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 12: Learning a Bit More

Everyone had bedded down for the night. Everyone, that is, except for Shiori. She stood up, taking off her outer shirt to reveal a blue tank top. She walked a little ways from the group to transform. Her long, blue-streaked, black hair turned white with blue streaks. Her eyes turned icy blue, like a husky's. Her nails turned to sharp talons, dark blue in color. And finally her dark blue-feathered wings grew in. They were almost as tall as she was. She felt eyes watching her and turned back to the group.

Shippou was the first to ask with a small pout, "Where are you going? Are you leaving us?"

She smiled at the sad little kitsune, "I just need a little time to myself, Shippou. Don't worry, I'll be back, okay?"

Shippou nodded and went to Kagome's sleeping bag to get comfortable. Kagome looked at her cousin.

"Remember, to be on the look out for other demons. It's not like back home," Kagome warned.

"Especially that snow taiyoukai," Miroku warned, with a sly smile, "He seemed very interested in you."

Shiori just shook her head and smiled. "Well, thanks for the warnings. I'll catch you later." She turned and took to the air. She let a small smile grace her lips as the wind blew through her hair and wings. 'This is what I'm talking about!' she thought as she flew higher. 'I don't have to worry about people, airplanes or reporters.' The last thought brought a big smile to the young woman, and she let out a, "Yaahooo!!!!" She flew even faster.
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The trio flying west consisting of Rin, Lord Sesshomauru and Lord Kil Kai. Rin started telling about her time with the Inu-gang in more detail. She told Sesshomauru again about how she was being chased by three snake youkai. About how she came across the three women at the hot springs. She told them about how Shiori had wings.

"She had these large, dark blue wings, with feathers. Her hair was silver with dark streaks in it. She had claws on her hands and her eyes were almost white," Rin explained. "And when she saw the mean, snake-men after me, she picked me up and put me high in a tree, so I would be safe. Then, she pulled out this sword and the fight began. Kagome and Sango joined in. And. . . and. . . " she was getting really excited in the telling of her story.

"Rin," Sesshomauru said softly, getting the little girl's attention. With a small smile on his normally stoic face, he said, "Slow down. You are talking too fast."

This got him a big smile from Rin. She took a deep breath and continued, trying not to talk too fast. "Then, Sango was hit real hard after stabbing the snake-man and landed against the tree that I was in. I screamed. The bad, snake-man was beginning to come to the tree, but Shiori, she stopped him."

"How did she stop him, little one," Kil Kai asked, interested in the child's story.

"Well, she had this sword, it looked old but cared for. She could also make it glow blue. She turned when I screamed and threw her glowing sword. It hit the snake-man in the back! He stopped walking and turned into ice!! You could see through him!!!"

"Now, that is interesting," Kil Kai said, rubbing his chin.

"Is that a common ability amoung your people?" Sesshomauru asked showing a little interest.

"No, it's not. There is only one weapon that I know of that can do that. But, only one clan can use it," Kil Kai explained, looking at the Western Lord. "The blade has a spirit of it's own and apparently has pledged itself to this one family. I'll have wrack my memory before I'm sure."

"I understand." Then turning his attention back to the little girl in his arms, Sesshomauru said, "Rin, continue, please."

"Okay," Rin said with a big toothy grin. "Well, after she threw her sword, the snake-man she was fighting bit her hard on the shoulder. She scared me by screaming in pain. Everyone else had shown up and watched her kill the snake man. After she was bitten, she told everyone that she would be okay. Even when Kaede-chan tried to tell her the poison would need to be stopped, she said that she didn't need to worry about it. Because of what she is."

"How bad was the wound," Kil Kai asked.

"It looked nasty, that's what Kagome said. And she bled a lot. Shiori said it was her body getting the venom out of her body," Rin explained, with a small shiver, remembering the angry looking wound.

Sesshomauru felt the shiver and wondered what the little girl was afraid of. "What is bothering you, Rin?"

"I remembered the wound on Shiori's shoulder. I was afraid when she screamed in pain and when she kept bleeding. You know, what, Sesshomauru-sama?"

"What, Rin?"

"Kouga, the wolf-demon, carried Shiori to Kaede-chan's village. He said it was because she was making Kagome worried trying to walk from the spring to the village with that type of injury. But I think he did it because he thought she would need help. She protested, but Kagome told her to just let him carry her and stop arguing." Rin smiled, "She did make a funny face at Kagome."

"It sounds like you had quite an adventure," Kil Kai commented, smiling at the frown now on Sesshomauru's face. "Would you like to let us in on what is making that frown, my friend?"

Sesshomauru shook himself mentally. "Nothing of importance," he replied, emotionless.

Rin grinned, "And, that's not all! We came across two huge spiders today!! You should have been there!!" She has picked up on how Kagome talks. "Those two spiders didn't stand a chance!!

"Really?" Kil Kai asked, encouraging the little girl to continue.

"Oh, yeah. Shiori and Kagome took on one spider and everyone else took on the other. They made, I think Shippou said, mincemeat of the those nasty spiders," she finished, with a smile, proud that she remembered the new word. Then she turned a serious look towards Sesshomauru. "I like Shiori, Sesshomauru-sama."

"Really?" he asked, looking at the child out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, she's strong, brave and kind. She helped take care of me."

"She seems like a very interesting woman," Kil Kai said, thinking about how she looked fighting that large bear youkai. 'She was amazing to watch. It was almost like a dance. She is definitely a woman I need to get to know better,' he thought as everyone finished the journey back to Sesshomauru's palace in silence.

The great Lord Sesshomauru found himself thinking about the intriguing young woman that he just met. 'What is this new fasination over this hanyou? I don't have time for this. I will just not think any more about her.' He tried to convince himself, but in no time he was thinking about her again. 'She felt like a very powerful being. She would make an excellent ally,' he tried to rationalize, as to the reason he would think of her.

The trio soon returned without incident. Rin had already fallen asleep in her guardian's arms, feeling safe. Sesshomauru carried her to her room and gently tucked her in her bed. He even let a small smile show just before he left her room.

He then turned to go to his chambers in the hopes of getting some rest. How wrong he would soon be, because a certain blue eyed, fiery young hanyou would be walking in his dreams this night.

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.