CHAPTER 21
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Happy New Year to all of you! Hope you had a good start into 2020! I'll put it up on my profile as well, but since I am nearing the end of university, I think I might not be able to update monthly this year. I promise to figure something out and I promise, I won't abandon this. Please bear with me.
Have fun ^^
CHAPTER 21 A perfectly normal day – Part 1
WITH THE HIGURASHI SISTERS
It was a lot after midnight when Kagome finally arrived home. I hope, mom doesn't catch me… After all, I promised her to stop playing Kikyo.While climbing the stairs to the first floor, Kagome shook her head a bit as if to get rid of the last remains of the character. She is fighting against the evil in this world – or at least against the threats to the Taisho empire. Mom would understand, that this is very important and easier to accomplish with me being Kikyo and guarding my life and my family from potential danger.
Kagome pulled the wig off her head, not particularly caring for the crunching sound of falling hair. Burnt ends floated to the ground. She raked a hand through her own hair, which already reached to her shoulder blades. Maybe some day Kikyo wouldn't have to wear a wig. But until then Kagome needed to take care to not be recognised.
With another sigh, she opened the door to her room. There was a presence there. Waiting for her. It could only be one.
"Rin."
In response, the light on her nightstand was flipped on to reveal her smiling sister sitting cross-legged on Kagome's bed. "Hey sis."
"Why are you still up? Tomorrow is school," Kagome threw the wig onto her bed before changing into her nightgown. As she turned again, Rin wasn't grinning anymore. "I was curious what Kikyo might want to talk about with Sesshomaru-sama." She lifted a brow questioningly.
"Is that Rin or Sara speaking?"
"Both."
"Well then. Kikyo made Inuyasha and his friends aware of their surroundings, as Kagura was around. Soon after, I saw Sesshomaru talking to Sara. I wanted to warn him of Kagura wandering near his brother. Unfortunately, Naraku – well, a puppet of his – appeared and I had to fight him while Sesshomaru went to Inuyasha's side," Kagome explained. "See? No threat to you two." She gave Rin a warm smile, as she noticed her sister's posture relaxing.
Rin returned the smile while brushing out the wig as she often did to keep the hair from tangling. Of course she noticed the burnt ends. "You'll need to get a new wig or do you want to smell like molten plastic? Or whatever is the contents of this fake hair."
Kagome leaned over to examine the damage Yura's burning hair had done. "I'll see to it tomorrow." She sighed. "My friend should have one to replace it with. Kikyo may have to wait until she can fight again."
Rin put the wig aside, careful not to ruin her work before she turned back to her older sister. "Mind to tell me what exactly happened to Kikyos' hair?" Rin tilted her head to the side.
Kagome sat down on the bed, imitating her sister's pose. "Long or short story?"
"Short. I'm starting to feel tired." Rin yawned, hiding it behind one hand.
"Okay. Long story short, we were attacked by a demoness, who called herself Yura. She made the rest of the group disappear, leaving only Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and Kikyo to fight against her. Yura can command hair, that only Kikyo and Miroku can see, due to our spiritual energy."
Rin cleared her throat.
"Anyway, she used that hair to tie Kikyo down and try to roast her in flames. Fortunately Inuyasha had given her his robe. You know, the red thing he wears for battle."
"Wait," Rin furrowed her brows, "You said Yura shot fire at you. How did you escape?"
Kagome smiled softly. Her heart sped up at the memory of Inuyasha throwing the robe around her shoulders. "The robe is fireproof. Only the strands outside of it were burnt, everything else as you can see was perfectly save."
Rin pursed her lips. "That came in handy I guess."
"It did," Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "But Inuyasha, although probably knowing the abilities of his own robe, nearly flipped when Kikyo was burning. He really seems to care about her."
"Well," Rin huffed, "Sesshomaru simply kept Sara out of the whole deal from the start. Nothing could possibly happen to her."
Kagome furrowed her brows upon hearing the undertone in her sister's voice. Hadn't I known better, I would say she is jealous of Kikyo and her ability to fight…But before Kagome could pursue the thought any longer, some bell in the city struck two in the morning.
"Okay sweetie, time for bed," Kagome shooed Rin to the side so she could lie down next to her. "Early bird catches the worm and tomorrow we need to be perfectly early birds. It's school time."
"My favourite time of the week." The eye roll was audible in Rin's voice. Kagome giggled at her younger sister, flipped off the light and pulled the blanket up around the two of them.
"Good night, Rinnie."
"Good night, Kags."
WITH THE TAISHO CLAN
"Hey Dad! We're back," Inuyasha called into the dark house knowing fully well, that his father was still awake despite the early hour.
"Hey boys. I hope everything went well." A single lamp clicked on, revealing the head of the Taisho family. Sesshomaru simply stared at his father with a blank stare. Inu no Taisho furrowed his brows. "What's the matter Sesshomaru? Did someone step on your moko-moko?"
In every other situation Inuyasha would have laughed at the picture of someone daring to step onto his brothers tail. The possibility of Sesshomaru pouting like a child and straight up killing the offender was very clearly defined. But not today. Not after this fight. Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "Actually, it is not that simple, Dad."
"Oh no, in fact it seems to be quite an act for your sons to properly introduce me," a female voice chimed in.
Before anyone could say a single thing, a woman with light blonde hair styled it into a part ponytail stepped into the light. Two strands framed a face with high cheekbones and huge golden-brown eyes. Rosy lips Inu no Taisho remembered all too well formed a devious smile. Even though her features were that of a mortal at the moment the dog demon would have known that look anywhere and anytime in the world. He narrowed his eyes, lips curling into a slight snarl. "Inu no Kami."
Inu no Kami inclined her head to him in greeting, her smile widening. "Hello my dear. Long time no see, huh?"
"Didn't I say, I would kill you the next time I saw you?" Inu no Taisho growled.
The demoness mocked innocence, taping her chin with manicured fingernails. "I can darkly remember me promising to slaughter that little bitch in front of your eyes. I think that promise even included the murder of her dirty bastard of a son." She quickly glanced at Inuyasha, "No offence intended. Merely the rage speaking." Inu no Kami's attention shifted back towards the fuming dog demon. "So, how do we proceed? Which promise to fulfil first? Mine or yours?"
Sesshomaru stepped forward, preventing his father from lunging at his mother and destroying the house in the process. "I would suggest giving her a room for the night and discussing the issue tomorrow," he said calmly.
Inuyasha looked from his father to the mother of his brother and back. Both of them were ready to fight. Although Inu no Kami's pose wouldn't suggest it as much as Inu no Taisho's did. And so the half demon did something, he rarely did: He agreed with his brother. "I am with Sesshomaru this time. Let's go to sleep and look into the case tomorrow, when we're not exhausted from battle." To stop you from killing each other and destroying the house in the process.
Still growling, Inu no Taisho accepted, stalking off to get back into bed with Izayoi. Inu no Kami was quick to cover her triumph with the mask of indifference Sesshomaru wore so well. The Taisho brothers escorted her to one of the guest rooms farthest from their parents' bedroom. Just in case.
THE NEXT MORNING
The sun was slowly making its way over the roof of the Higurashi shrine. Birds sat in the Holy Tree, singing happily. No one was on the shrine grounds yet. For a moment, even the sounds of the city seemed to fade away. Inside the house, the family was slowly awakening.
"Kagome! Rin," Misses Higurashi called from the kitchen. "Get up girls or you'll be late!"
"Yes Mom," the sisters answered. Rin was busy tying her hair into a high ponytail, while Kagome was still sitting in bed with a sleepy expression on her face. "Kagome, get going or you'll be late again," Rin said as she left the room to brush her teeth.
"Yes, yes." Kagome waved her hand dismissively. "I'm coming. Give me two minutes."
Rin stuck her head back into the room. "Sure. And then I come back and you're sleeping again. Uh uh sis, not this time. Get up, now."
Kagome gave her sister a tired grin.Oh what a pity. Rin knows me all too well…
"Girls, breakfast is ready," mother Higurashi called again.
Rin's head snapped around to look behind her. "Coming," she answered before turning back to her sister. Kagome had lain back in her bed with closed eyes. Oh no young lady. Not with me. Rin narrowed her eyes. You were able to fight until morning then you can go to university as well. And I know just the way to wake you up properly. Just wait and see.
Tiptoeing nearer to the bed, Rin suddenly flung herself on her adopted sister, tickling her without mercy. Kagome's brown eyes flew open with a strangled gasp for air as her body shook with laughter.
"Ri-Rin!" she gasped, giggling and fighting against the hold of the younger girl.
"Yes?" Rin wanted to know without stopping to tickle Kagome.
"S-Stop! I give up! I give up!"
Rin sat back on her heels, observing her victim with calm eyes. Kagome had scrambled away from her, pressing her back to the headboard of the bed, her hair hanging in a mess around her head, still panting from laughing.
"That will not be the end of it, little sister," Kagome told Rin with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "I hope so. Otherwise it would be utterly boring. Now get going or Mom will roast us both for being late." Rin stood and left the room to walk down to the kitchen.
Heaving a sigh, Kagome ran a hand through her hair, taming it with her fingers. She put on her uniform, running her fingers over each button to make sure it was done up right. Don't want to be scolded for making a mistake in this simple thing, Kagome thought to herself. She pulled picked up her bag and made her way to the bathroom.
After brushing her teeth and pulling her hair into a low ponytail to keep it tame until she arrived at campus, Kagome went downstairs.
"Good morning," her mother greeted her with a smile.
"Morning." Kagome smiled back. "Any plans for today?"
"We have a few reservations for tours around the shrine grounds, a birthday party for little Enju with a demonstration of a real Miko. Then I'll go pick up Izayoi for lunch. She called this morning and sounded a bit strange, so I proposed it to her. Maybe she'll tell me what happened." Missis Higurashi looked at her daughters. "And you two? What have you planned for today besides being good girls and going to school?"
"I am taking the dogs out for a little walk as usual. Maybe I'll meet with Sango or Ayame, but I am not sure about that," Kagome said between bits of her toast.
"I have signed up for another shift in the café. Boss needs me to handle all those guys looking for some refreshment after the summer sun," Rin added. She glanced at her watch. "And I need to get going. See you around." Waving the younger sister left the house; unlocked her bike and rode towards her school.
As soon as Rin had secured her bike with a small heart-shaped lock, a girl dropped down from a nearby tree. Her short bluish-white hair fell down onto her shoulders, hiding the small bat-shaped ears that marked her as a hanyo, from view. The school uniform was flawless despite the girl waiting up in a tree for Rin to arrive.
"Rin!" she exclaimed and hugged the other teenager close to her.
"Shiori." Rin hugged her friend back. "Didn't know you're a half demon."
The girl's violet eyes widened in shock. Panicked, she felt for her ears beneath the hair to find them slightly longer and higher than human ears would be. "Oh no," Shiori gasped. "Mom will be sad to find out I forgot the necklace. And it's an heirloom from my father!"
"You mean this here?" Rin pulled a leather necklace with one single red glowing pearl in the centre of it from her friend's bag. Shiori clasped her hands together in awe before snatching the necklace away from Rin's grasp and pulling it over her head.
Only then the girl paused to stare at her friend. Rin saw the wheels in her head turning, making connections and posing questions. "How do you know what I am? Mortals usually mistake my ears for a trick of their sight. Humans are not supposed to see them and believe in them."
Rin giggled. "Well, what can I say? I am no mere mortal." She winked and went into the school building. Shiori and I have the whole day to sort this out. So why make it easy for her, Rin thought with a grin plastered on her lips. Besides, that girl is clever as hell. She's bound to find out about it sooner or later.
"Wait! Rin," Shiori called after her friend. "How do you know?"
Rin spun around herself in one quick turn, shouting at the newly found-out half demon to "Figure it out."
Shiori cursed under her breath as she ran after Rin towards their lockers.
"Playing hide and seek again?"
Rin looked up to find a girl leaning against the locker next to hers. Rin stuck out her tongue at the other girl. In response, the younger teenager flipped her ink black hair over her shoulder. "You are lucky, my big brothers aren't in school anymore," she told Rin with a scrutinizing look of her brown-reddish eyes. Her bracelets jingled as she shoved her locker close. Rin didn't comment, waiting for the next reaction. But the girl merely shook her hair again so her blood red earrings were hidden behind the curtain of locks. Before she could walk off to class however, Shiori had caught up with them.
"Soten, wait! She knows it!"
The girl looked back over her shoulder at Shiori. "What?" she simply asked.
Shiori stopped close behind Rin, efficiently caging her in between her and Soten. Oh man, now I am going to have to tell them even before class starts…Rin bit her lip. And here I was hoping to keep the suspense up until lunch break.
"Rin knows about demons," Shiori rushed to say.
Soten turned back around. Her eyes gleamed with the temper most people feared to get in the way of. "How?"
"Well, I was hoping to keep the information until at least lunch and then spill it bit by bit, but if you're already at it, then I might as well tell you right now," Rin babbled. "I mean, it'll take a while. I am not even sure, I'll get this finished before school starts, but hey, I can try. I'll seriously try."
"Rin."
"Hn?"
"Care to get to the point?" Soten glared at her friend.
"Of course. Well, as it turned out my sister Kagome got attacked by a crazy demon lady and Inuyasha, the guy who was really mean to her in High School, saved her. Only, he was in his true appearance as an Inu Hanyo. So Kagome found out about them and as I was visiting Taisho mansion at the time, I learned as well. Turns out Sesshomaru Taisho is the hero, who saved me from the fire all those years ago."
"And that's it?" Soten looked disappointed. "This is the big secret you had and wanted to spill bit by bit? Well, I don't see any advantage in spilling it bit by bit, as it is only one bit."
"Absolutely right," Rin said. "I haven't even told you half of the adventures my sister has stumbled upon after these findings. I made a long story short."
Shiori stopped in walking to the classroom. "Wait… Did you say Sesshomaru Taisho rescued you?" Rin scratched the back of her head. Why does she come back to this? She should have already figured this out as I told her about my rescue… She was one of the first to believe me.
"Um, yes. Sesshomaru Taisho saved my life from the fire." Rin nodded her head. Soten stared at the side of her head while Shiori's mouth was gaping like a fish on land. It Rin feel really uncomfortable. What is it? Is something wrong with me knowing Sesshomaru Taisho? Why are they staring like this?
Soten was the first to recover. She grabbed Shiori by her wrist and pulled the flushed teenager along with them. "Rin, you do know, that the Taisho Clan is one of the most powerful Clans among demonkind?" Despite her concealment charm the eyes of the girl flashed red for one second. "Not even my Thunderdemon Tribe can live up to them. We are great warriors but the Inu no Taisho was able to defeat my ancestors several times until they made a contract to help each other out in times of war." Soten was talking quickly and so lowly Rin nearly missed half of it. One thing she got, however. Her friends were both demons. Rin's eyes widened with every word her friends told her. I didn't know Soten was a Thunderdemon, but that certainly explains her temper. Calm before a storm and then all lightning and thunder. How could I miss this?
"Sesshomaru Taisho is bound to be the most powerful demon only overpowered by his own father. Inu no Taisho is sire to two very powerful beings. His first mate Inu no Kami was chosen for him due to her own power. However she was not his soul mate but one little human," Shiori filled in in the same hushed manner. "Izayoi has some power of her own that bestowed Inuyasha Taisho with quite an amount of might himself, even if he cannot surpass his father and brother. He is able to defeat most of the demons of other Clans."
Rin blinked rapidly, trying to wrap her head around the new information. Why didn't they tell us the Taisho family was this powerful. I mean, yeah, they own a mansion and Izayoi basically told us she was Lady of the West, but then again that could be some title only for the sake of a title… Sesshomaru may be strong even Inuyasha has some tricks up his sleeve, but this? This is just… Wow.
Rin didn't even notice when Soten broke away from them to go to her own class. Shiori ended up dragging Rin all the way to their seat in the back of the classroom and force her to take a seat next to her.
WITH KAGOME
It was already half way through the lunch break as Kagome finally found whom she was looking for. A guy in a tight pink t-shirt, a purple scarf with a scale pattern loosely thrown around his neck. He combined it with a leather jacket and tight jeans. Waving above his head at Kagome he jogged towards her.
"Darling, so nice to see you." He pulled Kagome into a hug.
Laughing, she returned the gesture, shooting a glance at the long hair of her friend. Today it was styled into a bun with grey-violet pearls woven into it, his bangs framing his face. "Nice hairdo, Jakotsu," Kagome complimented.
"Thank you, Darling." Jakotsu nearly hopped up and down with excitement. "I really liked the pearls. I found it in one of these magazines. It's harder to pull off than it looks."
"No problem and I bet it is. It looks really intricate," Kagome giggled. He is the only guy I know, who can do these things without feeling uncomfortable. I couldn't ask for a better friend.
"How can I help you today, Darling?" Jakotsu wanted to know. "Shall I do some fancy hairstyling or make-up?"
Kagome pulled forth the wig out of her bag. With a rueful smile, she showed him the burnt ends. "I think I need a new one…"
Jakotsu's eyes widened at the sight of it. The surprise quickly turned into a burning glare as he looked up. Kagome wanted to draw back and hide from his scolding. "How many did you ruin in these past months?"
Kagome lowered her gaze to the ground, hoping to avoid his stare. "Um… I don't know?"
"But I know fully well. I have five black wigs. Every single one of which you have ruined one or other way at least once. Then you bring them back to me and ask for another. What the hell are you doing with them anyway?" Jakotsu towered over Kagome.
Fortunately, before she had to answer, a new voice interrupted their little staring contest. "Oi dog boy!"
Heaving a sigh of relief, Kagome stepped back from her friend. Sliding the wig back into its bag before Inuyasha could see it, she turned around. "What is it wench?" she called back.
"My mother sent me to tell you that Momoka and Caleb will be with her and your Mom for lunch and you should pick them up at the café. She said you'd know which one." Inuyasha's gaze fell onto Jakotsu and his eyes widened. "Oh no," he breathed a heartbeat before Jakotsu sprung into action.
"Inu-boo, sweetheart!" he exclaimed while throwing his arms into the air. With two long strides Jakotsu was in front of the disguised half demon even though Inuyasha tried to back away as quickly as possible without outright running away.
"H-Hey Jakotsu," Inuyasha said lamely.
"Sweetheart!" Squealing Jakotsu flung himself at the half demon. Kagome laughed at the hilarious expression Inuyasha wore in this moment. Had I known he looks as if he's going to die or dissolve into thin air any moment now – I would have introduced him to Jakotsu a lot sooner! This is so good, I wish I hadn't forgotten my phone at home to take a picture of this.
Inuyasha stumbled away from Jakotsu as soon as he was able to disentangle himself from the other male. "I definitely prefer your brothers over you," he growled, sliding behind Kagome's back. Even though he was taller than her and her small figure did nothing to hide him from the hungry eyes of Jakotsu.
"Oh, you're so cute when you pout Inu-boo." Jakotsu laid a hand over his heart.
"Don't provoke our little wench," Kagome winked at her best friend, "You wouldn't want her wrath, trust me."
Hearing the growling Inuyasha, she turned around and ruffled the hair where his puppy ears would be without his concealment charm. Then she touched his necklace. "I really like this jewellery you're wearing. Brings across this point of the unbeatable man. Don't you think Jakotsu?" Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock. He obviously hadn't thought she would address his concealment charm without a care in the world.
Jakotsu blinked rapidly. His mouth fell open, then closed and opened again without a sound coming out. "How do you know?" he wanted to know once he finally found his voice.
Oh? So Jakotsu knows about Inuyasha's secret identity. Let's see what else he knows.
With the sweetest smile Kagome turned to look at Inuyasha. "I see you already know my friend Jakotsu? How come? Family business?" Her sly smirk made Inuyasha step back and nearly stumble over her bag.
"So you know?" Jakotsu asked her interested. For once he was completely serious, which was rare with the fun-loving and care-free Jakotsu.
Kagome gave him another smirk. "What do you mean? Our little wench is simply fond of dogs."
Jakotsu laughed out loud at this. "I never knew you had this naughty side, Darling. You should use it more often, it would be a lot more fun that way. And considering, you have one very influential family at hand."
Kagome grinned. "Yeah, I try my best."
WITH RIN
The day flew by without Rin really noticing it. Her mind still tried to wrap itself around the thought of Sesshomaru being the offspring of one of the most influential families in demon society. Sure, they were living in a mansion with an indoor pool but who was Rin to judge? She was living at a shrine but only because it was handed down from generation to generation. Sesshomaru is not only heir to the Western Lands, but also next in line to become the most powerful demon. A Demon Lord. A true Lord.
"Yo, Rin," Soten called. "Earth to Rin. Rin, please answer us."
Coming back into reality she shied away as the waving hand in front of her face startled her. "Huh?" was the first – and very intelligent sounding – thing that came to mind. Shiori giggled at her puzzled look, as if trying to remember, where she was. "We're still at school," Shiori informed Rin.
"That's the problem," Soten added.
Rin spared a glance at her wristwatch. "Oh no," she moaned. "I'm going to be late to work!"
Soten looked at her phone and back up at Rin. "My driver is here. Maybe he'll take you to the café."
"Thank y-"
"If you give me some ice cream for free."
"Okay."
"Can I come with you?" Shiori wanted to know.
"Why? Because I am offering free ice?" Rin raised an eyebrow at her. The girl had the decency to blush. Soten just rolled her eyes. "Then come. Koryu won't be waiting forever."
Both girls nodded and followed Soten out of the school building. She walked straight past the parking lot, which highly confused her followers. Rin looked back over her shoulder. Didn't she say her driver would pick her up? Where did he park then? Wouldn't it be quicker to use the parking lot?
Her questions were answered, as the three girls walked into a small group of trees at the border of school property. There, Soten stopped and whistled as if calling a dog to come back.
Instantly, the flapping of wings could be heard and a rather small red dragon with four horns, legs and a white beard appeared out of the trees. "Miss Soten. How may I be of service?" a squeaking voice wanted to know and the dragon bowed to her.
"My friend has to get to her job on time," Soten said matter-of-factly, motioning towards Rin. The dragon, Rin thought it had to be Koryu, looked at her.
As soon as he sniffed the air, his eyes widened in surprise. "Miss Soten. She is human. Why didn't you warn me? Now we'll have to kill her to keep her from spilling our secret!"
Rin and Shiori gasped in shock. What? Is that why I haven't met any other friendly demons so far? Because they kill every mortal, which catches them by surprise and they don't care enough to consider that they could still keep their existence hidden? How terrible!
However, Soten merely waved her hand in dismissal. "If you have to do it, then do it Kuryo. I only want you to remember one thing: She is under the protection of Sesshomaru Taisho. So do your worst."
At the last part the dragon's eyes widened in shock. "S-Sesshomaru Taisho? The Sesshomaru Taisho, son of the Inu no Taisho, heir to the Inu Clan?"
Soten shrugged, examining her fingernails in a display of disinterest. "Yes. Why do you ask? I thought you had to kill the human to keep our secret secret?"
"Uh," the dragon scratched himself behind his ear plate. "I think we can make an exception." With a small bow in Rin's direction Kuryo said: "I beg your pardon, Miss. I didn't know you were part of the Taisho family."
Rin furrowed her brows at this display of submission. "Please call me Rin, for I am no Miss. And I am not part of the Taisho family. It is only by accident that I know Sesshomaru Taisho. He saved me from death as I was younger."
"And why do you think he saved you?" Kuryo tilted his head to the side. "That is something I have pondered for a long time," Shiori chimed in, as if just remembering she had a voice of her own. "Maybe he had a rare moment of emotionality or you spiked his interest by your pure soul-"
"Or it was something in the food he ate that day." Soten rolled her eyes at the romantic suggestions.
"That's so typical Soten. Let me guess: Demons don't feel like humans, they have no emotion, if they are as strong as Sesshomaru or Inu no Taisho. Then answer me one simple question. If they indeed have no emotion, how did Inu no Taisho mate with Izayoi?" Shiori in turn crossed her arms over her chest.
"I don't mean to interrupt you," Rin spoke up, "But I really need to get to work. Now, if you know what I mean." Although her face didn't show it, this argument between her friends gave her new things she had to figure out. That's what I wondered as well. Why did he save me? Now more than ever it seems strange for a highly prestigious demon to rescue a human child. I'll probably have to ask Sesshomaru or Kagome about it. Either way, I need to find out.
Soten turned back to Kuryo. "I don't think you'll be able to transport them like that, so transform into a real dragon." It seemed, as if Kuryo blushed at that comment, but transformed nevertheless.
It was a mesmerizing sight. Neither Rin nor Shiori could avert their eyes, as the cute little dragon changed. His whole body trembled with the elongating bones, cracking joints and stretching wings. The snout grew in size, growing longer and thinner to the muzzle with thinner nostrils covered in red glowing tiny scales. It emphasised the razor sharp fangs, which grew over the lower lip as long as a forearm. The formerly tiny four horns spiralled out of the skull with branches, each ending in a sharp dagger. Between the horns flowed a long yellow-golden mane, matching the thin beard. Kuryo's underbelly had wide lighter coloured scales; the legs were longer, as thick as a small tree with three toes curling into long claws. The dragon flapped his large bat-like wings a few times to keep from falling before folding them neatly to his back. In this form Kuryo had to hunch his back to keep his long tail, with scales playing into the orange tone, ending in a white puff of his mane, hidden in the trees. His whole body tried to coil like a snake. He heaved a deep sigh. Small puffs of smoke escaped his nostrils.
"Done?" Soten asked, not really waiting for an answer, as she hopped into the air. Her shoes flapped with small wings at the heels.
"You can fly?" Shiori wondered.
"My brothers can fly on clouds or the wheels on their feet. These shoes were a present they gave me to ensure I am not earth-bound either. Now, do you want to be on time, or do you want to keep gaping at Kuryo, Rin?"
Without answering, Rin made her way to the side of the red, orange and yellow dragon. She climbed onto his back and grabbed a hold of his long mane. "Ready when you are," she said to Soten.
The Thunderdemon nodded her acknowledgement. "Shiori, if you want free ice, then get on his back. Come or stay, I don't care, but I want to go now." Shiori stared at the dragon one more time and then got on the back behind Rin, grabbing onto her friend's middle to hold on.
"Up we go," the dragon's deep voice purred.
With no further warning, Kuryo pushed off the ground and spiralled his massive body into the air.
Shiroi jerked forward to grab Rin's waist even tighter. "Don't tell me you're afraid," Soten taunted, as she flew next to them.
Shiori shook her head. "Why should I be afraid? We are only some hundred metres above the ground." Soten laughed as she whirled around Kuryo with lightning speed. Obviously she had no problem with heights. But then again she was a Thunderdemon and had flying shoes. I wonder, if this is how Soten goes back home every day? Come to think of it, I never saw her being driven to or from school in the years I know her. The view sure is amazing. And the fly is fast as well…
Rin never worried about heights. On the one hand she had been rescued from her burning home by Sesshomaru flying her to the ground, on the other hand she trusted Soten to know what she was doing with her friends.
"Careful, we're going down now," Kuryo warned and Rin automatically tightened her grip on the mane of the dragon. The descend from the sky was a lot faster, as the dragon simply folded his wings to his body for most of the time and fell towards the ground like a rock. Shiroi screamed in horror, but the sound was ripped from her lips by the wind. Soten fell next to them; head first and grinning like a madwoman.
This is her world. The world of the howling wind and ruffling hair, Rin realised, as she ducked deeper into the neck of the dragon to protect her eyes from the wind. Nothing can take this from her. Not ever.
The paws of the dragon hit the ground, his body shuddering with the impact. Rin and Shiori hastily climbed down. "Thank you," they both said in unison and bowed.
Without waiting for a response, Rin spun around and ran towards the café to get to work. They'll follow me soon enough. They want their treat, I bet.
In truth, Shiori hurried after Rin as soon as she had recovered from her near-death experience and convinced her lunch to stay down. She was part bat demon but bats flew way slower than a dragon – and with less free-falling towards the ground. "Remind me to never ask you for a ride again," she said to Soten, who in turn just grinned at her. "I am serious. My dad may have been able to fly, but this is definitely not my style."
"You're so cute, when you try to be all grown up," Soten said offhandedly. She stroked the wings at her heels and they receded back into the shoe. "Now, let's get this ice, shall we?" Shiori sighed but nodded nevertheless. "Rin won't wait forever."