Kagome stood, facing the expanse of forest, and the castle beyond that. Where there had been a door and large wall, now there was nothing. Birds chirped in the distance, and part of her noticed a rabbit burrowing.
She hadn't meant to do it. All she did was listen to whatever was commanding her use of the whip of light. The blue beam had seemed to move of its own accord. But now half the building was missing, weapons scattered about the floor, and the owner of the dojo staring at her.
That's it, she thought. I lost my only chance at getting to know Sesshomaru. I might as well leave. She turned to face the inu, expecting rage.
His face was surprisingly calm, but perhaps that was his normal lack of expression, and he was boiling inside. Kagome tried to look apologetic. She felt she came off as nervous.
"I'm terribly sorry, Sesshomaru," she said, knowing it wouldn't help. "I didn't mean to do that. I've never used youkai powers before, and I guess I screwed it up." Kagome reached back, pulling some of her hair forward to twist it in her fingers. "You can yell at me, if you want."
Sesshomaru took a few steps, observing the damage. "There are no traces of the wood previously holding up this part of my dojo," he said. "No wreckage or debris. It has simply vanished." He turned back to her. "This level of damage will take weeks to fix."
She hung her head. "I'm so sorry," she said again. "I know I probably can't make this up to you." Kagome had never done anything quite this bad, and guilt flooded her.
"This is impressive."
Her head snapped up. "Huh?"
Sesshomaru nodded, glancing at the damage again. "I would not have expected this level of damage from one who knows nothing of youkai abilities." He picked up a sword, knocked down by the the force of the blast, but with no harm to itself. "Your power is striking."
Relief replaced her guilt as Kagome realized he was complimenting her. "Thank you," she said. "Oh," she added, "I guess that won't make up for wrecking the dojo, though."
"It is indeed an inconvenience," he said, frowning. "You ruined my dojo."
"I'm sorry," Kagome said again.
"You sound pathetic," Sesshomaru answered, stepping away from her. "Apologizing too much displays weakness." He raised his claws, pressing his fingers close, and held his arm out. "Show me that you are not weak."
His whip of light appeared, green and incandescent. He swung it just in front of Kagome, making her jump as it struck the hardwood floor and retracted. "Show me," he commanded.
He's challenging you, Kagome's inner youkai said. He realizes you have potential. Fight back.
Smirking to herself, Kagome raised her arm as well, closing her eyes and focusing on summoning the whip of light again.
It glowed blue in her hands, moving with graceful force as it his Sesshomaru's whip dead on, the noise shaking the foundations of what was left of the dojo. Lightning flashed, particles protesting to the abuse, and Kagome retracted her whip, letting it lie harmlessly on the floor. It's only dangerous as long as I want it to be, she thought.
Sesshomaru raised an arm, and Kagome caught it, blocking another blow.
"Your defense is simple," he said, striking again. It was all Kagome could do to watch his movements, let alone strike. "You must watch for my attacks, and an opportunity to release your own." His instructions barely registered with her, a sound like thunder reverberating through the dojo and the field beyond.
"How . . . am I . . . supposed to do . . . that?" Kagome asked, gasping between words. Sesshomaru was relentless, barely giving her time to catch a breath before striking again.
He pulled the whip back. "Your enemies will not be as gracious as I am. I attacked slowly, allowing time to breath and to watch my movements. A man such as Naraku would have killed you by now." Sesshomaru struck the air with the whip of light, silent as it swung in the air. "The whip of light will not crack when swung sharply, unlike a leather whip. It will also not wrap itself when it strikes an object, but, rather, 'crash,' making a sound similar to thunder."
"It is like thunder," Kagome said, glad to have a break. The short but intense battle had been more than she expected, and certainly more than she was used to. Shooting arrows required distance and focus, not close proximity and constant vigilance. "The particles make noise when they clash, the way particles in clouds do when they expand rapidly. And it gives off electricity." She eyed her own whip, extending from her hand rather than held in it. "It's powerful."
"Only to those who use it properly." Sesshomaru raised the whip again, flicking it like a horse crop. "For most inu youkai, it is something for lesser enemies, not to be used in a serious battle. I myself have found that, through focus and training, it can hold immense power. You have raw potential, but your technique leaves much to be desired."
Kagome looked at him, her hopes raising each moment. This was the most Sesshomaru had ever spoken to her, and he didn't seem to be hating it, though his dojo was damaged. They might have finally found something to connect them. "Thanks, I guess," she said. "Would it be too much to ask you how I could improve my technique?"
A loud crash. Kagome was thrown back, her whip disappearing. Sesshomaru stood over her, his own weapon twirling above his head. "Practice," he said, and swung his arm down.
()
"Ouch!" Kagome complained, leaning away from Koneko.
"Lady Kagome, hold still, please." Koneko dabbed the wound gently, dipping the cloth in warm water again.
"I know," she sighed. "It just hurts a lot. Now I know why Inuyasha wouldn't sit still when I tried to give him first aid."
"Inuyasha?" Koneko dabbed the wound again, and Kagome winced.
"An old friend," Kagome replied. "He used to get hurt a lot, and hated treatment. I can see why. It's my own fault for training with him, I suppose."
Koneko put the cloth on the side of the wash tub and grabbed a bandage roll. "Lord Sesshomaru does not take training lightly, I'm afraid. I once saw him when I was fetching old farming tools from the fields for repair. He was in the forest, using his poison claws. He destroyed an orchard of sakura trees."
"That's mean!" Kagome declared, and winced again. The wound in her side, delivered by a heavy blow from the whip of light, was the worst of several injuries. Most were only bruises from falling and slamming into the shattered dojo walls, avoiding and blocking Sesshomaru for her life, and didn't move fast enough to avoid a hard hit in the ribs. The electricity might have killed her, were she still human. As an inu, it burned her skin, and was healing quickly. But she asked Koneko to wash and bandage it, nonetheless.
"His respect for nature only applies to food bearing plants." Koneko wrapped the bandage carefully, just under Kagome's breasts. "The sakura trees are for aesthetic pleasure only, and not important to him. Regardless, it showed his power to me for the first time, and he did not break a sweat while doing so."
"And I can't even handle a burn," she complained, watching as Koneko finished bandaging her and put the supplies away. "I want to get stronger, but I have a lot to learn. At least he was talking to me more than he usually does."
"Yes." Koneko wrapped the medical supplies in a bag, standing and handing Kagome her shirt. She took it gratefully, careful to avoid the bandages as she put it on.
"Is something wrong?" Kagome tied her haori closed and peered at Koneko. Guilt seeped into her mind, and she asked, "Am I talking about him too much? We can change the subject."
Koneko paused. "I would not normally ask that of you," she said slowly, "but that would be favorable at the moment."
Leaving the bathing room, the two traveled down the hallway silently. Kagome didn't know what to say, and the atmosphere wasn't pleasant for chit chat. All the servants knew who she was by now, and gave small bows as they passed. It made her uncomfortable, and she wished she could tell them to treat her normally.
"I'm not some princess," she mumbled.
"Do you not like the treatment?" Koneko laughed a bit, in a better mood after seeing Kagome's face. It didn't get any better after that comment.
"I don't," she complained. A laundry woman walked by, bowing her head and saying, "Good morning, my lady," before continued to her destination. "It's weird," Kagome said.
Koneko shrugged. "You will have to become accustomed to it."
"I didn't want to be Lady of the West." Kagome sighed, running a hand through her hair. "But you're right, I have to get used to it. Fate put me here for a reason."
"Indeed."
Another long silence. Kagome followed Koneko as she put the medical supplies away and went to the kitchen. The servants were preparing for lunch, carrying baskets of food and cutting up vegetables. It smelled heavenly to Kagome.
"I have to work," Koneko said, "but you can stay, if you wish."
She did want to stay, but Kagome had other matters to attend to. Firstly, she hadn't spent any time with Shippo since arriving, and she wanted to get to know Hatori better. And, if she could manage, she wanted to speak with Sesshomaru about when they would be leaving on the hunt for Naraku again.
"I have to go," she said, smiling at Koneko. "I hope you have a lovely day."
Kagome knew well enough that it was hard for a servant to have a lovely day, working every minute, but it didn't hurt to say so. Koneko reminded her of Sango in ways, dedicated to her work above all else.
Searching the corridors with eyes and nose, it didn't take Kagome long to find the children. They were in the courtyard garden, trying to catch the koi fish in the tiny pond.
"A little further, Shippo!" Rin cheered, laughing. Kagome chuckled. Rin was eleven, Shippo and Hatori not much younger, at least in appearance, but they acted younger. Perhaps because Rin hadn't seen the hardships of life for the past three years, protected by her lordship, and was willing to play any games the boys wanted.
Or maybe she's just immature herself, Kagome thought, approaching them.
"Lady Kagome!" Hatori looked up from the water, his neko ears twitching. "It's nice to see you. Are you having a good morning?"
"I am," Kagome said, smiling. "And how's my baby?" She picked Shippo up, snuggling him close.
Shippo struggled in her grip. "Mama! Not in front of them!" He squirmed until he was free, plopping to the ground.
Kagome laughed, patting him on the head. "I'm sorry, honey, I just haven't talked to you in a while. How have you all been?"
"Good!" Rin beamed. "Playing with Shippo and Hatori is so much fun!"
"I'm glad." Kagome sat beside them on the grass, watching the fish. "Rin, do you have any idea how long we'll be staying?"
Rin put a hand on her face, pondering. "Lord Sesshomaru doesn't have us come here often, but lately we've been stopping by more and staying longer. I'd say a few days, at least."
"All right then." Kagome was used to her group mates wanting to move as quickly as possible to catch up with Naraku. Either Sesshomaru's responsibilities were such that he was forced to stay for some time, or he wasn't worried about catching up. Or both.
The children were happy to spend time with Kagome. She gave off a motherly aura, and made them feel more cheerful than usual. After about an hour, a servant came to call them to lunch, and the group left the courtyard together.
Kagome hadn't experienced a group meal at the castle yet, only eating in her room because the respect she got from the servants made her feel odd. The kids ran ahead, entering the dining hall beyond the thick, decorated wood door. Kagome was about to do the same, when a hand stopped her.
Sesshomaru.
"Oh," Kagome said as he released her. He was dressed in his normal clothing again, rather than the training clothes she'd seen him in that morning.
When she was harmed during the training session, Sesshomaru ended it and told her to find someone to tend to the wound. Kagome supposed she should be grateful that he didn't continue fighting with her despite the injury, but part of her was still irked that he would actually hurt her.
Ignoring the mild anger, Kagome asked, "Are you coming to lunch too? I was told by Koneko that you don't usually eat with your guests." The crash course from the neko on eating in the castle also informed Kagome that Sesshomaru got a lot of money from letting nobles stay here. They were charged according to what rooms they stayed in, much like a hotel, the difference being that the nobles stayed for periods of months. They were the youkai important enough to have a ridiculous amount of money to burn, but unimportant enough not to have to worry about going to their homelands for a while.
According to Koneko, lately they had not been staying as long, and there were less of them.
"Kagome," he said, amazing her by using her name, "you were obviously too focused on the children to notice that a prestigious guest arrived a short while ago." Sesshomaru would have preferred he stay away, as his least favorite lord of the lands, but telling him to leave would result in unfavorable consequences. "I will not have you meet him in those clothes."
She looked down at herself, and realized her clothing was covered in dirt after playing with the children. Even if it wasn't, her clothes consisted of what were traditionally men's clothes, not the frilly kimonos the noblewomen wore. "Ah, I guess I should change, then."
"See that you do." Sesshomaru brushed past her, about to open the dining hall door, and paused. Kagome had shown significant potential that morning, despite being easily injured by his whip. And the practice had been good for him, as well.
Take the chance to tell her she did well. The inner youkai had been more than eager to accept Kagome's request for training, and jumped with joy when Kagome displayed her power.
Ignoring it, Sesshomaru opened the door and entered the hall while Kagome walked to her room to change clothes.
()
Hey, all! I know it's been a while since I posted, but I've been super busy. And I'll be busier, after school starts tomorrow. Sigh. But I'm going to do my best to keep the story going.
So, Kagome's training has begun, and Sesshomaru isn't hating it completely. A good thing. And we'll introduce another lord of the lands next chapter, and some of you might recognize him from the previous incarnation of the story.
Not much time to chat, I'm afraid. I hope you all liked this chapter! :) I'll try and keep it coming on a regular basis. And, as always, please review! I love reviews!
Ja ne!