I like the idea of Kikyo mentoring Kagome with her powers

Kagome kept her steely gaze focused at a tree, her hand gripped tightly around her bow, she'd been here for hours and she could feel her eyes getting tired. But she couldn't give up, she would finally get a hit, she would finally make the shot. This time she would get it right, this time she wouldn't mess up. She knew everyone was worried, despite them not making it obvious to spare her feelings, which made it even worse. Lately, it felt like her stresses were getting worse and worse. Everything kept piling up and she couldn't stop it, she felt like she was growing up too fast and her worlds were colliding before she could stop them. Her studies were overloading her, final exams and college exams, locating the jewel shards and travelling back and forth between the past and the future. Fighting demons and Naraku. Her family still had no idea of the dangers she faced in this world or what she was up against and she hated herself for lying. She missed them, her annoying little brother, crazy old grandpa and loving mother. She needed a break, she needed to go home, she just needed to stop. But what was more her powers and abilities were being affected atop all this, she thought at first she was just making a mistake, but then it happened more often. Her aim was off, her arrows lacked the power they usually had, she couldn't fight demons like she used to. It started to affect her personally, she was becoming cruel to the people around her. She was snapping more at InuYasha for no reason, hurting his feelings to the extent that Sango and Miroku were siding with him. She remembered snapping at InuYasha, lashing out at him with cruel words and the beads of subjugation, before Sango yelled at her to stop, that she was being too much. InuYasha refused to talk to her and ran off, she'd never seen him so hurt. She wasn't sleeping well, she was tossing and turning in her sleeping bag and exhaustion was piling up. She was hitting her limit. InuYasha could be difficult but he wasn't in the wrong here, he hadn't annoyed her, upset her or started an argument. Sango was always her reliable friend, supportive, understanding and patient but even now she was wavering. She was distancing herself and staying out of conversations. Shippo was even nervous about speaking to her.

"You're blocking your powers" a familiar voice called calmly, she could sense her powers had dulled, she was weaker. Her shine was gone and something about her was off. In comparison to how strong she had been in the past she was a pale comparison. Kagome had faced worse than this and now she was losing her potential, she needed to find herself again or she would be useless to herself and others.

Kagome jumped, shrieking in surprise as she nearly fired her arrow, the forest was so quiet and she had slipped away for some headspace. She hadn't sensed anyone approaching so she had assumed she was alone. She turned in the direction of the voice. Kikyo appeared, calmly standing in the shadows of a nearby tree watching her curiously, her expression calm and reserved. Rarely had she ever seen Kikyo mad or even smile, but then she was stronger than she looked. Kikyo was still on her own mission to destroy Naraku while finding peace with her soul, but every now and again she visited them. But she wondered what Kikyo was trying to say, as always her words were like a riddle "W... what?" she babbled.

"Your emotional state interferes with your powers, a priestess requires focus and no distractions for her powers to fully blossom" Kikyo explained. The same way Tsubaki cursed her that she must never fall in love. A priestess had to detach herself from all selfish and personal desires, it weakened their power and made them a better priestess. Kikyo was still a potent priestess and even more so as a spectre. Kagome's age and conflicting emotions made her still an unbalanced priestess and easily beatable, she needed to learn to find control and stability. If she was ever to become her strongest form she needed to focus.

Kagome blinked, slowly taking in Kikyo's words before she realised what she meant, taking a heavy sigh as her expression changed to sadness "So... my stress and anger" she mumbled. She knew she was off, there had to be a reason she just didn't like the answer. She wasn't going to get any better and maybe she was better off just going home. She should have known by now that it was the best option for everyone, sitting around and making a mess wasn't helping. Why did it take Kikyo of all people to make her realise that? Sharing a soul perhaps?

"Interfering with your powers" Kikyo repeated, confirming her suspicions, she knew how frustrating this was, working your way over this hurdle. But she would do it, she needed to be patient with herself and find the root cause. Forcing herself to remain here, to repress her struggles would only make it worse, she needed to go home. She needed to see her family, her loved ones. The more she avoided her unhappiness the worse it would become. Naraku would only sense this vulnerability and find ways to manipulate her, worsening her weakness and forming self doubt.

Kagome sighed, dropping her bow and falling to her knees in frustration, she may as well give up, she wasn't going to regain her powers anytime soon. No encouragement would make anything better for the mean time. Huffing in frustration, she really had hit her lowest, was she really getting advice from her incarnation? her predecessor? Kaede still admired her sister as a mentor and spoke highly of her skill, many still spoke of Kikyo as the greatest priestess they had ever known. I mean it couldn't hurt to try and Kikyo was a legend, the most respected priestess after Midoriko. She was getting nowhere on her own so it couldn't hurt to try, she needed to swallow her pride "Can... can you help me?" she asked hesitantly.

Kikyo rested her hand on Kagome's shoulder, making sure her aim and posture were correct, memorising everything she had taught Kaede. Bringing back memories of nostalgia, once again passing on her wisdom to another generation. "Concentrate, focus your breathing and mind, the clearer your thoughts the stronger the arrow" Kikyo explained. Kagome needed to be at one with herself for this to work, to trust her instincts and remove all doubt from her mind. Kagome nodded, aiming her arrow at the tree, once again doing the steps as she had before. Kikyo observed, walking beside Kagome before standing opposite her, "The arrow must be sturdy, unfaltering, one wrong aim could cost you dearly" Kikyo pressed. For a priestess to make a wrong judgement in battle could cost her life, or lightly cause severe wounding or scarring. To trust your instinct and protect yourself and others in battle was key. Kagome nodded, swallowing nervously, she couldn't mess this up again, Kikyo had been so generous as to teach her these valuable lessons. To not take any of it to heart would be an insult. Kikyo aimed her own arrow, the sound of her bowstring squeaking as she positioned herself, she took a deep breathe, her eyes never once losing focus from her target. She narrowed her eyes before taking the aim, her arrow flying into the air, hitting the tree perfectly. Kagome gasped in awe, Kikyo really had been a master archer, first shot. "Balance is key as a priestess, you cannot falter for a second. It's what keeps us alive" Kikyo explained. To be at one with yourself, to trust your instincts, to find balance internally was what was important. If a priestess was at war with herself, became corrupt, she couldn't fight, she couldn't win.

Kagome nodded, if she was to lose her powers due to her emotional state and stress polluting her mind, she would become a risk in battle. She would become a target and couldn't rely on everyone to always protect her. She held her ground, focusing on her target, holding her balance and breathing calmly, staring at Kikyo's arrow. Kikyo was attempting to help her, to reassure her, show her how to regain her potential. Calming herself, calming her mind, dissociating from what distracted her, all the mundane issues that had once suffocated her. Biting her lip as she gripped her arrow tightly, bracing herself for another potential mistake, she then shot her arrow, just as Kikyo had before. The arrow flew through the air before hitting the tree, the arrow hitting beside Kikyo's, she stared in surprise, before squealing happily, jumping around. "I did it! Kikyo I did it! Did you see?" she cried. She wished she could inform the others, tell them of her improvement, that she was getting better again.

Kikyo nodded, smiling in amusement "You have the skill Kagome, but you must never falter" she reminded her. Kagome was to become a future shrine maiden, either in this era or her home, people were relying on her. She couldn't afford to mess up or to have casualties constantly, the burden would become too much. She needed to learn to balance her mind. Kagome couldn't stumble, she couldn't allow herself to lose her powers, or everyone would pay the consequences.

Kagome grabbed Kikyo's hand surprising the latter, her eyes filled with eagerness "Can you teach me more?" she begged, she was the best teacher she could ask for. Kaede was too old and her powers wavered, Miroku didn't have the same abilities, she didn't know any other priestess to ask. Kikyo had given her some very good advice, she'd been truly helpful.

Kikyo blushed awkwardly, this was the last thing she expected her to request, didn't she have anyone else she could ask? Surely her era still had temples and shrine maidens? She wasn't sure of how helpful she could be, the last student she ever trained was Kaede but that was years ago, when she was still a child. She had trained Kaede with all the knowledge she could, making sure she became the best priestess she could be, to follow in her footsteps. She'd never thought she would be mentoring Kagome, her reincarnation of all people. Kagome was still gazing at her hopefully with shiny brown eyes, she couldn't say no to her when she stared at her like that. Kikyo sighed in relent "I suppose, but you must practice when you return to your own time" she scolded

Kagome leapt at Kikyo, enveloping her in an eager hug "Arigato Kikyo" she praised, she was truly appreciative of all her help. Kikyo blushed, it was the first time Kagome had ever hugged her in all their time of knowing each other. She could feel her soul inside of her, the one that had previously resided within herself, warm, free and full of life.

"When you return home I don't want you to neglect your training, while I understand you have other responsibilities. Your powers will weaken and your mental block will worsen" Kikyo warned

Kagome nodded "But... my grandpa... his powers... he's useless" she whined

Kikyo sighed "Your grandfather isn't of my lineage, I claim no responsibility for that, but as my direct descendent you need to do better. Surely your school has an archery club" she pressed

Kagome nodded

"You are to take archery classes in your free time, spend time at your temple and focus on your powers. Neglecting them will lead to further mental blocks of your powers" Kikyo warned

Kagome sighed but agreed

"Being a priestess isn't all fun and games Kagome, every priestess knows this struggle. Sacrifice comes hand in hand" Kikyo sympathised

Kagome softened "Hai"

Kikyo shifted "You should return to your companions, they will worry about you. They will come searching otherwise and I will be discovered"

Kagome softened, due to her traumatising resurrection and previously hostility, the gang thought Kikyo to be an enemy

But Kagome realised she wasn't

InuYasha was the only one who truly trusted her

She reached out to take Kikyo's hand "Arigato, I've learned a lot, I promise I won't let you down" she smiled

She then hurried back to her friends, where they camped for the night

Kikyo sighed "What an odd girl she is"