Song of the Caged Blackbird

Abby Ebon

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' or 'Naruto'. Or 'InuYasha'.

Note; in which Itachi/Kouga is featured, and the plot once again makes an appearance… -glances at reviews and whimpers- as does Harry/Blackbird…!

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Allure Of Miyabita Shi

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Itachi stirred, glancing to the moon above, his eyes narrowing. He knew demons, and – in theory, half demons - experienced heightened sexual tension during certain seasons or lunar phases. It had never been an issue for him before, he was not one to be ruled by his desires – or be used. There was a remote possibility that the influx of…sex…was natural, perhaps triggered by a cause Itachi did not yet understand.

Somehow, he didn't think that the case.

Itachi had never felt the desire – or passion – that it took to be with another, even when he had had the time for such things. Harry had been his reason – his passion – for doing a great many things, but this…this felt like a betrayal.

The first encounter he could excuse himself from – it had been under the influence of a demonic succubus, in a situation where it was either sex or death. Itachi would not aid Harry if he died for his pride. This time he had progressed to penetration, and there had not been a visible or intellectual force to encourage things. Itachi knew himself well enough to know that this wasn't some attempt on his part to "making up" for years of chosen solitude. He didn't doubt what conclusion he came to.

Itachi knew very well when he was being manipulated on a primal level. One did not graduate from the Academy at age seven, master the Sharingan at eight, pass the Chunin exam at age ten, only to becoming ANBU Captain at age thirteen and slaughter the Uchiha clan only to become a fool some five years later. The only questions Itachi had was what – or who – was doing the manipulating and why.

For this much interference with his way of life – there had to be a why. It was only a matter of time before he uncovered it. In the meantime, he had to wash-up, if this day had taught him anything it was that half demon or whole, they had a greater sense of smell then Itachi himself had.

Itachi slid easily from the branch of the tree, slipping into the nearby bit of forest where he had heard Kagome telling Sango of the naturally warm spring. Sometimes he did not doubt that it was useful to have females as traveling companions. Then, at least, no one smelled so bad that the enemies could smell you rather then see you outright. It happened more often then Itachi thought most cared to believe.

He slid out of his clothing, keeping it all bundled safely within the Akatsuki cloak. His bare skin felt chilled against the cool night air, he rushed a little bit, sliding along the edges so he had to crouch to stop from falling into the bubbling hot spring. Though no one was around, he felt foolish though it was soothed away by the warmth of the water.

For the first time he allowed himself to relax, closing his eyes as he listened to the night sounds surrounding him. There were different sounds, melodies he hadn't recognized and didn't know what they belonged to. He never the less found himself content. Away from the group, he could relax, he didn't have to "play nice" or carry their burdens. He didn't have to hide that he was a killer, born into it like many of the families within Konoha.

Itachi knew others could pin a nice name up for it – defenders or protectors; give reasons for an agenda – what motivated the person, but a killer was what all ninja were in the end. Some could not live with that fact alone, they deluded themselves, and so made themselves dangerous. Itachi knew what he was, knew that it didn't matter if he killed on someone else's orders; it was still his hands being bloodied. That was what made him more dangerous then everyone else who wanted to believe they were good people despite the blood the stained them. Itachi didn't bother being "decent".

Itachi had never cared about that. He liked the thrill he got from killing another person. His mind buzzed with a primitive thrill of the hunt, where others would falter – twisted by what should be and what was, he felt alive – truly and wholly alive – when he killed. He had never admitted it, he had never needed to, and others seemed to sense it about him. He had never let them get close - no one but Harry.

"So this is where you went off to. Nice enough place." Itachi tensed, he should have expected to be followed. He glanced to Kouga – walking, though leaning heavily on a bent branch – and nearly snarled. The wolf demon had healed up; he likely had not needed to be carried all day, though the others had insisted.

"I suppose. Is there a reason you're here Kouga?" Itachi asked his eyes skimming the exposed area. It was nestled in a grove of trees, their thick trunks blackened tangles like a trap in the night, even with his decent night vision he couldn't tell what was passable until he was on top of it. It would be foolish to run off, without clothes. Though it was unlikely Kouga would make it as easy as that on him. Half full, the moon glimmered on the surface of the spring Itachi sat in, he supposed the contrast of his pale skin dark hair, and the dark gleaming surface of the water was what attracted Kouga's downward gaze.

"I wanted to talk…about how I acted today." Kouga's tail shifted uneasily behind him bringing attention to his strong legs and firm thighs, Itachi lowered his eyes, knowing neither of them would be exactly comfortable with apologizing – or accepting apologies. He didn't want to be temped and drawn into another "passion" as he was starting to call them. It didn't make sense, and Itrachi felt his skin tighten with heat.

Itachi felt something within him sting, when he realized he would likely have to apologize with Harry. Harry was more a full demon then half, having a Tailed-Beast sealed within him. He would smell it on Itachi, of that the dark haired man did not doubt. It hurt something within him, though at the same time he felt warmth tug at his lower regions. Am I truly this disloyal? Itachi wondered feeling sickened by his own desires, though they still pulled urgently at him.

"There is no need. I had not realized demons – or half demons – could smell such things." Itachi excused, before Kouga could get it in his head to come closer. It frightened him that he did not know if he could resist the urgency in his own need.

"Well, your mostly human, I shouldn't have expected you to know anything of the like. There isn't any shame in it, its just a release of tension, if that's all you want it to be." Kouga's voice had lowered, resting his chin on his walking stick, a lazy smile stretched over his features, though it did not match the leer in his eyes.

"Leave." Itachi ordered, because nude or not, he was dangerous and the wolf demon was already at a disadvantage. Itachi glanced to his pile of clothing, his main weapons were among them – but he still had the slender needles which could immobilize, or kill. He shivered, for suddenly the warm water seemed cold – and he wondered if the skin of a wolf demon would not be warmer.

"Why do you fight it?" Kouga asked softly, eyes trailing with something alike urgency and curiosity and lust all mixed. It was uncomfortably like hunger. Kouga inhaled, chest visibly rising and falling. He's scenting me. Itachi felt lust clench something fierce, like he was caught in the grip of a constrictor.

"I do not like being manipulated, leave – now!" Itachi snarled teeth showing in a gesture he knew demons would recognize, dark eyes narrowed upon Kouga, who only smirked, seeing the flicker of Sharingan within Itachi's dark eyes, knowing the control Itachi was using.

Itachi saw the slight bulge in the others loincloth, didn't think it was entirely his imagination when he smelt the musty spice of the others arousal. Kouga took a step closer, and then moved with a graze and speed Itachi wouldn't have thought the wolf demon capable of in his injured state. Kouga was atop him, straddling him – eyes dilated, thin slivers of blue peeking out of the otherwise slanted eyes.

"I want you." Kouga's voice was a breathy growl caught in the back of his throat, as if surprised by his own urgency. Itachi froze, trying to tell himself these weren't his real feelings, and he was being used. Manipulated. It gave him the strength to twist their positions, if not for Kouga's injury – it would not have worked.

Itachi, now atop the other, tried to pull away – but Kouga's legs were wrapped firmly over his thighs. He had trapped himself. Kouga smirked, seeming to realize this when Itachi did. He leaned in closer, the rough fur of his headband rubbed against Itachi's skin. Itachi wondered if the reason he kept his hair away from his face was because of his pointed ears – if they were as sensitive as they looked.

"Mine now…" Itachi's fingers clenched in the wet fur of Kouga's shoulder protection, it connected to metal and leather armor that covered his chest and torso, leading to the loincloth, which was pressed firmly against Itachi's shaft. Itachi's eyes fixed on the sword Kouga had abandoned on the bank of the spring. He tried desperately to ignore the heat that felt like a fog within his own mind.

Kouga boldly moved him, using Itachi's weight to slide his covering upward. Itachi felt flushed skin and heat and shivered with realization. Kouga was bare beneath the pelt loincloth. Kouga grunted, holding firmly to Itachi as he shifted into a more comfortable position, still they were tangled together in a mess of limbs.

Using his powerful thighs Kouga shifted Itachi upward and lower, using his leverage to his own advantage as their lengths rubbed together beneath the pelt of fur in the spring warmed water. Kouga groaned, shifting beneath him, the touch of skin against sensitive skin enough to make him pant, moving at a swifter pace until he was arching and writhing beneath Itachi, though held reluctantly captive by the powerful wolf demon below him.

Despite himself, Itachi clenched eyes and jaw shut against the heat and lust he felt building along his spine till it was pounding behind his eyelids. He cried out, submitting to the raising need, opening his eyes to reach between them and touch himself and Kouga. Seeing and feeling that he had given in, Kouga growled pressing lips and sharp canine teeth against Itachi, urging and daring him closer to the edge.

Itachi felt it then, what had latched into him – fed from his lust – and jerked with surprise, letting out a moan, when it forced his pleasure, dragging it out of him all at once so he shook with reaction. Kouga muffled his own cry of release as he arched beneath Itachi, who felt the spurt of liquid heat against his own sensitive groin. Held against Kouga's chest armor, Itachi glanced to the edge of the spring pool, blurry eyes making out the hilt of Miyabita Shi, half buried among Itachi's clothes, as it seemed to give him a glittering wink.

Itachi thought he knew what was manipulating him – and, perhaps, why. Miyabita Shi only fed energy to Harry when he was weakened. It worried him, in the haze of his mind, how weakened Harry had to be to need more then Miyabita Shi's magical energy.

"Itachi?" Kouga murmured, his tone worried when he felt Itachi's full weight relax against him. Itachi felt the vague sensation of being taken out of the water and laid out on the grass. His eyes refused to work, though he managed to blink when he felt Kouga touch his shoulder, something like fear crossed Kouga's features.

"Have to…get…Miyabita Shi…to Harry." Itachi tried to explain his voice soft and weak. He felt like he was picked up, though he thought he remembered something about the sensation of the familiar cloth of his Akatsuki cloak against his skin, even as the world slipped away.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"We don't know in what direction to go, Kouga…would you please calm down?" Sango raised her voice, hoping some of her words would get through to the agitated wolf demon. Miroku was already hovering over Itachi, when Kouga had come back with him; both of them had been damp skinned and their hair wet. It left little doubt in InuYasha's mind what, exactly, they had been doing before Itachi had "collapsed".

"Look, damn-it, something isn't right about this sword he's got! You didn't hear him; he sounded as if he was getting something drained out of him. I think that thing is killing him!" Kouga actually snarled his words, frustrated that he didn't seem to be taken seriously. InuYasha rolled his eyes, if Kouga wasn't careful he would let slip what Miroku and InuYashe were trying to keep from the others.

"Miyabita Shi? It belongs to his companion." Miroku commented softly, eyeing the sword that glittered like water instead of metal in the dawn. Kagome had been trying to stay as far away from the sword since she had first encountered it before Harry had been taken.

"Yeah, yeah, I know that – he said as much, we have to get the sword to that other guy." Kouga muttered, calmed somewhat now that one of them had grasped a part of what he had been saying since he had came back. Kouga had never had to deal with mortality as humans knew it, if someone killed you or you got sick because of some poison – that made since. It didn't make sense for someone to almost die because they were being drained by an inanimate object.

"We don't know where he is." InuYasha answered as calmly as he could, trying not to agitate Kouga. Shippo and Kirara glanced between each other nervously.

"But, uh, she does." Shippo said almost too softly to be heard, but Kouga did, and glared down at the little fox demon.

"Who does?" Kouga snapped, though his features showed his annoyance it was plain he wanted to have hope in something.

"Miyabita Shi? It says to go that way…" Shippo muttered eyes downcast as he felt the others turn to look down at him. He pointed westward. Beside him Kirara nodded, seemingly in agreement as she nuzzled the small fox boy.

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Miroku asked with a slight frown, remembering Itachi trying to communicate through the sword with Harry. Shippo's little shoulders shrugged helplessly.

"No one asked me…" Shippo's voice was nearly a soft whisper, and Sango sighed as she knelt beside him ruffling his red hair. She tipped his chin upward so he'd look in her eyes, even as the others packed up camp around them.

"Next time, just say something – okay?" Shippo nodded, wide eyed, and then crawled onto her shoulder – Kirara following his lead taking her other shoulder. Sango stood, turning to watch as InuYasha took Itachi, something protective in the way he held the slighter male telling her something had gone on underneath the surface, Itachi had tortured InuYasha – and the half dog demon did not forgive so easily.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Harry's eyes flicked open, taking in the sights and smells around him. He knew he had been in and out of consciousness since arriving here – though he did not know where 'here' was. The little girl, Rin chatted at the elder boy –Kohaku - as they roasted something over the open fire. He was well aware of the fact that they had been taking care of him.

Hoping it was not too obvious, his gaze flicked to the two headed dragon that snoozed by the fireside, its muzzle was purposely pointed toward the fireside, and when it breathed out it, its heated breath encouraged the flames.

Harry knew it was called 'Ah-Un', for the big-eyed pale skinned toad-like creature had yelled at it a number of times while attempting to start the fire. Not to mention Rin had introduced the dragon by name while Harry had struggled to remain conscious, the called the demon 'Jaken' huffed, having noticed he was awake. Its grip on its odd staff tightened, and Harry wondered what the object could do.

"Lord Sesshomaru, our guest is awake." Jaken sneered at him, as if he doubted Harry deserved to be called such.

Sesshomaru turned, strands of silver hair becoming untidy with the morning breeze. He had amber eyes and a purple crescent moon upon his forehead two lighter slash marks were upon each of his cheeks. Harry thought the markings must be natural, for this was not the sort of creature that would allow itself to be harmed by another. This, Harry knew as golden eyes met his green ones, was a demon.

He looked startlingly alike InuYasha.

Harry just then felt the energy sizzle into him. It seemed to smother him, for a moment he couldn't move – could not find breath, could not even make a sound. It helped and hurt all at the same time. Harry hadn't understood what it was; at first it had frightened him. He had frozen up, shaken by the extremes twisting within his mind. He had the sense that this had happened before, but it was vague and disjointed. He felt the touch of Miyabita Shi within his mind and let himself be soothed by the swords reassurances.

"Are you well?" Sesshomaru asked his voice both soft and intent. Harry noticed how his nostrils flared, and the golden eyes narrowed upon him. A small smile curved his lips; it made him look distant and cold. Untouchable in power, for all that he stood beside where Harry was laid out. Harry gave a small nod, knowing it was only polite to do so.

"You smelt differently in those moments. You smell of a demon. What you were, I wonder." It was not a question Sesshomaru asked; it was a demand for answers. Harry could understand that, weakly he shifted into a better position.

"I was Jinchuriki. I held the five tailed dog demon, Gobi no Houkou." Harry didn't know if that would make sense to Sesshomaru, though when Jaken snorted deliberately in disbelief from behind him, Harry thought the other – perhaps a dog demon like InuYasha – would have heard of Houkou.

"And now?" Sesshomaru asked softly, somehow knowing there was more. It would be obvious, for Jinchuriki did not often appear human once more when their scent had begun to shift as Harry's had.

"I need to find Houkou, I do not want to loose him. I am barely alive without him." Harry did not know why he told this to the proud demon. Perhaps he could help, but Harry did not think he was the type to do what others wanted without it somehow benefiting himself.

"That is obvious." Sesshomaru stated, golden eyes studying Harry from top to bottom. He seemed to have gotten swiftly paler since Sesshomaru had recognized the scent of a dog demon upon the boy. Though his brother had likely met the youth, this scent had been alien, and Sesshomaru knew well his kind, that of theinu daiyōkai, were rare with only a handful left within his own territory. It would not be unheard of to have found once such as himself and not recognize Harry for kith or kin.

"Miyabita Shi is all that is keeping me alive, but it won't last for long. I must find Houkou, his soul was taken from me by Naraku, when I retrieve the Shikon, Houkou will be called back within me." Harry was sure of this much, and felt he had to convince Sesshomaru of this as well. Sesshomaru seemed to straiten, looking to the east something like fondness crossing his features – if only for a moment.

"Foolish… though, perhaps, not as foolish as my little brother, InuYasha. I fear you will be meeting him, and his "pack" of mortals, shortly." Sesshomaru stated not unkindly, though loudly enough for Rin and Kohaku to hear.

They had very different reactions, Harry noticed – Rin seemed excited, while Kohaku was pensive and hesitated while looking to the nearby grove of trees which led into the forest. Harry was not the only one to notice, for though Sesshomaru had made no indication of it, his eyes focused on Kohaku for a moment before sliding to the valley where trespassers would have to cross enter his territory.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Note; I hope we are all clear on why Itachi has been having smex-ings...no more snarling at authoress? –Whines-

On a happy note, I finished "In The Corner Of Your Eye" and now work my Harry/Naruto magic solely for this story and "What Must Never Be Lost". Now for the bad news, it's very likely I won't be able to get on the internet until October. Sorry, really can't be helped... so, in the meantime, vote in the poll to see which of my Harry Potter stories is updated first (when I return)!