Sorry to all of you who read the first version of this. I had some computer trouble, and ended up uploading the original, unedited version instead ot the newer one. This is the chapter I ment to post, but I had some computer trouble, and it got messed up. This actually has a much better dragon "Class" System, and a much clearer explanation of just about everything! Also, I'm still scheduled to usher at my brother's wedding on Saturday, and we leave for Virginia either on Wednesday, or Thursday. If it's Thursday, then I'll probably get another chapter up, but I've got plans on Tuesday, so don't hold you're breath… unless, you know… you can hold it for a really long time… like… a week… or so… maybe a week and a day… or a week and two, at the max… anywho, toodles!

**

Sango and Miroku leaned forward, staring intently at Atma. The dragon's eyes were closed, and she was concentrating, spreading her awareness over the desert… searching.

            "Hove you found him?" Sango asked finally.

            Atma's hand whipped, silencing her.

            Sango opened her mouth, then closed again, choosing to remain silent.

            Atma's eyes closed tighter, seeing beyond what anyone else could, then snapped open. "He's not in the desert." She said. "but I've called for backup."

            Miroku raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "Backup?" He asked.

            The was a slight thud in the sand behind them, and a smooth, young masculine voice rang out. "You called for me, mistress?"

            Sango's eyes widened, and she whirled around.

            Kohaku rose out of his crouch, and smiled slightly. "I came as soon as you called." He said good naturedly.

            Sango's eyes widened, and she stumbled back. "Kohaku?" She asked, her heart quickening.

            Kohaku turned to her, and smiled, then back to Atma. "Mistress." He said formally. "Everyone says that I should know this girl, yet I do not."

            Sango's eyes widened, and she stumbled back. He… didn't know her? She was his sister! How could he not know her?

            Atma stood up, and cracked her knuckles. "She's you're sister." She said dismissively.

            Kohaku's eyes widened, and he turned instantly towards Sango, taking in her hurt expression. He suddenly looked down to his feet, awkwardly.

            Sango slowly turned a steely glance towards Atma. The dragon didn't seem to notice. "Further more!" She continued. "You are no longer a dragoon under my service."

            Kohaku's eyes widened visibly. "You no longer wish for my services?" he said, somewhat haltingly.

            Atma grinned at him. "Well, you're a really good dragoon, but Sango's probably gonna rip me to shreds, dragon or not, if I don't give you up." She said, waving her hand nonchalantly.

            Sango rose carefully to her feet, still glaring at Atma, but nodded slightly in acceptance.

            Atma nodded, and grinned. "Now, Kohaku."

            Kohaku instinctively bobbed his head. "Yes Mistress?" He intoned.

            Atma smiled at him, walked over, and ruffled his hair. "Okay, for starters, I'm not you're mistress. Next, do you know where the little kitsune is?"

            Kohaku suddenly stood up, looking very nervous, but didn't answer.

            Atma's smile increased. "Kohaku…" She said in a lethal, sugary voice.

            "………" Kohaku said softly.

            Atma's smile increased even more. "What?" She asked, one of her elfin ears twitching. "I didn't hear you."

            "He wandered into Morkleb's territory."

            Atma nodded slowly. "Right." She said with a sigh.

            Sango and Miroku exchanged confused glances.

            "Umm…" Miroku began. "Who is Morkleb?"

            Atma gave them an odd look, then turned to the other dragons. "You, get back to you're territories." She commanded, her normally goofy voice suddenly hard as steel. IT was a voice that you couldn't disobey. Tiamet and Gelledius instantly nodded. Aaron ran over to Tiamet, and the little dragon snapped her fingers, and the two disappeared in a blast of fire.

            "Showoff." Gelledius grumbled as his large wings flapped once, and carried him high into the sky.

            Atma nodded, and turned around. "Well, this is just a fine load of crappiness." She said, pouting.

            "Who, dare we ask, is Morkleb?" Miroku voiced again.

            Atma sighed, and gestured for them to sit. Kitty grinned, and plopped down beside them. "I heard some stuff about him from Khellendros, but never the whole tale."

            Atma sighed, and straitened her back. "First of all, you all know that the leader of the dragons is the Ancient Wyrm, do you not?"

            Kitty nodded. "Yes, the strongest of all dragons!" She said cheerfully.

            Atma held out a finger, silencing her. "Not quite." She said. "The ancient wyrm is the dragon who best fits the needs of the dragon race, not necessarily the one that is strongest."

            Miroku mused for a moment. "But wouldn't the strongest dragon be the one to lead?"

            Atma smiled patiently at him. "I am not the strongest dragon, yet I am the ancient wyrm."

            Miroku paused for a moment. "Yes… Vadise is stronger than you." She murmured. "But she let you take the title."

            Atma looked at him slightly amused. "Houshi," She said. "Ancient wyrm is not a title, it is…" She paused, searching for a word. "… A state of being." She said. "Not really you're species, but what you are."

            Miroku and Sango looked at her uncomprehendingly. She sighed. "Well, take Kagome for example. She is a Miko."

            Sango and Miroku nodded in unison.

            Atma smiled at them. "She cannot stop being a Miko, and she would easily recognize another miko, wouldn't she? Well, it is the same with being an ancient wyrm. There can be only one, and for a while, Vadise was that one. However, at some point, I became the ancient wyrm, and she wasn't any longer."

            Sango's eyebrows perked. "Just like that?"

            Atma nodded. "She recognized that I was the leader now, and stepped down for the good of the race." She said happily. "However, Vadise was always an odd one, and I think that she was rather relieved to be gone. She was a leader in very… troubled times."

            Miroku nodded. "I think I understand…" He said. "So, you dragon's do not have classes, so much as simply instincts of each person's roll?"

            Atma nodded, pleased. "Yes. For a while, we didn't even call the roll anything, it was just sort of there."

            Sango raised an eyebrow. "But… "She said. "What if someone didn't listen to their instinct, and simply try to take over?"

            Atma chuckled. "Well, that doesn't happen to often. Dragons aren't really naturally selfish, and most often, following the one who is the "Ancient wyrm" is the best course of action for anybody. However, there are a few who attempt to go against the instinct."

            Miroku nodded. "And one of them was Morkleb."

            Atma nodded. "Sorry, out of cookies, but that's right." She said. "Historically, there are three dragons that went against instinct." She said. "The first was quite a while ago. And that is one you know very well."

            Sango and Miroku looked at each other. "Us?" The former asked.

            Atma nodded. "You remember the story of the Shikon Jewel, do you not?"

            Miroku nodded. "The priestess Midoriko fought off a very powerful youkai. However, in the end, it proved too strong, and their souls merged into a single jewel, still fighting today." He said.

            Atma chuckled. "Young man, I knew Midoriko personally and there is not a youkai alive who could match her. No, Midoriko fought with one of the most powerful dragons in history."

            Miroku thought for a moment, and then nodded. "So, that is why it is so powerful." He said.

            Atma nodded. "The second, was Ryuukotsusei, who was actually supposed to act as the leader, but instead went to held a Chinese youkai named Hyoga invade mainland Japan."

            Sango nodded. "And he is the one who struck the killing blow on InuTaisho." She finished.

            Atma's eyes suddenly shut tight, and she growled slightly. "Yes…" She said eventually.

            Miroku slowly turned to Sango and shook his head. "No." He mouthed.

            Sango's eyes twitched from Atma to Miroku, and idly wondered what the dragon's connection to InuTaisho was. She obviously knew him, but how well, and on what grounds?

            Atma cleared her throat suddenly, interruption her thoughts. "Anyway, and the third was Morkleb, who struck right when Vadise left, trying to cease power for himself." She chuckled bitterly. "I was weaker then, but then again, so was he. He tried to take power, and I led several dragons to defeat him."

            Miroku's eyebrows perked. "But why did you leave him alive?" He asked.

            Atma chuckled. "Who said we won?" She asked. "Morkleb was very strong, and had the uncanny talent to be able to combine his spiritual powers with his magical and physical strength better that Vadise herself was able to. He wiped us out, all except for me, Tiamet, and Gelledius, all of whom you've met." She said. "I had to go crawling to Vadise, and beg her to help…" She said, shame beginning to cloud her voice.

            "But I was surprised when I actually met Vadise." She said, laughing slightly. "She was odd, and I discovered that we had something very special in common."

            Miroku looked up. "What was that?" HE asked.

            Atma shook her head. "It is between me and her." She said. "However, she agreed to help, and then imprisoned the rouge dragon to the southern most tip of the island."

            Miroku thought for a moment, "But left him there, for you to dispose of." He said.

            Atma nodded. "It was my responsibility, and the moment a leader starts relying on other people to do everything, is the day her downfall starts. You should have support, and you're people's love, but you should also be strong enough to solve problems on your own."

            Miroku nodded. "The philosophy of a great leader." He said.

            Atma nodded happily. "Yep." She said. "However, at the same time, you should be able to ask for a little help, here and there." She said suggestively.

            Miroku and Sango exchanged knowing glances. "Right, and you want us to help you get rid of this little problem, while at the same time getting Shippo back, hmm?" She asked.

            Atma nodded happily. "And it would be a great way to get to know your brother!" She said cheerfully. "I apologize for whipping his memories, but he was slightly suicidal when I found him, and a dead dragoon doesn't really make a good brother, does it?"

            Sango glanced up at Kohaku.

            Kohaku turned to her. "You are to be my new mistress?" He asked.

            Atma rolled her eyes. "He never really got the hang of the informal thing." She said. "You're probably better at that than I am, so try to get him back to the way he was." She rubbed the back of her head slightly. "I'm afraid his memory will never fully come back. Only bits and pieces here and there." She said.

            With that, the leader of the dragon race turned east. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, pack you're bags, cause were gonna go kill ourselves a dragon!" She declared cheerfully.