Chapter 10

Akira groaned as she opened her eyes, rubbing the back of her hand over crusty lids. So weary... "Here, drink this," a gentle voice soothed.

Hesitantly, she did as suggested, rewarded by something as warm as sunlight trickling down her throat. What was this delicious brew? More critical, where was she? Who was helping her drink? "You collapsed," Kubo explained.

Ah, that. "How long have I slept?"

"Three days." Kubo bit his lip, anxiety plain in his features.

"I am all right now, just help me up."

He slid her into an upright position, bringing the bowl up to her lips. "Mother always said chicken broth is best to restore your strength and energy."

Akira smiled gratefully. "Your mother was a wise woman," she replied, sipping more of the broth. Kubo held her head up.

"What happened? I've never seen that kind of magic before." The closest he'd come was watching his mother use up the last of her own reserves to save him from his aunts. The result of that fight still made him shudder, remembering the hopelessness he'd endured as he fluttered away on makeshift wings.

She shivered. "Nothing, just an old trick Mother taught me. I had no alternative."

"Yeah, well... Don't do that again, ok?"

"Ok," she smiled. Though her body was exhausted, her mind refused to settle, and soon she'd mustered enough strength to rise and join Kubo, where he was sitting and gazing at the sky in adoration. "What are you staring at? Can we afford daydreaming?"

"Mother always told me to look up at the stars, and I would see my family. I figured she meant my ancestors were watching over me from up there; I didn't realize she was being so literal," he sighed. "Makes sense why she hated me moon watching."

"I'm sorry, Kubo. I warned you this might happen- from what I saw, the Moon King holds no feelings for you. Nothing beyond anger and hatred."

Kubo bit his lip, reluctant to concede.

"I need to hear you say it- your grandfather is gone. There's only the Moon King now."

"Fine, I'll admit it! The Moon King is back," he exclaimed dismally.

Satisfied, Akira returned to her makeshift cot of leaves. "But that doesn't mean he's here to stay," Kubo murmured quietly.

"You fool."

The Moon King knelt before a mass of shadow and smog. To an outsider, it was nothing more than a supplicant kneeling before his master; the eerie tranquility and stillness of the scene showed nothing of the rage broiling with the god, rivaled only by the wrath of the shadow being.

"You fool! How did you allow Kubo to escape?"

"I had hoped he was alone still-"

"That is no excuse! Did you not think he might have acquired some aid by this time?"

"I underestimated his strength." The Moon King stifled a gasp as the blackness swirled around him and inside of him, chocking him from within.

"Perhaps I overestimated yours! Perhaps it would be best for our alliance to come to an end..." The inky tendrils twisted tighter.

"No! It will not happen again."

The darkness retreated somewhat. "You are right. One way or another, it will not." His master withdrew completely.

0o0

The Moon King was a proud entity. As such, he was unaccustomed to being tossed about like a rag doll and then squeezed so horridly his insides almost popped out of his ears.

The helplessness of it all! The constant subservience, the threats, the reminders... He bowed to no one! How dare!.. If he had that other eye, then who would be crawling?.. No, he could not pursue such a goal until he gained more power, however badly his own servitude rankled under his skin. All because of that selfish, stupid boy!

Kubo would pay for his misery, and he would pay dearly. For every choke hold, every bruise, every ding in his pride, he would suffer. And he, the Moon King, would personally inflict every ounce of it.

"How did you do it?" Kubo persisted.

Akira bit her lip. "I'm not supposed to say."

"Come on- you know my powers. Show me yours!" Seeing her hesitation, he clarified, "At least show me part of it. Something small you can do, like a trick or charm."

At that, Akira grinned mischievously. "A trick, huh?" Before he knew it, a beam of light shot towards his face, forcing him to duck. "What the!-"

"I can manipulate sunlight, much like you can manipulate moon energy. I can shoot rays from my palms with ease. I can heat up a fire in winter, which is my worst season- the sun sleeps in the cold, you know. If I do not take care... Well, I won't go into that now." Pausing, she surveyed the undergrowth for a moment before pointing at a patch of brittle, brown leaves. "Look!"

Kubo watched as the patch of dead brush sprouted gracefully to life again. "Wow! You can make things grow?"

"As long as there's a base for it- give me a seed and soil, and voila! Instant apple tree!"

"That's... Beautiful."

Akira blushed. "Well, it comes in handy when one is hungry- many a day I have survived solely on berries."

"Sounds more useful than... Making paper figurines come to life," he trailed off uncertainly.

"Oh? That sounds fascinating to me," she smiled.

"Um, well, it's... Fun, you know? I get to tell stories with them, create characters, build worlds!" He paused, realizing he'd been reaching for his shamisen.

"Don't be shy. Show me!"

Kubo hesitated- besides the villagers, the only ones who had ever seen his displays of magic were his mother and grandfather. Then again, she did seem interested. "Just a little. As soon as we find a good place for a campfire." Once they'd settled down, he pulled out his instrument and began strumming. The fire glowed warmly, drawing him in, lulling him with memories of kindness and family.

"Our tale begins..." He didn't need to complete his sentence as the paper flew. Fairy tale figurines, first of a fair, youthful maiden, then of her bold, kindhearted knight, then of the wicked warlock bent on destroying them both, sprung, danced, fought, and loved to life. Akira laughed, her eyes alight from wonder and surprise- she had never seen such imaginative magic before. Kubo's laughter echoed hers, and soon he found himself dancing along with the beings he'd created. He had forgotten the joy, the thrill of the tingling of energy in his body, spreading from his navel to his arms. He felt it now more than he had in years. Magic had always been the single way he could truly relax; with it, he was himself. Not to mention hearing Akira's laughter made him feel strangely warm inside; so did her clapping after his performance.

"Impressive," she declared.

"It still doesn't beat incinerating enemies, which- after what you did against my gra- the Moon King- apparently you can do."

"I can, but it's difficult. Much like what I did earlier. The spell I used to harm him... It's a skill of the last resort. I can summon the sun's full brightness. Only for a few minutes, at best."

Kubo stared at her in what she uncomfortably guessed was awe. "That is quite a gift."

"It has its perks. Such as collapsing into a helpless heap afterwards; my energy is spent. I cannot use that power lightly."

"Well, it certainly came in handy against him."

She smiled modestly. "Yes, I suppose it did."

"Do me a favor, though."

"What?"

"Don't do it again! I like you conscious... And smiling."

Akira blushed furiously.

Greetings, readers! Happy fall! One of my favorite times of the year approaches, and I figured I would add to this story of the supernatural to celebrate it.

I hope you all are still reading it and have stuck it out for me so far; I promise it only gets better (more intense, mostly) from here. Happy reading, everyone, and please don't forget to review! :)