Chapter 4: The Long Night

The sky grew unseasonably dark at around midday. Tasuki and Kari stopped their conversation as the darkness surrounded them. Kari could sense the apprehension in Tasuki's heart.

"What's going on? Tasuki?" she asked.

Without thinking Tasuki drew Kari close to him and put his arm around her. "Stay close. Something's not right," he said, eyes searching the sky. Darkness closed in around them until they could not even see each other. A twig snapped behind Kari and Tasuki pulled her away from the sound. In an instant she was screaming. A hand had grabbed her long hair and pulled her violently away from Tasuki.

"HELP! Tasuki, help me!" she screamed. He moved forward faster than she could call for help and reach blindly in the direction of her voice. Reaching out he found her outreached hand. He entwined his fingers into her hers and pulled himself close. In an instant he was prying the unknowns fingers off of Kari's hair. But they just kept holding tight all the while Kari screamed in pain. Without thinking Tasuki cut her hair with his knife and pulled her away in one swift motion.

Holding her close to his body he reached behind his back and drew out his fan. Yelling "Rekka Shinen" he used the fan to throw flames in all directions. The area sprang into life in the light of the fire. A lone man stood in the light, grasping the cut off chunks of Kari's hair in his hand. And then he was gone. The flames died out and the darkness lifted.

Tasuki looked around and seeing that the forest was clear, turned to look at the damage he had done. Kari stood shaking in shock before him. Her waist length hair reduced to her shoulders in a choppy mess. She held her self while she breathed short ragged breaths. Tasuki stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. They stood in silence, the only noise her shaky breaths. Tasuki held her head in his hand and ran his fingers through her short hair.

In time Kari's shock gave way to the warmth of Tasuki's embrace. "Thank you," she said firmly. "You saved me, just like you said you would." She pulled away from him and looked into the distance. "What was that?"

"I don't know, but it's not safe for us to stay here any longer. I need to get you out of there and we need to find Chichiri. That's the best place I know where to start," Tasuki looked her over head to toe. "You look like shit," he grinned, showing two prominent canines.

Kari looked down and saw that her long dress was torn to shreds, one of the straps was torn and hanging down showing the top of her bra. She ran her hands through her hair and held it out to look at the choppy mess. "I do..." she trailed off as she tied up the broken strap of her dress. "Give me your knife," she said, holding her hand out to Tasuki. He gave her a wary look. "Just do it. Hand it over," she said, irritated. He obliged and she gathered up the shreds of her skirt and cut them off near her knees. Flipping the knife around she handed it back to Tasuki handle first.

Tasuki walked over to his things and grabbed his long coat. Shaking it out he walked back to Kari. "Here," he said holding the coat out to her. "We really can't have you walking around all of Kounan like that," he smiled.

Suddenly feeling self conscious Kari took the coat and put it on, "I probably look more ridiculous now."

Tasuki's grin just wouldn't go away, "Yes, but at least you're decent."

Tasuki walked to where his horse was tied up and started to gather his things. 'We need to move. Now," there was urgency in his voice as he stuffed the blanket into his bag. He untied his horse and lead it over to Kari. "Do you know how to ride?" He asked. She shook her head. "Well then. Come on, I'll help you up." Tasuki helped to life her up onto the horse and he followed swiftly up behind her. "Hold on," he said as he spurred the horse forward.

Hours later Kari leaned back into Tasuki's body and nestled between his arms she fell asleep. Tasuki rode on. As night fell Tasuki reined the horse to a stop. Kari stirred and Tasuki said "Hey there. Wake up. Go pee. Get a drink of water. We're going to be moving again in 5 minutes." He helped her down for the horse and she groggily stumbled away.

Kari walked back to the horse to find Tasuki already there and stuffing apples into his bag. One held in his teeth he held one out to her while mumbling.

"You shouldn't talk with your mouth full," Kari smiled as she took the apple.

Tasuki grabbed the apple from his mouth and grinned, "Sorry, Priestess. I'll try to work on my manners."He reached out for her and helped her up onto the horse. He hopped up behind her, apple still in hand. And they were off.

They rode through the night mostly in silence. Kari dozed off again and when she woke the sun was rising and Tasuki had taken them to a pool in the mountains with a small waterfall.

"This is beautiful," Kari said as she half jumped half fell off the horse. Tasuki dismounted and led the horse over towards the waterfall.

After tying up the horse to a tree Tasuki held out his hand to Kari. "Come on," he said. Taking his hand she followed him along the rocky cliff wall towards the waterfall. "Be careful, it's slippery," Tasuki said as he carefully led her along the wall and behind the waterfall to a small cave. "We should be safe here. Not many people know about it and this is the only way in or out. We'll stay here today and travel again tonight." He disappeared back along the wall and left Kari standing alone in the dark cave. Almost instantly he was back, with his bag. He dug out the blanket and tossed it to Kari. In a few more trips Tasuki had brought in leaves for a mattress, and had built a fire.

He stood and watched Kari through the fire. She sat in silence staring at the flames. Almost in a trance. A pain grew in Tasuki's chest. He'd never realized before what an awful lot it was to be the Preistess. Miaka had been so caught up finding her missing friend Yui. So caught up in her love of Tamahome. It had been hard, sure, but she wanted to be here. She wanted to be here with Tamahome. But this time... Kari didn't want to be here. She had no part in this story from her point of view. She was just swept up in the momentum in a strange world where she was alone.

Tasuki's mind was filled with doubt. Feelings of failure. Without realizing it he was kneeling behind Kari and wrapped his arms around her.

"Tasuki..." she whispered. He just held on tight. Kari felt her eyes begin to water. Tears ran down her cheeks, tracing little paths through the dirt. And then she was sobbing at how overwhelming it all was and Tasuki held her close. She cried herself to sleep in his arms. Tasuki gently laid her down and then laid facing her. He pulled the blanket up over them and fell asleep too.