A/N: Sorry updates are slow. It's the middle of the summer, so yeah
Beta; Cstorm86

The Miko Prepares

Kagome walked with the last of the people that came to the meeting of the festival organizers. Today the meeting had been not as long as usual, which meant that Kagome would have some extra time to maybe write before it was time for dinner and training with her grandfather.

Sango had left the shrine the next day after the squirrel incident. She'd promised to visit often, and Kagome planned to go see her in the youkai world soon. She wanted to talk to Lady Kaede and meet Sango's younger brother, who was a slayer just like her. She also planned to invite them to the festival. Inuyasha seemed not to have any objections to them coming to the human world for the day, so she guessed it'd be fine. The miko smiled a little, thinking about the easy banter the shrine guardian had going with her new friend. It was so good to see him interact more freely with Sango; it gave her hope that she could coax him to socialize more.

"And most of the flyers were already distributed," added one of the people she was walking with. Kagome nodded, remembering that it was the owner of the convenience store she often visited for her shopping. He was a bald middle-aged man, who seemed very nice.

"Thank you," she offered. Most of the organisers that helped the shrine to put together the festival, were at least her mother's age, all kind, experienced people, who were kind enough to dedicate some of their time and resources for the shrine and the community. It was heartwarming to see them come together, discuss with her grandfather and her, plan and oversee the event.

It was also a bit scary to realize how much work went into preparing a one day festival like this. She knew she couldn't do that without their help, so she was very grateful for their help. They treated her well enough, maybe a bit patronizing in some cases, but she could live with that.

The festival wasn't going to be one of the huge ones, but it always attracted a sizable crowd. Her grandpa had warned her that this year the crowd could be bigger, many people coming to see the new Higurashi perform the kagura dance.

'No pressure,' she thought sourly, not allowing her anxiety to show on her face as she bowed goodbye to the people that had come today to decide on the final layout of the food stands and game tents for the festival. The whole shrine grounds were going to be adorned with lamps and streamers, local restaurants and Honda Hotel providing the food, while assigned people were going to oversee the mundane entertainment for the visitors.

She, the Higurashi miko, was going to be at the opening of the festival, leading the procession and later, dancing to bring the kami's blessing to all gathered.

Only short weeks were between her and this dreadful moment, when she was going to don a ceremonial robe, accept the bells from her grandpa and dance an ancient, complicated dance in front of who knew how many people.

She swallowed and hoped her smile didn't look forced when she waved at the leaving people.

Kagome needed all the help she could get. That was why she never complained about the evening training sessions with her grandpa. He would sit and beat the rhythm on a small drum, correcting her mistakes. Still, learning the right gestures took time and practice. Kagome had seen her grandpa perform a few times in the past, but now she knew that there was a huge difference between observing someone do something, and doing it by herself.

A thought came to her mind when she turned around and saw the top of the Sacred Tree dwarfing the rest of the forest.

Back during the moonless night, Inuyasha had told her that she could purify youkai by performing the kagura. He'd offered to lead her through the steps. How in the world had he been so certain she could do it on her first try? Had he had some special training routine? Maybe he could feed the moves and proper poses to her mind?

Could he help her train?

The miko bit her bottom lip - Inuyasha never attended the training sessions with her grandfather. He'd just up and disappear instead of staying and poking fun at her terrible case of clumsiness.

The miko decided that it was a plan worthy of trying. She ran to the kitchen for some bribing goods and then made her way into the forest.

"Inuyasha!" she called when she finally got to the foot of the Sacred Tree.

"Keh," came from above her head and she looked up to spot the hanyou laying on one of the branches in a lazy pose.

"Can you help me with something?" she asked, shaking the bag of chips in her hand in a motion that would catch Buyo's attention immediately. Inuyasha's ears twitched.

"Depends. What do you want?" he asked, cautiously. He was still on the branch, but his body shifted, obviously prepared to drop down at any moment.

"Train me!" she pleaded, trying to make her best puppy eyes. One ear cocked sideways.

"Train you? You're training with your bow each day after your lunch," he pointed out.

"Not that," she shook her head, grasping the bag of chips between her hands. "I mean, help me train the kagura."

"Sure."

"I mean, you probably saw my ancestors do it so many times, that you could dance it yourself. And we only have short weeks before the festival, and I really don't want to mess it up, since it's my first time and..." her eyes widened when she realized what he'd said. She came here, fully prepared to wrestle the shrine guardian until he agreed. She came here fully expecting him not to want to teach her, but all he said was..."Sure?"

"Feh," Inuyasha leaped to the ground. "You gotta give me the chips. And you gotta listen to my every command. And you gotta... Oi!"

Kagome pushed the bag of chips in his hands hastily, as if afraid he'd change his mind. "Anything you say!"

"Keh. Go bring the bells," he said, sounding as if he was a bit overwhelmed with her eager agreement.

"Like... Now?" she blinked. "But... We're training after dinner..."

"And you're training with me whenever I say so. You're going to do what I tell you to do. So move your ass and bring the bells," he smirked, standing on wide-spread feet. "You want my help and I will train you. There's no way I will allow a Higurashi to mess this up."

Kagome took a step back, finally realizing that his easy agreement was actually not an act of mercy. A wide, wicked youkai smile spread across his lips, making it clear to her that he was going to have a different training approach than her grandpa.

'Gods, I made a pact with an akuma...' she covered her mouth with a hand.

"Quit stalling. Bells, wench."

Kagome ran back home, hearing the sound of the potato chips bag being opened and a snicker of a man.

As she ran, she realized one more thing - it was probably the first time that he was going to be giving orders to a Higurashi. 'No wonder he looked at me with that predatory twinkle in his eye,' she thought. 'Well, as long as I get to learn the dance and not embarrass the shrine and myself... And as long as he knows that I see him as my equal in this...'