Sesshomaru only saw Akiko in passing over the next few days. She had made Rin aware the next morning that she would need to travel home soon and the child made sure nearly all of their time was spent together during the day. The few times when the two weren't together she was either training with Tobi or discussing diplomatic matters with Aisu. There were few times when their paths crossed and their conversation was limited since their meeting in the study. Which is why when the demon lord found her wandering the grounds alone the day before they were to leave it made him pause and watch the reincarnation. Realizing that she was being watched, Akiko paused and glanced across the training grounds and noticed Sesshomaru giving him a small smile in greeting.

He should've just been on his way after the interaction, left without a word and moved on to patrol the grounds and possibly beyond if a demon slipped into the land that wasn't welcomed. But the lord stood rooted in place as Akiko approached and noticed the training sword situated on a hip. "Out for a walk?" she questioned. "You've been holed up in your study a lot lately."

"I have matters to attend to," he merely answered.

"I know." His brow cocked. "The maids talk. A lot." And how exactly would they know of his endeavors? His eyes narrowed. "It's not exactly a secret you know. With the seals on the scrolls that come through your doors. They can fit the pieces together and come up with their reasoning for being there. Just leave them be." Because the young woman knew that he would seek them out so to be sure they never spoke or stuck their noses in his business again. "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere." And Sesshomaru then began walking, Akiko following at his side.

"Have you ever spared without one of your senses?" The question caused the demon to glance down at her and didn't offer a reply. "How about sight?" Of course not, it was pointless. "Would you like the try?"

"I'm busy," he stated.

The young woman cocked a brow up at him. "Really? With what? You said you had nowhere to go." The demon didn't answer and began to walk away at a quicker pace when her hand grasped his wrist. The contact caused Sesshomaru to halt abruptly and glance down at the mortal's grip with narrowed brows. But Akiko didn't let go, still giving him a disbelieving look and not backing away. "At least indulge me. I need to train anyway and need a partner."

"Find someone in the pack."

"Those that aren't off in the forest are with Rin, and I'd rather not bother them in the garden since we leave tomorrow. Unless you're afraid." This time she was given a glare to tread carefully with her next words. But Akiko wasn't worried. The demon didn't even hear a shift in her heartbeat. Though the young woman knew she had taken a jab at his pride. Still, she pulled him back to the training grounds. "If you can learn how to adapt to fighting with one arm, you can learn how to fight blind. Besides your senses are more heightened then mine probably." Letting go she took one of the black strips of cloth wrapped around the hilt off. The other was for herself, realizing that seeking him out had been the reincarnation's plan all along. Grasping it in both hands she waited till Sesshomaru finally caved in and bent slightly. Reaching forward, Akiko wrapped the item around the back of the head and tied it securely in place leaving the demon lord in darkness. "Is it disorienting?" A bit, but he didn't voice it while standing when her hands pulled away. "I always lived in darkness but for those who lose their sight it can be jarring. Just like when I regained it for the first time."

Without his eyes, it seemed that his ears and nose heightened trying to compensate for it. The young woman watched him, taking a few silent steps back and blindfolding herself as well before feeding off his now calm demonic aura to pinpoint where he was. And she began circling him at a distance.

"Can you hear things better?" His head quickly snapped towards the right not realizing that she had moved. Akiko was much more stealthy that he believed was possible to have managed to trick him as to her position. "Smell better?" Her distance had changed, feeling more far away this time and towards the left. Being in darkness was a rather strange sensation, trying to pick up her scent without luck. Meaning it had been masked by the ice demon aura so not to give him any advantages. "Sense presences?" And for a split second a chill ran through the demon and he stopped breathing for just as long. The cold breath on his ear from behind had indeed caught him off guard, also sensing the cooler temperature rolling off of her skin and pricking at the cheek. But Akiko wasn't as tall as him, noting she had to be suspended slightly in the air to perform such a task as he swiped behind him and turned swiftly. The demon was left hitting air as the young woman had spun to the side a safe distance away. She was playing games with him and it made a low rumble sound in his chest.

Akiko swiped the wooden sword through the air causing Sesshomaru to reach out and grasp the fake blade halting the motion completely. The young woman didn't try to fight it and attempt to rip the item away from him instead releasing the hilt to duck low. Her leg swiped around at his feet causing the demon to lung a small distance away, throwing the training weapon to the side. But rather then step back, take a breather, and then attack from another angle Sesshomaru sensed her head on approach. Fist flying through the air the lord snatched it up in his strong grasp and jerked the reincarnation forward, twisting her in a way that had her back thumping against his chest plate. It left her completely vulnerable. Even though he was missing an arm, there were still his fangs that could rip into the tender flesh killing her in an instant. And Akiko could feel him moving in to further enunciate the threat should the young woman be placed in such a position. Yet before she could completely feel his warm breath on her cool skin, the reincarnation was reacting without hesitation. Her threw her elbow back into his gut once, twice, three times, each one becoming stronger through the armor to a point where it was slightly affecting the demon. The sharp motions had backed them up a few paces before finally forcing him to let go, one of her legs reaching around and hooking around the back of Sesshomaru's. It completely tripped up the demon, shocking him as his eyes grew wide behind the blindfold. No one had ever managed to do that before, hitting the ground and rolling out of the way as Akiko's foot came down to stomp his chest. This was another instance where the young woman managed to get too close and trip him up. That didn't sit completely well with him. Was he growing soft? Standing on both feet once more his ears strained for Akiko's movements. Maybe being in his palace for so long was making him loose his touch? Whatever it was that was causing him to second guess himself was unnerving. He was a strong, confidant, proud demon. None of this ever bothered him before. Even as an adolescent and first starting his training with his father nothing fazed him.

The air to the left shifted for a split second and it was just enough for Sesshomaru to rush forward, hand catching the smooth, delicate throat of his opponent and halting everything.

None of this bothered him until meeting her.

Sesshomaru knew that her skin could probably freeze his arm in place. Give him frostbite that would render the limb completely useless. Akiko had grown strong enough and there were those times he watched where the mere touch of her hands or feet against surfaces froze without pause. She was being generous because they weren't actual enemies. The reincarnation didn't attempt to escape him this time as their breaths mixed together from their close proximities.

"You win this one," she breathed out.

And it snapped the demon from his thoughts realizing the position they were in even behind the blindfold. If anyone saw them they would have thought they were going to be intimate. Deep down... Sesshomaru felt the urge to move forward and close the gap. It made his hairs stand on end, chest rumbling once more. The demon didn't like these foreign... feelings. It felt like he wasn't thinking straight just wishing to act instead of think rationally. That was dangerous. His hand slowly let go, claws dragging slightly against Akiko's skin and forcing her to hold back a shiver. The movement didn't just signify how dangerous and powerful he was, it left an intoxicating feeling that drew Akiko towards him. Yet she stayed rooted in place as he took a much needed step back.

"Being blind wouldn't seem to hinder you," Akiko stated. "That's good."

"Akiko!" Rin's voice called out through the halls. The child was searching for the reincarnation as she untied the cloth, blinking rapidly when the light suddenly hit her. She found the space in front of her empty, glancing around before catching sight of Sesshomaru's back in the distance making his way towards the path that would lead into the forest. He had been spending a lot of time there as of late, choosing to not follow as Rin and Tobi came to the training field spotting her. "There you are!" the child cheered from the half-demon's back. "We've been looking for you."

Akiko turned and grinned widely at the two, walking towards them. "Did you have fun with the pack?" she questioned.

"We're playing hide and seek and were wondering if you wanted to join? The others are already hiding."

"Of course. I'll give you till the count of twenty."

The girl's expression brightened as Tobi took off to search for a hiding spot for the two of them, Akiko closing her eyes and beginning to count.

It was late when Sesshomaru returned to the castle. The maids and few guards stationed around the grounds had already turned in for the evening, leaving the demon to roam the halls alone. For a time, as a door opened further ahead in the hall and Akiko exited Rin's room. She was dressed in a loose lounge kimono with her hair loosely braided over a shoulder. Tobi was at her side, the beta looking around his owner and narrowing his eyes at Sesshomaru. The young woman didn't notice the look or the demon's presence till turning to walk towards her room and spotting the demon paused at the end of the hall. Akiko could tell he wished to speak to her, in private, yet wouldn't voice it as Tobi broke silence due to their hesitation.

"Aisu needed to speak with me," he muttered lowly.

"Better not keep her waiting then." The half-demon huffed before being on his way, but not without throwing another look in the lord's direction and leaving. "Something on your mind?"

A lot of things, but there was one at the forefront that took precedence over the others. And would be the only one he would voice for the time being. "You planned the sparing match. Sought me out because you had two blindfolds. Why?" It was because of that he was placed in a situation that made him question things and almost make him uncomfortable.

Her smile said it all. "I know you're not one for goodbyes. It was the only way to grab your attention since you've been holed up in your study. But I was curious how you would approach the challenge. I will probably go blind once more. I've accepted my fate. We are allies and I wanted to show you what it's like if you were in my shoes. Know what I'm up against. But in a way... I did it to prove to you that I am capable of being the Queen of the north no matter the circumstance I'm placed in. No matter what happens. I'm not weak. I won't back down for a challenge. And even though I'm not a demon, I hope you can grow to respect me as one." Sesshomaru was suddenly in front of her, causing Akiko's heart to leap into her throat. There were no blindfolds this time to hide the small distance between them.

"You are not a demon," he stated. And the comment worried Akiko slightly as to where this conversation would turn. "Yet you fight like one. Others will always question your involvement... I no longer do. You've proved your place leading the north."

The smile came back to Akiko's lips. "I believe that's the first compliment you've ever given me."

Maybe so, and it did a funny thing in the demon's gut seeing her pleased expression. His hand raised, claws lightly moving along a cheek for a few seconds. Akiko didn't dare move as they stared, wondering what the demon was doing until he pulled away. Moving around the young woman, she glanced over a shoulder at his retreating form.