It was a windy, bright, night. Quite peaceful and quiet yet being in these feudal times would cause anyone to expect the unexpected. After all, it is always calm before the storm.

Inu-Yasha was prancing on to find the shards as usual, sniffing the ground at every step he took. Kagome, not that far behind him, was looking over her shoulders and staring into the woods. Her paranoia had been getting the best of her ever since she first came through the well.

Miroku and Sango were behind Kagome walking steadily and Shippo lay on Miroku's shoulder. "If you are frightened, lady Kagome then please feel free to lean on my arm" Miroku spoke as he smirked. Kagome shot an angry glance at Miroku and Sango whacked the back of his head with her hand.

"Ow!?" Miroku cried out,

"Serves you right you perverted monk" Sango exclaimed,

"Will you all just shut up?! We're close to the shard. I can smell it?" Inu-Yasha called out,

"It's true. I can sense it from here. It's coming from that direction." Kagome replied and held up her hand pointing to a direction in the forest. Inu-Yasha Shot in the direction as the rest of the group ran after him. Inu-Yasha had just come out into a clearing and stopped to wait for the others.

After they caught up, he took a few steps and noticed the hill stopped there and the ground was a few feet below on the next step. Inu-Yasha jumped down and waited for the others. They all jumped down and then Inu-Yasha spoke. "Is this were you sense it, Kagome?"

?Yes, the aura is coming from here? Kagome replied,

?I don?t see anything? Miroku said as he looked around the clearing,

Inu-Yasha took a few steps further into the clearing. Then out of nowhere a tail appeared, it was in shades of blue but it was mostly black, white dots were on it but those were the reflections of the stars. The tail pulled back and then charged forward into Inu-Yasha's stomach. Inu-Yasha blasted back into the rocky wall. He slid down and Kagome knelt down to his aid and looked back at the tail.

At the beginning of the tail, it started to slowly pick up more form. More of the black blue skin could be seen as a body started to form legs and arms began to appear and then it?s head, the tail was huge but the arms were quite small. It had legs that could obviously out run them if they ran, and its head had sharp teeth that could tear into skin quite easily if it got the chance. Its mouth was not that far out, nearly flat-faced if it were any smaller. It looked almost like a raptor. Drool dripped from its mouth and the group could easily see that it had a menu and it chose to order them next.

It didn?t worry the group as much because they had fought and beaten way scarier monsters then this, until the group's hope suddenly turned to horror as a whole herd of them ran out of the forest behind the first one and stopped behind it.

"Only the first one has a shard and it's in its forehead." Kagome explained to the others. Inu-Yasha stood back up and drew the Tetsusaiga.

"Let me handle these creatures" Miroku said as he stepped forward, pulled the beads off of his arm guard and began to pull them towards oblivion. But the one with the shard had disappeared and traveled through the air. It appeared next to Miroku and slashed him into the wall with its arm. Miroku quickly pulled the beads back on before hitting the wall.

Sango jumped up and kicked off at the top of the wall. She quickly drew her boomerang and tossed it at the herd. It slashed open a few and a green fluid oozed out of the creatures bodies. Sango landed but she did not notice the one behind her, the one with the shard. It dove its head on her shoulder and bit down hard.

Sango screamed in agony as her blood began to run down her battle outfit. The creature again had disappeared and appeared in front of his herd. Sango had fell back had landed next to the wall.

Shippo, Realizing that he was nearly his friend's only defense, jumped at the herd. He slipped out some leaves out of his sleeve. "Hands of the warrior!" Shippo called out and many hands appeared in front of him. The hands had drove few of them to the ground but that one with the shard had swung its tail at Shippo and he was knocked back just like Inu-Yasha was.

Inu-Yasha grew tired of that one cheating creature. He jumped at the whole herd and they surrounded him. He jumped at some swinging his sword and hitting them. The green blood was running out of their corpses. But many of them jumped Inu-Yasha and drove him to the ground. One had knocked the Tetsusaiga out of Inu-Yasha's grasp.

He had squirmed his way out but the leader had appeared behind him and bit his side. Inu-Yasha?s teeth started to jam together and he let a huge uneasy groan out. The leader had lifted Inu-Yasha up in his jaws and swung his head back and forth. It let Inu-Yasha go and he was thrown to the ground near Kagome.

Kagome dragged Inu-Yasha/s body back to the wall and positioned him so his back was on the wall. The whole group looked from the wall at the herd. The herd started to charge in for the kill but then they all stopped and looked around.

Just then, a black figure had jumped into the clearing from the forest that the group came out of. It was a dark night and Kagome could not see the figure easily. Only that it had a katana and wings?!

The figure landed in front of the group and held its sword out. Many of the herd charged at the figure but it swung its sword and slashed many of them. It continued to battle the herd and Kagome tried to make the figure out.

The figure had long black dragon wings down to its waist and long black hair that also ended at his waist. It had a dark komono that was all back and black pants. Kagome didn't get a good look at its face because it was dark let alone that its back was mostly facing her because it was battling. It continued to battle until none of them remained excepted for the one with the shard. The one with the shard had disappeared again. Kagome knew that even their mysterious savior would be struck down as well. She heard what sounded like a small, low, laugh come from the visitor. Kagome continued to look at it until it vanished into a black mist and then the black mist dissolved into the air.

Neither of them could be seen but the creature with the shard appeared and growled. Just then, the black mist appeared behind it and the figure formed there and struck an overhead blow with its sword and split the creature in half down the middle.

The blood flowed out of its body and now the shard could be seen it its blood. The figure bent over and picked up the shard out of the puddle of blood. The group looked at the visitor as it slowly walked to them. It started to be seen easier because it had walked into the moonlight. The group could see the figure easy now. It had blue eyes and they could see now that it was a man.

The man had a smirk on his face "greetings," he spoke and his smirk faded down, "I know who you all are so do not bother to introduce yourselves. Besides, most of you are in no condition to do any introducing right now. I also know why you are searching for these," he held out the Shikon shard and placed it on his thumb and index finger. He flinged it at Kagome and it landed in her hands. "You all are in need of healing. We must head back to your village at once." he said.

He walked next to Miroku and Sango and knelt down. He lifted them onto his back and then stood up. Shippo could stand on his own because he wasn't hurt as much. He jumped onto Kagome's shoulder. Kagome lifted up Inu-Yasha and brought his arm around her head, he could walk but barely.

The man held out his hand, "grab on." he said. Kagome grabbed his hand and he lifted off into the air briefly enough for them to land on top of the wall. They continued on and entered the forest. They would get to the village from there.

"How do you know about us and what we're doing?" Kagome asked,

"Word has traveled far of a half-demon named Inu-Yasha and he has joined forces with a human girl, you, named Kagome. Also that they found a Kitsune cub named Shippo, a Monk named Miroku that has an arm that can suck things into nothing, and a demon exterminator named Sango. Word also says that you seek to regain the shards of the Shikon Jewel and put them back together," He explained.

"But why help us?" Kagome asked.

"If any shards were to fall in the wrong hands then it would be devastating. Besides, Naraku also seeks the jewel shards," He replied.

"Do you have something against him?" Kagome asked.

"Dont we all." he responded.

"So what are you? You are not human. You have wings and claws," Kagome asked.

"I am a dragon demon, but unlike your Inu-Yasha, I am full demon," he replied.

"So why did you give me the shard? Why didn't you just take it for yourself?" Kagome asked.

"I am powerful enough. I do not need more." He said.

"You are not evil like most demons I met. Why are you good?" Kagome asked.

"I am a demon of free thought. I am not power hungry or too blind to see the truth. I control my destiny not my demonic heritage. I am a rare species." He replied.

"How long have you known about us?" Kagome asked.

"Ever since I collected my first Shikon shard" he replied,

"You have more shards?" Kagome asked.

"Yes. Here,? he answered as he pulled a small sack out of his komono and handed it to her. Kagome opened the small sack and poured out many jewel shards. Kagome gasped as she looked at them.

"There must be ten shards here!" Kagome exclaimed.

"Eight actually, as you can see, I've been quite busy." He said.

"How did you manage to get all of these?" Kagome asked,

"I hunted them down and collected them knowing that if I kept up that path then I would meet up with you soon enough." he explained.

"Then why were you looking for us?" Kagome asked,

"I want to join you on your quest. I want to be of assistance," he replied, "I am at your service," he responded

"Oh, well thank you very much." Kagome said,

"It is my honor to help you and lord Inu-Yasha, lady Kagome" he replied,

"What is your name?" asked Kagome.

"My name is... Kesso-Ryu" Kesso-Ryu replied.