Chapter 4

As night fell Kagome and Shippo kept an eager watch over the young dragon kit while he slept by the fire. Though bandages, medicine and warmth had improved his condition, Ukuri was still fragile and far from recovery. Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku meanwhile had each taken off in separate directions in search of the wolf-dragon's rider. But as the night sky grew gradually darker all three eventually returned unsuccessful. Wherever Shura was, it was a great distance away.

As the group of friends sat and continued to mull over the situation and the various scenarios that could have led up to it a pair of large emerald green eyes spotted them from the sky and decided to investigate further. The owner of the stare was a massive dragon with a long, slender neck, muscular limbs, and large powerful wings. Its midnight colored body was barely visible in the dark sky, but the force of its wing stoke was turbulent enough to catch the attention of anyone in the vicinity.

As the demon passed overhead the gusts from its wings nearly toppled everyone in Inuyasha's party before it lowered itself to the ground some distance away. Inuyasha readied his sword, Sango her boomerang, and Miroku his wind tunnel as the creature swerved its head and stared at them with unblinking, cat like eyes. All three of them had sensed the demon's approach, but never expected it to appear so swiftly and from seemingly out of nowhere.

"Great just what we need, another dragon!" Inuyasha grumbled as he readied Tetsusaiga for an attack.

"Careful Inuyasha," Sango warned, "they're not as easy to kill as most other demons." Not surprisingly, Inuyasha was unmoved by the exterminators caution.

"Gimme a break! That one's only half the size of Ryuukotsusei, and I took him down no problem!" Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga high and started into a charge "This should be a piece of cake!" While he continued to race forward the half-demon's sword blazed with the wind's scar's power. All he needed was one well-aimed swing… and that intrusive dragon would get the butt whooping of a lifetime. As the half demon pushed off of the ground and soared into striking range a new presence became outlined in the dark. Springing from the dragon's shoulders, a man-sized rush of shadow with golden cat-like eyes stopped Inuyasha's assault. Before he knew what happened, Inuyasha found himself suspended just above the ground, his throat caught in the unknown fighters powerful right hand. Surprisingly though, the grip was not harmful or choking, only firm enough to keep him at bay.

"Half demon" the shadowed figure spoke out before Inuyasha had the chance to regain his bearings and slice the bastard in half with his still powered sword, "you are the kin to Lord Sesshomaru, and Lady Shuramaru of the west are you not?" By now the others had come within viewing range, a fact that made Inuyasha all the more anxious to escape.

"What's it to you?" he growled as his muscles gradually tensed. The demon captor gave a little laugh, but not in smugness, in fact his laugh was almost friendly.

"I thought as much. You carry the great Inutaishou's stubbornness as well as the scent of his blood." Inuyasha felt himself slowly lowered to the ground, and the grip around his neck released. Apparently this demon had no interest in fighting.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha asked in bewilderment as he put away his sword. It wasn't every day after all, that he confronted a demon that didn't want to kill him for one reason or another. The mystery fighter took a few steps forward until his body was free from the masking shadows. Though still in poor light, Inuyasha could see the gentleman had the finned ears and facial markings common to dragon kind and the garments of a monarch. But there was something else…the harder he looked, the half demon was certain he had seen this youth before.

"I am Matyeo, high ruler of the Northern territory…and over yonder is my travel guide Ebony" there was a pause as the dragon king inspected the group of travelers. Their presence was reminiscent in his memory as well. "And unless I am mistaken you are the exulted group of guests whom I met some weeks previously in a village south of here."

"Oh I remember now," Inuyasha replied having also made the connection "You're that dragon lord who came to Shura's home after Naraku attacked you."

"Yes, that's correct." The dragon confirmed with a gentle nod of the head. "I apologize if we startled you."

"Oh its okay," Kagome butted in and spoke before Inuyasha let his short fuse speak for him. "I guess we should be thankful that you weren't going to try and attack us." Matyeo gave a friendly smile in return then perked his ears in Miroku's direction when the monk cleared his throat.

"If I may dragon ruler, rumors tell that your castle is hidden in a mountain range a great distance from here. What brings you so far from your home territory?" the dragon lowered his eyes slightly, and a new look of worry crept across his face.

"I have come because of a disturbing feeling…it has made me worry for the future of the western dog clan." Matyeo turned to momentarily address the aforementioned clan's present company "Inuyasha, I am relieved to see that you are well."

"I don't think its me you should really worry about," the half demon replied with a note that harbored both anxiety and sarcasm as he glanced back towards the campsite. Matyeo tilted his head in bewilderment, unsure of Inuyasha's reference until he followed his stare.

"Ukuri!" Matyeo yelped. Finishing his exclamation in dragon tongue Matyeo strode over to the fallen beast and knelt by his side. The creature was only dimly aware of his surroundings, but he did react to Matyeo's gentle stroking. "Who did this to you?" The dragon lord's inquiry came in his species native language, the easiest for Ukuri to understand. The young kit didn't have the strength to answer back in words, so instead opened his jaws ever so slightly, exposing a silver tuft of fur caught between his teeth. Taking the ruff in his fingers Matyeo recognized instantly the scent of the demon it had belonged to and it made him worry even more. "Ukuri, What about Shura? Is she safe?" the question came to late, for the dragon kit had no more strength to spare and slipped back into sleep. Remaining still Matyeo stroked the creature a bit longer until his mind was lost in pleasant dreams. Then he rose and turned a serious gaze on the audience watching.

"Inuyasha," Matyeo addressed the half demon "Do you recognize the scent from this object?" As he spoke, the dragon extended the silver fur in Inuyasha's direction. One quick sniff was all it took for the distinct odor to register.

"Naraku!" the half demon hissed hatefully.

"I fear something terrible has happened to Shura, and now knowing Naraku is involved…" Matyeo turned back to the sleeping dragon kit and lifted the limp body gently into his arms. "I have to find her." The dragon strode over to his mount, laid Ukuri in the beast's saddle pouch and carefully secured him. "Ebony, take Ukuri back to the palace as swiftly as you can. He'll be safe there. In the meantime I'll begin looking for Shura." Ebony nodded in obedience and took off with a powerful wingstroke back in the direction he had come. After the creatures form had vanished Matyeo himself turned, ready to sprint off in the opposite direction. An annoyed Inuyasha stopped him short.

"Now wait a minute," the half demon interrupted "If Shura's in danger I think I have a right to come too." Inuyasha paused when he realized he was not only receiving a baffled look from the dragon master, but also from his friends.

"You mean you're actually volunteering to help?" Kagome finally got up the guts to inquire on everyone's behalf.

"Well yeah…she's our ally remember." Inuyasha paused and to avoid any further delving into his family ties made it a point to add "And anyway, it will be the perfect opportunity to find Naraku." That statement no one could argue.

"Very well then, if that is your decision then I welcome the aid of your skills," the dragon lord continued forward effectively ignoring the group's reluctance to follow in the dark.

"So where are you going?" Inuyasha inquired with an insulted tone that once again stopped the dragon in his tracks. Matyeo turned, locking eyes with his addressor.

"First I must seek out Lord Sesshomaru, to see with my own eyes that he remains unharmed, and bring him news of what has happened. I will rejoin you by dawn." he replied while simultaneously rippling the muscles in his back. From his shoulder blades extended long, leathery, wings, which spanned nearly the length of his body when fully spread. The semi-transformation did not impress Inuyasha, he was to busy muttering angry remarks regarding the dragon lord's senseless worry for his arrogant elder brother. In his mind Sesshomaru didn't deserve anyone's concern.

Extending his wings to their fullest, Matyeo flapped hard and pushed himself from the ground. Then after allowing his eyes to adjust and gain visibility through the darkened sky, the dragon propelled himself forward and out of sight.

The group watched as he left, having to shield their faces temporarily to the wind trail his wings created. Only after the forest became still once more did they dare to try and sleep. Matyeo may have had good night vision, but none of them, save for Kirara were so lucky. They would need to wait until morning to begin their next quest.