Here comes chapter 7!

I am currently working on a sketch of Kin, if anyone is interested I will post a link once it is done. I don't have much free time so don't hold your breath anytime soon. I've yet to try to combine feathers and scales on a human figure so it's actually pretty fun. I might do one later of her demon form but that won't come until later in the story.

Well, that's all I have to say on the matter. Once again I don't own Inuyasha and its characters.


It was night again. The moon was full now as it brightened up the star filled sky. There was a breeze in the air, thick and heavy. It would rain soon as thunder began to rumble in the sky. Large ominous clouds formed in the distance, threatening to block out the light of the moon.

Kagura leaned against the doorway to Kin's temporary room, watching the young woman slumber. She honestly hadn't expected Naraku to bring her to his castle, but she had long learned that he rarely did things without reason. He was plotting something, but she couldn't fathom what it could be. She had been shocked when one of his puppets in the form of the dead human lord dropped off the unconscious Kin, dissipating into a purple gas before she could question him .

He didn't dare leave the safety of his castle; not with so many powerful enemies constantly searching for him. He had taken a risk in bringing her there, and Kagura thought she might be able to find out why if she simply stared long enough.

She came into full alert when the demoness stirred, groaning softly. The amount of poison Naraku had used would have been lethal to most, yet this woman was already waking only a few hours later. She was about to leave for inform Naraku of her wakening, but could see the human boy Kohaku already racing off.

Kohaku had been told to stay around the dragon. Apparently she truly did have a soft spots for human children. Perhaps he was hoping the boy would bring her a sense of security. The human had tended to her wounds, cleaning the bloodied clothing and mending it with deft hands. She wondered how he was so proficient with such mundane tasks yet didn't care enough to actually ask.

She doubted he would even remember anyways.

He returned moments later and resumed his place at Kin's side. He now had a bowl of water in his lap as well as a cloth which he used to cool her face. There was a cup of tea beside him, it's herbaceous aroma wafting in the air. A deep growl emitted from her throat as Kin's eyes snapped open. There was a static in the air as Kagura suddenly felt an unbelievable pulse of power surge throughout the castle. Kohaku had sensed it as well, flinching away as she sat up. Her hazel eyes were slits as she stared at him with a piercing gaze.

Just as quickly as she had awoken, Kin visibly relaxed when she saw the now spilled water bowl and human boy. Her aura dissipated, and Kagura let out a breath of relief. Had she been scared just then? Surely Naraku had felt the sudden spike in demonic energy. As if knowing he had crossed her mind the half demon slipped past her, making eye contact for a moment.

She immediately recognized the look in his eyes as he silently warned her to stay back. He was a power hungry demon that fed on others to make himself stronger. The sorceress slipped away, her mind too jumbled to handle any more for that night.

Kin placed a hand to her pounding head. Despite this she gave an apologetic look to Kohaku, "Sorry about that. I tend to react poorly when I awaken around strangers." She beckoned him to her and he stoically returned to her side. He still had the cup filled with tea and offered it to her as he cleaned up the spilled bowl. She took it, cupping the sides of the clay to warm her hands before taking a cautious sip.

It was bitter, but it made her feel better as she drank the rest. She turned to her other side slightly as Naraku seated himself beside her. "Feeling better?" His voice fell upon her ears like honey, causing her to eye him warily.

"Yes, thank you." Her hand absently traced at her wounded side, and she suddenly realized her kimono was folded and washed at the end of the futon she was occupying. The deep gash from the arrow had been tended to as well as the slice on her arm. She was relieved to see she still had her wrappings and underclothes, but she was in a room with a strange, yet beautiful man. Deadly too. She reminded herself.

"Don't worry, Kohaku was the one who tended to your wounds." He said, and the boy gave a quick nod before Kohaku silently excused himself. "I'm not the best at medical assistance." He added as he saw Kin watch the boy leave. She had a strange look in her eyes as she watched his retreating back before snapping her attention back to him.

"Oh, it's okay. I just didn't know I was hit so badly. Normally I have no problem handling myself. Those wily foxes caught me by surprise."

"I don't doubt that you are strong. I felt you wake up from across the courtyard. Where is it that you hail from?"

"The islands to the south." Why were so many people curious of where she was from? "You're powerful yourself. I haven't seen that sort of telekinetic power in a long time."

He laughed softly, "I worked hard to reach the level I am now. You however seem to hide it…" he placed a hand on her shoulder, frowning slightly. She looked at him in confusion, feeling there was something off about him. 'I can't absorb her…'

The moment she had fallen into his clutches Naraku had tried to consume her. Yet there was a strange resistance and he had been annoyed. If he could simply consume her he wouldn't have to go through such a roundabout method. Naraku smiled at her warmly as irritation lurked in his belly. 'Well, that just means I will have to find another way. '

"Is something wrong, Kagewaki?" she asked, stretching her arms above her head. She seemed extremely relaxed, trusting even. His brow was furrowed before he suddenly realized. She could sense the human side of him. Kagura had said she had a soft spot for humans. Ironic since it was the one thing he hated most. It was such a weakness, yet this demoness felt safe because of it. If only she knew…

"Oh, no." he reached over to her things, picking up the biwa. He wasn't expecting its sudden weight and nearly dropped it in the process. "You were using this as a weapon earlier. I was wondering if it had other uses besides music."

She took the offered instrument gingerly, placing her hand at the top of its neck. There was a faint click and she pulled out a small staff. It began to lengthen however before a blade sprung from the inside to form a naginata. He couldn't help but appreciate its craftsmanship, and noticed that the blade and staff had a golden hue to it. "Dragon scales…?"

There was a lingering sadness on her face as she nodded, putting the naginata back into its place. "Yes. They are from the scales of my mother, however. The staff was hers…" she tapped on the biwa, which had a slightly different sheen to it. It was carved from wood yet the sword the fox demon had used didn't even leave a scratch. "This was made from mine though."

"I've never seen a weapon like it."

"Neither have I, it's an invention of my own. I have a little bit of skill in forging."

Kohaku returned, this time carrying a large tray full of different foods. Kin visibly drooled at the smell, looking up when she heard rain begin to patter on the roof. Naraku stood to light the room as the dark clouds covered the moon, turning back to see Kin stand as she pulled the kimono back over her shoulders. He caught of glimpse of her curved figure, realizing that she was much older than he had first thought due to her size. He also saw more feathers dusting the back of her calves, much longer than the ones of her neck. The feathers on her neck were barely noticeable, blending in with her golden hair seamlessly.

"You said your mother was a dragon. What sort of demon was your father?"

She tightened her kimono before sitting down and taking the bowl Kohaku offered to her. She took a large mouthful of rice, savoring it on her tongue for a moment before responding. "I never met him. I was told he was a bird of some sort from a distant land. He could bewitch people with a gentle song like the sirens or screech like a banshee." She quickly finished her bowl of rice and deftly shoved another morsel of what looked to be beef into her mouth.

"A distant land…?"

"I am very grateful for your help. You possibly saved my life and offered me a place to stay." She suddenly became defensive and watched him through cool eyes. "However, I will not go into more details of my family history."

Naraku turned away, not wanting her to see his agitation at her sudden change in attitude. "Sorry, I just noticed the feathers on the back of your neck earlier and was curious."

Her hand darted to her neck as she fingered the plumage. "Oh, no it's alright. I'm sure you didn't mean to offend." She seemed remorseful. One thing she had learned from her mother was to never trust a pretty face. She wasn't sure if his curiosity was innocent or if he had a hidden agenda. She glanced at his handsome features in passing, trying to take in as much detail as she finished a second bowl of rice that she had topped off with slices of beef and pork. Not that I'm the most innocent girl around… she mused.

"No…it's alright. Would you mind telling me why those foxes were after you?"


Naraku stayed by Kin's side for most of the night, carrying on idle conversation until she finally asked to left alone to rest. He bid her goodnight and left, passing by Kagura as he returned to his own chambers. He stopped, turning towards her.

"If she asks to leave, allow her to do so. However keep an eye on her. I want her to come back…willingly."

Kagura gave him an inquisitive look. "If I didn't know you better I'd almost say you were trying to befriend the woman."

"She could become a powerful tool. She already feels indebted to me for 'rescuing' her from those demons I sent after her. Your information about her fighting abilities was accurate. Do continue to complete your tasks accordingly. I won't tolerate any of your failings to ruin my plans."

That was probably the closest thing to a 'good job' Kagura had ever received. She bowed slightly, "Of course, I am your humble servant." She nearly wanted to bite off her own tongue for saying such words.

He left her, glancing outside as the rain continued to pummel against his castle.


Sesshomaru floated high above the storm clouds, avoiding the heavy drizzle as he continued in his search for Naraku. He'd left Rin and Jaken a safe distance away with A-Un. The young girl was practicing daily on her ocarina much to Jaken's agony. She was concerned however, for Kin had not dropped by since giving it to her.

As he scanned the clouds trying to see when the storm would pass he noticed a thick black cloud in the distance. Curious, he moved forward to check it out and dipped into the rain below to see what was causing it.

A fire had erupted, burning wildly despite the heavy downpour. It wasn't ordinary fire, either. He followed the ashes to find its starting point, landing onto the single circle of wet grass. In the small clearing he found many dead corpses but what caught his attention were two familiar scents. One was the faint pungent odor of the half demon he was searching for, but the second gave him a sickening feeling in his gut. There was a trace of sunflowers in the air, and as he looked at the fire growing it suddenly became obvious who had started it.

He took back to the sky, trying his best to follow the two scents. The smoke and rain had him moving in circles however, and he kept returning to the starting point to try again from the beginning. He continued to search long after the rain had ceased, only stopping when he saw the sun begin to rise in the distant horizon.

Naraku must have done something to mess with his trail, or he would have found it long ago. He cursed at the half demons strange magic, clenching his jaw in frustration as he circled the clearing again.


Kin awoke with the rise of the sun like she did almost every morning, opening her sliding paper door to let in the light of day. She frowned however when she saw clouds blocking the morning rays. "Stupid rain. Stupid clouds." She grumbled as she returned to her futon and made her bed. She folded it neatly and picked up the rest of her belongings, making sure everything was in check. "Maybe I should go see Rin today…" she muttered to herself, yelping when she suddenly heard a soft voice.

"You know Rin?" It was Kohaku. It had been the first time he had spoken to her, and there was a new look in his eye she hadn't seen the night prior.

"Yes, Rin. Do you know her?" She held up a hand as if to measure, "Maybe this tall, orange and yellow kimono? She's a few years younger than you and has a small ponytail." Kohaku nodded, smiling slightly.

"Yes. She's doing well, then?"

"She's a very lively child. How do you know her?"

As if catching his error Kohaku suddenly grew quiet, giving a shake of his head. He quickly handed her a small tray of food before dashing off. She recognized his agile movement and wondered what a demon slayer was doing in a place like this. The thought perished however when the smell of breakfast hit her nostrils.

She debated taking it with her but instead shoveled the meal into her mouth, chewing as she hopped up onto the roof. She scanned her surroundings in an attempt to figure out where she was. She didn't know these lands however and gave up to find her host. She searched for him high and low, noticing that despite the size of this castle there were no inhabitants. She had sensed the demon in Kagewaki, and had a feeling townsfolk stayed away because of it. Pity, he'd been fairly kind to her so far.

She sighed, giving up on her search. She could no longer find Kohaku either, let alone anyone else to give her directions. She went back to the room she had stayed in, reaching behind her neck to pluck a single feather. She placed it on the pillow in hope that he would get the message. Her wound had healed and she left without another word. Strangely enough the moment she placed some distance from the castle it seemed to disappear, and the sun was shining brightly down on her. She stopped, taking in the rays of light before continuing her journey.

That had been one of her most bizarre meetings yet. She knew she would be returning.


Sesshomaru squinted as he saw a small figure far in the distance. It shined brightly like a jewel in the light, moving quickly over the treetops. He surged forward, and felt a foreign sense of relief as the figure turned out to be Kin. The demoness had sensed his fast approach and had stopped, confused at his urgency as he landed next to her with a loud thud.

"Good morning Sesshomaru, how has Rin been do-" she gasped when he closed the distance between them, sniffing at the air around her. Her hair was damp as though she had just had a morning dip, and she smelled faintly of rainwater. He bent forward, his long silky hair brushing against her cheek as sniffed at her neck.

He was much too close. Finally he stood straight again and she had to look up to make eye contact. From her angle the sunlight hit his white hair in such a dazzling show she momentarily forgot how to form words. She could see all the minute details of his face from the red marks on his cheeks to the purple moon on his forehead. Hell she could count the lashes of his eyes!

Finally she came crashing back to reality. She placed a clawed hand on his chest, feeling the tight muscles on his stomach as she gently pushed him away from her. "As I was saying, how has Rin been doing?"

He didn't make an attempt to move away and ignored her question. He didn't even budge. "Where were you last night?"

She couldn't help but stare blankly at him. He almost sounded like a jealous lover. She shook her head, deciding it was much too early in the day to be thinking such thoughts. "I was attacked by some demons. They caught me off guard and poisoned me but a half demon named Kagewaki helped me and offered me a place to stay."

'Kagewaki…?' The name was familiar to him, but he couldn't place the reason why. He couldn't smell any traces of Naraku on her, yet in that clearing… "Take off your kimono."

"Take off my…what?" What the hell was wrong with him? Most of the time she struggled to even get a hello out of the man but suddenly he was asking her to disrobe? "No." she folded her hands in front of her defiantly, cocking her chin.

"I said, take off your kimono." There was obvious irritation in his voice and expression. Kin did not back down however.

"No. I'm not going to take it off just because you told me to. Do you even realize what you're asking?"

"I want to see your back."

"My back? What the hell for?"

There was a growl in his voice now, "Is there a spider mark on your back?"

"Wha-? No, of course not why would I have a spider on my back?"

"Prove it."

She looked at him, exasperated. Seriously, the man could act like such a child. He was so used to getting what he wanted she doubted he even realized it. "Fine." She muttered, handing him her biwa with an angry thrust before shouldering off the top portion of her kimono. She turned her back to him, barking in surprise when she felt his hand on her skin. Most of her back was covered in scales, and he pulled the wrappings she used to cover her breasts down slightly to see that there were indeed no spider markings on her back. "What the hell do you think-?"

"Nothing, it's fine." He stepped away as she pulled her kimono back on.

She grumbled, glaring at him angrily as she took her biwa back as he offered it to her. "Seriously, what the hell?"

"I thought you might be a spawn of Naraku."

He was making absolutely zero sense. It was like talking a rock. A stubborn, beautiful rock that would probably try to rip out her throat. "Why would you think that?"

"I found the demons that attacked you after following the fire you started. I could smell him and thought something had happened."

She grew silent, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You were worried about me!"

His brows furrowed, "Nonsense. I thought you could lead me to the pest."

She laughed and shook her head. "Fine fine. I was shot by poison tipped arrows, by the way."

"Are you injured?"

"Why? I thought you weren't worried about me."

He frowned at her, realizing his mistake. "You're incorrigible." He muttered, turning away as he saw that she wasn't hurt.

"Look who's talking…" she teased as she followed after him. She walked at his side, noticing that he shortened his steps so that she could comfortably keep up. So stubborn…


AAAAAND….

What could Naraku be planning? I dunno, I have five different ideas and I keep playing them in my head to figure out which one would be the awesomest. Just a warning, next week I will be pretty darn busy so don't expect many updates. I honestly should be in bed right now…I have a meeting at 9 in the morning…one hour away…meh. Five hours is plenty of sleep, right? RIGHT?

So I totally realized two days ago that I forgot to categorize which characters were in this story.

I'm an idiot, I know. Just kinda made me laugh I swore I thought I filled that part out…

Expect to see the rest of the main cast within the next chapter or two as we really delve into the plot.

PLEASE REVIEW! EVEN IF IT'S JUST TWO WORDS! ONE WORD. Seriously, I love criticism and will even take incomplete sentences.