She felt weightless at the moment, that's the first thing Kagome felt when she came to after her impromptu faint, then her mind caught up and several things happened, her chocolate brown eyes snapped open, her body gave a jerk in surprise and then she was dropped on her butt.
"Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome whined paying no attention to her friends at the moment it was much to soon after all, the daiyoukai raised a silver brow and leveled a golden eyed gaze on her, she sulked and Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.
Miroku shared a look with Sango, their friend had changed and from what they saw it definitely wasn't for the better, or at least that's what they thought "Miko you have the ability to heal do you not" Sesshomaru growled and Kagome nodded "Then cease you're whining" he turned.
"Meanie" Kagome stuck her tongue out at the silver haired inu and stood on her feet focusing her healing reiki into her hands and healing her sore bottom, that's when she finally faced Sango, Miroku and Shippou, her chocolate brown eyes filled with sadness.
Miroku came forward "So you've been with Lord Sesshomaru all this time" he stated, it wasn't a question, Kagome nodded her shoulder hunching "Why Lady Kagome, you could have stayed with us, we've long since parted ways with Inuyasha" he grimaced out the name.
At the question, Kagome looked to Sesshomaru and the dai peered at her silently before sighing "I couldn't really guys, the fates have a task for me and they contact Lord Sesshomaru on a monthly basis with little tasks I have to complete or else" she explained tiredly.
His violet eyes went wide in response "What kind of task would cause you to travel all around the countryside with Lord Sesshomaru of all people, no offense but he's fought us quite a few times in the past and he's the last person, er demon you'd want to travel with" Miroku argued hoping to convince the girl to come back to him and Sango.
Kagome lowered her eyes to the ground "Sure he's not like other kind demons we've met or faced, but just because Lord Sesshomaru fought us doesn't mean we should hold it against him, and for you're information Miroku-san I've been happy, way happier than I've been in ages" she snapped angrily.
"And as for the task, I'm not allowed to tell you yet, you have to earn Lord Sesshomaru's trust first" she sighed holding back her anger, she didn't want to fight with her friends after all it would just kill her inside and that was worse than what Inuyasha had done to her.
Sango's brown eyes filled with tears "Oh Kagome-chan it's alright, Miroku and I understand" she bowed her head politely before facing Sesshomaru "We would like to ask you're permission to travel with you're group, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara and I" she pleaded with the daiyoukai to grant her request.
Sesshomaru's golden eyes looked between the miko and her group of friends, the only ones that were trustworthy "If the miko wishes it, then this one doesn't mind if you join his pack" he nodded his acceptance to the new members and started forward in the direction of Bokuseno.
Kagome squealed happily and she rushed the two humans crushing them in a hug before scooping the fox kit and twin tail fire cat into her arms and squeezing them as she walked the customary five feet behind him, Sesshomaru chuckled quietly at the sight.
"Hey Kagome-chan can we go see Kaede before we leave" Shippou piped up and Kagome froze, she didn't want to, Inuyasha was there along with that half demoness he had mated and she wasn't ready to face him yet, not yet at least.
Sesshomaru could sense Kagome's reluctance "The miko has a task, you'll have to wait fox kit" he rumbled putting the girl at ease with his words and order, she knew how important it was that the pack members followed their alpha's orders.
"Aw but why I want to rub it in Bakayasha's face that Kagome-chan is in fact alive and not dead as he had thought" Shippou pouted crossing his arms, he got his first warning glance and he leaned back into Kagome's arms.
"Better not Shippou, Lord Sesshomaru enjoys his silence and like he said, it can wait" Kagome soothed the fox kits ruffled feathers as they enjoyed the peace and walked in the direction Sesshomaru was leading them all.
All was quiet as they walked until Sango figured out what was bothering her "Kagome-chan" she creeped forward to stand at the younger girls side and whispered "Why do you have a sword on you're hip" Sango poked Kagome in the side.
Kagome grinned but whispered "Oh I created this sword with Lord Sesshomaru's help of course, out of my reiki" she announced proudly "Her name is Mizubyokiyogan-chiryo-ho" Kagome spoke her swords named running a hand over the aquamarine blade and it hummed like usual.
"Interesting name" Miroku rubbed his chin in contemplation as he walked on the other side of Kagome, they certainly weren't going to take their eyes off the young girl ever again, the last time she had vanished on them without so much as a goodbye.
"Yes, but why do you need a sword, surely you're arrows are good enough right" Sango commented offhandedly and Kagome frowned, it was Inuyasha's fault that everybody doubted her skills, but these two were about to get a shock, they were coming up on their first demon in weeks.
Kagome smiled to herself, neither Sango or Miroku could sense it yet, but she could, it had brushed against her aura quite a ways back, and by the looks of Sesshomaru, he knew it was ahead of them as well, his job would be to keep her two friends out of the fight.
A couple miles later, Sango and Miroku focused their attention onto the distance "Stay beh..." Miroku started to say to Kagome but found her already in front of Sesshomaru, he hadn't even sensed her moving, let alone seen her move that quickly.
"If you don't mind Miroku, this one I can handle" Kagome huffed forming three daggers with her reiki and imbuing them with immobilizing powers, then she slid them into a little pouch just in case and formed reiki arrows to Sesshomaru's amusement and Miroku's and Sango's fascination.
There were eight of them, weak but enough to be a fight for Kagome, Sesshomaru's mind pointed out easily craning his neck around to pin both Sango and Miroku with a look and freezing them to their spots "Don't interfere" he growled making sure they would stay put.
The lizard demons spotted Kagome and the first one who was the obvious leader jumped forward preparing to rake his claws through the girl but only swung through empty air, by the time he figured out what had happened, a bright pink arrow had been shot and it had embedded into his forehead.
Miroku cringed as the demon was obliterated upon impact of Kagome's arrow, 'Holy where did she learn that' he shouted inwardly as his friend from another time took down all eight demons in quick succession even doing a bit of knife throwing and slicing through one with the sword at her waist.
"See Miroku, I've been practicing, I don't need Bakayasha to protect me anymore" Kagome commented in an extremely smug voice shocking him further, even Sesshomaru looked proud of her new found abilities.
Sango and Miroku were stunned speechless "What on earth have you been learning" Sango almost screeched but then she remembered Kagome's warning words to Shippou and managed to maintain a normal volume.
Kagome grinned brown eyes sparkling in amusement, that was something she could tell them "Oh I learned how to raise a barrier, how to heal myself, use my reiki to form daggers, and a sword and make them tangible and now I can form reiki arrows" she ticked off her fingers proudly.
Choking on her tongue in shock, Sango became saddened it was all that idiot hanyou's fault that Kagome wasn't the same Kagome anymore, no Kagome had grown stronger "But that doesn't explain why we can't sense you, if you've indeed grown stronger" she looked up at her friend.
Her brown eyes shot over to lock with Sesshomaru's golden ones and he nodded imperceptibly, Kagome bit her lip and dropped the barrier over her scent and her strong aura, Kirara and Shippou flattened against the ground and even Miroku had trouble standing, Sango however passed out.
"Kagome-sama" Miroku coughed out and that monstrous aura was hidden again, "Thank you" he rasped before turning to his betrothed and shook her awake, Kirara shook her fur out with a little mew and Shippou blinked in awe.
Once Sango was awake Sesshomaru started forward again and Kagome took her spot behind him, Jaken and Rin a few paces behind her and the other four behind them, it was strange but that was how the pack ranking worked, Kagome as second strongest had rights to the spot behind Sesshomaru.
Several miles later they were stopped yet again, this time Miroku and Sango felt the demonic aura heading straight for them and took up their weapons, only Kagome and Sesshomaru remained calm until the dragon youkai was before them.
Before Sango could even swing her boomerang, Kagome pranced forward "Hakari-san what brings you all the way out here" she smiled at the youkai she had grown fond of, "And relax Miroku-san, Sango-chan" Kagome scolded lightly.
"I felt you're aura calling for me Kagome-sama, I thought you were in need of assistance" Hakari tilted his head to the side as he settled on his feet, Kagome creased her forehead in confusion "Ah you have no idea do you" Hakari smiled.
"Nope so if you could explain it to me please Hakari-san, cause Lord Sesshomaru won't even answer a single question" Kagome gave the daiyoukai a little glare and got a dark chuckle as her response, then she turned a pout on the dragon.
Hakari chuckled and ran a hand down his scales "Well Kagome-sama it's really quite simple, you defeated me, I was made to submit, you are now my alpha, I am compelled to obey and come to you're assistance no matter where you are" he explained easily.
Kagome was dumbfounded, she hadn't realized "Oh Hakari-san, I'm sorry I didn't mean to, you don't have to you know" she rambled before lowering her gaze to the ground and shuffling in embarrassment before the youkai.
"It matters not Kagome-sama, I do not mind, besides it's not so terrible following you as you are a kind alpha" Hakari bowed low before his eyes alighted on the sword "Ah I see that's what you were assigned afterwards" he chuckled softly aquamarine eyes narrowed in appreciation.
Her cheeks flushed and she stroked a hand along her blade again "Yeah, it took me almost a month to complete the task, a week to make her and two to name her, I call her Chiryo-ho for short but her full name is Mizubyokiyogan-chiryo-ho" Kagome exclaimed in a pride filled voice.
"Wonderful Kagome-sama" Hakari nodded his scaly lips quirking upwards in amusement, Kagome really was one of the most bubbly humans he had ever met, not to mention determined, "But now I must return to my caves" he bowed again before taking to the skies like before.
When he was gone, Kagome bounced back to her spot and they began walking again, silence had lapsed over the group until "What the heck was that all about Kagome-chan" Sango was beyond shocked now, "And what did he mean you were his alpha, I thought only youkai were called that" she tugged on her brown hair in confusion.
"Same here but I guess since I defeated him and made him submit I'm his alpha, Hakari-san is nice though" Kagome sighed rubbing her sword gently and a gentle thrumming filled the air, at least chiryo-ho was taking advantage of her flustered state, she giggled "Silly sword" Kagome smiled.
Sesshomaru kept right on walking, if the humans couldn't keep up he would leave them behind, the miko knew this and as if sensing his rising agitation, Kagome's jaw slammed shut and she went quiet, her two friends saw this and quieted as well.
At that they hurried their pace just slightly to keep up with his long purposeful strides until a week later and they had arrived in the glade Bokuseno resided in "Miko come, you monk and slayer prepare camp" Sesshomaru ordered, Kagome stood to his side and he led her into the glade.
"So what's Bokuseno-san like" Kagome questioned softly being mindful so that she didn't upset Sesshomaru in case he was being mister grumpy while they walked in a seemingly random direction, his golden eyes glanced her way.
"He is wise and all knowing, the fates will have contacted him and he will mostly likely know what we come for" Sesshomaru spoke in nothing but a whisper, Kagome turned her head just slightly to peer at him curiously but shrugged, she'd soon find out anyway.
Soon they stopped in a small clearing and at the distance she was, even Kagome could feel the massive youkai before her in the magnolia tree, a face appeared and she had to struggle not to scream in fright it was creepy, but she managed.
Bokuseno looked between the two silently regarding them before he shook his boughs and from them a sheath floated down into the young miko's hands "For you're sword" Bokuseno explained slowly when those brown eyes settled on him.
Kagome glanced down at her sword and slid it from her sash before sliding chiryo-ho into the sheath she had been given, it had a blue and green coloring like her sword and then sheath and sword were settled against her hip again.
"I thank you Bokuseno-san" she nodded politely at the tree, it was weird but even she could feel the need to be nice, if she didn't she was certain Sesshomaru would be angry, Kagome sighed softly the clearing was beautiful and it relaxed her.
Bokuseno faded and Sesshomaru led the miko to the camp that had been set up in their absence "Kagome-chan" Shippou jumped into her arms "Do you have any ninja food" he chattered, he had rifled through her bag and hadn't found any.
Kagome grimaced "Sorry Shippou-kun, I only get medical supplies and some vegetables, Lord Sesshomaru does most of the hunting" she patted the fox kit on the head and set him on the ground moving to her yellow monstrosity, she was going to try something new.
Sesshomaru leaned against a tree to watch over his camp but his gaze was mainly focused on the miko as she closed her eyes, he wondered what she was going to try now, Kagome took a deep breath and probably began imagining something.
With her eyes closed it was easy to imagine a pocket, one wide enough to store things in so that she didn't have to worry about her stuff getting destroyed during a fight, her reiki reacted and sure enough a rift formed, Kagome grinned.
Miroku's jaw dropped as Kagome's brown eyes opened and she hurriedly stuffed her bag into what she had just created "Aha ha ha ha ha ha" she laughed softly pumping her arm as a triumphant smile spread across her lips.
A rumble filled the air and Kagome fell silent "Guess there are a lot of things I can do with my spiritual powers huh Lord Sesshomaru" she asked quietly and got a nod from the silent but alert daiyoukai, with him Kagome hadn't feared for her life even once and that's the way it would stay now.
"Now that you are finished miko why not practice with you're sword, you are to wield and master it in two months, that is you're next task" Sesshomaru's baritone voice filled the air and Kagome patted her sword as if assuring herself it was still there.
"Of course Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome quipped moving to a spot a little ways away from camp and pulling her blade from her sheath, she closed her eyes for a moment and ran through several of the stances she had seen Sesshomaru take and swung her sword.
Needless to say her movements weren't smooth, but it also clued her in on what she actually needed to work on, so Kagome shifted her stance and adjusted her grip and tried again when she brought her blade down the movement was still shaky but overall just a tiny bit better.
Kagome went to swing at a different angle when Sango's voice cut through her concentration "You know Lord Sesshomaru, you could give Kagome-chan a few pointers, since you are the master swordsman here" she huffed.
"Sango-chan" the raven haired girl gasped "I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome apologized to the daiyoukai before he could even begin to get angry "He's not supposed to help me, I'm to learn everything by myself, if Lord Sesshomaru deems it necessary however" Kagome frowned.
"Then he would give me pointers, but otherwise I'm pretty much on my own, so please for the peace don't snap at him again" Kagome sighed, Sango's brown eyes widened and her skin grew pale in horror she hadn't meant to upset anyone.
"I understand Kagome-chan, I apologize Lord Sesshomaru, I only meant" Sango trailed off when she realized the dai wasn't even paying her any attention, his golden eyes were focused completely on Kagome as she started up her practicing again.
"It is not this Sesshomaru you should be apologizing to Slayer, it is to the Miko" Sesshomaru's voice filled the air softly but scolding, a pack member had been naughty and as Kagome was practically the alpha female of his pack, she was the one that dealt with the female members.
Sango heaved a sigh and pressed her lips together, that wasn't a nice feeling to be scolded by a daiyoukai, but she was resolved to apologize to her friend whenever she came back to the camp once she had finished her training.
Several hours later, Kagome trailed over to them sporting a smile on her lips and covered in sweat, before she could even ask "There is a hot spring in that direction miko, take the slayer and Rin" Sesshomaru's voice filled her ears and she nodded in understanding.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru I will but after dinner, this Kagome is hungry" she smiled cheekily and Sesshomaru rolled his eyes in response to her light teasing and playful mood, never mind that the girl had referred to herself in third person again.
Kagome must not have noticed her slip of the tongue as she simply plopped down on her butt and snatched a stick from the fire and bit into the tender meat, it was venison again but she didn't mind it in the least since it was delicious.
Miroku frowned slightly, everything had gotten so confusing "Since when did you..." he trailed off when he realized Kagome was to focused on eating her food, he would be hungry to after training that long and not taking any breaks.
Ten minutes later after eating her fill, Kagome jumped to her feet and opened her little pocket that she had created "Rin-chan, Sango-chan" she called, the little girl was on her feet quick and Sango followed slowly, nodding Kagome grabbed her bathing items and led the way to the hot springs.
When they returned, Kagome's eyes were drooping in tiredness, without a sound she crawled into her bed roll, Rin cuddling in her arms and both girls fell asleep, soon the rest of the pack were asleep leaving Sesshomaru the only one awake to keep watch as usual.
Two weeks went by in the same manner Kagome remaining oblivious to Sango and Miroku's anxiousness to leave and travel some more, neither of them liked being stuck in the same place for an extended amount of time.
Sesshomaru noticed though and his golden eyes narrowed on the monk when he went to open his mouth to order the miko about, Miroku froze and gulped feeling that heated golden eyed gaze plastered to his back drilling holes into it with the force in which the dai was glaring.
Kagome skipped to her usual spot and pulled out her sword, the one that was quickly becoming her favored weapon above the bow and arrows, though she still used it whenever the chance was presented, small fry youkai seeking them do to her aura leaking through her barrier whenever she lost concentration.
Sango sighed, and stood "I think Miroku and I are going to do a bit of traveling, we'll meet you back at the wel..." she trailed off seeing the hurt displayed on Kagome's face, she sighed again and flopped down missing the smirk tossed her way from Sesshomaru.
In her moment of distraction, Kagome swung her blade and an attack name came to mind "Doku no ha" she growled softly, her chocolate brown eyes widened as a blast of swirling green poison shot from the end of her blade and slammed into a few bushes to her right and they withered away instantly.
Sesshomaru stood and walked forward slowly, he didn't want to startle her after all "Miko" he asked gently peering into her frightened brown eyes "Calm down" Sesshomaru soothed a rumble filling the air and putting the girl at ease.
Kagome inhaled sharply and coughed as she remembered that she had to breathe, her knee's wobbled and she would have collapsed if Sesshomaru hadn't caught her "Oh, I didn't" her lip quivered as tears sprung into her brown eyes.
"Kagome calm down" Sesshomaru ordered smoothly "You've done well, rest for now, then we'll travel for bit some new scenery will do you good" he murmured, Kagome's eyelids fluttered close and he settled her into her sleeping bag.
A couple hours later, Kagome woke feeling sore "Ah so she realizes she's been pushing herself past her limits" Sesshomaru rumbled softly startling her, the raven haired girl shot straight up out of her bed roll as his words sunk in, she winced a moment later.
"Go soak in the hot springs, then we'll travel" Sesshomaru commanded, Kagome didn't waste a single moment as her pocket was opened and she grabbed her bathing items from within before flouncing in the direction of the spring she had visited many times over the weeks.
Forty minutes later, Kagome came back long ebony hair dripping wet and hanging to her waist unbound and bouncing with every step she took towards the little camp, once she was close enough Rin latched onto the older girl and started chattering away as everyone packed up their belongings.
Soon they were on their way, Sango and Miroku were ever so glad to travel around for a bit and their anxiousness faded as they started in a random direction, Kagome for her part looked a little sad to leave the glade she had trained in for the last two weeks.
No one spoke for quite a ways until "How did you say you came across the sword again" Miroku piped up suddenly and Kagome turned tired brown eyes on the monk, she looked at him for some time before sighing in exhaustion.
"I created chiryo-ho with my reiki, first I made her permanently tangible, then I added youkai and spiritual properties, my task right now is to master chiryo-ho and learn all of her attacks, only then will I be able to move on to the next" Kagome explained softly before facing forward again.
When they found a new spot nearly five days later, Sesshomaru stopped in front of Kagome "I will be you're opponent draw you're blade miko and attack" he drew tokijin from his obi and settled into a stance Kagome paused before doing the same drawing chiryo-ho from her sheath.
Brown eyes narrowed in concentration, Kagome swung her blade vertically and clashed swords with Sesshomaru, sparks flew from the contact after a few minutes it became obvious to her that she didn't have very much arm strength as her arms almost broke under the weight of Sesshomaru's strength.
A little whimper slipped through her lips but Kagome was determined to make Sesshomaru take a step back, if that's all she managed it would be an accomplishment in her mind, the dai was thinking something else entirely, perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to have her challenge him.
'To late now, she'll keep going until she finds a way' Sesshomaru sighed inwardly, the miko truly was one of a kind, there was no other human like her, so unprejudiced towards his kind, loving, nurturing, the list keeps growing every day he spends in her presence.
In his distracted state of mind, Kagome thrust her sword forward again creating little sparks of reiki and her blade took on a pink hue, she was so focused on her task that she didn't realize Sesshomaru cringing or taking several steps back to get away from the feeling.
"Miko" Sesshomaru snapped and Kagome came out of her concentration, her sword fell to the forest floor and she shrieked in dismay, he sighed and allowed his beast to calm, she hadn't meant them any harm, he was going to have to find a better opponent for the girl after all.
"Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome spoke up hesitantly seeing the slightly burnt flesh of his bare arms, she felt terrible the dai had become a trusted friend as of late and she might have just ruined it all, his golden eyes were pinned to her brown and they were filled with understanding.
"The burns will heal, Slayer you will fight her instead" Sesshomaru wandered over to a tree and sat down to rest, that had been excruciatingly painful, youkai and reiki were never meant to clash it always ended up badly for the youkai.
Sango grimaced "Okay Kagome-chan, show me what you've got" she ordered lightly blocking a weak swing and thrusting her boomerang forward knocking the raven haired girl clear off her feet, but Kagome was up in a flash trying again.
Another week went by until Kagome mastered another attack "Mizu no tatsumaki" the words slipped out of her mouth and water spewed from her blade twirling around much like a tornado and crashed into Sango knocking her down.
When the attack faded, Sango sat up and spluttered, though it had been a weak one, that had knocked the breath out of her "Sorry Sango-chan" Kagome smiled sheepishly Sango sent the raven haired girl a smile to let her know she was alright.
Two more weeks flew by after that until Kagome could wield her sword with ease, and with that followed the last two attacks, "Yogan no Sakeme" came from Kagome and rifts formed in the ground as her blade touched it and molten hot lava spurted out.
Sango jumped onto the transformed Kirara as Kagome swung her blade and called out her water attack, it had grown stronger as had the poison one, the lava hardened "Honestly Kagome, what else ouch" Sango landed on the ground and her ankle twisted painfully.
Kagome frowned wishing she could before she could even finish her thought a blast of pink shot out of the end of her sword along with the blast came the last of her swords abilities "Iyashino bakuhatsu" the light engulfed Sango and the older girl panicked.
When the pink light faded, Sango went to open her mouth and ask what the hell that was all about but when she shifted her foot, she felt absolutely no pain so instead of a scolding "Thank you Kagome-chan and congratulations" Sango offered.
A cheer fell from the raven haired girls lips and she hugged her sword to her chest, she had done it mastered her blade in a little less than two months, only two weeks to spare "Can we go to the well now Lord Sesshomaru" Kagome asked shyly wanting to brag to her mother all she had learned.
"Of course Miko" Sesshomaru nodded his acquiesce, instead of wasting anytime "We are going to fly" he warned before taking hold of Kagome and forming his cloud beneath his feet, Kagome who was use to this now simply closed her eyes and relaxed enjoying the breeze.
Rin and Jaken climbed onto AhUn and Sango, Miroku and Shippou scrambled onto the transformed Kirara following after the daiyoukai and their friend, several hours later Sesshomaru started descending they were in the vicinity of the well.
Kagome said her farewells for awhile and leaped into the depths, that blue rushing up to meet her as always and she enjoyed it so much more this time around, it had been awhile after all once she was on the other side in her era, Kagome scrambled up the ladder with a smile on her lips.
"Mama you'll never guess what I've learned" Kagome called speeding into the house, brown eyes sparkling with happiness, Satomi wandered from the kitchen to see what her daughter wanted, to say the least she wasn't expecting what spewed from Kagome's mouth.