C/N: Okay, first of all.....SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!! I can't believe it's been almost 4 months since I last updated this! From now on, I'm not making any more promises as far as posting, because I seem to be posting deficient. However, I am hoping that from now on I can get 1 chapter out a week. Does that sound good? I'll find a way to make up for all those wasted months! I promise!

Disclaimer: I FINALLY REMEMBERED!!! In short, I don't own nuthin' that's already owned....other than the stuff thet belongs to me....but that doesn't count!!

Tears of a Dragon

Chapter 4 A Pest Problem and the Truth Behind Areeyu

Written by-Shadow

Corrected by-A terrible air headed baka...otherwise known as Hawk

The following morning everyone awoke to find Areeyu gone.

"Has anyone seen her? We were gonna ask her if she knew anything about this Tao guy." Yusuke grumbled.

Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door, with it came Areeyu's voice. "Someone please open this door quick! Hurry now! I'm not kidding!!! AAAHHHH!"

Everyone in the room looked up at the door to see it give a violent shake. "Don't open it! Don't open it until I tell you to!!!!" Areeyu shrieked.

There were several loud growls and curses coming from outside. There was a pounding of feet and Areeyu shouted "Open up!!"

Kurama unlatched the door and leaped aside as Areeyu thundered through on the back of a large hog-like animal. She clung deftly on to the short mane as it raced wildly around the room. Everyone climbed to the relative safety of the roots running near the ceiling.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Areeyu leaped in front of the beast. She grabbed onto the large tusks and strained. The boar grunted and strained forward, pushing Areeyu backwards. Areeyu suddenly jumped and twisted sideways in midair: throwing the boar onto its back. Areeyu quickly climbed up the wall and pushed off the ceiling.

She fell face down towards the boar. Locking her hands together she brought them down between the boar's shoulders.

Hard.

Everyone in the room heard the audible snap of the boar's spine. And Areeyu, unable to stop her rapid plunge also smashed into the floor, hitting her shoulder. The boar was writhing on the floor in its death throes. Areeyu, unable to move out of the way, let out a sharp yelp as one of the boar's tusks met her in the face. The boar finally ceased writhing and was still.

Everyone descended from the ceiling, gathering around Areeyu. Kurama stepped forward, helping Areeyu to her feet. Her left arm hung limply at her side and her other hand was clamped over her right cheek, blood streaming from between her fingers.

"That one's been after me for weeks." Areeyu laughed. "He didn't forget to leave me a gift though." she said revealing the gash along her cheek that reached bone.

"My goodness! We had better see to that!" Botan shrieked, pointing to Areeyu's arm.

"Looks dislocated." Yusuke added.

"I'll take care of it." Areeyu said. Everyone (except Hiei) watched in amazement as the gash on her cheek vanished.

"Can't do anything about my arm though...." Areeyu sighed.

Kuwabara stepped forward, and before Areeyu could protest, pushed sharply upon the top of her arm.

Areeyu let forth an outraged cry, half shriek, half growl. She lifted her hand and slapped Kuwabara across the face.

"If you ever try anything like that again I'll kill you!!" she snarled.

"Why wait until next time?" Hiei grinned sadistically, unsheathing his sword. "I would be happy to decorate your home in his blood." he finished.

"Wait a second!!" Kuwabara stammered, "I - I w-was only tr-trying to help!! I got her joint back in socket!!"

"That he did....... but it still hurts." Areeyu growled.

"You probably hurt the ligaments and tendons." Kurama explained. "It should heal quickly"

"Hey!! You can gut and clean this for me." Areeyu stated to Kuwabara, "As a punishment for hurting my arm. You'll find all you need in the kitchen." she finished as Kurama placed her arm in a makeshift sling.

"We'll be having a large dinner tonight..." Areeyu said, walking back towards the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Yusuke shouted.

"Ummmmm..... I have some business to attend to...... I'll be back soon." and with that she vanished out the door.

* * *

The warm beauty of the woods was lost on Areeyu as she walked onward, not looking to either side, always straight ahead.

Suddenly two tall demons stepped out and walked on either side of her.

"You are late. The Master has been asking about you," one spoke.

"He is furious." added the other.

"I can deal with him. He will understand. My mission isn't an easy one." she said as they reached a large stone.

Areeyu tapped it three times and it rolled and revealed a steep staircase. The three entered as the stone slid back into place behind them.

The two demon officers accompanied Areeyu down the winding halls. They let her on her way through a pair of thick crimson curtains.

Areeyu walked up to the screen placed oddly in the middle of the room and bowed before it.

"You're late." rasped a voice from behind the screen.

"I am sorry. I had problems with a wild boar."

"Yes, yes. How is your assignment coming?"

"It is difficult, my lord."

"As I said it would be. You are the best officer I have."

"But I don't understand. What did he ever do to you that I must kill him? He seems ni-"

"Do you forget how I raised you!? When you were found as a babe in the woods I took you in!! I fed you, clothed and protected you! Have you forgotten the debt you owe me?! How dare you question me! "

Areeyu looked at the floor. "I am sorry... But must I really kill him?"

"No. You are to bring him to me. I wish to kill him myself. How is the mission progressing?"

"He now trusts me. He revealed to me his Jagan eye, and I healed it, to make him believe I cared for him as a friend. But I had to show him my Half-Dragon form. I acted as though I could not control it, and fainted."

"But he doesn't know about your true power?"

"No sir...."

"Good.....Very good. He is to be delivered within seven sunrises. I want him to be like putty in your hands. Go now, and do not fail me," the shadowy form rasped from behind the screen.

"I would be fool to. Farewell for now, Master Tao." Areeyu sighed, departing to carry out her masters wishes.

C/N: interesting, huh? If you've been following the questions, I'm sorry to say those will be here no longer.

But instead, I would like to hear ff recommendations from you! Tell me the name of an ff author you love, or a specific fanfic you like. Each week, I will select one of them to go up on this ff!

The rules are....there are no rules! The recommendation can be from any anime, book, or show, and as long as you think it's good, it has a chance! Happy hunting!

This week I'm going to recommend an Inuyasha fanfic that I enjoy very much.

RECOMMENDATION #1

You!

Written by-Sakura-chan88

Kagome, Sango, and Ayame have backstage passes to a Demonic's concert! Funny thing is, Kagome can't stand the lead singer's voice... Wonder why... KI, SM, AK. This is a really long and great ff, done in a very tasteful first person point of view. It was taken down by ff.net once, and she is now in the process of reposting it. It has everything from a touch of angst, to tons of fluffy humor, and in my opinion, is the perfect inu-ff. If you decide to read it, give her a shout out from me, kay?