Ichigoichie by MontiK

Kirin

A young Sesshoumaru descended from the sky, gingerly jumping the last ten feet before he hit the ground after he let his youki cloud disperse. He'd finally learned to summon the flying energy without being in his true form. It was nice, he expended less energy that way and it made it possible to make more frequent visits to his tree, and his best friend. Curiosity made him wonder if someone would be able to stand on the cloud with him, or if it only held him up because it was his energy. He'd have to ask Kagome to try it later. 
Today, she'd informed him already, she had to stay in the village for a celebration of some kind. He didn't mind overly much, the time to himself was enjoyable even if it was a bit more empty than it used to be. 

So there he sat in his familiar spot underneath the branches of the barren Sakura tree, facing the ocean and watching the waves crash and roil over the indigo surface. 

Feeling content and calm he leaned against the rough bark and closed his eyes. The tree was awake and would alert him if need be, but the cool breeze and the warm sun along with the calming atmosphere just made him want to take a nice nap. 

Just as the blissful tendrils of sleepy oblivion were about to take him something prodded in the back of his mind, something strange on the air tickled his senses. He could even feel the the bark under his back roil and quiver at the strange presence. It was an odd energy, benevolent and utterly nonthreatening but powerful beyond explanation. Both duty, to his station as the heir to his father's title, and curiosity compelled him to seek out this being and see what it's purpose was. The most intriguing thing was that whatever it was, despite it's immense level of power, exuded no malevolent intent whatsoever. 

Silently Sesshoumaru rose, calmly walking to the tree line before creeping amongst the brush moving ever closer to his quarry. 

A flash of light through the trees caught his eye. Followed by a glint of gold, illuminated further by the foreign light. Just as the creature was finally revealed through the trees emerald eyes locked with his. The intensity had Sesshoumaru's small body standing still, frozen under the speculating gaze of the legendary youkai. It's eyes glowed, the green roiling in with golds and reds like a copper fueled flame. Then it blinked, freeing the young daiyoukai from it's spelled as it languidly tossed it's head to and fro, dancing on air with it's dainty hooves. 

Sesshoumaru blinked rapidly, eyes wide, trying to clear is suddenly addled mind. Only one thought seemed to creep through the haze: he would want to share a sight like this with his best friend, who he knew would appreciate it. 

Carefully he gathered his energy beneath his feet, once again calling his youki cloud. He was loathe to walk over the ground again and disturb the natural setting, not wishing to run off the legendary youkai before he had time to bring Kagome back. Sesshoumaru rose into the sky, the deer-like beast still dancing in the woods, it hadn't acknowledged him since their eyes parted. 

When he came upon the small village he set down at the tree line, peeking around. He knew she would be at the shrine grounds but they were large so it would take a bit to find her. He'd only been in her village maybe once before, still being wary of humans aside from Kagome; like he was been taught to be. 

The first human who spotted him was an old man in blue hakama and a white top. The old priest eyed him warily for a moment, one wrinkled hand clutching to his wicker broom as the other slid into the fold of his robes. Sesshoumaru tensed just as he saw the white corner of a sutra and readied to run or jump away. 

Then an excited, "Sesshoumaru-chan!" Sounded from his left and the old man looked momentarily confused. 

Kagome came barreling at him. She was dressed in more formal wear than usual, her skin cleaned and her blue eyes shown bright. She was normally very fastidious but it was obvious special attention had been taken to keep her from dirtying herself and there was a faint layer of powder on her cheeks and above her eyes. The normally dark green yukata she was wore was now replaced with a pale pink with a blossom pattern embroidered in orange about the middle, topped with a white obi. Her hair was pulled back as well and a wreath of flowers lay atop her head. 

She nearly knocked him over in her exuberance, and he had to help her to stand for a moment and she teetered on the unfamiliar planes of her geta. The moment was a little awkward but Sesshoumaru noticed that the old priest stood down when his relation to Kagome was made known and he was grateful. Powerful though he was with his daiyoukai blood Sesshoumaru was still only a small boy and had yet to build an immunity to spiritual energy. 

"I didn't expect to see you today!" Kagome tittered enthusiastically. Her bright smile morphed into a hopeful grin, "Did you come to celebrate with us?" Her hands were clasped together and her eyes were pleading. 

Sesshoumaru for his part was a bit embarrassed, a faint pink blush covering his pale cheeks. They'd drawn a small crowd, the priest not having moved and what who he figured was Kagome's mother had joined him. He felt odd being on the shrine grounds and Kagome was even more excited than usual, muddled together with the faint air of tension still present between the priest and daiyoukai child all made Sesshoumaru wish for a quick exit. 

When he spoke his voice was a quiet whisper, "I wish to show you something." 

"Oh," her eyes went wide her mouth turned into a small 'o' shape. In the slight lull of her excitement she could now see how tense her friend seemed under the scrutiny of her family, even if her jii-chan had put away his sacred sutras out of respect for her friend. She nodded and took his hand, "Lets go then," she said before giving him a reassuring smile. 

Still blushing he nodded. "Okay, hold on I'm not sure if this will work..." 

Jii-chan tensed as he felt the faint flare of youki energy but his caution was unnecessary. 

The greyish mist of Sesshoumaru's youki cloud gathered beneath his feet and he led Kagome to gingerly step onto it's translucent surface. She gave a faint gasp as the seemingly intangible surface held her weight. 

Kagome turned back and bade her family farewell, promising she'd be back soon, before Sesshoumaru steered his cloud back off into the forest. 

Kagome awed at how different it was looking at the world from so high rather than being on the ground. All too soon she felt their descent, and in that moment she hoped this wasn't the last time she got the chance to fly with Sesshoumaru like this. Her gut clenched at the sudden altitude change and she held tighter to Sesshoumaru's clothing until it passed. 

When he reached the spot in the forest her was sure he left the Kirin he was loathe to get off his cloud. It held them above ground, preventing them from disturbing any of the surrounding fauna. Though he knew the beast was not by nature a vengeful creature it was a very compassionate one, even towards little things like grass and he had no want to chase it off or upset it. 

A bright flash in the trees once again alerted him to the beast's exact location and he cautiously floated near it, hiding his and Kagome's forms mostly behind a tree. 

He heard a short intake of breath from his companion before she started to wriggle from his grasp. "Wow, what is it Sesshoumaru?" She asked in awestruck wonder. Her voice was a quiet whisper, as if her earlier exuberance were quieted to a gentle hush just by being in the presence of the benevolent creature. 

She was still wriggling, trying to get closer to the beast so Sesshoumaru set them down and released her while silently hoping she wouldn't run up to it and scare it away. 

"It is called a Kirin," he answered quietly. He had to keep himself from reaching out to pull her back when she crept even closer, reaching out a hand to touch the scaly golden hide. "Seeing one is very rare... A gift." He cautiously crept closer as she did. "It is said, they are seen at the dawning of a new era." Sesshoumaru had learned of the Kirin briefly in his studies, even among youkai it was so rare it was almost like a fairy tale. 

Kagome nodded dazedly, barely listening as she stared at the beautiful creature. It's graceful legs pranced upon the air, hovering, while it's golden-scaled skin sparkled in the noon day light. She was trapped in it's gaze, ever compelled to get closer, to get that one coveted touch. Just when she was mere inches away the world seemed to erupt around her. 

Chaotic flames borne from the sun kissed Kirin's skin licked at her clothes and face without abandon and Kagome reared back in surprise. She vaguely heard a shout from Sesshoumaru before all was hidden from her gaze by his white haori.

The Kirin disappeared, shooting off into the sky. 

Gingerly Sesshoumaru stood and pulled Kagome up after him. "Are you alright?" 

She nodded, still stunned. The flames only startled her and left no mark in their wake. What was there to say after one saw something like that? They plopped down on the grassy floor together, sitting shoulder to shoulder for neither knew how long. 

After the long silence Sesshoumaru thought of the celebration her village was holding that day. Out of curiosity he just had to ask, "What is it you're celebrating today?" 

Kagome blushed a bit while replacing the ring of flowers atop her head, "It's my birthday, I'm ten summers old."

Sesshoumaru then had to wonder if the Kirin's time of arrival had some meaning about his friendship with the young girl...