Found in Sand

“Speaking”
‘Thoughts’

Chapter Eleven
We Depart

Kagome had went straight to her hotel room once she left the ramen stand. She knew she had a lot of work ahead of her if she was going to produce a blood bind powerful enough to quell the urges of blood lust for that Jugo character.

The ritual itself was really simple actually it just took a substantial amount of energy to perform and was really time consuming. Kagome placed all the items she would need on the reading desk within her hotel room and started firstly by getting the string she would need for the necklace ready. Once she had a sufficient size cut she coated it with her Miko ki to strengthen the rope before placing it as side.

Next was the part that took the most time, she had to perform the same incantation as well as charging each bead with her ki. One at a time she beaded the necklace while the beads were still glowing faintly with her powers. By the time the last bead was placed on the necklace the first few were beginning to lose the glow telling her exactly how much time it has taken her to complete.

The last part of the ritual was simply to repeat the incantation over the complete necklace as she had for each bead until the whole necklace glowed with her powers. Now that the binding was complete Kagome began to add her fail safe. If at anytime the call of blood became too much for the necklace it would release a small zap of purification not enough to kill but enough to zap him back into his senses. The only way, that feature would be activated was if the binding was unable to quell the urge.

Once she was finished she placed the necklace down knowing that when she awoke in the morning the glow would have faded and the blood bind would be completed. By the time the ritual was complete Kagome realized that she had only three hours left to sleep before sunrise.

She did not really need to sleep, but she knew that if she did she would recover her powers faster so she lied down and fell into a light slumber. It was still dark when she had woken from her nap, but she could tell the sun was about to rise so she got out of bed and began to get her things together. The sun began its rise as she walked out of the hotel with both arms filled with bags.

0ooo0

With a cleaned room and a packed bag Naruto walked out of his apartment like he did many times before for missions. Only this time he would be gone a lot longer and without Sakura. He found himself wondering why she was not chosen because he knew she was a strong ninja as far as females went, but she must have been lacking something Kagome was looking for when she chose the team.

He was excited and a little eager about his training and what might change about him. He wondered if what Kagome said about the pervy instincts were true or if she was just joking. ‘I hope she was joking’ he thought before the image of Sakura falling all over him and his pheromones entered his mind ‘or maybe not’ he thought as he locked the door to his small apartment.

He was the first at the gate waiting which was nothing new he was always the first when a mission was involved. He was not alone long however as three more people were walking towards him. “Hi Gaara, Temari, Kankuro” Naruto greeted with a smile.


Gaara nodded in welcome as a chorus of “Hello” was heard from his siblings. They had decided that they were going to head back to the sand village today since they had achieved what they came here for.


“So you guys are leaving today too? I am sure Kagome won’t mind if we all travel together.” Naruto said watching Gaara place a hand on the jewel he was given when the name Kagome was said. It was a subconscious act and Gaara did not even notice it even as he went to reply.


“We shall wait.” he said standing beside Naruto so he could see who would be approaching. He was intrigued by Kagome any who knew him well would be able to tell without problem that he was interested in her.

Whether it is mainly curiosity or something on a deeper level it was the look he got when Kagome was brought up that spoke of his interests in volume. Gaara was unsure what to do about his interest because he had never had any concerning a female before and Kagome was not like any of the females he had ever met.


They waited talking among themselves, well Temari and Kankuro talked among them selves while Gaara stood beside them silently. He may have changed over the years, but many things have remained the same. He was never one for an asinine conversation when he spoke it was something important.


The next to arrive was Kiba and his companion Akamaru “Hey Kiba” Naruto said waving to them as they approached.


“Hey Naruto. Has Kagome arrived yet?” Kiba asked as he walked to them with Kiba by his side.


“No she hasn’t, but she should be here soon.” Naruto answered with a grin “I can not wait until we start our training. You have not seen much of the things she could do, but what I had seen was awesome.” Naruto said grinning because he knew that he was going to receive special training.


“It may take her a while to get here.” the arrival of Hinata became known “hello Nar-Naruto” Hinata said blushing.


“What do you mean?” Naruto asked confused while Kiba and Gaara both tuned in to listen to her response.


“Oh I saw her yesterday and help her bring something she had purchased from the market. It was lot of stuff so it would probably take a while to get here. She bought swords and stuff for you guys for training.” Hinata answered taking a glance behind her to look for a bag filled Kagome. ‘I should have stopped by her hotel room to see if she needed help or not.’ Hinata thought guiltily she was after all the only one who knew she had many things to carry. “Should we maybe go see if she needs help carrying some things?” Hinata asked her concern clear in her voice.


“No need look” Naruto answered as he looked down the path and saw her coming.

0ooo0

Kagome walked no more then two steps before she was approached and relieved of most of her bags. “What?” Kagome started confused because she could not yet see who was taking the things from her until she turned her head and met the lilac of Neji’s eyes. “Oh hello Neji, thanks.” Kagome said with a smile and a small blush. He was charming in his own way.


Neji nodded his head while shifting his bags so his free hand is nearest to her. “Not a problem the hotel was on my way to the gate and I saw you so I figured I would help. You looked like you needed it. What is all this stuff anyway?” he asked seeing the handle of several katana and a bag of seashells in the bags he was holding.


“Oh I figured that since none of you have them I would get them while I was out. Swordsmen ship is one of things I will be teaching. The katana is the weapon of choice for many youkai and those kunai are to dangerous to use when defending against a skilled swordsmen. And the seashells are what we use to house the many poisons that will be taught throughout training. They are small which makes them perfect for carrying. The bows are for me and Hinata and the staff is for Lee. And well the other things should be self explanatory.” Kagome said as they continued there journey towards the gates of Konoha.


“Hm” Neji said as he walked down the street with Kagome by his side. He thought she was strange, but it was the kind of strange he likes. He did not know what it was about her that compelled him to seek her company as he had. The truth was that the hotel was not actually on the way it was out of his way. He still did not know why he had come this way because it was further away from the gate then the Hyuuga district. ‘No that was a lie I do know why’ Neji thought as he looked out the corner of his eyes at Kagome ‘she was why.’


Totally unaware of her companion’s thoughts Kagome smiled “So Neji are you excited to start trainings soon? I remember my first time fight a demon it was exhilarating. The fear and adrenaline rush you feel when faced with a stronger opponent is incredible. At the time all I knew was how to fire an arrow and not even that good either. I will be easier for you guys because you were already trained to fight.” Kagome said as the gate and the people waiting by it came into view and Kagome waved at Naruto with a smile.

It only took a few minutes before they were standing with everyone else. “So who are we waiting for to show?” Kagome asked herself out loud while looking over those who were present.


“I have arrived! And I have beaten my rival Kakashi!” the tall man who looks like her new apprentice said as came to a stop just behind her Lee following soon after.


‘Quite the character’ Kagome thought with exasperation at his tone while placing the bags she was holding down on the ground Neji doing the same. “Since we still seem to be missing people why don’t we start to pass out all the goodies I have brought for you all?” Kagome said opening the bag with the katana in it.


Naruto was the first to step up in his excitement to learn new things and become stronger. Kagome smiled at him as she reached into the bag and grabbed a katana to give to him. “I expect these to be at your waist at all times. Demons will not give you the time needed to shuffle around your things for it.”


Slipping the katana through his belt he beamed at Kagome his blue eyes shinning excitedly “so what else did you bring?” he asked seeing the other bags she had.


“Little bit of this, little bit of that” Kagome smiled secretly teasing Naruto’s kitsune nature while sneaking a peek at Neji. He knew what was in the bag because she told him, but Naruto was just too much fun and she could not resist teasing him. He was so much like Shippo when she came back from the future knowing that something in my pack was for him, but not knowing what. ‘Impatient creature’s kitsune are.’ Kagome mused as her smile widened at the pout Naruto gave.

Her eyes drew to the newest addition to the group “Hello Sasuke” Kagome said with a smile before she turned back to her bags. Taking out the staff and bow she first turns to Lee “Monks use holy staffs to channel there power, but I could not find a holy staff within your village therefore a normal one will have to due until we can have one fashioned for you. Since this is only training you will learn how to handle a staff using the normal one given.” Kagome said handing the staff to Lee.


Lee steps foreword and takes the staff with a “Thank you” then watches as Kagome leans down to grab another katana.


“You will also learn to wield a katana until we can find a suitable holy staff for your use.” Kagome said also handing the katana to Lee. Kagome looks to Hinata “You, Lee, and Naruto will have double training I hope you are prepared.” Kagome said handing the bow and quiver of arrows to Hinata then leaning down to get a katana and also give it to her. “A Miko usually only uses one weapon which is normally a bow because channeling holy powers are easier when using an arrow, but I have learned from experience that though the range weapon may work great there is a chance that an enemy may come to close to use efficiently. So you will also learn the sword” Kagome finished while handing the katana to Hinata.


“T-thank you Kagome-s- sensei” Hinata stuttered with a blush as she steps closer to Naruto in order to retrieve the weapons.


Turning to the rest of the group Kagome continues “I have gotten all of you a sword except for Sasuke since his will work fine. Come and collect them so I can figure who has yet to arrive.”


Kagome laid the katana upon the ground and the ninja gathered all took one so now Kagome was able to see who was missing. There was only 1 sword left Sai having arrived when she gave the bow to Hinata and Sasuke arrived when she began passing out the katana. “Ok so it looks like we are missing Kakashi” Kagome began only to be cut off by Naruto.


“Kakashi-sensei is always late” Naruto informed it was after all a usual occurrence.


“I am here!” Kakashi said after he poofed beside Kagome with his nose in the usual orange book.


Kagome turned to him with a pleasant smile “I hope you do not make it a habit to be late Mr. Kakashi because you will soon find how I deal with tardiness is not to your liking.” Kagome said plucking the book out of his hands closing it and placing it in his pocket.


Laughs met her statement as Kagome turned to see if that Jugo fellow was near. He was and she walked to meet him half way. Once she they were near she reached into her pocket and pulled out the necklace “Here you go and remember to never take it off or it will not work to curb your blood lust.” Kagome said handing the rosary to the boy to which he excepted gladly and placed over his head with a “Thank you”. Once he had the necklace on Kagome nodded then turned to return to the gathered group “we will leave now I want to put some distance between us and the village by nightfall” Kagome said grabbing the other bags and began to walk out the gate only for Neji to relieve her of one of the bags. Kagome smiled with a soft blush “thanks” to which Neji nodded in reply.


Gaara watched the interaction with mixed feelings unsure if how he feels about the closeness of the two, but said nothing to voice his objections.