Tears of a Dragon Extra 2

This was the original scene for Zhu Shu meeting Kohaku. As you can see it's incomplete. This one I lost due to a HD crash, or so I thought. I just recently rediscovered it on a cd backup. It's a pity really. there's quite I bit here I may eventually decide to work into the scene from the actual story.

Kohaku finished poking the fire and nodded. He leaned back to watch the rabbit cooking and nodded.

"It'll be done in a few minutes. Why don't you come down out of the tree and share it with me?" he called over his shoulder.

The shadowy figure stirred, bringing the sound of small chimes to his ears along with a soft feminine chuckle. "Zhu Shu wonder when would notice."

Kohaku shook his head. "Since you started following me this afternoon. I thought you planned to attack me at first, but all you've done is watch."

"Zhu Shu is thinking. Have problem not yet solve."

Kohaku turned to look at her tree, "Well, sitting up there in the cold isn't going to solve it."

"Zhu Shu not cold. And Zhu Shu not hungry."

"Well you will give me a neck sprain if I have to keep talking to a tree."

The shadow sighed. "Zhu Shu not be insulting, but she not feel right sharing fire, since she is here for shard."

Kohaku's eyebrow rose as his hand went to the back of his shoulder. "I see. Yet you've had half a day to try and get it. Why tell me it's what you are here for?"

"Because Zhu Shu no wish fight. Is problem she think about."

Kohaku sighed. "I'm afraid that I cannot let you simply have it."

"Zhu Shu knows. She see shard is tied to Kohaku life. That what she try to figure. If way to take but no kill."

"Not that I know of. Why do you want it anyway?"

"Zhu Shu has no choice. Naraku wish her get, she must get."

Kohaku shook his head. "You seem like far too nice a person to be one of Naraku's offspring."

"Zhu Shu is not. But she forced be slave."

Kohaku gave a small frown. "So, he's made someone else replace me. I am sorry for you. However, I cannot allow you to take my shard, nor can I allow you to give it to him even if you could do so without killing me."

"This Zhu Shu knows. She no wish more blood on hands. She kill too many already."

Kohaku looked at his hands and sighed. "I understand that all too well. I will never rest until that bastard is dead."

"This Zhu Shu wish for too. Is why she must get shards. When she have all, she will die, and Naraku die with. Is all Zhu Shu have left live for."

Kohaku nodded. "Then we share the same mission. Will you not share my fire and eat with me, my friend?" He indicated the log across from him. "Whether we must fight or not, for the moment we are comrades on the same quest. Shall we call truce till morning?"

More small chimes came from the shadows, then the dark figure landed across the fire from him, the flames illuminating her charcoal skin dimly. Only her eyes caught the light, the emerald green slit pupiled irises shining out of the dark shadows of her face. She gazed at him curiously, her twitching ears making the small chimes ring as they danced in the flickering light.

Kohaku slowly reached out to poke the fire under the rabbit again and turned the spit. "Almost done."

Zhu Shu sat on the log, and Kohaku started as he realized she was nude, and not wearing a body suit as he had thought. Her wings stretched out then retracted as she tilted her head at him. "Zhu Shu is not hungry. She have two rabbits for lunch."

Kohaku laughed. "You must have cooked them pretty far away then. I would have smelled your fire otherwise and come to look for you."

"Zhu Shu not need fire. She have own." She pursed her lips and blew a small puff of fire. "She just cook as she eat."

"Ah. That must be convenient."

She nodded, the small chimes in her ears and braid ringing softly.

"You also move very quietly when you want, despite those bells."

Zhu Shu shrugged. "What Naraku make Kohaku do?"

Kohaku's breath caught, then he shook his head and sighed. "Something I would rather not think about."

The dragon girl nodded. "Zhu Shu sees. That why Kohaku seek death too. She wonder why such young boy want die."

"What did he make you do?"

Zhu Shu gave a sad sigh. "Zhu Shu not have excuse of be forced. Zhu Shu is guilty of her crime, unlike Kohaku." Her hands splintered the wood of the log as she choked a sob. "Zhu Shu deserve die for what did to Ukyo."

Kohaku listened to her sobbing quietly for several minutes before he spoke quietly. "Naraku made me kill my family with my own hands. My father, my uncles, even my own sister. I stabbed her in the back, and it's only sheer good fortune that she's alive still. But even though I nearly killed her, she keeps trying to save me. She's forgiven me of something I can't forgive myself for."

"Zhu Shu not forced do what she do. Zhu Shu is one who force. She not deserve forgiven. She betray one she love."

"Sounds like the same thing I did to me." He reached and lifted the rabbit off the fire and split it into quarters. "Sure you don't want to share? It's a fat rabbit. More than I can eat by myself."

The dragon girl sighed. "Zhu Shu should not. Is enemy."

"Not tonight you aren't. Truce till daybreak, remember? Besides, considering those eyes of yours, it would hardly be fair to fight me in the dark. My night sight surely can't be anywhere near as good as yours." He laid half the rabbit on a large leaf and offered it to her. She blinked at him slowly a couple of times before finally reaching out to take it, her long talons brushing against his hand. He watched as she sliced off a piece with one and speared it to lift to her mouth.

"Handy set of knives there."

Zhu Shu lifted her hand and gazed at the five inch claws for a long moment. "Zhu Shu suppose. She not know why she have. Not know how she get to look like she do. She seem shift further to dragon when she unconscious. Zhu Shu used to look pretty. Now is just beast."

Kohaku blinked. "You look pretty to me. I mean, yeah the black skin is a little unusual, but you're one of the prettiest youkai I've seen who doesn't look almost fully human." He shrugged. "I can't say I know a lot about girls, but you definitely shouldn't call yourself a beast."

She shrugged. "Is all Zhu Shu is now. She used be human, but not now. Black dragon eat more and more of her. Turn her into stupid animal." She waved at herself. "Zhu Shu not even have skin! Is scale like lizard!"

"Did Naraku stick a shard in you?"

Zhu Shu nodded.

"You may change back if it's removed. Do you know where it is?"

The dragon girl nodded and pointed to her forehead. "Zhu Shu already try take out. Shard not let.