Chapter 22: "Kippichin"

It was about three hours later and I was still flying. I was getting tired now.

"Hiei?"

/What/

"You're probably not hungry since I'm in here but I'm starving."

/……I guess I have to start looking for food now……/ The truth was I was thinking about the Ningenkai again.

"Hurry… I'm hungry."

/Yeah, yeah…/ I flew lower to the ground. During the three hours of flying through territory after territory of dragons I was beginning to learn some things. Like for one) I was learning how to feel when other dragons were around. It was a lot like sensing for other demons but different. I was also learning how to tell where a dragons' territory began and where it ends.

I felt another dragon approaching and flew really close to the ground. I felt a tree brush my stomach and realized there was a forest underneath me. /Wow… It's huge…/

/Duh! It's suppose to be! We're dragons after all/ I studied the new dragon. He was a bright green and didn't have front legs. His wings were his front limbs. His front claws extended slightly farther then his wings. He studied me with his own curious look in his bright amber colored eyes. I glanced at his tail and saw it had a spike at the end so it was like a spear.

/I've never seen a dragon like you before./ he said.

/I could say the same./

He made a high pitched squawk noise that I guessed was a laugh. /But Wyverns are all over the place! What are you? A hatchling/

/Hn./ I kept an eye on the Wyvern.

/So… I'm Kippichin. What's your name/

I hesitated. This dragon was smaller then me. /Hiei./

/Hiei, huh? What type of dragon are you--/ Suddenly Kippichin disappeared into a tree.

I flared out my wings so it caught the wind and I could hover in the air. I looked at the green Wyvern as he struggled to get out of the tree. /Darn it! I can't--/ I watched as he struggled to use his wings to get out of the tree. He finally used his clawed wings to help him perch on a branch. /I meant to do that./ His tail flicked back and forth casually.

/You're an idiot./ I couldn't help but say.

He ignored me. /So, Hiei, what's in your chamber/

I growled, annoyed. What the hell was it with these dragons? /Nothing./

His wings flared partway then folded against him. My guess was he was shrugging… Like if you were to shrug your shoulders. /Okay./

I turned around and continued to fly. I glanced back to see Kippichin watching me. He tilted his head when he heard Matt's stomach growl. /Heh. It seems your friend in there's hungry./

/I can catch my own food./

He bared his fangs in a grin. /I'm sure you could with claws like those but the only food you'll find around here for a few miles is fish./

/Hn./

/I'll tell you what. You can stay with me for a while. You know, rest up, get some food and in return I can travel with you./

/Tch. No thanks./

Kippichin looked hurt. "Hiei? He looks younger then you…. He's too young to be without one of his parents around."

/…Where're your parents/

Kippichin suddenly seemed slightly distant. It didn't fit well with his personality so I knew whatever had happened was bad. /……Dragon slayers……/

"Dragon slayers! They're still around?" Matt sounded excited.

/Since when have you understood dragons/ I snapped.

"Er…"

Kippichin sighed. /I'm on my own out here… I can't win against a dragon slayer if I run into one so I came here but the dragons are just as tough./

"Hiei, let him come. If he's lasted in the North then he has to be able to fight. He could teach you in exchange for our company."

/…/ I thought it over. We could get out of this damn place and I could give my wings a break without worrying if we were going to be attacked.

……Well… I could worry less about being attacked.

/Fine. Kippichin, where's the fish you were talking about/

Kippichin's eyes lit up. /I can come! Yes! Okay, follow me/