Hello again, ladies and gentlemen! I am back with another chapter!

I have made the interesting observation that each of my chapters has been getting progressively shorter. It's kind of weird, but it's not going to happen anymore, because this chapter is much much longer than any of the others. and the next three chapters after it are loner than the one before. I'm only on chapter ten, but it's already a lot longer than any I've written. I'm hoping that when I start on chapter eleven, it continues that wonderful pattern!

So, at any rate, I bring to you the next chapter. Read and review, please!


Singing to the Wind

Chapter 7

Here comes The Sun


Hikari began to walk due north, further away from the village. The trees grew closer together as the slope gradually increased. When it reached a gentle forty-five degrees, she knew that she was now at the base of the largest mountain, Mt. Inari. Its peak was topped with a generous snowcap, and the tree line stopped about three quarters of the way up. Past that there were only various bushes, shrubs, and a lot of grass. Not to mention rocks. Many, many rocks there were. All the trees on the mountain were very large, and would greatly aide in halting any possible avalanches that could occur.

Unlike the other three or four mountains (you can't really count each peak as a mountain, now, can you?) that were pretty much surrounding the valley, there were no tunnels drilled into Mt. Inari for refuge. The villagers always feared becoming lost in the woods at this end, for they were indeed denser than the rest of the forest. Hikari placed a hand on a large maple, feeling the tree's life force pulse beneath her palm. Nothing had yet penetrated this area of weald. She hoped that nothing ever would.

A cloud moved across the sun, making everything dimmer for a few moments. Hikari faintly smelled rain to the... let's see... yes, it was the northeast. She jumped up into the levels of a taller tree to survey the land.

The cloud had several holes in it, and the sun was shining through in shafts of golden light. The clouds to the northeast, quite possibly a league or so away, were rain laden and beginning to release their fat droplets. To the south, in the village, the smoke coming out of the huts were seen as thin ribbons, dissipating into the air above. Hikari couldn't actually see the huts, for the trees were too tall to look over unless she was to go higher on the mountain.

Farther to the south, past the edge of the valley pass and the large river, the vast plains were disturbed by a small black dot. Judging by the distance, Hikari could guess that it was actually a good few yards across. She could just make out two rapidly moving specks, dashing back and forth at quite incredible speeds. They were jumping great distances, and every time they would meet, color would appear between them.

Hikari knew what they were. These were youkai lords, fighting over territory. They probably had swords and other weapons at their disposal, and one had made that burn mark on the plains. If it was deep enough, then the grass would not grow back at all, and there was a possbility that a family of voles or field mice had been harmed.

"Stupid childish pricks," she muttered. "Why couldn't they act like every other decent being in the known world, and just talk about it instead of coming to blows?" She took off and converted into her bird form to intervene. It should be noted that she was muttering about 'boys and their toys' the entire time in flight.

The two demons in question were the lords of the west and south. Lord Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the West, and the Great Lion Kazuma of the Southern plains. They were, as Hikari had thought, in a rivalry over land. As far as they knew, the center, the heart, of Japan had yet to be claimed for any lord, demon or otherwise. The lords of the north and east were rather... how can we say this... let's just say that they lacked intelligence. Both, while fierce in battle, didn't crave land. They could be told almost anything, and they'd believe it. A great flaw, indeed. If it weren't for their retainers and advisors, then they'd surely have been overthrown by now.

Their battle had only been underway for about an hour or so when something caught Sesshomaru's golden eye. He looked toward it, and gave his opponent the chance to land a blow. It wasn't anything, really, so the dog demon simply landed and swept at Kazuma with his destructive sword, Tokijin. Then they stopped fighting to look at a great bird, approaching rapidly. Its plumage was unlike any either demon had ever witnessed. Red, gold, and white, the bird was easily their size with its wings folded.

Though the bird was large, neither Sesshomaru nor Kazuma deemed it worthy of destruction. They assumed that it was harmless.

Big mistake, boys.

The vividly plumed animal landed on sharply clawed feet, feathered head cocked. Through its black as night eyes, both youkai got the impression that they were doing something they weren't supposed to. One could compare it to the feeling of being caught with a hand in the cookie jar. Kazuma actually cringed, reminded of his mother before he received a scolding.

Sesshomaru pointed Tokijin at the creature, addressing it directly. In his mind, that was quite the honor. "Entitle yourself, intruder. Why do you interrupt us?"

The winged one let out a melodical screech from its sun-kissed beak. Then it rolled its eyes, and spread its wings again. However, instead of taking off, leaves and blades of grass swirled upward in a reversed tornado of light. The creature was temporarily shielded from view.

When the twister subsided, the sight was ever the more confusing for both lords. Standing there was a girl. They had expected something more... poignant, if you will. And as it was, this... child... was hardly impressive at all.

"Boys and their toys..." the girl muttered. Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow, noting that her clothing was very high ranking in appearance. White kimono, with pale blue and lavender blossoms. Her hair was down and well tended. He saw no signs of work in her hands. The first thought was that she was some rich demon lord's heir child, out for a walk. Her speech was most peculiar, however. The Taiyoukai had never heard such mutterings before.

"I will not repeat myself, girl. State your name and leave at once. Children shouldn't interfere in matters that are clearly for the
adults." Even if she was a demon, she couldn't be more than twenty. Demons grew at almost the same rate as humans until adulthood, about thirty.

"My name," The girl looked him in the eye. "Is none of your concern. You shouldn't fight over what isn't yours to begin with."

Sesshomaru felt a twinge of anger inside him, and noticed that his rival of a few moments ago was also bristling.

"And why is it that you think this land isn't ours? No one has yet to claim it, you insolent whelp," Kazuma all but shouted. He lunged at her, growling, "You should have left when you had the chance, brat!"

As was to be expected if you have read the story, the lion never even reached her. He was slammed to the ground by an invisible fist, forced to eat dirt. The girl giggled. "Silly kitty," she said. She then turned to Sesshomaru, eyes large and blue and clearly amused. "Would the puppy like to dig for kibble?"

Sesshomaru growled. "You are quite the demon to take down such a powerful lord, and an imbecile to insult one even stronger. This Sesshomaru will not tolerate it." His sword at the ready, the inu youkai prepared to make mincemeat out of the small female. Preferably sooner rather than later. She really did not stay on his good side, assuming he even had one.

The girl scratched her head. "You're named Sesshomaru, huh? Well, I can't say I've ever heard of you, but it's nice to finally meet a youkai." She thrust out her hand cheerfully. When she didn't get a reaction, she withdrew the appendage. "Since you said your name, I'll say mine! I'm Hikari."

Blank stare from the tall one. "Are you the ruler of these lands?"

Hikari shook her head gently. "No. I just watch over my village. They barely even know I exist anymore, but I still look after them." She pointed over her shoulder at the dark green mountains in the distance. "That's where I live. It's really nice. The mountains keep the bad things away."

"I see," Sesshomaru commented, though he really didn't. She didn't appear antagonistic, or power-hungry, but she still stopped their fight. She could have let one kill the other, then go after him, but for all intensive purposes, she appeared to be a pacifist. "Did you think that I was trespassing on your land?"

Hikari smiled, and it was darker, or maybe just older, than before, but still very cheerful. "I didn't think you were trespassing. I just knew that you were fighting a pointless battle."

The silver haired lord lowered Tokijin ever so slightly. The girl was now just annoying him, not truly getting him angry. A definite plus. "You assume much for one who is so young. I gather that I am at least four times older than you."

Her eyebrows quirked. "Would you be willing to bet on that, Lord Sesshomaru?"

His patience frayed a little bit more, and tact was not his strong point. "You can't be much older than forty. You look too young."

Hikari threw back her head in laughter, plopping down into the grass, her legs crossed. Sesshomaru remembered a little tidbit from some stored away part of his mind about etiquette. He'd been taught, among other things, that no woman of privilege would ever do such a thing as sit in the grass. She was obviously not one who interacted with people of high status very often. "If I told you how old I was, you might make a face!" She toppled over, clutching her stomach, more laughter spouting from her mouth.

Sesshomaru felt a sweat drop appear on the back of his head. This... this... insolent girl was laughing- at HIM! He sheathed Tokijin and drew poison to his hand. It glowed a venomous green, which was quite fitting, actually, considering it was venom.

But as he lunged and thrust his hand where her throat would be, he found that she was no longer there. A finger poked him, and a voice squealed, "Tag! You're it." The girl, though claiming to be old, was very childish in manner. he swiped at her, or where she should have been, but only empty air greeted him.

Now she was really pissing him off. He glanced her out of the corner of his eye, and conjured his poison whip. As he turned, though, he saw a peculiar emotion in her eyes. She wasn't smiling. He stopped, taken completely off guard.

She was sad, he realized. Before he knew what was happening, his whip was gone and she was standing right in front of him. Her tiny hand was reaching up to his face, pity adorning her features. But if her appearance confused him, then he was totally unprepared for what she said.

"Don't worry, Fluffy dear, mommy will be home soon."

He recoiled from her touch slightly. His mother had said that to him, so many years ago, when he was still a pup, happy and bright-eyed and new to the world. She'd said those very words to him the day that she died. So to hear them spouted from the mouth of someone who was clearly not his mother was more than a bit of a shock. It also angered the old dog more than he would admit.

He jumped a safe distance away from Hikari in an attempt to keep his dignity. "Explain yourself, girl. This Sesshomaru has no time for your pitiful tricks."

Hikari seemed to snap out of a daze, and looked at him innocently. Sesshomaru could see that she was pulling it off, too. If he were at all gullible, he might have thought her expression to be sincere. "Tricks? But it isn't playtime yet." She thought a moment, then smiled. "Oh, you mean that trick. Well, just so you know, it isn't a trick. It's as real as I am."

'Which is how much,' he wondered. Sesshomaru's eyes hardened. "You try my patience, wench. Tell me what you're talking about."

The redhead looked up at the clouds a moment before again visually confronting his golden orbs by looking him in the eye. That was something that almost no one, save for the girl who traveled with his younger brother, had ever done. Well, gotten away with, at least.

"I read minds," she stated simply. "I am the master key to all the locks in your brains. It comes in handy when people can't- or won't- talk." More of a smirk followed.

A small twig snapping in the trees about a hundred yards to the west of Sesshomaru interrupted their conversation. Hikari's head snapped in that direction, eyes suddenly cold and piercing. Her hand shot out, and something burst into flames.

To Sesshomaru's continuing surprise (he hadn't thought that she could hear that well), she furrowed her brows and lowered her hand. Then she began to laugh once more.

Turning to him, she managed, "Your toad... just got... trampled- again. Might... want to get... him. Before he throws a fit."

"Jaken," the demon lord hissed, stalking in the direction of his servant. That little runt had a knack for getting trouble to include him in its games. And it never seemed to deter the imp from following Sesshomaru around like a lost puppy. How pitiful. Add to the fact that he was always acting so indamnably pretentious, and you have yourself there a mighty fine pain in the ass. The donkey too.

Halfway to the stand of trees, the Taiyoukai looked back, expecting to see a certain laughing smart-aleck. What he got instead was the retreating shadow of a very large bird. He shook his head and continued on.

"My lord!" Apparently, the imp was awake. Annoying as ever, too. "Who was that girl?"

"I don't know, Jaken."


Hikari- Hello!

Saikyou- Hi.

Hikari- Hi, Sai-sai! I am glad you're here!

Saikyou- Moi aussi!

Hikari- Je voudrais etre chat.

Saikyou- C'est tres interessant, n'est pas?

Hikari- Vraiment, ma soeur.

Saikyou- Je ne suis pas ta soeur.

Hikari- Pas encore, mais tu serais bientôt.

Saikyou- Ah, bien sur. J'ai oublie.

Hikari- Il est bien.

Kyoko- Est-ce que je peux joindre votre conversation?

Saikyou- I thought you said she wasn't allowed in here.

Hikari- I did. I don't know why she's here.

Kyoko- Je suis ici parce qu'il est tres amusante. Je peux etre aussi ennuyant que je veux ici.

Hikari- Well, that figures. Still, I could have sworn I banned you from my fanfiction.

Kyoko- Vous m'avez interdit de votre histoire de Buffy. Non celui-ci.

Saikyou- Well, you're banned from here too.

Kyoko- Vous ne pouvez pas faire cela.

Hikari- She may not, but I can.

Kyoko- Vous pas!

Hikari- Oh, but I would- and I am. Patsy!

Patsy- What is it?

Kyoko- Qui est-il? (Runs away, Patsy chasing her with a doorknob.)

Hikari- And that's that! No more Kyoko, in any of my fics! I put it in the clause!

Saikyou- What clause? You didn't write anything up.

Hikari- It is all on the doorknob, my dear Watson.

Saikyou- Your genius is kind of nuts sometimes.

Hikari- Je sais, ma soeur, je sais.