Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor the tale of "Little Red Riding Hood", which bears the same name as my own story.

"Tentatively?" Kagome asked.

"I will kill any and all who intend to step forward and undermine my authority. This agreement to train you comes with the understanding that I am to do as I see fit, and any interruptions will be considered an act of war, and I will kill without hesitation."

"This Sesshomaru does not have any objections. This Sesshomaru's servant did well when retaining your services." Sesshomaru nodded and walked towards the door.

"Train well, young Miko. Your like depends on it."

Kye waited for the door to close before she turned to Kagome. "You seem a foolish child. What brings you to his world?"

"What?"

"Child, I will not ask twice. What has brought you to his keep? I am not one to believe that he is rash enough to just take a human mate without any gain."

Kagome blushed and looked down. "Our agreement is complicated and not one that I readily agreed too. It's one I wish to dissolve to be honest."

The woman simply looked at the girl and shook her head. "Obviously it was something you failed to understand."

Kagome snapped her head up, "I had no intentions of being his wife or mate or whatever! He came and took by force! I had no choice in the matter! I was raped and forced into this horrible contract!"

Before Kagome realized her aura had already spiraled out and long tendrils were extending from her arms. Kye quickly put an end to it though, with a simple grab of Kagome's wrist and a twisted, forcing Kagome's body to turn in the direction of the arm and onto the mat below.

Kagome wheezed through her teeth and struggled to gain her breath.

"As I suspected, you're not able to remain calm nor in control."

"What? What?"

"Tell me, what did your previous instructor ask of you to do to control this?"

Kagome rolled onto her side, attempting to push herself up.

"She insisted on constant mediation, and"

"Reflection? Inner chi? Calming thoughts?"

Kye came up to Kagome and swiftly kicked her in the ribs, knocking the breath she had struggled to gain out of her chest.

"Yes." She breathed out, holding her chest.

"Where have they gotten you?"

Kick

"I don't know."

Kick

"I don't know."

This time Kye grabbed her and swung her towards the wall. Kagome hit with a thud and was again upon the ground.

"Where have they gotten you, child?"

"I don't know!"

Tears had been falling freely down Kagome's face and she was struggling to get away. Her aura flared violently and sputtered uncontrollably. Kye seemed unfazed.

Kye pulled Kagome up again, this time wrapping her arm around Kagome's neck and began to initiate a chokehold.

"Where have they gotten you, girl?"

Kagome's vision sputtered in and out as she struggled for breath.

"I…. I…."

"You do know. Now tell me!"

Her vision began blackening and stars began appearing in her corners. Tunneling was setting in. She was moments away as she whispered out her answer.

"It's gotten me nowhere."

She blacked out then.

She awoken some time later sitting in the lotus position. Kye was directly across from her. Her eyes were open and she was observing Kagome.

"I thought I was going to die."

"No. Not today."

Kagome looked away. She knew the miko in front of her was not trying to kill her. She just wasn't sure what she was trying to do.

"Can you help me?"

Kye looked at Kagome sternly.

"Yes, if you are willing."

"I've always been willing."

"You've been trained wrong."

"But Kaede is the best miko in the land."

"She is not capable of handling a miko of your abilities. Your aura is not one of calm and indifference, which is typical for a miko. Yours is one of a restless spirit, unrestrained and untamed. You're aura is like a wild stallion; you're needing to be broken in order to be of use."

Kagome looked away from the older woman. "So I am of no use?"

"You stated when I asked you regarding this union between you and Lord Sesshomaru had not been ideal. You resented it?"

"I hate it. He gets all he wants and I get nothing that I value."

"You do not wish to be a noble woman? A powerful woman?"

"I can be those things without him."

Kye, unexpectedly, chuckled.

"Yes. You're a wild stallion indeed. Alright my young mare, I know best to train you, however, unless you agree to all of my training, you will not be able to control your abilities."

"I would have full control?"

Kye nodded solemnly.

"While not full control in 48 hours, you will be able to defeat your rivals. Given time, you will have full control. The time, however, depends on you."

"Kaede said my emotions took too much for my abilities to be controlled."

"She has not had to train a miko such as you. You are… different, that is to be sure. However, your abilities have the ability to be controlled. Obviously. I broke your arm earlier. It is healed not by my doing, but your own."

Kagome looked down at her arm. It was broken?

"You broke my arm? What if I couldn't have healed it?"

"Then you would be dead in two days and I would still be paid for my services."

Kagome looked away, tears threatening her eyes. This woman did not care two ways of what was going to happen. She was here for a purpose; that purpose did not entail Kagome being capable.

"Your healing abilities are unmatched, and those seem to be unfazed by your conflicting emotions. If I doubted your abilities, I would not have come. It seems you need to simply learn to separate your aura from how you feel."

"Is it possible?"

"Obviously. You've already done it with part of them."

"Where do I begin? Mediation?"

Kye again chuckled, "No. No. You will require a more intimate approach. We will be sparring for the remainder of the day, and this evening you will spend your time meditating."

"Is there a focus in mind?"

Kye stood and pulled Kagome up by the hand. "The task will require you to remain focused on a specific thing. I find the task will be difficult, but manageable. If you are able to do this successfully, you will be able to begin tapping into your true potential."

Kagome spent the remaining part of the afternoon sparring as Kye instructed. She found herself somewhat capable, but was not fully prepared. When the evening bell instructed she lay flat upon the mats of the dojo, breathing heavily.

"Not a bad first day, young miko. How are your injuries?"

Kagome held up an arm, softly glowing a light pink. "It's going."

Kye smiled briefly.

"Pick yourself up, child. There is another part of your training for the day prior to your returning for mediation."

They walked out of the dojo and passed several gates leading out of the garden before ending up in the kitchen. They were greeted respectfully, but the kitchen maintained its chaotic flow.

"What do you see?"

"People working."

"Yes, now look down the line. What do you see, specifically?"

Kagome bit her lip, she wasn't quite as familiar with the terminology in the kitchen. "Um, a head chef, his assistances, and a number of food preppers?"

Kye laughed, "Yes, now look down at the far end. Do you see the girl cutting the vegetables?"

At the far end of the line was a young demon cutting onions, and other vegetables. She was being yelled at by the other demons for cutting too slow.

"Is she new?"

"Very. She started today at my request."

"You know her?"

"Yes, she's my daughter."

At this Kagome involuntarily gasped. She had never, ever heard of a miko that had a demonic child.

"You're surprised. Most are, others are horrified."

"No. I mean, well yes. I've never heard of a miko and a demon having a child. Was it planned?"

Kye chuckled lightly. "Things like this are rarely planned, I think."

"Were you… raped?"

Kagome looked away quickly and cupped her mouth. "I mean…uh… I mean.."

"You mean what you say. So that is the union between you and Lord Sesshomaru. Hmm. You are ashamed though? Is he not doing the honorable thing by taking you as his mate?"

"To me rape is no honor."

Kye eyed her questioningly. "A tale for another day perhaps?"

Kagome nodded as she looked at the befuddled girl at the end of the table.

"She has many demonic features. I did not realize she was a hanyou."

"Not all hanyou's retain human features, however she does have human tendencies."

A clang of metal snapped Kagome back to the girl. Kagome could barely hear the yelling over the other work, but could tell the girl was terrified of the demon as she scrambled to pick the knife up off the ground.

"You're not going to help her?"

Kye again looked at Kagome questioningly, "No. It is not my place. She has stated for many years how much of an honor it would be to be employed by the great dog demon, as her father before her. This is the path she chose, and the one I will honor."

"Is she not just a child?"

Kagome asked this in part of genuine concern. The girl herself looked no more than ten or twelve. Her hair, silver, was hidden behind a rag on her head. She was quite short, no more than four feet tall, and her ears spiked heavily. Her grey face bore short stripes on either side that lasted no more than a few inches before stopping abruptly. Her eyes were that of a child, like Shippo, and the apron only helped show her fragility and young age with her flat, non-existent curves.

"She is of age, at least in human terms. She turned 17 this past winter, however she will not be able to take a mate until her 30th summer, at least which is what I have been told by others. We shall see."

"Why did you bring me here?"

Kagome said it harshly. She already knew. It was to show her a possible future with Sesshomaru. He would put a child within her. He already stated it. She unconsciously grabbed her stomach and squeezed it roughly. He would force her into this life, to give life.

"To have you listen."

"I do not care that you have a child; it is not something I aspire for with Lord Sesshomaru."

"I did not bring you here for that. Mokusei is here for you to listen. If she was not here I would find another."

Kye took Kagome to a far corner of the kitchen and sat her upon a mat.

"You are to focus on your power and force it to pool into your hand, like so."

Kye outstretched her hand and Kagome watched wonder as the purple aura of Kye swirled down her arms to pool in her palm.

"Now you."

Kagome attempted to focus, but the noise was bothersome. She was able, after several minutes, have about a coin sized pool in her palm, however as soon as she realized it, the aura came back into her.

"Now, focus on Mokusei. Focus on her cutting."

Kagome attempted to do as Kye said, but it was very difficult. Her thoughts were pulled in other directions and other sounds were tricking her into it was Mokusei until she would hear the person. Mokusei was a quite child, with a soft voice.

"I will return when it is time to eat and go to bed. You are to continue to practice until then."