-Chapter 2-
Loud. Indisputably so. An array of noises flooded into the fragile girl's senses. All at once she dealt with the assault of rushing water, an unsettling sound only reminded her of the predicament she endured. Somehow. She was alive, perhaps. Though how? Her mind over crowded with these thoughts while attempting to get a grip on herself. Groggy with a hint of dizziness, the girl slowly opened her eyes. Images revealed in front of her remained hazy at first, driving her to squint in result. In definite she did witness the merging of golden and purple hues found up into the skies. The sun making it's way to meet the horizon in no time. She indeed was alive, she concluded, and also on her back. No longer sinking into the dark depths of the river. The place she initially presumed to be her watery grave.
Who..? Even Yukiko's inner voice had yet to recover, sounding like a mere whisper in her own mind.
Wondering what exactly happened, she tilted her head slowly to one side. Gaze instantly catching sight of her beloved, loyal companion whom she recalled had made the attempt to save her from the river. His ears hung low on either side of his head. He whimpered with utmost concern. In effort to reassure the worried fox, she managed a half smile, though doubted it would alleviate the wanted nothing more at that moment than to caress her dear friend and let him know everything would be alright. To thank him for being there and how sorry she was. However unfortunately, the girl's fragile body forbade any further movement. Her limbs proved to be over exhausted from the run of her life. Left with the uneasy feeling of being suppressed by a heavy force, it prevented her from reaching out to him.
"Liam.." Yukiko spoke to Liam in a hushed tone, pausing as she built up the strenght to speak.
"Did you.. save me?" Her voice were airy and light, lacking any real distinctive emotion as she asked him. Signaling her lack of energy, the girl's eyes slowly fell to a half closed position. Eyes once bright cerulean in color now darkened with a glossy appearance.
Liam inched closer to his owner's side, tail dragging behind him on the solid cold earth. He felt horribly saddened by the young woman's current state. Physically, he scented nothing were too serious and she would indubitably recover in no time. Nevertheless, judging by the look in her eyes, they warned him of a lengthy turmoil to take place inside the poor fragile mind of hers. He doubted her ability to handle any event deemed worse than the current one. Poor thing. Liam nestled his snout into Yukiko's torso, ignoring the chilly dampness from her kimono. He knew something would have to be done soon as possible, else the girl would freeze by nightfall. Simply laying on the cold ground in chilling clothes, unable to move made her an easy target for predators.
The fox's heart wrenched at just the thought of her being in danger yet again. He would not let that happen. Not this time. He failed to defend her quickly enough before, causing their situation, but now he would not hesitate a second time. Coming to a resolve of his own, Liam lifted his head to face the girl's gaze straight on. She looked to him confused with furrowed brows, unsure of his intentions. Merely staring into his eyes in attempt to read them as she normally found herself able to. His expression relaxed, eyes having slowly opened. Something Yukiko herself was not used to seeing. Only on occasion did he fully open his eyes. Now surely at a loss for words, Yukiko could only watch him and wonder. Did Liam plan on doing something yet again?
Yukiko unconsciously held in her breath, eyes widening. Her furry companion's face came into contact with her own much to her surprise, followed by a warm yet wet feeling on her left cheek. She blinked a few times. Staring at the ivory mass in front of her with a dumbfounded look. Though before she could even muster some kind of response, the very furry mass that left her confused now parted from eye contact. He turned away from without so much as second glance, darting off on some path into the distance down river. In an instant she felt overwhelmed with emotion.
Oh Liam.. She whispered in her mind as she watched him until his form disappeared from view.
Understanding exactly what Liam meant caused her eyes to pool slowly with tears.
'I'm sorry.' 'Please trust me.'
Please.. come back safely. Yukiko pleaded.
He panted heavily, his head pounding with the sounds of his own breathing as his legs carried him out into the open. Across fields on his high priority journey to seek help for his owner, he used nothing but full speed to keep up a steady and fast pace. The sun was already setting thus the fox had little time left. To his luck, a village stood past the fields ahead. A human village however. He detested humans. In fact, he loathed any creature that possessed the capability to harm his owner. However he didn't have the luxury to pick and choose whom he went to for help. Much as he hated humans, he desperately required the help of at least one.
Can't..expose..
Liam shook his head. He would definitely save Yukiko. He had to.
Soon enough he came upon the outskirts of the village, ignoring the odd looks given to him by the local villagers that were in the middle of performing various chores. He didn't care for them. His only concern were to find a capable human immediately before him that could offer assistance. Quickly approaching the nearest hut, tresses of long midnight hair robbed his attention aside from the attire wore by the owner of such hair. Judging by the human's stature, she was clearly just a child. Though almost all children had parents and therefore, better help for him and Yukiko. Daringly he approached the child, emitting a loud yip to grab her attention, exhibiting a stance of confidence.
The girl jumped, startled. She whirled around to reveal her appearance in which confirmed her age to the fox. Instantly greeted with a round face and large, innocent brown eyes. Certainly a human child possessed the necessary intelligence to aid him. Liam yipped at her again, causing the girl to blink in surprise.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, eyeing him curiously with raised brows. "What a lovely white fox"
His features astonished her, leaving a surprised expression on her face.
"Where did you come from?" The girl tilted her head ever so slightly at the animal.
Liam growled. Humans. He thought bitterly. At the very least did he wish to be praised and treated like a wayward pet. No, he needed this human to understand his predicament. Thus he performed his serious of yips again, in a much louder tone than before. Upon doing so he turned in direction of where he left Yukiko, then turned back towards the girl multiple times. The girl on the other hand, watched his antics with progressed curiosity. All she could seem to understand were that the fox wanted to show her where lived possibly, or to follow him.
"What's all that noise?" A childlike voice called out.
Both Liam and the girl turned towards the voice to see a young boy standing besides the hut behind them.
"Oh! Shippo!" The girl presented the boy a bright cheery smile. "It's this fox, I think he wants something."
All attention turned back on Liam as he stood there, appalled. In utter disbelief. He questioned if his eyes deceived him. There before him was a fox child. Just that he was a fox didn't surprise him, but due to the fact he clearly lived here. In a village. With HUMANS. He could not believe it. Humans despised demons, yet this one dwelled here quite casually.
"Huh? A fox?" Shippo stood besides the girl as he eyed Liam with moderate interest. It was clear he had not seen another fox in some time.
"What are you here for?" Shippo eyed him cautiously, taking a step out in front of the girl beside him. Preparing to protect her if needed.
Finally snapping out of his stupor, Liam persisted once again with his yipping to encourage the duo to come with him. Pointing his snout in direction of where he intended to lead them. Unlike the girl thankfully, the fellow fox seemed to understand his intentions judging by the look of realization on his face. As if he were going to exclaim 'Oh, I get it.' at that given point.
"Rin, you stay here. I'm going to see what is wrong." Shippo looked to his friend momentarily before turning back to Liam.
On cue at his words, Liam promptly sped off in direction of the river. Hoping a fox demon would be enough to aid his owner. There were no adult humans in close proximity, so he would have to do. He hoped so.
Rin however did not seem on following her friend's words and paraded after the pair despite her limited speed. Sensing Rin behind him, Shippo turned to her whilst running.
"Rin! What are you doing? I told you to stay back there!" Shippo shot her a look of annoyance. If the fox he was following was leading into danger, he didn't want a human girl to follow him! His pride wouldn't allow for it.
"I want to go too!" She shouted from her distance, flat out declaring.
Shippo inwardly sighed. He knew Rin was pretty stubborn, just about all humans were. Especially women.
Eventually Liam led the pair of children to the near end of the river where Yukiko lay. Though upon arriving his heart sank into the pit of his chest. Her eyes had closed. In a flurry of panic he sprinted over to the young woman's side, desperately nudging the side of her face with his snout. His heart pounded wildly, worried for her sake. After a few moments though, he realized she had merely fallen asleep. Either from the cold or her exhaustion. Probably both. The fox and human behind him now up to speed and he could hear them express their shock at the fallen woman before them with soft gasps.
"I-Is she alive?" Rin peered over at Yukiko's seemingly lifeless face. She looked as if she had just died or fell asleep. A tranquil look coated Yukiko's face, making her question the woman's fate.
Liam turned towards both the ones called Shippo and Rin, dipping his head in a nod to respond. The children exchanged worried looks towards one another then back to the ivory haired woman laying lifeless on the ground. Few beads of water streamed down the side of her face.
"We have to help her! She looks like she's going to die.." Rin frowned with a look of worry and sympathy. In addition she felt helpless. There was no way either her and Shippo could manage to lift and carry the woman into the village.
"Rin, go get Miroku! Hurry!" Shippo exclaimed.
Without much hesitation, Rin quickly dashed off back towards the village.
Warm. Where did such warmth come from all of a sudden? Yukiko slowly awoke, pondering what was going on. Swearing that she had only fallen asleep for a few minutes. Though it must of been longer than that, for the faint sound of crickets in the distance gave away the apparent time of day. She this time opened her eyes to not the skies above. Instead above her were an illuminated roof made of wood. Shadows danced up along through the middle of it as a cackling fire then caught her attention. Was she back home? Did her mother start a fire? She felt so warm and comfortable.
Fully opening her eyes, Yukiko was soon met with multiple pairs of eyes. It was not her mother, but strangers. One of which began to wail, further waking her from her sleep. A young infant child? Where exactly was she? And where was her companion? With much effort, Yukiko brought herself to sit up in the futon she had lain in. Covers pooling down to her lap to cover her hands.
"Oh.. I'm sorry. Did they wake you?" A woman asked her in a calm tone, she seemed curious and concerned at the same time.
Yukiko blinked a few times, observing her new surroundings.
"Huh?.." She peered over to the woman who spoke.
A youthful dark haired woman sat across the room, with hair pulled into a long ponytail behind her. In her arms she hushed a small baby that appeared to be fussing over something. Across from the woman lay three little children, already fast asleep and bunched up together as if inseparable. To her side sat a young man with short ebony hair in addition to a small pony tail. He wore the type of clothes she had only seen once in her life when she was young. A traveling monk that by chance passed by her village for a brief moment.
"Miroku, can you hold him for a moment?" The woman asked the purple and black attired man, extending the fussy child to him. He simply nodded, taking the child as both of them gazed at her.
In honesty, she felt very nervous. Unsure of what to make of the situation. She had little time to react when the woman knelt beside her, placing a hand flat sideways on her forehead. The woman's touch was surprisingly soft and gentle, vaguely reminiscent of her mother's.
That's right.. Yukiko remembered. Mother.. I-I have to have to get back to mother! She must be so worried! In a fit of worry and temporary adrenaline, Yukiko retracted from the woman and swiftly swung her legs out from the futon in attempt to stand on her own two feet. Sadly upon her first attempt she at almost an instant, toppled backwards onto her rear end with a soft thud. Her legs were heavy and unstable. Putting her bodily weight on them only confirmed the stress she put them through after having ran away from the hellish canine.
"It's alright, don't worry" The woman behind her spoke softly, as not to wake the sleeping children. "You're safe, but you need rest. You can't even stand yet."
Yukiko hung her head in disappointment, feeling depressed she had to leave her mother behind. The woman was right and this all wasn't a dream. The beast was real. Running for her life had been real. Nearly drowning from exhaustion then being saved had been real as well.
"I..I-I'm sorry." She was unsure what else to possibly say. Her heart ached with pain enough to stunt her speech.
"Don't be sorry. Miroku told me what happened." The woman began, sitting herself comfortably at Yukiko's side.
"Our friends found you by the river, cold and soaked to the bone. You were unconscious all afternoon and most of the night." She explained with a sad sigh.
"You must of had quite the ordeal to fall into the river, I'm guessing that fox of yours must of pulled you out of the water and came to get help" She added, soon standing up to re-join her husband, sitting beside him.
She means Liam? Liam had gotten help? Yukiko pondered as she watched the couple desperately.
"Where is he then? The fox.." She hurriedly scanned the inside of the hut for her companion, wondering where he went off to.
A soft chuckle erupted from the man known as Miroku. "Well as I recall, he was sleeping on your lap" He pointed out with a free hand, at the heap of covers lain out by the end of the futon.
Yukiko looked at him with slightly raised brows in surprise, blinking a few times. Following his direction, she hurriedly pulled up the covers to reveal a fluffy ball of moon-white fur. Peacefully sleeping despite having been rolled aside after her little endeavor of trying to stand up. Her eyes softened with relief at the sight, lifting a hand gently to place over atop his head, stroking his fur as if he were the most delicate thing in the world. She felt so grateful to have him as a friend. Hopefully one day she could make it up to him. Make up for all the worry she caused him.
.He must be the exhausted one now Yukiko thought as she continued to pet him with great affection.
"Thank you, Liam" She whispered, giving the fox a light hearted smile.