So I was a total genius and completely forgot to pack for the road trip I embarked on today. I basically just threw stuff together right before we left, and then also remembered I had to get crickets for my lizard because I didn't get him crickets last week. So that was fun. On the bright side, I did finish this chapter! I'm sure you're all curious as to Ren's fate after how the last chapter ended, so let's get to it!
Pale pink and orange begin to blush on the horizon, and I fiddle with the sunglasses tucked on the collar of my dress. As the world gradually starts to brighten, my fidgeting slowly increases, only for me to freeze when the ball of fire peeks up over the hills. I can't help but stare. What had begun as pastel shadings explodes with ferocity at the advent of day, the clouds previously dark overhead turning soft like cotton candy in contrast. It's both as gentle and as overwhelming as I always imagined it to be.
With a slow breath out, I leave my sunglasses where they are and turn to the snoring figure sitting beside me. "Mister Taro, it's morning." When he doesn't react, I release my knees from my arms and shove him lightly with my foot, repeating myself. This finally causes him to snort and startle awake, the spear he'd been holding clattering to the ground. When he realizes who I am, he relaxes, greeting me as he yawns,
"Ah, you again."
I wrap my arms around my legs again, eyes returning to the sunrise. "What are you going to do if demons actually attack while you're on duty one day?"
"I'm a light sleeper. I'll wake if anything as boisterous as a demon gets close." This said, he uses the spear to help hoist himself onto his feet.
"Well, what if the demon's quiet?"
"Clearly you've never met a demon," he laughs. "They're all growls and slobber and cursing, if they can speak." My heart pinches a bit, but I suppress it and stand as well. I bow to excuse myself. Thus begins my new routine. As the village begins to awaken, I dish out feed to all horses but one who's so skittish it refuses to eat anything offered from anyone but its owner. When the troughs are full, I join a group of women down to the stream to wash clothes. The creek is a walk, and by that, I mean it's more than half an hour on foot. Around it grow young trees, offspring of the giant trunks farther off.
When we arrive, I set to work on the dress handed to me without a word. No one talks to me as we scrub away at crusted dirt, the rest chattering amongst themselves. That's nothing unusual. None of the women have said much to me after they first explained the chore. They're probably decent people, considering they were courteous enough to let me stay when I said I didn't have anywhere else to go, but they're understandably wary of a girl in foreign clothes that appeared out of nowhere. I can only imagine how cautious they'd be if I still had a reaction to the sun.
I pause, hand absently raising to rub my collarbone, my eyes wandering deeper into the trees. How long ago was it that Kagura dumped me there? I'd thought I was dead when I came to. And then the pain had hit me like a train, and I instead became certain I was on the verge of dying. I probably was. My skin had begun to corrode, and blood had replaced my spit. If Kagura had just left me, I have little doubt I'd be dead. It had horrified me when she brought out that shard. Still, I was too weak to even flinch away when she shoved the thing into my chest. Thankfully her shard didn't turn out to be like Naraku's. Maybe it was smaller or something, or maybe it was because my condition that time around was so much worse, but it wasn't an instant remedy like Naraku's had been to my sore throat. No, instead, I sat there for days, barely managing to drag myself to a crook of this very stream to keep myself hydrated, with only the question of why Kagura would do such a thing to occupy my mind while I gradually got back on my feet.
And then the sun! The first twenty-four hours after Kagura left the pain had me too out of it to coherently notice, but the second time the sun rose, I was in shock. Its light no longer burns. I'm still not entirely used to it. I still get nervous every time dawn rolls around, but once day breaks, I'm still always left in awe. At the very least, I've stopped crying every morning because of it.
I breathe in deep the smells of the forest, taking a moment to admire the puffy white clouds and emerald leaves against the pure blue sky before returning to my task at hand.
"There she goes, mind wandering off again."
"If she lets it wander too far, she's going to lose it one of these days."
"She best be careful a demon doesn't catch her so lost, or they might decide to make home in her head."
I've always wondered if people who gossip realize that if they talk about a person right in front of them, the person can hear what they're saying.
When all the clothes brought have been cleaned, we make our journey back to the village. The first few times I accompanied the women out, my feet ached and bled, having scratched against the rough straw sandals. I considered wearing my own boots after the first trip, but I'd rather keep my modern apparel somewhat nice. If I ever go home, I'd rather not look a mess. That would just worry Mom and Dad all the more.
Mom and Dad. I wonder what they would do, if I went back. Surely I'd get in trouble, but they'd also be relieved I'm okay, right? I did just sort of ghost them. Especially with my allergy, I'm sure they're terrified about my health, and that's on top of everything a parent would normally worry about in this scenario. Do I have shelter? Sustenance? Am I safe? Will I get kidnapped?
...I guess they'd be right to worry. I actually have been kidnapped. And nearly killed.
Upon our return, I head to the Fujioka household. Mrs. Fujioka resides inside, preparing some sort of meat over her fire pit. When I ask what I can do to help, she asks me to fetch some water to boil the rice in. I do just that. A while later, her husband returns, and the three of us sit down to eat. Despite the fact that there's hardly any meat (it must have been some sort of small rodent), the couple set aside the hardiest strip in a bowl atop a small alter in the corner, Mr. Fujioka lighting the single, dwindled stick of incense. I chew slowly, eyeing the two as they press their hands in prayer before the mini alter. I've never been particularly superstitious, maybe because I've never gotten the chance to visit shrines, but I mean...demons are real. Doesn't that mean gods could be real, too?
I finish off my food, then join the couple, kneeling down and folding my hands, feeling rather awkward in the process. The Fujiokas explained to me their village god when they first agreed to house me, and I remember him being, oddly enough, the god of night, but since they haven't spoken much of him since then, I have to ask, "What's his name again?"
"Lord Tsukuyomi," the woman answers. Saying his name, she lowers her forehead to touch the floor in respect. "Under his great protection, our village has escaped the nightly demon raids that used to plague us. We are eternally grateful for his kindness."
Tsukuyomi...I feel like I've heard that before. Actually, I'm certain I have. In mythology, wasn't he the husband of the sun goddess, Amaterasu? There was a third god too, although I can't remember his name for the life of me. I think it was a he, at least. It's kind of weird to think those storybook figures might actually be real. The fact that I've actually heard of him makes it all the stranger when I bow my head and coerce a thanks out of my mouth.
The rest of the day I help out in the paddy fields. The sun beats down like a fiend, and as much as I revel in its heat, I still wear the wide hat offered to me and slather my already pinkened skin with the salve Kaede taught me to make during my stay with her. I've heard of sunburns plenty, about how bad they can be, but to be honest, they're pathetic in comparison to what the sun used to do to my skin. Still, I'm happy to have ointment to soothe the places cloth rubs against redness. I really have to thank Kaede next time I see her. If she hadn't taught me how to make this stuff, I wouldn't have anything, considering the medicine I brought from modern times is all with Kagome.
When the sun eventually nears the horizon, the workers begin to call it a day. After helping one young man carry firewood to his house, I also return to the Fujiokas. I roll my shoulders as I walk, trying not to beam too obviously. Sure, I'm tired, but I'm finally able to work all day! I'm actually able to trudge through the water without rest, and bear heavy loads without struggling to walk! I'm sure if I rejoined up with Kagome and her gang, I could walk all night with the rest of them now. We could even walk all through the day! Of course, as much as I enjoyed traveling with them, they aren't the ones I'm working so hard for. If I wouldn't be a bother to them, then theoretically, I shouldn't bother Sesshomaru, either. I watch the sun set, the sky bloody, passionate, and throbbing, and turn in for the night. I dream of silver moonlight, shimmering twilight-tinged white, and enigmatic darkness.
As usual, Mr. Fujioka wakes me up before sunrise. I thank him quietly to be courteous to his sleeping wife, and the two of us slip off to our morning routines: him preparing breakfast, and me going to watch the sunrise.
The village guard on the Eastern side is a young boy today, and not one I've seen before. He must have been informed about my visits, though, since he simply nods to me and returns to using a rock to draw in the dirt. The first bit of light signifying morning's imminence has already settled into the sky. I sit next to the boy, wrapping my arms around my legs, and simply listen to the fading songs of crickets.
As the world begins to brighten, however, a strange sensation settles over me. The closer day crawls, the more certain of it I become.
The horizon...isn't right.
I squint. I don't know why the horizon would be different, but something is definitely off. I glance at the boy beside me. He's left off drawing with the rock, now instead balancing the spear on his knee.
"This is the first time I've seen you," I finally comment. The boy looks up.
"I turned twelve yesterday. Dad thought I was old enough to start guard duty."
"Oh, congratulations." I look back out to the horizon. Yeah, something is wrong, definitely. It just feels like the horizon is slightly….higher? "So...why is it the village has guards at night, and not during the day?"
"Because we can see a demon if it comes in daylight. Grandad says that demons knew that and used to come at night. It's kind of stupid that we still do this, though. We have the protection of Lord Tsukuyomi, so demons can't even enter the village while its dark anymore."
"But, I mean...what if they come...when it's not dark?"
He huffs, irritation ample in his glare. "I already told you, we'd see them!"
My eyes widen, horror seeping down my spine as I continue to stare off into the distance. Mouth dry, I ask, "But...what if...there's a ton of them?"
As the first rays of sunlight strike out across the earth, the reason for the strange raised horizon suddenly makes itself clear.
It wasn't the land that changed. No, the land itself is perfectly the same. It's just that there's a solid, unbroken line of mangled, feathered bodies lingering where the sky meets the land.
And with the break of day, they suddenly swarm into the air heading straight towards us.
So Kagura gave Ren a jewel shard and Ren can now walk in the light. Why did she do such a thing? Stay tuned to find out! Also, I love reading your guys' comments! Your flattery has me giddy! Don't be afraid to point out any flaws in my work, though. As much as I try, I'm sure it isn't perfect, so if you catch anything I'd appreciate it if you shared. Or you guys can keep laying on the compliments. I'm not complaining. ^-^ See you next chapter!