Okay! Terribly sorry this is so late, vacation last week and I was away for the entire time.

I thank my readers and reviewers, for continuous interest. Not just this story but others as well. You guys make the world go round.

Hope you enjoy this.


"Come on Kagome." Aikoi thumps the floor with her cane, a blast of energy coming off. It rips through the ground, racing straight for the wide eyes miko. She dodges last minute. Skidding to the side. "No more dodging! Shielding!" lifting the cane, she starts flinging it side to side. Blades of energy now come off, heading toward their target at an alarming rate. All the young miko has done, is swivel side to side, like a worm. Cry out in surprise when the attack gets closer. Nothing that can help defend her sort, from an actual attack. "You're weak girl! You should give up now, stop wasting my time." a sound of disapproval leaves her. "Mine as well give the brat up, your just going to get him killed, if you can of defend yourself or he. Better off."

Kagome just stands there, mouth gaping as the woman's words wash over her. Give up? Am I so worthless? The plants I understand and got quickly. Is they all I'm good for? Was...Inuyasha right?, the thoughts echo in her mind, tearing down what took so long for her to build. Why am I even trying? I am just a burden..., eyes close, a few tears slipping out. Everyone would be better off without me., images of Shippou, Sango, Miroku, Luna, Souta, gramps...all of them flow through her. Serene looks. Her skin begins tingling, her self depraving thoughts come to a halt. Eyes pop open and there is a fire burning in their depths. No! Something has snapped awake, an anger like nothing she has ever felt. "No." gritting out, hands ball into fist. "No, I will not give up." Aikoi turns at the low growl, brow cocking. "I am not worthless! I am NOT A BURDEN!"

It's astonishing to the old miko, to see the girl light up like a star. All that power, that had been trapped for so long, bursting through every pore on her body. Whipping around violently, as if a storm. "Then fight back." Aikoi slings another blade forward. A scream of pure rage and pain leaves Kagome, as she swipes out with her hand. Reiki ripples out, tearing through the blade like it's paper. This is what I'm talking about!, the elder miko smirks to herself, knowing she is about to get a workout.

For an hour, the battle continues on. Until Kagome wears herself out and depletes most her reiki. It's exactly what she needs, so she can get use to the flow of fresh reiki. The younger barely moved though, her reiki doing the defending. Attacking anything that came close enough and destroyed it. Aikoi knew Kagome was something special at their first meeting but had no idea what truly lay under her exterior. It is unfortunate that it took harsh words to bring it out but it's also telling, of what she had been through. Someone had chopped away at her confidence, until nothing was left. Someone made her the pitiful excuse of a female she had first seen. It would have to be built back up.

"Oooooo." groaning sounds from the still body. Aikoi lifts her head, munchin on an apple, to see the younger miko finally coming around. Eyes flutter open, then close again because of the blinding light. "Ugh, what happened?"

"Tuckered yourself out, you did." cracking an eye, Kagome looks at her. Aikoi takes another bite of the apple before tossing another to her student...which smacks her in the forehead and rolls a bit off. She cannot help the grin that covers her face. "You did good."

"Feels like I got ran over, by a semi." she grumbles, rubbing the red mark.

"That's because you depleted your reiki." is the calm answer.

"What? That's dangerous!"

"You didn't deplete it all. There's a catch, so you don't kill yourself by using to much power. Of course, you can override it but I wouldn't suggest, unless it's a dyer need." Kagome nods in understanding, struggling to sit herself up.


Kagome grips the staff in the basic technique. It's called the Ying-tang technique. One hand up, one hand down. Lower hand at the waist., she peers down to make sure and nods. Top end of staff is no higher then my head., she looks and nods a second time. A couple minutes, she falls into the stances to deliver the blows.

"Do the Duck Hand technique!" Aikoi-sensei calls. Immediately, her hands fall into a new position, both hands up.. She swipes out, low while bending a knee and blocks an incoming attack. "Good..." trailing off, as Kagome falls into a 'relaxed' stance, she begins circling her young student. "You have improved much since coming to me, Kagome."

"Thank you, sensei." though inwardly she is thinking, 'Because you worked me like dog!' but she can't really companion. She needs the training and needed it quick. Truthfully, she shouldn't take as much time as she is now, to do what needs to be done...but she is.

"There is one little surprise for the day." seeing the smirk that crosses the old woman's face, it sets Kagome on edge. It's never a good look. Aikoi claps her wrinkly hands. The door to the dojo opens and in steps a...rather large male. Close shaven, taller then her, muscular an only wearing a pair of shorts. When seeing the tiny, compared to him, raven haired beauty on the mat, a grin crosses his face. She might not be much in the arena but at least she's a looker and he gets to touch such soft looking skin.

The old bat is trying to kill me!


"Lacon!" reiki is pushing through her body, strengthening it. Letting an arm fly forward, Kagome chucks the ball in hand. It soars high and goes a long distance. I love this reiki training., she watches as the pup, that's at least twice his size when she first got him, chases after the small spherical item. Six months, that's a long time., she muses and cuts her eyes to the well house. But not enough., often, she thinks about everyone she left behind. Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Kouga...and sometimes even Inuyasha. His betrayal-two months shy of a year-though sharp and painful, has dulled over time. They will never be what they once were.

And now, after what she believed to be the one to send her the papers for Shippou, she even thinks about Sesshoumaru. Why did he help her? It had to be a good reason, that demon doesn't do anything for nothing. So, she figures she does something that helps him and the papers are to repay whatever she does. But what is the question., that very thought is what got her searching through the scrolls at the family shrine. Something he would like. She came across a stone or a whole pool of stone. It's a fountain of sorts, that's suppose to...'fix' anything. It's not a fountain of youth, doesn't extend your life. It just fixes things. If your barren, you are no longer. Been shot, the wound stitches itself. Have cancer, the fountain takes away the tainted blood cells. Have a missing arm, it grows it back. The only problem, not much is written in the scrolls and she's having to do outside research. Not as easy as one thinks.

"Bark! Bark!"

Pulling herself from her musings, she looks at the large pup and his wagging, bushy tail. A smile comes on her face and she squats. "Who's a good boy?" his tail starts going faster. "Who's a good boy, Lacon? You are, aren't you?" he starts yipping now, scooting closer and licking her face. Taking the ball he dropped on the ground, she grimaces at the slobber covering it. "Come on, lets to see what's for dinner." motioning for him to follow, he does, the two head up to the house.


"Kick!"

Omph!

"Kick!"

Omph!

"Low kick!"

Kefh!

"Uppercut punch!"

Grrrrroan...hmff!

"Stop!"

Every body in the room comes to an halt and moves to face forward. At the front of the room, Monga-sensei stands, looking everyone over. There's a lot of potential in class. His eyes land on the young woman in the back, last row, last in line. Higurashi Kagome. Kind and cheerful girl and if he hasn't seen what she can do first hand, wouldn't believe her a real threat. He had connected Aikoi, about a bad spirit in class, hurting his students and making them leaving. He can't have his pupils being hurt. Aikoi sen the slip of a girl to him, all bright smiles and bubbly. She flushed out the dojo in matter of thirty minutes but the spirit had not been there. It had attached itself to one of his students. So she stayed for class, to pinpoint the problem.

So far...nothing.

Grrrrrowl!

Kagome's eyes flash in the direction the sound comes from. In the middle of all the other students, a single girl stands out. A little chubby, eyes cast to the floor and fidgety. No doubt a vulnerable soul., she muses. At the moment, however, she is staring right at the miko. The spirit latched into her back, like a monkey. Can't really see the face, because it looks as if black streaks are leaving the girl and going straight for the spirits face. It takes a moment to realize, it's sucking her spirit out. Found you, little bastard., all she has to do now is get it unattached from the girl. Peering about the room, she sighs mentally. It's going to get messy with everyone else in there.

Succumbing to the idea of what is about to transpire, she starts pulling at the reiki buried deep in her. Tendrils of her power come off and start crawling toward the possessed girl. When it reaches said girl, it lays out around her like petals around her. Snapping the sphere of holy reiki close, everything happens very fast. A screech from the ghost and the spirit releases her and comes at Kagome. Anyone in it's path is tossed aside. Oh, this is just gonna hurt.


Kagome has perched herself up in the godtree, highest branch she can get too and feel...okay about it. Leaves are dead but the branches are not bridle, weak. Holding her weight easily. She felt the need to be in the tree today, as if she felt connected to feudal era. Sometimes, she gets that feeling or urge and just goes with it. Couple branches higher, Shippou sits with his math book in hand. For an hour now, he's been mulling over the work. Stuffs a lot harder then most think., Kagome isn't forcing him into school, the kitsune wants to. To learn, be more educated. Maybe he can learn something that can help people in the other era.

"Shippou?"

Pausing, he looks up, pencil in hand, and see the thoughtful look on her face. "Yes mama?" he has noticed she seems to have more stuff on her mind, lately.

"How much of demon customs do you know?"

He blinks at the question, expecting anything but that to come from her mouth. "What?"

Kagome laughs at his look of surprise and leans toward him to run a hand through his hair. "I think I need a crash course in demon customs."

"Um...okay...I don't know much but I'll tell you what I do know?" he concede.

"Thanks Ship." he beams. "Perhaps when we get back, I'll ask Kouga...you think Sango knows some as well?" she hums in thought.

"You would think so, she is a slayer after all." he nods in agreement.

"We'll ask her first, then." she nods to herself.

"Why do you need to know?" he wonders, little head cocking.

"Couple reasons." shifting to more a comfortable position, her legs go up. "As you know, I am positive about who sent the papers and the pendent." he nods. "He deserves to be treated like the demon lord he is, doesn't he?"

"Might make him like you more." he throws out.

"As if that's my aim." she snorts, making him giggle. "We deal with a lot of demons, in our travels...we have to make it up for their meeting of Inuyasha." he is the one to snort this time. "We don't want to burn bridges but make alley's."

"Okay mama! I'll teach you everything I know!" he promises.


- "Souta, Shippou! Don't go to far out!" Luna calls out, hand on her floppy sun hat. She is on her tippy-toes, squinting at the laughing boys.

"They'll be fine, mom." Kagome assures, as she too peers out to the waters. Shippou and Souta, both in wetsuits, trying to surf. Or Souta is trying to teach the kitsune...and failing miserably. Oh, they are adorable., a smile cracks her face.

"You've gotten stronger, Kagome. Both of you." gramps announces from the blue. He had been waiting for a moment to speak with her, as well as Luna. Said miko turns her head, from her reclined position in the beach chair, to look at him lazily. "You have. You'll not the same girl that came home in tears."

"I should hope not." she frowns.

"Since you've gotten what you need, when will Shippou and you go back?" Luna is the one to speak this time.

"..." she looks between the two a moment before sighing. "Probably sometime within the next couple months. I still need to speak with Ship about it and I'm almost done with my training. Aikoi-sensei is a very good at pushing you hard, to improve yourself."

"You have to want to do it as well." Luna points out and Kagome nods in agreement.

"Are you taking Lacon?" gramps wonders.

"I think he'll throw a fit if we left him." all three turn their heads to the side, to take in the large mastiff. He is stretched out along the sand. Soaking up the rays. He's huge now, easily coming up to Kagome's shoulders. She hadn't thought a dog could get that big...but there he is. His coat is a lot fuller, a wild mane around his head, like a loin. When he's snarling and growling, couple that with his mane...quite frightening.

"I'm sure he would." the old man shivers, remembering the hell said dog caused on him when he was a puppy, for wanting to be rid of it. Luna and Kagome chuckle.

"We've gotten as good as we're going to get here...without Ship having a real teacher."

"He's done good so far." Luna notes.

And he has, gotten stronger...and taller. He comes up to Kagome's thighs now. It's like a boost in power, a boost in body. "Most of what he knows about his abilities..it's from trail and error. We had to look up multiple techniques to see what worked for him. Each ability takes a different one." not to mention molding his youkai, like she is. Like a miko. I don't know if that effects his youkai., he says it doesn't bother him and even, stuff comes quicker.

"You'll be fine...he'll be fine." Luna assures, reaching out to stroke her daughters cheek.


"Thank you so much, miko-sama."

"There's no need to thank me, Godo-san." Kagome looks to the young mother of two and her husband, smiling as she does. "It is my job to settle unresting spirits. This is your home now."

"We just don't want anything to be upset with us, later." her husband replies, wrapping an arm around his wives shoulder.

"I promise you, Godo-san, everything will be fine when you come back. Aikoi-sama and I will clear the house and do so gently." she assures.

Taking one more look around their living room, husband and wife look back at the two miko's and nod. "Just...please, give us back our home." she whispers.

"We will do all we can." they nod again and he leads his distraught wife out of the house.

Turning to the older woman, Kagome eyes her a moment. She hadn't been expecting for Aikoi to allow her to help in blessing a house, at least, not this soon. She's only been on the lessons for such work, the last two months or so. Though, Aikoi always said the best practice is experience. She takes a deep breath. "Shall we start?"

"Hmmm mmm mmm." she hums and the duo start pulling out the items brought with us. Consecrated salt, sake and some aloeswood incense. "You do one end of the house and I, the other."

"Yes sensei."


"Fox fire!" a burst of blue light envelopes Shippou's hand. He lifts it to show Kagome. "See mama?"

"...I do." frowning, her head cocks and tries to get a better look. There are white specks in the flames that seem to grow and shrink all on their own. "Do you want to...mess with it?" standing straight, she glances to her kitsune son.

"Mess with it? His head cocks now.

"Hmmm mmm mm." humming to herself, lips purse. "I think grandpa has temperature gaging equipment."

He appears thoughtful, staring into the flames as if it holds the answer. "Alright." he finally agrees.

"Stay here, I'll be right back." he nods and off she sprints, toward the house. No one is in the kitchen, when she enters, and she immediately goes to the pantry, where all the odd cooking gadgets would be. Her frustration grows when she cannot find what is needed.

"Kagome, what are you doing?" gramps peeks into the pantry, ducking a flying pan. "Loose something?"

"Gramps!" spinning on him, a brow cocks from him. "Don't you have temperature gaging equipment?"

"Ah yes, it was left my your father." he chuckles at a memory.

"I need to use it. Shippou and I are going to try and gage his fox fire. See how hot it actually is."

"Oh...well, I suppose that's fine. It's in the storage shield-" he cuts himself off, noticing Kagome is no longer in the kitchen. "Hmph, rude."

Diving straight into the storage room, she finds what she needs in no time. All packed away in a metal case. In a better mood, she skips back toward Shippou, beaming when she comes across him. "Ready?"

"Yes!" yelping excitedly, he sets straighter.

"Okay, we'll start out small and work up, deal?" he just nods quickly.

A good chunk of the day is spent of this little...experiment. They did learn a good deal about his flames. Blue is the hottest, white the middle and reddish/orange is lowest. Kagome had a feeling about that, it was something they learned in school, but she wondered if it held the same merit as with demons. She now knows it does. Most of the ball of flames is blue but if he concentrates, can make it go white. The difference between them-attack wise-is very different. While both can be used for a light source, the regular flames are the only ones light a stick and stay lit. The white flames catches the end of the wood, spreading then just dying out. Expect, they don't die out, the piece of wood continued burning, turning an ashen white-grey color. It only stopped when she stomped it out.

So, potentially, a forever warming stick. That could be useful, when they get back to the Feudal era and start traveling.


"So...that's why you had missed so much school before!"

A paper is dropped on the table before Kagome, interrupting her impromptu lunch...with Shippou and Aikoi-sensei. Who have wandered off themselves. Sighing, she glances to the paper, barely then takes a bite of her sandwich. "Couldn't tell you, since the paper is face down." her answer is dry.

"...oh!" it's flipped right side up. "Why didn't you tell us, Kagome?"

Finally, she sees the front page of the paper and groans. It's her, leaping away from what looks like one of those dragon puppets...expect there are no people moving it. It's coming at her, at an alarming rate, mouth open and teeth looking very real. It was really, real., she rubs her bandaged forearm. The headline stands, bodily, against the pale of the paper. TOKYO MIKO AND HER APPRENTICE TAKES DOWN DRAGON SPRIT DURING FESTIVAL! The problem...they aren't suppose to publish her picture. Or any miko, unless given permission. And Kagome had not. "Aikoi-sensei!"

"All this time, you've been...fighting spirt's?" Eri pouts.

"...well, I suppose you could say that." she mutters.

"Where you ever going to tell us?" Yuka pouts as well.

"Eventually." she shrugs.

"Kagome-doko?" the old miko comes toward them, Shippou trailing after.

Kagome picks up the paper and shows it to her. "There's nothing I can do, now, but I did not give my permission for them to take my picture."

"Hmmm, I'll take care of it." she takes the paper, folds it and sticks it in her haori top.

"Mama, does your arm, hurt?" Shippou questions, peering at the bandage in concern. A little blood is seeping through the white.

"It's fine, Ship." she waves it off.

'Mama?'Eri and Yuka mouth.

"I've adopted Shippou." Kagome tells them.

"Was he one of the families you helped, with the bad spirts?" Ayumi wonders, her voice soft.

They notice the little guy stiffen. "Yes...Shippou, why don't you go play on the jungle gym, I'll join you in a minute."

"...ok mama." glancing between the three girls, he finally leaves.

"Please don't mention his family, again. He's still very sensitive about it." she tells the trio.

"Of course, sorry Kagome." Ayumi looks in the direction the kit has gone and bites her lips. "Do you mind if I go over there and speak with him?"

She eyes the other, younger school girl a moment before giving her consent. "Tread lightly."

"I will." smiling slightly at the protective 'mother', she walks toward the jungle gym. Kagome watches like a hawk, only relaxing when her son grins and laughs with her, about whatever.

Eri and Yuka watch Kagome, watching Ayumi and Shippou. Shippou must really mean something to her!, they both note and are determined to help her in anyway. "Kagome?" Eri starts.

"Do we get to be Shippou's aunts?" Yuka finishes.

"Eh?!" her head whips around to stare at them.


Silence has settled over the entire area, everyone on the edges of their seats, waiting with baited breath. On the grass, in the man-made arena, a line of archers stood. Each with bows and a quiver of arrows. Different targets sit in various spots, from ten feet to fifty. Many already have arrows already sticking out of them. Only one shooter is left and that would be the regional champion, Kagome Higurashi. Reaching back for an arrow, she slides her fingers along the sleek wood to lock at the base and bring it around to notch. Pulling back, the wrapped, curved fingers are parallel with her cheeks. Head tilting slightly, the young miko focuses on the shot. Bypassing all the targets and straight for the fifty foot mark. Sucking her bottom lip between teeth, she chews the skin lightly and releases the arrow.

The string springs forward with a whomp, cutting through the air with speed and grace. It passes the ten foot target, fifteen, twenty, thirty, thirty-five, forty, forty-five-THUWAMP!-strikes dead center of the fifty foot target. "Sukoa!" she cheers, thrusting a fist into the air. The crowd around the archers burst into cheers, all standing. She is sure she hears her family in there, shouting and hooting along. Turning, I look directly at the reserved spot for my cheer team, flashing a cheesy grin and thumbs up.

"Go Kagome/Mama!" both boys voice carry. Beside them are Eri, Yuka and Ayumi, the lather holding Shippou up, so he can see better. They are trying to do some cheer that involves the 'wave'. Makes her laugh. Aikoi, Luna and gramps are on the other side of Souta.

"This years Nation Archery Champion is...Higurashi Kagome." the man on the PA system calls out. The crowd cheers grow.

Being the good sport that Kagome is, she turns to the other archers and smile. "That was a very good competition. I had to work my hardest. I think you all." hands clasping, she bows to show respect.

"You're pretty okay, Higurashi, for a pretty face." Tumiko, the usual champion of these events, comments. "But I'm claiming that title back, next year." she smirks but it's not condescending. Joking.

"Can't wait, Tumiko-senpai!" she grins and nods at the others before making way to the stands. Shippou and Souta jumps the barrier with ease and runs at her. Laughing, she catches them both and spins them. "Did you enjoy the match?"

"Yes! You are the best, Kagome!" Souta cries.

"You were so focused, mama! So beautiful!" Shippou's eyes glisten.

"Thank you, Ship." she whispers, kissing his forehead.

"Kagome." Luna reaches them, gramps and Aikoi right behind her. "I'm so proud of you, Kagome." she hugs her daughter.

"Thanks mama."

"Your father would be too." she whispers. The thought of her father, the man that had meant so much to her, brings tears to my eyes.

"Kagome-doko. I am also proud of you." Aikoi steps forward.

"You are a great teacher, Aikoi-sensei. I don't know what I'd do, if I hadn't meet you that day, so long ago." she admits.

"You have grown from that day, not just in power but in mentality and emotions." she notes, nodding as if confirming these thoughts. "But I can no longer be your sensei." Kagome's mouth drops open in surprise. "You have learned all you can from me, about your powers or fighting. All you can do is gain experience."


"Aikoi-ue..." Kagome trails off, unsure what to say. Just staring at the treasure in her hand. "It's...so beautiful."

"I knew you'd like it." a smug smile crosses the old woman's face. She had special requested this specific weapon, just for her star pupil. A Monk Spade. It's made completely of ivory, strong and sturdy for fighting. It's a head taller then Kagome, one end like a shovel but flat and the other a crescent blade. Around either end, red fabric wraps it a good three inches.

"This is so...I don't know what to say."

"Thank you would be appropriate." she muses.

"Thank you, Aikoi-ue!" even knowing she doesn't like to show affection, or much, Kagome is unable to help herself and hug her teacher.

"Yah, yah, brat." she pats the younger miko's back. "But there is one other thing we need to discuss."

"Oh? I thought we were done?" Kagome's head tilts.

"Not something I can teach you. Only show you." pulling a scroll from her haori, it unravels and she turns it. "Pick one."

"What...are they?" leaning forward, her eyes skim the different patterns.

"They are...reiki markings."

"Reiki markings?" that sounds pretty awesome to her.

"Hmmmm mmmm, it is a lost technique among priest and priestess." she explains. "Reiki is charged through the markings, to form whatever weapon you chose. It is very...draining so one has to practice constantly, to build up an..."immunity"

"Immunity...like the more I use it, the less reiki it will use?"

"Sort of. You have to know how much reiki to put into it, how strong to make whatever weapon you use. Some are easier to control then others.

"Can I do two?"

"No, Kagome. The markings will cover both arms. Only room for one."

She's silent in thought, mulling over the choices. How does she know which one is for her...or the best for her? Will she have to do even more training? It looks as I will but...this would be worth it, right?, another weapon, should the staff be no use. Lips pursing, she reaches out to touch the paper with the tip of a finger. Trailing it down the page, a bit of reiki trickles out. The markings shimmer as it passes through each until coming to the last one on the page. "This one." it calls to her.

"Ah, the chains." Aikoi is not surprised by the choice. Kagome, as young as she may be, is a miko of great power. The reiki chains are some of the hardest to learn and control, simply because they use so much power. "I can get you the book for the reiki weapon but you need to understand, it will take anywheres from three months to six,. Maybe longer, if don't get the hang of it."

Three to six months..."Alright." she agrees immediately. It will be worth it, another way to defend herself and others.


So, I decided to make her love interest a full blooded Dragon. Give some insight, to who he does or how they meet?