Chapter 3 - The Curse That Went Astray
In a distant forest a priestess made her way slowly along the game trail. She had no particular destination in mind and was in no real hurry. Dressed in the traditional miko clothing of wide legged red pants and a white kimono shirt the priestess had a bow and quiver slung over her back. She bore a striking resemblance to Kagome, but was older, in her late twenties.
Suddenly she stopped, her attention focused inward. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Foolish girl, what have you done?" The priestess murmured as she rapidly began the preparations to defend both of them through the mystical link that bound their souls. The priestess could feel the curse spewing through the link like a tsunami through a window. The power of the curse was beyond anything she'd ever experienced, beyond anything she would have believed possible.
She rapidly considered and discarded several defenses. There was no stopping the curse, no deflecting it, and no evading it. The only hope was to hide from it, deny it a foothold until one or both of them were strong enough to deal with it properly. If they could.
Settling cross-legged on the ground she closed her eyes and concentrated on defending both herself and her reincarnation against the raw fury blasting through the supernatural bond. Grimly she started chanting. Should she fail she knew the curse would take them both.
Back at the inn Inuyasha watched Kagome burning and let his rage burst free. Snarling he turned away from the funeral pyre that had been his companion and stalked toward the fox, intent on murder.
"You killed her, damn you." Inuyasha snarled, sword raised overhead in both hands.
"No. It was not a killing curse. And it was not meant for her. She stepped in front of Kenta after I loosed it. There was nothing I could do. I am sorry."
"Sorry, you mangy fox? Sorry?" Incensed the half-demon snatched the fox out of the arms of her husband. Holding her by the scruff of the neck he shoved her toward the flames.
"You see that? You see those flames, fox? You killed her. You took Kagome away from me and now you're going to pay."
"Inuyasha, wait! Look at Kagome!" Miroku shouted. "The flames aren't burning her!"
Inuyasha was about to snap the fox's neck but something in Miroku's tone penetrated the rage, long enough to stop him. He watched as the flames started to change color from orange to purple. Little by little the flames were dying down, sinking into the girl, who was now glowing like a firefly with a pale purple light.
"Is she still alive? Is she fighting off the curse?" Sango asked hopefully.
"She cannot." The beautiful voice was filled with sorrow. "I am a nine-tailed fox. No human could possibly avert my curse. It would be like a candle flame plunged into the depths of the ocean. If I could save her I would, but I cannot. She will live, but be cursed for a thousand years. It was the fate intended for Kenta, not for her."
"What did you do, fox?" Inuyasha growled. "What does the curse do?"
"The curse has transformed her into a kitsune." The fox said. "For Kenta it would have been just. He would lose his home, his family, even his dog. He would suffer the fate he inflicted on me."
"You turned Kagome into a fox demon?" Shippo asked in confusion. "What's so bad about that? I don't get it."
The fox blinked at Shippo, clearly astounded by his question. Inuyasha inhaled deeply, taking in Kagome's scent. She still smelled the same, but more importantly she smelled alive.
"Hah, the joke's on you, fox!" He announced with a grin, giddy with relief. "She's still human, her scent hasn't changed. I think your curse fizzled."
"Let me down. I must see what has happened." The fox said.
"You pull any tricks and I'll kill you." Inuyasha warned her. "I don't care how long it takes to hunt you down."
"No tricks." The kitsune agreed. Inuyasha set her down and the fox staggered toward Kagome, stumbling in weariness. She lay down near the girl and sniffed over Kagome's body.
"The curse is there, but somehow it hasn't taken hold yet." Akane said in a puzzled tone. "She has managed to hide from it. And part of the curse is missing."
"What do you mean?" Miroku asked, kneeling on Kagome's other side. "How could it be missing?"
"I don't know. It's as though part of the curse has gone somewhere else. There is another odd thing as well. The curse is far more powerful than it should be. Something has amplified my power." The fox paused. "This girl is no ordinary human is she? She has great spiritual power of her own."
The glow around Kagome faded, and the girl stirred, pushing up with her hands so she was on one hip, braced awkwardly.
"Ohhhhh, my head." She groaned squeezing her eyes shut. "I feel like I drank too much sake. What happened?"
"Are you all right?" Miroku asked in concern. "The curse hit you."
"Ouch. Yes, I think so." She sat up, cradling her head. "My head is absolutely pounding. Is everyone else all right?"
"Everyone's fine, even the dog didn't get too beat up." Miroku assured her. "But you gave us quite a scare."
"Sorry about that. But I couldn't let her curse that guy. Is he ok? Is she ok? And can somebody give me some tea please?"
"Kenta escaped, untouched. I am fine, if very tired, Kagome-sama. Tomo-chan, please bring our guest some tea. And bring me three manju cakes to regain my strength." The fox answered.
"Yes, mama." Tomoko headed rapidly for the kitchen with a happy smile.
"You were pretty stupid, pushing that guy out of the way and getting yourself cursed, Kagome." Inuyasha said. "Don't do that again."
"Sorry, Inuyasha. Could you speak a little more quietly please?" Kagome winced, keeping her eyes shut and rubbing her temples. "Ohh--my head feels like it wants to fall off."
"I am sorry, Kagome-sama. It was not my intention to curse you. My target was Kenta."
"Don't worry about it. Look, I know you're upset, but surely things will work out? You've been protecting the village for a hundred years, right? That proves you're a good person and not out to hurt anybody. Why can't you just keep on living here the way you have?"
"I doubt it could be so simple, Kagome-sama. The villagers hate and fear all demons, and fox demons especially. Before I came things were very dangerous. A fox demon had betrayed their village to a band of spider demons. There were many deaths."
"But you didn't betray them, right? You protected them. Big difference."
"Your tea, honored guest." Tomoko bowed, holding out a steaming cup. Kagome squinted at her in the dimness as night fell, taking the tea gratefully.
"It's so bright. Why is it so bright at night?" Kagome groaned. "Thank you Tomoko." She inhaled the scent of the tea. "Oh, that's better." Sipping the tea made some of the tension drain out of her.
"Your manju, mama." Tomoko set a bowl of three white balls next to the fox, each one five centimeters across.
"Thank you, Tomo-chan. Pardon me, Kagome-sama, I must eat to regain my strength." The fox greedily snatched a cake from the bowl and started chewing it.
"Don't mind me. I'll just sit here and enjoy my wonderful tea." Kagome answered tiredly, her eyes closed.
The fox finished her manju in under a minute. The innkeeper moved around the room, lighting lanterns to give a cheerful atmosphere to the surreal scene. The villagers were gathered around the walls as far from the door as they could get. Little whispers of conversation were slipping back and forth furtively. Kirara had reverted to kitten form and returned to their dinner table, where she was joined by Shippo and Sango. Inuyasha had sheathed his sword and settled next to the doorway to be near Kagome. Miroku was seated further from the door, facing the fox.
The scene was in stark contrast to the chaos of the attack. One of the villagers, a rich man from his clothing, timidly approached the fox, who was sitting up, obviously somewhat recovered.
"Akane-sama, kami-ue, moushiwake arimasen deshita." He said, bowing almost at a right angle. He held the bow for a full ten seconds before kneeling. Kagome had never heard that particular construction used outside a historical drama before. It was basically the apology a peasant gave their liege-lord for royally screwing up. And kami-ue was ancient, even in this era, 500 years before Kagome's birth. The man was basically addressing the fox as one would a deity. And doing so with vast formality on top of that.
If her head hadn't been pounding so fiercely and her eyes so sensitive to the light she'd have turned to watch. As it was she kept her eyes closed and huddled gratefully over her tea.
"You ask forgiveness?" The fox inquired, tilting her head to one side. "For what offense--exactly?"
The man winced. "Kami-ue, for insulting fox demons at every turn, and thus insulting you. It is clear to us now the fox demon who betrayed our village was evil and you are not. As our kami you have kept us safe for a hundred years. We ask your forgiveness for thinking all fox demons were like our betrayer. We ask you to stay, as our kami--and as our Akane-sama, wife of Kei-san. As it was before, so let it be again. You need not lose your husband, your daughter, your home. I, headman of this village, implore you to stay."
"If Kagome-sama can forgive me for a curse lasting a thousand years then I am honor-bound to forgive you, who acted from ignorance and fear. I will stay, both as kami and as Akane, wife of Kei-sama. I never wanted anything else."
"Thank you, kami-ue." The headman bowed low from his kneel, putting his hands palm-down on the floor.
"But what is to be done about Kenta?" The fox continued. "What say you, Kagome-sama?"
"You should forgive him too. And the dog." Kagome said as firmly as her headache would allow. "This whole thing was just a tragic misunderstanding."
"Kagome-sama you are very wise for one so young. I would not be so forgiving, but as it is not my place to gainsay you, I will do as you wish. Kenta and his dog Sumi have nothing to fear from me and I will treat them as I would any other villager--save for one thing. Sumi hates foxes and is a danger to my daughter therefore I forbid him from setting foot in our inn for as long as he may live."
"Sounds perfectly fair to me." Kagome said, relieved.
"Then it is time the kami became simple Akane once more. Tomo-chan, would you gather my kimono?"
"Yes, mama." The young girl picked up the kimono as she followed the fox out of the room.
"Inuyasha could you please carry me back to our table?" Kagome asked in a low voice. "The light still hurts my eyes."
"Are you ok?" Inuyasha asked in concern as he carried her back. She nodded.
"I'll be fine. I just need some aspirin out of my backpack. Once I take a couple I'm sure the headache and the sensitivity will go away. Miroku knows which bottle it is."
Once she had swallowed the aspirin and had more tea the headache receded into the background. The innkeeper's wife returned and their interrupted dinner got back under way. After a half-hour the headache was completely gone and she dared open her eyes. After blinking several times she found the sensitivity had also gone.
"Thank goodness!" She exclaimed, turning to Sango. "I thought that headache was settling in to stay!"
Sango paused, chopsticks halfway to her mouth, staring at Kagome.
"Sango, what is it?" Kagome asked, concerned.
"Your eyes, Kagome!"
"What about my eyes?" She asked with a sinking heart.
"They're the same color as Inuyasha's." Sango said. "They're gold!"
"Oh that can't be good." She started frantically digging through her backpack and produced a small mirror.
"Oh my." She said finally. "I guess I didn't escape completely unscathed after all." She chuckled. "Oh well, I can say my eyes changed color because of one of those diseases my grandfather constantly makes up to cover for my absences from school."
"Let me see!" Inuyasha demanded. Kagome turned to look at the hanyou.
"Well, what do you think?" She asked after an uncomfortably long stare from the half-demon.
"It's an improvement." He announced. "Brown eyes are boring. This color's much better."
"Thanks." She said dryly. "But why would my eyes turn gold?"
"Well, the curse was supposed to turn you into a fox demon." Inuyasha said. "Guess you weren't fast enough to stop all of it."
"What?" Kagome gasped. "A fox demon? You mean like Shippo?"
"That's what the nine-tailed fox said, Kagome." Shippo said, climbing into her lap. "I think you're prettier with gold eyes. Course you could have gotten green, like mine. Are your ears pointed now?"
"Pointed?" She asked in a slightly panicky voice. She felt her ear. It did feel more pointed, but she was pretty sure the tip wasn't as pronounced as Shippo's.
"Sango, can you see if it's pointed?" She asked, pulling her hair back and leaning over so Sango could see.
"Maybe a little." Sango said doubtfully. "I never really noticed your ears before. You always keep your hair over them."
"If I might?" Miroku asked politely. Sango gave him a cool look but shifted so he could see.
"Yes, still very pretty, and still human shaped, but more pointed than before."
"How would you know, monk?" Sango asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I am very observant my dear Sango." He answered calmly, leaning back.
"Well Kagome's just as pretty now as she was before. Prettier even." Shippo said loyally.
"Thanks, Shippo." She replied, shifting his small foot paws to more comfortable places. "You're starting to get heavier, aren't you?"
"I am?" Shippo broke into a smile. "Guess I'm growing up, huh?"
"Right. Another century and you'll be twice as big a pain in the neck." Inuyasha said, reaching for the last rice ball.
"Kagome!" Shippo complained.
"Inuyasha's just teasing you, Shippo. Ignore him." She looked around the room. All the villagers had fled the inn as quickly as politeness allowed. Some even more quickly. The room was empty except for Tomoko, standing near their table.
"I guess I need to ask the innkeeper's wife about the curse. Did anyone see where she went?"
"Mama went to make sure your bath was ready, Kagome-sama." The innkeeper's daughter bowed.
"Oh, a bath." Kagome sighed. "Heaven! Lead the way please, Tomoko."
"Wait for me, Kagome." Sango stood up.
"This way, honored guests." Tomoko led the two women away toward the back of the inn.
"I didn't want to say anything in front of Kagome, Inuyasha." Miroku spoke quietly. "But have you considered that she might not have stopped the curse? That she only slowed it down?"
"What are you saying, Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, clearly worried. "Kagome's pretty strong when it comes to curses and stuff. She threw off Tsubaki's curse, remember?"
"Yes but Tsubaki was human, not a nine-tailed fox." Miroku responded. "This curse is far stronger than Tsubaki's, even when she was using the power of the Shikon jewel."
"The fox said something about the curse having more power than it should have." Inuyasha commented. "You think the shard Kagome was carrying did that?"
"It wouldn't surprise me." Miroku said. "Remember Naraku has almost reassembled the entire Shikon Jewel. It's been tainted by his evil. When Kagome's shard was hit with such a powerful curse I'm willing bet the tainted jewel increased the curse's power. Like calling to like."
"Damn. That jewel's more trouble than it's worth." Inuyasha muttered. "Now we can't even trust our shard. That stinks!"
"The curse may end up turning her into a fox demon after all." Miroku said, shaking his head.
Inuyasha looked thoughtful. "Would it be so bad if it did?" He asked the monk.
"I suppose only Kagome can answer that question." Miroku said, staring shrewdly at Inuyasha.
"I mean, humans are so weak, and you guys don't live very long. If Kagome become a demon…" Inuyasha trailed off, staring at nothing.
"What's up with Inuyasha?" Shippo whispered to Miroku.
"He's thinking about the future, Shippo." Miroku whispered back. Shippo gave him a puzzled look. Miroku just smiled and settled into a more comfortable position. The lantern light flickered ever so slightly, making the shadows dance in the corners of the room.
Meanwhile, in the back of the inn Kagome and Sango were getting undressed to bathe.
"Tell me I'm not growing a tail." Kagome said, trying unsuccessfully to peer down her own back. Sango glanced at her.
"No, no tail." The demon hunter told her with a smile.
"That's a relief!" Kagome said with a sigh as she settled on a stool to soap herself. "Not knowing if I'm going to grow fur is a little disconcerting!"
"I can imagine. Do you want me to wash your back?" Sango asked.
"That would be lovely, thank you. I feel like somebody's beaten me with a board." Kagome said as she passed the soap to Sango. The other woman started soaping Kagome's back.
"Your back is really tense." She commented. Kagome grunted contentedly as Sango's strong hands started kneading her knotted muscles.
"Yeah, it's been a long day." Kagome said, and then chuckled. "I imagine as a demon slayer you've had your share of long days."
"Oh yes." Sango laughed. "Some days more than others, of course. There, all done." She stepped back, dipping a bucket into the water barrel and giving it to Kagome, who slowly poured it over her head to rinse off the soap.
"Your turn." Kagome said, setting down the bucket. She changed places with Sango.
"You know, I've been thinking. If I turn into a fox demon will I get all arrogant and power-crazy?" Kagome asked worriedly.
"I don't think so, Kagome." Sango replied while washing herself. "Fox demons tend to be friendly and mischievous. But they can be vengeful. I bet we haven't heard the whole story behind the attack on this village. In cases like this you generally don't."
She handed Kagome the soap. "Besides, you're too kind hearted to become a monster. Demons like Naraku started off evil. Not all demons are. Look at Shippo, or Kirara, or even Inuyasha."
"What about Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked washing Sango's back. "Inuyasha's brother is pretty fierce, and he doesn't like humans at all."
"True, but he blamed Inuyasha's human mother for getting his father killed." Sango said. "From what Inuyasha said she wasn't responsible, but grief doesn't think very clearly."
"Wow, Sango, all these scars. I'll bet they hurt when they happened." Kagome said, running a finger down one particularly large ragged scar."
"That one was when Kohaku tried to kill me." Sango said quietly. Kagome froze, mortified.
"Oh Sango, I'm so stupid. I'm sorry I--" Kagome stuttered.
Sango shook her head. "Naraku was controlling him when he did it. It wasn't my brother's fault. He didn't know what he was doing. I know that." She smiled at Kagome over her shoulder. "Finished?" Wordlessly the teenager nodded. "Fill the bucket for me then?"
"Okay." She did so, wordlessly handing it to Sango who poured it over her head. Now clean, the two eased themselves into the large deep tub of water so hot it was almost unbearable.
"Oh, I have missed this!" Kagome said, settling back with a sigh of bliss. "Hey Sango, if the innkeeper's wife is a fox demon and Shippo is too, how come she can look like a fox with nine tails or a normal human and Shippo always looks like a fox-satyr?"
"A what?" Sango asked, puzzled.
"You know, sort of a fox from the waist down and a little boy from the waist up?"
"It's because he's a shape shifter." Sango said. "And he hasn't fully mastered his form. Fox demons like Shippo take a long time to master their bodies. Would you believe Shippo's 70 years old?"
"You're kidding!" Kagome stared at the demon slayer. "He looks six or seven!"
"Inuyasha's over 200." Sango said, smiling. "Of course he's more like 150, not counting the 50 years he was sealed to the Sacred Tree."
"Wow." Kagome blinked. "I mean I knew he was over 50 years old, but he didn't age while he was sealed to the tree. I thought he was my age."
"He does act like it, doesn't he?" Sango asked, smiling.
"That's the truth!" Kagome agreed laughing.
"Demons age very slowly as children, and then when they reach adulthood they pretty much stop aging at all." Sango continued. "You didn't know this?"
"Well, I kind of did." Kagome said. "I mean, look at Totosai. He must be absolutely ancient."
"I've heard he's over a thousand years old." Sango said. "But then again, I also heard he's looked the way he does now his whole life."
"Can you imagine being an old man your whole life?" Kagome shook her head. "So if I do become a fox demon I'll never get old? I guess that's one bright spot, right?"
"Are you sure, Kagome?" Sango asked. "It means you'd outlive your brother--and all your friends And their children and their children's grandchildren. You'd stay young while everyone else would get old and die."
"Hadn't thought of that." Kagome admitted. "There aren't any demons in my time. At least I've never heard of any. I wonder what happened to them? Hey, if there aren't any demons in my time wouldn't that mean I don't become a demon?"
Sango hesitated, and then decided to be honest. "It could mean lots of things. You could have died, or decided to go into hiding, or not stand out for the next 500 years. Or you might go back to your time using the Bone Eater's well."
"Oh my. That really brings it home. My era and yours seem so close because I can go through the well. But they're 500 years apart. That's a long time, isn't it?"
Sango was interrupted by the innkeeper's wife calling out.
"May I enter, honored guests?"
"Yes, please do." Sango called out. Akane and her daughter entered the bath carrying towels. Bowing, the two placed the towels on a shelf and started to withdraw.
"Um, excuse me?" Kagome said hesitantly. "Can I ask you some questions?"
The innkeeper's wife turned in surprise. "Of course, Kagome-sama. I would be happy to answer them."
"Well, the um, well you know, the curse. I'm not sure how it's supposed to work. I mean, my eyes changed color and I think my ears maybe got a little more pointed. Will there be other things too?"
"Had the curse struck Kenta he would have transformed instantly into a fox demon, in the shape of a fox, not the half-shape of Shippo-chan." Akane replied. "Why this did not happen to you I do not understand. I sense you have strong spiritual powers, Kagome-sama. But even these should not have kept you from transforming. I cannot tell you how sorry I am my curse struck you by mistake."
"No, please, it was my own fault for being so clumsy." Kagome said quickly. "So what you're saying is for whatever reason your curse isn't affecting me the way it should? Do you know if the curse is done? Or did it just get slowed down?"
Akane hesitated. "While you were unconscious I examined the curse. Part of it is missing."
"Missing? I don't understand." Kagome said, taken aback.
"It is as though part of the curse went somewhere else." Akane explained. "Why this should be I do not know. Now that the curse has been divided I cannot predict how it will act. You may escape further transformation because the curse is incomplete. Somehow you have managed to hide from it."
"Hide from it? Is that even possible?" Kagome asked, confused. She exchanged looks with Sango.
"I would not have thought so." Akane said, shaking her head. "But apparently it is."
"Shippo said you were a nine-tailed fox, and that means you're very powerful and wise." Kagome said. "If you don't understand what happened we must really be in unknown territory."
"It is true I have lived a very long time." Akane nodded. "And in that time I hope I have gathered some wisdom. But I have never heard of a curse going awry as mine has. I have also never heard of anyone who so selflessly threw themselves into the path of a curse intended for another. Perhaps since the curse wasn't intended for you it became confused."
"You said part of the curse is missing. Do you think it's still hunting Kenta?"
"Who can say?" Akane said, shrugging. "Kagome-sama, this curse may still overcome you. If it does I promise I will help you however I can. Please consider me your aunt from this day forward." She bowed, deeply. Kagome's jaw dropped.
"Th-thank you. I am most honored." Kagome stammered, overcoming her shock. Akane's statement was literal; Kagome was now part of Akane's family. How am I going to explain it to Mom? She thought to herself. Hi Mom, did you know we have a fox-demon in the family? Yeah, she's your sister. Sister-in-law? How does that work? Oh dear.
"I will leave you to your bath, mei-sama." The inn-keeper's wife bowed.
"Thank you Akane-hakubo. I'm sorry to be such trouble."
"Not at all." The inn-keeper's wife answered with a smile. She left as Kagome started to contemplate this newest development.
"Amazing. First she curses you then makes you her niece." Sango said. "I've never heard of a human being adopted by a kyuubi no kitsune before. It's a great honor."
"I know." Kagome said morosely. "I'm just trying to think how I'm going to tell my family. Mom will probably take it in stride and Sota should be OK with it, but my grandfather is going to freak."
"Your grandfather is a shrine-keeper isn't he?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded. "He has met Inuyasha, right?"
"Yes, but having a fox-demon for a daughter--daughter in law? is going to be a shock." Kagome said, stretching. "Oh, this bath feels so good, but if I don't get out soon I'm going to look like a prune." She giggled. "A furry prune?"
She got out and started drying herself.
"Kagome, if you do become a fox-demon, will you go back to your time? Or stay here?" Sango asked as she watched Kagome get dressed.
"I hadn't really thought about it." Kagome said, pausing. "I guess it really depends on what happens with Naraku and the Shikon jewel."
"If you did become a fox-demon, you would live a very long time--just like Inuyasha." Sango teased the teenager.
"Sango! What a thing to say!" Kagome said, blushing. "Besides, aren't dogs and foxes supposed to be natural enemies?"
"Demons are influenced by their lineage, but it doesn't control them Kagome." Sango said. "Look at Kirara and Inuyasha. Cat and dog. And he likes Shippo too."
"That's true." Kagome said thoughtfully. "How long do demons live, anyway?"
"Nobody knows for sure." Sango said. "Some are over a thousand years old, I once heard about a demon tree that was supposed to be four thousand years old."
"Wow. Recorded human history is only like ten thousand years old." Kagome said. "It's kind of scary, thinking you might live that long."
"I suppose." Sango got out and dried herself. "I wonder what the inn-keeper's wife meant by part of the curse being missing?"
"Yeah, that has me worried. What if it's out looking for me?" Kagome shivered. "Akane-hakubo said I was hiding from the curse. If that missing part finds me I'll become a fox-demon for sure."
"Well, let's hope it stays wherever it went." Sango said firmly as she finished dressing.
"You said it!" Kagome agreed fervently. The two women left the bath, looking forward to sleep.
Meanwhile, in a forest glade far from the inn, the priestess who had helped Kagome defend herself from the curse was standing quietly.
It has been a very long day. The priestess thought to herself. She sighed and looked ruefully at the results of the curse she hadn't been able to hide from completely.
A tail. A fox's tail. She was forced to admit it was actually quite beautiful.
If only it hadn't been attached to her. She tried waving it and it obediently moved back and forth. The sensation was--surprisingly natural. Without thinking she wrapped it around her legs--then paused in surprise. She closed her eyes and sighed again.
To make matters worse her feet were definitely narrower than they had been, and the bottom of each foot bore the hint of pads, like a fox's paws. She was sure her toes were smaller as well.
"Kagome, I must remember to thank you properly the next time we meet." She said aloud. Her red hakama pants were now impossible to wear. Even the very wide legged garment could not hold her tail with any comfort. Fortunately she also had an undivided hakama, the broad full-length skirt allowed her tail to be both comfortable and hidden.
Carefully folding the divided hakama she packed them away then gathered her belongings. With another sigh Kikiyo set out in the darkness, thinking unkind thoughts about the foolish young girl who was, unfortunately, Kikiyo's own reincarnation.
Time travelers can be so inconsiderate to others…