The day dawned clear and bright and all Kagome wanted to do was hide in a hole somewhere and sleep. She was exhausted and wanted nothing more than for the sun to explode so she could continue sleeping. Sleepily she giggled at that thought before rubbing her eyes and stretching carefully. She looked around and wondered where everyone could have gone; shrugging her shoulders she quickly regretted that decision before getting up. Even a week later and the wound on her back still ached her, she knew that if she was better with her miko powers she could of healed quicker, but she ignored that thought and got dressed.
Carefully she changed her clothes and headed into the bright sunshine; not seeing anyone she sighed and sat herself outside the hut enjoying the sun. She wasn't too worried about where her companions were at and instead took this opportunity to go over everything that had occurred.
She closed her eyes and let the events of the past few weeks play over in her mind. She tried to come to terms with her decision to let Inuyasha go, but it was hard for her. She still loved him and probably would for a long time, but she knew she couldn't continue on knowing he would just hurt her again. Breathing deeply she strengthened her resolve and moved on to a different matter.
Letting her mind go blank she drew her miko powers to the surface and started with exercises that both Kaede and Miroku had given her to increase her energy flow. She was learning quickly to control her power though she knew there was a lot of stuff she was still unable to do and probably wouldn't achieve them for a long time. Growing irritated with her limits she tried to shape her power to the purpose that she had in mind.
Slowly she opened her eyes to look down at her hands where she had sent her energy to and was surprised to see three little birds glowing a soft blue sitting in them. Her surprise turned into triumph at her achievement before she nodded to each of them in turn, sending them to do what she wanted them to.
A while later she was awoken by tapping on her foot, she opened her eyes to see that one of her birds had returned. Smiling, she opened her hand and watched as it jumped into it; immediately it melted back into her bringing along images of Shippou helping Kaede tend to the sick around the village. Soon those images faded and she found herself sitting against the wall of the hut once more; it wasn't long until the next little bird came along and showed her where Sango and Miroku were. She laughed when Sango smacked the monk for being a pervert once again before she started storming back to the hut.
Fluttering to the ground before her was the last of the birds she had created but it didn't come to her immediately like all the others had before. When she looked closer she noticed it looked sad and she could only gape at the fact that it was showing emotion as an extension of her power and of herself. Shaking her head she extended her hand out and waited for it to hop onto it; hesitantly it did and she was bombarded with pictures and sound.
A hand on her shoulder jerked her out of the images and a concerned voice filled her ears asking her if she was alright.
"I'm fine Sango, don't worry," shaking the images away she stood knowing where Inuyasha was and why she was so sad about it. Steeling herself and her decision once more she took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of her best friend.
"Really Sango I'm fine." She reassured before smiling wide and stretching, letting her body adjust to the wounds she had.
"So, we gonna start training again?"
"I don't know; are you sure you're healed enough?" Sango stated while watching Kagome stretch to loosen muscles she hadn't used in a while.
"Yeah, but if you want we can just go over some simple stuff for now."
Agreeing, Sango and Kagome walked into the sunshine and into a clearing near the hut; starting on all the basic forms they moved on from there. They took breaks when Kagome needed it, but only because Sango was worried that she was going to push herself too far and end up injured again. She was amazed though, with how much she was improving even with the wound on her back and the determination that she showed for perfecting all the stances and moves. Calling a stop for the day they decided that a nice bath was in order to end the day.
Slowly they made their way back to the hut and gathered their bathing supplies before heading to the river for a nice, cool bath.
"How are things with Miroku?" Kagome asked off-handedly and watched as Sango turned bright red.
"Uhhh! He's such a pervert!" She huffed before smacking Kagome lightly when she started to laugh.
"Sorry Sango, you get so flustered when I mention Miroku, its funny."
"Hmpf," was Sango's reply as they made it to a secluded part of the river and quickly undressed. She helped Kagome with her bandages and they both let out a sigh of relief when the cool water touched their over-heated skin. They relaxed for a moment before they started to wash themselves of the grime and dirt they had accumulated.
The silence was peaceful and neither spoke being lost in their own thoughts, but it was a comfort silence. Soon though, the cold was starting to pain the claw marks on Kagomes back and that was their cue to leave. Sango expertly dressed the injury and soon they were headed back to Kaede's hut.
Two weeks passed and Kagome healed quickly and soon they were off once again after a jewel shard rumor.
Kagome tried her hardest to let go of her love, but it was hard; some days they acted like they used to while others he was gone for most of the day. She tried to ignore the ache in her heart but it would not leave; she decided that she still loved him but she would do nothing nor act upon it. She wouldn't let herself; it would only end in disaster for her and the others around her. Happier now that she had come to a conclusion she relaxed in the sunshine.
She watched as Kilala drew closer to a plant that she recognized from pet stores and idly wondered how she was gonna react to it when she came upon it: catnip. As soon as the demon cat stepped on it and the scent reached her nose she freaked out. Kagome laughed as Kilala bit, scratched, rubbed, and nibbled on the plant all the while rubbing it all over her body.
Sango and Miroku looked like Kilala had lost her mind and that made her laugh even harder. Once she calmed down enough she explained to the both of them why Kilala was acting the way she was. Sango was interested in the catnip and took some while Kilala wasn't looking and hid it in an inner pocket of her Kimono.
Kagome looked around for Shippou wondering where he could have gotten to; growing worried the longer she couldn't find her adoptive kit she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him lying in some flowers sleeping. Now content she looked around for Inuyasha and once again couldn't find him. Growing angry she asked Sango to spare with her so she could get rid of some frustration.
Sango agreed and they both changed into more appropriate clothing for fighting. Sango wore her exterminator outfit and Kagome changed into a similar outfit, but it was a two piece and the hakama she wore were loose fitting and the top was more similar to Sango's.
Miroku sat in the shade near Shippou as Sango and Kagome moved into the meadow in front of them. Both took the time to stretch and get warmed up; Kagome focusing on her healed scars and trying to keep them from being strained to the point of them opening up again.
They took it easy at first getting into the groove of moving and dodging before the pace started to pick up between them. They moved in time with each other, trading blows while blocking others; Miroku watched contentedly as the two women sparred with each other.
Soon enough they stopped to rest having vented their frustration while enjoying how they did it. They smiled at each other, tired but content for the moment; it didn't last long.
"Jewel shards to the left, coming in fast!" Kagome yelled as she stood and took a defensive stance as the others followed suit.
Shippou woke to the sound of approaching footsteps and grew worried when he saw the beast that arrived into the clearing.
It was a large lizard like with giant scales on its back that rose up as it approached the small group.
"Jewel shards! Give them to me and you will not die!"
Kagome resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the demon as she relaxed her posture to subtly find her bow and arrows. She shared a glance with Miroku when she saw her weapons were too far away.
"I will never give you the shards!" Kagome yelled and waited for the attack she knew was coming.
As predicted he attacked and Kagome dodged heading towards her weapon of choice.
"Kagome, watch out!" Sango screamed fearing for her best friend.
A glance to her right alerted her to an incoming attack from the demons tail; she ducked and rolled causing him to miss by a hair. Once out of the way she took off again and grabbed her bow and an arrow before kneeling and taking aim.
Releasing the arrow she watched as it flew straight and true lodging itself in the beast's eye. A grotesque sound was emitted by the demon as it shook its head trying to rid itself of the arrow protruding from it eye.
Angered that it couldn't get the arrow out it looked out of its good eye trying to find the one that wounded it. As he set his sights on Kagome, Miroku and Sango attacked. Out of sight for the moment Kagome took a deep breath before quickly making her way over to Shippou.
One eye on the battle, Kagome took one of her arrows and poured some of her miko energy into it before handing it to Shippou for his protection.
"Stay here, that arrow will form a barrier should you get into trouble." Kagome stated as she took up her bow and aimed at the demon once more.
Breathing out she waited for the perfect moment to strike, seeing it she released and watched as her arrow flew true once more. Screaming in pain the demon ignored the attacking monk and exterminator and whipped around throwing his tail in her direction.
"Kagome!" Shippou screamed as the barrier activated from his distress and trapped him inside.
Kagome dived to the right, trying to avoid the attack, but she was caught in the left leg and thrown to the edge of the meadow.
She landed with a painful thud causing her head to crack painfully against the ground; blearily she watched as her friends drove the monster away and soon she lost sight of them. Slowly she drug herself off the ground and leaned heavily against a tree.
Tiredly she pushed herself toward where she had seen her friends disappear; she didn't hear Shippou when she passed near him or when she started to go the wrong way. All she heard was the pounding of her heart and felt the throbbing of her leg.
Hours she wandered trying to locate her companions, only to get herself more and more lost.
Painfully she pushed on her left leg dragging behind her; it was at an off angle because of the fall earlier. She pushed through the pain wanting with all her might to find her friends and then rest for a long while.
Her head grew heavy as a fog settled over her consciousness and yet she continued to struggle on. Soon enough though, she was leaning heavily against a tree trying to shake the fogginess away.
Gradually she lost the will to stand, sliding against the tree until she was sitting; as her eyes traveled over the area she was in she saw eyes staring back at her.
Fear caused her body to unconsciously stiffen causing a moan to escape her lips as her leg muscles tightened.
The eyes drew closer and all Kagome could think was that she hoped her friends would find her body. As her world began to darken those mysterious eyes followed her into the darkness, pain not far behind.
A/N: There is the second chapter of my brain baby! I hope you enjoy and review. I live off reviews, they make me very happy and want to update!