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Chapter Twenty Seven: Reunion
"My home is just this way." The boy said, jerking his head slightly to the right.
Everyone followed him and found that he lived in the two-story building next to the small shrine. With slight difficulty he slid open the front door, Mei Lhi still laying undisturbed in his arms. He walked inside, the others following. He turned to Inuyasha.
"You're her brother right?" He asked.
"Yeah." Inuyasha replied.
"Hold her for a minute, will you?"
Inuyasha took his sister into his arms, the boy laying out a futon onto the floor. The boy took Mei Lhi from Inuyasha's arms and laid her down on the futon.
"Mei...Mei...wake up..." He whispered softly.
"Unngh..." Mei Lhi groaned.
The boy felt her forehead.
"She's really warm...Hakaru's flames...he must've increased his powers..." He muttered.
Removing his hand from the girl's forehead, he held it up just under his lower lip, blowing across the palm of his hand.
A small cool breeze floated through the room. The boy lowered his hand and touched Mei Lhi's forehead again.
"She'll be fine now...she just needs rest..."
In about an hour's time, Mei Lhi woke, struggling to sit up. Strong hands gently pushed her back down. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were heavy as sand bags. Forcing them open she saw blurry figures around her.
"W-where am I?" She asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
"Mei..." A familiar voice said softly.
"Where am I?" She repeated, more clearly, her speech less slurred.
"You're in my home. Everything's going to be alright, Mei, don't worry."
His words made Mei Lhi relax. Gentle breezes flowed through the room. She found strength, sat upright, her eyes fully open, her vision clouded for just a moment, then cleared seconds later.
"Mei..." The boy whispered.
Mei Lhi's eyes widened.
"K-Kyo?" She asked in shock.
He nodded.
Mei Lhi flung her arms around him. He did the same in return. Both were smiling and happy.
Mei Lhi's smile faded.
"Kyo, Hakaru is alive. He attacked the village that Kaede-baba and Kagome- chan live in. Then they retreated, and so then we came here, then I met Hakaru, he attacked me with some sort of fire from his hand, and after that, I have no idea what happened after that, but now I'm here." She said rather quickly.
"Shhh...Mei, I know..." Kyo said, placing a finger to her lips. "I saved you from Hakaru. That's why you're here."
Mei Lhi nodded, then tried to smell out the scents in the area.
"Kyo! I can't sense anything! Or smell anyone! What's going on?!" She exclaimed.
"After Hakaru had attacked you-well, maybe it was during, yes, it was during...well, anyway, you became emotionally pained again, so you're human now." Kyo answered.
"Kyo, if you and Hakaru are alive, is Kiori also?"
"No...Kiori was just a human woman. She died when you saw her...right after she gave you that necklace..."
"Oh..."
"Kiori would care for abandoned youkai children who had no home. She loved us dearly...like a mother would love her own children..."
"Why are you both alive? You and Hakaru, I mean..."
"We're both youkai. Ryuuyoukai of the spirits. I'm the spirit of the wind. Hakaru, the spirit of fire..."
"Ryuukotsei...was he the spirit of lightning?" Inuyasha asked suddenly.
"Oh, you met Ryuukotsei? Lovely fellow, isn't he?" Kyo said.
"Feh. Sure he's a lovely fellow...especially when he's trying to tear you to pieces."
Kyo laughed.
"And you defeated him? The ryuu order got word that the son of Inutaisho defeated Ryuukotsei."
"I had to defeat him. Tetsusaiga had broken. So Toutousai reforged it using my fang, but that sword was heavy as hell...so, in order to make it lighter, I had to surpass my father..."
"I assume it worked? Toutousai's words are very true...he forged Tetsusage for Mei also...but it was in secret...it was also a secret to all that Inutaisho had a daughter. No one knew except for Kiori, Inutaisho himself, and your mother."
"Yes. It did." Inuyasha replied.
Kyo grinned, then turned back to Mei Lhi.
"So...how're you feeling, Mei?" He asked.
"I guess...I'm alright..." Mei Lhi replied. "But Kyo...how are you alive? I mean, I know you're both youkai, but how come I didn't sense it back then?"
"When the samurai attacked our village, Hakaru made a deal with the leader. Hakaru promised to take over as leader once he died, to spare his and my life. So, the leader eventually died, and Hakaru did as he promised. He now controls the samurai forces." Kyo answered.
Mei Lhi looked to Hana. Her expression was blank as if this news didn't surprise her.
"You knew, didn't you? You knew Hakaru and Kyo were alive but you didn't say anything, did you?" Mei Lhi asked, her eyes flashing angrily.
"Mei Lhi, that isn't true. I had no idea they still lived." Hana said.
"Then why don't you look surprised?! You lied to me!"
"I did not, Mei Lhi."
"Hana, you bitch! I trusted you! And you lied! You told me I had no family! You said everyone was dead!"
"That's because they were, Mei Lhi. All you had left was Inuyasha...and Sesshoumaru, but I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted to go with him..."
"You bitch! You're lying to me right now!"
"I am not lying to you, Mei Lhi! I have never lied once in my life to you! And I'm not lying now!"
An eerie purple glow was shining faintly around Hana's body, but it was getting brighter.
The others looked on, watching the light get brighter and the miko aura grow stronger. Mei Lhi seemed not to take any notice of it.
'She's human, so she can't sense it. But I can...' Inuyasha thought.
Inuyasha's eyes met with the others, and he found that they could sense it too.
Kyo watched them, his ocean blue eyes surveying the miko woman and the human girl. He sighed then stretched, closing his eyes, then opening them. They had changed color. Once blue, now to a gray that was the color of rain clouds.
"Stop. This fighting is nonsense..." He said.
Kyo's eyes resumed their normal color but not for long. Soon they were again gray. His gaze was fixed outside.
"All of you wait here..." He whispered.
He walked outside, stood there for a moment, then rushed back inside.
"Hana, they're coming."
"Take Mei Lhi and hide with the others. I'll be fine, don't worry." Hana ordered.
"But-" Mei Lhi protested.
"No 'buts'! Kyo, take them back to Kaede's village. Hurry!"
Kyo nodded.
"This way!" He yelled, motioning them out the back door.
He helped Mei Lhi to her feet then carried her out.
Now in the back of the house, Kyo put Mei Lhi down, his eyes changing from gray to their normal color. His claws lengthened, his short white hair grew along his back, his body lengthened, and shortly after, a magnificent white dragon stood before them, its mane of white hair flowing silently in the calm breeze.
Taking this as a sign, all clambered on Kyo's back. Hana came rushing out shortly after, leaping onto the young ryuu youkai's back.
"Hurry Kyo! My barrier won't hold!" She said in his ear.
Kyo nodded his head, then took off, flying at a speed of light, reaching Kaede's village in minutes.
All dismounted, Mei Lhi receiving help from Kagome and Inuyasha.
Kyo's body was covered by a whirlwind of white and his form shrank until he was once again back to normal. He was panting, trying to catch his breath.
"Come on." He said, already running towards Kaede's hut.
Mei Lhi's vision slid in and out of focus until it became black once again. She felt trapped in a sealed box the moment her heavy-lidded eyes closed.
Chapter Twenty Seven: Reunion
"My home is just this way." The boy said, jerking his head slightly to the right.
Everyone followed him and found that he lived in the two-story building next to the small shrine. With slight difficulty he slid open the front door, Mei Lhi still laying undisturbed in his arms. He walked inside, the others following. He turned to Inuyasha.
"You're her brother right?" He asked.
"Yeah." Inuyasha replied.
"Hold her for a minute, will you?"
Inuyasha took his sister into his arms, the boy laying out a futon onto the floor. The boy took Mei Lhi from Inuyasha's arms and laid her down on the futon.
"Mei...Mei...wake up..." He whispered softly.
"Unngh..." Mei Lhi groaned.
The boy felt her forehead.
"She's really warm...Hakaru's flames...he must've increased his powers..." He muttered.
Removing his hand from the girl's forehead, he held it up just under his lower lip, blowing across the palm of his hand.
A small cool breeze floated through the room. The boy lowered his hand and touched Mei Lhi's forehead again.
"She'll be fine now...she just needs rest..."
In about an hour's time, Mei Lhi woke, struggling to sit up. Strong hands gently pushed her back down. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were heavy as sand bags. Forcing them open she saw blurry figures around her.
"W-where am I?" She asked, her voice a hoarse whisper.
"Mei..." A familiar voice said softly.
"Where am I?" She repeated, more clearly, her speech less slurred.
"You're in my home. Everything's going to be alright, Mei, don't worry."
His words made Mei Lhi relax. Gentle breezes flowed through the room. She found strength, sat upright, her eyes fully open, her vision clouded for just a moment, then cleared seconds later.
"Mei..." The boy whispered.
Mei Lhi's eyes widened.
"K-Kyo?" She asked in shock.
He nodded.
Mei Lhi flung her arms around him. He did the same in return. Both were smiling and happy.
Mei Lhi's smile faded.
"Kyo, Hakaru is alive. He attacked the village that Kaede-baba and Kagome- chan live in. Then they retreated, and so then we came here, then I met Hakaru, he attacked me with some sort of fire from his hand, and after that, I have no idea what happened after that, but now I'm here." She said rather quickly.
"Shhh...Mei, I know..." Kyo said, placing a finger to her lips. "I saved you from Hakaru. That's why you're here."
Mei Lhi nodded, then tried to smell out the scents in the area.
"Kyo! I can't sense anything! Or smell anyone! What's going on?!" She exclaimed.
"After Hakaru had attacked you-well, maybe it was during, yes, it was during...well, anyway, you became emotionally pained again, so you're human now." Kyo answered.
"Kyo, if you and Hakaru are alive, is Kiori also?"
"No...Kiori was just a human woman. She died when you saw her...right after she gave you that necklace..."
"Oh..."
"Kiori would care for abandoned youkai children who had no home. She loved us dearly...like a mother would love her own children..."
"Why are you both alive? You and Hakaru, I mean..."
"We're both youkai. Ryuuyoukai of the spirits. I'm the spirit of the wind. Hakaru, the spirit of fire..."
"Ryuukotsei...was he the spirit of lightning?" Inuyasha asked suddenly.
"Oh, you met Ryuukotsei? Lovely fellow, isn't he?" Kyo said.
"Feh. Sure he's a lovely fellow...especially when he's trying to tear you to pieces."
Kyo laughed.
"And you defeated him? The ryuu order got word that the son of Inutaisho defeated Ryuukotsei."
"I had to defeat him. Tetsusaiga had broken. So Toutousai reforged it using my fang, but that sword was heavy as hell...so, in order to make it lighter, I had to surpass my father..."
"I assume it worked? Toutousai's words are very true...he forged Tetsusage for Mei also...but it was in secret...it was also a secret to all that Inutaisho had a daughter. No one knew except for Kiori, Inutaisho himself, and your mother."
"Yes. It did." Inuyasha replied.
Kyo grinned, then turned back to Mei Lhi.
"So...how're you feeling, Mei?" He asked.
"I guess...I'm alright..." Mei Lhi replied. "But Kyo...how are you alive? I mean, I know you're both youkai, but how come I didn't sense it back then?"
"When the samurai attacked our village, Hakaru made a deal with the leader. Hakaru promised to take over as leader once he died, to spare his and my life. So, the leader eventually died, and Hakaru did as he promised. He now controls the samurai forces." Kyo answered.
Mei Lhi looked to Hana. Her expression was blank as if this news didn't surprise her.
"You knew, didn't you? You knew Hakaru and Kyo were alive but you didn't say anything, did you?" Mei Lhi asked, her eyes flashing angrily.
"Mei Lhi, that isn't true. I had no idea they still lived." Hana said.
"Then why don't you look surprised?! You lied to me!"
"I did not, Mei Lhi."
"Hana, you bitch! I trusted you! And you lied! You told me I had no family! You said everyone was dead!"
"That's because they were, Mei Lhi. All you had left was Inuyasha...and Sesshoumaru, but I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted to go with him..."
"You bitch! You're lying to me right now!"
"I am not lying to you, Mei Lhi! I have never lied once in my life to you! And I'm not lying now!"
An eerie purple glow was shining faintly around Hana's body, but it was getting brighter.
The others looked on, watching the light get brighter and the miko aura grow stronger. Mei Lhi seemed not to take any notice of it.
'She's human, so she can't sense it. But I can...' Inuyasha thought.
Inuyasha's eyes met with the others, and he found that they could sense it too.
Kyo watched them, his ocean blue eyes surveying the miko woman and the human girl. He sighed then stretched, closing his eyes, then opening them. They had changed color. Once blue, now to a gray that was the color of rain clouds.
"Stop. This fighting is nonsense..." He said.
Kyo's eyes resumed their normal color but not for long. Soon they were again gray. His gaze was fixed outside.
"All of you wait here..." He whispered.
He walked outside, stood there for a moment, then rushed back inside.
"Hana, they're coming."
"Take Mei Lhi and hide with the others. I'll be fine, don't worry." Hana ordered.
"But-" Mei Lhi protested.
"No 'buts'! Kyo, take them back to Kaede's village. Hurry!"
Kyo nodded.
"This way!" He yelled, motioning them out the back door.
He helped Mei Lhi to her feet then carried her out.
Now in the back of the house, Kyo put Mei Lhi down, his eyes changing from gray to their normal color. His claws lengthened, his short white hair grew along his back, his body lengthened, and shortly after, a magnificent white dragon stood before them, its mane of white hair flowing silently in the calm breeze.
Taking this as a sign, all clambered on Kyo's back. Hana came rushing out shortly after, leaping onto the young ryuu youkai's back.
"Hurry Kyo! My barrier won't hold!" She said in his ear.
Kyo nodded his head, then took off, flying at a speed of light, reaching Kaede's village in minutes.
All dismounted, Mei Lhi receiving help from Kagome and Inuyasha.
Kyo's body was covered by a whirlwind of white and his form shrank until he was once again back to normal. He was panting, trying to catch his breath.
"Come on." He said, already running towards Kaede's hut.
Mei Lhi's vision slid in and out of focus until it became black once again. She felt trapped in a sealed box the moment her heavy-lidded eyes closed.