Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha. I do own any characters that I made up. Hopefully I will own Sesshoumaru one day.*sigh*Wishful thinking. (+)=Horse thought-speaking (~)=Person thought-speaking

Kiniro Sakura

Chapter Twenty: The Horse Lord

Sakura walked along the rows and rows of flowers. She smiled when she saw someone in the distance. She ran over to the figure and gasped. Instead of her mother or Midori, Naraku stood. He smirked at her as she backed up. He walked towards her slowly.

"Why are you backing up, Lady Sakura? Do you not want to see me?" He asked and continued forwards. Sakura tripped over a rock and fell on her behind. She nearly screamed when she saw that Naraku was right next to her and holding her neck.

"What do you want and what have you done to my family?" Sakura asked shakily. Naraku let out one of his annoying laughs as he tightened his grip around her neck. She gasped for air and struggled.

"Don't bother struggling. It will do you no good. And as for your questions, I will only answer one of them. I have revived your parents as well as your brothers and sisters. I have ordered them to kill you. They will strike soon as you are weak with the poison." He said and stood up. Sakura held her throat and took deep breaths.

"I'm afraid that your plan will go to waist, Naraku. My family will not kill their own daughter." She said and glared at him. Naraku just laughed again.

"They will kill you, just wait and see. I have erased their memories. Remember that dream? That is what I plan on in the future. Your parents will kill all of your friends and I will get to play with you before killing you. That is, unless you find a mate but I doubt that will happen." He hissed the last part. Sakura gulped and backed up. The smile that Naraku sent towards her made her skin crawl.

"Why don't we try that dream again? I absolutely loved the way you screamed while that was happening." He said and walked towards her again. This time she really did scream. Everything became blurry and Naraku scowled at her before fading away.

*End of Dream*

Sakura looked up into the worried eyes of Sesshoumaru, Tsuki, Oshika, Umi, and Suzuran. Keshi was relighting the fire and Rin was still asleep. Hokiboshi was nowhere to be seen and Jaken still hadn't come back. She realized that she was sitting on Sesshoumaru's lap. She blushed and quickly sat up. But that proved to be worse for her condition. She held her head and winced. Umi held a cold cloth to her forehead while Sesshoumaru wrapped his tail around her so she would be steady.

"What's wrong? We woke up when you screamed." Suzuran asked anxiously. Sakura shook her head while gazing into the surrounding forest.

"N-Naraku was in the dream. He told me that my previous dream was what he was planning on happening." When she said the last part Sesshoumaru's tail tightened around her waist and she could hear a faint growl in his throat. Everyone looked at Sesshoumaru quizzically before turning their attention back to Sakura who was breathing heavily. Umi took the cloth and through it at Keshi.

"Bring some cold water and make sure that this is kept wet and cold." She commanded. Keshi nodded and ran off towards a stream that was near the hotsprings that the girls had visited earlier. Sakura took a deep breath before continuing.

"In my last dream, Naraku had my family kill all of you and then he killed them. He moved on to me but instead of killing me, he raped me." She said quietly. Suzuran was growling and Umi had a pitying look on her face.

"But that was just a dream, right?" Tsuki asked. Sakura shook her head.

"Naraku told me tonight that that dream was what he planned on doing. He told me that he had fully revived my family and he ordered them to kill me. Then he advanced upon me again and said that he was going to show me my previous dream to have it etched into my memory. That is when I screamed and woke up." Sakura finished. Everyone was quiet until a loud yawn from Rin startled them. Rin looked over at the adults, shrugged and went back to sleep. Keshi came back a few minutes later with Jaken trailing behind him. Jaken was carrying a large bucket of water and Keshi was carrying the cold cloth. Umi took it and put it to Sakura's forehead again. Sakura sighed and closed her eyes.

"Suzuran, what time is it?" She asked sleepily. Suzuran looked at the sky.

"We have about four more hours before dawn. We should get moving in two or three." She said and lay back down under her tree. Tsuki and Keshi did the same but Umi stayed up a while longer taking care of Sakura. After a few more minutes Sesshoumaru stopped Umi.

"You need to rest if we are going to travel tomorrow. I will look after Sakura." He said in a don't-disobey-me voice. Umi nodded and fell back asleep next to Rin and Hokiboshi, who had returned from wherever he was. Jaken was sleeping on a rock and snoring quiet loudly. Sesshoumaru leaned back against the tree and pulled Sakura close to him. He sighed and put his head against Sakura's.

"I will protect you from Naraku." He said quietly.

"Thank you, Fluffy-chan." Sakura said and turned around so she was facing Sesshoumaru.

"Fluffy-chan?" He asked. Sakura smiled and nodded.

"That is your nickname from me. But don't worry, I won't call you it in public unless I am teasing you." She said and kissed him on his nose. He blinked at her and she giggled.

"Why did you kiss me? I thought I already got my kiss. But I wouldn't mind another one." He said quietly. Sakura heard him and looked him in the eyes. He stared back at her. Finally he blinked and she chuckled.

"I win. Now you won't get a kiss from me until tomorrow." She said and was about to turn around back Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrists.

"Please? Just a little one?" He teased. Sakura poked his nose and he sneezed.

"Nope. I won the staring contest so you'll just have to wait until tomorrow. Maybe I'll give you one in the morning before we break camp." She yawned and turned around. She leaned back into his chest. She closed her eyes as Sesshoumaru did the same.

"Goodnight, Sesshoumaru." Sakura whispered and fell into a dream-filled sleep of her parents. A smile touched Sesshoumaru's lip as he gently kissed her on the head.

"Goodnight and sweet dreams, my little Kitsune." He said as he too, fell into a dream-filled sleep. Suzuran smirked as she watched Sesshoumaru and Sakura's little talk. I knew those two would fall for each other. Now, if there was only someone for me. She thought as she sighed and closed her eyes again. She dreamed of her family and her past with Sakura. Suddenly her dreams were filled with a mysterious wolf demon that Sakura thought was familiar but couldn't place his name. Now he is cute.

*Next Day*

Sakura stretched as she stood up. Her tails waving behind her in the breeze. She walked over to the stream and took a drink of water. She froze when she saw the bushes moving. Crap! I left my sword with Fluffy-chan. She thought and got into a battle stance. She watched in awe as a large, silvery-white horse stepped out of the shadows.

+Are you Lady Sakura+ The horse asked her with thought-speak. She just nodded. The horse nodded too before he crossed the stream and was now at eye-level with Sakura.

+I am Kashikoi Uma or Kashi for short. I am one of the Lords of the horses as well as the horse demons. I have come asking for your assistance.+ He asked Sakura with a short bow. She returned the bow before answering.

~What is it that you require my help with?~ She asked.

+We are worried that a war will start up within these lands and the mares do not want the young colts and fillies apart of it. We are worried that humans and demons alike will take the horses. We are not too worried about the horse demons, they can take care of themselves. But lately humans and a few demons have been sneaking into our valley, our home, and stealing some of the young stallions and mares. A few of our best were taken just last night. I had a dream, a vision you would say, and Lady Midori said that a woman named Sakura could help us get back the horses and protect us. So will you help us? In return for your help we will join up with you in the upcoming war and I will send two of our best mounts with you to help you on your journey.+

~I will help, and I will only need one of your mounts. We have a human filly that is traveling with us and she gets tired often. If she rode one of the mounts things would go a lot quicker for us. What do you say? And who are the other Lords and Ladies?~ Sakura said after thinking a bit. Kashi nodded his head and whinnied. A young chestnut stallion came out of the branches. He bowed to Kashi and then to Sakura.

#What did you call me here for, Lord Kashikoi?# The chestnut asked. For a few minutes the two talked inside their minds as Sakura watched them. Finally the Chestnut nodded and Kashi turned to her.

+This is Kuro Riku. You may call him Kuro for short. I have to get back to the valley so he will be leading you to our home as I don't think that you can get through the pass without his help. I would have taken you but he has informed me that six humans and a lizard hanyou have just taken two fillies and mare. I have given you a link in your mind so that you can talk to Kuro. You may also transfer this same link to Lord Sesshoumaru and the female wolf demon. Be careful and good luck!+ After he had said those last few words he galloped off into the sunrise, heading towards the South. Sakura and Kuro watched him go before the two of them walked back to camp after Sakura had taken one last drink of water. When she got back to camp she noticed that Sesshoumaru and Suzuran were the only ones up. They were sitting in silence while staring at the burning embers of the fire. Sesshoumaru's head shot up and he narrowed his eyes when Kuro had come into the clearing. Suzuran had turned around also and had her hand on the hilt of her sword. Sakura held up a hand and Kuro pawed the ground.

"I just had a chat with Lord Kashikoi Uma, one of the Lords of the horses and horse demons. He has asked for my help in saving the horses that are being taken from his home and in return he will lend us one of his best mounts to travel and fight with. For now Kuro Riku will be leading us to the valley where the horses live. I have agreed to help." She said and stared at the two by the fire. Sesshoumaru nodded. Suzuran hesitated but at Sakura's stern glare, she nodded as well. Sakura smiled happily. By now everyone else was up. They all stared at the chestnut horse.

"Everyone, this is Kuro Riku and he is going to help us." Sakura explained to the group what she had just told Sesshoumaru and Suzuran. When she was done introducing everyone, she walked over to where Suzuran was standing. She beckoned Sesshoumaru over as well.

"Lord Kashi has given me a link to talk to the horses and he wanted me to give you and Sesshoumaru the links as well. Now, close your eyes and when I touch your forehead you will feel a slight shock but that is all." Sakura explained and waited for the two to agree. She lightly touched each of their foreheads and concentrated. A pale blue light came out of her fingers and dissolved into Sesshoumaru and Suzuran's heads. A few seconds later Sakura was done and sat down panting. Suzuran looked at her weirdly before going off to talk to Kuro to see if the link worked. Sesshoumaru sat down next to Sakura.

"Sheesh! I didn't know that it would be that tiring!" She exclaimed. Sesshoumaru leaned down to her ear.

"When do I get my kiss?" He whispered, his lips barely brushing her earlobe. Sakura shivered.

"Maybe I'll give you one at lunch break. Now, we have to get going. It is already two hours past sunrise." Sakura said and stood up. Sesshoumaru followed after her and the group set out. A few people noticed how close Sesshoumaru was standing to Sakura but decided not to comment on it. They soon arrived at village with an evil aura surrounding it.

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I thought this chapter was pretty good. The horse's important parts will come up in later chapters. Please review! Animechick8