Chapter 7 – Back

After saying good-bye to Cornello, Rose, Densuke, and Starr, Kurama hopped on Sarome's back and flew off. After lingering in the air, enjoying each other's company, Sarome led them on towards Kaede's village. But, once they reached the border, Sarome stopped in mid-air, and began to sniff.

"What is it?" he asked. Sarome's haunches flinched, and her muscles stiffened. "Sarome?"

"I know this scent!" she said, and growled up at him. "Hold on to me, Kurama, and make sure your grip is nice and strong, we will be having a bumpy landing!" Kurama gripped her scruff fur and held on. She jet off, Kurama's red hair whipping his face, they landed. Kurama jumped off and she quickly transformed back into her human form. "Katoma?" she yelled into the air. Her eyes were filled with excitement. "Katoma?!" she yelled again.

"What?!" a voice snapped. Sarome turned around and saw her friend. Her hair was straight and as orange as Sarome's flames, Kurama noted, even with the brown tint in them. Her eyes were very blue, like the sea, and her skin was as fair as sand. She wore a metal top that cut off a little bit below her breasts. She wore a skirt that was made of silver wolf pelt, and a long silver tail came out from the back. Her ears were pointed. Sarome was the only one with her animal blood's features. "I can hear you! I am not deaf!" she snapped. She noticed Kurama and stopped, dead in her tracks. "I thought I scented something new, and Rain was a little restless."

"Rain?" Kurama asked. He turned to Sarome, who looked at him, smiled, and then answered.

"Katoma's dragon."

"Well, I could have sworn I saw Hiei over there, but I shook the thought. Apparently, I was right. Everyone has been acting strange lately."

"Lately?" Sarome mimicked. Fear flickered off her face.

"Yeah! When I arrived, I thought I saw Jin and Touya, but, like with Hiei, I shook it, and when I called for you, you never answered," she said, tossing her wolf-like tail to the side. "Where were you?"

"Out," Sarome said quickly, after a deep red blush. "I heard your call, I-I just didn't want to answer," she stuttered. Katoma raised an eyebrow. "I just needed my time, you know that."

"Ah, well, we are going to stretch out our powers, wanna come?" she asked. Sarome turned to Kurama, who nodded. "Should I go ahead and let Rain out?" Sarome shook her head.

"I'll call on the others, and ask if they want to watch," Kurama said, before patting Sarome on the shoulder and walking off.

He found Jin and Touya under the oak, and went over to join them. They seemed to be discussing something really important. Jin saw Kurama, and let his wind pick him up. "Aye, it's Kurama!" he yelled.

"Hey, Jin," he said. "What's wrong?"

"We were just wondering where you and Sarome went. We were worried," Touya answered. "Hiei was getting wrestles, and we had to hold him a couple times, before we could talk sense into him and get him to stay." Kurama nodded, his eyes closed, but they flung open when Touya asked a certain question. "So, what were you and Sarome doing?"

"She was just showing me the surrounding forest and areas. Nothing much."

"Uh-huh," said a voice behind them. Tarja, Miroku, and Inuyasha walked up and joined them. "Sarome has a crush on you, Kurama, no doubt about it!"

"What do you mean?" he asked, his face turning as read as his hair.

"One, I can read minds, my secondary power, and two, I am Sarome's close friend. She has a crush on you, so don't hide it." Miroku and Inuyasha nodded behind her. Kurama flushed a brighter red, and it softened when he saw Sarome walking his way. She had a red snake wrapped around her body, from her right ankle, up her chest, and then over her left shoulder. Its eyes were a midnight black, placed against ruby scales.

"You ready, Tarja?" she asked. Tarja looked at Kurama nodded, and got up. Jin and the others followed in pursuit. "Tarja and I will go up first. What do you want to go to?" she asked. Tarja shrugged.

"First blood?"

"You read my mind!" Sarome said.

"I know…" she shrugged, and they set off to both sides of the field. The red dragon curled up next to Kurama.

"Sarome is a strong fighter, Kurama, she'll be fine," his voice rang. It was as loud as thunder. "My lady is cursed, and she vowed that she will kill Naraku, even at the cost of her own life. That has made her strong, and the power of her friends grows, like she does, which makes her an even stronger opponent."

"Who are you?" Kurama asked, trying not to show a frighten and worried face.

"My name is Hikaru, Sarome's dragon of Fire and Light." Kurama now realized that the voice that he was hearing was female. Kurama looked ahead, as the battle began.