A/N thank you all for reviewing! I'm so glad you liked it as much as I did, this chapter will open your eyes to the "Birds" clan and many love interests in this Fic. Please remember, Tohru will have some OOC points because I think it pertains to her background here in this story, she's still lovely, polite, and nice but she has to have a backbone. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!

Birds of Paradise

2

Her eyes were filled with lust and desire as she climbed on top of his muscled body. His groin hurt with yearning. Her red luscious lips placed a trail of kisses from his chest to the top of his boxers. She smiled and blushed as a lone finger pushed its way under his shorts. He threw his head back and when he went to look at her again, he saw massive wings unfold from her back. He was entranced by the beautiful splay of colors.

Kyo's eyes shot open. He was sweating and noticed the sun was peeking through the hut's door. He sighed and wiped his wet brow. 'just a dream…I wonder what her name is…'

"Tohru-kun!" Tohru jumped at the harsh voice calling her. She stood up and stretched all her limbs awake, her wings shook off and stretched as well. Tohru grabbed her wolf pelt tube top and bear pelt pants before she walked across the floor to an enclosed wooden door.

"Coming Rin-san." She replied politely and cheerfully. She then opened the door to reveal a chamber. The room's floors were covered in an assortment of furs and beautiful cloths that Rin had collected over time. There was a bed made of bear skin and under neath it was padded with feathers and furs.

Rin-san was tall and had long flowing black hair. Her wings were the colors of cerulean and violet. They clashed like a beautiful thunder storm cloud. She wore a large kimono with a koi fish pattern; it slipped off of her here and there but it was almost as beautiful as she. She was the head mistress of the clan and for a good reason. She was strong, confident, and brazen. Rin wasn't afraid of anything and Tohru looked up to her with admiration.

Tohru's brown eyes saw a chain in Rin's hand and followed the chain's links to its end. There, it held a human captor; Rin's pet. He was tall and muscular with milky white skin. His hair was white except for the roots and he always splayed a look of uncaring and aloofness.

Tohru bowed and smiled at her mistress and friend. "Good morning Rin-san…Haru-kun."

"Morning." Rin replied immediately and when she didn't here an echo from her playmate she tugged the chain that was clasped around his neck and he fell over.

"Good morning Tohru-kun." Haru said with his usual monotone, relaxed voice. Haru wasn't from the human village that that orange haired boy was from. Rin found him in a meadow far from his home and she collected him, just like the furs, kimonos, and cloths. Everyone in the bird clan knew Rin just tortured him and used him for her own entertainment.

Tohru knew much more. She had known for a while Rin had become attached to the human, which was strictly forbidden on both human and bird's side. She didn't mind of course, as long as Rin was happy and Haru wasn't harmed. He was the only human Tohru liked.

"You called me Rin-san?" Tohru sat at the edge of Rin's bed across from her mistress.

"Oh yes. You seemed disturbed when you flew in here last night. Did something happen?" she then turned her attention to Haru. "Come brush my hair slave." He did as told and began brushing her long hair, without any complaint.

Tohru flinched at her question, remembering that orange haired boy. "Oh it was nothing. Sorry to worry you Rin-san!" Rin looked at her with knowing.

"Did you encounter a human at the bathing pool?" the mistress was of course insightful.

"Yes I did." Tohru blushed and fiddled with her thumbs.

"Why didn't you alert anyone! What if he decided to shoot you down and keep you as a prisoner!" Rin was getting anxious and before she could have a complete meltdown Tohru wrapped her arms around her slender form. She immediately stilled and hugged Tohru back.

"I'm fine really. He just stared at me, and then I flew off." She smiled assuringly. Rin relaxed and smiled but then quickly hid it from Tohru; embarrassed. "I'm going to get breakfast, have you eaten?"

"Yeah, Haru got me a hawk and her eggs earlier."

"Okay, I will come by to see you later." Tohru beamed a smile and waved, as she turned to shut the door she could see through the crack of the door Rin and Haru staring into each other's eyes and he placed a kiss upon her forehead. Tohru smiled and closed the door shut.

Tohru continued through her chamber and walked into the huge open space of an enormous cavern. It was called the inner village. Many of the clan gathered here to talk or eat. Tohru said hi to every passerby before walking through a long dark tunnel to the opening of the cave. The opening was hidden by a forest of thick trees and brush and no human had ever been able to find the bird's clan cave.

She breathed in the balmy air and smiled. The Bird's were very close and attached to nature and knew the deep meaning of every plant and animal. She flapped her large wings and flew up into the clouds.

Meeeanwhile….

Kyo had been slaving away in the rice fields for most of the morning. He only wore his pants so that every girl passing sighed in desire and men sighed with jealousy. He wiped his sweaty brow and took a drink from his canteen.

His mind never stopped thinking of her since he woke up and it infuriated him. No one had ever made his heart beat this fast or make his mind wander to her image every second. He growled in a low mumble and dropped his basket with the rice in it.

"Is something wrong Kyo-kun?" he sighed and met the eyes of Kisa. She was small and the same age as Hiro, but much less annoying. She had short orange hair and big soft eyes. Her voice was so gentle it was almost inaudible.

"No. I'm fine." Kyo replied fiercely. She flinched and shied away. "I didn't mean to sound angry Kisa…I'm just tired I guess." He tapped her head as he stood up. She smiled and he smirked back.

"I can finish if you would like." She grabbed his basket before he could even answer. "It's fine; there are only a few more rice patties I need to collect. I don't mind at all." He nodded and started heading back to his hut, her image clouding his mind once again.

Kyo felt alone, he wished he had someone to talk to. His only options here at the camp were:

Shigure…hell no, he'd just complicate things and make fun.

Akito-san—yeah if I want to be seen as a traitor

I'd NEVER even think of talking to Yuki

He sighed and then remembered someone. 'he's the only one I can truly count on, but he's ten miles up the mountain from here…' he shrugged and began to pack for the trip.

"Where are you off to Kyo-kun?" shigure looked away from his papers (a book) and questioned.

"None of your business." Kyo answered coldly as he packed the essentials.

"Scandalous!" his older cousin gasped in delight. "Please tell me! I can keep secrets." He was definitely enjoying this.

"No, you can't. And it's not a secret I just don't want to tell you."

"Aw, you're so mean to me Kyoooooo." Shigure pouted. Kyo rolled his eyes and threw his chainmail shirt on before covering it with a thin clothed shirt.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning. No need to inform Akito-san, she'll know where I'm going. Later." He picked up his knapsack and walked out of the hut running into Yuki. "Watch where you're going." And he trudged past his enemy. Yuki shrugged, sighed, and entered the hut.

Kyo finally reached the outskirts of the village and began to hike up the mountain. He pulled out his katana to cut the brush in front of him, no one traveled this path and he hadn't been up here for months so it was all overgrown with grass and weeds. He stopped at a small creek to wash his face and rest.

He sighed and sat down on a rock. He watched the water as he washed his hands and he suddenly stopped. His eyes focused on the water, in the refection there that girl perched on a tree branch behind him. In one quick movement he pulled out a shurikin and threw it at the spot where he had sworn he had seen her.

He hit the tree but that was it. No girl sat there staring back at him. Kyo believed his mind was playing games on him again. He picked up his pack and began his trek once again. His garnet eyes scanned the trees and his ears listened intently to the forest.

Birds chirped and frogs sang. Her heard a rustle and saw a wolf mom and her cubs sniffing the air near him; his hand never left the hilt of his blade as he continued up the mountain. The leaves crunched under his feet and the wind rustled the trees. Kyo looked behind him as he heard a flap of wings. Then he heard them in front of him, then above.

He pulled out his sword and closed his eyes. He concentrated on listening and the smell of the forest. He could hear the wind, frogs and birds, wild animals, the creek, the leaves; he smelt the running water, the freshness of the grass and leaves….and wildflowers?

He opened his eyes and standing right in front of his was the girl from the Birds of Paradise. Kyo immediately guarded himself and glared at her. She didn't move or flinch.

Her wings slowly expanded from her back and she flapped them. "You have good control of your senses human." She said matter of factly, with no fear.

"….." he didn't answer, just stared at her.

"Can you not talk?" she then folded her wings behind her back and reached into a pocket. Kyo immediately guarded and stepped back from her. "It's okay, I just want to return this to you." She pulled out his shuriken he had thrown at the tree earlier. "These hurt the trees I hope you know; you probably don't though. You humans have no respect for the forest."

Kyo snatched the weapon from her hand. One of her nails snagged his skin and he winced. She had long nails, almost like claws but not as menacing. "Sorry, you okay?" she seemed sincere in her concern for him.

"What's your deal?" Kyo finally aked as he licked the small wound.

"My…deal?" she questioned.

"Why're you here! I should kill you!" He grabbed her arm forcefully and pushed the shuriken into her neck, not pressing hard enough to make her bleed. She again didn't flinch once.

"If you wanted to kill me you would've done it already." Her eyes stared straight into his. Kyo's heart began beating fast once again and he blushed lightly; he released her. "I followed you because I was wondering why you were at the bathing pool. How'd you find it?"

Kyo put away his shuriken in his pouch. "How could you not find it? It's an oasis in the middle of the forest." He answered and started to walk his path again up the mountain. She followed him.

"Yes, but no human has ever found it for hundreds and hundreds of years until you." She found a small purple flower on the path and bent down to admire it. Kyo looked at her questioningly.

"Yeah, well they must've been stupid. Is it some kind of secret or something?"

"My name is Tohru." She bowed.

"I'm uh…Kyo." He was taken aback by her.

"You're quite interesting Kyo-kun. Maybe we will meet again." She smiled and her large wings expanded and threw her into the sky. He wanted to yell 'wait' but stopped himself. Kyo just stared at the empty sky where she had been.

'Tohru…' he blushed and once again continued his trek to the top of the mountain…

It was dark out by the time he reached a medium sized hut in a small clearing; trees protected the area by encompassing it like a wall. Kyo heard a dog growl and bark and then a familiar voice called out from the darkness.

"Who's there?" the voice gave Kyo comfort and relief.

"Shishou, it's just me." He was now standing right in front of the man he called Shishou. He was tall and was wearing a grey yukata with a red rose pattern. "Did I scare yah old man?" Kyo smirked playfully.

'Kyo-kun, it's great to see you, come in come in." Shishou whistled and the dog barked and ran inside the hut first. It was pitch black until Shishou lit a few lanterns that were lying on the floor and tables.

Kyo placed his knapsack on the floor and sat down on a cushion made entirely out of an animal's fur. "Sorry it's been so long since I've come to visit." Kyo felt ashamed for the time that had lapsed between visits.

"It's alright, I know you're busy; you being one of Akito-san's soldiers and all; tea?"

"Actually water if you have any." Shishou nodded and disappeared into another room, returning a moment later with a small cup filled with steaming tea and another cup filled with cool water.

"How has everything been; I'm guessing your staying the night?" he sipped his drink as he glanced to Kyo's bag.

"Yeah I don't want to walk another ten miles back to camp in the dark, especially without my horse." Shishou nodded in understanding. It was then utterly quiet as they just sat in each others' presence before Kyo spoke up.

"Uh Shishou…" he watched as his young pupil, that he treated like his own son, blush. He waited patiently with a soft smile. "I need to talk to you about…well, this girl." Shishou blushed and accidentally choked on his tea. Kyo looked at him with surprise.

"I'm okay." He laughed awkwardly. "Well, I guess I knew this time would come someday. Kyo…when a lady bear loves a man bear they'll start to-"

"No! That's not what I meant." Kyo immediately interrupted before it got any more embarrassing. Shishou sighed in relief.

"Then what are you concerned about?"

"Well, there's this girl who is…different; she makes my heart beat so fast I think it's going to jump from my chest, and I literally think of her all the time. I don't understand, I've never felt this way before."

Shishou smiled. "Kyo-kun that's called love, who is this lucky lady?" Kyo flinched and swallowed hard.

"See, that's the thing. She's uhm…not like us." He was too afraid to blurt it out.

"Not like us? How do you mean?" Shishou lifted the cup to his lips.

"She's a bird of paradise." Shishou spewed his hot tea across the table and splashed Kyo and the dog in the cross fire. His eyes grew wide and he seemed anxious.

"Kyo-kun. That's forbidden, do you know what Akito-san will do to you if…"

"Yes…I know exactly what the consequences are." Kyo answered without a hint of fear in his voice.

End! How'd you like it? It'll definitely start getting faster paced and more interesting in the upcoming chapters! Please R&R!