The Angel & Wolf (being edited)

Lazy day

Koga blocked his best friend's punches and kicks. "Come on, Kyo; raise your leg a little higher!" She rolled her eyes, fed up with his consistent lecture on how to fight.

They'd been at this for hours; he had woken her at the first signs of dawn. She stopped when she needed a break, Koga gave a small laugh. "Aw,  what's wrong, Kyo? Already tired?"

Huffing and panting, she glared at him, "I'm sorry, who was in an eternal slumber?" Koga looked away at the remark, "I'm sorry."

Kyo felt her chest constrict at his saddened expression. "Koga, I'm sorry that was uncalled for."

His blue pupils slid across to look directly at her own. "Up for a little race then?"

She shook her head, "no, I have some questions for Shinto."

He cocked his head, "about what?"

{Damn, that's cute} she thought as her brown wings flung out from her long clothes. "Oh. I'm surprised you managed to hide them in there."

Kyo rubbed the nape of her neck, "I can tell you it's hard to sleep with them."

It was true; trying to sleep with the feather appendages was a challenge. She hoped she wouldn't have to keep lying on her stomach to get some rest. Kyo's face lit up as she saw Shinto leave the hut.

The wolf strolled over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.  "Let's go for a walk, partner!"

Shinto wiped the sleep from her eyes, "why are you so chirpy in the morning?" She mumbled a bit as she still had to rid of the drowsiness.

"I need to speak to you about these wings of mine." Kyo pointed a finger behind her; how Shinto didn't see the brown wings sprouting from her back this whole time was confusing.

"Alright, I guess this conversation does require a walk."

Kyo smiled as she walked in tow with the angel, arm still around her shoulder. Koga watched from where e he stood as they disappeared to a private spot to talk. His mouth turned into a grin at the growing realisation Kyo was back in his life.

<>

Where Kyo had taken Shinto was by a shallow flowing stream filled with daisies alongside the bank. "I wanted to know why your wings aren't always out. Where do they go?"

Shinto then brang her white ones out, "there are small slits in my skin just where my shoulder blades are. There are gaps in my muscles to allow space for them to fit. They slide perfectly in and out."

"So how come I can't put them away?"

Shinto put her chin between her thumb and forefinger. "My guess is since you said yours were made because genetics don't play a role. A bone connects them and cannot slip in and out."

Kyo stared at her friend's back, covered by the black turtle neck. "Oh hey, there's two straight rips in your top."

Shinto was amused at Kyo's comment, "well, I need my wings to get out somehow."

Kyo inspected closer, "I can't see the so-called slits."

Shinto became uncomfortable with how long she stared. "Well, they are very thin, so even a keen eye can find it hard to spot them."

Kyo touched the part of her back that was exposed. Shinto flinched from the coolness of the girl's contact. "Why are you looking for it?"

"I'm intrigued." She replied, then her finger pulled a bit of skin sideways. "Oh, that is a bit gross. I can see inside a little."

Suddenly Shinto turned and slapped her hand away. "Kyo, I get you're  curious, but it is my body your touching."

"Right, sorry, but you only stopped me when I got to your spine. Why?"

Shinto seemed hesitant to tell. Kyo put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know you are guarded with everyone, but I kid you not when I say I'm here to be your friend and not betray you."

Her words eased some of the iciness she was used to showing others. Especially Inuyasha.

"All angels have a point in their spine where there is a nerve, if pressed hard, that can force our wings in and out. It causes us extreme exhaustion, and I'm not sure why."

Kyo was puzzled, "why is that bad to know?"

"Well....years ago, before I was born, it was a trick used by the other realm to overtake where I reside. Because it was just so easy to defeat the angels that way, so they didn't need to be afraid of our powers."

"Ok, there is a lot of what you said just there, another realm, for example?"

"Maybe another time." Shinto averted her eyes. Kyo made a daring guess. "Does one of your parents live in that other place?"

Shinto nodded. "My mother."

Kyo finally connected some pieces of the angel's mysterious smell. "Now I know why your scent was off; you're half of something, too, aren't you? Like Inuyasha."

"More or less."

"You smell part demon but not, in the same way, Inuyasha or Koga does."

Shinto swallowed as she felt like she might be sick. "Can we drop it?"

Kyo could sense in her tone this subject was taking a turn for the worse. "Yeah. We can."

<>

Four pairs of wings sprouted from his back in rage as he slammed his fists on the table before him. "You know how many rules you have broken, don't you, Sinta?!"

The poker-faced girl just nodded.

His yellow pupils held a scary fury in them. "Not only have you opened and closed all entrances to this place without permission, but you also ruined a significant meeting with your sister!"

Again Sinta just nodded.

Before the angry man could get another word in Eon, her father burst in. "Please, Archangel Balor, have mercy on my daughter!"

The sliver-haired archangel took a seat and had a malicious smirk. "Ah, and here he is, the filthy Eon."

Eon pressed his nails into the skin of his palm so hard he bled. He hated the title Balor had come up with. "Please...don't punish my daughter; we'll get Shinto back, I promise."

Balor only nodded and sent both on their way.

<>

Naraku looked through Kana's mirror as Kyo talked with the angel. "Such interesting company Inuyasha keeps. But my plan was too flawed with that wolf; it was over before it even began."