Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. I don't own any of the songs that I put into the story, except on cd's. But I do own Shiori, Miyu & Koshin Hakogami, Kil Kai-another snow demon from feudal times & Aisu- female snow demon from feudal times, they are all mine.
AN: " " is speaking, ' ' is thought
AN. Just to let you know that I've made spelling/grammer corrections and added a little more detail to the story's chapters. I'm reposting the corrected chapters. But this is still the same story & story line. See if you notice the corrections. And thanks to those that read & review. The reviews mean a lot.
Glossary:
youkai-demon
inu-youkai-dog demon
ningen-human
ookami-wolf demon
osuwari-sit
aisu-ice
CHAPTER 11: Getting To Know Ya
All of a sudden the ground began to shake. Something large was heading straight for them.
"What the. . ." Inu Yasha started to say.
Shiori turned to look at Kagome, who had wide eyes. "Uh-oh. I think we got company."
A large, bear youkai burst through the treeline and began sniffing the air in the direction of the group. The Inu-group began to surround Rin and Shippou in an attempt to protect them from the large, angry looking youkai. The bear youkai lumbered forward a few steps and turned his eyes to Shiori. He bared his large teeth and growled out, "GUARDIAN!!"
Kil Kai and Sesshomauru turned, trying to see who the bear youkai was staring at with such venom.
Sesshomauru thought that it would be his half-brother's wench it wanted. He hid his surprise well, when he saw the woman, Shiori, walk away from the group.
She rotated her right wrist causing her sword to make a perfect circular movement. She squared her shoulders and got into a fighting stance, completely calm.
"You want it, come and get it, furball." With that said, the fight was on. The large bear youkai charged her, but at the last minute, she jumped gracefully over it, slashing its back. The bear youkai spun around, growling. "Come on, you can do better than that," she taunted, a small smile on her face.
"Is she insane?!" Kil Kai asked in amazement, watching Shiori take on the large youkai. 'She's amazing to watch! She dodges that beast as if she had wings!! I have to find out more about this one,' he thought, watching the action.
Kagome was the one to answer, also watching the fight, "Sometimes I wonder, but she is good at what she does. Very good at what she does."
Sesshomauru was also watching the battle closely, particularly the strange woman. He then asked, without thinking, "What exactly is she?"
"I'll let her tell you that," Kagome said and left it at that.
"Why?" he asked, stoic as ever, to cover his thoughtless question.
"Because, that is for her to answer, not me," Kagome was still watching her cousin.
Shiori was poetry in motion. The youkai was unable to touch her. She jumped over the bear and landed in a graceful crouch, sword out to the side.
The wounded bear youkai turned slowly, beginning to realize that he was not going to be able to touch this Guardian. He turned his attention to the crowd that she left. He focused his eyes on the weakest of the group. His eyes landed on the two smallest ones; Shippou and Rin, who had stepped away from the adults to watch the fight.
He then charged at the two children.
"LOOK OUT!!" Kil kai yelled out, the adults trying to get in front of the children. But, before anyone could move, the bear let out a loud, painful scream.
A bright light entirely surrounded the bear and then poof, dust. As the light dimmed and faded, everyone stared at what had been hiding behind the bear.
Shiori had moved to a kneeling position from her crouch, sword laying on the ground. Her hands had come together to hold the other in front of her. Her face was blank, eyes snow white. The pupil was almost invisible. Her aura had begun to dim after the charge that she sent out to take out the rampaging beast.
When the dust of the bear youkai had finally settled, Kagome had walked up to her. "Hey, are you in there?" she asked, studying her cousin.
Shiori blinked and shook like a bird settling her feathers. She sighed and stood up. "Yeah, I'm still in here. I need something to eat." She then started back towards the campfire and her bag.
They had walked back to the still stunned group. And, Shiori walked over to her backpack and start to rummage through it. She let a small smile grace her lips as she pulled out a brightly wrapped candy bar. "That is what I need, sugar."
Shippou began sniffing the air after Shiori opened the wrapper. He started to tiptoe towards her, sniffing. Jumping on her shoulder, he asked, "What's that? It smells sweet."
Shiori smiled a bright smile. "Here, give it a try." She broke a piece off and gave it to him.
Shippou popped the piece of chocolate into his mouth and smiled. "Hhmm!! That's good!! Do you have anymore?"
Shiori laughed. "Maybe tomorrow, kids shouldn't really have sweets before bed." She turned and saw Rin smiling. "Do you want some, munchinkin?"
"Yes, arigato." But Sesshomauru put a hand on her head to stop her.
Shiori looked up into cold, golden eyes.
"I demand that you tell me what you are, and tell me now," he demanded with authority.
She frowned, not having moved from her crouched position near her bag. "You can demand all you want, but that doesn't mean that you'll get what you want, my lord," she mocked.
Sesshomauru moved with lightening speed and tried to grab Shiori. He was surprised when she slapped his hand and moved away with the same speed.
She was standing with a scowl on her face. "Definitely not what I was hoping for, you know, Kagome?" She was still watching the inu-youkai closely, waiting for him to move.
"I know what you mean," Kagome answered knowingly with Sango nodding her head in agreement.
"Do you need any help," Sango asked, clutching her boomerang, ready to move in.
"No, I can handle this arrogent dog." She taunted Sesshomauru, "I thought you were going to make me talk, . . . Fluffy?" she asked bearing an evil little grin.
He raised one silver eyebrow at her mocking tone. "You dare to mock me again, woman? You will learn your place and you will learn it, now." He moved towards her again.
This time, she stood her ground and caught his hand. She, then used his momentum to throw him past her. "You were saying, Sesshomauru? It looks to me like you are going to learn your place."
Inu Yasha was laughing his butt off. "You're getting your ass kicked by a woman!! This is priceless!!!"
Sesshomauru growled and gracefully stood up. "I'm glad that you are so amused, Inu Yasha. I'll be sure to return the favor after I deal with this woman." He brought out his energy whip and cracked it on the ground.
"Shiori, don't hurt him, okay? Rin still needs him," Kagome shouted out, pissing off the inu-youkai even more.
Kil Kai was smiling, "Could she really finish him off?"
"If she wanted to, yes, but I think she is just venting some steam. It's a long story," Kagome said, watching as the two fought. 'I hope she knows what she's doing?' she thought.
The two seemed to be almost evenly matched. Shiori was holding her own and even getting in a few blows.
Sesshomauru was surprised that anyone, much less a female, could match him in a fight. He, of course, was hiding this very well.
"Look, if you want to know, why don't you just ask politely and I'll consider answering your questions," Shiori said as she dodged from his energy whip.
He stopped, and just stared at her impassively. "That's all? Just ask you? Why don't you just tell me now?"
"Because, that sounds like an order and I don't take orders, Lord Sesshomauru. So, why not be polite?"
"Fine. What are you?" He stopped attacking and stood there waiting, curiosity having gotten the better of him.
Shiori partially turned to the rest of the group. "I'll do one better and show you." She called up her power and made a perfect circle of snow white candles appear around her. This was really unnecessary, but it helped her focus better. She brought her hands up and caused them to light. This display of power also allowed her to build up her power so those that could feel her power, could feel how powerful she was. "I am something that youkai have tried to wipe off the earth for centuries. I have been hunted down for just being born to two of the most unlikely beings. I have been called an abomination by both demon and human alike. The very power in my veins can make me completely one or the other if I choose. I am a hanyou by choice," she turned her to look Sesshomauru in the eye. "I am a child of a snow taiyoukai and a very powerful Guardian." She never took her eyes off the inu-youkai, so she was able to catch the slight widening of his eyes.
Kil Kai spoke up, having stepped into the circle. He turned her face to his and looked her in the eye. "How? It is forbiddened as far as I know. Who is your father? Where is he from?"
Shiori looked Kil Kai in the eye, never blinking, "He's from Mt. Fuji. He is lord of the territory. I'm from about 500 years into the future. Just like my cousin, Kagome."
"And, your mother is the Guardian. That is how you could do what you did to the bear. How you survived the venom of a full grown snake youkai. How did they manage to become mates? Was she a prisoner?" Kil Kai was very curious and was studying the woman in front of him very closely. He felt her drop the circle of power. Until that moment, he didn't realize the amount of power that went into the making of the circle. "How did I cross that circle?" he asked quietly, amazed.
"Because of where part of my power comes from," she answered just as quietly. "I need to get some sleep. I'll answer your questions another time."
He just watched her eyes, holding her face still with two fingers, "Until we next meet. I would love to learn more about you." He backed away from her and then turned to Sesshomauru. "Shall we leave, Lord Sesshomauru?"
Sesshomauru just stood there, silent. He had been engrossed in what Shiori had been doing and then in how Kil Kai crossed her power circle with ease. 'This creature is very powerful indeed. How dangerous can she be? How could I make this woman my ally?' he was thinking as he walked over to Rin. "We are leaving. Until next time, little brother," he taunted Inu Yasha. He turned and his cloud appeared to take him and Rin home. 'Why is Kil Kai so interested in this woman? I'm still not sure what she is or why she is here,' he still mused more about Shiori as he flew home.
Kil Kai following close behind, his mind also on Shiori.
AN: Well, hope you guys like this chapter. I'm sorry it's so short but I thought that I would let Naraku's little plot have its own chapter. And again, I'm so sorry that I have been slacking on updating. I admit that is was because of a bit of writer's block and because I got so caught up in reading the other wonderful stories on this website. How do you guys like it so far? Please read & review. Or I won't write any more!!! just kidding, please review.
I would like to thank my wonderful editor, ninjawarrior4life, my bro. glad you like it.
And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story from the beginning when I first started posting it. And to those who read and like it.
THX to all my readers.
