Here's the new chapter! Hope you like it and tell me if you think they

are too long :D


Kee-Ara pulled herself out of the stream feeling better than she had in a long time. Newly cleaned and reminded about the good things in her past she spread her soaked kimono out on the dry rocks. She had scrubbed it with the soap getting most of the blood out of the dark blue fabric before letting the stream rinse it out.

Kee-Ara pulled on her under things not comfortable naked in the open before she sat down next to the stream letting her feet dangle in the water. Tsuki walked up next to her before laying down behind her letting her lean back against him.

"Thanks, Leshen." Kee-Ara whispered to him as she looked down at her side. It had started bleeding again. Tsuki nudged her hand with his nose pushing it towards the cut.

"I can't Tsuki. I can't fight off anything now, much less the kind of demons that would come after me." She told him stubbornly. He neighed angrily tossing his head before pushing her hand back towards her side.

"I know you can protect me but I do not wish to put Rin in danger. Sesshomaru should not have to protect her against demons because of me." she told him her voice soft. She barely noticed the sorrow that seeped through at the thought of putting people in danger. The reason she had been alone for so long.

Tsuki stood suddenly shoving her and she lost her balance falling backwards onto the ground with a sudden scream. Tsuki stomped angrily glaring down at her with his red eyes fed up with her stubbornness. He knew it was worse than she could handle.

She glared back up at him but from upside down it was not as scary as she intended. "Fine!" She yelled exasperated throwing her hands in the air ,"You win!" It'll serve you right if you get eaten by some giant spider demon that thing that's attracted to my gift you stubborn headed igit!"

Tsuki snorted before smugly backing up and giving her room to get up. He held his head high ignoring her insults as if he was to good for them and wouldn't deign to give them a somehow always won the argument without ever being in it.

Kee-Ara glared at him and muttered under her breath about donkey being in his bloodline somewhere as she pulled herself into a sitting position. She sighed breathing through her nose before placing her palm on her wound.

"Kairam la fiendra de varon," Kee-Ara said each word clearly power ringing in her the last syllable passed her lips the flesh beneath her palm started glowing a soft yellow. It brightened the soft gold turning into the bright color of sunlight. Sweat beaded on her brow as she focused on slowly closing the flesh little by little.

With a desperate cry Kee-Ara felt her last bit of strength being pulled out of her and the light suddenly disappearing. She didn't have enough engergy left to heal it but she couldn't stop now it was too late. She could feel darkness swooping down on her like a hawk about to latch its talons around its prey. This time she wouldn't find a way out of the darkness.

A furry nose was shoved into her other hand and strength rushed through her veins. Warmth and love, the exhilaration of racing the wind, the fierce determination and strength of fighting for something beloved, all of them came rushing through her restoring the will to fight and pouring out of her hand into her healing.

Tsuki. Kee-Ara opened her eyes to find him standing next to her his eyes closed as he leaned into her giving her all of his energy. Bright crimson came from her hand in a rush before mixing with her own to become a warm sunset orange as they worked together.

Tsuki had given her his strength. He had done it before in the past all of the times emergencies. All witches could draw strength from another but it was a rule that you only did so when they offered it. That was why witches always had some kind of animal ,a cat, raven, or even a toad. Anything could aid a witch but it was only when her clan had moved here did they find that another source could give them even more strength. Demons. Like Tsuki.

Kee-Ara cut off the flow of power but held onto her connection to Tsuki sending him her gratitude and love. She could never hear what he thought but they could feel each other's emotions. He sent back relief and overwhelming love making her smile before she cut off the connection.

She blinked her eyed blearily realizing that she had been in the same position for too long as her joints complained when she stretched. "Thank you Tsuki my Kiendra vri." dKee-Ara whispered to him before kissing him on the nose. Kee-Ara wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him tight. He twisted his head around her giving a hug in return.

He whiffled at her as he saw her side noticing that it was not healed completely. It was a lot better only a few inches deep and the surrounding area was pink not the angry red it had been.

"If we finished healing it my shields would not have been able to hide all of our power and I doubt you would have been able to stand afterward. It was worse than I thought. You were right I probably bled out before tomorrow." Tsuki nodded before roughly licking her forehead.

"Eeewww, Tsuki!" Kee-Ara whined as he ran and jumped into the stream out of her reach. Kee-Ara couldn't help laughing as she had to scramble out of the way of the giant splash. She sat out of reach of his splashing as he rolled in the deepest part of the stream. He was the only horse she knew that enjoyed taking baths.

She ran her hand through her hair feeling it starting to wave as it dried. She pulled on her leggings before wrapping the still damp kimono around her tying her sash around her waist. She let out a shrill whistle and Tsuki whinnied in response galloping to her so fast that a ribbon of water hung in the air behind him before gravity pulled them back to earth.r

He slowed as he ran past her and she grinned before pulling herself onto his back feeling him speed back up again this time taking her with him for the ride. Kee-Ara let out a whoop as she felt the wind rush through her hair and Tsuki move beneath him.

Tsuki skidded to a stop as he came into the small camp area that Rin had set up neighing joyfully. They were both completely dry now by how fast Tsuki had run. Sesshomaru glared at the cloud of dust and loud entrance but Rin grinned up at her clapping excitedly.

"Do you feel better Kee-Ara?" Rin asked smiling as she saw Kee-Ara's wind-blown hair surrounding her grinning face. Kee-Ara's eyes shined with her joy as she grinned down at the little girl before sliding down from Tsuki's back.

"Much," she told Rin with a smile. Her feet had barely touched the ground before he was off prancing up to greet the two-headed dragon demon that had been staring at him suspiciously. Tsuki snorted as he touched each head's nose with his own. They both relaxed and twined around Tsukis.

Seeing them get along Kee-Ara turned to look back at Rin when she caught Sesshomaru staring at her an odd expression on his face. She blushed but didn't look away from him, holding her head high,"I seem to have lost my things. Including my brush."

Sesshomaru kept the startlement he felt off of his face but he allowed the contempt. She thought he cared about her appearance. He couldn't care less. He just did not expect it to change so much. Now that she was clean he could see that her hair was a rich bright gold that he had never seen on a human.

Even her eyes had changed under her arched golden eyebrows, no longer a pain filled dark brown almost black they had lightened to almost a golden brown that shone with pride.

That was it. What had changed. She no longer looked as if she was in pain. Her skin was a natural soft pink instead of the deathly pale white and the overpowering scent of blood was almost gone replaced by the familiar scent of wildflowers.

Through his examination of her they had stood quietly Sesshomaru indifferent to the silence and Kee-Ara unwilling to be the first to break it. Suddenly Sesshomaru was in front of her moving before she could react he grabbed the back of her wrist and twisted it up to his nose.

Kee-Ara jumped back his sudden proximity startling her but his hold was tight and he jerked her back to him inhaling deeply. For some reason he glared at her angrily and her eyes widened in surprise shocked to find him mad.

"Do not use Rin's scent again." he commanded his voice cool and detached but his eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn't identify. This time Kee-Ara did pull her wrist out of his grip as she felt her temper rise dangerously. Anger flared in her eyes as she stared down Sesshomaru.

"I do not remember when you became my master, Lord Sesshomaru." Kee-Ara spat angrily glaring up into his eyes, unwilling to back away from the demon lord in front of her. Her eyes widened in shock as she felt the rumbling in his chest that came from the demon in front of her. It ripped out of him in a growl as he bared his canines at the infuriating human.

She heard Rin gasp and Sesshomaru's growl was abruptly cut off in an instant his angry expression smoothed into its normal cold expression. He turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.

A little green imp Kee-Ara hadn't even noticed standing next to Rin stomped up to her angrily waving his arms wildly,"How dare you question the great Lord Sesshomaru! You pathetic human!"

Kee-Ara's eye brow's shot up in indignation. She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what this pathetic human was about to do with him when Sesshomaru interrupted.

"Jaken." Seshomaru said his voice calm and unwavering as ever. Jaken turned towards him scrambling up to him.

"Ye-yes, My Lord?" Jaken asked stuttering in fear at his Lord's unexpected show of anger. Sesshomaru barely looked at him as he ordered him,"Go get the human's supplies." Jaken gasped.

"But she's just a worthless human my Lord! Not worth-" Jaken's protests were cut short as Sesshomaru hit him in the head the seemingly gentle blow raising a bump on his head. "Yes, My Lord." Jaken said bowing frantically as tears streamed down his face.

Kee-Ara felt slightly amused but mostly sad for the little imp. No matter how annoying he was he did not deserve to be hit. Even if that was exactly what she had wanted to do minutes earlier.

When Sesshomaru had grabbed Kee-Ara Tsuki had moved behind her ready to help but he stayed out of the way when he saw that she could handle it. Now Kee-Ara turned to him already ready to bribe him

"Tsuki, would you please take Jaken to get my things?" Tsuki snorted looking at her in disbelief and she sighed,"Will you please? You did leave it." When his expression didn't change she snorted,"Fine. I'll give you a full grooming when you bring back the kit."
His ears perked up and he pranced shaking his head. Then he looked pointedly at Sesshomaru then back to her.

"It will be fine. I can handle it and I really need what is in some of those bags." Kee-Ara whispered to him sure that Sesshomaru could hear it anyway. Tsuki snorted and nuzzled her neck before walking over next to Jaken. He looked at the little imp distastefully.

"Thank you, Jaken." Kee-Ara told him as she walked up next to him. He jumped warily studying her as he asked snarky,"For what human?"Kee-Ara gritted her teeth as she tried to keep herself from following Sesshomaru's example and smacking him over the head.

"For helping Rin get the medicine. And getting my supplies" Kee-Ara told him her impression of him improving greatly when he looked grateful. Sudden affection rushed through her and she knelt to kiss him on his slightly scaly green cheek.

It darkened and Kee-Ara grinned as she realized he was blushing. Not quite as tough as he would like everyone to believe.

"Your welcome, Lord Sesshomaru told me to do it." he told her hurriedly as if thrown off by her being friendly. Kee-Ara looked at the man in question. He was stoically staring away from them as if they were not even there,"Thank you, Sesshomaru."

His aloof expression didn't change at all except for a little disgusted curl of his lip when she did not use his title. Other than that he didn't even act as if she had said something. The Lord was not going to get another thank you anytime soon she thought with annoyance turning back to Jaken.

"May I help you on to Tsuki's back? He will get you there and back sooner. " She told him holding her hands out to him in an invitation. Jaken looked at Tsuki distrustfully. The silver demon horse's back loomed over his head but when he looked at Kee-Ara's outstretched hands he sighed.

The novelty of being asked and the thank you kiss overwhelmed him and he nodded. Before he could think better of his choice she had swung him on Tsuki's wide back. Tsuki immediately lunged into a gallop and Jaken barely had time to grab onto his mane before they were a blur. His screams reached them only after they were out sight and Kee-Ara chuckled before thinking out loud,"Perhaps she should have warned him about how fast."

"Kee-Ara? What does Leshan mean?" Rin asked tentatively stumbling over the foreign word and Kee-Ara looked down surprised to see her by her side.

"It means one who is dear to my heart." Kee-Ara told her truthfully answering Rin's smile with one of her own.

"That's sweet,"Rin told her bashfully before taking her hand and leading her over to a fallen tree next to Sesshomaru," And now I have to check your side." When Kee-Ara had kissed Jaken his lips had curled in distaste and that was still his expression when he watched her sit down.

Kee-Ara raised one eyebrow pointedly staring into his golden eyes and daring him to say anything. Instead a small smile touched his lips impressed that she dared to challenge him even after he had lost his temper. He couldn't believe that she, a mere human, had made him lose the control that he had been perfecting for hundreds of years.

She looked away confusedly thinking that she had just imagined the smile. He studied her unashamed wondering about this human who was abruptly in his care. She was the most strong-willed human he had met in a long time. Not to mention the most stubborn woman. She lacked the deference he had become accustomed to and it irritated him that she did not respect him.

Even now she was talking to Rin ignoring his presence as if she was not aware that he was here even as her body gave her away. Whenever he moved an inch her head turned to follow him in her peripherals and she sat tense as if ready to flee and yet she sat awkwardly lacking the confidence that she had while fighting or arguing.

For some reason she acted as if she did not know how to act around the girl but she had been confident when dealing with him. What was so different about this woman, child really no more than twenty years, that she could stare down the strongest demon lord in existence and wield a sword like an expert warrior but was unsure of how to treat a child?

He was snapped out of his musings when Kee-Ara started to unwrap her kimono holding the top closed with one hand. Rin pulled the bottom apart and he looked away quickly before realizing that she was wearing leggings beneath. Another surprise.

His eyes dartred back before narrowing as he saw her wound. He darted forward pulling back the kimono farther much to her shock. Kee-Ara gasped in disbelief slapping his hand away from her as her cheeks flared a bright red.

"What are you doing?" Kee-Ara asked alarmed covering herself quickly. He glared at her for some reason acting as if she had just offended him. Rin backed up her eyes darting between the two adults confused by the hostile silent conversation that she did not understand and seemed to have no source.
"Yesterday it was almost a death wound." Sesshomaru told her his voice steady as his gold eyes bore into hers as if trying to force the truth out of her. Kee-Ara's back straightened at this sudden confrontation an impassive expression on her face that almost rivaled Sesshomaru's. Even her eyes darkened reflecting her mood.

"It must have looked worse than it really was. With all the blood and dirt."Kee-Ara told him her voice controlled, a pleasant expression never leaving her face. The cheeriness obviously fake but Sesshomaru just nodded and backed away letting her think she won this time.

But he knew what he had seen Yesterday that cut had been fatal to a human and today it looked as if it had been healing for weeks instead of one night.

Kee-Ara gave him a last fake smile before turning back to Rin so that she could finish. Sesshomaru allowed himself a small frown. How could a woman who turned a scarlet that could rival a demon's eyes when about to bathe so easily bare her skin now? A warrior's ease when it came to wounds but a woman's modesty otherwise. A human of contradictions.

Kee-Ara tried to ignore his unreadable gaze on her and instead decided to focus on Rin. Kee-Ara watched as the young girl smoothed some kind of ointment into and around the cut her fingers quick but gentle. Then Rin pulled out the needle. Kee-Ara didn't object not wanting to hurt the young healer's feelings agin with more questions but Rin started to explain anyway much to Kee-Ara's relief.

"The ointment is to kill the infection and numb it it shut. It's too deep not to sew it and it will heal faster after I do." Rin told her firmly as she started to pull the thread through Kee-Ara's skin confidently. Kee-Ara nodded smiling at her encouragingly. The first stitch burned as it went through her skin but Kee-Ara didn't flinch. She was used to being patched up.

She could hardly feel the rest of the stitches the odd numb sensation dulling the pain and yet she could still feel the tugging of her skin. Comforted by Rin's steady hands and neat stitches she looked up to find Sesshomaru's eyes still on her.

"Ok. Ask me." Kee-Ara demanded abruptly resigned to the fact that she would have to tell him something.

"I do not understand what you are referring too." He told he watching her curiously as she ignored the metal going through her skin.

"You have been staring and if it will make yu stop I'll answer your questions. Within reason." She told him as she held her arms up for Rin to wrap the bandages around her waist. Rin gasped as Kee-Ara's kimono fell open revealing numerous scars.

"What happened?" Rin blurted out her eyes trailing a pearl like scar running down Kee-Ara's collarbone on her left side. Kee-Ara sighed tracing the scar with her finger her eyes guarded as she decided what exactly to tell her.

" A very bad demon. It turns out that some demons do not like humans telling them no." Kee-Ara told her watching Rin's expression warily. Rin's eyes widened as she took in the other scars crossing the woman's skin. Kee-Ara didn't try to hide it. She was not ashamed of her past. She did not win all of those battles but she survived which is sometimes the same thing.

"Not all of those are from that demon?" Rin asked her eyes darting to Sesshomaru mournfully. No new fear was in her eyes and Kee-Ara was oddly relieved to see that Rin did not connect the human hating demon to her Lord. When Kee-Ara's kimono had fallen open Sesshomaru had frozen in shock not even breathing.

Watching Sesshomaru look at her scars Kee-Ara blushed slightly feeling more bare than just the open kimono could account for. She answered Rin but didn't look away from Sesshomaru trying to read his unfathomable reaction," No, Rin. Not all of these are from him. Some. But not all. I have a very complicated past."

Kee-Ara covered herself again wrapping her scarf around her waist. Even though her scars were covered she could still feel how aware they were of them now. She looked up to get caught in Sesshomaru's eyes as they gazed at her. His voice was lo

w as he told her firmly,"It is time for you to answer my questions."

She nodded wrapping her arms around herself self-consciously,"Yes. I suppose it is.


Sorry if Sesshomaru is OC. If this is going to slow tell me...Hope you liked it!