Chapter 3
Koinu's Training
Koinu hated all of this. Thanks to his concern for his for his mother and he had to follow her and his so called father with nothing more then a small duffle bag hanging from his shoulder. All that was in it was his cd player, batteries, and his small collection of cds. He was told not to bring any clothes or his so called jewelry. He still snuck some into his bag. This Sesshoumaru guy wasn't going to tell him what to do.
His mother on the other hand was acting strangely. She was walking closely behind Sesshoumaru and being pretty quiet. Did it have something to do with what Miroku and Sango told him? Things with youkai were different then things with two humans were-hold on, his father was a demon? If that guy was really his father then he was half demon half human. Was that what a hanyou was? He didn't want any demon blood if this was how they operated. He was told his mother was marked and that sort of made her like his pocession more then a wife or anything else of that matter. And when a youkai's pocession refused to do what their master said it wouldn't be pretty.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome said breaking the awkward silence, "it's a long walk. Maybe we should explain things to him."
"I don't need anything explained to me," Koinu snapped.
"Yes you do," Kagome snapped back while turning her head around, "you don't understand anything."
That was true. Koinu didn't even know where he was. They couldn't be in the past; time travel was impossible, wasn't it? He wanted to know if this was guy was really his father, if they were really in the past, and where they were going?
"Fine I will explain it all to him by myself," Kagome said responding to Sesshoumaru's silence.
"You can do as you please with him," Sesshoumaru told her calmly, "for now."
"Fine," Kagome replied in a more cheery tone, "Koinu you're a hanyou meaning you're a half demon. I am a human and your father here is Lord Sesshoumaru the dog youkai who rules over the Western Lands. Didn't know you were a prince did you?"
"Dog youkai?"
"Yeah there are different kinds of youkai. For example I was dragged her by an insect youkai, your father's servant is a toad youkai, and there are even flea youkai. You are a dog hanyou and that's why you have cute little puppy dog ears."
"There not cute," growled Koinu, "and you told me all males grew these."
"I lied so you wouldn't find out that you were a hanyou. And knowing you and how smart you are I figured you would find out on your own and when you did you would realize there was a reason I didn't tell you myself."
"Yeah I did kind of figure that when I seen nobody on TV had ears and when you took me out to dinner. I didn't ask because I found out after you bought me the Trapt CD."
"Too bad I can't buy you anymore to keep you being good. Good music hasn't even been invented yet."
"I will live on until my batteries die out. We will get to go back won't we?"
"I don't know. Its up to your father."
"Its our time and home though."
"The monk and slayer already explained it to you," said Sesshoumaru, "you mother belongs to me, and the castle is both your homes now."
"Good, so it has already been explained to you?" asked Kagome, "and besides as the prince of the Western Lands you will rarely have time to play with your CDs. And I only have a little bit of money from our time on me."
"The lady of the Western Lands shouldn't have any money," responded Sesshoumaru, "we have what we have because people hand it to us out of fear and respect. Clearly you will to take some lessons on how the lady of the Western Lands should act."
"Along with my miko lessons you promised me, right?"
"No," he replied, "I have changed my mind. You were only going to receive them so you could leave the castle once in awhile. With this war you are too good of a target for my enemies and I don't want to take any chances."
"Can't I still take lessons though? I want to do something else instead of learning how to be the proper lady. And what if I did get attacked while you were away. It would probably be smart if I know how to defend myself/
"Are you saying lord would leave you unprotected Kagome?"
"No I didn't say that. I just wanted to learn some things."
"Well you can't."
Koinu noticed his mother look at the ground sadly as a little anger appeared in her eyes. Why was she allowing his father to treat this way? This all didn't start to happen until after he left the two alone to speak with Miroku and Sango. Did he do something to her? The only clue Koinu could see was the fact that Kagome stopped every few seconds to rub her neck that seemed swore. All three of them remained silent for hours. Koinu knew it too, the last word was spoken at two o' clock in the afternoon and now it was almost seven. It was then a surprise when Sesshoumaru stopped in the middle of the field.
"Kagome," said Sesshoumaru, "can you create a barrier?"
"I use to be able too," Koinu's mother answered, "I haven't practiced in three years."
"I will allow you to continue that part of training just incase," he told her as a grey barrier all of a sudden surrounding her while Sesshoumaru and Koinu were on the outside of it, "we will use this one in the mean time. I will be right back. Koinu come."
Koinu looked at his father's back as he turned around and started to walk off. Should he follow? He didn't want too after the way this guy treated his mother, but if it was really his father he wanted to follow. He wanted a chance to ask this guy some questions. Question him about youkai and why he and his mother didn't live together for three years if he clearly wanted her back.
"Go ahead Koinu," Kagome urged him as she sat on the ground, "I will be just fine."
"Fine," Koinu muttered as he walked away trying to catch up with Sesshoumaru.
They took a good few silent minutes heading into the woods. Koinu felt as though he had been placed on a rack. He didn't want to be alone with this guy or talk to him after the way he was attacked and insulted by him, but yet he couldn't stand the silence.
"Are you really my father?" Koinu finally asked after not being able to take it anymore.
Sesshoumaru created a few more moments of silence before answering, "what does your nose tell you?"
"I don't usually smell people," Koinu replied, "mom told me when I was little that doing stuff like that is rude."
"You have grown since then. Your nose probably could smell me from where you are and it would go unnoticed."
Koinu stopped and took a whiff of the air. He could smell trees, flowers, grass, and animals, and another scent that kind of smelled like his own. This scent was radiating off of Sesshoumaru.
"You really are related to me," stated Koinu.
"You figured out one thing," replied Sesshoumaru, "now your training can begin."
"What am I expected to learn?"
"You will be taught how to fight. You will also begin to take up some studying on leadership and battle strategy. When your fighting skills are good enough to rival Tsuin's you will receive your own army to be general of."
"Tsuin?"
"He is your younger brother. It won't take you long. Unlike him you are healthy and you have the right type of body for training."
"I know I am totally ripped."
"Ripped?"
"Never mind. Do you love my mother?"
"Why is something like that being questioned by my son?"
"I am just curious. I know she loves you, but I don't know about how you feel."
"And how do you know she loves me? Do you even know why she left three years ago with you? How do you know she didn't leave because of me?"
"When I was little all mom ever did was cry. Even before my grandma and great grandpa died. Back then our lives weren't bad at all. She must have been crying for you, Tsuin, and my sister. Also she still has the sapphire you gave her after she was forced to sell all of our other valuables."
"I see. How fast can you run?"
"I don't really know. I haven't got a chance too ever try. Grandma kept telling me I shouldn't run when I am inside which is where I am use to being."
"I want to see you run. You, me, and your mother will never make it back to the castle at this rate."
"Okay then," said Koinu, "I will try. All it is I guess is walking faster then normal."
Koinu took a few steps backwards and looked forward. He guessed that dog youkai and hanyou were suppose to be able to travel at fast speeds and his father wanted to see if he was capable. He wanted to be capable; he wanted to show his father he was not that clueless. He stepped backwards some more before talking a small breath and dashing forward.
Sesshoumaru's eyes actually widened in amazement. His son had just ran through the forest within the span of one blink. That was faster then Sesshoumaru himself could go through the forest. Quickly Koinu had returned and stared at him curiously.
"That was way too slow," Sesshoumaru said coldly as he started to walk away.
Of course he had just lied to his son, but he wasn't the kind who refused to admit someone was better then him at something. Lying to Koinu was just a big part of the hanyou's training. He would never let Koinu know he was doing a good job. And Sesshoumaru knew this plan would work. He had practiced it by raising both Tsuin and Miyori differently. He had actually opened up and encouraged him at everything while Miyori on the other hand had been treated the exact opposite. Instead of praising her for her accomplishments he insulted her. He had never opened up to her and ended up just giving her orders and sending her away. That was how he was raised and he was stronger then Inuyasha while Miyori was stronger then Tsuin. This plan was obviously effective and he planned to now try it out on his eldest son.
"Gather firewood," Sesshoumaru commanded, "we are going to spend the night here for right now and then in the morning we will run to the castle."
Koinu was too amazed with himself to hear his father's latest command. He had never moved that fast before. The whole forest had just moved in a big blur around him while he moved at a fast speed. Hold on-did his father just say he was too slow?
"Lay off dude," said Koinu, "that was my first try and I thought it was pretty amazing."
"And too bad it wasn't good enough. Now do as I say and gather firewood."
"Well screw your opinion. I will gather wood though, but not for you. It will be for my mother."
"You will start to do as I say if you wish for her to be protected. The sooner you finish your training and take part in this war the sooner it will end and your mom will be safe."
Koinu let out what sounded like a very familiar 'Feh' and started gathering sticks off of the ground. Sesshoumaru let out a sigh. Koinu had obviously inherited the same annoying family traits as Inuyasha had.
It only took a few seconds for Sesshoumaru to use his claws to bring down many trees at once and cut them into smaller pieces. Koinu on the other hand was still gathering twigs. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but think that he himself was moving too slowly even though Koinu was much more behind. It would be a lot faster if he could use one of his swords. The Tensagia of course was useless, and sadly so was his newly claimed Tetsusaiga. He had managed to be able to pick it up and put it with the Tensagia on his belt, but he still couldn't wield it. Maybe it would work for him as it did for Inuyasha long ago now that Kagome had returned and needed protected. She wouldn't need protected though if he could just get her to stay in the castle away from the war.
"Is this enough?" Koinu asked ruining Sesshoumaru's train of thought.
"That's pathetic," Sesshoumaru answered looking down at Koinu's small pile of sticks, "I have enough let's go."
Sesshoumaru handed him an armful of wood as he started to lead his son out of the woods.
"Koinu," he started saying his son's name for the first time, "do you think you could ever use a sword?"
"A sword?" Koinu questioned, "I have never even touched one except that sheathed one that Inuyasha dropped over at me and mom's house. I believe it is called the Tetsusaiga."
"So you were able to touch it?"
"Yeah. I just threw it in the closet."
"How would you like to own the Tetsusaiga."
Sesshoumaru then took the Tetsusaiga off of his belt and held it in his hands.
"That's that stupid sword that was brought over, and sure I will take it. After all who doesn't want to wield a sharp weapon."
"That's too bad," Sesshoumaru taunted as he put the sword back, "there is something you must do first "
"And what would that be?"
"I will supply you with clothes similar to mine. I want you to change out of the filth you are wearing now and totally remove your jewelry."
"And wear girl clothes like you are?" asked Koinu, "hell no. I would rather go without a sword."
"In order to prove to me that you are strong enough to be in charge of an army I would have to witness you defeating your younger brother in a match. It would be pretty hard considering you would be going unarmed while he has a powerful sword of destruction. I have other ways of making you cooperate though."
"And that is?"
"It going to rain soon."
Just as Sesshoumaru silenced himself a huge clash of thunder could be heard overhead and raindrops fell on to Koinu's nose.
"Your point?" asked Koinu.
Sesshoumaru didn't answer as they went back to where Kagome was. The barrier around Koinu's mother seemed to have expanded. There Kagome sat hugging her knees as the raindrops that came down from overhead disappeared upon hitting the barrier. This was how Sesshoumaru planned on starting a fire in the middle of a rainstorm, which was getting worse by the second. Sesshoumaru dropped the wood he had gathered by Kagome. Koinu moved forward to go through the barrier just like his father had so he could do the same, but the wood flew out of his arms as the barrier pushed him away.
"What the hell," growled Koinu as he made a second attempt at breaking through, which just ended up failing also.
"I told you I would find away to get you to cooperate," bragged Sesshoumaru as he threw some kind of outfit towards his son, "now make yourself look appropriate and you can come in from the storm."
"Screw that," snapped Koinu as he just threw the outfit over his shoulder.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome began to plead, "let him in. He will get sick and-."
"If he gets sick then its his fault," Sesshoumaru interrupted, "its his choice whether he decides to obey my order or not. And you are done babying him."
"This rain is nothing," said Koinu as a smirk grew on his face and he turned around and walked off, "guess I will see you two in the morning."
"Very well then," Sesshoumaru replied, "if you want to play that way then make sure wherever your going you need to get an early rest were leaving right in the morning."
"I will," Koinu told them as he disappeared into the woods.
"Are you crazy!" Kagome shouted at her mate, "what if a demon attacks him? He won't know what to do."
"Once again if that happens its all his fault. You can change his clothes and remove his jewelry at anytime and be safe."
"You don't understand how Koinu's mind works. He will always try to challenge you and the more you tell him to do something the more he will fight. He won't change his clothes."
"Your mistaken Kagome. I know exactly how Koinu's mind works; it works the same as Inuyasha's did so I know what I'm doing."
"Yeah he does act like Inuyasha doesn't he? Just from curiosity did Tsuin or Miyori get any of those traits."
"Not one of them. Makes me wonder if Koinu is even my child."
"You know he is. There was a seal on the curse which prevented Inuyasha from taking part."
"He acts too much like Inuyasha, for example..."
Kagome turned her head and seen someone approaching. It was Koinu again, but this time he appeared different. He was wearing the outfit that Sesshoumaru gave to him which was the usual white with red flowers on the sleeve. And all of Koinu's bracelets have been removed too.
"I see you have decided to stop resisting," said Sesshoumaru as he made a hole appear in the barrier so his son could come in, "It didn't take long either."
"Yeah Koinu," agreed Kagome as she threw a blanket over her son upon entering their barrier, "guess your not that much of a punk as you think you are."
"That's not why I did it," replied Koinu, "I was worried about you mom."
"Once again that proved my point, you're not a punk at all."
"Mom," Koinu growled in warning.
"Hush Koinu," snapped Sesshoumaru's cold voice, "now that I have earned your obedience..."
Sesshoumaru ignored the stinging feeling that attacked his hand to the best of his ability as he threw the Tetsusaiga to the ground. Kagome knew what Sesshoumaru was doing. He was passing the Tetsusaiga down to his son. Kagome hated this. She liked the fact Sesshoumaru was giving his son a gift and treating him as though he didn't disappear for three years, but did it have to be the Tetsusaiga? That sword was meant for Inuyasha; certainly not one of Sesshoumaru's offspring.
It took awhile for Koinu after he picked up the sword, "thank you father. And just for the record I am only saying that because you gave me a gift. Not because I like you or anything."
"That's a coincidence," responded Sesshoumaru, "because I am just ignoring the fact that you still have that piece of woman's jewelry in you ear just because I am not in the mood to fight. Not because I care about you or anything."
"Well enough of that," Kagome's warm voice interrupted as she finished making a fire, "why don't we all just go to bed."
"You and Koinu will sleep," Sesshoumaru replied, "I will countinue to create the barrier and watch out for youkai."
"Fine with me," muttered Koinu as he turned over on to his stomach and went to sleep while being wrapped up in the blanket.
Kagome took her own blanket and tried to go to sleep. She knew she must have been asleep for at least a few minutes because she felt drowzy, but she couldn't stop thinking about all the things swarming around in her head. How would her children react when she met them for the first time, did Sesshoumaru really expect to pick off where he had left off with her, could Koinu ever adjust to any of this, and how could Sesshoumaru give up Inuyasha's sword?
"Kagome why are you not sleeping?" Sesshoumaru asked after seeing her thrash around on the ground trying to get comfrotable.
"I just don't want to sleep," she answered.
"It's a long journey. Even though we will be running and I will be carrying you."
"Koinu learned how to run I take it?"
"Yes he did. Now whats on your mind?"
"What makes you think there is something on my mind?"
"Three years hasn't made me forget how you act. You usaully sleep unless something is really wrong."
"I was just thinking about things. How could you give away Inuyasha's sword like that? How could you take?"
"How could I not? Incase you can't remember I only met you because I wanted that blade."
"Still it was Inuyasha's."
"Inuyasha can't use it now. If it makes you feel better and gets your mind off of the hanyou I will make sure he gets it back."
"Well of course you will. If he is really a hanyou again then he will need his blood sealed so he doesn't turn back into what made him into."
"Has it ever occurred to you that is the reason I gave the sword to Koinu. Do you want him to turn into a blood thirsty demon as well?"
"I didn't think about that. Its just your father didn't want anyone else to have the sword."
"Which is why Koinu won't have it for long. The Tetsusagia and Tensagia were weapons used in my generation. Its tradition for the next generation to have different and stronger weapons."
"I see then. Oh and Sesshoumaru there is something else I needed to speak to you about, now that Koinu is asleep and everything."
"And what is that?"
"Well I don't know what you have told Miyori and Tsuin, but there is a few things I never told Koinu."
"By somethings do you mean everything?"
"No, its just...I don't what him to know how he was born."
"You mean on how he is nothing more then the result of a dead miko's curse."
"Yeah that one. Where I come from if a child learned something like that it would make them feel, you know, unwanted."
"If that is what you wish then I will never mention it to him."
"Thanks Sesshoumaru," Kagome said as she finally laid back down on the ground and closed her eyes.
She still had many questions unanswered, but she was sure she would soon find them all out. Tommrrow would be the day she arrived at the Castle in the Western Lands. She would see the two children she had'nt seen since they were babies. A part of her was excited, while another part of her was scared. What if they didn't like her, what if they didn't like Koinu, what if they both were unwanted. Kagome went to sleep knowing that was enough 'what ifs' for tonight. Koinu also just went to sleep after his ears had picked up on his mother and father's converstation.
(End Chapter 3)
A/N: Sorry for the long wait my brain was blocked by stuff.
sessou's lover: Was that fast enough for you?
Inuyasha'smistress: Not exactly, Miyori is like Koinu she is a teenager and fully able to write.
Crispy: Once again...my Koinu not yours!!!
cHiBi InU's GrrL: YES!!! FINALLY!!! I have had too many cookies lately time for something new.
Midnight: For the thrid time, my Koinu not yours!!!
Mystic Hanyou: Thank you for that review, I wouldn't have put in that part about how sniffing people is rude if it wasn't for your review
Wanderingdragon: Don't worry it won't be a lemon it will stay PG-13