Chapter 9

Ayame had just caught up to where Koga's scent was the strongest only to be shocked and enraged at what she found. As soon a she had entered the clearing, she had found a passed out Koga lying by the river with blood and flesh under his claws. As she got closer to him to see if he was alright, Ayame recognized the scent that was under his claws. 'That bastard, he really meant what he said, but where did Kagome go?' Ayame thought as she began to tie him up so that he wouldn't be able to run away.

Just as she had finished tying him up, Ayame looked up into the sky and closed her eyes before letting out a very high pitch call hoping that Miyazu would hear her call. Just as she had opened her eyes, Ayame couldn't help but smile when she say the calm and happy looking Miyazu standing before her and growling at Koga. Just as Miyazu was about to attack Koga, Ayame stepped in front of him and said, "Don't, he is going to become my mate, if he still tries what he did then he is all yours."

'Do you have any idea who the person he attacked is?' Miyazu growled.

Although because Ayame had been gone when they had just started to grow their bound, Ayame looked at Miyazu sadly and said, "I can't understand you all that well and I know that it's my own fault for being gone so long, please, just trust me."

After taking a calming breath, Miyazu took a step toward Ayame and placed her forehead against Ayame's and said, 'Do. You. Have. Any. Idea. Who. He. Attacked?'

"Do I have any he attacked?" Ayame repeated in a small whisper before she said, "Wait, he attacked Kagome because he claims to want to take her as his mate."

Realizing that she would soon be able to tell her rider the truth, Miyazu nodded her head before she turned around and waited for Ayame to get Koga on her so that they could go back to the castle.

"Oh, you're going on a trip with me, first we have to go back to my tribe so that I can explain things…and to introduce you to them." Understanding that they were going to get more time to build their bound, Miyazu nodded her head and waited for Ayame to allow her to take to the sky.

Meanwhile, Kagome and Eri had just woken up to find the two dragons waiting for them to get up. Kagome had woken up because Dante was worried about her since she wasn't sleeping like she was back in the castle. As she slowly got up, Kagome turned to look at Dante and said, "You worry too much you hot head, now would you look after your rider while I go to the river to catch some fish for Eri and I."

'You look pale, were you attacked or is the curse hurting you to much?' Dante growled.

"I am fine, now get Eri up, we need to start going back to the castle." Kagome ordered as she began to walk away with Rinji close behind her.

"Umm…Kagome, do you need any help?" a sleepy Eri was heard as she began to wake up.

"Yeah, are you up for it?" Kagome replied.

"I'm fine, beside, you really shouldn't be pushing yourself to much." Eri answered.

"I know, but I really am fine." Kagome said as she waited for Eri to join her.

'This coming from the cursed miko.' Dante growled.

"Dante that is not nice." Eri hissed.

'You really need to learn how to talk to your master properly.' Rinji growled knowing that Eri would not be able to understand him.

"Don't worry about it Eri, it's not like if he can say anything seeing as how he had to get his wing healed by a cursed miko." Kagome shot back in a cold voice.

After putting him in his place Kagome and Eri walked side by side to the nearby river. Once they were done catching their fish, Eri turned to Dante and asked, "Can you please help us out with the fire?"

"Like if he could." Kagome mumbled.

"Oh come on Kagome, you still can't be mad at him." Eri replied with a smile on her face.

'You better not over do it.' Rinji warned.

'I'll do it.' Dante growled.

"Fine, just make sure that he doesn't start a free, Rinji, come here." Kagome replied as she walked toward the forest.

"Where are you going?" Eri asked in a hurt voice.

"I just wanted to make sure that he is doing ok, I'll give Dante a check up to when I'm done with Rinji." Kagome answered with as smile on her face.

"Thanks, but when do you think we should start heading home?" Eri asked.

"I think we should take our time, I need to go and check on some of the dragons that haven't gone back to the castle anyway." Kagome replied as she made it look like if she was checking his left side of his wing while secretly cleaning the wounds that Koga had left her.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Eri asked.

'I'm not going back without if we split up.' Dante growled.

"I guess I have my answer." Eri answered.

"Yeah, but if you really want to go back I'm sure he will go with you." Kagome replied in a sweet tone that only got Rinji and Dante to submit instantly without Eri's knowing.

"I don't know, I think I should go with you, it's the least I could do…besides, did they even have time to train you as a dragon rider?" Eri answered.

"Oh, I'm not a dragon rider, they couldn't let Kaede come so they ordered me, I'm sure this will be the only time they send me out." Kagome explained.

"What? Why? You would make a great rider! All of the dragons work well with you because they like your aura." Eri stated.

"I know but, I get sick easily; I'm actually amazed that I haven't gotten sick yet." Kagome answered.

"Oh, I'm sorry, well then in that case I will make sure you get home safely." Eri stated.

"Thanks." Kagome whispered.

Once she was done, 'looking over Rinji' Kagome walked over to Dante and said, "Sit down and stay still."

"Do you want to eat first? The fish are ready." Eri stated.

"No, it's alright." Kagome answered, "It won't take long."

"Alright, Dante you better behave." Eri hissed.

'Like if I need to be told that.' Dante stated.

'Cool it.' Rinji growled.

"Now, now, hot head, you just need to move your wings so that I can make sure that herbs and spell worked." Kagome whispered.

Once they were done eating and making sure that the two dragons were able to fly, Kagome and Eri got on their dragons and began to make their way to the first village where one of the dragons had been kept for the past three months. It was mid day when Kagome turned to face Eri as they stopped mid air when they heard a dragon's roar. Once they had stopped flying toward the nearby village, Eri turned to Kagome and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

"I have no idea but that sounded like a warning growl or a battle cry." Kagome answered.

'Don't go, you are still hurt.' Rinji growled.

'What are you talking about Rinji, the mistress is fine.' Dante growled back.

"I think we should go and help." Eri stated. "I'm sure the dragons will recognize each other when we get closer."

"I don't know, it sounded more like it was a battle, but we can't just let the village burn, come on; let's go Rinji." Kagome ordered as she got a good hold on Rinji.

'Mistress you are alright, right?' Dante asked in a worried voice.

"Kagome?" Eri asked in a worried voice.

"I'm fine, we can't go back now anyway." Kagome hissed as she and Rinji took off.

'Sorry.' Rinji stated.

Once they arrived at the village, Kagome and Eri quickly got to work as they tried to help the villagers stay safe while the rider and his dragon protected the village. Just as Kagome had gotten the last of the children under the protection of her dragons wing, she turned around only to find a little girl running toward her with tears running down her face. "Stay here." Kagome ordered before running forward.

Little did she knew an inu guard watched in amazement as the girl ran forward and easily killed the demons that stood in her way to get to the freighted child. Once Kagome had the girl in her arms Kagome jumped out of the way as she closed her eyes and let out a very low pitch sound as she kneeled down with the child against her chest. Just as she thought she was going to be hit and killed, Kagome looked up to see the demon that had been attacking her get thrown back with its head half off its head as an inu demon appeared in front of her. As she slowly stood up, Kagome looked at him and asked, "Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter now dragon rider, get the child out of here and then go help your friends, they're going to need help in the sky." He growled.

"So long as you look after the villagers and the children." Kagome shot back.

"I will, now move it." He growled.

"Kagome, help us!" Eri cried as she jumped off of Dante and on to the dragon that she hadn't seen in a while to help the wounded rider that lay on the dragon.

"Rinji!" Kagome called as she ran as fast as she could so that she could jump on and take to the sky faster.

As soon as she had landed on the dragon, Kagome quickly pulled out the hidden weapons that she had placed on her upper arms in the small pockets. Just as Eri and the unknown rider were about to be attacked, Kagome threw her weapon and watched as it easily forced the demons back as she got to her friends side. Once she was there, Kagome looked over the wounded rider and said, "I have to start healing him soon."

"We don't have the time, we need to get rid of all these demons." Eri stated.

"I know, but we can't leave him like that." Kagome added.

'I'll take him.' Rinji offered.

'Mistress of dragons, place allow me to be your aid.'

"Eri get back on Dante and go on ahead of me, Rinji get closer to her." Kagome ordered as she reached over for the rider.

"What are you doing?" Eri asked as she jumped back onto Dante's back with enough time to block the attack that was about to hit Kagome and Rinji.

"I'm going to get the rider down so that the villagers can tend to his wounds for now." Kagome stated as she jumped onto the dragon that was worried about its rider, "What's your name?"

'I am Shikamaru and I am here to serve you my princess.'

"Alright then Shikamaru, what is your gift. I can tell that you are a rare dragon." Kagome stated as she made sure that she was holding on tight.

'I can control the wind; I am a dragon that cannot lose in the sky.'

"Very well then, this is what I want you to do." Kagome whispered as she placed her head on the back of his neck with her eyes closed so that she could control him and his element without being heard.

"Dante, get ready to catch me once I'm done." Eri was heard as she jumped off of her dragon and onto the nearby demon to stab him in the head.

Meanwhile the one demon guard and the villagers watched in amazement as the two girls easily defeated all of the demons that had attacked their village. Just as they had finished, Kagome jumped off of the wind dragon and into the tallest tree to face the demon that had arragned the attack to being with. Just as she had landed, she was not surprised when she heard a cold voice say, "Who are you? What did you do to my army?"

"I am a dragon rider, defender of these lands, and the royal family. What did you think you were doing?" Kagome hissed in a cold voice.

"I am here to get the dragon to take him to Lord Naraku but now that I see that you and that other girl are nothing but mere humans, I'll kill you too and take three dragons back to my lord."

"Tell your lord that he will never have another dragon again." Kagome hissed before she quickly slit his throat and threw him into the sky so that he could be properly killed by the dragons that had fought along her side.

Just as she had jumped out of the tree, Kagome looked around and landed on Shikamaru with a smile on her face. Once she had made sure that Eri had already landed and began to work on the wounds of the other dragon rider, Kagome quickly had Shikamaru take her to his rider so that she could get to work. Just as she had reached the group of villagers, Kagome turned to face the guard when she heard him ask, "What do you need to heal him?"

"I still have some herbs that I used last night, I just need a place where I can work in peace." Kagome answered as she turned to Eri and asked, "How is he doing?"

"No good, he has a fever and his wounds won't stop bleeding." Eri answered.

"Go with Dante and get me some more herbs, I need the ones that will help stop the bleeding." Kagome stated as she followed the guard into a hut while the villagers carried the rider into the hut.

"Alright, we'll be back soon." Eri stated as she took off with Dante at her side.

Just as she walked into the hut, Kagome was not surprised when she heard Rinji's worried voice say, 'Do not use that again, you will only pass out or grow too weak to fly.'

"I'll be alright, I don't have to us that now…he still has hope." Kagome whispered back in a low pitch tone.

Knowing that she would have to work fast, Kagome began to work on healing the wounds on the rider. As she slowly cleaned and wrapped the man's wounds, Kagome found herself recognizing the man that had been so badly hurt. 'This is out rigorous, they put him, him of all people to guard the village, he wasn't even trained.' Kagome thought in anger as she tried to calm down so that she could heal him properly. 'Just wait until I get back to the castle, he is coming with me.'

'He is my rider, he has done nothing but protect me just as I have protected him, he has learned much…please don't take him.' Shikamaru's sad growl was heard.

Understanding what this meant, Kagome closed her eyes and took a calming breath before completely healing all of the major wounds he had. Once she was done, Kagome sat down and closed her eyes as she tried to get some rest so that he would have enough energy to go back home.