INUYASHA
This story pretty much explains itself, since I started from the beginning. I just never finished it, that's all, and I never actually separated it into chapters, and it's pretty long.
Plus another note. This particular chapter has severe damage done to a person at the end. It isn't just a reference to violence. A normal person (in the day and age this story takes place) would die. In this day and age, doctors would be a tad confused as to how this person got such injuries, but they deal with worse.
Not for little kiddies, folks. Be warned. As none of the chapters are actually related to one another, you can skip this. It has a higher rating than anything else in the 'story'.
Dragon Masters
Flames enraptured the village, causing the surrounding forest to glow the bright golden that was a reflection of the fire's light. One young girl ran along the path through the forest. She turned back only a moment, to watch her home go up in smoke, though she could no longer make out anything besides the black fog that now hovered in the air and the flames that coated the ground. And then she left.
She was the only survivor in her village.
The bartender continued cleaning the glass in his hands, wishing for once that he could be home, with his wife and daughter, instead of here, trying to tune out the talk, even though he was eager, curious to listen to what his customers were saying.
"It's a shame." one man was saying. He had his fairly long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He was sitting at one of the tables closest to the counter, along with two of his buddies, and a woman with black hair had pulled up a chair besides them. "Those poor villages, gone. They went up in smoke. Those blasted beasts, they should be slaughtered! If I ever see one-"
"If you ever see one, Marriok, you'd most likely be dead in a few seconds." the woman said, laughing lightly. "But not all dragons are wild, you know. There was an old art of training dragons, long ago, but it's mostly gone now. I do believe there are a few of them left, though they are probably too old to go hunting the wild beasts anymore, and would never find a fool crazy enough to train under them."
"Yes, Nimi." said the second man, who's hair was an astonishing hue of golden red. "You're right. There was that old art, long ago. But I don't believe there are any left. And let us just hope that those beasts never come near here.
"Of course, Kichak." Nimi replied. "But we cannot forget that it is very likely. The only thing standing between us is a village closer to the North Mountains. I believe it's called...Oh, I just can't remember."
"Marli." the bartender interrupted. "The town is Marli."
"Is that all?" the third man asked. "Is that all standing between us and them? Bartender, I'd like another Aaimn, please."
"'Course." And the bartender went to fill up a glass with the bottle of almost crimson liquid, that was also kind of purple. He walked around the counter and handed the glass to the man. "That'll be seventy kiissaa, sir." As the man went to dig through his bag, which was hanging by his chair, Nimi stopped him with a hand on his arm. When he turned to her, she smiled.
"I'll get it, Numio." And she handed the bartender a handful of small coins, all bluish-green.
"Anything else for yah?" the bartender asked.
"I-" Marriok started, but he was cut off by the door slamming open, and a grubby-looking young girl walked in.
The bartender frowned. She looked like she'd been running all night, and it was almost dawn. Why would she suddenly slam into his tavern. Why not the grocery store down the road? But he just had to pick the spot closest to the track to place his tavern, didn't he? So that he got strangers all hours of the night.
But she was a customer, and she might have money, and she looked like she needed some help. So he asked her what the problem was.
"Dra...dragons!" she forced out. "Dragons attacked my village! It's gone!" And then she began to sob. Nimi made her way over to the young girl, and patted her shoulder.
"There there, now. Calm down. What's wrong again, girl?" she asked, praying she had misheard.
The girl looked up, and while tears still streaked her face, understanding lit up behind her eyes. Of course they had no clue what she was talking about! They didn't know where she lived..."My village, Marli! It's gone! Completely! There's nothing left! It was attacked by dragons late in the evening!"
The bartender, Nimi, Marriok, Numio, and Kichak all froze, and their faces went white.
Unbeknownst to the six other people, another person, wearing a black cloak, slipped out the door.
"You're not trying!" a voice rang out over the meadow. The sky was blue, the air was warm, and there was a strong, warm breeze blowing. There was also the soft flapping of wings on the air. "Stay aloft! This breeze should be helping! Use it, don't be used by it!" said an old woman, about in her late sixties. She was standing on the ground, watching her pupil with squinting eyes. They were in a clearing in the forest; a very large clearing - it was more like a meadow.
The was another person with her, sitting on a soft blue saddle, wearing a tan-colored outfit, which consisted of a dark, almost maroon colored helmet with a shaded visor; darker tan gloves that went up to the elbows; a tan tonic; darker, light brown-colored pants that stopped a few inches above the ankle; and brown, leather shoes that just met the pants, and often slid to show skin.
"Master Kaede, this is hard enough!" said the pupil, his voice distorted by the chin strap of the helmet. But he seemed to try to follow Kaede's advice, closing his eyes and letting the wind guide him. Leaning to the side, he smiled when he shifted, and was no longer being buffeted by the wind, but held up by it. He opened his eyes, leaned down low to stroke the sliver scales beneath him, and whispered, "That's right, Sionae. That's it. Now let's try those spins we started yesterday."
The pupil and dragon went and did a few flips in the air, before coming down to rest lightly on the ground. The pupil slid off the dragon's side, and walked over to Kaede. "How was that?"
"Hmph. You need some practice. Now go inside and wash up; supper will be ready soon. Shippo has been working had lately to get those cooking skills right, and while you may not be the world's greatest chef, and cooking may not be your greatest talent, your still better then the kid. Now, hurry." Kaede said, leaning back against the tree behind her. It was the only tree in the meadow. 'A student is hard enough, but one as stubborn as this kid is too much for me and my old age...'
The pupil ran towards a small cabin near the edge of the meadow, calling, "Shippo, training's done!"
Kaede slid to the ground, closing her eyes. A few minutes later, she heard the clomping sound of a horse's hooves entering her clearing...uh, meadow.
She cracked open her eyes, and looked over to see the coppery horse stop a few feet away from her. It's rider, a person wearing a long, black cloak, slid down, and pulled the hood back.
"Kaede! Kaede! There was another attack on a village the other night. A young girl was the only survivor of this one!" she said, letting her long, dark brown hair billow in the strong breeze.
"And what do you expect me to do about this, Sango?" Kaede asked.
"Well, a Dragon Master is all that can stand up to those beasts, Kaede." Sango said, rather embarrassed at having to explain this to the great, old woman. Could there possibly be something wrong with her plan?
"Well, not if that Dragon Master can't hardly stand." Kaede said.
Sango looked to the ground. "Oh, yes, I forgot your arthritis." she mumbled. But she looked up at what Kaede said next
"The only one in my charge who could help you is my student."
Kaede, with Sango's help, stumbled into the cabin. They were met with a young boy sitting before a pot of water, stirring it. It smelled good - or at least not burnt - and appeared to have vegetables in it, along with some meat. His little feet were fox paws, and a fox tail twitched behind him. He was wearing an old-style kimono, and his red hair was done into a small tail.
Also, there was a girl sitting in a chair by the table, her head rested on her elbow, which was lying on the table itself. Her other arm was resting across her lap, and her eyes were closed. She was wearing a cobalt dress, and her hair was pulled into a pony-tail behind her head.
The young boy leaned down in front of the fire-pit underneath the pot of soup, and raised his hand towards it. "Kitsune bi!" he yelped, and a small blue flame roared down from his fingers to bring the blaze to a more animated state.
"Kagome?" Sango asked, walking towards the younger girl, currently 'napping'.
But she sat up and looked at her friend. "Sango!" she cried, wrapping her arms around the girl's body. "Oh, what are you doing here?"
"I came by to tell Kaede of the dragon attacks. They've been getting more and more frequent." Sango stated. "Just yesterday, the whole village of Marli was burnt down. Only one little girl made it out alive."
"Oh, that's terrible!" Kagome said, turning to Kaede. "Are you going to go to help the people?" she asked.
"Supper!" Shippo cried, hopping over to the table with four bowls of soup and setting them down before the others. "Enjoy!"
Shippo hopped into Kagome's lap while she had some soup, the other two sitting down as well for a moment, to eat his delicious (for Shippo) concoction.
"No, Kagome." Kaede said after a moment. "You are."
'Kagome is Kaede's pupil? ' Sango thought. 'I knew Kagome was learning under her, but I didn't know she was learning to become a Dragon Master! '
"What?" Kagome cried, sitting up. "B-but Sionae and I aren't ready to go alone!"
"Yes, you are. You are good." Kaede argued. "Shippo will be going with you."
The little kitsune kit looked up at his name. "Me?" he asked.
"Shippo, are you going to eat?" Kagome inquired, looking down at him.
Shippo shook his head. "No. I'm not hungry."
"Then what did you make four bowls for?"
"Um...Kouga said he'd be-"
Shippo was cut off by the sound of a horse clomping into the meadow outside. There was some noise, and then it was quiet. A young man burst through the door.
"-coming over for dinner today." the kit finished.
"Kagome!" the man said, walking over to grab her hands. Kagome smiled politely.
"Hello, Kouga." she said, lightly pulling her hands from his grasp. She directed him to a spare seat. "I hope you don't mind that we're only having soup. But it's good - Shippo made it!"
Kouga knew that meant it wasn't pleasant, but he didn't say anything as he gulped down the watery soup. Kagome treated the kit like her own child, and he didn't want to make her mad. "It's nice." he said politely. "But food is always better when you're home." he added sadly.
"Oh, Kouga, don't go getting all depressed." Kagome said sternly, but gently. "You are always welcome here, all right?"
"Thank you, Kagome." he said, smiling at her.
The man leaned back against the tree, a black dragon besides him. It's red eyes glowed, and it's hide sparkled with the gold scales strewn amongst the black ones.
Closing his eyes, he sighed. His master wasn't home at the moment, so he'd gone off to relax, and, naturally, his dragon, Matsuke, had come as well.
"Matsuke, why do I have such odd dreams?" he asked, turning to look at the cat-like lizard beast beside him. "I've never dreamed so oddly before now, but this dream was so vivid, I can't just blow it off."
Dream Flashback:
The boy was in a field he didn't recognize. He'd been all over the West Mountains, so surely he was no longer there. But this field was filled with fire.
He stopped as he thought her heard a scream. Following the sound, he came upon a young woman bound to a wooden shaft, a pyre slowly inching up to her. She screamed and screamed, and then the boy couldn't stand it anymore. He stood up and ran at her, untying the bonds. She fell back, but before she hit the ground, she disappeared. Then the world around him disappeared, shifting like water, reforming into a lake, a waterfall, and a small bank.
He stood on the bank, and watched the water. The young woman whom he'd untied from the wooden stake appeared hovering over the water, a silvery dragon beside her. The dragon stretched it's wings around the girl, and when it pulled back the girl was wearing a sheer skirt that tied on one side, and a shirt that was white. The shirt showed her shoulders, one strap of fabric near her neck, another just below the shoulder. There was no fabric between that second strap and her wrist, where there was another strap the came around and attached to her middle finger, but there was loose fabric dangling underneath. The bottom fabric went on for about two more feet past her hand, and came to a stop in a point.
"Thank you, Inuyasha." she whispered, but he could hear her. "You saved me."
"What are you?" Inuyasha asked, stepping forward. He spotted her feet, her toes barely touching the water, but ripples flowed out nonetheless. "Are you some kind of dryad? Or nymph?"
The woman laughed. "No, I am not a spirit...like yourself." she added when she looked him over. "But I am like you."
"I don't understand." Inuyasha said, shaking his head. "What are you? What about us is alike if you are not like me?"
"I am alike to you in soul, in mission. But not the point of my being. Yet. But perhaps soon. If that is true, then you will know who and what I am then."
Her dragon chirped, and she laughed. "Oh, fine." she said, turning back to Inuyasha. "My dragon says I should give you something." she explained. "Come here."
"But-" Inuyasha started to say that she was standing on water, but then he noticed the stones that made a path to where she was. He lightly stepped from one to the other, until he was little under three feet away.
"You are the only one who can come so close," the woman said. "So I will give you a special gift. But know that when I see you again, I will know you, but only with my heart. I will not remember this."
"All right." Inuyasha said carefully.
And the woman leaned down, lightly brushing her lips to his. When she leaned back, he stared at her, and she smiled. "A kiss to bind our souls." she said, and he felt the words echo through his mind. And then she was gone, her figure vanishing into mist.
End Dream Flashback
"Matsuke, it was too real to disregard." Inuyasha said, leaning back. "I wonder what it meant."
It meant that you need to get more sleep. the dragon replied through his mind with a smirk, lashing his tail. But maybe you're right; maybe it does mean something. Maybe she's your soul-mate, and she's trying to contact you.
"I can only wonder..." Inuyasha said, closing his eyes.
"Inuyasha!" a voice called up the hill. "Inuyasha!"
The boy opened his eyes to look down the hill to the young man. "What, Miroku!" he hollered.
"Inuyasha, there has been an attack on a village! Marli! The dragons are coming closer! You have to stop them!" he cried. "Inuyasha! You are the only Dragon Master young enough to fight them! And Matsuke is the only dragon with enough agility to battle!"
Inuyasha stood up, his hand clasping his sword's hilt. "Matsuke!" he called, and the dragon shed his relaxed pose to take up a fighting stance by Inuyasha. Inuyasha climbed his back, and he launched himself up above the trees to glide with his dragon to the cave a way up the mountain's side.
Slipping in, he dismounted Matsuke and ran to the back room where his master was.
"Toutousai, Toutousai!" he hollered. "Toutousai, I'm going to go fight the North dragons that threaten our land!"
"Now hang on a minute, Inuyasha. Your father didn't leave you in my care so I would let you fly away to your death! One last thing, let me give it to you, and you can go." the old youkai said from behind the rice-paper shojii to his room. He stepped out, holding a leather bag.
"Your father was a great Dragon Master at one time, did you know that?" he asked. "He was trained under me, and retired of the battle a little before you were born. He became a peace fanatic, or at least as peace loving as a youkai can get. And he wanted me to give this to you."
The old man reached out a hand and handed the younger youkai the bag. Inuyasha pulled out a silver ring from it's depths. It was made of some metal, and it was of a dragon. The beast looked back royally, clutching a garnet jewel to his chest, his wings spread over his tri-horned crest.
"What is this?" Inuyasha asked, turning the ring over and over in his hands. On the inside, words were engraved in the ancient tongue. They said 'One Half of Whole Kin'. It glowed softly, and he slid it on his finger.
"Only the true Master of Dragon Kin can wear it and pull it's true power forth. According to legend, there are two destined Masters of the Dragon Kin, and they be soul-mates. The King must wear the ring, and he is the only one who can call forth the Power of the Dragon Seal from the ring. The Queen must wear a pendant much like the ring, and she is the only other being who can call forth the power of the seal, but must do so with her pendant." Toutousai explained. "If you wish, I can show you the scrolls."
"No thanks, old man. Not interested. So, now can I go defeat the rogues of the code?" Inuyasha asked, remounting Matsuke.
Toutousai sighed. "If I say no, you'll go anyway, right?"
"Of course," Inuyasha said. "But you'll say yes, right?"
"Guh-bye!" Toutousai said, turning around and walking back through the shojii.
Inuyasha smirked, and rode out of the cave. Going down the mountain, he spotted Miroku, so he pulled down.
"Hey, Miroku. I'm going - are you coming?" he asked.
Miroku looked up. "Of course." he said with a smirk. "Let me get Satsuuke." he said.
Raising his hands, he muttered an incantation under his breath, and, with a puff of violet smoke, an imp dragon appeared. He was covered in soft, pale violet fur, with downy whiskers flowing from the top of his head, and feathers on his bird-like wings. His eyes were a blue-violet. He snorted out of his slim snout, and a wash of sparkling violet dust rolled out.
It was charmed dust, of course, but it was still purple. Inuyasha didn't understand why he'd chosen a purple dragon - an imp no less! But he was human - and humans were weird - so besides the occasional wise-crack, he didn't bother with opening his mouth.
Satsuuke was excited. Miroku! Are we going to go battle those rogues? he asked telepathically.
Miroku smirked. Of course, Satsuuke. Let's go to town. He repeated his second statement out loud for Inuyasha and Matsuke's benefit.
"Yeah, let's go." Inuyasha said as Miroku readied himself on Satsuuke's back.
And they flew down the mountain, Inuyasha, of course, in the lead (he was the Master of Dragon Kin, after all, and Miroku wasn't even a Dragon Master, only a Dragon Zeal). Very soon they would reach Naomikau, the start of their journey.
After Kouga had left, Kagome had taken Shippo to bed, and as soon as he was asleep, she walked back out.
"Kaede," she asked. "If Shippo is coming, will he ride with me, or on Nakshu?"
"He will ride Nakshu, and Sango will be going, too, with Kirara." Kaede replied, tidying up the table and what was left of dinner. Kagome took the dishes from her and went to the basin to wash them.
"The feline dragon from her village?" Kagome asked, picturing the dragon the last she'd seen it. It was a yellow cat, with flames about it's ankles and the juncture point of it's wings. It had fangs, and was still very cat-like, like most dragons, anyway. It's wings were skin, covered with velvety fur, and it often had them clasped to it's sides. It was the only dragon she had ever seen that could transform into a small, almost normal cat, only in both forms it had two tails. Sango could understand it, but she couldn't communicate with it the way Kagome could with Sionae - telepathically.
"Yes, Kirara and Sango will join you." Kaede said.
"We'll leave tomorrow, then." Kagome said.
"That's fine."
Kagome! Kagome! Someone's flying down from Western Mountains! They're heading for the town of Naomikau! a voice cried in Kagome's head.
"Sionae!" Kagome yelled, running out the door to see the silver dragon staring up at the closest mountains - the Western Mountains. Sure enough, two black dots were gliding towards the closest town, which was Naomikau. "Sionae, speak with the larger one. The one in the front." she directed. "Ask them who they are and what they're doing."
Sionae obeyed. Dragon Kin, this is Sionae of Silver. My master wants to know your destination, and who you are. Do you have a rider, or are you rogue? she asked.
A voice bounced back into her mind, and Kagome couldn't hear it. Of course I'm not rogue! I have a rider, a master of my own!
My apologies. We can not see you that well. Who are you, then? And who is your master? Sionae bowed her head, though she knew he could not see her.
You are forgiven, Sionae of Silver. I apologize for being so rash and quick to assume. I am Matsuke of Sable. My master is the Master of Dragon Kin. Matsuke said. She could hear the pride in his 'voice' when he spoke of his master. We are accompanied by a young man, a friend of my master, who is riding an imp dragon, who is Satsuuke of Violet, and he is a Dragon Zeal himself. His name is Miroku.
And your master's name is... Sionae prompted. There was a moment of silence, and for certain Matsuke was speaking with his master, asking permission to tell her.
Eventually he must have gotten it. Inuyasha. That is his name, Sionae, and what everyone calls him. What is the name of your master? he asked.
Sionae turned to Kagome. He wants to know your name. she said to her master alone. Can I tell him?
Kagome nodded. So Sionae told Matsuke. Kagome. She is a Dragon Master, more powerful then most, and may even be able to rival the Master of Dragon Kin's mate, the queen.
I'm not sure, but I've never seen your master, so I cannot say. Matsuke replied. Oh, and we are heading to Naomikau. My master wishes to stop the attacks.
We will be heading there tomorrow. Keep you master there until we arrive, and mayhap we will meet. Sionae said.
If fate would have it. Matsuke declared.
Sionae smiled a dragon smile. Sometimes it can't hurt to help fate out a bit. And they left it at that.
"Well?" Kagome asked.
His name is Matsuke of Sable. His master is Inuyasha, the Master of Dragon Kin, higher then any other Dragon Master. They are traveling with a Dragon Zeal named Miroku, who is on an imp, Satsuuke of Violet, and are heading towards Naomikau. I told him we may meet him there.
"Well, then we'll have to go to Naomikau tomorrow, eh, Sionae?" Kagome laughed. "Come now, let's go pack.
One may wonder how to pack with a dragon's help, when you're packing in a house made for people, not dragons. Well, when there is a large, open-air garden just outside the door, the dragon sit there and see everything you do.
That's how Sionae helped Kagome pack. Sionae usually slept out in the garden, as well, to be as close to Kagome as possible. That was the case tonight.
After packing many clothes appropriate for her for the journey (four outfits like the ones she wore in practice; her helmet; two dresses, one blue and one white; a white skirt; a fancy white shirt; a pair of loose black pants; a pair of black pants that were loose around her ankles, but form-hugging over her legs; one off-white, loose nightgown; a pair of boots for riding; a pair of boots for hiking; slippers for the dresses; comfortable tan shoes for everyday; a blue cloak; and an old style kimono), she packed some appropriate clothes for Shippo (four kimonos like the one he wore before; a riding outfit like hers, but smaller; a helmet; some baggy black pants; a white shirt; a dress outfit made of fancy-style green pants and a fancy green shirt; and a small, dark green cloak), some things for Sionae (herbs; polish for her horns and scales; an extra saddle; a harness for while they were in the town; and some dragon-safe chocolate she'd made herself), some money and a few provisions, and went to bed.
Shippo was sleeping in a small bed beside her own, and Sionae was just right outside, watching her master, so she slept easy.
Inuyasha and Miroku had roomed in the local inn, Stone's Throw, that night. So they woke up in the morning to the sound of mental dragon-song. Miroku had grumbled and tried to go back to sleep, but Inuyasha was accustomed to the morning ritual, since his dragon was always near him. So he got up in a good mood.
"Hey, Inuyasha! Why are you in such a good mood?" Miroku asked him.
"I don't know. Maybe because I feel like it, maybe because I'm Master of Dragon Kin, and this is the first time I've woken up to hear Matsuke sing in a chorus. I can hear Satsuuke, too, now, and every other dragon that's speaking openly." Inuyasha said.
"Master of Dragon Kin? Since when?" Miroku asked. He'd studied the old scrolls Toutousai had, so he knew what was going on.
"Since Toutousai gave me the ring." he said.
"The Ring of the Dragon Seal?" Miroku inquired. "Have you found your mate yet?"
Inuyasha threw a pillow at the other boy. "Pervert." he muttered as stomped out of the room to take a bath.
Miroku smiled after him once the pillow fell from his face. "He's such a lovable guy, ain't he though?"
"Kagome, are you sure we're ready to go?" Sango asked.
"Yeah, if you are." Kagome replied. "Shippo, Sionae and I are ready to go. Oh, and Shippo! I brought some extra of Sionae's chocolates, and I packed an extra one of Nakshu's saddles and a harness for him, too, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Kagome." Shippo said, hopping onto her shoulder.
"Shippo, you're only a Zeal. You have to summon your dragon." Kagome said with a laugh.
"Oh, yeah, right. Can you help me?" Shippo asked, hopping back to the ground.
"Sure. Just repeat after me." Kagome said. "Darkest winds, nightly glow,"
"Darkest winds, nightly glow,
In the shadows, raise and grow,
I call my playmate, Nakshu Green.
Come to me, comrade, and we shall sing
Of nightly cohorts taking wing."
With a puff of greenish smoke, there was a dragon before them. It was an elvin dragon, with pale green fur and twig-like horns. It's wings were like pale green moths' wings, and it had two pairs of them, like a moth. Elvin dragons, instead of breathing fire, breathe water, like dryad dragons. It snorted, and a small bit of stream came from it's nostrils.
"Hello, Nakshu." Kagome greeted him. He was just a child, for a dragon, and was just the right size for Shippo to ride. He nodded to her in greeting as well, and then went over to Shippo. "Now, Shippo; when you get older, you must say 'companion' instead of 'playmate', understand?"
"Yes, Kagome." Shippo replied, as his dragon nuzzled his face.
So your mother is finally teaching you how to summon me, yes? Nakshu asked. Shippo was the only one who heard.
No. She's not really my mother, you should know that. My mother is dead. Shippo replied through their telepathic link.
But she acts like it, yes? Nakshu inquired.
Yes, she does.
"Come on, you guys." Kagome said, already seated on Sionae. Shippo hopped onto Nakshu, and they rose above the trees, heading for the village of Naomikau. She unconsciously touched the pendant around her neck as they flew.
Inuyasha and Miroku were sitting in Stone's Throw's bar, lightly drinking some of the crimson Aaimn the bartender served.
"So, do we leave Naomikau tomorrow or tonight?" Miroku asked his buddy.
Inuyasha was about to respond, but stopped. Matsuke was speaking to him. "Tomorrow night." he said finally.
Matsuke and Satsuuke were tied up outside. They were most certainly getting odd looks, but they were speaking with their masters, so they didn't care. Matsuke was sitting closest to the wall, and he was just watching the passers-by with an indifferent expression, but Satsuuke kept attracting attention - from the girls in the village. They kept petting him, stroking his fur, and every once in a while he would snort and they would giggle at the pink and violet dust the was suddenly in the air.
That's just sad. Matsuke said.
What? Inuyasha asked from in the tavern.
He's getting the attention of every female in the vicinity. Don't tell Miroku that, or he'll be outside in a heart-beat. Matsuke sounded disgusted.
He's already coming out. Inuyasha said, sounding amused.
Ugh.
Miroku walked out of the inn and over to his dragon. "Why, hello, Satsuuke. And who are all of these fine young ladies you've caught?" he asked.
"Oh, is this yours?" one of them asked.
"Yes. This is my dragon partner, Satsuuke." Miroku said, laying his hand Satsuuke's back. Satsuuke instantly nudged his hand.
I've got an itch on my right wing. Could you get it, Miroku? Satsuuke asked.
"Of course, Satsuuke." Miroku replied, reaching out to scratch the base of the wing mentioned.
"Oh! How did you know where he was itching?" one of the other girls asked when Satsuuke's wing twitched in relief.
"Why, he told me, of course." Miroku said. "Dragon's are telepathic with their partners, each other, and of course the Master of Dragon Kin, who can hear all dragons' public messages."
"Really? So, could you prove it?" another girl asked.
"Of course." was naturally Miroku's response. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the girl who'd asked, also handing her a pen. "Write something done for me to tell him to do, and I'll tell him telepathically."
The girl scribbled on the scrap of paper, not letting the dragon see, and then handed it to Miroku. He read the sheet, looked at Satsuuke, and grinned, speaking with him mentally.
Satsuuke nodded a bit, and walked over to the girl, crouching down so she could get on his back. Looking a little confused, she said to Miroku, "This isn't what I wrote!"
"He wants to show you personally. Oh, well, as close to it as he can, anyway." Miroku shrugged, but smiled.
The girl climbed on, and Satsuuke flew into the air, over to the forest, and let out a stream of the dust that took the place of fire, only this time bluish. Coming back with the girl, she looked a little dazed.
"I wrote breath fire over the forest!" she protested. "That's not what he did!"
"You see, Satsuuke is an imp dragon. He can't breath fire, only that dust, but he has many different kinds. That which he did over the forest was a sleeping powder. Go on into the forest, you'll find most of the animals asleep." Miroku explained. Some of the girls ran off to see. The rest smiled at him and stayed where they were.
Inuyasha came out of the inn, looking a little angry. "Miroku! What are you doing, letting someone else ride your dragon!" he cried. The girls looked scared of him.
"Hey, how did you know?" one of them bravely asked. Inuyasha turned to them, but he wasn't really angry at them, so he spoke almost gently.
"I could hear it. Not to mention Matsuke told me." He mentioned his dragon, who nodded and looked at Miroku disgustedly.
"Oh, girls, do you remember that I told you the Master of Dragon Kin could hear everyone who is speaking openly?" Miroku asked. The girls nodded. "Well, this is him."
Inuyasha closed his eyes, counted to ten, took deep breaths...none of it worked. Only one other way to calm him down...He smacked Miroku upside the head.
Miroku grabbed his hand, and held it out for the others to see. "You see that ring? That proves it. Only the Master of Dragon Kin can wear it."
Inuyasha jerked his hand away. "Maybe you read the scroll wrong, but other people can wear it, too! My father wore it, and he wasn't the Master. It's just that only the Master can draw the power of the Dragon Seal from the ring."
"Right. It has been three years since I read that scroll." Miroku conceded. During the argument, the girls had walked away, going about their daily business.
Shippo, ask your mother if we are almost there. a new dragon's voice suddenly said in Inuyasha's mind. He snapped his head around to look for the dragon that had spoken.
I told you, she's not my mother! a child cried. Not a dragon, but linked to a dragon.
Well, she acts like it! Just ask her!
A few moments of silence in his head, and then a laugh from a dragon. He's said that often enough, hasn't he?
Yes. A female voice. It was human.
I think it's Nakshu, though.
Yes, I know it is. Shippo knows better then to ask me the same question too many times. A laugh, from the human girl.
And then they came into view. Three dragons, each with riders. One was small, a hatchling, with a child rider, and it was an elvin dragon, he could tell. The other was a cat-like dragon with a dark-haired woman riding it. The third was a silver dragon with a beautiful young woman mounted on it. Somehow he knew it was the one who'd spoken last, the one that 'Shippo' - who was probably the kid on the green Elvin dragon - had asked how long it was to their destination, and whom his dragon - again, probably the green Elvin - had said was his mother.
He took a step towards the group, and they landed in the now-empty square.
"I'm glad no one's here. I'd rather not land in a crowd, or a forest." said the one riding the Silver as she dismounted. "And Nakshu? We're here."
The elvin dragon didn't look at her as the child descended. The child shot him a look. I told you she knew it wasn't me. he said mentally.
Inuyasha stepped up. "Who are you?" he asked.
The woman looked up, startled. "Oh, hello. My name is Kagome. This is Sango, Shippo, Nakshu, and Kirara." She motioned to each of her group in turn. "And this is my dragon Sionae." She patted the silver dragon on the back, pulled out a piece of something from the bag on her back, and handed it to her. The dragon snatched it and gulped it down.
Thank you. Sionae said, smiling a dragon smile.
"My name is Inuyasha. This is Miroku, his dragon Satsuuke, and my dragon Matsuke." Inuyasha said, also patting his dragon.
Kagome looked over at him, startled. Then she smiled. "I should have guessed. Sionae said you'd probably be here."
Inuyasha blinked. "What?"
"I'm the one who asked Sionae to speak with Matsuke when we saw you coming down from the mountain yesterday." Kagome said, walking forward.
"Oh, yes. Matsuke never told me your name, so I didn't recognize you." Inuyasha said. He half smiled at her, and shook her outstretched hand.
"Would Matsuke like some chocolate? Master Kaede told me how to make dragon chocolate." she said, pulling out another small piece of something from her bag.
"Is that safe?" he asked. Matsuke ran up and reached for it. Kagome laughed and handed it to him.
Of course it is, Inuyasha. said Kagome's silver dragon. I eat it all the time.
Well, maybe Matsuke's anatomy is different from yours! Inuyasha said, sticking his tongue out at the dragon. It was a childish action, and Kagome noticed it.
"So you can speak with Sionae?" she asked.
Inuyasha turned to her. "I can speak with every dragon unless they purposefully block me out. It's part of my title."
"I didn't know that. Kaede knew a lot about dragons and how to ride then, but not much about their masters. I had to find out on my own how to summon, so that I could teach Shippo." Kagome said as the kit leapt onto her shoulder, and she stroked his tail affectionately.
"It's the parents' job to teach them." Inuyasha said.
"Well, Shippo's parents were killed a while ago, and he's been staying with me." Kagome replied, pulling Shippo down into her arms.
"Um, excuse me, Lady Kagome, but..." Miroku leapt in between them. "Would you-"
He was cut off as Inuyasha punched him on the head, and he fell to the ground.
"Would I what?" Kagome asked, looking from Inuyasha to Miroku.
Inuyasha shook his head. "You don't want to know."
As Miroku stood up, he walked past Kagome to Sango. On his way by, he reached out his hand and was about to grope her, when...a hand snatched out and latched onto his. For a moment her thought it was Inuyasha's, but when the owner of the hand pulled him around, he was looking at Kagome.
"What were you doing?" she asked. Inuyasha was staring at her, too. Then he smirked.
"Ah, um, well..." Miroku tried, but gave up and shrugged.
Kagome threw him back behind her and shook her head. He was far enough away she wasn't in any real danger, and she said, "Don't try it again." over her shoulder.
Miroku nodded, and walked dazedly over to Sango. A few moments later, there was the sound of something hard and heavy falling on Miroku's head.
Kagome looked over her shoulder to see Miroku lying on the ground with Sango's giant boomerang, Hiraikotsu, on his head.
"I take it she didn't want to know, either." Kagome remarked.
"You know it." Inuyasha said, his focus going from the scene behind her to Kagome herself. Shippo had previously moved away to sit upon Kirara, and Kagome was now stroking his own dragon's head.
A little to the right... Matsuke mumbled in his head. Kagome smiled, and her hand moved over to the designated spot. Inuyasha blinked. Lucky, he thought. She was just guessing. But maybe...
Lady Kagome should give Miroku more of a chance. He really is a nice guy, once you get to know him. he heard Satsuuke saying to Sionae.
Kagome turned her head to look a glare at the imp dragon, who backed up slightly in submission, trying to make himself seem smaller.
When he doesn't try to grab my ass, then I'll give him a chance. Kagome's voice said in disgust.
Inuyasha blinked at her. Was she speaking to Miroku's dragon? And had she heard Matsuke? Only one way to find out - he had to ask.
"Can you hear them?" he questioned.
Kagome turned, startled, in his direction. "Well, yes. The only dragon I've ever not been able to hear is Kirara, and Sango says that she doesn't speak. I can't hear dragons when they speak exclusively to their masters, of course, but if they speak openly or directly to me, then I can." she acknowledged. "I have always have been able to. That's why Kaede took me on - I could speak to dragons before I was even bonded to Sionae."
Inuyasha stared a moment, then shook it off. "Well, no one told me, so how was I supposed to know?" he asked hotly at her questioning gaze. "Anyways, I've got to go to the Northern Mountains to get rid of those rogues, and I'm going to leave tonight at dusk. If you want to join us, go ahead, but don't expect me to help you. You'll have to watch your own ass."
And he turned and went back into the tavern to get some rest. Kagome blinked after him, and followed. She needed to get a room, anyways.
"Sorry, miss, but the room we gave these two young men was the last one." the inn keeper said apologetically, bowing his head. There was something about this woman that commanded respect where ever she went. Maybe it was the fact she had a small kitsune perched squarely on her shoulder, but he wasn't sure. "There is an extra room in their quarters, but you would need their permission to use it."
The woman smiled. "Don't worry. I don't mind. He will let us stay; we're traveling with him, starting tomorrow. We'll be sharing rooms often." she said, turning to walk away. She headed up the stairs as the landlord watched her. She was also very beautiful. Maybe that was it?
There was a knocking sound from the floor above, and the landlord heard a muted conversation. It was an argument. Over the extra rooms. 'I suppose he isn't as keen to sharing a room with her as she seems to think.' he thought with a small smile. There was some commotion, and the woman came back down in a huff, carrying the silver-haired boy behind her. He was the one who owned the room.
She tossed him roughly to the ground, and pointed at him. "Now tell him that Sango, Shippo and I will be staying in those rooms!" she commanded
The boy stuck his nose in the air haughtily. "I don't have to. It's my room! I could kick Miroku out if I wanted." he said smugly, adding a smirk to the ceiling. He wouldn't even look at her.
She froze. "Are you...comparing me to that...pervert?" she asked quietly, half hurt, half angry.
The boy turned to her at her tone, and his eyes widened. The landlord looked closely to see what had caught his attention, and saw that silvery tears were making their way down the girl's slim, pretty face.
"D-don't cry, Kagome. I hate seeing girls cry, don't cry." he started, standing up and taking a step towards her, his outstretched hand reaching for her.
She turned away, now angry. "I don't care." she said, insulted. She ran from the building, and the boy followed. 'Oh well, so much for the show.' the landlord thought, going back to work.
"Kagome...stop...wait!" Inuyasha called, running from the tavern. "Why do I even bother?" he asked no one in particular, hefting his speed up a notch to try to catch her anyways.
He found her deeper into the forest, stopped at the edge of a cliff. She was looking down over the edge at the rushing, turbulent waters below. Her hand was laid against the trunk of a tree, and she stiffened as Inuyasha approached.
"What do you want!" she asked, sounding annoyed.
"I was just...coming to get you. I...Why did you run away, wench!" His voice turned harsh. He hadn't know what to say, and so he'd insulted her.
"You're being a jerk." She didn't turn around, didn't even flinch at the insult he'd flung, but it did sting.
"I'm allowed to be a jerk. I'm the Dragon Master."
"Some stupid title doesn't give you any right to be a jerk." she replied, turning around finally. She threw a rock at his head, walking past as he caught it. "I had been planning to show you that," she started, raising her hand. The wind picked up, and the stone was wrenched from his had, skipping across the air and back to her before he could stop it, as she continued. "But I think I'll just keep it."
He stared at her retreating figure as she walked back towards the town, and was about to follow her, when she stiffened.
A high-pitched, keening scream was pulsating from the river below the cliff he was still on, and Kagome turned back to look at him. He saw an expression of horror in her eyes before he turned around, feeling a breeze flutter at his back.
He was suddenly face to face with a large, red, rogue dragon.
"Holy... - " Inuyasha started, but the dragon reached out a clawed paw and gripped his arm harshly. He screamed in pain, and Kagome saw blood splatter to the ground as the dragon dropped Inuyasha. The boy shuddered and tried to stand, but the dragon dropped beside him and buried its claws into his stomach, biting hard down on his side.
Kagome's eyes were wide and staring at the carnage before her. She'd never seen a dragon behave so viciously, and she watched for a moment, before another scream from Inuyasha forced her into action.
Without thinking, she pulled her bow from around her shoulder, and pulled an arrow from a quiver at her waist. She notched the arrow, and aimed at the dragon, firing at its leg.
It cried out as the arrow dug into its muscle, jerking back away from Inuyasha's mangled body. It wasn't seriously wounded, and so it tried to get back to its prey, gaining three more arrows in its back.
Deciding the boy wasn't worth getting shot at by this strange girl, it flew away unsteadily and plunged back down to the river below.
Kagome dropped her bow, running over to Inuyasha. She knelt beside him, pulling his head up. He groaned at the movement, but appeared to be unconscious.
Before she could think too much about it, she hoisted the boy up onto her shoulders, and very, very slowly made her way back to the tavern.
