Strange Circumstances

VI

Kagome smiled as she and Clow rode Kero, Sango and Miroku riding alongside them on Kirara. Kero glanced at the fire cat beside them, before moving his wings faster, to which the other cat merely lept across the sky once more, easily catching up.

"S-Shit guys, wait up!" Inuyasha called as he ran below them, causing Kagome to giggle.

"You really should stop trying to race Kirara. She has much more experience flying than you do, Kero," she patted the lion's side soothingly while he merely grunted.

Clow sighed when the winged cat kept trying, and pulled out a card.

"Fly," he murmured, and the card disappeared, only for a large bird to appear alongside them.

"Come on my love," Clow lifted the miko bridal style and stepped onto the bird's wing, who held them easily as it maintained flight, remaining in place until he sat on its back with her in his lap, before rising higher into the sky.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing with my mistress?" Kero growled at him, and the sorcerer smirked back.

"Go ahead and race Kirara now. Maybe now you'll be able to beat her, without us on your back," he goaded, and the cat let out a bellowing roar, shooting a stream of fire at them.

"Higher!" Clow commanded quickly, and the bird rose out of the reach of the flames.

"What are you doing cat! You could have hit Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled from the ground.

"Stay out of this dog!" Kero growled out, before lunging at the bird, intent on taking it down.

"Stop!" Kagome yelled, causing him to pause in flight.

"B-But mistress..." Kero's ears lay flat as she shook her head at him.

VI