Tale of the last Dragon Master

Disclaimer: I own the idea and Cairi, Airi, Seth, and Anora.
Nothing else, especially not InuYasha, Yuyu Hakusho, or dot
hackSIGN, and I borrowed Vahn's name from Escaflowne.

Tenshi: Now that that's dealt with, enjoy!

Summary: In the Feudal Era, Kagome comes across a strangely
dressed young man named Tsukasa, who claims to be one of the
last Dragon Mages. He's looking for another member of his race,
a Dragon Master named Cairi Lightstar. While he travels with
them, Kagome transforms. Into what, you ask? You'll just have to
find out...

Pairings:
Youko/Kagome/Hiei
Kikyou/Hojo
Sango/Miroku
Yusuke/Keiko
Kuwabara/Yukina
Tsukasa/Cairi

=...=(Telepathy)
"..."(Talking)
-...-(Language of the Dragonken)
#...# (Spells or Flashback)
'...'(Thinking privately)
... (Sounds)
/ ... / (Actions)
:: ... :: (Singing)

Tale of the last Dragon Master
Chapter Five: Meet Kouga, the amorous Ookami!
== Naraku's POV==
'Kikyou did her job well.' Thought the black haired Hanyou with red eyes, looking at the tree from all sides.
'I don't think this Dragon Master will be going anywhere. Now
if only that could have been made dormant as well.' Naraku pauses in front of the tree, and looks at the being sealed to it by an arrow. It has long, knee length silver hair, with a full scale of tints and shadings. It is wearing a sleeveless white kimono top with silver sakura, silver hakama, and a sapphire sash with golden streams. On its face are lavender cheek marks, and on its forehead is a white gold sun. It is the Dragon Master Cairi Lightstar, and around her neck is a chain, upon which a water-like jewel rests in a silver moon. The Shukumei no tama, which means Jewel of Fate, for it has power over life, death, and destiny.

"Kagura, has word been brought of the Dragon Mage, Tsukasa?" Naraku asked the wind sorceress.

"No, Naraku. Shall I go learn more about him?" The back haired, pink eyed Youkai asked.

"Yes, and make sure they don't know your there." With that, Kagura left, and Naraku turned to gaze once more at the ethereal protector of Shukumei no tama.
'Soon, both of them will be mine! Kagome and Cairi.' (Naraku's
been spying, that's how he knows Cairi's name.)

==Youko's POV==
The group had left the village hours ago, and it was coming up on a large forest near the mountains.

"I say we should stop here for the day. It is a nice spot,
don't you think?" Kagome asked smiling innocently at the group.

"I think it is a lovely spot Kagome. Shall we prepare dinner?" Sango asks, taking Miroku off to gather firewood. InuYasha jumps up into a tree to wait while Kagome and Shippou get everything ready. Deciding this is as good a time as any, Youko sits down next to Tsukasa.

"Tsukasa, if you don't mind my asking, how did you know to whom
I was going to take you?" He asked, truly curious. Tsukasa looks at him for a moment before replying.

=I have the ability to read almost any mind, Youko. Certain
races have a natural immunity, and others just use enough will,
but I can get in their minds if I really want to. That's also
how I knew Naraku had tricked you, and that you are an honest,
trustworthy person, deep down.= Youko nodded in understanding, his mind already teeming with uses for his new friend's ability.

'It would be a lot easier to steal from people if you could
read their mind.'

=I knew you would think that, you thief. I'm just glad, for
your sake that you are not as openly lecherous as Miroku, or you
would be hit as often as he is.= At the look of shock on Youko's face, Tsukasa did something that stunned everyone in the group. He laughed, out loud, in his true voice.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! You look so funny Youko! You
should see the look on your face!" Tsukasa said, smiling, tears of mirth flowing gently down his face.

"Tsukasa? You can speak our language? I thought you said you
couldn't." Kagome said, looking both puzzled and annoyed.

=I don't speak it all that well, Kagome. And it is much more
natural for me to speak like this. It is just they way I was
taught to speak in an unknown area.= Kagome was mollified, and dinner was served.

"So, Youko, what caused you to go and work for Naraku? You
don't seem like the type that would work for just anybody." Sango inquired, wishing to know more about the latest addition to their group.

"I was in the area, and he offered me a reward to capture a
dangerous being named Tsukasa and bring him back alive and
mostly intact. I didn't realize Naraku was deceiving me at the
time." Youko says, ashamed that he had caused so much trouble.

"Feh, maybe full Youkai aren't all their cracked up to be. I
wouldn't fall for something like that!" InuYasha just had to rub it in, so Kagome just had to punish him.

"SIT!"
BAM!!
"He's just jealous of you, Youko. Give him some time to get
used to you, and try to be patient." Kagome said, gently and reasonably. Tsukasa looked like he was about to say something as well, when he tensed and snapped his head towards the nearby mountains.

=A Youkai is coming this way fast!=

==InuYasha's POV==
As soon as Tsukasa told them, they were ready to meet the oncoming intruder. Kagome immediately went for her bow and arrows, Sango hefted Hiraikotsu, and Miroku took up his staff. Tsukasa stood ready to do some magical damage, Youkai pulled out a rose, and InuYasha pulled out his sword.
'About time we had some action.'

"I sense jewel shards headed this way fast!" Kagome called out, both excited and afraid. This would only be her second battle in her true form. Suddenly, the direction of the wind changed and the six nonhuman members of the group caught the scent of the approaching Youkai.

'Dammit! It just had to be that Ookami! Next thing, you know
he'll be kidnapping Kagome again!' Just as he finished that thought, Tsukasa turned to him.

=You recognize this Youkai? Has it kidnapped Kagome before or
something?= Tsukasa sounded both curious and confused.

"Yeah, we know him all right. He's the bastard who keeps declaring
Kagome his woman!" InuYasha would have gone into more detail for the sake of his poor bewildered companions, but the intruder had just emerged from his mini tornado. The Youkai had black hair held in a ponytail, blue eyes, and some brown pelts.

"Hey muttface, who are your new friends?" It was the one person whom InuYasha hated as much as Sesshoumaru and Naraku, the one person he never wanted to see again. It was Kouga.

==Kouga's POV==
"Kouga! What are you doing around here? Don't you have a pack to
look after?" Kagome's soft, musical voice reached Kouga's ears as he took in her new appearance.

'She's even more beautiful than before. A Tenshi Youkai, eh? She's most worthy of becoming my mate.'

=I don't believe she has an interest in becoming your mate
Kouga. She does, however, wish to know why you are here.= A voice had interrupted his thoughts. Someone could read his mind!

'Who's doing that? How...?'

=That would be me, Kouga. The one without a weapon of any kind,
standing by the silver Kitsune.= Kouga looked at the unusual stranger, not quite willing to believe that such a weak, harmless bystander could have that kind of power.

"Okay, I smelled you nearby so I came to see you, and find out
whom the strangers near you are." Kouga wanted to find out that kid is.

"My name is Youko Kurama, and I am helping my new friend
Tsukasa /he gestures at Tsukasa/ rescue a friend of his from
Naraku while helping the others retrieve the jewel shards." Youko bows to Kouga, while Tsukasa merely looks at him.

"Feh, are done yet? Will you leave now, you piece of shit?" InuYasha asked, clearly aggravated by the lack of attention.

"I have another question. How did you become a Tenshi Youkai
and what is Tsukasa? I can't pin down his scent." He was thoroughly annoyed by this.

"I was freed from the seal on my true form. I've always been a
Tenshi Youkai, that's why my scent didn't change." Kagome explained.

=I am Dragon Mage Tsukasa Shadowstar of the Dragonken. I am on
my way to rescue my friend Dragon Master Cairi Lightstar from
the seal placed upon her by the undead miko that works for
Naraku.= He went completely blank as he spoke, as though he was deeply hurt.

"Tsukasa? Where is Subaru?" Sango asked, remembering her earlier question.
(Took her long enough.)

=Subaru is within me, as she usually is when we travel. She
normally separates to find something or if I am hurt. That is
why Vahn is here with us. Cairi is hurt and she told him to find
me to get help.=

'This Cairi must be very important to him, for him to risk
facing Naraku.'
"Well, now that I know you're okay, I best get back to my pack.
Hey, muttface, protect my woman for me while I'm gone! Later!" With that parting shot, Kouga sped away, heading for his pack.

==Tsukasa's POV==
=Well, now that that's over with, I think we would be wise to
get some rest. We are traveling tomorrow.= As he said that, the group immediately snapped out of its daze and began preparing its sleeping arrangements. Miroku and Sango were on one side of the fire, Shippou and Kirara were on the side nest to them, and Youko, Kagome, Tsukasa, and InuYasha made a semi circle on the other half. Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara, Youko, and Kagome all chose to sleep lying down. InuYasha chose to sleep sitting in a tree above them. Tsukasa chose to sleep sitting Indian style. Sango and Miroku slept near each other, and Shippou and Kirara were cuddling together. Youko, still awake, pulled the sleeping Kagome closer to him and wrapped his arms and tail around her. InuYasha frowned on this but decided to keep quiet.
Tsukasa sighed, looking up at the stars, remembering nights like this with Cairi beside him, sleeping in his arms. He could still remember the song she sang at night, the one that put him at ease.
Flashback
-Tsukasa, would you mind listening to this, please? – Cairi asked eyes pleading. Sighing, he nodded ascent, and she smiled at him before closing her eyes to begin.
::Shidoh Shantoh
Yah Durais Kah
Shidoh Ah
Chiempoeri Eh
Shidoh Shidoh
Yah Durais Kah
Shidoh Sinare
Kru Durais Kah...::
End Flashback
'Cairi, I miss you. I can't wait to see you again.' And with
that thought, exhaustion pulled the young Dragon Mage into
sleep.

End Chapter.
That song that Cairi sings is an approximation of the one sung
by the flower maiden in Wolfs' Rain.
I love that song. Do you have a story you want reviewed? If so
then leave me the title by way of review and I'll check it out.
Thanks for your patience!
Tenshi Youkai no Yugure

/