InuyashaForever1989: OMG! Yes, I'm still alive here. Sorry for the long wait, the last couple months of school my teacher went crazy and I had no time to write but here it is at last. Chapter 9. A big thank you to all my lovely reviewers.

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Chapter 9: Introductions

'Get this thing off of me,' Mamoru complained. Kagome turned around to see the pile of her blanket moving around on the floor. She giggled and reached for the blanket and pulled it back only to discover that Mamoru was at least twice the size that he had been when Kagome had gone to bed and he was now also a darker more noticeable silver, but she was a little focused on his size at the moment.

'What happened to you?' Kagome asked looking at the not quite as little dragon in front of her.

Mamoru looked at her and tilted his head to side. 'What do you mean?'

'You're bigger,' Kagome stated the obvious.

'Of course I a

m, I'm a growing dragon after all,' Mamoru stated proudly.

Kagome wondered at this for a moment, just staring in amazement then she shook her head. 'But now we have a problem,' she pointed out.

'What's that?' Mamoru asked.

'Well, I was planning on getting you out of the house though my window,' she said pointing to a pretty decent sized window. 'I'm not sure you're going to fit now.'

Mamoru looked at the window dubiously. 'I don't think it's going to work now but I'll give it a shot.' Mamoru put his two front feet on the window sill and pushed himself through the window, sort of. Halfway through he snagged and then began to struggle.

Kagome just stared at Mamoru's frantically waving silver tail and flailing feet as he tried desperately to get through the window. 'We'll just have to find another way to get you out of here,' Kagome sighed.

'I would agree but I'm afraid I'm stuck,' Mamoru informed her.

'What?!' Kagome said, just barely keeping herself from saying the word out loud.

'I can't get outside and . . .' the little dragon paused and struggled a little, 'I can't get back in either.'

'Oh no, oh no! Ummm, let's see.' Kagome put a hand on either side of Mamoru and tried to pull him back inside.

'Ow, ow, ow. That hurts?' Mamoru complained Kagome immediately stopped pulling and tried to look around Mamoru and out the window. Mamoru was out of the window just far enough so the top of his wings were outside and the slightly curved spike on each wing was caught on the window and keeping him from being pulled back in.

'We're just going to have to get you out then,' Kagome said. Kagome started to push but Mamoru didn't budge. 'Come on Mamoru, help me out here.'

Mamoru put his two front feet against the outside wall and they pushed at the same time. Mamoru started to move but not much. The little silver dragon flattened himself as much as possible. When he did that he suddenly flew out the window. Kagome almost fell but caught herself on the sill and slowly lowered herself to her knees where she tried to catch her breath.

'Mamoru, are you ok?' Kagome asked.

'I think I tore my wing.'

"What?!" Kagome practically yelled and this time she did say it out loud. She instantly shot to her feet and looked out the window. Mamoru was sitting about a foot from the window holding out his right wing and from the top of the wind to about the middle there was a rip in the membrane.

'Oh my god! Are you going to be ok?'

'It hurts a lot,' was all he said.

'Stay right there I'll be right out,' Kagome said as she ran around the room frantically trying to get dressed. She threw on an ice-blue, sleeveless dress quickly brushed out her hair, and ran for her door.

She raced down the hall, completely blowing off her mother in the process.

"Kagome, Kagome," she could hear her mother call after her but she ignored it. She ran out the front door but just as she did she turned around and ran back in and opened a door off the hallway and grabbed a box off the shelf in the small closet then made for the door again.

She ran around about half the house before she found Mamoru. The little dragon was sitting right where Kagome had left him. Opening the box she had brought with her she knelt down to him. 'Let me see it.'

Mamoru stretched out his wing again and Kagome patched it up with ointment and bandages. 'That ointment should help with the pain too,' Kagome said.

'Thank you,' Mamoru said as he turned away from Kagome.

'Mamoru?' Kagome asked, worried that his wing still hurt or something.

'I'm fine, it's just . . .' Mamoru trailed off and he hunched his shoulders like he was trying to look smaller.

'Mamoru?' Kagome questioned softly.

'I'm supposed to be the one protecting you, but now I've got you running around worrying about me and trying to help me.'

Kagome blanked for a minute and didn't know what to say then Kaede's words came back to her.

/"You must take great care with him, allow him to depend on you and so must you depend on him. You will need to protect each other,"/

'Mamoru,' Kagome started, grabbing the silver dragon's attention. 'We have to protect each other. We're partners now and you have to accept that I'm going to protect you as much as you protect me. Ok?'

Mamoru was quiet for a minute as he just stared at Kagome then he nodded his head and stood up. 'Alright. Are you ready to go?'

'Go? Oh, right! Yeah, let's get going,' Kagome said, embarrassed that she had completely forgotten about going to see Sesshomaru. She stood up and looked at the position of the sun it was to late to go see him practicing so she would have to find some way to get Mamoru into a carriage.

She and Mamoru snuck over to the stables and she saw one carriage returning. 'Oh, no! Mamoru you have to hide quickly. We can't let him see you,' Kagome said a bit frantic.

'What is it? What's wrong?' Mamoru asked as he stiffened battle ready.

'Mamoru, no. It's my little brother and he's got a big mouth. If he sees you the whole world will know about you within the hour,' Kagome explained. (A/N: I bet you thought he wasn't going to be in here at all )

Mamoru relaxed and ran behind a particularly large tree. 'Sorry,' Kagome heard him almost whisper.

'It's ok. I'll be right back,' she said as she walked over to the stables as a young boy 13/14 with short black hair and brown eyes stepped out of the carriage.

"Hey, Souta!" Kagome said cheerfully to her little brother. "Did you have fun at Shippou's?"

Souta looked at his sister suspiciously. "Since when do you care?" he asked and Kagome just smiled.

"What? I can't be nice to my cute little brother?" she asked in a baby talk voice as she pinched his cheek.

Souta shook his head to make her let go and ran away screaming, "Mom! Kagome's completely lost it!"

Kagome's smile turned into a smirk and she looked around for the driver. He had gone into the stables to put the horses away. Kagome peeked her head in and found him feeding and watering the horses. 'Mamoru get in the carriage now,' she said to the little dragon.

"Excuse me," she said to get his attention. "Could you please set the carriage up again? I have to go to the Western Place."

"Yes, Miss," he said and went to take out a couple other horses and Kagome went back over to the carriage. The carriage door was closed when she remembered it had been open so she assumed that Mamoru had gotten in as she had told him to.

Kagome opened the door to see Mamoru sitting nicely on the seat to her right. She jumped a little when she heard the doors to the stables open and the driver, she believed his name was Ikki, came out with the horses. (A/N: Pronounced EEK kee) She quickly hopped into the carriage with Mamoru and sat across from him shutting the door behind her.

After a few minutes the carriage started off towards the palace and Kagome wondered just how the hell she thought she was going to get in there with out anyone seeing Mamoru.

'You didn't plan this out very well, did you?' Mamoru asked.

'Well, no, I didn't. Oh, what am I going to do?' She could have sent a note ahead of her so Sesshomaru could have been ready but it was a little late for that.

'Talk to him,' Mamoru suggested.

'What do you mean talk to him? How am I supposed to do that?' Kagome asked.

'Seek him out and talk to him. Like you talk to me,' Mamoru explained.

'I can do that?' she asked, surprised.

'It's not as easy as when you talk to me. You have to find him first, but yes you can.'

Kagome closed her eyes and seeing as she had no other way she used her miko powers to find him. Mamoru had been right it wasn't easy, for a minute Kagome wasn't sure she was going to be able to reach the palace. When she did she searched for the familiar aura. She found an aura that seemed to be Sesshomaru's yet it was different somehow.

'Hello?' she asked carefully.

'What the hell?' the person said back.

That was definitely not Sesshomaru. 'Uh, sorry,' Kagome said and started to pull back to look for Sesshomaru again.

'Hey, wait,' the voice said. 'Who the hell are you?'

'Sorry, I was looking for Sesshomaru,' Kagome explained, avoiding the question.

'Why are you looking for that bastard?' the voice asked.

'He's not a bastard and I need his help!'

'Ok, ok, calm down. Is there anything I can do to help, 'cause Sesshomaru's not here right now?'

There was a long pause until Kagome asked, 'Who are you?'

'I'm Inuyasha, Sesshomaru's brother. You still haven't told me who you are though.'

'Oh, well I'm Kagome Higurashi. I'm, well, I'm in a bit of a situation here that I had hoped Sesshomaru could help me out with. I'm on my way over there now and I have something with me that I can't let anyone see and --'

'I get it. Don't worry, I'll take care of things over here,' Inuyasha interrupted.

'Thank you very much,' Kagome said.

'Feh, just don't get used to it.'

With that Kagome pulled back and rolled her eyes. 'How rude,' she thought. She and Mamoru rode on in silence for the rest of the ride and when they arrived she heard someone direct Ikki off to the side.

After they had stopped she peeked out the window and saw a man with long white hair and dog ears talking to Ikki. The man was wearing a white shirt, red jacket, and red pants. She didn't know quite why but she had the strongest urge to feel his ears.

Suddenly, Ikki got up and walked away and around a corner and the white haired man, who she assumed was Inuyasha, opened the door for her.

"So what kind of situation is this exactly and what's this thing that you can't let anyone see?" he asked as she got out.

"Well," Kagome started and then she looked back at the carriage. Inuyasha looked at it as well just as Mamoru stepped out.

Inuyasha's jaw dropped as he stared at the small silver dragon then he looked over at Kagome. "Where did you get that?! There haven't been and recent hatchlings in the hatchery."

"That's because he didn't come from the hatchery. I . . ." Kagome paused for a moment and looked over at Mamoru. Mamoru nodded his head and Kagome continued, "I found his dieing mother in the forest and she gave me his egg. I kept it in the fireplace in my room until he hatched yesterday.

"I need to get him registered, but I don't want to get in trouble for keeping his egg instead of turning it in. I was hoping Sesshomaru could help me with that,' Kagome explained.

"How do you know Sesshomaru anyway?" Inuyasha asked.

"Well, umm, we met at the dragon riders ball and we became friends," she said.

"Uh huh," Inuyasha said a bit suspiciously. "Well, like I said before Sesshomaru's not here right now. He wasn't even at practice this morning even though Akako is gone too. I'm not sure where he went or when he'll be back either."

"I see," Kagome said, disappointed.

"I guess I could help you out though," he offered.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but you owe me big time for this. Got it?" Inuyasha told her and led her over to a door that led into the palace. They made there way through the winding hallways and Kagome couldn't understand how Inuyasha and Sesshomaru could find their way around this place so easily.

'Well, they have grown up here. If you spend that much time anywhere you're going to learn your way eventually,' Mamoru pointed out.

'I guess so,' Kagome agreed.

Inuyasha stopped in front of a door that opened into an office. "Well, here we are," he announced and walked over to the desk and opened a draw. He pulled out papers and began to fill them out. A few lines down he looked up from the papers. "What's its name?"

"His name is Mamoru," Kagome answered.

"And how big was he yesterday?"

"Yesterday? He came up to about my knees.' Inuyasha nodded his head and went back to the papers. "Thank you," Kagome said suddenly and Inuyasha looked up. "You know, for helping me and everything." Inuyasha just rolled his eyes and looked back down at the papers.

"Hey! What's your problem? I just said thank you, you could be a little nicer like maybe saying you welcome or something. You know, manners," Kagome said quite ticked off.

"Feh. Just take a seat and be quiet would you? I don't have to do this you know," Inuyasha said without looking up from the papers.

Kagome huffed and sat down in a chair on the other side of the desk and looked around for Mamoru and saw his silver tail sticking out from behind the side of the desk that Inuyasha was sitting on. 'Mamoru, what are you up to?' Kagome asked.

'You'll see,' he said and then everyone just sat there quiet and waiting.

Inuyasha finally finished the papers and held them out to Kagome. "Here just bring these to the hatchery and hand them in at the desk there. Everything will be fine."

"Thank you again," Kagome said. There was a loud yell from Inuyasha and Mamoru came running out from behind the desk with a piece of red cloth in his mouth.

"Mamoru!" Kagome scolded out loud.

'He had it coming being so rude to you like that,' Mamoru said as he ran behind Kagome.

"What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha yelled at Mamoru.

"Apparently it was for being rude to me," Kagome explained. 'Although, you still shouldn't have done it,' Kagome added to Mamoru. "I'm very sorry about that."

"Yeah, well, whatever."

"Inuyasha," a voice suddenly called from the hallway. Everyone looked at the door as the handle turned. In walked a woman with long brown hair and brown eyes also dressed in red and white; a white shirt and red skirt. She looked a little like Kagome only a little older.

"Kikyo, hey," Inuyasha said and walked over to the woman.

"Who's this?" she asked, indicating Kagome.

"This is Kagome, Sesshomaru's friend," Inuyasha introduced and Kagome didn't like the way he had said the word friend.

"I see," Kikyo said and a small smile came to her face. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Kikyo."

"It's nice to meet you as well," Kagome said back.

"Be good to Sesshomaru; he doesn't have many friends," Kikyo said.

Kagome couldn't help but smile even though she thought it was a strange thing to say. It sounded like something you'd say to a bride. "Well, I should probably being going. Good bye," Kagome said and walked out into the hallway. She took a look back real quick only to see Inuyasha and Kikyo kissing. She turned a way and blushed and started walking a bit faster.

Kagome wasn't watching where she was going and she ran into someone and then she hit the floor. "Kagome, are you alright," a familiar voice asked.

She looked up and sure enough it was Kouga and he was reaching out his hand to help her up. "Yeah, I'm fine," Kagome said as she took his hand. He pulled her up to her feet and she brushed herself off. "Thanks."

Kouga didn't seem to be paying attention as he seemed to be staring, transfixed on something behind her. Kagome turned around and saw Mamoru staring back at the ookami youkai. "Uh, yeah, he just hatched yesterday," Kagome said and laughed a bit nervously.

"Wow, nice. Silver, huh?"

"Yeah," Kagome said.

"If you're here looking for Sesshomaru he's not here. Haven't seen the stupid inu all day actually," Kouga told her.

"Oh, I know he's not here, Inuyasha told me," Kagome explained.

"So, you've met the mutt I see."

"He's not a mutt, don't call him that!" Kagome scolded him.

"Well, he kinda is being a hanyou and all," Kouga said putting his hands up defensively.

"Who cares if he's a hanyou? It's not nice going around calling people names all the time. Inuyasha just helped me out even if he was a bit rude and I don't appreciate you talking about Sesshomaru the way you do either," Kagome practically fumed.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. Damn," Kouga said in defeat.

"Kouga!! I've finally found you! Where have you been?!" a woman yelled down the hall. Kouga stiffened and went pale. He turned around slowly and gave the red haired girl an awkward smile.

"Hey, Ayame. (A/N: did I spell that right?) Um, I was just--"

"Who is she?!" Ayame asked, still yelling even though she was right next to them.

"Uh, hi. I'm Kagome, it's nice to meet you," Kagome introduced herself.

"I'm Ayame, and I'm Kouga's fiancé so you stay away from him you hear me?"

Kagome looked at Kouga. "So when did this happen?"

"Well, I told my father last night that we weren't going to work out and then this morning she was here," Kouga explained.

"Wow, and I thought my mom was bad. Well, Ayame, you don't have to worry about me. I already have someone I like," Kagome assured the girl.

Ayame looked a little surprised and then smile at Kagome. "Well, it's nice to meet you too then."

"Well, I have to get going. Good luck you two," Kagome called behind her as she walked down the hall. About ten minute later she realized she didn't have a clue as to where she was going. Kagome was looking around trying to see down all the side hallways and she once again hit someone. This time she was caught instead of hitting the floor. She looked up and . . . . . .

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InuyashaForever1989: And that's all this time around. I hope you enjoyed it. Review please, you know you want to. Ja ne.