Chapter 4: Tomoe

The next morning, I woke up later than I was used to. I probably used too much of what little godly energy I had yesterday. I felt more refreshed than I had in a long time. When I checked on the golden orb of power, I was only slightly surprised to see it had doubled in size. Then Onikiri and Kotetsu came into my room with breakfast. I shifted to eat the meal. That was when they finally noticed that I was female by the large bump on my chest that slightly showed from my rumpled sleeping yukata.

After that, the will-o-the-wisps went about prepare our departure to the Netherworld to find Tomoe and bring him back. In that time, I wrote a letter explaining why I going to miss a couple more days of school since I was supposed to show up yesterday. I am hoping that by sending this letter to Ujigama high school, my new school, they would understand my faked situation. I would also be attending in a boy's uniform for personal reasons (burn scars).

When I got back from the post office, Onikiri and Kotetsu were ready to go. Apparently, they were looking for a paper lantern to light the shadow road to the Netherworld. While we traveled with one will-o-the-wisp in front and behind me, they told me about the pathways to the Netherworld. Once we got through to the other world, I saw that it looked like a feudal area town form 500 years ago. My shoulders drooped slightly in sadness at the memories, but I let those slip to the back of my mind for now as Kotetsu, Onikiri, and I looked for Tomoe. When we found the establishment, the will-o-the-wisps advised me to stay out of sight when they dealt with Tomoe.

I was behind a shoji door to the room Tomoe was playing around and drinking in. Kotetsu and Onikiri were the first line the convincing Tomoe coming back. I listened to their conversation/argument. As it went on, Tomoe's comments angered me more and more after each careless sentence. I thought he cared. Apparently, I was wrong if he can say such words so carelessly. I stepped into his line of sight when Kotetsu announced my being here.

"Please say something Kagome-sama," pleaded Onikiri. But I could only give Tomoe a cold and disappointed stare.

"Nothing, I have nothing to say," I bit out harshly, coldly, unemotional.

Without looking back I marched out of the room, out of the establishment. I trotted down the street. I couldn't believe his high and mighty care for the shrine could be a lie, but for him to say such a things to me and, then, what he said afterwards. I stopped for things to sink in. Without meaning to, I slapped the youkai reaching hands with mine full of my miko abilities. I listened to their hissing and screeching of pain and curses. I felt Tomoe watching, but I didn't care anymore.

"Hm, so the little boy has some power behind the weak face. Well even if you have such powers, someone like you is a free feast to these lots. Go back to where humans should be."

He had the nerve of reaching out his hand to lead me out of this world. I just turned to slap him across his face. The sizzle of my abilities could be heard as I watched him flinch at the unexpected pain.

"You are the one who should go home! Or did you really act like you cared for the shrine when we first met?! Is that shrine something that you can abandon so easily?!"

I calmed down from my rant as I felt some droplets of tears sting my eyes. It reminded me too much of when I left Tokyo, the scorch mark that used to be my home, and Goshinboku.

"Isn't it your precious home," I asked in a wavering whisper.

Tomoe seemed to actually smell my oncoming tears as I furiously blinked them away. He became uncomfortable, so he used anger to escape the feeling.

"How dare you act so cheeky!"

Fire replaced the oncoming tears in my eyes. Pink flashed through my eyes as my emotions riled up my miko abilities. I shouted right back into his face. An emotion I haven't felt for so long.

"I'm cheeky?! You're the cheeky one! I came all this way; because, I thought you actually cared for the shrine. I wanted to give you your home back while I served as the God. You don't have to be my familiar to live there!"

Tomoe took a step back in surprise. I whirled around to my frightened will-o-the-wisps before Tomoe could speak back at me. I had on a cold emotionless face due to my contained fury.

"Come along Kotetsu, Onikiri. I see we have wasted our efforts here. If Tomoe wants to return to the Shrine in any point in the future, he may do so. It shall take a while for his temper tantrum to calm down. Let us go back to the Shrine."

I took each of their hands and I had them take us back to our shrine. It was late afternoon and to blow off steam, I took a walk around through trails. Onikiri and Kotetsu had caught up to me and said will-o-the-wisps told me how to make Tomoe my familiar. It was a simple kiss. It didn't faze me as my first kiss I already gave away. I sighed.

I wanted to be alone for a bit so I slipped off the path without the will-o-the-wisps noticing. I traveled for a bit until I noticed how late it was. I turned to go back, but I was stopped by a frail old granny voice.

"Hey, the young man over there … excuses me, but … can you lend me a hand for a bit? I sprained my legs because of the bumps."

I stared at her blandly. I didn't really know what species she was since her aura reeked something not human and ill intent. I clicked my tongue and just walked on, ignoring the threat and possible deadly harassment. When it/she thing saw that her ruse didn't work she got up and ran after me. I saw her getting up with a scary face on, so I ran until I turned sharply and started to climb the nearest leafy tree.

When I reached the top, I laid across the thickest branch up here comfortably. I watched through the leaves as the malicious thing searches for me uselessly. I was startled when Onikiri appeared next to me in her fiery entrance. She was panting heavily. She nagged at me, unknowingly giving away my position!

I clamped a hand on her masked mouth to muffle her noises. She froze when the thing that was looking for me looked up. I moved subtly to blend into the shadows until the thing went away. Onikiri was shaking now.

"Kagome-sama! That was a witch! Why didn't you tell me that one was after you," She exclaimed in a soft whisper. I sweat-dropped. I gave her an inquiring look, so that she could tell me more about this witch. She did so in quick whispers. She, also, gave me three blank sutras and an ink brush in an effort to help the situation. I did use two of them to make us invisible like air.

I only had one left. Onikiri insisted that I would use it to summon Tomoe. I just stashed it away in my jean pocket. We waited until dawn to climb down with our sutras still plastered on ourselves. We trekked tiredly back to the shrine. I was walking on the open hallway to my room, taking the sutra off, when I suddenly had to lean on the support beam. I was so suddenly exhausted.

I opened my previously closed eyes to see Tomoe standing in the grass just observing me. Then he flicked open his fan and lowered his eyelids.

"I had heard from Kotetsu that you were in danger and yet here you are, safe and sound. It seems there was no show to come to. I shall take my leave for now."

I furrowed my brow as I watched him. My muddling thoughts tried to make sense of what he was saying and the underlying words. I reached out a hand to stop him. I softly called him to wait. He just turned to face me when I slipped off the edge of the hallway. Tomoe seemed to react out of reflex to catch me. I thumped on his chest my head landing on his shoulder before my feet could even leave the floor boards. I turned to face him, to him my thanks, but I felt something soft and warm on my lips. I blinked the blur away with no success when the warm light pressure suddenly went away.

Suddenly, I felt air flowing through my short hair. I called out to him weakly to help me and something glowed in front of me before I was picked up. I heard cursing, but that became distant as my exhausted mind went to sleep.