Training Day: Heart to Soul by Silver Rae

Chapter 1

A.N. Hmm.... story number 2. Well technically it's not MINE. This is Gabby (tha-fallen-angel) /AKA Hummer's challenge. She deserves a great deal of the credit, maybe even all of it.... (Silver starts clapping) I read her challenge on A Single Spark, and found the plot to be tempting, so I gave it a try.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor do I own any of the characters found in the anime... and technically, I don't own this plot...

Training Day: Heart to Soul

Chapter 1

The Feudal era of Japan; a history not remembered.

Sesshoumaru sat in his study, ignoring the slight pull at his youkai senses. He needed to finish writing a treaty between the western and southern lands.

A war would brew, if he did not get it sent by the end of the moon cycle, giving him only two week's time to get it written, and sent over to the southern lord.

Though Sesshoumaru could do that in half the time, the thought of a treaty with the lord irked him. He could easily kill the fool-hearty and head strong lord, of course, but that would not set well with the other taiyoukai.

He was a neko youkai that had just come into the throne, earlier that year. 'It was a shame that they were forced to put someone so incompetent in charge.' Sesshoumaru frowned.

He continued on writing the treaty. Sesshoumaru knew how a war between the west, and south would end--with him being victorious, and the resources that could only be found in the southern lands, destroyed. He would not risk his province's prosperity for a pup's foolishness. He resisted the urge to sigh.

Sesshoumaru felt rather agitated for some reason, but he shook it off, as nothing but his distaste for the neko's foolhardiness.

He ran a nimble clawed hand through his silky white hair, before he returned his full attention on what he was writing.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"

The aforementioned youkai scowled, as a toad demon entered the room, "Sesshoumaru-sama! This Jaken does not mean to disturb you, but something is amiss in your lands, sire!" squeaked out the nervous servant. The young demon lord's narrowed.

Sesshoumaru frowned, and tightened his grip on what he was writing with. "Explain."

~ ~ ~ ~

It would seem that the western lands were in silent clamor.

It was late afternoon, and would soon turn to night. Demons were restless, humans were apprehensive, and a raw power filled the air.

Every creature there could feel holy powers at work. Sesshoumaru frowned--He knew about the energy, for he had sensed it, but had brushed it off, since it was faint.

He had not known to what extent it was bothering the others in his lands.

He could tell that it was not near... but close enough to be a probable threat to his lands.

The energy would augment and plummet ever few minutes, filling the air with a sweet scent. It was obviously a miko, but the question was; what was the priestess trying to achieve by this?

Sesshoumaru went to attain his swords. He kept them safely placed away, when he was not using them, in a room connected to his. The taiyoukai slid the shouji (sp?) door open entered, and walked gracefully across the floor to the space his swords occupied.

They were located on a wall in the far back. His frown deepened, as he reached his swords. Toukijin was sparking, as if its very aura was being purified. "I will have to leave toukijin," Sesshoumaru concluded in his smooth steeled voice, his eyes narrowing.

Tenseiga seemed completely unaffected, so he would only bring that 'Though it will be completely insufficient in battle, it has its uses.'

Sesshoumaru briskly walked out of his study. He quickened his pace, when he reached his castle entrance. He could feel where the source of the holy power was. It was very close to the border of his lands. 'This Sesshoumaru will kill whatever is causing this.' He thought with a flex of his lengthy fingers.

He reached a clearing, 30 minutes later. His youkai senses had traced the source to there. He glanced around him....Nothing. Taking a gentle sniff of the air, he sorted out the scents. Though it was difficult since the sweet scent was very strong in the area.

His sensitive nose twitched.

He had picked up the coppery scent blood. But from where? He took another sniff. It seemed to be above him--it was coming from a nearby tree.... He frowned, as he looked up. 'Inuyasha's wench.' He thought with distaste.

~ ~ ~ ~

Kagome was in a very outlandish position on a thick branch, about 10 feet above the ground.

She was sitting cross-legged against a tree, with her eyes closed tightly, her jaw clenched, and her hands fisted so tightly, that her nails dug sharply into her palms, causing blood to trickle down her arms. She held her hands firmly to her head, and was shaking considerably.

Kagome didn't seem notice any of her surroundings or what she was doing. She was too busy trying to keep form crying. 'I was in the wrong place at the wrong time!' She mentally berated herself.

She was afraid that if she spoke, she would burst into a sobbing mess.

She had told herself that she would not cry, but it was hard when what had happened an hour ago would constantly replay in her mind. She wanted to just forget, but the scenario kept repeating itself so vividly in her mind.

But Kagome knew that she had set herself up for this. She knew she loved Inuyasha and that with her feelings, there would soon come rejection. Inuyasha had chosen Kikyou 50 years ago. He loved her then, and still does.

She knew she could never replace Kikyou. But it hurt hearing him say that he would never choose her all the same.

(Flashback)

Kagome knew her curiosity would some day get her in trouble, but she didn't dwell too much on that.

So when Inuyasha had strayed from the group at the campsite, Kagome mumbled a quick excuse to everyone else, and without waiting for a rely, had followed him.

She would later come to regret doing that.

She crept along after Inuyasha, thankful that her scent was being blown away from him by the breeze.

Soon, he stopped at a clearing. It was on a grassy hill, with wild flowers growing randomly. He seemed to be looking for something--or someone for that matter.

Kagome decided to stay a few minutes longer; her curiosity had yet to be sated.

'What is he doing? Inuyasha doesn't seem like the type to take a stroll, and then lie on the grass and watch the sunset...' She thought dryly. Her question was answered by the presence of a Soul Snatcher.

Kagome froze.

Her eyes widened, as Kikyo walked into the clearing, and sat by Inuyasha. To which the hanyou let out a sigh of relief.

"I didn't think that you would come." Inuyasha muttered gruffly, but his eyes shown with a gentle shrine that showed both his happiness and relief.

Kikyou's eyes narrowed, "Why have you called me here?"

Kagome couldn't move. 'Inuyasha called for Kikyou? Why?!' Inuyasha didn't answer.

Kikyou glanced at him, "If you will not answer that, then answer me this, Inuyasha." She paused before continuing, her lifeless eyes now held a tint of sadness.

"If I was still living, would you stay with me, and have continued the life we lost or would you go on with staying with my reincarnation."

Inuyasha didn't hesitate, "I would stay with you, Kikyou. Why don't you understand that I love you, and you alone!"

Inuyasha's outburst had shocked both Kikyou and Kagome, maybe even shocked Inuyasha, himself.

Kagome wanted to run away. She wanted to get out of there more than anything, but for some reason she couldn't move.

Kikyou laughed scornfully as soon as she recovered from her initially shocked reaction, "You lie, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha growled, "Kagome will not, and cannot replace you, Kikyou--"

The rest of the conversation went unheard, however, for Kagome had left. She was actually mad at first. She felt tired of always being the one to break down.

It made her feel weak.

'I am weak....' The tears made their way to her chocolate eyes.

Kagome shut her eyes close tightly 'No I'm not' she squinted so she could see what was ahead of her. It was a tree.

Kagome felt compelled to it. It would hide her from this world--from Inuyasha, just for a little bit longer.

She quickly climbed it, and willed herself not to cry. 'I'm not going to cry.' She squeezed her eyes shut, and fisted her hands against her head.

Kagome felt something inside her break, though not in the least was it painful. But she didn't care, though as long as she didn't cry.

(End Flashback)

It would seem that Kagome had unintentionally, made a break-through in tapping into her miko powers. But unfortunately, she didn't know how to control it very well.

"Wench," Kagome gasped as someone sharply called out to her. She lost her balance--along with the barely restrained hold on her powers. Her eyes wide, she fell out of the tree and her powers went out to purify the nearest thing.

Sesshoumaru.

'What is he doing here?!' Kagome squeezed her eyes shut.

For some reason... she didn't want to purify Sesshoumaru. She desperately implored her powers not to purify him. She fell to her knees, clutching her head.

Kagome opened her eyes, only to be blinded by a bright flash of light that seemed to be coming from her body.

The energy engulfed Sesshoumaru. Once Kagome was able to see, she was relieved to find Sesshoumaru standing there.

A strong gust of wind blew, as the excess energy that Kagome had used, came back to her body. The gust, however, caused her to notice something.

Sesshoumaru's arm had grown back

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed to slits. He would have killed the wench had not she pointed out something.

"Y-your arm!" She stammered shakily pointed towards the arm that the hanyou that was his half brother had once severed.

His eyes widened though it was a minuscule increase.

'How,' he silently asked himself as he flexed the re-grown limb. After a moment of consideration, he begrudgingly told the miko, "It would seem that I am in your debt, miko."

Kagome managed to recover from the shock of what just happened, to hear what he had said. Sesshoumaru turned to leave.

'He can train me.' The idea entered her head suddenly. "Wait!"

Sesshoumaru stopped walking. Kagome took this as a sign to continue. She managed to summon a strong voice, pleased when she didn't falter. "I want you to train me."

= = = ~

AN: There's the first chapter... Now onto reading Sleeping Beauty by AKA Hummer on FF.net! (She's the one who thought up the plot) I just found out her pen name. Soooo anyways... review and I might just get out another chapter ^-^.

Rae: (glances around) ....Now where is my muse?

Silver: (pops out of no where)

Rae: There you are!!! We have to get started on the next chapter of DITM

Silver: Of what?!

Rae: (sweat drops) Dancing in the Moonlight....

Silver: (rolls eyes) Then why not say Dancing in the Moonlight?

Rae: (Shrugs)