DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Inuyasha.

AWW MAN!

Multiple tendrils or hair were spewing out of the well, slithering towards the door. Kags and Yashie came running in, slamming the door shut behind them. I dodged as the tendrils shot at me, leaping off the wall. Inuyasha and Kags were dodging as best they could with only one of them being able to see it, before she grabbed a single strand in her hands. I ignored Kags' family banging outside the building, demanding that Kagome let them in.

"Here, cut this one! I think it's controlling the rest!" She cried, and held the strand out for Yashie to cut. As soon as he sliced it, the other tendrils fell limp, sinking back down the well. Yashie took off his outer robe…thing (sorry, not good with feudal Japanese clothing...), and handed it to Kagome.

"It's made from the robe of the Fir Rat. It's stronger than most armor." He said, looking anywhere but at Kagome.

"Uhm, thanks Inuyasha…" Kagome said slowly, putting the garment on over her skirt and sweater.

"Come on!" He said, grabbing Kagome and jumping down after the hair. I sighed in irritation before jumping down after them.

"I don't understand. If Yura already got the jewel fragment, why is she still coming after us?" Kags muttered.

"WHAT?" Yashie said, at the same time I said,

"YOU LET HER STEAL IT? WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE SELF DEFENCE I TAUGHT YOU!"

"In front of you!" Kagome shouted and I dodged another tendril. Inuyasha was about to slash through the tentacle of hair coming at him, but I knew he couldn't see it. So, naturally, I "helped" him out. I summoned a wall of rock in front of him. The hair was deflected off, and the wall sank back, but there was more hair coming.

"Well, come on Kags, we don't have all day! Find the controlling strand!" I snapped, dodging and blocking two more tendrils of hair.

"You know Keira, you have a sword. Wouldn't that be easier than dodging all the time?" Inuyasha said, slightly annoyed at Kagome, who was yelling in his ear. I wanted to slap myself. I threw my kimono on the ground, revealing my armor underneath, and drew my sword.

"Bring it on," I muttered, and started slashing at the hair. The sword hit with a hollow sounding CLANK, and bounced off. "Just freakin' GREAT!" I snarled, throwing the sword away.

"Inuyasha, Key! This way!" Kags called, following some unseen thing into the forest.

We ran for a while, before I smelt something strange and revolting.

"Yashie, what is that?" I asked him, wrinkling my nose. Yashie barely looked my way before stopping near a campsite. There was a small group of bodies near a campfire, the heads cut clean off. Blood still dripped from the intricate web of hair surrounding the trees around us.

"It's human blood. Fresh by the looks of these bodies." He said, dropping Kagome off his back. She slumped to the ground, her eyes wide.

"Kags, are you okay?" I asked, kneeling by her side.

"Don't tell me that you wanna go home because you're scared." Inuyasha mocked. I growled at him, and his ears flattened slightly. Kagome picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows, clutching them tightly.

"I think I'll borrow these," she said, standing straight again. She climbed back onto Yashie's back, and we took off again.

"Why'd you take those? It's not like you'll hit anything." He said. Kagome's fists clenched, and her eye twitched.

"I can with some practice!" she snapped. Inuyasha didn't look convinced.

"When did you practice?" I asked, confused. She hadn't done anything having to do with Feudal Japan since she left.

"I will eventually!" she snapped, looking ahead of her. I would have laughed, if the situation hadn't been so serious. I sensed the same demonic energy as earlier; very close this time, and one very, VERY far away. Even though it was so far, it was still disconcertingly strong. I chewed my lip, trying to decide whether to go after Yura or the new aura.

"Yashie? Do you think you can handle Yura? I forgot that I had something important to do. Like, direly important." I said, slowing. He scoffed, looking my way.

"What do you think?" he said, picking up speed again. I turned towards the aura, speeding away. If there was no trouble- though, with my luck there probably would be- I could make it to the aura in just over two days.

xoxoxox THE NEXT MORNING xoxoxox

I was still running, like I had been all night. The demon's aura was moving, but I was gaining slightly. It became more and more powerful the closer I got, and it made me antsy. How could one thing be so powerful?

The snapping of a twig made me stop dead. I looked around, but could sense no movement, aura, or scent. I cautiously continued forward, walking instead of running.

*RUSTLE, RUSTLE* I snapped my head towards the sound, hoping to catch what was making the noise. I only saw a squirrel digging in some leaves. I sighed in relief, and laughed. I was scared of a squirrel? I shook my head, smiling, and continued walking.

Suddenly, I sensed something coming towards me. My eyes were the only thing that moved; the only thing that gave any indication that I knew something was coming at me. I reached out at the last millisecond, and grabbed the offending appendage. It was….slimy! I sank my claws into the soft flesh, and pulled. A giant lizard came crashing out of the forest onto the ground by my feet. It was at least seven feet tall, with green scales and a yellow underbelly. Yeah, the thing I was grabbing onto? It was its tongue. It opened its red beady eyes, only to cower in fear.

"Muh! Munna oopth hnunna hmmpf." It tried to say. I released its tongue, and it slurped it back into its mouth before bowing low to the ground.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice emotionless. It shivered slightly, before replying.

"I am Katashi, a slave trader from Kajiaba." He bowed lower, his forehead touching the ground. "Please, forgive me for my incompetence. Had I known you were an Element Demon, I would not have been so foolish."

"Tell me Katashi," I said, my voice still cold. "What were you planning to do if I hadn't been an Element Demon?"

"I would have either eaten you, or sold you as a slave to a more powerful demon." I growled in disgust. The lizard trembled and whimpered. I picked him up by the front of his shirt and shook him.

"You will stop selling slaves. Find another job." I snarled. He nodded frantically, and I released him. I turned to walk away when he called out to me.

"Wait! I have a gift for you!" he called, reaching into his bag and pulling something out. It was a snow white bird; an owl. It had a hood over its head and its feet were tied together, preventing it from moving. I accepted, more for the bird's benefit than my own.

"Thank you Katashi. Remember what I said." I called over my shoulder. I ran for a few minutes before untying the bird's feet. It squawked from inside the bag, and opened and closed it talons on my arm, adjusting to the feel. I removed the hood next, smiling in delight at its eyes. They were a deep royal purple, growing black near the inside. It hooted at me, blinking its eyes slowly.

"I think I'll name you Kizoku. After all, you are very noble looking." I said. A flood of warm traveled from my head to my toes, and back up again, before disappearing. Kizoku's feathers changed colors at the tips, turning of course, red, a very light blue, dark blue, green, and brown. 'Hello Mistress.' A voice said from in my mind. I jumped slightly, before looking at Kizoku.

'Was that you?' I asked in my thoughts. I swear, the owl smirked!

'Of course it was Mistress. Who else would it be?'

'How are you talking to me?' I asked.

'When you named me, you created a bond between the two of us. Now, I will live as long as you, be able to talk to you, use the elements, and sense when you are in trouble.'

'That's really…..convenient.'

'What would you like me to do?' she asked. I thought about it for a minute.

'There is a very powerful aura I am following. I am trying to find its owner. Why don't you scout ahead? I am afraid there's not much else I have for you to do.' I said, and she launched off my arm silently flying into the air. I smiled, and started running again. The aura had faded a little, and I had lost some of my progress. I would have to run faster.

Xoxoxox THE NEXT EVENING xoxoxox

I was close to the demon now. It wouldn't be long before I reached it. I blocked my scent and aura, (a trick that Kizoku had taught me this morning), and advanced forward. The demon was approaching a group of Samurai warriors. I cut around the back of the warrior's camp, hoping to meet in the middle. I hid behind a tent and listened to them converse. I couldn't see the demon yet, but I could tell it was a male.

"I require a boat." He said coldly. It made me shiver, hearing the man talk that way. The general stepped forward, laughing at him.

"A boat? Before a battle? And I suppose we're supposed to give it?" he laughed.

"Yes." The demon man said, his voice dangerous. I stepped forward before this could get any worse.

"Well, you heard the man. Give him a boat." I said, appearing right behind the General. The demon was tall and lean, but muscular, with long silver hair. He had golden eyes, two purple stripes on each side of his face, pointed ears, fangs and claws. He was wearing a red and white kimono and white hakamas, with a golden obi with grey spiked armor protecting his stomach and left shoulder. The General dropped the boar he was holding, as the demon man cut off his head.

"That guy's not human!" one soldier gasped.

"He's a demon!" one shouted.

"Well DUH. What did you think he was? A fairy?" I sneered. A little green toad came running through the long grass, carrying a two headed staff.

"Lord Sesshomaru! I regret to inform you that there are no boats!" he said, looking around. He finally caught sight of the dock and stuttered out, "Un-Unless you count those ones o-over there."

"Position the staff Jaken." He said, and the little imp scrambled around.

"Y-Yes my Lord." He squeaked, and put the staff down. The woman's face creaked open, and screeched. "It appears the grave we seek is elsewhere my Lord."

"Is that so?" he said, turning away towards the boats. "Jaken, I leave them to you."'

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru. Hee-hee-hee." He snickered, before turning towards the samurai. "Now! Face the wrath of the staff of skulls!" He pointed the staff at us, and the old man opened his mouth. Fire spewed out, burning everyone around me. I stood strong however, and saw that I had my hands held in front of me. They seemed to be stopping the fire from hitting me. The wind created by the attack blew my hair back behind me, but the heat wasn't unpleasant. When the fire stopped, the toad gasped in surprise.

"H-How are you still standing? You should be a pile of ashes!" I only laughed, and summoned some water from the lagoon.

"Silly toad." I giggled. "I'm an Element Demon. Fire can't touch me." 'I hope.' I added in my head. His eyes widened and he gulped visibly. "You shouldn't have tried to kill me. Now I'm mad." I said, my voice colder than Lord Sesshomaru's had been. I used my water ability to fling him up in the air. While I flung him into the water, I wondered what else I could do. I knew that there were five elements. Wind, water, earth, fire, and plant life. I had all the colors that represented them, so I should be able to control them all. Right? It wouldn't hurt to try. I threw him into the air with water, and hit him with a pillar of rock. He came soaring down, but I used my wind talent to throw him back up. I caught him with vines, and strung him up.

"Now, for the grand finale! It's going to finish with a BANG!" I said, giggling. My hands caught fire, and I started to make a fireball.

"LORD SESSHOMARU!" he shrieked. I was about to throw it, when I was slammed from my side. I went flying, but landed on my feet thanks to gymnastics, reflexes and tai-kwon-do. Lord Sesshomaru appeared in front of me, and tried to slam his claws into my head. I easily dodged his attack. It looked so slow. His hand slammed into a tree, sinking in, and I could literally feel the tree cry out in pain.

"Hello again, Lord Sesshomaru was it?" I said, brushing a leaf from my armor. I made the tree grow around his hand, but he pulled out of it easily.

"Who are you?" he demanded as I dodged another of his attacks. I smiled, summoning a rock wall to block the punch he sent my way. His fist went about halfway through before it was stopped.

"I am Keira, an Element Demon from Tokyo , Japan, 500 years in the future. That's about all I know." I admitted sheepishly, dodging another blow. I felt a pain in my neck, like someone was trying to strangle me.

'Mistress! Are you okay?' Kizoku asked. The pain receded, but I had a feeling that it wasn't my own pain I was feeling.

'I'm fine Kizoku.' I thought to her, jumping to avoid Sesshomaru's whip.

"I have to go. Can we finish this later?" I asked, blocking his hand, glowing green with poison. I grabbed his wrist, flipping him over my shoulder and onto the ground. "Never mind, I just won. See you later Sesshomaru!" I called, sprinting away and into the woods again.

'Kizoku, I have to go back and find my friends. Their names are Inuyasha and Kagome.' I thought. 'Inuyasha is a half dog demon that wears all red. Kagome has black hair and blue eyes, and wears green and white. She's also the protector of the jewel, and a priestess.'

'I'll fly ahead and keep a lookout for them Mistress.'

'You can fly faster than I can run?' I thought in surprise. She laughed in her head for a second, before beating her wings a little faster.

'Of course I can! How useful would I be if I wasn't fast? Always stuck at my master's or mistress's side…' she trailed off. I shrugged, and continued onward.

xoxoxox A FEW DAYS LATER xoxoxox

"KAGOME!" I yelled, bursting through the bushes. I froze mid-step when I finally saw her. She was straddling Inuyasha, yanking his shirt open.

"Take it off!" she yelled, yanking harder.

"Q-Q-Quit it!" he yelled back, grabbing her hands, trying to stop her from ripping his shirt off.

"Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" I laughed, almost falling over. Kaede came into view with a few children following her.

"Quickly, shield ye eyes!" she said, seeing the pair on the ground.

"HA HA HA HA HA HA *WHEEZE* HA HA HA HA HA !" I laughed, leaning against a tree. I could hear Kizoku laughing in the branches above me.

"It seems you two are getting along better than I thought." Kaede said. Inuyasha jumped up with a "Keh, idiot.", knocking Kagome onto the ground.

"So….what did you guys do while I was gone?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. Their heads whipped in my direction, and Kagome turned red while Inuyasha looked horrified. He turned on Kagome angrily.

"Haven't you figured it out yet? My body's different!" he said, showing Kagome his chest. I frowned. Had he gotten hurt? Had Kags gotten hurt?

"That horrible wound, it's already gone!" She exclaimed, staring.

"Did you guys get hurt or something? I thought you said you could handle Yura!" I scolded, wagging my finger at them both.

"Oi! While you were off doing whatever, we got the jewel shard back, and defeated Yura!" He yelled. I scowled.

"I wasn't doing "whatever", I was going after a really strong demonic energy." I said, huffing.

"Did you find who it belonged to?" Inuyasha asked. I rolled my eyes. NOW he decided that he was interested.

"Of course I did, but not before I ran into a lizard demon that gave me Kizoku and told me what kind of demon I was." I said, holding out my arm for Kizoku to land on. She spread her wings and seemed to bow.

"Who the hell is Kizoku?" He demanded. I growled, and Kizoku seemed to hiss at him.

"The multicolored owl on my arm is Kizoku." Kizoku ruffled her feathers, puffing up.

'Why, that disrespectful little bastard! I'll peck his eyes out and shove them down his throat! Stupid son of a-.'

'Kizoku,' I said sharply in my mind. She cringed at my tone. 'Inuyasha is like family to me, and I would appreciate it if you stopped insulting him.'

'As you wish Mistress.' She muttered. She calmed down, but still glared at him.

"And before you ask Inuyasha, I'm an Element Demon or something like that. I can control all five of the elements."

"I wasn't going to ask that," he said, rolling his eyes and tucking his arms into his sleeves. "Who was the demon that had such a strong aura?"

"Hmmm… I forget his name, but he was a very good fighter. He was about this tall," I said, holding my hand about nine inches above my own. " And had silver hair, purple stripes on his cheeks, and golden eyes. He kept attacking me with some kind of poison claws." I said. Inuyasha snarled, and punched a tree, chipping off some of the bark.

"Sesshomaru!" he bit out, kicking the tree this time.

"Yeah that's it! Lord Sesshomaru. He had that toad thing with him, ohh what's his name….Jaken!" I said, smirking at the memory.

"Damn!" Inuyasha cursed. I raised a brow.

"Do you know him?" I asked. Inuyasha laughed bitterly.

"Know him? He's my bastard of a half-brother."

"Well, he's a bastard that got beaten by a girl," I smirked. Inuyasha 's mouth fell open, before he looked down at his chest and smacked at something.

"Well, if it ain't old Myoga the flea." He said, watching as the squashed demon floated to the ground.

"Flea?" Kagome squeaked. I watched as he puffed himself out again, and started rambling to Inuyasha. Kagome abruptly stopped his talking by spraying him with bug spray. I deadpanned, and walked into Kaede's hut.