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curious

Fanfic 15 The Summonses
okay another S/K, this one really is just gunna be one big fight scene. the point of it was to have her kill off the bad guy, and fight the hell out of everyone, etc... R&R. - r0o, ps no editing done b/c i'm not sure if i'll finish.

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1. The Summonses

Kagome sometimes wondered how she got herself into such odd moments in life; her life was not easy, she lived as the head miko of a forgotten shrine, where she protected those who needed protection from the current ruling youkai of the south. She was not however a miko, and all who lived their knew it, all who lived there were also all demons, hanyous, or humans that had children and mates that were either demon, hanyou, or human. The twenty or so individuals were led by their lady Kagome, and she for all her worth kept her people safe, it was the least she could do as she was the lost ruler of these lands, the un-known daughter of their great and terrible fallen lord, Shin. Sighing the demoness in hiding looked at the summonses scroll, the messenger was some type of cat youkai, and for all the spells she had placed around this area he could not see or feel an of the demonic aura that flowed so freely around her and her forgotten shrine.

Kagome scowled as read of the scroll, ‘this has to be a joke?’ she thought, “What would the Taiyoukai of the West want with me?” she asked in a deceptively calm voice, while handing the rolled parchment to her aunt, Sango.

“I am just the messenger,” stated the coal black neko youkai servant causing both females to narrow their eyes dangerously at him, if only he knew just what sat across from him looking so innocent was the Southern heir, and was by far a well trained warrior assassin. She could far too easily kill this male but then that would bring complications to all who lived under her protection, her aunt as well was just as skillfully trained, though she was hanyou, slightly slower for her human blood then her niece, the fact in no means made Sango any less of a threat. The messenger continued though, “From what I have heard the great and terrible Lord Sesshomaru is coming up on his six hundredth birthday, and thus must take a mate, he has attempted to find mates worthy of him, but all have fallen short in doing so. As I am aware, his mother has taken it upon herself to have a competition of sorts, who ever wins gains the prize.” He said somewhat slyly.

The scowl on Kagome’s face grew more at the idea, she didn’t need to be the mate of some willful taiyoukai, she was a willful taiyoukai, ‘how bothersome‘, she mused. “And if I refuse to show?” she asked the still bowing messenger.

“Solders are outside my lady, if you do not return with me by choice then you will be taken.” he stated, matter-o-factly, almost shivering and swallowing a hiss when he heard what sounded like a positively deadly sound, like two audible growls were headed his direction. “I understand your trepidation, my lady, but you must come, you’ve been invited.“ he stated as if that was the final statement, and yet he continued, “You have an hour, and you are allowed only two attendants.” To say the least, Kagome was pissed, this put a serious damper in her already detailed and busy plans for the time being, off handedly she wondered how long this would take, after all she had revenge to seek, people to kill in the middle of the night, children to train in battle, a shrine to protect, the list went on.

“I have to address those I leave behind. Lady Sango, I would like you and young Rin to accompany me on this venture.” Kagome stated while her aunt nodded. Sighing Kagome stood and bowed politely to the messenger, as he took his leave she cursed hotly under her breath, ‘and I was going after his second in command tonight, you‘ve gotten a bit of a revive Hakudoshi…Enjoy your time you blood sucking shit.’ she thought angrily while sweeping out of the hall she had met them in.

Kagome set out to look for the bat hanyou, her shrine and its grounds were lovely, though forgotten, then held many treasures, she sometimes wondered how any one could have forgotten this place, it had both cool running water as well as hot springs, ample forest near by for hunting and training the young, as well as the fact that it was high on a mountain plateau, with no way for one to sneak up behind, making it easily to defend. Thinking more about her ‘hidden palace’ as she liked to call it, there were a large system of caves and cavers with many underground springs that allowed for comfortable living for those in her care, she sighed knowing she would have to leave her oasis.

The wind picked up her movements as she walked around the grounds looking for the elusive hanyou, unlike normal miko’s, which she was not, her garb consisted of a long flowing coat like kimono that hung open, prayer beads hanging from one side to the other holding it on her form which conveniently concealed the demonic nature of her being. Finally finding her second in command after her own aunt, Kagome let out a sigh, “Shiori, I’ve got to attend some sort of gathering for the spoiled brat that runs the West.”

The bat hanyou had been with them possibly the longest of all who lived here, was like herself and her aunt, Shiori though innocent looking with her deeply tanned sun kissed skin, and vibrant lilac hair was just as dangerous as the two female inu that protected this place. They had trained her long ago, and in turn she had taught the others as well, “Will it be a long stay?” asked the sweet sounding voice that hide the true bitch she could be if pissed enough to show it.

“Hn. We have not been granted a time frame, considering the situation though, I would plan to continue as though we may never come back.” To say that Shiori was suppressed was an understatement, though like her mentors, Kagome-sama, and Sango-sama, she had owned her ability to react and only a stoic fact greeted the statement. Kagome began again, “We are taking Rin with us,… The lady of the Western lands seems to have it in her mind that a competition is needed to find her son a mate so that he can keep his thrown.” said Kagome rubbing the bridge of her nose in aggravation. “They have made an offer I cannot refuse,” at this Shiori raised a delicate brow in question. “Simply put I go of my own will or by force, and if it’ll save all in our little ‘forgotten palace’ the hardship, I will leave so that it remains safe. But I don’t put it passed them in a minute to take my life, the ‘contest’ is for a supposedly powerful male, and mate, making the winner a Lady. Truly bothersome.“ Kagome finished with a bit of a huff.

“And you have no interest in this male, seeing as you are a Lady.” entered Shiori with an amused glint in her eyes. Kagome huffed again and ran her fingers over her bangs, pushing them back revealing a somewhat small black 6 pointed star that was hollowed out to just reveal the edges, favoring the weight of the design at the bottom.

“Bothersome wench.” Kagome bit out with mirth, really though they were of no relation, Kagome always acted as though she were an older sister to both her cousin Rin, and Shiori, who looked to be about seventeen in human years. Kagome was only second oldest in their ‘family’, Sango had been mated to her uncle when she’d been born, though Kagome looked to be about nineteen in human years, her aunt looked to be about twenty-seven. Rin, her young cousin, looked to be about eight in human years. Kagome worried about taking her, but if Sango was coming it didn’t make since to leave one behind without the other. Neither would go without the other anyway, and Kagome would only go if Sango were with her, so Rin like it or not was coming as well.

“Standoffish brat.” replied Shiori as she pulled her friend and sister into an embrace. “Winner or not you had better come back, it gets too boring without you here.”

“Oh. My. God. Shiroi! Are you saying you’d miss me?” beamed Kagome in her most annoying playful voice as she bounced.

“That’s it, Go. Win. Stay. You irksome mutt.” Shiori bit out while holding back tears that wanted to desperately to fall.

“I’ll miss you too dear friend. Take care of them.” With that Kagome left to go find her aunt and cousin. The hour passed surprisingly fast as they made ready for this ludicrous competition, Rin wondered if she’d ever see this place again, it hadn’t been so long ago that she had been born, or at least it felt that way. This place their forgotten palace, was the only home she had ever known. Sango worried for her niece and her daughter, leaving little worry for herself, hanyous were not really accepted, but then it would be an interesting thing when they arrived at the western stronghold. The world would see a human miko, a brown hanyou, and a darker brown inu pup, what an odd picture they’d make indeed. Kagome on the other hand was plagued with thought, though not any showed on her face, she worried for her cousin, and her aunt, what was she bringing them into. She worried for her people and their safety, mostly she worried that her plans for revenge might be extinguished in a flurry of useless battle with whorish females. Sighing as Kagome and her little family got into the carriage heading west she could only hope for the best though she knew if she were in a pinch, she’d have to drop her mask of humanity and deal with the situation at hand.



~o~



The ride to the western strong hold was if anything uneventful so far, Kagome, like both the females of her family had only spoken to each other, after hiding such a secret for so long it wasn’t exactly easy to readily open up to anyone new. Kagome though had spoken with the messenger on a few occasions, it seemed that she was the last contestant to arrive, making her that much more wary of this whole thing. If they were waiting on her, just what would she be doing when she got there, annoyed farther, Kagome decided that every time she talked to the neko youkai, she only ended up angry, so she decided that she wouldn’t speak to him at all. Though this move did allow her to hear more then she cared to, her aunt and her cousin had fallen asleep, it was her watch when she heard the voices of the male shoulders talking.

“I can’t believe they’ve asked for a miko in this thing.” said the first, and had she been human, she wouldn’t have heard them at all, but what they didn’t know didn’t hurt them…yet.

“I hear its to be more for the sport.” said the second.

“Poor human doesn’t have a chance against some of those demoness.’” said another.

“I don’t know, this miko’s a feisty one.” said the messenger. “I’d say she’ll last a little bit, but I wouldn’t put my money on her being the winner.” by now Kagome was pissed. She wanted with every fiber of her being to get out of the carriage they were in and kill the lot of them.

“I’m surprised Lord Sesshomaru is even allowing her entry.” said the first voice again. Kagome was making mental notes of the tone of their voices, she knew when this debacle was over she’d sly everyone of them, painfully. Even now the idea of their blood on her claws was sickeningly arousing, she’d admit to herself at this point she needed to get laid, being a nearly four hundred year old virgin sucked. Sighing she noticed the men had stopped their talking, she didn’t really care why but the quiet of the night was a bit alarming. Shifting in her position she woke both her aunt and cousin, signing to them that ‘something was up.’ she pulled her short sword, everything in her being was screaming and no sooner did she feel it and pull her aunt and cousin down to the floor of the carriage did the roof get ripped off. The guards were battling lower youkai, she scowled at the sight sheathing her short sword and drew her long sword instead, it was a demon blade and though in theory it should harm a miko it could not effect her, she jumped from the ruin carriage with ease. Her battle stance was practiced and perfect, and the youkai guard escort were hard pressed not to notice her ease in defeating of the lower youkai who attacked.

They saw the miko jump from the carriage with practiced grace her long sword drawn, her movement swift and graceful, as she cut one after another. The hum and sing of her blade calling out death to all that opposed her, her long raven hair billowed in the wake of her movements. Movements that were so flawless that no one move was wasted, not one pivot overstepped, she had been feisty and that was all they had assessed her for, but in the heat of battle they would each fall upon their swords happily to bed and ravage this creature of death and destruction. She did not yell or scream or even grunt as her tasks were carried out silently, blood flowed like water that night and when the last youkai fell they were in awe of the warrior miko. They would have to reassess her ability to fight, and inform the Lady of the west that her ‘test subject’ would not be one to fall so easily.

“Tell me messenger, where is the neatest body of water?” she asked in a calm voice while slinging the offending blood from her sword and sheathing it.

“Why would you need to know?” asked the neko youkai suspiciously.

“I wish to wash the blood from my person, it would not do well for it to set, aside from that the caked in blood would draw more unwanted attention. I’m sure even you can understand that.” She said dangerously. She could scent the water herself, but it would not do well to allow them to wonder about how she knew such things. She watched as a clawed finger was pointed in the direction of the stream she already knew was there. “Lady Sango, Lady Rin, if you would?” both females nodded and began to walk towards the water when Kagome heard the low growl coming from her cousin. A guard had come over and grabbed the girl.

“This one stays here, I won’t be off chasing you all night if you decide to run.” said the owned of the second voice from earlier, Kagome made a mental note that he wasn’t as stupid as he sounded before.

“Lady Sango will stay in her place, as she is the girls mother, there should be no matter.” stated Kagome calmly. Sango walked over towards the guard and flexed her claws menacingly.

“Release her.” she said in a low voice that warranted death. The guard was not stupid, part hanyou or not, a pissed off female over a pup was never anything good to deal with. Kagome waited while Rin gathered more clothing, and went in the direction of the stream was in. Kagome disrobed and washed herself of the fowl blood, normally it wouldn’t bother her but to bathe in it literally, allowed the blood to stink. She soaked her hair in the cool stream and allowed it to rinse. She watched as Rin did the unasked, and cleansed the miko garb of blood, it would still be wet for a bit but it would be clean, she exited the stream and dressed.

“I don’t like this Rin, keep your guard up at all times, its to be a head hunt. I won’t allow either of you to get hurt over something so trivial, if I must i will uncloak myself and you and your mother will return from wince we came. Do not dare disobey me in this, for I already know you’ll object. If for any reason I perish, the Southern lands are now yours to take care of as you are a hime of the Southern Territories, and next in line to inherit. They wont know what hit them if it comes to it, and I will continue on without the guards.”  said Kagome as she finished dressing and began her way back towards Sango.

“Hn.” was all her cousin said with a nod of her head. Rin too did not like what had happened, her cousin the southern star was not a weakling by far, in fact it still amazed her to see Kagome fight at all, stealth and practiced ease were like air to Kagome, she simply did. When they arrived back at the ‘campsite’ they found the second guard out cold for kami know what reason, neither bothered to ask, and seeing as they couldn’t leave him they made camp for the evening. Sango kept watch that night as her pup and her niece slept, though Kagome was not at all in a deep sleep as she kept her senses on high alert.

Morning came and with it they made again for the western territories. It had taken three more days to arrive at the boarders of the strong hold city, it was a thriving metropolis, filled with many different kinds of canine youkai. Kitsune, ookami, inu, roamed around in relative peace, Kagome took notice of everything, mostly the exits, and possible escape routes, she could not help it, years upon years of training insisted upon her doing this. What really helped was it left the messenger with a false sense that the female miko was just in awe and taking notice of how grand the city was. Leading them to the Palace of the moon, again the messenger got the wrong message of awe as he led the odd human into the palace.

Sango too was taking note of the palace lay out, it would do them no good if they had to run and didn’t know here to go, like Kagome she had been trained by Shin, Kagome’s father and her pack-brother before the coop was staged, her mate Miroku, Shin‘s younger brother lost, her pack, and life taken from her. She didn’t like to remember those times, she had just had her pup, and was not able to fight. Only Kagome had been able to escape with her, she had lost her pack sister, the alpha female Sayuri in the mayhem of that horrible night. Sayuri had died to protect her pups, though her youngest Souta had died that night as well, only Kagome herself and Rin made it out of the Southern territories to safety. Sighing, she looked over at her pup, her Rin who looked just like her father on so many occasions, and when Kagome’s concealment spell was down one could see the family resemblance easily. Her attention was brought back to the current situation, when she heard many audible gasps.

The messenger had just had them announced, Kagome held her head high, she could tell that her aunt was not keeping an watchful eye, but she had given Rin eye contact to say, ‘keep your eyes down and do not draw attention to yourself.’ Sango had looked up only briefly before her eyes too were now down cast, and only Kagome looked forward with no fear of restitution. They could all hear the whisper clearly, everyone was wondering who the human bitch with the hanyou and pup was, what she was doing here at this gather, surely she was not to participate. How wrong they were, not that she wanted to win, but she’d be damned if she lost to any of these stuck up bitches, or the stuck up lordly brat, or his mother.

Unlike the Lady of the West, Kagome did not need to mate to keep or hold her title, all she had to do was seek vengeance against those who had brought pain and death to her clan. The Higurashi had been a clan of dark inu’s, most of them dark browns, muted grays, and midnight blacks, they were the silver and whites of the West counterpart. The Taishou’s of the West and the Higurashi of the South did not mix, but there was great peace between the two clans, Kagome had remembered a time long ago when she had met this bratish Lord, they had been pups, and though she didn’t remember what it had all been about she remembered him then, cold and indifferent. It was how she too was raised to be, though she had taken more of her assassin training to heart, as had her little cousin. The Higurashi were known as dark shadows, though they were nothing of the sort, their clan trained in supreme stealth, and fighting skills that allowed a quick and quiet death, though it didn’t mean that it would be painless.

Kagome’s eyes cast around the crowd, taking in the sight of females that had obviously overdressed for a fight, their guardians or family, as well as the many other guests of the room. It didn’t matter if she were a Lady, a miko, or just another demoness, she sure as hell wasn’t going to let her guard down. The stench of jealousy, lust, need, desire, and many other sinful scents filled her nose, by the gods she’d sooner kill them all then put up with this smell, she only hoped she had a window in whatever room they put her in. Kagome was still scanning the crowd of people as she walked, her senses keeping an eye on the person walking before her so that she didn’t bump into them, when her eyes landed on the greatest prize of all. Before her was the lord she had been looking for, for the last two decades, the spider hanyou, who dared to take what was not his, and failed by not finishing what he started, Naraku.

Her lips curled into a wicked smile as her eyes glistened with desire to spill his blood, her aura must have spiked, she thought as she felt the calming hand of her aunt upon her shoulder. Taking notice not that she had found something to actually be happy about being here for the first time in a week. Though now she had many more eyes upon her, part of her wonderful concealment spell was that her normal demonic ki was changed and reformed into spiritual ki instead. It was a wonderful trick that a Kitsune had taught her, to conceal ones self in broad daylight without fear or restitutions, and though she never used it unless they had visitors it came in handy every now and then. Those in her family, those marked as pack would never be harmed but such tricks but those around her unmarked would be. Sadly it could not dissolve the feeling that had brought the waves of power out of her in the first place, and so the rest of the demon world that surround her, had just gotten a healthy dose of miko energy, filled with desire while she had been looking at the hanyou filth. No matter, when she killed him only his supposed ‘pups’ and the head general would be left.

2. Meet and Greet

Hatsumomo was pleased when she heard them announce the miko’s presence for once the little twit settled in the battles could begin, though she could feel no reiatsu from the female miko, she noted with distain that the human female was ‘pretty’ even if by low standards of mortals. To her utter shock and almost horror the miko’s servants were an inu hanyou, and a pup, who looked similar. Hatsumomo’s golden eyes watched the careful step of the miko, who was not paying attention to her direction and yet was not any bit unfired by it. She watched as the female’s unusual muddy blue eyes shifted through the crowd until they fell on the Lord of the South, Naraku. He was a vile male, though the west had never really had reason to fight the south, the old leaders were far better for the land it self as well as its people, human and demon alike. It had been a hard bit of news for the Taishou clan to find out that one of the other large inu clans had been decimated over night, but that was the ancient law, for one to take on the land as a cardinal, one had to destroy all vestiges of the old raceme, which was what happened to the Higurashi clan of the south.

Hatsumomo’s gaze grew wide for a brief moment as the miko’s powers flared wildly, where before stood just a human female, now stood a female a blazed in glowing blue flames of reiatsu. The power licked and flashed wildly around her and she seemed not to have noticed at all, as though this was every day occurrence. Even more to her shock was the hanyou woman who looked somewhat like the miko, placed her hand on the females shoulder, calming those deadly flames of death with just an eased touch. It was unheard of, the hanyou should have been burned, purified, and yet she was intact, whole. Whispered conversation grew rapidly as all who witness had something to say about the human female. Her cold golden gaze watched a wicked smile plastered itself upon the little humans face, as the scent of her --‘desire?’-- wafted up the dais towards herself and Sesshomaru.

The humans eyes locked on Naraku, the desire was not that of sexual nature, she had been smelling that since most of these horny bitches had made it to her home in hopes to bed and mate with her son, no it was a desire to do something else. But what? She thought as she noticed those muddy blue eyes gleaning with murderous intent, but that was impossible, humans did not, and could not reflect such in their eyes, even the hateful and fearful beings of man kind could not reflect something so predatory and feral as that, which was a youkai’s murderous intent.  She pondered the young human female, whom she had only intended for entertainment, and when she should die, one less miko to kill off their kind. Now she genuinely wanted to see what the little miko could do, silently she was already cheering her, though she did not want the miko to win the war, only a battle or two, enough to make the wait for her worth it.

The Western Lord though he had not shown his surprise had much the same idea as his mother, though he hated that she’d brought a human in on this, a miko at that, for her sick amusement. He had assumed her to be a little to no power at all, even weak miko held reiatsu in their being, and from this female he could feel none, maybe, considering she had a sword upon her wide hips rather then a bow she was a warrior. But then her eyes had danced all the way up the isle to the dais, she had not fallen or bumped into the one leading her, her steps were measured, calculated, guarded, the point was that no true warrior took their eyes off the enemy. But then he realized she was in a room full of youkai, to everything around her and vice versa, they were all her enemy. 

“Its about time you made it here, we were all waiting for your arrival, miko.” intoned Hatsumomo, from Sesshomaru’s side, watching the human miko stop and look at her. Now all protocol, regardless of human or  youkai courts required that one being addressed were to look upon the feet of the one speaking to them, and that to do otherwise was disrespectful and in youkai courts the sign of a challenge. A lesser being, like say …a certain miko would not ever be allowed to raise their eyes unless advised to directly so do, so to say the Lady of the Western lands was shocked and angered to be greeted by cold pale blue eyes, was to say the least an understatement. Faster then most in the room could see, those few being Kagome, Hatsumomo, Sesshomaru and a few others, The lady of those lands descended like a wrathful god upon the ‘unsuspecting’ miko, much to the bitches surprise Kagome was not there when Hatsumomo landed in front of the same place the girl had been just moments before.

“My lady, I will say this only once. I came because I was told that I had no choice, do not think me unable to protect myself even in this situation. I would think one who has called me here for such, vagrant tasks would at least have faith in me not to be weak, the prize of coarse wouldn’t been near as valuable if anyone could have it.” Said Kagome from behind a suppressed Hatsumomo. The silver Lady turned to attack, but was blocked by the miko’s sword. “Now is not the time to fight, if I’m correct, Milady.” answered the cool Kagome, as the area around them gasped in shock that a human miko could move with speeds faster in some cases then their own. Many eyes feel upon the pair locked in a battle stance, many eyes saw that the little miko was holding up against one of their strongest with nothing more then the steel of her blade, for not reiatsu was being drawn into the blade itself. Lustful eyes set on the pair, hungry eyes, angry  eyes, even the proud eyes of her aunt fell upon them, but it was the set of Golden eyes that matter most.

“ENOUGH!” roared the ruling taiyoukai, causing Hatsumomo to pull off of Kagome, and Kagome to re-sheath her sword. “Human, because you seem to be unaware of your transgression--” honestly Kagome was not ‘unaware‘, she simply was not concerned with protocol,”--This Sesshomaru, and Lady Hatsumomo will forgive you. This once and only once. From this moment on though, you are never to look upon us in the eyes unless advised to do so. Is that understood?” he questioned dangerously. Kagome smirked, the effect making her look carefree and arrogant, but she nodded non the less keeping her gaze off the heated inu lord above her. Arrogant brat, she inwardly laughed off the thought, it was surely a shame that she was going to be forced to killing so many who had no chance against her. It wasn’t’ their fault that they were going up against the heir of the southern heir, a taiyoukai, hell taiyoukai’s didn’t have stupid battles over mates to be, it was always about land and power, and so these bitches, these poor females set to face what they thought was a mere human, well they were all going to die, it was sad really.

“Milord?” asked the innocent sounding miko.

“Hn.” taking this as a ‘continue’ Kagome asked.

“When are the ‘festivities’ going to begin?” she asked, causing a near uproar that she should even be so blatant. Even Sesshomaru was a bit annoyed and didn’t keep it out of his voice when he asked.

“Are you in such a hurry to die human?” it was cold and unnerving to most, but his reply was a slight laughter, a methodical, humorous, breathy quiet laughter. She fought the sound to speak, that arrogant smirk that she used even in the joy of bloodshed, when those she sought out took their last dying breath caused by her claws, still on her face.

“I have no intention of dying here.” she finally said in a voice that was utterly true, strong, brave, and seductive. “I simply wanted to know when the fun begins. Though I do feel sorry for those that are pitted against me.” she said thoughtfully. Many youkai in the room were ready to lung forward and take the rude onna by the throat show her her place, and yet the miko’s body tensed just a bit, the dog lord could see that if anything came her way it would be dead by her hand, that was a warriors body standing there, it seemed though that none were willing to do what their aura’s spoke so loudly of, and yet the onna’s smirk grew bold, curious, he thought. Normally he wouldn’t answer as such things would be told to her eventually, but something in him was actually amused by the bold female. With a dark chuckle he replied.

“The ‘festivities’ as you call them begin at dawn, and will continue until dusk, they will continue in such a manor until there is only one of you, gladiators of the heart left, which may be a while considering the amount of females in attendance. Is that acceptable, onna?” asked the dog lord.

“But of coarse milord, though I certainly hope your lands undertaker has rested up, their going to be busy.” she said as thought it was only natural. Oddly enough the only thing that actually startled her since stepping into this place was the bark of  deep laughter that came from the lord of the lands. Sesshomaru couldn’t contain it, this human woman, actually thought that she was going to do damage to any of the demoness’ here, it was probably the funniest thing he’d heard in a lifetime.

“I will have to watch you die human, I’m sure it will be most uneventful.” he returned.

“Then you will be watching for a while, milord, as I have said before I have no intention of dying here.” she answered again, but his laughter did not return, only his cold nature.

“We will see then won’t we.” finishing the conversation, while watching the odd human’s wicked smile grow. His mother took this moment to clear the air and take control again, it wasn’t every day that her son spoke, battered even with anyone let alone a miko. It was almost scary to see and hear, and by the looks many of the other demons in the room could not believe it alone, she knew now she was going to have to keep an eye on both her son, and the miko.

The rest of the day had honestly been uneventful, the girls were shown to their rooms, they had dinner with the other ‘gladiators of the heart’ along with some of their families, and the other cardinal lords that were in attendance, though those who had come along with the females had not bee allowed at the table, but were placed behind them, and so Sango sat attentively through a horrible boring dinner, listening to far to much conversation over the human and the hanyou who brought the inu pup, also how her niece had reacted to the Western lord. Many she heard were interested in seeing what Kagome could do, others simply wanted their chance at her. She inwardly laughed at how all of these poor girls weren’t going to be laughing when they faced Kagome, hell she didn’t even like fighting Kagome.

From there it was lights out, and the first battles at dawn in the morning. Like every day though Kagome was up far before any other, truly it was night still when she rose. Seeing as they weren’t at home any longer she placed a barrier she knew her aunt could break from the inside on their room. It was a barrier that only one of her clan could break, and thus her aunt, and if not her then Rin could break the barrier to get out of the room, but none would be able to enter from anywhere, not even Shadow youkai, or light youkai. Finding the hot springs by scent alone she bathed and dressed, greeting the servants that entered after her expecting there to be none there already in kind, which honestly shocked most of them she took her leave of the place quickly. Heading down to the main hall and out into one of the large fields she did nothing but practice forms with her swords as the sun rose.

By this time though Kagome was in a near trance, she could sense many aura’s around her, and yet none gave off ill intent so she continued her practice. Those around her watched the onna with awed faces, no human they had ever seen had such grace and even many youkai did not have such practiced skill.  Her dance was a deadly one and those pitted against her, true to her word weren’t going to get off easy. Sesshomaru watched her from a distance, from a balcony high in his palace, such stances even he didn’t know the female human danced with ease, her blades swinging through air, he watched from the moment she came out even until now. Servants had actually set up around her and yet still she practiced, sighing to himself he wondered if there was even a remote possibility that the human could win. He knew she wasn’t going down at first, specially not seeing her now, but how far could she get? He wondered, as he watched her take yet another powerful swing of her blade.

Sango and Rin made their way to Kagome, after having woken not long ago, they knew her she would be in practice before she fought, so making their way out, they had not expected to see a crowd watching her. Making her way to the front of the group, Rin standing back at this point as Sango drew her sword. The moment the metal hit metal Kagome came back. “Good morning Sango.” she said with a smile as she sheathed her sword and stretched.

“Good morning my lady. You should not have snuck out so early, how long have you been in practice?” Kagome wasn’t listening she was taking note of how many were actually around her, damn, she thought looking upon the many faces who had watched her, truly had any attempted to pull her from her trance other then Sango she would have attacked. Sango’s calm face was one of the few that did not trigger her instincts to kill when being pulled form that particular training.

“Um… well seeing as how the Suns almost up, I’d say about two hours.” answered Kagome finally while receiving a scowl from her aunt.

“By the gods your hopeless, what’ll happen when you get tired?” she asked as though she were the girls mother, which for most cases was true. Though many around them did not know this, many thought the relationship odd. But soon the pair were bickering, but even thought was cut short by the gentle “ahem” from Rin, causing both to look over her way, and realize that they were being watched. Smiling brightly as now it seemed all the possible hundred or more participants were in attendance, it was time to begin this battle for courtship.