Thank you for the wonderful reviews and for taking this journey with me. :)

Disclaimer: Even though the characters are not mine, and were a little ooc, I hope you enjoyed.

Chapter 14: Offerings to the Forest God

It was another four days before Kaoru had the strength to leave their room again. She ate, because she knew her baby needed it, and she slept because she dreamed of Kenshin. Even then, she only left because the aches that began to plague her warned that inactivity would be unhealthy for her still growing child. So she wandered, out into the dying forest and around the still waters of the lake. Hardly anything stirred, and the stillness reeked of death. It was not the same rotten sickness that had accompanied the taint left by the omnyoji. This time it was the simple, dry death of time. All of the energy had been sucked from the forest in order to spare her life and the life of her child. Which meant she now carried all of Kenshin's life within her.

Painful tears prickled at her dry, red eyes and she stopped to rest on a fallen tree. She was too worn to sob anymore and her tears trickled out sporadically, but they would not stop, as if they were determined to suck her dry until she was a brittle husk like the rest of the forest around her. A quiet sniff tried to retain some of the liquid, and she rested a hand idly on her stomach as she stared at the brown grass at her feet. Physically and emotionally exhausted, she watched the little brown swallow that landed in the bed of leaves for quite some time before she actually heard its sweet voice sing.

The sting of dead air hurt her lungs when she wheezed in a shocked breath, but her breaths became faster despite the pain as she remembered a time before. When she had first moved there and she had run deep into the forest to cry. She had begged the forest deity to take away her grief then, and he had sent birds to her to sing and make her smile. Oh Kenshin.

Her bottom lip trembled as she fought her emotions, and she stood to glance around her. Then, just as now, she saw no one and her heart sank in resignation. It wasn't the same. Before she could not see him because she did not have enough spiritual energy. That was not the case this time, because it was he that did not have the spiritual energy. The bird continued to sing and hop at her feet, but she couldn't watch it any longer. Knowing the gift was not from him made it all the more painful.

An aimless path through the woods killed most of the day, and her heart was so bruised and numb that she barely saw the intermittent buds of wildflowers she chanced across. Their image burned into her mind without making an immediate impression, and so it would be much later before she actually understood the gravity of what their presence might have meant.

When she finally wandered her way back to the shrine, she stopped within the tree line to watch as the young orphan boy Yahiko went about his duties as if it were any other day. A deep crease formed along her brow line and her first reaction was anger. Did he not see the forest? What was the point?! Everything was dead and so was their deity! Shame pierced her heart a second after the thought was born and she leaned into the tree beside her for support. What about the villagers, anyway? Kaoru had not given one thought to how they were reacting to this change in their deity. Should she tell them? Would they despair? Would it be kinder not to say, or would they think that he had abandoned them? It was her fault that the forest was now like this. She should claim responsibility, not allow him to take the fall. But… what did she truly know about being a deity. She had only married one. Kenshin had been born for this.

The door to the shrine slid aside and, despite herself, her heart leapt. Kenshin was not as big as the man who stepped through, however, and she cursed herself as a fool when she recognized the tall deity Kenshin had been friends with. His mahogany eyes found her almost instantly, and she sniffled before pushing away from the tree to meet him halfway. A kind smile pulled at his features as he came closer, and he helpfully assisted her the rest of the way to the shrine so that she could rest. For some reason, his kindness made her feel horrible.

For a while he seemed content to make small talk, but it soon became obvious that he was there for a reason. When Kaoru called him out on it he sighed and a rueful grin tugged sadly at one side of his mouth. "Ken-man loved this forest. For as long as I can remember. It was a secret haven he kept. A place he could go to escape his father." Dark brown eyes glanced at her, and his features became a little more serious. "You know, right? Who his dad is?" Kaoru's expression tightened around the eyes painfully and she looked away. "He was supposed to have taken over the duties of the Sovereign Deity a long time ago, but… he fell in love with this place, so he refused. They fought over it for years." A short laugh pushed from his gut. "It got kinda ugly, but his dad finally let him off the hook after he made him promise…" Sano sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "If Kenshin had a kid… then he would take over in his place. That was the deal."

Kaoru's eyes widened but her body had stiffened, so she was unable to look over at the deity beside her. "What… are you saying?"

"Look, missy, this ain't right, and I know it, but… I gotta do what I'm told, see. Hiko-dono wants you to leave this place and come live with him. He'll take care of you, and the kid. He'll teach you how to use your powers and plans on giving you the forest once he thinks you're ready. The kid will stay with him of course, and there's no telling what this place will look like when you get back, but…"

"But what?" Ice filled her voice, and she finally faced him with all the fire in her eyes. "But that's just the way it is? He's just going to take my child away from me? Just like that? The only part of my husband I have left, and he's just going to rip it from me?!"

"Now calm down, missy."

"I will not! I will not allow him to just take my baby like it's a matter of course! And I sure as hell will not abandon this forest that my husband loved so much!" She was on her feet without knowing it, and the taller deity was backing cautiously away from her. "Get out! Get out of my sight! Run back to you master and tell him I don't need his help!"

"Be reasonable…"

"Get out!" The scream echoed between the empty trees, but despite her anger something unexpected happened that made her blink. Sano was tripping all over himself to keep distance between them, but it was no trip that sent him flying through the door, and it was no gust of wind that slammed the door shut after him. A quick shaky breath pulled into her lungs and she stood frozen in place as she tried to make sense of the scene that had just played out. Inside, her mind saw with intense clarity that bird singing for her so sweetly, and the rather wilted flowers trying so desperately to be beautiful. "From now on, you will always be able to see me. Unless…"

Bidden from the depths of her memory, Kaoru heard Obaasan warning her that deities did not have a limitless amount of power to draw from. They could tire just as a human could and fall ill, but their illnesses were far different than a human's and required a much different remedy to cure. Quickly her eyes flew to the young boy cleaning the shrine grounds. He had witnessed the door slamming shut as well, and was staring with wide-opened eyes and the broom frozen in his hands. Kaoru was no longer a shrine maiden that was in a position to assist her deity as a human, but she would still do whatever she could to help her husband as his wife.

"Yahiko-chan." With all the softness she could muster, Kaoru called out to the orphan boy. She had not shown herself to anyone since her wedding, but she hoped they would still remember and trust her. Black eyes swung from the door to her and widened impossibly further. Trying out a tremulous smile, she placed a hand along one of the posts for support and beckoned him to her. "Will you please help this one, Yahiko-chan?" In the forefront of her mind she knew that she could no longer interact with the villagers as the human she had once been. So she mimicked the only example she had to draw from and spoke as Kenshin had always spoken to her.

"I'm not little." The affronted declaration caused her eyebrows to lift into her bangs, and her smile became genuine as she giggled.

"Of course you are not, Yahiko-kun. Please forgive this one for misspeaking."

Suspiciously, the young boy frowned and held the broom almost defensively. "Hey, how come you know my name? And where did you come from?"

The smile faded from her mouth, and she looked away sadly. "It would be horrible of this one if she did not know the name of the one who tends her husband's shrine." Within her heart, the familiar words throbbed painfully. Yahiko, who suddenly seemed to understand who he was speaking to, turned sheet white and dropped the broom completely. "Seiryu-dono!" Both of his knees hit the ground, and he bowed so low his forehead was smashed into the dirt. "I'm sorry. Y-you can call me whatever you want! And of course I'll need to be punished for being rude."

"There is no need for that, Yahiko-kun. Please, this one only needs a favor." Just barely his eyes peeked up at her through his unruly hair, and he nodded eagerly. "I… cannot get around as easily anymore." She indicated her stomach, and bit her lip over the slip in her speech. All of the walking she had already done had worn her out. "Will you please fetch Obaasan? This one needs to speak with her urgently."

He jumped up so suddenly that she flinched and he took off running back toward the village. "I'll get her right away!"

It took slightly longer for them to return, but Obaasan was getting along in years. Despite her own aches and pains, however, Obaasan hurried forward once they were visible and cupped Kaoru's face in both hands. She was careful, though, about how she addressed her in front of the boy. "What is it, child? What do you need?" Her old eyes glanced out at the dying forest, and it seemed she knew before Kaoru even had to say.

"He's gone, Obaasan." The words choked in her throat, and tears slipped once more down her face. "And it's my fault." Everything she knew about the omnyoji was passed along to the old woman, and she explained what the tanuki had told to her upon waking. "He used all of his energy to save us, and it's killing the forest he loved so much. I know this is unfair, but is there any way that the villagers can send more offerings?" Yahiko seemed confused, but Obaasan frowned.

"Are you running out of strength yourself?"

A slow shake of her head disagreed. "Not for me, Obaasan. I can't give to the forest yet. K… Tatsuyoshi-dono made sure that all of my energy goes only to our child. It's just… I don't think he's truly gone. At least… not yet. There are still small pockets of life within the forest, but if they all die then it'll be over. Please Obaasan. If there is anything that can be done to save him…"

The old woman smiled kindly and patted her on the head as she used to when she was still a child. "I shall try, but the village has suffered from this too. I don't know what they will be able to spare."

"I understand."

X

Two days later Kaoru sat within the awning of the shrine and leaned despondently against the wall behind her. A small ache was beginning to bloom low in her back, but she ignored it as she stared sightlessly out into the depressing sight of the forest. It was high noon, and Yahiko had not shown, just as he had not shown the day before. It seemed the villagers were unable to spare what little food they had left to survive on, and while the sinking pit of anguish in her gut grew with the knowledge, she could not blame them. They had their own families to think of first and foremost. Kenshin would have wanted it that way.

A small flurry of feathers swooped down below the awning and perched at her feet. It was a tiny yellow singing bird that chirped sweetly at her, and the tears pooled so quickly in her eyes that she began to sob before she could stop it. Even on the verge of death, Kenshin tried to make her happy and show her love. He was truly a beautiful dragon deity.

"Kaoru-dono." The deep voice came abruptly from her left and a gentle hand appeared on her slumped shoulders. Gasping and fighting her tears, she sat up but jerked away. She recognized the voice and did not wish to be in his presence. "You have grieved enough. I will not steal your child from you, nor will I abandon this forest that he loved. If you stay bound to it as you are… you will only end up following him and taking your child with you."

"Please leave me alone." The Sovereign Deity tried again to talk her into leaving, as he had the day before, but she refused to listen. There was a stubbornness in her that reminded him of his son, and while he admired it, it also frustrated him. If she did not agree to leave by her own volition within the next three days, then he would force her to leave by his. There would be little choice left to him at that point.

That frustration huffed from his nose as he stood to leave, but noise from the trail to the village caught his attention. From out of the trees came a long line of people pulling carts or leading pack animals. Some were helping others with large banners and pieces of wood, while the children hefted heavy baskets between them. Not one soul from the village was not in attendance as they all spilled out into the shrine grounds and began building small structures like an army of ants. Paper lanterns were strung together and hung from the awnings of small stalls and stands, and the banners were hung from tree branches and off the shrine buildings. Make-shift stoves were lit and the smell of cooking food filled the air, and laughter from the children sprang forth as they chased each other in festival masks. Even a small stage had been erected at one end for a play to be held.

The bird at her feet chirped and seemed interested in the to-do. With two small beats of its wings it took off toward the stalls and perched on one to view the wares. Afraid the small creature might be shooed away, Kaoru wrestled her growing stomach to get to her feet. She was immediately assisted by the silent Sovereign Deity beside her. It was easy to tell that he was stunned by the expression on his face. Instead of hording what little food they had leftover from winter to make it through the summer, now that their crops were wilting, the villagers had decided to throw a festival in their deity's honor. It clearly revealed how much of himself the deity had given to those under his care, and how much they loved him in return.

With a gentle smile, his hand once more touched her lightly between the shoulder blades. A small surge of power swept over her and she blinked at him before glancing down at herself. Clothes suitable to her station now covered her, and even her hair had been set by intricate kanzashi. In a motion much more regal than she had planned, she bowed her head in thanks and then turned towards the festival. Sweetly she whistled for the bird, who had just been noticed by one of the villagers, and it returned to her offered hand without hesitation. She too stopped before the stall, and the man behind the tabletop seemed awe-stricken before he quickly smiled in welcome.

"Please allow this little one to accept a piece of your offering." The bird tweeted and hopped from her hand to the wooden top. "O-of course, Seiryu-dono!"

"Seiryu-dono!" The children latched themselves to her kimono and stared up at her from out of the eyeholes in their masks, and she smiled at them kindly as she tried again to fight her tears. From across the clearing, however, something new caught her attention, and she looked up to find a deer had emerged from the woods. It was hesitant, but came closer once it caught site of her. Drawn by the promise of food, it deterred to another stall and sniffed at the vendor behind it. The woman seemed nervous at first, but offered with a crooked smile an apple for the deer to eat. From behind her she heard a more shocking encounter, and turned to find a snake had slithered its way up to a stall to sniff at the cooking meat.

"Not one of them hesitated, Seiryu-dono." Yahiko pulled one of the younger kids off of her and grinned proudly. "Besides, it seems to be quite a hit." Animals of all different kinds were finding their way to the multitude of stalls to accept the offerings. From foxes, to bears, to wolves and shrews, not one animal acted aggressive, towards each other or the humans. It was not until late in the afternoon, however, that the forest sprites appeared, and they earned the most surprising reaction of all. The children, especially, enjoyed playing with them.

As night took over, other spirits not of the forest came to attend the Forest God's Festival, and some even took over management of the stalls to allow the humans a break. The play was a big hit, and Kaoru laughed freely for the first time in days as she sat under the awning of the shrine on a mound of cushions. The festival continued on for an entire week, and the longer Kaoru sat looking out upon the festivities, the more change she noticed about the forest. Greenness was returning to the trees. Life was blossoming upon the floor, and slowly, little by little, the smell of decay diminished. Obaasan had even mentioned that the crops were beginning to flourish once more.

And on the seventh night, it happened. The forest sprites were dancing with the children and the paper lanterns were glowing down the path of the stalls. Kaoru was smiling at the life and love of those around her when she felt the brush of fingers against her cheek. Startled, she turned to her right and he smiled as if pleased that her blue eyes were once more aimed in his direction. She didn't know if he was immediately aware that she could see him, but her tears must have given her away. If not them, then the way she threw herself into his arms probably confirmed it.

"I can see you!" The strong arms she had missed pulled her tight against his chest and she sobbed in joy. "You never left, right? You were always right here."

"This one would never leave you, that he would not." Careful strokes of his hand against the back of her head reassured her that he was indeed with her, and she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke next. "It pleases this one greatly that his wife has such amazing eyes, that it does. This one is quite lucky indeed."

"I'm pretty sure I'm the lucky one. You saved me at the cost of yourself." She sniffled, but their moment was interrupted by the curious whispers of those around them. Sapphire eyes blinked as they stared at her, and she realized that no one else could yet see the Forest Deity. "Is it not enough, Kenshin? Are you still weak?" The concern when she looked up at him made his smile soften, and his fingers gently caressed the skin below one eye.

"It is enough for you to see me, but your eyes are much more perceptive than most. It will take time…"

"Let me contribute to the offerings. The villagers have already given so much." One of her hands slid from his neck and braced over his heart. She didn't know how to give her own power to the forest yet, as that was something her husband had abstained from telling her since she became pregnant so quickly. At that moment, however, she could feel exactly what needed to be done, and she was overflowing with so much power. Even the child within her glowed warm in agreement. Kenshin was not so open to the suggestion, but was given little choice when the energy naturally surged from her hand straight into his body.

"Kaoru, you mustn't…"

"Tatsuyoshi-dono!" The reaction was instantaneous, and all of the villagers cheered as their deity became visible. The few spirits that were foreign to the forest but friends to the deity cheered with them. The forest sprites, happy to see the return of their master, flitted around them and pulled at their clothes in animated excitement. Kenshin, however, was too preoccupied with confirming that his wife was fine to notice their devotion. Both of his hands cradled her face and he stared into her bright blue irises for several long seconds before he was convinced she had not harmed herself or their child by giving what she had. There was nothing but love and relief in her eyes, however, and not one ounce of weariness on her features. Finally he smiled and pulled her close against his chest to direct his attention on those under his care. All of them had given without hesitation and with such dedication, but without her he might have never been found, and might have even been forgotten.

"Thank you, Kaoru-dono. This one will gratefully accept your offering… and continually return it, until the very end."

From then on a festival was held at the shrine every spring, and without fail the beautiful dragon deity and his azure dragon bride attended to bless those under their care. On a lucky year, the new Sovereign Deity, child of the two, would appear to take part in the festivities himself. It was on those years in particular that the forest flourished with abundant life and beauty. The forest was at its most exquisite, however, each year on a certain mid-summer night to commemorate the day when the Forest Deity had accepted his most prized offering, and the villagers never forgot the anniversary of their deity's wedding to one of their own.

X

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this story all the way to the end. :) I certainly enjoyed writing it, even though and probably because, it was a lot shorter than most of my other stories. It was a lot gentler too, which was kind of refreshing for me. If you would like, please leave me one last review to let me know if you liked it.

Though I am rather diligently writing on this new story that has caught my interest, I plan to finish Castle Ruins prior to posting on any new stories. It really only has a couple of chapters left, and I'm rather annoyed with myself for not having posted anything on it for an entire year! This final confrontation is really stumping me, though. Nevertheless, I will work through this and finish the story! :) Thank you all for being such amazing and loyal readers!