Oh my! Three chapters already and this one is the longest?! Gasp! This has some Japanese terms in it, so if you're allergic to google, well, I guess you're S.o.l. Now, contextually, you should be able to figure out what they mean.

Some more stuff happens, and some people say some things. Ha.

Shout out to Kathy for her first chapter review and Lady Sesshomaru Sama for her second chapter review. I'd give individual love to the faves and followers, but, frankly, I'm too lazy to look at my stats to figure out who it is. Just know that you're appreciated (there was even some happy dancing)

I don't own Inuyasha or related licenses, just the plot. Concrit welcome, flames summarily ignored.

Third Rotation

A slight sniff of air. 'Chrysanthemums. Not there.'

Another huff slightly toward the river. Closed eyes crinkled, trying to separate the cool, moist scent of the river from the scents of the flora nearby. They opened in triumph.

"Momma, I found Coltsfoot!" He raced back to Kagome and Sango, a grin widening his vulpine features. "It's over by the river. It smelled like it still had flowers!"

The two females shared a smile at his exuberance. "Over there?" Sango pointed through the underbrush. The kit nodded and turned to lead them through.

"Shippo, did you scent for anything else, or just the Coltsfoot?"

Kagome's voice stopped the kitsune in his tracks and she chuckled.

"Relax, I can't sense anything nearby, but remember, once you find what you're looking for with your senses, you also need to pay attention to your surroundings."

"I know, momma," the boy groaned out, obviously still sore from their earlier talk. Of course she had found out what had happened, and how he had been humiliated by Inubaka. Sure, Lord Sesshomaru didn't seem to be annoyed, but... It was just so embarrassing! His cheeks colored again with the memory.

"You know, honey," his mother began, picking through the brush that seemed determined to fell her. "What if... What if there was someplace you could learn? And no one would think you're bad or would judge you. Maybe with some other kitsune?" He slowly looked up at his mother, clever mind racing to explain her words.

"Mom?" Did she... Was she tired of him?

His insecurity must've shown, no matter how he tried to 'man up,' as Inubaka put (he never understood it, he was not a man, he's a fox). Within moments, Kagome had scooped him up and held him closely to her, nuzzling him in the way only a mother could.

"Oh, Shippo. My Heart, I just want you to be happy. But baby, I also want you to grow up strong and powerful in your own right." Another nuzzle and he relaxed further.

"So you aren't tired of me?" His small voice made him cringe, and he hated that he felt so weak.

"No, My Heart. Never. I just want you to be your best. There are always options if you don't want to go, but still want to learn. We can figure this out, but first, honey, you have to ask for help." She smiled at him, kissing his cheek. "You're not always going to be good at everything, but with practice, you can be the best you that you can be. That's all I want for you."

He snuggled further in her arms and considered her words. 'Always options...'

Inuyasha gave the scene before him a shocked glance before throwing his hands up in the air in defeat.

"Ya wanted trainin' and yer already givin' up?!" The form on the ground huffed her irritation. 'Too bad,' thought the hanyou sourly. 'She pestered me all through dinner for this, she can deal with it.'

"But Inuyasha-" Kagome's whine was cut off by a growl.

"Higurashi Kagome, you said ya wanted to learn to fight. After the fit ya had last night, yer doin' this." Her head dropped and she slumped. Slowly, she nodded and stood.

"You're right, 'Yasha. Show me that move again?" He grinned at her and began to move her through the motions of throwing an enemy.

Inuyasha moved behind her. "Now, if the enemy comes from here, they're probably gonna grab you like this-" He approached from her rear right side, out of periphery. "If they know you by description, they know you have reiki."

He grasped her right wrist, yanking it behind her, while wrapping a forearm around her neck. His breath puffed in her ear, and a more primal, masculine part of himself reveled in her blush of proximity.

'Kikyo...' The thought of his first love, her reanimated husk still walking the lands, was enough to cool his blood.

"From here, take yer left hand and make a fist." He grasped her left hand, showing her how to properly fist her hand to protect her fragile human bones. "Now keep yer arm straight and swing down and back."

Kagome once again did as instructed, but her movements were more of a punch than a low arc. He stepped back in front of her and demonstrated, bringing his fist in a downward swing, from out to in. Her eyes lit up.

"Bowling!" She gestured for him to try the move again, and this time, she got it right. So right, Inuyasha hadn't been ready for it, and he crumpled behind her. "Oh! 'Yasha!"

Golden eyes were clenched in pain, but he was laughing anyway. "That was good!" He wheezed. "Real good!"

After a few moments of nauseating pain, Inuyasha finally made it to his knees. He straightened his rumpled haori and laughed. "Now, wench," he stood,"Yer attacker is gonna wanna get your main hand trapped, so when ya get 'em with your left, it will surprise them. They might not let you go, but they will loosen up. If ya can't blast 'em with reiki, immediately twist and pull your wrist to break their hold. Like this," he demonstrated how she could move her wrist to face the ground and, again, swipe sharply downward to break the hold.

"From there," he continued, "You grab their arm that's near yer neck and use your right shoulder to roll them over you. Try it with me- WITHOUT more hitting."

A few more attempts, and some different angles, and Kagome could successfully flip a rear attacker. 'She ain't gonna like this next part,' Inuyasha thought grimly. It was vital that she move a rear attacker to her front, if not only to remove the advantage from them, but to incapacitate or kill them.

"Okay, wench, ya got it. Now what're ya gonna do when you got 'em on the ground in front'a ya?" She paused and considered his question.

Finally, she acted, dropping to one knee in a single motion while bringing a sharp elbow down. "I can- huh!- deliver a blow to solar plexus."

Fanged mouth slightly ajar, Inuyasha considered the young woman before him. Raven hair, slightly wavy, big blue eyes. It was moments like these Inuyasha realized how different Kikyo and her reincarnation were. 'If they even are,' a part of him, his demon he supposed, replied.

"Yeah, Kags... Yeah. That's enough for now, okay? Let's get back for some grub." If he considered the growing mystery of Kagome on the walk back, she was none the wiser, chirping away about the early April weather.

When they arrived back in Edo, she fixed him with a stare. "'Yasha? Later, can we talk?" If he could've said no, he would've, but there was something serious hiding in her cerulean gaze.

"Yeah, wench. We will. Now go fill yer belly, I can hear it from here!"

His clawed hand raised to scratch at an ear absently. He'd sit and talk about whatever Kagome wanted to talk about, but he'd be damned if he'd let her get away with not discussing what was up with her.

'Thank you, Kagome-sama,' Kaede sent a grateful prayer for the girl. Those coltsfoot flowers were exactly what she needed for the aches in her joints. It seemed her knowledge of kampo had improved, as well. 'The girl was so sweet to have made the infusion right away.'

Her gnarled hands grasped her cup allowing the warmth to fill them, further soothing her rheumatic knuckles. She allowed her remaining eye to trail after the girl, wry smile on her lips.

"Kagome-sama, why don't ye stop fretting and sit down. My child, I can see ye be mulling over a problem. Allow this old woman to sooth thine soul." The priestess chucked her hands up in surrender and sat. Kaede observed Kagome's own hands, slender and artful, but with the slight callous of a seasoned archer, and the nicks and scars of her youthful, impetuous days. She flexed her own hands, a small ache taking root.

"Kaede-baa, you should let me try to heal you. At least alleviate your pain!" The same old argument, then. So this is how this would go. Kaede snorted inelegantly and waved the miko off.

"Kagome-sama." The younger of the two allowed a fond smile slip across her lips and she nodded.

"I know, baa-baa. It's just..." She trailed off and Kaede fought not to wrap her arms around the obviously distraught girl's shoulders.

"Is it thine family?" It had to be. She only adopted this aura of depression after she has seen her family on the other side of the well. 'That cursed well.' Clamping down on the feeling of resentment rising from her belly, the healer's attention shifted to the miko's face.

"Aah," came the hesitant reply. "It's my grandfather. He has- um, he's- well, he had these tests..."

Ah.

"So his time here is nearing the end?" Fighting tears, Kagome nodded in reply. Her eyes were shining and her hands had raised to fist at her mouth. Within moments, her effort to remain strong had crumbled to nothing, and she was sobbing loudly in Kaede's arms.

"I-" gasp,"I never got to-" hiccup,"keep my promise!" She wailed. "I was sup-posed-" her voice broke and degenerated to wordless noises.

For a long moment, the only sounds between the two were shuddering cries and comforting hums. Finally, Kagome broke away slightly. "I promised him I'd fix the jewel, that he could go to rest knowing balance was restored. He just- Kaede-baa, when he told me, he just said that some promises weren't meant to be kept. What could I say to that?!"

Her eyesight may have deteriorated, but even Kaede wasn't blind to the pain the girl was feeling. The utter helplessness.

"Child, he is a priest, is he not?" Kagome snorted wetly and rolled her eyes.

"A priest, sure, but he has no reiki or anything." Kaede wished her shoulder wasn't so tender, she'd pop the girl upside the head. 'In youth, there is much ignorance.'

"I'm ashamed of ye, child. Ye know as well as I the Kami don't care about reiki. True power lies in belief. Thine grandfather is honorable and devout, yes?"

Kagome stopped her fidgeting and stared at Kaede. "Well," she slowly began, "yes, he is. He upholds kami-no-michi even in his sleep, I could swear it!" Heavily slumping into a cushion near the kotatsu, she mumbled, "I wish I had his understanding of kannagara."

Kaede tutted and patted her hand. "To understand the will of the kami is to understand balance. Thine grandfather does not need to have power, he has belief, and his devotion to the kami has always been recognized. Ye may not understand the how or why behind the actions of the kami, but trust and accept that nothing is without reason." Her back protested and popped as she stood from the low table and moved toward her stew, which had been slowly simmering over her fire.

As she checked the rabbit for signs of blood still present and her turnips for softness, Kagome spoke again.

"Kaede-baa, why do people we love have to leave us?" If the young woman's voice had been any quieter, her companion wouldn't have heard her.

"Why does anything happen? Why do the leaves turn brittle and brown before falling from the trees? Why do our fields wither and die in the onset of snow?" The impetuous stare she received back made her guffaw.

"Because, my child, without death, without change and hardship, there is no growth, no life. With every end, there is a beginning."

She allowed Kagome to ponder her words in silence and turned back to her stew. 'The wheel is always turning, child.