A/N: This took a while to write, I re-wrote it so many times.
Disclaimer: I do no own anything if I did Kagome would actually learn how to use her powers
There is lots of Sesshoumaru in this chapter and also Rin!
Ari watched as Kagome jumped down the well as conflicted feelings erupted and clashed inside of her, she had given Kagome a letter to send with Ari's owl to her friends.. She knew she should have gone back down the well and back to Wizarding World, back to all the fame and materialistic people who only want to be her friend so they can say they know the girl-who-lived. As she stared down to the depths of the well she realised she couldn't have done it anyway – she knew deep down that as soon as that plane had left Heathrow that she wouldn't be returning, she also knew that Hermione had known that as well. She wanted to stay in the feudal era where there was no expectations to live up to, where she was free to live how she wanted and make the choices she wanted to make. She turned away from the well with a sigh, knowing that her friends would more than likely be disappointed in her but she had to stay and something was keeping her here. She walked back to the village feeling sad but relieved knowing that she was leaving behind everything she ever knew and loved but she knew in her heart that she needed to escape.
"Hey I thought you were going back with Kagome." Sango said when she spotted Ari.
"Naa I might go back next time." She said distantly. "Hey now that we have some time on our hands do you want to start teaching me how to use the sword?"
"Sure just let me grab my sword and we can go down into the forest and practise." Sango said cheerfully. Ari grinned excited at the thought of being able to use the sword of Gryffindor rather than relying on it to protect her all the time. She walked with Sango into Keade's hut and went over to her trunk she pulled out the sword. Ari wondered briefly if she should put her wand holster back on after having taken it off earlier that morning to wash and change her outfit, she discarded the thought thinking that she wouldn't need her wand after all she was wouldn't be too far away and she wanted to focus solely on her sword. Ari, Sango and Kirara set of for the forest discussing where they should practise.
"We could do it in the clearing by the well." Ari said as the reach the forest's border.
"I don't want to interrupt Inuyasha; he's probably sitting by the well awaiting Kagome's return." Sango muttered shaking her head slightly.
"So where do we go then?" Ari asked.
"We will find another clearing to practise in." Sango said and began walking in the opposite direction the where the well was. They ended up walking a lot further then they had first imagined but they eventually came to a clearing around noon if the sun burning high in the sky was any indication.
"Well the first thing about sword fighting is the stance, you need to have a strong stance or else your defence will be broken and even with the sword you will lose." Sango started as she faced Ari. She pulled out her sword and stood in a defensive position with her sword held out in front of her. "Now copy my stance and once you've got it down I will try and break it."
"Okay," Ari replied as she pulled out the sword and tried to copy Sango. She stood with her feet shoulder length apart and moved her right leg back slightly to use as a brace against her opponents force. Her sword was held defensively across her body, seeing Sango nod in approval Ari braced herself for Sango's attack.
Sango ran forwards her sword held in her right hand and as she reached Ari she swung it in an arc and it clashed against Ari's sword. Ari fell to the ground in response to the pressure Sango was putting on her, groaning she got up and went into the stance again but this time she put more weight on her front leg and on the advice of Sango tried not to tense up so much. This in Ari's opinion was easier said than done after all how is one supposed to response when they see a very sharp sword aiming at you.
They continued like this for awhile until Ari was eventually able to push Sango back without too much effort. Sango then decided they should stop for the day as the sun had gotten low in the sky to which Ari exclaimed 'hallelujah' and dropped to ground exhausted. Sango laughed when Karara mewed and trotted over to Ari to curl up in her lap.
"Aw, cute little kitty," Ari cooed petting the mewling neko. "You're so soft and pretty."
"We should head back to the village before night falls." Sango declared as she pulled Kirara out of Ari's grasp to which the latter pouted childishly.
"Pssht I can't be bothered to walk back now. I will go back later." Ari said as she lay down in the soft grass.
"Suit yourself but don't fall asleep." Sango advised as she walked away with Kirara firmly in her grasp. Ari watched her go and once she disappeared beyond the trees, curled up like a kitten and did exactly what Sango told her not to do. She fell asleep.
Ari was startled awake by the hoot of an owl, she sat up sharply and looked around her. She couldn't see much due to the darkness as the moon was hidden beneath the clouds, standing she reached over and grasped her sword.
"Damn I am so regretting leaving my wand behind," Ari said angrily as she spun around trying to determine which way to go. Muttering under her breath so picked a direction and began to walk, feeling her way with her hand when the moon hid again. "I don't even know if I'm going in the right direction. I don't suppose you know do you sword?"
Ari stared at sword in her hand as if hoping that some divine intervention would allow it to start talking. The sword never spoke but it did start to glow lightly, shrugging Ari figured it was better than nothing. She continued walking using the sword as a guide – if she strayed from the path the sword wanted her to go it would stop glowing until she went the right way again. As the excitement of finding her way out diminished she realised she had been walking for a very long time.
"Okay sword, I know full well that we should have reached the village by now, so where in the name of Merlin are you taking me?" Ari asked thoroughly confused with the swords behaviour as she continued to follow it cautiously. "I don't know if I should just stop letting you lead me and turn or see what it is you want me to see."
Ari yawned sleepily as the night wore on and the sun began to peak on the horizon but she never stopped to rest, she knew she was very far away from the village now and wouldn't be able to find her way back to it even if she did turn around. She really wished she had brought her wand with her at least she knew better for the next time she thought it was a smart idea for the leave her wand.
"Do you even know where you're going?" she asked the sword and as expected she got no reply except the steady glow. She entered another clearing which was covered with flowers like bluebells and daisies – she glared at the bright flowers as they moved in the wind. "I bet these flowers are gonna suddenly sprout wings and lead me to an enchanted castle where I can live out the rest of my days."
Ari collapsed onto the ground with a groan as she reached the middle of the clearing "No more walking sword," she begged. "I'm too tired." The swords glow seemed to grow intensely bright and it pulsed excitedly before it stopped glowing altogether. Ari just shrugged and a laid back against the grass, absently she plucked up a daisy and twirled it in her hand. She closed her eyes and softly began to a tune as she threw the daisy up in the air and let it blow away on the wind.
"Can Rin please pick some flowers Lord Sesshoumaru?" Ari heard a little girl ask from across the clearing causing her to smile briefly remembering the time when she went flower hunting around park near Privet Drive. Ari stiffened when the last part of what the little girl said sunk in 'please tell she did not say what I think she did' she thought as she opened her eyes. Turning her head to where the voice had come from she saw a little girl in an orange kimono but it was the tall form leaning against a tree with his eyes closed behind the girl that made Ari's eyes go wide.
'Of all the God damned demons in Japan right now I just had to run into this one' she thought 'stupid sword why'd you lead me here? Do you wish for me to die? Maybe if I lie really still and play possum he won't notice me. Why oh why did I leave my wand behind.' She moved her head back to its original position and prayed to whoever it was that watched over the world that she would not get caught.
"Hello." Said a child's voice to her right and Ari felt like crying, she really did. She felt screaming and cursing at fate who decided to be a constant thorn in her side.
"Hi." Ari replied forcing herself to smile.
"What's your name?" The little girl asked smiling.
"My name is Ari what's your name?" Ari asked uncertainty filling her voice.
"Rin is Rin, would you like to play with Rin?" Ari stared at girl who had her hands clasped behind her back and a hopeful expression on her face. 'So she refers to herself in third person...damn she would so win the most adorable child of the year award' she thought, Ari so wanted to play with the sweet little girl but she needed to leave while she still could. Although if her chances of leaving unscathed don't look too good if what has happened so far is any indication.
"Sorry sweety, I gotta go. My friends will be looking for me you see and I don't want to worry them." Ari whispered softly looking guiltily away as Rin looked so downhearted. Ari sat up quickly and reached for her sword keen to make a quick getaway as she noticed Sesshoumaru still had his eyes closed.
"Rin what are you doing?" A screechy voice squawked as a small and ugly toad like thing approached and quickly stood in front of Rin with his staff raised threateningly. "Rin get away from the ugly mortal."
"Ugly! Look who's talking," Ari said indignantly as she rose to her feet. "Have you looked in a mirror recently?"
"Foolish human, how dare you insult me?" Rin who looked like she who had been trying to contain her laughter at Ari's comment suddenly looked horrified and Ari couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid having to put up with this creature. "You shall face the wrath of the staff of two heads."
"Jaken." Ari internally flinched as the cold, clear voice of Sesshoumaru sounded across the clearing.
"Sorry Lord Sesshoumaru..." As Jaken babbled Ari slowly started to back away hoping to make it into the forest before Sesshoumaru noticed she had gone.
Continuing her backwards walk she had nearly reached the tree line when lo and behold she stepped on a twig and the loud crack that followed had three pairs of eyes swivelling to gaze into her own emerald orbs. "God damn it." She exclaimed loudly huffing. "Today is just so not my day."
Ari looked into the cold and calculating eyes of the Lord of the West and grinned. "Well fancy meeting you here." Ari swung her arms back and forth like an idiot as she saw his eyes narrow in recognition.
"Do you know Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin inquired innocently.
"I don't know him personally," Ari said looking over to Rin and then back to Sesshoumaru. "But then again I doubt anyone know him on a personal level. Do you actually have any friends?"
"This Sesshoumaru has no need for useless frivolities such as friends."
"Well then this Arianna finds you quite pathetic, saying you don't need friends everyone needs friends." Ari said with a glare.
"This Sesshoumaru does not care for the opinion of a lowly mortal female."
"You say 'lowly mortal female' like it's supposed to be an insult. Well I'll have you know that I am very proud of what I am." Ari squared out her shoulders and lifted her head up slightly. She was careful not to say that she was proud of being mortal because technically she wasn't anymore what with being the owner of the Deathly Hallows. "And I would rather be who I am then a cold hearted jackass like you. Perhaps everyone should start calling you Lord Jackass instead of..."
Ari found herself being unable to finish her sentence due to her airways being blocked off on account of the youkai currently growling in her face. Her feet tried to find purchase on the ground but she was unable to as Sesshoumaru had lifted her off it; her sword had also dropped to the ground at the sudden intrusion of her personal bubble. Using both her hands she tried to pry his hand away but found she wasn't strong enough.
"You dare insult this Sesshoumaru again." His voice was calm and controlled but his eyes were ablaze with anger and hate. "Foolish human I might have let you leave before but I will not be so lenient this time."
"Jack...ass." Ari gasped out, if she was gonna 'die' she wasn't going to beg for her life. Ari grasped his wrist tighter as his hand tightened around her throat and her eyes widened as the sun caught the long thin charm on her bracelet.
"This Sesshoumaru is going to enjoy watching you die." He said viciously but Ari was no longer listening. She grasped at the charm and quickly unhooked it as black dots started to appear in her vision, as soon as it came unhooked it grew back into the length it previously was. Gripping the Elder wand tightly she pointed it at the Daiyoukai.
"Impedimenta." Ari gasped out and Sesshoumaru was sent flying backwards and away from Ari who collapsed to the floor gasping in the sweet air. Sesshoumaru was quick to get back on his feet and approached Ari, who was muttering about never taking oxygen for granted again, with weary caution not wanting to be on the receiving end of another of Ari's spells.
"What are you?" Sesshoumaru asked and Ari saw that whilst his eyes still held anger there was a curiosity. Ari slowly stood up rubbing her bruised throat wondering how to keep her life from ending at the Daiyoukai's hand.
"It's a secret," Ari replied and at the narrowing of Sesshoumaru's eyes she quickly added. "I can't tell you directly but if you could guess at the answer I would be able to tell you whether or not you were correct."
"How will this Sesshoumaru be able to guess if this one has nothing to guess from?" He asked seeming to be genuinely curious.
"I propose a game of sorts," Ari said gaining courage at his nod to continue. "Every time we meet, which I'm sure we will again considering I'm travelling with your brother and we ultimately have the same goal, that you can ask me a question or tell me what you think I am and I will answer the question or tell you if your guess is correct. However there is only one rule, you only have one question OR a guess per turn."
Sesshoumaru turned away from Ari who gave a sigh in relief; he walked towards Jaken and Rin who were sat in the middle of the clearing playing with the flowers. Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru as he walked passed them to settle next to the tree he was leaning against earlier, Rin stood up and approached Ari.
"I'm glad Lord Sesshoumaru didn't kill you," Rin smiled her brown eyes shining with joy. "Rin thinks she would like Lady Ari to be her friend."
"I would like to be Rin's friends too." Ari said with a wink causing the little girl to giggle. "Well I should probably get going; I've had enough life threatening moment for one day."
Ari walked over to her fallen sword and attached it to her belt, she picked up a bluebell flower that grew next to her sword and walked back over to Rin. She placed to bluebell in Rin's hair who grinned and ran to Jaken to show him. She brushed off the dust on her clothes and with a tight grip on the Elder wand she pictured Keade's hut, looking up she called out to Sesshoumaru
"And to give you a fair chance, Lord Jackass, I will give you another clue as to what I am."
Sesshoumaru's head snapped towards her and as his mouth lifted in a snarl Ari disappeared with a soft crack.
A/N: So what did you think, I'm not sure I like this chapter.
I'm always unsure when I write Sesshoumaru because he is such a hard character to write down on paper (or in microsoft word) so please tell me if the interaction seems too unrealistic and I will do my best to change it.
As always please review