Quick note before this chapter begins... :) this chapter is going to seem super cheesy & lame but I promise you that there is a reason for it. Please bare with me. Thanks.

Chapter 5

As they walked up the steps of Naraku's castle Kohaku glanced quickly to his right to look at Kanna. He noticed she had replaced her mask of emotionless nothing. He quickly followed her lead & put his familiar expression of sorrow on. As they entered the main room Hakudoushi lounged in the corner with his arms behind his head, watching them with a malicious smirk. Looking closely though Kohaku could see that Hakudoushi was not looking at them both but only at Kanna. The feeling of uneasiness made it hard for him to keep his face from frowning. Hearing their arrival Naraku came walking out of one of the rooms down the hall.

This used to be a wealthy lords castle before Naraku came. He had ordered Kagura, Kanna & Kohaku to slay everyone. Since the massacre of the people of the castle, Naraku had been staying here. He stayed in the head masters old bedroom with Akago. It was a large & luxurious room. Kagura, Kanna & Kohaku all shared a what used to be the servants quarters. They shared because there was hardly a time when all three were actually there. These three were Naraku's most common weapons of choice, so they were often set off on missions. Hakudoushi however, was almost never called upon to do Naraku's bidding. So he had his own bedroom, which used to be the lords chief advisor's room. Kanna believed that Naraku did not actually want Hakudoushi as a servant, but that he needed him to be a second part of his soul. Naraku being the first, the dark half, Hakudoushi being the second, the pure half, because he was created on Mt.Hakurai & Akago being the heart. This is why he had created Hakudoushi to begin with. Though to Kanna there was nothing pure about Hakudoushi, he was just as evil if not more evil than Naraku.

"Ah, so you are back. You have returned before Kagura. Interesting." He smiled a similar smile to Hakudoushi's. "Do you have the scrolls?" As Naraku stood before them they both kneeled down.

"Yes, master." Kohaku pulled the scrolls form the back of his sash & held them out.

"Good." He grabbed them swiftly opened & read for a moment. "Did you have any trouble on the way?"

"No master." Kanna & Kohaku both said.

"Your mirror was turned down quite a bit, Kanna. Why is that?"

Kanna began getting nervous though she acted completely oblivious. It was not unusual for her to put the mirror face down when nothing was happening, however on this last mission she must have turned it down a little too much.

"Well?" Naraku's voice echoed through the silent room.

"I hadn't noticed master." Was her reply.

"Hmm." Was all he said. "Very well then, you two are dismissed. Naraku quickly disappeared down the hall scrolls in hand to the study. They both stood & headed to their room.

They sat in their room for days. Naraku still had yet to emerge from his room. They didn't speak to each other in fear that Naraku or Hakudoushi could hear them. They had to act the same as always or they could be discovered. If anything they made only passing glances at each other from across the room. Kohaku was the only one to sleep as Kanna wouldn't need to sleep for a while since the night she slept at Kohaku's side. At these times Kanna would hardly look away from the sleeping demon slayer. He looked so peaceful. She thought about his kiss almost every time she looked at him. Kanna was lost in her thoughts when Naraku swung the door open.

"Kanna, Kohaku come with me." Before any answer came he had already gone. Kanna shook Kohaku gently.

"Kohaku. Naraku wants us." He awoke & got to his feet promptly. They headed out to the once beautiful courtyard of the castle, Hakudoushi stood waiting. Naraku had laid out one of the scrolls on the ground & held another in his hands.

"I think I have discovered how to create the dragons that Asuke once controlled. A dragon is a pure hearted beast with strength & power. It is usually aggressive. Dragons do not often allow themselves to be taken as a pet. By reading these scrolls I may have discovered just how to do that. They need a master who is just as strong & powerful as well as gentle to it. As for bringing one of these monsters to life you need a demons blood as well as the blood of someone pure." He then looked up from his scroll to Kohaku & Kanna. "Kanna you are a full demon unlike me & Kohaku even though you are the farthest thing from pure," Naraku smiled with that those last words, "you are still human & you bare a shard of the shaken jewel." He now pointed to the scroll lying out on the ground. "We shall have a test trial. One of Asuke's most loyal & fierce dragons was Kaisho. Kaisho was a dragon with many similar features to that of a horse & about the same size. He rode upon him in battle, as well as commanded other dragons from his back. If this goes as planned I will then be able to create more powerful dragons, dragons that not even Inuyasha can defeat." He smiled wickedly looking at the illustration of Kiasho on the scroll.

Kohaku & Kanna stayed silent during Naraku's rant. Once he finished they both watched as he pulled a dagger from his waist. He called them over to him. Kohaku's heart began to beat rapidly. "Hold out your hands." Naraku ordered. Kanna lifted her hand slowly. Kohaku reluctantly followed. Naraku took the dagger & sliced the palm of her hand so that a large line of blood formed. Hakudoushi watched intently. Naraku moved to Kohaku next. While Kanna may have felt little no pain Kohaku struggled to keep from screaming aloud in pain as Naraku drug the dagger across his palm. He threw the dagger to the ground & grabbed Kanna & Kohaku's hands. He pressed them together so that their blood combined between their palms. He then pulled their hands over the scroll on the ground.

The mixture of Kanna & Kohaku's blood spilled thickly onto the illustration of Kaisho. Naraku began reading from the scroll in his hands. The words & picture started emitting a faint whitish blue light that steadily grew brighter. Kohaku watched in astonishment as Kaisho's picture lifted off of the ancient scroll. It started to expand & change its was transforming from an image to an actual dragon. As Naraku finished reading the words, the light dissipated & Kaisho could be seen clearly.

He was a magnificent creature. He flipped his head in a horse like manor, while swishing his tail & flapping his wings simultaneously. He was white with tough skin. His body was slightly larger than that of a horse, but shaped similarly. His Head, tail, feet & wings were the only difference. His head was pointed & bore two horns which pointed back giving the illusion of an angry stallion. His head was also lit with bright blue eyes. His tail was long & winding it resembled that of a lizards. His feet were clawed & dug deep into the ground. His wings were wide spanning twenty feet from tip to tip. All were silent as they looked at Kaisho. Finally Naraku spoke "Kanna approach him."

Kohaku wanted to yell out in opposition but he held his tongue.

Kanna did as she was ordered, she had to. She kept in mind what Naraku said "They need a master who is just as strong & powerful as well as gentle to it." She allowed no fear to enter her being. She stayed head held high & kept her pace steady as she came closer. It could be clearly seen that Kaisho was becoming agitated by the figure closing in. He showed his disproval by rearing onto his hind legs. He flapped his wings & flipped his head around furiously. Upon placing his front legs back on the ground the two were face to face, only mere inches away. Kaisho snorted roughly shooting smoke out of his nostrils in two directions. Kanna didn't flinch. Time was still for a moment as calm black eyes looked into fierce sapphire blue eyes. Boldly she reached her arm up & cupped Kaisho's muzzle in her hand. She could feel the heat from the fire which lay dormant inside of him, she stayed strong though. And in one moment the dragon changed completely. His wings relaxed from their outstretched pose, to hang comfortably at his side. His tail began to swing gracefully back & forth. His eyes closed, his head lowered & pressed against Kanna gently, careful not to put his dangerously sharp horns near her. Although she would never usually show any kind of feeling in front of anyone the dragon had brought out something inside of her. Her one arm encircled the beasts lowered head, while the other stroked his surprisingly smooth neck. Before she knew it her forehead was pressed against his. In this moment demon & dragon become one.

This is what Asuke had with the dragons, not like Naraku & the scroll said. Not master & pet, but friends.

"Well done Kanna." Naraku washed Kanna & Kaisho away from their moment. "Kaisho is of no use to me. He is far more weak then what I intend on using against Inuyasha. You may dispose of him."

"No" Kanna hadn't meant to snap back so quickly.

"What?"

"We may use him for transportation. So that we may travel quicker." Kanna tried pathetically to think of a good enough excuse, to save her new comrade.

"Hm" Naraku though for a moment. "Neither myself, Hakudoushi, nor Kagura need him." He paused "Very well Kanna he is yours." Naraku turned & headed back to the castle both scroll in his hands.

"Thank you." Kanna said just above a whisper

Watching Kanna & the dragon was one of the most wonderful sights Kohaku had ever seen. How the Dragon had looked remarkable in all its glory as well as Kanna. Kanna looked so kind & strong. As much as Kanna was unaware she looked beautiful when she interacted with the beast. There was just something so familiar about it, so warming to watch. After Naraku returned to the castle Kanna turned back to Kaisho placing a hand on his shoulder & patting it gently. Kaisho sighed out of relaxation from her touch. He bent down & laid down onto the ground. Kanna sat next to him, running her hands over him tenderly. Kohaku thought they both looked truly content.

He sat for minutes watching the two until Kaisho had fallen asleep, & snored delightfully. Kanna silently stood & walked over to Kohaku, where she had left her mirror. Kohaku noticed that she was trying to hide her smile, but she was failing. She picked up her mirror & without a word the two headed back into the castle.

"One moment." Hakudoushi spoke. Kanna had forgotten he was even there until now. They both halted Kohaku looked at him. Kanna just looked ahead. "Would you come with me for a minute Kanna?" Hakudoushi walked towards the pair.

No

"Yes." She spoke softly. Returning her emotionless face quickly before he could see her.

"What about me? " Kohaku said not wanting to leave her alone with him.

"You may return to your room." Hakudoushi said as he walked between the two grabbing Kanna's hand & pulling her behind him.

It took all of Kohaku's strength to suppress an outburst of jealousy. They way he was looking at her before & now this. What does he want with her? Sadly though there was nothing he could do. He had to play the part of memory lost Kohaku. If he said something to blow his cover Naraku may realize what he is doing. Noticing however, that Naraku had returned to the study, Kagura was not here & Kanna was with Hakudoushi, Akago was alone. This is may be my only chance. I'll have to forget about Kanna at the moment.

He had to hurry. He headed to Naraku's room. He entered quietly, shutting the door behind him. The room was dully lit with candles. In the center of the room, in a bed of blankets was the motionless sleeping infant. Kohaku approached & kneeled beside him. He pulled out his chain sickle, careful not to let the chains rattle. He held the weapon in midair above the infant. Akago seemed so innocent. Kohaku hesitated. He took a breath lifting his weapon higher & finally bringing it down with force. He shut his eyes & he felt it hit. There was no noise. Did I get it? He opened his eyes. How could I have been so foolish? His weapon was inches from the infant suspended in air. A barrier. I should've known it wouldn't be this simple. Angry at his own stupidity he stood & put his weapon back into its place. He looked at the sleeping baby once more.

Not wanting to get caught he was going to leave the room, when something out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. Two jars set on the floor at the back of the room. He moved towards them. As he got closer he noticed they were identical except for one difference. They each bore a different name. One labeled Kagura & one labeled Kanna. What are these? He picked up the one with Kagura's name. He twisted the lid off & peered inside. His eyes widened with shock. A single demon heart sat at the bottom, beating rhythmically. He carefully placed the lid & jar back into there spots. That must be how Naraku makes them obey they must do what he says or he can kill them.

Kohaku's instincts told him to leave but his curiosity would not let him. He hurriedly picked up the jar labeled Kanna. He opened it & looked to the bottom, just as the other jar had, there was a single beating heart, except something was different. This heart was not beating steady beats like Kagura's, it was thumping quite rapidly.

Before he even had a chance to close the jar & put it back, he heard a smack followed by a scream & then a hard thud.

"Kanna!"

End of Chapter