Chapter 2
I was awakened later that night by noises. I was standing in a flash, Hitokiri drawn and ready. I blinked, then everything around me was as bright as day. I spotted something moving ahead of me and I moved into a defensive position, Hitokiri held horizontally in front of me. "Show yourself." I called.
A tall man came fully into view, a sword at his side and three other people behind him. There were two women, one in a demon-slayer's outfit similar to mine and the other in strange clothes I could not identify. There was one more man, a monk in dark robes carrying a gold staff. A small child, a fox demon by the looks of it, rode in one of the women's arms while a small cat demon sat in the demon-slayer's arms.
"Feh. What do you want?" the one in front said. He was taller than me by about 4 inches, but I was tall for my age. He had long silver hair, golden eyes and a vivid red kimono. I spotted two snowy dog ears on his head and narrowed my eyes. 'A half-demon.'
I lowered Hitokiri and sheathed it. "I intend you no harm. I'm just a traveler."
The demon-slayer stepped forward. "Are you a slayer?"
I smiled. "No. I simply wear these clothes because I used to be the protector of my village. I need to be able to move quickly."
"Used to be?" the other woman asked.
My eyes darkened. "I was ran out because of my," I paused. "Differences."
The monk came forward. "I am sorry dear lady." He grabbed my hand. "I have one question. Would you bear my child?"
I growled and went to smack him, but the demon-slayer beat me to it. Her slaying weapon his him square on the head and he smiled. "Forgive me."
The slayer smiled. "Sorry about that. My name is Sango and this lech is Miroku." She gestured to the cat sitting on the ground behind her. "That's Kirara."
The other woman smiled at me as well. "I'm Kagome." The half-demon beside her was silent and she glared at him. "This jerk is Inuyasha."
I grinned. "Fits you well half-demon." I heard a 'feh' and snorted.
I flinched as a tiny body hit my shoulder. I looked into big green eyes. "I'm Shippo!"
I shook his hand gravely. "Well it's nice to meet you Shippo!" I looked to everyone else. "I'm Kyla Himura. It's nice to meet all of you."
"How old are you Kyla?" Sango asked politely.
"I'm 12." I replied, eliciting gasps from all but Shippo and Inuyasha.
"Only 12?" Kagome said. "Wow. You certainly don't look it. And your village kicked you out at this age?"
I nodded. "They find me as a nuisance. I'm an orphan, so I was forced to grow up real fast. I've been trained in the art of swordplay since I was 10."
Miroku suddenly spoke up. "You have a very bright aura Kyla. Are you a miko?"
I shrugged. "I can do magic, but I'm not sure I'm a miko."
Inuyasha sniffed slightly, testing my scent I assumed. "She's a half-demon, that's part of it."
I looked to him. "I'm a what!"
He gave me a funny look. "You didn't know?" I shook my head and he snorted. "Well you're a half dog-demon, just like me." He looked me over. "You don't look it, but that should change when you hit 13."
I felt my knees give way and Sango caught me. "Wow. I'd always thought that my heightened senses and abilities came from my magic." I murmured. I raised a hand. "I guess these are the only signs right now." I looked at him. "But I have a brother he's 15. He's not a half-demon."
"It's possible he didn't get any demon blood." Sango said. "I've heard of it happening."
"I thought both my parents were human." I said slowly, standing. "Dad had to have been the demon, because Ken would have been too little to remember that fact."
Inuyasha put out a clawed hand suddenly, pulling Hitokiri from its sheath. I glared at him as he held the sword, examining it. "It doesn't seem like much," he said, presenting the hilt to me.
I grabbed the hilt and the sword glowed black, then transformed into its fighting state. He nodded. "I see."
"Yours is similar to mine." I murmured, sheathing Hitokiri once again. "The Tetsusaiga."
He narrowed his golden eyes. "How did you know that?"
I hesitated. They had told me that. Maybe a quick change of subject…. "Mine is Hitokiri."
Inuyasha didn't seem satisfied, but thankfully he let it slide. Kagome cocked her head. "Manslayer?"
I nodded. "It used to belong to a samurai."
She smiled, and then put out a hand. "Welcome to the group Kyla."
I stared at her for a moment. "You'd let me come with you?"
Inuyasha folded his hands into the large sleeves of his kimono. "Why not? You seem like a fighter. As long as you don't cause any trouble I don't see a problem with it."
I grinned widely and grasped Kagome's hand, being careful with my nails. "Alright then. Thanks guys."
Sango put a hand on the shoulder not occupied by the kitsune. "How did you know the Tetsusaiga was like your own sword?"
I smiled lightly. "I can see the magic around it, both barrier and power. Your own weapon glows simply because it is demon bone, Miroku's staff with magic similar to my own, as well as Kagome's arrows."
"Can you see demonic auras?" Miroku said.
I glanced at him. "I've never tried. "I looked at Inuyasha, reaching for my magic. A faint glow appeared around the half-demon and faint one appeared out of the corner of my eye, Shippo.
I released my magic and the glow faded, though Tetsusaiga and the other weapons still glowed faintly. "I can, but it requires thought. The more I do it the less thought it will need until it is always there, like our weapons."
Inuyasha grinned lightly. "Perhaps you're more useful than you look."
I glared at him, and then grinned. "Thanks."
