Chapter Thirteen
Inu no Taisho finished writing up his last report and with a swipe had it sent off to his second in command. Hesitating, briefly, before his screen, he made a quick decision and brought up the energy readings the spy he had placed within the council's lab had provided him. He sat back in his chair and absently ran his hand over the lower half of his face.
Though his spy had confirmed that the energy was human in origin, made to look and feel like Baasratu, the council had immediately ruled it to be a Baasratu trap. The contents of the armband had been rudimentary instructions and a simple map of a ship the soldier had infiltrated with his comrades. This had been a mission nearly two weeks before they had discovered the meteor base and sent Sesshomaru's team in for clean-up.
This had made him ponder many questions that kept him in his office late at night and had Izayoi worrying about him. It wasn't common knowledge that the Baasratu didn't communicate verbally, though they were capable of forming speech. Instead, it seemed they sent a form of communication through the energy they so readily manipulated to each other.
Deciphering what they were "saying" was in the developmental stages, as it was still a fairly new concept. Even accepting the fact that the Baasratu preferred to "talk" to each other through energy had been hard for many of the scientists specializing in alien technology and biology to wrap their heads around.
The report Sesshomaru's crew had collectively supplied had reinforced the idea that, though the Baasratu could, and have, verbally communicated, they had developed a way to send their thoughts on indecipherable energy waves. And as many of the scientists studying this had deduced, it wasn't like human telepathy at all.
What had Inu no Taisho so worried was the fact that one of their own, a member of the human race, was sending messages to the Baasratu in this indecipherable form of communication. Who was responsible for this? How were they creating this energy? What, exactly, did they communicate to the Baasratu?
How long had this been going on?
All of his questions had him digging into old reports and suspicious activity that had previously gone unnoticed. What he had found had prompted him to call the emergency meeting between the fleet commanders. Though it was probably foolish, his instincts told him the three of them could be trusted with the information, and he always followed his instincts.
A communications line rang through his screen, breaking him from his thoughts. Looking to the number, a small groan left his lips and a slight pain started in his temple. Knowing it would only be worse if he let the line continue to ring, he swiped his hand over the acceptance icon.
"Hmph! Kept me waiting, Taisho! Where have your manners gone to? I know you have nothing better to do than sit in that big chair of yours and wait for your screen to ring. Or perhaps you were staring at yourself in that mirror in your office again? You great preening fool!"
Placing his head in his hands Inu no Taisho let out another moan. "Lovely to hear from you, Natalia." He said in monotone, hoping it would stop her mid-tirade. It did, for a second.
"That's Ms. Azarov to you, Taisho. Show some respect."
Taisho rolled his eyes behind his cupped hands and prayed this conversation wouldn't last long. He swore this would be the last time he would sit in his office so late, if only to avoid this woman calling him again.
"Is there a point to you using my office line so late, Ms. Azarov?" He cut in coldly, trying to get this over with as soon as possible.
Natalia huffed again and banged her cane on the floor in front of her. "And here I thought you would like to know how that Higurashi brat's lesson went."
Taisho's eyes closed silently. The fact that Natalia's voice was heated and she had referred to Higurashi as a brat did not bode well. He debated on whether he really wanted to know, and while he didn't, he knew he needed too.
"Proceed."
Natalia studied the hard lines on the commander's face and decided that he didn't look in the mood to put up with her sharp tongue at the moment. Her tone lowered and she reported the initial meeting as well as the lead up to the girl storming out of the meditation room.
Taisho rubbed his temples and wished he was at home. "I don't blame the girl for leaving. I'm rather surprised she hadn't physically assaulted you, to be honest."
Natalia clicked her tongue and gazed into the distance. "Probably would have been more productive if she had." She conceded and ignored the surprised glance Taisho shot her. "I'll admit; the girl has something there."
Meeting Taisho's gaze steadily, Natalia drew her shoulders back and allowed a sneer to crawl over her lips. "When she realizes the shit she is in, I'll instruct her when she comes crawling back and begs for my help."
Taisho narrowed his eyes and frowned slightly. While he had mandated that the old crone instruct Higurashi, and he could force her to do it regardless of what she thought about it, he realized she was consenting to instructing the young psychic on her own. Whatever the impression she had had of Higurashi before she had met her, something had changed her outlook slightly. Enough that she was interested in Higurashi.
"As if that was ever in question." Taisho murmured lowly and cut off the line just as the old bird had scowled darkly. "That's it. I'm going home." He declared to no one and got up from his desk. His door swooshed open and his eyes adjusted to the dimmed lighting in the halls. His door closed just as the lights in his office turned off and he began his trek home, wondering if Izayoi had made it home from the boutique yet.
Feeling the immediate pull to her partner, Kagome wandered down the steadily forming link. Pushing aside the uneasy feeling in her gut, she shifted her energy against Taisho's. Taking in their surroundings as she chirped a greeting to the stoic captain, Kagome examined the rather large room they were standing in.
Instead of being an empty sparring room, as she had been used to; it felt more like a large maze. Numerous walls and pathways meandered out in all directions and Kagome felt a fission of anticipation settle in her chest.
'Just how large is this room?' She questioned and was startled when she realized she had asked it out loud.
'It goes on for a kilometer.' Taisho answered and Kagome blinked in amazement.
'This is built on a ship?'
'The Ragnarok is a large ship. Created for the express purpose of advanced military protocols and overhaul.'
His answer was so text-book Kagome couldn't help the light snort that escaped. Her attention caught on a well-known energy headed in their direction and looked, along with Taisho, as Kitakawa-sensei approached from the large doors that had opened to let her in.
"Ah, Kagome! Good evening!" Midoriko smiled serenely in Sesshomaru's direction before looking down at her screen for any information she had forgotten. "Are the both of you ready for this simulation? Kagome have you been debriefed on Taisho's training, or should I give you a quick recap?"
'Tell her: No, I was debriefed before I linked up.' Kagome said to Taisho and he let out a small sigh, quickly conveying her words.
"Great. Than we can begin immediately. As you both know, I will be linking to you both through telepathy. It will be slightly uncomfortable, but you'll become accustomed to the feeling rather quickly." She paused and a small blush rose to her cheeks. "Ah, if you, ahem. If you have anything to say to each other…that you wouldn't want me hearing…you know, say it now."
Both partners froze and Kagome felt something like a blaze of heat flare in her cheeks. Too busy with her own embarrassment, Kagome didn't sense the wildly fluctuating emotions coming from Taisho.
"Exactly what are you implying?" Sesshomaru hissed lowly and Midoriko coughed quietly into her hand.
"Nothing…" She trailed off and looked to her right, avoiding the narrowed gaze of the captain before her. When she had been linked to the young man during the first half of the trials, she had caught his disjointed thoughts and the overwhelming protective feeling he had towards a certain psychic. She had made the assumption that there was more between them than there apparently was.
"Anyway, I'm going to go get myself hooked up to the telepathy machine. It will just take a moment. The simulation will start in roughly five minutes, the holo-clock on the wall over there will begin the countdown once we are all properly synced." Midoriko beat a hasty retreat to the observation room.
Lydia looked up from imputing the needed data into the telepathy pod to raise a brow at her slightly flustered cohort. "Bite off more than you could chew?" She asked with a saucy grin, planting her hand on her hip.
Midoriko let out an exasperated sigh and then relented. "Maybe poked at something too soon." She murmured and ignored the curiosity coming from the tech. "Is everything ready?"
"All except you." Lydia sang out as she held up the wires. "Now, would you like me to be gentle?" Her low tone and waggled eyebrows had Midoriko blushing again. "Or rough?"
"Just give me the electrodes, Lydia!"
Kagome, having pushed the awkward feelings behind her, ran her energy along Taisho's, taking in the slight difference. 'You were really strained earlier.' She absently commented as she worked on the stressed muscles in his calves and shoulders. 'Training was hard?'
Sesshomaru debated on what to tell her, if he should say anything at all. 'Different.' He paused. 'It wasn't physical.'
Kagome hummed in answer, expanding herself to again examine the room. 'So this session is supposed to simulate how our more advanced enemy will attack?'
'How much did they tell you?' Sesshomaru asked instead, wondering if Higurashi really understood what their mission would be.
'I was told it would be our job to go in and destroy a Baasratu soldier capable of disrupting our psychic link.' Kagome examined the stone wall of emotion coming from her partner. 'Is there more to it than that?'
Sesshomaru snorted and looked over the lowered labyrinth stretched before them. 'Nothing you need to be concerned over.'
Kagome frowned, feeling as if the captain was keeping something from her. Before she could question him further, the both of them felt a light brush against their minds and allowed the third party to enter. Midoriko had been right, it felt uncomfortable as hell. Sort of like being forced into a bodysuit that was two sizes too small.
'Ah, the pinched feeling will leave as we go through the simulation.' Kitakawa's voice floated to Kagome and she grinned.
'It's good to feel your energy again, Kitakawa-sensei.' Kagome said lightly.
'You as well, Kagome.'
If he could have, Sesshomaru would have rolled his eyes at the over-abundance of warm feelings coming from both females. Thankfully, neither seemed inclined to chattering. Glancing to the timer, he descended into the labyrinth set up for their training session. He heard a light clink behind him and turned to see the stairs leading out disappear behind a trick wall. As the wall lined itself up with the rest of the labyrinth walls, a small flash of light traveled along and down the corridor they now stood in.
'The simulation will begin in three…'
Kagome felt her heartrate pick up speed.
'Two…'
Sesshomaru flexed his hands and bent his knees slightly.
'One…'
And a blaze of color erupted around them. The labyrinth walls went from stark white to the strangely dulled metallic color of a Baasratu ship. The energy in the corridor changed to match and Kagome felt like, just as they were taking in the ship, the ship was taking them in. A shift in energy before them caught Kagome's attention and her mindset flipped.
'Three enemies ahead and closing in fast.' She clipped to Taisho in a professional voice even as she directed her energy to the coiling muscles in his legs.
'Small fry.'
Instinctively, Kagome understood and directed him down a path leading to their left. Their objective wasn't to kill whatever came at them, but to seek out the one that was problematic and take it out so it wouldn't cause harm to their team.
'Two ahead, you won't be able to avoid them.'
Sesshomaru gripped the hilt of his saber and increased his speed. Turning a slight corner, he avoided the first enemy, ducking under and slicing through its side. The second came at him from above. Sliding to his right he missed its claws by a centimeter, ignoring the discomfort its energy inflicted as it passed by. He brought the saber up and through the extended arm, slicing it off. Continuing the arc his arm had started, he felt the blade pass through its neck and dodged around the falling body.
'One coming up behind, take the right hall.'
Kagome kept her senses on alert as she directed Taisho through and around oncoming enemies, avoiding the majority of the hordes. Just as they were rounding a bend in the corridor, a strange pressure pierced her head.
'Wha-what the-?' Her question came out unwittingly. She heard a slight noise come from Taisho before the pressure suddenly vanished.
'What was that?'
'The true beginning of this trial.' Midoriko answered calmly and Kagome startled a bit, having forgotten the instructor was with them. Focusing once again on their surroundings and her partners well-being, Kagome decided to think of the strange feeling later.
Midoriko silently observed the way the two interacted and moved together, envious of the easy way that had seemed to slip into the other. Even when she had a partner of her own, she had never seen such a tightly woven link. However, it looked like it would be a rocky path for the both of them. At least until they got through their training.
Sesshomaru's arrogance had been put in check, at least. When the first wave of the enemy's attack on their link had started, the boy had foolishly thought only of his own tolerance. He had quickly realized his mistake when Kagome had pulled from their bond in pain. What had Midoriko worried was that the issues in Kagome's energy still hadn't been resolved. If they passed this trial, it would be by the skin of their teeth and that wasn't going to be good enough.
Sesshomaru ignored the nagging attack he was currently fending off mentally. His saber once again sliced through an enemy as he slid around a corner, dodging another attack aimed at his head. Halfway down the corridor they were in, the mental attack tripled and he almost crashed into the wall.
'Taisho…?' Kagome asked in slight concern as her partner continued on, but the agitation in his energy said whatever attack he was fending off was getting worse. Just before she could ask if he was alright, his mindset changed and the way his energy flowed flipped. Her eyes widened slightly when she recognized the pattern from long ago.
Keeping her thoughts to herself, she set her teeth and sent even more energy to his limbs, moving the way he wanted her to. His emotions were steadily shutting down and she recognized it as him running more on instinct. His speed increased and soon the enemy was trailing behind. Those in front of them were dwindling as well and Kagome realized they were getting to their goal.
Going to stretch her senses a little farther ahead, to see if she could find what they were after, she was confused when it hurt. Scrunching her brows, she tried again and held in the gasp that almost escaped when her energy snapped back. Panic sparked inside as she realized her energy hadn't done that since she had been eleven years old and learning the basics of her own power.
Taking quick stock of her situation, her heartrate kicked up a notch as she realized maneuvering Taisho's energy was putting a larger strain on her than she had previously thought. Holding her own emotions in check, Kagome looked along her energy patterns to find what was holding her back. Finding nothing she could fix quickly, she instead switched to examining how she was directing Taisho's energy.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed into that painful zone once more. They didn't have the luxury of her changing the way she directed his energy now, she would just have to continue to do things this way, regardless if it felt like she was close to snapping. Her breathing grew heavy as Taisho again pushed himself to move faster.
Midoriko watched in concern, knowing she couldn't offer any kind of support to the struggling psychic. That was what her lesson was supposed to have been used for. Not that she could blame Kagome for the way she had left the meditation room. She well remembered her own lessons with Natalia. However, she would be lying if she said she wasn't disappointed in Kagome for leaving.
That, in a way, was her fault as well. If she hadn't been so complacent in teaching the young woman, maybe things would have been different. While Midoriko had always known the girl's path was leading to this, she had held onto her hope that it wouldn't.
Sesshomaru came around a corner and felt a pulse he recognized as the final level in the training he had gone through earlier. It was there, around that next bend. He would finally have visual confirmation of the enemy they were to face from here on.
Picking up on the intent determination coming from her partner, Kagome concentrated past the haze of pain she was in to "see" what he did. And there it was, sitting complacently in the center of a large round room. There was no doubt it was Baasratu. Same figure, same claws, same eyeless head. However, instead of the customary black "clothing", it wore larger strips of dark gray. The strips were large enough to be considered as swaths of material and hung over the gangly frame like robes.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and kept his speed up, aiming for the motionless figure. Though he had taken in the creature's appearance at first glance, the pain in his head told him he didn't have the time to examine the enemy. Just as he was bringing his saber down in a killing blow, the Baasratu leapt to its feet and spun in place, slashing at him with its claws.
A shock of pain registered from his side and Sesshomaru leapt back to examine the wound bleeding from the enemy's attack. Distantly he registered Higurashi's overlapping curses and apologies, but rage was taking over his mind at an incredible rate. Letting out a low hiss, he crouched low to the ground and launched himself at the enemy. He heard a slight screech as his blade scraped the ground as he moved, but ignored it in favor of getting close to his target.
The Baasratu let out a choking laugh that ended in a hiss as it dodged Sesshomaru's strike only to have an energy infused sheath stab into its other side. Its blood splashed across the floor as it jerked away from the sheath and dodged another slash from the blade.
Unwilling to let the enemy have any time to recover, Sesshomaru followed after, hearing only the blood rushing in his ears and his own heavy breathing. He brought his blade back up aiming for the flashing claws, his eyes narrowed as he realized he wasn't moving as fast as he knew he could. The Baasratu danced out of reach, letting out another of its mocking laughs.
Feeling his patience run out, Sesshomaru gathered everything he could into his legs, knowing the key to victory would be his speed. Lips thinning in determination, he again crouched low, starting the same attack he had used at first. Again the Baasratu dodged his blade and this time remembered the sheath, as he had been betting on.
With a quick flick of his wrist and jerk of his arm, his sword came back down and through the upper left shoulder of the Baasratu. Clenching his jaw, he forced the blade completely through the chest and out the lower right side of the simulated enemy. As the body fell in two separate pieces to the ground, he relished the moment the pain in his head stopped altogether.
As he got ahold of his ragged breathing, there was a sharp chime that sounded through the room. The previously gore splattered room disappeared and the whitewash walls of the labyrinth reappeared. Bright spots of color on the wall and floor caught his attention and he realized with sharp clarity that it was his blood.
He hadn't bled in a simulation since he had been in school.
Brows lowering, he looked down at the crude slash in his side. Idly inspecting the damage, he turned his attention to his still gasping-for-air partner and their link. Though there was a noticeable strain on their link, it wasn't anything that could have caused the problems Higurashi was experiencing.
'Well, I'm going to let med-bay know you're going to need to be patched up.' Midoriko nearly whispered as she hastily left the link, sensing the storm rising between the two.
'Higurashi.'
Kagome had finally regulated her breathing, still feeling like her energy had been stretched and torn. Faint ripples of pain echoed from her side where her partner had been gouged, but it was the silent demand for answers from Taisho that had her heart staggering. Now she knew for sure; Azarov had been right.
'T-taisho…I…'
There was a different kind of fear in her now. What was he going to say when she told him she had stormed out of a lesson because she hadn't wanted to hear what her instructor had said? What was he going to think? Especially since it had almost lead to serious consequences? If they had been out in an actual battle, if their enemy had been just a hair faster, she didn't think she would have been able to support Taisho's energy where he needed it.
She hadn't been able to support his energy as it was! The ache in her limbs and the pounding in her head told her she had been mere minutes away from a burnout. If he hadn't ended the fight when he had, she would have wound up in a coma, forever wandering the ether. Even worse, she could have dragged her partner in with her.
Taisho was silent as she sorted her scattering thoughts, a stone wall waiting in the fringes. Taking another shuddering breath, Kagome attempted to explain. He deserved honesty above all else.
'I…I had a lesson today. The instructor was not what I was expecting.'
Sesshomaru allowed his psychic to explain, listening silently and keeping his own emotions from the maelstrom she was giving off. His hand absently clenched onto his bleeding side as he made his way through the labyrinthine walls toward the raised platform leading out of the simulation room.
'…so I left the room. I-I couldn't listen to that woman any longer.'
'You allowed your own emotions to interfere with your training.'
His voice was low and tone void of emotion. Kagome flinched slightly and waited, still not feeling anything from him.
'…yes.'
It was uncomfortably silent between them as he continued his way through the room and finally up onto the platform before the doors. Pausing just as he reached the top step, Sesshomaru realized he was clenching his jaw and hand hard enough to hurt. Letting his breath out slowly in an attempt to relax his muscles, he stared at the doors that were now opening to let a medical officer in.
"We have another training session tomorrow afternoon." He said shortly and pulled the cuff on his ear off, letting the link with his partner go.
And it was the overwhelming tide of bitter disappointment that she felt from him in that last second that had Kagome in tears.
"Yes, Inu no Taisho. They passed the first simulation." Midoriko calmly answered the imposing man on the other side of the communications link.
"I'm sensing a 'but' in there." Inu no Taisho said with a sardonic twist to his lips. "Couldn't you just sent me the-"
"I'm afraid their training is under strict regulations and thus will not be released to upper management until they have completed the full course." Midoriko leaned forward and set her head into her hand. "This includes megalomaniac fleet commanders. So no, Inu no Taisho. You will not be watching the recordings of their simulations until they have been approved by their trainers as members of the assassination designation."
Hideaki Taisho told himself he wasn't pouting.
"Fine!" He sat back and eyed the retired battle-link. "They are doing well?"
"Of course." Midoriko answered without a blink and turned her attention to her personal screen. "I have urgent matters I have to take care of, however. If we are done?"
With another harrumph, the Inu no Taisho closed off the communications line and Midoriko let out a breath she had been holding in. The man was still just as intimidating as they day she had first met him. And almost twice as nosy! Though she couldn't blame him for being antsy. This was his son, after all. His first born son. What father wouldn't worry?
Rubbing her hands over her face, Midoriko brought her screen up and stared at the numbers she had recently obtained. With reaffirmed resolve, she swiped the numbers to the left and watched as they flashed over the larger screen she used for important calls. The waiting icon flashed for a bit as she waited for the line to connect.
Colors blurred and a picture formed just as she was thinking they wouldn't pick up. Looking into tear-drenched blue eyes, Midoriko let her shoulders droop.
"Hey, Kagome."
Kagome's lips twisted and her hand came up to cover her eyes.
"Sensei."
Midoriko watched as the young woman she had known from birth struggled to contain her emotions. Her hands trembled and her breath was ragged, but there were no tears as of yet. Perhaps she had already cried them out?
"Taisho only required light medical attention. He was sent back to the barracks as soon as he was wrapped up. He'll be completely healed come morning."
Kagome tensed on hearing of the captain and her own hand came down to her unblemished side. Upon exiting her pod, she had noticed there was absolutely no pain and had been shocked to discover she wasn't hurt. Wallace had softly explained that psychics didn't receive injury during simulations or training. Baasratu energy couldn't be fully imitated after all.
This had made it worse, and Kagome had broken down in the shower, letting all of her emotions wash down the drain with her tears and the stasis gel. Or she thought she had. The tears welling up in her eyes now told her differently.
"Oh. That's…that's good."
Her less than enthusiastic response had Midoriko letting out a harsh sigh.
"Higurashi. What are you doing?"
Kagome's head snapped up at the tone of voice she remembered from her training in the botanical lab when she was a teenager. The lowered brows and stoic eyes of her old instructor brought a wave of nostalgia. As well as the panic of answering before the woman became impatient.
"Uh-"
"You're wallowing in self-pity." Midoriko answered the both of them and Kagome cringed at the truth. "Is this how you want to continue? Is this how you want to be?"
"Of course not! I-"
"Want to play the wounded party and sulk in your room."
Kagome's eyes lit with indignation as she met her old instructors gaze dead on. Midoriko allowed a small smile to curve her lips at the look.
"That's better." Crossing her arms on the top of the desk the screen rested on, Midoriko leaned forward. "You'll need that fire if you're going to get through the rest of your training."
Kagome blinked and felt her tensed muscles relax slightly. Midoriko typed a number into her screen and sent it to the one she was linked with. "This is Azarov's number. You know what you have to do, Kagome."
Kagome frowned and gave a sharp nod. Her eyes slid to the side and she clutched her personal screen a bit tighter. "What if Taisho…what if he doesn't want to be partners anymore?" Kagome asked, voicing her deepest fear. Midoriko snorted.
"He told you himself, didn't he? Your next simulation is scheduled for tomorrow evening."
Kagome started to smile then stiffened again. "That was during our link. It was private." Her eyes narrowed. "How did you know?"
Midoriko laughed at the slight flush darkening the young woman's face. "He probably doesn't realize it, but he had spoken those words out loud. As if saying it would make it a fact. Regardless of how he may be disappointed in your lack of progress, it doesn't seem like he'll be giving you up."
Kagome's face burned a darker shade of red and her brows lowered menacingly. "It's not like that!" Midoriko felt a grin stretch her lips. The heavy weight that had been in her chest was easing.
"It's not like what?" She asked innocently, watching as Kagome seemed too flustered to form structured sentences.
"Aw, what are you so embarrassed about?"
"Sensei!"
Her laughter echoed through the communications line even as she closed out of it.
Kagome rubbed at her temples, willing her flush to go away. The numbers still sitting idly on her screen caught her attention and with an air of resignation, she swiped the call button. Her palms started to sweat as the waiting icon flashed and Kagome rubbed them down her sleeping pants. Feeling like an eternity had passed, Kagome started to wonder. What the hell was she going to do if Natalia Azarov didn't answer?
"Who the hell is calling at such an ungodly hour?!"
Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin as the heavily accented bellow rang through her room. Her eyes whipped to her screen and met with the narrowed gaze of one very bedraggled Natalia Azarov.
"Girl, do you have any idea what time it is?!"
Kagome took a deep breath and set her jaw.
"I apologize for this morning and the late call." She paused when she didn't hear any words of censure from the old woman. Looking up to make sure she hadn't disconnected the call, Kagome was met with a rather serious expression on the woman's face. Swallowing he trepidation and misgivings, Kagome set her course.
"Please. Give me a second chance and be my instructor."
Inuyasha whistled to himself as he made his way back to the barracks from the cafeteria, his late night snack clutched between his hands. The coils of steam wafting from the small bowl made his mouth water as he caught the scent of the broth in his nose. Really, he couldn't understand why ramen wasn't a staple in everyone's diet.
Entering the small room, he and his teammates had been given upon arriving on Ragnarok, he absently noted he wasn't the only one awake and glanced over as Sesshomaru was taking off his shirt. The sight of white gaze had him stumbling to a halt. A snicker bubbled up from his lips and he paused to openly jeer at the overly proud captain.
"Ha! You got hurt during your training? You? The mighty Sesshomaru?!"
Too busy laughing at his older brother, Inuyasha didn't see the white hand that flashed out and knocked the bowl of ramen from his hands and onto the floor. Laughter stopping in an instant, Inuyasha stared down at the mess of noodles and broth at his feet disbelievingly. His hands clenched into fists as anger boiled up from inside. The amount of begging and pleading he had to go through to get this ramen flashed through his mind as he brought his eyes up to match the equally enraged gaze of his brother's.
"You fucker."
Sesshomaru caught his fist flying at his face and sneered down at the enraged boy. "Training room." Was all he said as he forcefully pushed Inuyasha back and the both of them glared at the other. In sync, they both turned and headed out of the barracks, the rage a living entity writhing between them.
Sango sat up from her bunk as the two left the room and her wide eyes met with Kouga's, who had been reclining against the wall on his own bunk.
"What was that about?" She whispered and Kouga shook his head, staring pensively at the now closed door.
"Dunno."
Sango bit her lip and turned to stare at the closed door as well. "I've never seen Captain Taisho wounded before." Her hands clenched the blanket over her legs. "What the hell kind of training is he doing?"
Kouga's eyes narrowed and his crossed arms tightened.
"Dunno."
Sango glanced to the other captain than quickly looked away. Turning on her side, she decided that it was best not to ask anything else. I suppose we all have our own issues, she murmured to herself as she finally drifted off.
Kouga's eyes remained glued to the door for a long while after until finally giving in to the need for sleep.
xXx
Here's the next chapter, thank you once again to all the people that have shared such kind words in their reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Thank you for reading and please review!
