Title: The Heart of the Nile: Decoding the Map
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and all credit for the anime should be directed to the Inuyasha corp. and author.
Rate: M – Mature language, violence, and adult content in various chapters.
The Heart of the Nile: Decoding the Map
Unable to sleep, Sesshomaru returns to his balcony and begins to investigate the map more thoroughly. While investigating he noticed what appears to be very faint blue stains throughout the map. Not remembering seeing them during the daytime he begins folding and pulling the blue patches together. While he is doing this he notices the blue patches create the image of a moon with a lotus flower in the center. It was there in the center of the lotus flower he made out light pink lettering in the ancient language of Lady Kaede. Not wanting to unfold the map and not be able to pull the image back together Sesshomaru decides to go to the temple of Ra and wait for morning to come.
Walking down the pedestal of the temple the lord of Egypt looks up from the steps to see his younger half-brother Prince Inuhotep and his interpreter Lady Kaede the Sea Witch arrive just in time for the first rays of the sun to cast its light about the temple.
"Good morning my Lord Pharaoh Sesshothumote, and older brother. I would like to introduce you to Lady Kaede; Sea Witch of Thira and our interpreter of the map." Inuyasha said while bowing with his hand over his heart in greeting and respect.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Kaede of Thira. I have heard much of your wisdom and experience with the lost treasure. I am looking forward to seeing great results in this quest," said Sesshomaru as he eyed the old woman. She was dressed in a long grey gown that was tied with a red sash under her breasts and her pepper grey hair was tied low down her back.
"In fact, while we still have moonlight left I would like to show you this before it disappears. I didn't see these blue patches on the map earlier yesterday. As you can see here I was folding it and uncovered a hidden moon with a lotus flower. In the center of the the flower is a hidden message amongst the petals. What does it say?" questioned Sesshomaru to Lady Kaede.
"Of course my Lord Pharaoh it is a pleasure to serve ye. Do ye mind if I hold the map up close? It seems my old age has caught up with me." Kaede asked while bowing to Sesshomaru.
"Of course, take as much time as you need before the sun rises." He said.
As Kaede held the map in the moonlight, pink letters decorated the pedals of the lotus flower before fading away with the rising sun.
It read:
"By night one way, by day another, amongst the lunar flowers awake.
A heart of stone, changed by fate, only true loves kiss will it break.
A selfless wish, untainted power will release, only then will the test be beat.
Caution must be taken, or plagues and curses will awaken, sacrifices must be made."
After reading the script aloud Kaede had an epiphany. "I know what this here message means! These be the guidelines to the power of the treasure. Once the power of the treasure has been passed over to ye as the new master then these be the rules ye need to follow in order to use it. However, I am not sure what all of it means. I'm sure as time goes it will make more sense once ye obtain it."
"Very well, let us unfold the map and return it to the Beetle of Ra. There is an inscription around the beetle as well. Do you know what it says?" Sesshomaru asked Kaede. Unfolding the map and refolding it back into the eight-pointed star, a red beetle of Ra appeared with a black circle around it with the script saying,
It reads:
"A god above, sees man bellow, east to west you will show.
A light against the shadows path, a central point you will cast.
Tides will change, storms may brew, but I always will be facing you.
Go North, let sails fly, it will be a dangerous ride,
only the master will hear my cry."
"Inuyasha and I on the way here have tried to come up with some answers to this riddle. Would ye mind giving us ye thoughts?" asked Kaede.
"By all means, go right ahead. I am curious to know what you have uncovered," Sesshomaru replied.
"Well the first part is obviously the Temple of Ra. I mean come on! The sun rises from the east and sets in the west. It is a temple dedicated to the sun god and the sun is above us! Along with the Beetle of Ra on the map I'd say it is a safe bet we are in the right spot," Inuyasha stated while crossing his arms across his chest.
"I agree, so what about the next part," Sesshomaru asked?
"A light against the shadows path, a central point will cast. I think this be referring to the sunrays coming into the temple itself and landing on something either on the floors, walls, or pillars with meaningful significance. Does the light coming into ye temple normally pinpoint at a particular spot?" Kaede questioned.
"Yes, above my chair on the podium. There is a sundial on the back wall that follows the path of the sun throughout the day and the moon at night. " Sesshomaru stated. They all made their way over to the podium and noticed a sun and a crescent moon in the center of the dial embracing each other like lovers.
"A moon…" Kaede said just above a wisper. "I think this next part of the riddle be referring to the moon, not the sun. As ye can see in the dial one cannot be without the other. They together create balance and harmony.
"But what does the moon have to do with the treasure? This doesn't make any sense!" Inuyasha barked. "I thought we came here to get clarification not more riddles!"
"Patience little brother, only one more line of the riddle remains after this one." Sesshomaru interjected.
"But what can it mean…" He thought to himself. "Tides will change, storms may brew, but I will always be facing you…"
"Yes, I agree this is definitely referring to the moon. The moon pulls the tides making the waves and the waves makes the winds." finished Sesshomaru.
"I and the moon also never turns itself away from the earth. It always be facing the same away. Only the casting of the sun causes the shadows upon the moon," said Kaede.
"So how do we tie the moon to the location?" asked Sesshomaru.
"Go North and let sails fly, it will be a dangerous ride, but only the master will hear my cry... Is there any particularly dangerous part to the Northern Mediterranean Sea that has caused a lot of shipwrecks? That's the only thing I can think of that might help solve that one," said Inuyasha.
"Ye might be on to something there Prince Inuhotep. There is a clutch of Islands and sandbars off the coast of Greece called the Cyclades Islands. Many have been lost through those islands. I'm not sure what island or where to go once we get there but I think heading towards those Islands be the best bet we got at the moment. What do ye suggest Lord Pharaoh?" Kaede asked.
Sesshomaru sat in his chair looking from the sundial to his half-brother and elder woman deep in thought. After a few minuets Sesshomaru said, "Inuyasha, I request for you to remain here in the palace while I am gone. The last thing I want is for us both to die in an accident with neither of us having any sons. I will not be known as the last Pharaoh of our line. Also, I am going to need someone to keep order of operations and peace. By the will of the gods this trip will not last nearly as long as yours."
"Sounds fine to me! Besides, that will give me time to restore my energy from traveling the past three years and staying off a damn boat so I can focus on my marriage with Kikyo. I'm assuming you plan on heading out tomorrow then huh?" Inuyasha asked.
"Yes, we depart at dawn. Until then, Inuyasha escort Lady Kaede to her quarters. Rest up and enjoy the splendors of our home while as our guest." Sesshomaru said.
After Sesshomaru finished speaking Prince Inuhotep and Lady Kaede bowed to Pharaoh as he crossed his arms in an X-shape and walked out of the temple into the now afternoon sun. The following morning Lord Pharaoh Sesshothumote, Lady Kaede and the Royal Navy set sail for the Cyclades Islands off the southeastern coast of Greece in search of the hidden treasure. As they traveled Lord Pharaoh and Lady Kaede continued to try and decipher the mystery of the map but only time would tell as the true journey began.
