren't even that powerful! If anyone is going to beat Naraku, it's gonna be me!" Inuyasha screamed. "Little brother, I suggest you lower your voice. Kagome will be the one to defeat the hanyou. You underestimate her ability. I am going to train her so that she doesn't have to depend on the likes of you to defend her in battle." Sesshomaru stated clearly pissed at the way Inuyasha was treating his miko. Inuyasha just laughed. "Powerful? You're shitting me, right? Kagome, powerful? She trips over a stick! There is no way in hell she would even be able to touch Naraku!" Inuyasha said. Kagome, upon hearing all of this, was royally pissed. So much so that her vision was turning pink. She could feel it. Her powers were bubbling to the surface. Sesshomaru felt Kagome's powerful aura caress against his own. With his demonic speed he landed a few feet away from her. 'Maybe this will be the show that the hanyou will never forget. It is about time he was put into his rightful place.' He mused watching her carefully. Kagome began to glow a bright pink. "Inuyasha, I am SICK of the way you treat me. I am SICK of the way you speak to me. I deserve respect and respect is what I will get! You will never doubt me or what I can do ever again, do you understand you damn idiot!" Inuyasha stared at her with wide eyes. He had never before seen her like this. She was glowing for Kami's sake! He hair, having come out of her pony tail, was whipping around her in long raven strands. The others in the group had the same facial expressions as Inuyasha, except instead of fear, theirs was in amazement. Kagome brought her hands up, which held two small balls of power, and shoved them out towards Inuyasha. Inuyasha barely had time to understand what was going on when he was thrown 30 feet back. Kagome brought her arms down by her side and walked up to where Inuyasha was now laying panting. The front of his robes had been completely destroyed and his chest was burned. Everyone else in the group, including Sesshomaru, just stood staring wondering what was going to happen next. Stopping in front of Inuyasha, Kagome waited for him to sit up. Sitting up, Inuyasha noticed that Kagome had gone back to normal. Her eyes were no longer pink and she was no longer glowing. "W-w-what...how did you...I don't understand." He stuttered. "I suggest you shut your mouth. The next time you underestimate me, not only will you be sat into my time period, but I will make sure all of your clothes are burned off leaving you humiliated in front of us all." She stated coolly as she began walking towards the front of the group where she took place as alpha. Sesshomaru, transfixed at her words and final say in the group, walked up and joined her while the others followed suit, leaving a confused hanyou in the dirt.