end only to begin again

‘…’Thoughts
“…” Speaking
*actions - Sounds*
Italics and bold - Writings
Italics - flashbacks

Youkai - Demon
yokai’s - Demon energy
Houshi - Monk
Taijiya - Demon Slayer

Hakama - pants
Haori - Shirt


:: Tessaiga Sword talk::


Chapter 14
The Humiliation


As they entered the training ground Asiko stayed a few steps behind her Lady until she was needed to move anyone out of the way. She was fairly happy that they seemed to part and make way for her. She just held her head high and kept quiet like her mistress told her to do.

Kagome strolled into the training grounds and made her way into the center where the General was. He saw her approaching and called his men to attention.

"Hello Lady Kagome." General Riko said in greeting while bowing.


"General Riko" she nodded her head slightly in a welcome gesture. "I assume you have my sparring partners ready for me?" she asked looking over her army.


"Yes Lady I have selected the very best." he replied to her question and waved the three men he choose forward.


"Good!" she said with a smirk that implied she was about to have some fun.

The look in her eyes and the smirk on her face was enough to make those who were not chosen to spar with her, happy about that fact. They felt sorry for those who would receive the 'royal beat down' by a female, then have to live with the knowledge of knowing a female bested them. The only thing that would appease their hurt egos would be that she is the Lady and Ruler of these lands therefore must be powerful, also the fact that she had killed the Lord with the ease that she did would also be a huge help to nurse their soon to be bruised egos.


"Let's begin. Who will be first?" she asked while looking over the chosen few she will spar with.


She watched a ruggedly handsome youkai male step forward. He was a good 2 feet taller than her, his hair was a striking red and his eyes were the color of sun. He had the build of a warrior and his hands were calloused to prove his experience with the sword he wielded. He bowed low to her. "My Lady this Shintomaru would be honored to go first." his low sultry voice made it to her ear.


It was clear that this male thought he could seduce her with a voice 'HA! You will have to try a lot harder then that to seduce me!' she thought smugly. She had seen his type before, she knew he was hoping to bed her and take her as his mate therefore becoming the new Lord. This did nothing but cause her ire to grow, he was going to need the infirmary when she was finished with him. 'This male will learn that I am out of his league, my mate must be able to protect me not the other way around!' she thought and then she realized she found that thought strange. She didn't normally think like that. 'It must be the youki from Inu No Taisho. Will my beast ever think anyone is worthy of me?' she thought, a little disturbed at the prospect of being alone for the rest of her life because she was now one of the strongest inu-youkai to ever walk the earth.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she nodded and watched him get into an offensive stance. She immediately got into the defensive stance that would counter his stance perfectly.


Shintomaru looked at her stance and was floored. He had chosen to fight in a style they no longer teach, he was taught by his father many centuries ago. 'How would she know what stance would counter my moves perfectly?' he thought dumbstruck. He shook his head to concentrate on the fight before him and made his move.


She watched as he charged towards her, sword in hand. She did not move, deeming it not necessary to block him. As he came toward her within sword's reach he attempted to arch a slice across her stomach. Moving the sword to block his attack the first sound of metal hitting metal could be heard and the crowd hooted.

*Clang*

*Clash*

*Sling*

The match continued as he jabbed and she parried. She was getting in cuts here and there not really trying hard to win yet. She wanted to see how well he could react under pressure and she was determined to find out. "Come on Shintomaru hit me. Don't take it easy on me… fight me!" she said tauntingly with a playful smirk on her face she yawns.


Shintomaru heard what she had said and could not help the anger that bubbled into him as his faced flushed, but he held his calm. He WAS trying but she was to damn fast and good he could not get a hit in otherwise.


'Now this will not do.' she thought seeing how he still controlled his temper, she wanted him to get angry to see if he could still fight while enraged. "Come on now you are a warrior! Are you going to let this female beat you in front of your comrades so easily?" she asked in a tone that so sweet it did not match her words.


She was toying with him and he knew it! She had not a scratch on her and he was getting tired from all the blood loss. He would have to end this fast if he did not want to faint from loss of blood. So he charged full speed at Kagome screaming in his rage, "You will learn your place female! Which is beneath me and naked!"


The training grounds suddenly got deathly quite all watching with bated breath. They could taste the power now rolling off the female at his disrespectful remark.


Kagome heard what he said and being Kagome that comment pissed her off. She watched as he charged towards her, her youki flaring licking all those near with its intensity. When he came in to attack, she side stepped him and pulled her arm back and punched him square in the nose with so much force he was propelled into the air landing in an undignified heap. She walked up to him still sprawled out on the ground, her sword at his throat, "How could one such as you think to be my equal, you are pathetic!" she spat as she nicked his throat. "Do you submit?" she asked applying pressure to his Adams apple.

He did not move or speak for a few moments trying to register what happened. She had beaten him with a punch 'ONE FUCKING PUNCH!' his mind screamed at the undignified why to lose to a woman. "Yes This Shintomaru Submits Lady Kagome." he said in a low whisper only she heard.

Nodding in understanding she withdrew her sword from his throat and stepped back to allow him to nurse his hurt pride. She knew he would take the way he lost a bit hard, 'But I could not help it he pissed me off!' she thought trying to defend herself in her mind. "You are excused. Go to the infirmary and have your wounds tended to." she said as she dismissed him and he walked off, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Turning back to the gaping soldiers she smiled cheerfully, "Who's want to go next?"

She watched as they all took a step back from the seemingly too cheerful female. None were willing to receive the same humiliation as her first opponent. Pouting slightly she said, "Fine then. I suppose no one else wishes to challenge my leadership then?"

The men knew she was there to insure she would not get any challenges from her men. Once they had seen how badly she beat the first, none were willing to follow his mistakes. They all got to their knees as a silent declaration that there were no more challenges against her as the new ruler and Lady of the Eastern Lands.

She watched as they kneeled to her in submission to her rule. "Rise and go about your training men." her voice rang loud and commanding through the training grounds and the men quickly continued their training as their Lady had bid.

Kagome turned towards Asiko and motioned for her to follow, before she was able to leave she heard General Riko calling to her. "Lady Kagome" he said while jogging to her with a parchment in hand.


Turning around to face the General, "General Riko?" she asked, the question in her voice.


"Lady Kagome I have that list you asked for." he said while handing her the rolled piece of parchment.


"Thank you General." she said while taking the parchment from him.


He nodded his head in acceptance of her thanks, "You are a remarkable swordswoman. May I ask who taught you? I have seen you use skills that one your age should not know." he asked curiously.


She gave him a warm smile. "I was taught by one of the best youkai swordsmen to ever live, and that is where I will leave it. Good evening General, I must return to my study I have to prepare to leave on the morn to take care of a rogue demon on the western part of our borders. It is something I wish to take care of myself." with that, they said their goodbyes and she and Asiko made their way back to the study.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Sitting at her desk she looked over the parchment she was given and made it a point to know the names of the ones she would run into frequently. Once she was satisfied she would remember the names she placed the parchment into a draw for later use.

She had sent Asiko to check on the tasks she was to do earlier, and to make sure her chambers would be done by the time she retired for the night.


A few hours later Asiko came into the study to tell her Lady that her chambers had been completed, and all supplies needed for travel were packed and ready for tomorrow.


With a thank you she told Asiko to go home and return before dawn. Tired and worn from the strenuous day she retired to her new chambers.

She fell asleep wondering what tomorrow would bring.


Objective Completed: 5, 2


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