So this is unbetaed due to the amazing dumbrat's amazing ability to kill whatever computer she looks at in record time. The woman is cursed, I swear to god! I actually really like this chapter. It felt amazing to write this after what she had been through and I'm loving exploring Michelle's new body. I'm also really excited to bring Hiei in more, though he doesn't play a large part of this story.
Redroseseandfullmoons- Thanks for the review!
KioshiUshima- Is she a kami? Is kami is but a spirit who is so strong as to act as the divine and makes the choice to act in such a manner? Some myths play earth kin as what came before, caretakers of the earth and its people before the gods gave them consideration. In many ways, my elementals hold close to this type of myth. That's all I'm saying on that for now. :)
Kurotiger, Here you go!
Holy shit, guys! We hit 104 reviews! I love you all! I had no confidence when I started on this. I dreaded posting but wanted to put myself out there to force myself to get over my low opinion of myself. I wanted to force myself not to care what people thought. Now I'm excited when the weekend comes and it is post time!
27
They were all staring at her. Confusion was clear on their faces and she didn't have any answers for them. She held her shaking hands out in front of her. They were long and slender, each finger just a bit longer than natural. Her wrists were thin and long, just as the fest of her felt.
Pulling her eyes away from the alien appendages, she looked up to lock eyes with emeralds. When she spoke, her voice sounded foreign to her own ears. It was a smooth musical sound, similar to what she had heard in the voices in that peaceful forest.
"What happened to me?" Cloth shuffled as she took a step. Her voice was soft and reflected her fear in its musical tones.
"Michelle?" Kurama whispered. He was in his own world and not aware of much of his surroundings. He was terrified that this wasn't real, that she wasn't real, wasn't really Michelle. She didn't look like her and she didn't sound like her. After long steps, he could smell it- that unique scent of moonflowers that always lingered, she smelt like his Michelle.
In that moment, he enveloped her in his arms as his knees buckled. She didn't resist, her own knees were not willing to support her and they feel to their knees together, his body supporting her weight. Her eyes were wide and her confusion was easy to read. Over his shoulder, she could see her body yet somehow she was in the middle of the room in a different body.
"I don't understand." She murmured, clutching at his ruined shirt. She could feel how tired his body was, though she couldn't explain how exactly she could know such a thing.
"You're alive." His voice was heavy with the weight of the emotions running wild. "I don't know how, but you are alive." He clutched at her kimono. It was a few more moments before she buried herself in his chest and wept, clinging to him for dear life.
For the first time she could remember she wept tears of joy. He came for her and she was safe. It was something she hadn't even dared to dream about in the last few weeks. She had given up. She had prayed for death. She got her wish, the image of her own dead body was burned into her mind and yet somehow, she was safe in Kurama's arms.
"So, Lovebirds! Can we get the hell out of here now?" Yusuke broke the moment. The woman who Michelle had become nodded into Kurama's shoulder, she very much wanted to be away from this place. Her soul cried out for the outside world, for trees and water.
Hiei stood back near the abandoned body. Their enemy's bodies had all been destroyed in the blast yet somehow hers was left untouched. He poked at the body with his foot. It was very much dead, not that he had any doubt. It was curious how Michelle's soul was able to gather enough power to solidify into a very real body on its own.
He felt the power that came from the spirit body was immense. For her to have so much power was amazing. It made no sense to him, considering that she was for the most part an everyday human. He saw very clearly the power she had and yet he couldn't sense any power from her. Hiei settled for observing the others, she mattered not to him.
Kurama stood, pulling Michelle up onto her feet. She still clutched at his shirt. Yusuke and Kuwabara joined them in the center of the room, wanting to check on her themselves. They both also wanted to see first hand the changes in her.
"One hell of a makeover…" Yusuke commented with a whistle.
"Michelle still in there?" Kuwabara asked, half joking.
"Shut up! We saw her change, idiot!" Yusuke yelled at Kuwabara before redirecting his attention to Michelle. "So, what made this happen?"
"I don't know." Michelle mumbled, hiding herself in Kurama's chest. "Can we just leave here?" She begged.
Unheard by the men the water whispered, "Release. Forgiveness. Peace." Though Michelle couldn't make out the soft words as they were distorted, echoing over each other.
Yusuke and Kuwabara took lead as they made their way to the stairs. Kurama kept a firm grip on Michelle, offering her any support she may need. He didn't know how strong her body was, just that it housed incredible power.
When Michelle went to walk however, she quickly found herself tripping over her own feet. Although her actual height was much the same as before she died, her limbs actually were longer now, leaving her with a smaller more petite torso. Her attempt at walking on these new, longer, more slender legs resembled that of a newborn fawn in many ways. Under different circumstances, anyone could find such a sight hilarious. No one laughed.
She was unsure of her footing as well as how to coordinate her limbs to walk well. She wondered if this was what boys felt like when they would suddenly shoot up a few inches in height during puberty. The only thing that saved her from falling onto the dingy ground was Kurama's firm grip on her waist.
"Let me carry you?" He offered, though in all reality if she refused him he intended to do as he wished anyway. They would never make it out of the tower at the pace she was setting, stumbling over her own legs.
She nodded though she wished she could hold her head high and walk out of her prison she just couldn't seem to get her legs under her. The ground seemed to be farther away, though she didn't seem taller. She again examined her hands and arms best she could. They seemed longer, more slender than she was used to. Michelle wondered if she looked like a real life version of an anime character with her exaggerated features.
"Please," She nearly begged, tears gathering in her eyes only for her to blink them away. "I want to go home." She nuzzled into his neck and shoulder as he swept her up into his arms. She felt the strength in Kurama's body as he held her.
"We cannot cover that much distance tonight." He spoke softly after a pause. He would have given anything at that moment to be able to grant her request. It simply wasn't possible however. It had taken them weeks of travel in the Makai to find Michelle and now they would have to travel for at least a few days at good speed to make it to a portal.
"I don't want to be here anymore." She whined, just wanting to be away from this place.
"Don't worry, we won't stay here." Yusuke cut in.
"Yeah!" Kuwabara voiced his agreement. "But, where can we go?" He asked dumbly. They had camped in the wilderness when they had previously stopped to rest- though breaks had been far and few between. In Kuwabara's opinion, that was not a proper arrangement for a lady.
"I had kept a den near here. It should still be sealed. We can rest and recover there." Kurama's offer was acceptable to all. They needed to rest.
"Den?" Michelle questioned. They had made it a good way down the stairs now. She couldn't see the trail of her blood any longer and that made her feel better.
"Yes. My home of sorts." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "From before I was reborn as Shuuichi."
"Oh." Was all she offered as a response. Truthfully she had forgotten of his less then human nature for a moment. She had simply wanted him to come for her. At the reminder however, for a moment she was scared though it passed quickly. He wouldn't hurt her, of that she was sure. For the most part.
Kurama was aware the very moment the sour scent of fear spiked. He was pleased when it quickly receded, leaving the pure scent of moonflowers behind again. It worried him however, that a reminder of his demonic nature would cause her such fear.
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the den. Every time Kuwabara would go to open his mouth to say anything more than a simple complaint Yusuke would jab him in the ribs. Nothing felt right to say at that time. They had all seen her body. The trails of blood leading down her legs left little doubt as to what she had been through.
Each of them wished to go back and kill Maki repeatedly. They had little doubt as to who defiled their friend in such a way. Yet not one of them even got the satisfaction of even killing him the first time. No, each was aware of how close they had come to death on this mission. In the end, they did not save her. She saved them. The knowledge they owed her their lives after everything she had been through weighed heavy on their minds and hearts.
Hiei had his own reasons for his anger, the situation reminded him far too much of Yukina. As far as he was aware, she was never touched in such a way in her captivity. It was a topic she didn't seem to speak of ever. He never searched her mind for the answer to that dreaded question however. Part of him didn't want to know. The thought of his sister brought the situation into a new light in his mind. He wouldn't have wanted her body left in such a place, even if she was reborn into another body. Yet they left that woman's broken corpse where she died. It troubled him, however he didn't voice his concerns. Rather he made a mental note to see to it later.
Kurama however was lost in his own torrent of emotions. He was so glad to have her back, to hold her in his arms. Though her appearance was different, she seemed for the most part to be the same in mind as well as in soul. He hated that he wasn't the one to save her and felt guilty for all the harm that had come to her. Above all, he worried and maybe even feared that she would fear demons because of what she had been through.
No, that wasn't exactly the truth. He couldn't care less if she feared demons. She had every right to. Humans should fear demons. Yet he dreaded the thought of her fearing him. He didn't want to lose her, just because of what he was. The pain of her disappearance was still fresh and he remembered well the soul shattering panic that gripped him when he watched her very life come to an end.
No, he wouldn't lose her again. But, what would he do if she no longer wanted him?
When did he start to care this much? It left him confused. Never once had he cared this much if he parted ways with a woman. He had left many without so much as a word, just as he had done to Tsuki all those years ago. Yet now he didn't want to allow Michelle out of his sight. What was he to do if she no longer wished to be by his side.
Once they made it outside of the tower Michelle visibly relaxed for a moment but soon pressed her ear to Kurama's chest. Her hand clutched at her other ear. She was overwhelmed. From everywhere she could hear faint voices, whispering.
The grasses rejoiced to be in her very presence. The air around Michelle was cleaned of the toxic poisons that made human life in Makai unsustainable for long periods of time. The voices of grasses and trees sung her praises as the cleaned air caressed their leaves.
"What's wrong?" Kurama asked, worried to see her hiding.
"So many voices…" She mumbled. "Please, too many voices. So much noise" she whimpered. The voices slowly fell silent. They hadn't wanted to trouble her but had been so thankful to be clean.
"Should we stop?" Kuwabara asked, not liking the pained look on Michelle's face. Kurama nuzzled her when she failed to answer.
"I'm okay." She lied. "I want to be as far from here as I can." With the voices gone, she had some measure of peace. The only thing that disturbed her during the rest of the hike to the den was her own memories when she would doze off.
