Sweet Lost Soul, Guide my Arrow by *~*Missy*~*

Happy Birthday To Me

It was finally time, she was turning twenty and this was the year, after finally gaining the courage to tell Inuyasha to shove his complaints up his ass she was going to compete in the archery tournament she had her eyes on.  She had even gotten a special kimono for the even.  It was black on the outer layer, it had white lotus petals floating down to the right bottom side.  The inner layers were a pure white and a white obi completed them ensemble.

“You look stupid, and like a fake.”  Inuyasha’s harsh voice came out and Kagome rolled her eyes. 

“You look like a dog that needs to learn a few tricks.  Including the most basic of tricks.”  Kagome said as she smirked, Inuyasha would not get her down today, no way no how.

“What do you mean by that wench?”

“Oh it’s quite simple.  Sit boy.”  Kagome said and a small laugh came from her throat as she heard the satisfying, resounding thud behind her.  Miroku and Sango merely continued to follow her, while her kit rode on her shoulder.  “Perhaps you’ll remember your manners now, we are going into a formal competition after all and I will not have you getting me disqualified.  If you do anything to sabotage me in this even not even the spirit of your father Inu No Tashio would be enough to stop me.”  Kagome said as cool blue eyes looked back at him and watched a shiver pass over his body, that should be enough to keep him in check for at the very least the duration of the tournament.

As they neared the town it was being held in Kagome felt a rush of anticipation fall over her body.  She was excited but a part of her knew she could do this.  With Kikyo gone there was nothing holding her back.  She knew for a fact that she could do this.  There were so many beautiful girls all over, all gathered for the tournament.  The beauty she saw, it made her cringe.  They were all so much prettier than here and to be sure Miroku was having a field day.  She sighed and shook her head.  These negative thoughts would not do her right now, she could not do this.

They arrived at the check in center and she got herself registered appropriately. 

“Who is judging this tournament?”  She asked the young fox demon that was chairing the stand.

“Oh Lord Sesshomaru.”  She said with a grin as she looked at Shippo on Kagome shoulder.

“Just great…”  Kagome muttered to herself.  “Thank you very much dear.”  She said as she walked off. 

Kagome took her time gathering her energy and meditating, the contest would start on the morrow at noon.  All of the contestants and their company were housed in a mansion for the night and Kagome found herself more than a little restless.  She decided to take a bath at the community hotspring.  When she got there she saw another woman, she was about the same age as Kagome and looked easily doubly as nervous. 

“Hello.”  Kagome said quietly with a smile on her face as she stripped down and slipped in.

“Hi.”  The girl’s voice was so quiet.  She had dark forest green hair and bright emerald eyes.  She appeared to be a forest demon of some sort. 

“What’s your name dear?”  Kagome said as she looked kindly at the young girl in front of her, she seemed to be shaking like a leaf and frankly Kagome could use a friend in this competition right now. 

“Amaya.”  She said quietly. 

“And how old are you Amaya?”

“I am fourteen.”  Kagome sighed as she smiled; the girl was so young, as young as Kagome was when she started her journey in the feudal era.  She had grown much since then, and yet she was still a virgin. 

“My name is Kagome, are you as nervous as I am about tomorrow.”

“Yes, very much so.  My parents are having me enter, mostly to showcase myself for Lord Sesshomaru.  They are the Eastern Lord and Lady and want to try and achieve a marriage contract.” 

Really, her and Sesshomaru.  I just can’t picture that, plus she’s so young, she’ll be throwing her entire life away.

“You should not worry about marriage so much Amaya, just focus on the competition and how you would like to do.”  Kagome said as she smiled encouragingly.

“You are right. I am quite glad that I met you Kagome.  I feel much better and my nerves had gone down exponentially.” 

“I’m happy I was able to help.”  Kagome said with a large smile on her face as the two just bathed contentedly together after that.

Seems that she inspires courage wherever she goes. 

Sesshomaru had watched the entire exchange, in truth he had come to try and catch the miko, after seeing that she was entering the tournament.  However he had caught this exchange between her and her competition.  Instead of harsh words for the girl she would be competing against, she offered assurances and encouraged the girl to be herself.  The miko was truly miraculous. 

*~*The Next Day*~*

Kagome was ready, she had everything ready.  She was on the field preparing for the comopetition to start within the next few minutes.  She took a deep breath and She saw Sesshomaru walk along the row of girls competing, his eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer than necessary.  She heard a ‘Hn.’ Escape his regal mouth as he went to sit on the dais high above the crowd to monitor the competition. 

It was time.  She looked at Amaya who was directly to her right and smile encouragingly.  She silently wished her good luck and saw the same look reflected in the girl’s eyes towards her.  They were given the first arrow to fire.  Kagome’s hit dead center, along with Amaya’s.  Out of the twenty girls ten were eliminated leaving only ten of them left.  There was another set, this was the last arrow and she had to make it count.  After she was strung up she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  It was then she could see everything in a pink outline behind her closed lids.  This had never happened to her before, and was slightly weird but as she breathed and focused, while her eyes were still closed she shot.  That was when she heard the roar of the crowd.  She opened her eyes, She had made it!  She was surprised.  But there was one other person who had made their shot.  Amaya.  Kagome sighed, it appeared they were going to have to go into a shoot off.

They were set with targets at 100 meters now, forty meters farther than before.  They were given a total of ten arrows a piece.  She knew that this is what counted and although she liked and was friends with Amaya she was competing against her now and she would win. 

Sesshomaru saw the look of determination on the miko’s face and saw that her choice had been made.  He knew that she was now taking this seriously and he was interested to see what the result would be. 

The two girls went arrow for arrow up to the very last one.  Kagome looked over at the girl to her right, she was tired, she could tell through and through.  Her last arrow missed the bullseye mark.  It was now up to Kagome.  Kikyo, I know we were never friends.  But please…guide my arrow.  She thought as she released, and it split her previous ones in two.  Thank you. 

“The winner, The Shikon Miko, Kagome.”  The announcer said as they handed her a hefty amount of gold.  But no gold could take away the person pride that she felt.   That night they once again were allowed to stay in the mansion, but this time it was only them.  She took this time to take the longest bath she ever had.  She leaned her head back and sigh in pure bliss.

“Miko.”

Kagome jumped about a foot in the air and hurried to cover herself at the voice that was undoubtedly the Taiyoukai’s. 

“Sesshomaru what are you doing here?”  She asked suspiciously.

“This one wishes to know how you accomplished that feat today.” 

“Sesshomaru it is late and I am tired.”  Kagome said not feeling like discussing this with him right now.

“Then you best talk quickly.” 

“Ugh.”  Kagome sighed and then sunk lower.  “Ever since Kikyo died my powers have expanded quite a bit.  I have always studied archery and this competition is something I have wanted to do since I was fifteen.”  She smiled to herself.  “It’s my birthday today you know.  No one else knows or wished me congratulations or anything.”  There was a sad tone to her voice that he didn’t quite like. 

“Happy birthday miko.”  Sesshomaru said as he planted a kiss on a surprised miko.

A/N: Whoo there it is.  This is written for the Kyudo Challenge.  I had a princess bride moment towards the end lol.  Hope you like it drop me a review and tell me what you thought XD