#ch9.1

Aderyn coasted alongside a silver, winged kitsune who had a fine layer of kitsune-bi over her entire form and was currently muttering death-threats to anything within range. :: Hey, Zuka? Do you think things would be going different if Touga-sama was still alive?::

Pulled from her inner musings, the kitsune titled her head to the side and looked off into the distance, :: Of course, everything would be different... ::

::I miss him.::                                                                                                                                      

Azuka landed on the ground, her wings folding in tightly and disappearing as she lifted and shook off a stray string of weeds, :: Aye.... we all do. But I understand why you would miss him more than most, save for his son. ::

::I know he only saw me as a daughter, but still. He wasn’t that much older than me, when I came to him.I mean, He’s only 50 years older than me. It’s not my fault that  you damn dogs mature faster than us birds.::

::Eeeeh? You trying to say you fantasize about being my aunt? Thats messed up Eryn-chan! :: The silver kitsune playfully swatted at the still airborne raven with one of her tails.

::Iteiteite! Don’t do that. I can’t help that I fell for the old dog. That’s the main reason, why I’ve helped his sons.:: She sighed.

Azuka sobered and nodded, :: Aye, I get it, really. But don’t expect me to start calling you Auntie or anything. Damn crow...:: Azuka said slyly.

::What?!?! I’m not a crow you, damn dog,:: Aderyn squawked.

                Azuka lifted a paw nonchalantly, :: What are you saying? Of course, I meant ‘Raven’, don’t be silly!:: The silver kitsune stood up and began to walk away, towards where the twins and Kagome had settled down and were talking quietly, sending a bright cheshire grin over her shoulder to her best friend.

                Aderyn transformed, brushing off her scarlet kimono and hakama as she descended from the sky. “So have you adjusted to having four youkai bound to you, Kagome-chan?”

                Kagome sighed and sat up a bit straighter as Aderyn and Azuka moved to stand beside the twins, “Honestly? I don’t feel much different, but I’ll tell you something... I’ve never been gone from Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and Shippo for very long, this is my first time. It might be the bond, of ‘that’, but right now everything seems kinda surreal.”

                Aderyn laughed, “I understand that. You should’ve seen me when I first got to Japan. At least you can communicate.”

                Kagome laughed in turn, “Oh yeah, that would be a little disorienting.”

                “You have no idea, Kotori.” She shook out her hair, running her hand through the pale gold locks. “Ugh, fish food.” She pulled out a handful of seaweed out of the soft locks.

                “Why do you keep calling me ‘little bird’?”Kagome asked softly, finding herself tending to her own locks out of a sympathetic response to see the raven demoness do it.

                “Well, I’ve taken you under my wing, literally, and I’m a bird, which makes you my little bird.”