"Memory is sweet. Even when it's painful, memory is sweet."

-Li-Young Lee

Chapter 6: Kagome

I stiffened as I heard the dragon speak from behind me. I turned away from him in anger so I couldn't see his face. I didn't want to face him or be bombarded by some long speech about how I wasn't good enough or how Midoriko was better. I felt that same feeling of anger within me begin to rise at the thought.

"Look woman...there's no need to get worked up. I am merely offering you the chance to be comforted. If you don't accept it now, I will withdraw my offer."

Confused, I looked up to see a lightly-tanned palm in my line of vision. 'Well at least I know for sure now he's not a female dragon.'

His eyes, now a reddish-orange, bore into me just as intensely as it did before. Except now it belonged to the handsome face of a man. He stood tall, easily at least 190 centimeters. His eyes were almond shaped, making me think that he wasn't fully Japanese. His hair, which was the same shade of red as his skin in his dragon form, fell down to his knees and looked as soft as silk. While his face was devoid of markings, his body was full of them. Red and orange lines swirled and crossed over each other in a pattern I couldn't make out around his neck and down both sides of his body.

While he only wore a pair of brown hakama and black boots, it fit him. He was beautiful for a grumpy dragon.

"So...you have another form." I commented quietly.

He cocked his head in interest. Or was it confusion? "Most demons have a humanoid form while others are simple beasts with humanoid attributes. I happen to be a demon with both a beast form and a humanoid form. "You don't appear to be surprised."

I shrugged. "I've seen more than my fair share of beasts in this era."

Suddenly, his earlier comments popped into my mind.

"Wait a minute!" I yelled out, startling the dragon-turned man. "What is all this about Midoriko being my predecessor? And what about what you said to me before you basically kidnapped me?" I questioned.

"Come." He motioned for me to come over and sit by the fire, which had lost some of it's intensity.

I sat near, clutching my tattered kimono closer to me.

"What would you like answered first." I heard him say.

"I don't know." I answered truthfully. Where could I start? I was chased into a forest by a terrifying dragon who kidnapped me, called me master, and iwho I had never seen before a day in my life.

"He started. "I am Tatsuo. A fire dragon and former protector of Midoriko."

I sat stunned. "Really?" Tatsuo nodded, a somber look upon his face. "What was she like?"

Tatsuo's lips twitched as if he was about to smile. But the smile never came. "Midoriko was a kind-hearted woman, though vexing. Before we met, she had a strong dislike of all demons just like any other priest or priestess did back then. The first time we met was on the night of the full moon."

"How? I've run into a few but none with as much as you have."

Tatsuo had the nerve to appear impressed. "In your flailing, I didn't think you'd had time to assess my abilities."

I glared. "Continue with the story please."

"Hm. While dragons possess an array of skills related to the elements, most in Japan are water deities. The full moon is when the powers are the strongest since they pull on its energy. Because of the compatibility, it was the perfect time for me to resume my hunt." He shifted slightly as he said this, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Your hunt? Hunt for what?"

Was that a blush? "My hunt for a mate."

Now it was my turn to be slightly embarrassed. "Oh. W-well…um.."

Tatsuo shook his head. "No need for that. But yes, the night I met Midoriko was the same night I had been searching for a mate near a gathering of water dragons. She was tending to a few villagers who had been fatally injured in a rockslide. I had been displaying my talents to a potential female. Unfortunately, it was near Midoriko's village."

"If you don't mind me asking, how exactly do you display your talents to a potential mate? Also, do they have a humanoid form like you?" I was so immersed in his story that I almost didn't notice the amused look on his face when I interrupted to question something he probably thought was trivial.

"Each dragon is different. I personally display my talents with a dance along with my power. It shows grace and agility, which attracts the female dragon more than any of my other traits. And yes, they all have humanoid forms. May I now finish my story?" His voice was dry and hurried but his lips quirked into a smile so I couldn't tell if he was truly bothered or not.

I shook my head yes and turned away from him so he wouldn't catch sight of my blush.

"Now then, where was I?" He scratched at his chest while trying to remember where he left off and I was once again aware of the fact that he was half-naked.

"We were near Midoriko's village when some of the humans caught sight of us and scrambled away in fear. They mistook our mating ritual for an attack, the foolish humans. Midoriko was among the ones who thought so of course. After leading the villagers to safety, she stepped out to confront us. At first I thought that she was some crazy wench who wanted to do nothing but die a useless death trying to impress her kin."

He paused to shift again in his spot and the fur blanket fell to his waist. His broad shoulders sat atop a long torso and he was thick with muscle. His skin was beautiful despite being marred with various cuts and marks.

500 years from now, he could easily be placed in the Top 25 Hottest Men category.

"I know my beauty is distracting, but do you really have to stare?" I shook my head of previous thoughts as his voice cut through my mind.

"Hmph…you're not that good-looking." I muttered softly.

He huffed before continuing. "As I was saying, my views of Midoriko changed when she stood up to me, stating what my business was with her village." He sighed heavily. "Fire dragons such as myself are a highly dominant kind so you can imagine how I felt when she talked down to me."

Strange thing was I could imagine it. One too many times I had to square off with Inuyasha or watched as he fought with someone else. He would get so short-tempered with anyone who dared to defy him.

'Oh, please. All that dog needs is a collar and a leash. Maybe then I wouldn't have to say sit all the time.' I giggled when a picture of Inuyasha with said items on while scratching his ear with his foot popped into my head.

"Woman."

I stopped giggling almost instantly. "Sorry."

"Good. Once again, before I was rudely interrupted, Midoriko was a brave woman. She stepped into any battle thrown her way like a true warrior. When we were alone, however, she was a different person. Just like you."

That caught my attention.

"Like me?"

"She was carefree. She would smile and say the most inane things. Despite the weight she carried from her responsibilities as the Shrine Priestess, her light never dimmed. I suppose that's why I became so fascinated with her. A human woman whose existence I was taught to fear and destroy."

The soft look on his face gave me an idea as to how he felt about Midoriko. I always used to get that look when I thought about Inuyasha.

"You loved her."

Tatsuo glanced at me through half-lidded eyes. "Yes. I did." It was easy to miss because of the reflection from the water and glow of the fire, but I could see the hurt in his eyes when he looked at me. "I missed her so when she died. It was that day that I decided to watch over her family line."

"Is that why you had commented earlier on me being your master? Because I'm a descendant of Midoriko?"

"Yes."

"Tell me Tatsuo. Did Midoriko know of your feelings?" He nodded. "Yes, she even felt the same. But with her being a holy woman and me being of another species, we were bound to not further our relationship."

"Oh." That thought made me sad. The woman who gave her all to save Japan couldn't have the one thing she probably wanted most.

"Now that you know of my involvement, it is time you be made aware of yours." Tatsuo said as he stood up, the blanket falling to the floor as walked towards me.

"Wha-what are you talking about?" He pulled me up by my arm and I struggled to hold my kimono together.

"You Kagome, are highly untrained. If we do not see that your powers are tended to now, not only will you put others in danger, you will put yourself in danger as well. You're going to need all the training you can get in order to face what's coming." Tatsuo began to drag us toward a dark, giant pool of water that sat in the middle of the cave.

"Wait!" I tugged hard on my wrist as we came closer and closer to the water's edge. The stone floor wasn't a steep edge like I thought but sloped into the water. It was at least up past my ankles now as Tatsuo continue to pull me forward.

"What is it?" Tatsuo turned toward me.

"You said something is coming. What is it and what does it have to do with me?!" Somehow I knew I didn't want an answer to that.

Tatsuo grinned widely. His teeth surprisingly straight and white.

'Way better than when those same teeth were trying to eat me in the forest.'

"It is as I said and it has everything to do with you." His smile never gave away. "For right now, I have an old friend to visit." He grabbed me by the waist and crouched low. "Who?" Once again, I had the distinct feeling I didn't want to know.

"Sesshomaru-sama. Lord of the Western lands."

"Why? How does he fit into all of this mess?" My head was starting to hurt with all of this confusion.

He didn't answer. All he did was tighten his hold on my waist.

"Take a deep breath and hold on tight," was the last thing I heard before we dove deep into the pool below.