Hello everyone-
Don't "Hello everyone"! Where the heck have you been, Ayde?!
Oh, well, ya see, the thing is... I'm pretty sure nothing I would say would be enough, now would it?
Oh no! Don't pull an SOA ending here! We deserve an explanation!
Alright, alright. So, originally, I was helping my sister move, which put me behind schedule. Shortly after that, she went into labor. Then after that, it turned out they F*ed up her epidural, which basically left her paralyzed for like a month, and my mom and I chose to stay at her house and help until she recovered. When that was all said and done with it, I had to catch up on work and at that point shit just kinda spiraled out of control. I kept working on the story, but it was definitely on the back-burner. I have actually gotten to chapter 47, and plan on updating each chapter every other day, with the hope that when I'm fully caught up, I'll be well into the 50's.
So this is me officially stating that I am bringing the story to mid-burner, and a formal apology for taking so long to get back to y'all. It's a really crappy feeling to have a story you're in to go un-worked on for so long with no real guarantee of it coming back. Sorry I did that to y'all, really. Feel like I broke some of y'alls hearts there. But I'm back, and I'm hoping to make it up to y'all. So... let's get on with it then. Enjoy!
(Oh, and, Happy Easter everybody!)
Chapter 38: The Lost Village
The patter of droplets falling from their collection upon leaves and needles was the silence breaker in the early dawn. As a petrified statue, Miroku looked upward. Jaw set in a semi-permanent position of near dislocation, and eyes held wide open for such a duration that they became as coarse as sand, Miroku, awake, remained trapped within a state of unconsciousness. Though his hand burned with a familiar, hollow ache -the power of its addition held back by beads that, by good fortune, he had held on to for no particular reason- it did not stir him from his locked state. Trapped within the simulacrum his mind had become, an incubus of vivid dreams flooding with torture, he witnessed his family absorbed and murdered. It was set in repetition, a cruel mockery of a different life where things had gone awry. A greater time passed there, far greater than the minutes passed in reality, and when the slight crease within the ceiling finally came into focus, it was as though weeks had passed for Miroku and he had momentarily forgotten where he was. With a deep inhale that expanded his tight lungs, he released the sound that had been hemorrhaging in his head.
"Ahhh-AHHHHhHhHHHHHHHHH!"
His breath scratched his throat at it's exhale, and with blistering eyes that suddenly remembered their need for moisture, he burst out of the short shelter and into the blinding green that was the forest. Latched onto the ground as the source of his searing pain hissed it's whispering promise of demise, Miroku remained there, alone, until the heat of a dream stirred another into waking.
Unable to detach fiction from reality, Shippo awoke smacking non-existent fire from his tail and dragging his claws against Inuyasha's face, whom he had mistaken as one of the thunder brothers. Inuyasha, coughing as though he hadn't been breathing for hours, failed to recognize the assault that had been done to him.
Kagome awoke shortly after with the voice of the shinigami, whom she had managed to avoid in her dreams for once, telling her to Rise. She did as she was told, but only out of fear and discomfort. It had been some time since she had heard him outside of her dreams besides the rare echo of his pleased breathing, and she did not know what to make of it.
When Sesshomaru woke was a mystery to anyone who questioned it, for he simply rose and left the shelter, somehow keeping his back towards everyone at all times.
Even the young ones and those who slept without horror exited the shelter when their heavy eyes opened, exhaustion set in them after a dreamless night. It was the air, amoral and yet oppressive, that had forced them out. In this way, those outside of the shelter, still reeling from their individual realities, sought their own little plot of despair to wallow in their seclusion. Words failed to leave lips, eyes glossed over those who were directly in sight, and no one dared to disturb the isolation that existed like shifting walls between them. Sango was the only one to wake, long after the rest had, with another in her mind.
"Airi!" She cried, shattering the loud silence, a jarring crash that made Kagome jump. Disheveled, Sango rushed out of the shelter, her wild eyes scanning the area for her child that was nowhere to be seen. She hurried to her other daughter, who sat on top of a transformed Kirara with purple beneath her eyes that stared, almost absentmindedly, at her brother on the ground as he played with the grass. Aimi failed to hear her mother until physical contact was made in the form of her mother's hands landing on her shoulders.
"Mommy?" Aimi asked as though she had just slipped out of a deep sleep, and a dim memory of dream rushed at her with frightening and alarming speed. The sudden jolt she felt had her speaking in an incomprehensible flurry as she threw words, words she desperately needed to be heard, to her unlistening mother.
"Aimi, Aimi, please. You're sister. Where is she?"
"I-I don't know, Mommy. But-" Aimi stopped herself as she watched her mother leave without another word, the odd memories prodding away at her young mind.
Sango then went to Miroku, still latched onto the floor, not realizing the tense curve of his back. When she grabbed his shoulder, he smacked her hand away, the echo of it shrouded by his following demand. "Don't" he shouted with a clouded voice, "don't come near me… please."
Sango was confused, unable to comprehend her husband's reaction. The commotion itself brought upon the attention of the others, but when she looked to them for information, they too held a similar face of uncertainty. It was then when the focus narrowed, and those who had been locked in their own world of despair dared to leak a sliver of awareness to that around them, that they heard it, all at once and unanimously; the steady hiss that came from his hand.
Sango froze, the sound of air pulling into a small crevice, the hiss that marked their past, slowing the beat of her suddenly heavy heart. That sound. The one they had given so much to remove from their lives forever. The one she believed with certainty that she would never hear again. Was she dreaming? As her hand was rejected once more, Sango knew that she was not; the water upon Miroku's face was too real to be imaginary.
"Miroku-
"Stay away, Sango."
Stay away? It was a command she couldn't register; a command that not a single cell in her body could uphold. He may as well have spoken in a foreign language, for the mere idea of doing so was rejected outright the moment Sango heard it. If there was hesitation in Sango, it was simply from a lack of comprehension. "I can't-
"You must!" Miroku shouted at her before balling his hand into a fist and placing it against his chest. "I know you can hear it. I know you all can hear it… The wind tunnel in my hand…"
Sango took a sharp inhale, the verbal confirmation of her fears hitting her like a fist in the stomach. It was back. How or why were questions she asked later that night when she looked upon a moonless and starless sky, but in this moment, all she could do was acknowledge its return. And with its return, the threat that it imposed on their lives. Regardless, she stepped forward once again.
"No! You mustn't come near me! Even with the beads, it's still pulling in air! You have to leave! You have to leave me! If you don't-"
Sango's arms firmly wrapped around Miroku, her chest to his back, and while he felt the shivers from her soundless cries, it was the first moment that morning where he had felt some semblance of security and a hint of tranquility. Despite the danger he knew he carried now, Miroku held onto Sango's embracing arms, and drank in the comfort she was giving him.
"Do you think I could do that?" Sango asked, whispering against his shoulder, the small tears that fell from her eyes moistening his clothes. "Do you honestly believe that I could just leave you here? I can't, Miroku. You're my husband and I love you. I could never leave you. It's… impossible for me to even consider it."
"But… the wind tunnel…"
"We've dealt with it before. We can do it again," Sango's voice shook, but she placed her hand over Miroku's palm and silenced the wind tunnel. "We'll get rid of it together."
With the hiss of the wind tunnel silenced, Miroku, at last, felt like he could breathe and tightly wrapped his fingers around Sango's hand. "Together," He confirmed with his own whisper, and after a moment of savoring the stability that had returned to him, he stood up. Miroku pulled Sango up with him, keeping their hands interlocked, but while they both smiled, Sango's worry for her daughter quickly returned.
"Sango? What is it?" Miroku asked as he noticed the tells that Sango's face made any time she began to worry.
"Miroku," Sango began, taking in a sharp inhale as she attempted to keep her voice steady. "Have you seen Airi?"
"Airi? She's not in the shelter?"
"No. No. She's not, I've already looked. I'm worried. I don't know where she's at." Panic was beginning to rise in her, and as Miroku noticed this, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Don't worry, we'll find her. Just like we did before. Together."
Sango looked up at her husband with gratitude. "Together."
With a commanding voice, Miroku asked the others for their help and directed them where to look when they agreed. Not wanting to waste a moment, they quickly took their positions of scanning the area for any clue that could lead to Airi.
The first portion of the hour passed with various commotions, from those who shouted and called out for Airi to respond, to those who gave words of solidarity and comfort to Miroku during fleeting moments. But it did not take long for it to fall into silence as everyone focused on their work, with the occasional shouting of Airi's name occurring. With the length of the hour ticking away it's final moments, there wasn't a single clue as to where Airi had gone.
Distraught and incapable of handling the idea that something had happened to her daughter, Sango lashed out. Her tears were wild, and she hit the floor with her fists and cried up to the heavens. She was inconsolable. Worried about the blood that began to appear on her fists, Miroku went to his wife, but, unable to calm her, was forced to hold her back by locking his arms around her own and lifting her up off the ground. Sango kicked and thrashed, shouting for him to let go of her, shouting for their daughter, and shouting of the pain that tore at her heart. It took the continuous soft words and affirmation that they would keep looking and find Airi for Sango, after long drawn out minutes, to at last relax into the embrace of her husband and weep healthy tears.
"What should we do now?" Inuyasha was the first to ask.
"I don't know," Shippo muttered as he kicked the floor.
"We have to think of something," Kagome said as she pinched her chin with her thumb and finger.
"Like what? We've already tried looking all over the place, and there wasn't a single clue as to where she took off to."
"Hmmm… Oh." Kagome looked behind them, towards the part of the woods that they had already tracked; the part that was marked with red string. "Maybe we should go back."
"You just said we have to do something. I didn't think that meant you wanted to quit."
"No, you idiot. I mean looking to see if Airi followed it."
"What? Come on, Kagome. That's a stupid idea."
"You gotta better suggestion?"
"Well… umm…"
"See."
"Hey, at least give me some time to think!"
"Kagome," Sango said with a sob, the last bit of her hysteria falling away, "do you honestly think she could have gone that way?"
"Well… I'm not sure, but I think there's a good chance. Think about it. Airi has been acting strange ever since we left the village, right?"
"Yes…"
"And we've been so busy going from place to place, and just trying to stay ahead of everything, that we haven't really taken the time to figure out why."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying, maybe she's just scared. Aimi and Airi always put on a strong front, but this journey is terrifying for us alone, and we've already had to deal with something similar with Naraku. If she's scared and she doesn't want to tell us because she's worried it will let us down, and being in this forest in the middle of the night was too much for her, it would make sense that she would try to leave by following a path that leads out of the forest. At least, that's what I think."
"But what if she didn't follow the path?" It was a question that held more weight than it should have for one simple fact; this forest, by some unforeseen force, was constantly changing. Where was she if not here, or somewhere along the path? More brutally, was she at all any longer? The question of existence was a bitter one that hung around like a fungus on top of their tongues never to leave their lips.
"We can leave a note," Kagome responded after a pause, not daring to bring up the various questions that pause had allowed them to conjure. Sango dipped her head, the brutal question torturing her relentlessly and making it hard for her to think. So much within her wanted to lash out, to scream and yell with utter abandon the torment that was flogging her soul. But how would that help her daughter?
It was a question Miroku had asked her, though not as crudely, and it was the one that had brought her back down from her hysteria. It would not help Airi. In fact, Sango's acts of desperation were liable to deter attention away from her daughter in favor of herself, something she would not be able to forgive herself of later on. Thus, with determination set in her eyes, Sango looked up, straightened her back, and walked forward past her friends to prepare a note, stopping only once in front of a particular individual.
She did not look at Sesshomaru, and Sesshomaru did not look at her, but the heat between their exchange was palpable.
"I want you to know one thing, Lord Sesshomaru," Sango said coldly, a perfect imitation of how Sesshomaru often spoke, "if anything- Anything! -happens to my daughter, I don't care if its a scraped knee or a single hair out of place. I will kill you."
He did not speak, but his physical response, a reaction that was visible for less than a second, left Kagome's throat dry. A twitch of a finger, a flash across his eyes, and a suppressed grin that, if it were free to expand, would have shown a fang. They were the flickers of a hidden promise entwined with death. Though he would deny this when she asked, Kagome knew for certain that when Sango had threatened to attack him, he, with mirth, had given his own promise of repaying her before she could even try to.
After witnessing their exchange, Kagome purposely placed herself in the middle of the two of them once their trek down the path started. It failed to ease the tension. Words hung silently in the air, each one of them holding a piece they wished to share but each feeling as equally uncomfortable as the last. There was even an attempt by some to walk in unison so as to create the least amount of noise possible. Unable to disclose what they harbored in their minds, their individual dreams returned in flickers, reminding them of the horrors they had imagined, and sapping away more of their energy. And in the middle of all this, Kagome suffered greater, second only to Sango and Miroku. For as she walked, watching her footing against mossy rocks and roots, she could hear the intermittent laughter and mumbled whispers of the shinigami in her ears.
For a good while now, Kagome had believed she was doing better. She had even convinced herself that it was in her head and that she only knew about the shinigami through some repressed memory where she had learned about it in school. It was simply a coincidence that she saw him in her dreams and at times heard him, particularly on the days where sleep was a truly lost mystery. It was the same tactic of rationality that she had tried to use with Amellis in the beginning, and even some times with Midoriko. Of course, she always knew that it was real, but it was her sanity that needed the delusion that it was not.
But she heard the shinigami now, and for the life of her, she could not understand why. In those moments where, instead of cackling menacingly, he whispered lowly with a hiss, she tried to catch some snippets of his words, but nothing was coherent. Midoriko, catching her odd behavior, asked Kagome if she was alright, which confirmed for Kagome that she was alone in this predicament, regardless of her and Midoriko currently sharing the same mind. Kagome gnawed her lip in frustration, and without focusing on what was ahead of her, nearly tripped on a particularly tall and sharp rock.
"Gah!" She gasped as a point on the rock cut the skin on her shin. "Ouch! That hurts."
"Lady Kagome, are you alright?" Miroku called out from behind Sesshomaru, guiltily feeling relieved that the silence had at last been broken.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay. Guess I can just use this for more practice too."
Miroku gave a short huff of a laugh. "No better way to learn how to heal others than by practicing on yourself I suppose. Huh?" He peered ahead to where the current red string ended. Something in the tree line had caught his eye, and it was a sight that had tricked him into a state of optimism.
"Miroku," Sango asked, "What is it?"
Striding up a semi-steep slant the earth had formed, he walked up to the specific point he had been staring at; a small opening in the brush, where the foliage had been pushed aside by a frequent visitor that allowed a stream of light to pass into the forest. For a split moment, Miroku believed they had found the way out of the forest, possibly being able to see his daughter again. But his hopes were not fulfilled.
The clearing was large with a wide valley shaped like a bowl at its center. Formed in a circle, tall trees guarded its perimeter, and at the bowl's base was a small village. Comprised of a little over two dozen homes, the village was built with an ancient yet mystifying style. It was as though it were somehow taken from two different times. The buildings were raised upon stilts a full foot away from the ground with steep, large roofs made of jade tiles patterned with a design that danced when the sunlight was reflected. Sugi wood, lacquered black, accentuated the shape of the homes, yet the majority of the structure was made with bamboo and hay. The only exception was a large building at the center made with wooden walls and built on top of the ground. At the very edge of the village, where the dirt path ended and steps to a ruined temple began, was the burnt remains of a building separate from the others.
"Is this…" Kagome began, her voice catching in her throat.
"The village," Sesshomaru finished, speaking mainly to himself than to the others as he scanned the area with curious interest.
"But, that doesn't make sense," Miroku said, shaking his head as he held it with his hand, "How could we have followed a trail that we made and end up where we've never been?"
"Make the trail in a moving forest, that's how," Inuyasha huffed, walking up to the point just before the ground dipped into its valley. "So?" He looked back at his teammates. "What should we do? Are we going down there or not?"
"What about Airi?"
"Hmm… She could already be down there. I say we take a look around, and if she's not here, we can take our chances back in the forest."
"I think that's a good idea," Kagome confirmed, "If there are villagers, they may be able to give us hints on how to maneuver around the forest without getting lost too."
"It's settled then," Miroku added, "Let's get down there while we still have daylight to burn."
They each began their trek down with little caution until Kagome stepped onto the slope, and with a gasp, tumbled forward. Before Kagome could make sense of what had happened, she was already at the bottom of the slope with her friends rushing down to check on her.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted as he bounded towards her with Sesshomaru a few inches behind. Grabbing her by the shoulders, Inuyasha lifted Kagome up to a seated position while she rubbed a part of her head that had been hit particularly hard. "Hey, are you okay? What happened there?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I just… tripped." She lied.
"You tripped?"
"Yeah. Pretty clumsy of me."
"I'd say!" Inuyasha said with a grunt as he let go of her and stood up. "How 'bout you watch where you're stepping next time so I don't have to freak out about whether your okay or not."
Well if it's such a bother than don't worry about it. Kagome wanted to say this, but she kept her mouth shut. She was rattled enough as it was with what had happened to her that she didn't want to add getting into a fight on top of it.
"Kagome!"
"Lady Kagome are you alright?"
Her other friends shouted as they reached her.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I just tripped. But I'm okay." She lied again. If there was one thing she had learned since she had told them about hearing Midoriko inside her head, it was that her friends now viewed her differently. Though they attempted to act normally, their discomfort towards her was obvious. It wasn't that they now disliked her, or that they wanted to separate themselves from her. It was simply that they no longer knew how to react with her, or, in Sango's case, questioned whether they were speaking to Kagome at all. This was why she had refrained from telling them about how she knew Amellis despite the frequent times they had asked her, and it was why she would absolutely not tell them about the shinigami who spoke to her now.
You're mine, he had said with such vigor and volume that it had startled Kagome and had caused her to flinch, resulting in her falling and rolling down the hill. Even now, she trembled from the shock those two words had instilled in her.
Are you certain you're okay? You're acting… strange… Midoriko asked, nearly throwing Kagome into a spiral of emotions. She wanted a single moment of solitude to calm down and recollect herself, but she had momentarily forgotten the other voice that came and went as it pleased from a being that was constantly there.
Yes. I'm fine. It was a hard fall, that's all. Kagome, at last, responded, keeping her wish that Midoriko could somehow disappear hidden away in a part of her consciousness that Midoriko could not reach.
"Come on, let's hurry up." Kagome urged everyone, and she decided she would contemplate over the shinigami's words later that day.
The dirt path was less than pristine. Overgrown grass crossed over various portions of it, threatening to overtake it someday soon. The buildings themselves, with their odd designs, appeared almost like trees, especially with the overgrowth that draped over them. It would have been a ghost town had it not been for the various eyes peeking out of homes and at the unexpected intruders.
"Geez. This place is giving me the creeps. Let's just look for Airi and get out of here."
"Keh, that sounds fine with me. HEY!" Inuyasha began to shout loudly, "Have any of y'all hermits seen a little girl running around?!"
"Inuyasha! What are you doing?!"
"I'm making this quick. Like you wanted."
"Yeah but not like this."
"Her name is Aimi! She's got a little green dress!"
"Inuyasha stop!"
While he did stop, it wasn't because Kagome told him to, but rather he was waiting for a response. He kept his ears perked up, listening to the scurrying within the odd homes and to the fluctuating whispers that took place behind the walls, but in the end, the most he heard was an astonished "those are real demons".
"Guess they're not cooperating," Inuyasha sighed before he turned to Miroku, "What do you want to do?"
"I won't be satisfied leaving here with just that. We have to make certain Airi isn't here."
"So what? You want to just start breaking into these people's homes?"
"If that is what is deemed as necessary," Miroku responded without hesitation and with no quiver in his voice. Inuyasha gave a single nod.
"Alright then. Let's do this."
"Wait! You two can't be serious. Don't you think that's a little extreme?"
"Kagome's right guys," Shippo said in a hushed tone, holding onto his sickle as he felt the peering eyes upon him, "We don't know how strong these villagers are or how they'll react. We should be careful-
"Oh spare me. They're a bunch of humans. Heck, you'd probably be able to take them on, Shippo. Now I'm gonna start knocking on doors, and if no one answers, I'll be more than happy to bust them in."
"Use your empty head, Inuyasha. If they have Airi, they might hurt her if you start doing that."
"Keh. Then I won't give them the chance." Inuyasha bellowed, unsheathing his sword when a small voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
"Hello, Mother. Hello, Father."
Struck with the same surprise, they all turned to the little girl. Her green dress was spotless, as though it had just been washed, and not a single hair on her head was misplaced. She stood motionless in the center of the path, looking up at them with wide eyes vacant of any discernible emotions. Her parents, flooded with gracious relief, rushed to her, but her sister, Aimi, was hesitant to approach.
"Airi! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"No, Mother. I'm perfectly fine."
A short pause passed between Sango and Miroku as they glanced at each other before continuing.
"Why did you leave? You had us really worried."
"I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't mean to frighten you."
Another pause, but this time, Miroku decided he would ask what was on their minds.
"Airi, you're certain you're okay? You didn't hit your head?"
"No, Father."
"Then why are you speaking so differently?"
"Differently? What do you mean, Father?"
Miroku pinched the bridge of his nose. Father, father, father. He never thought that word would bring him turmoil.
"Can we help you?" The group looked up with a start, surprised that such a large and hefty man had managed to walk up with no sound in his steps. He glared down on them, a giant with a single, blind eye adorned in a large fur coat. The hair that remained on his balding head touched his shoulders and matched the dark color of his one good eye. As he peered down at them, it was as though his good eye singled them out, while his blind eye scanned over them as a whole. Miroku cleared his throat as he gathered his words. It was difficult to think of something other than how strange his daughter was acting, but he managed.
"Ehem." Miroku gave a short bow, dawning the facade of a respectful monk. "Please excuse our intrusion. I'm afraid we lost our way. If you are willing to help, as you say, perhaps you could answer some of our questions, good sir?" Miroku kept his mannerism professional yet approachable, as he often did when there was something he wanted to gain without arousing suspicion. From his experience, it was always best to appear cordial and inviting to strangers if one planned to use them for personal benefits. However, before the man could respond, he was interrupted by an accusation.
"Did you take our daughter?" Sango snapped, hiding Airi behind her leg. Miroku looked at her with large, surprised eyes while she glared up at the brute who gave her an icy stare in return. A scowl came across his face that wrinkled his nose and scrunched his good eye so that the white of it disappeared. One pale eye, one black eye, and a face like a lion. Interpreting the scowl as a threat, Miroku took a step in between the man and Sango, a staff in one hand, with the other hand hovering over his holstered tonfas. The giant snorted a laugh.
"She was here, as you are now."
"That's not what I asked!"
"Sango, please," Miroku pleaded in a whisper, catching a glimpse of his prepared comrades ready to defend alongside him. But a fight was not what they needed.
"If I wanted your daughter… I'd have her."
"Why you…" Sango hissed, reaching for her own set of weapons until Miroku grabbed at her wrist.
"That's enough, Sango."
"But Miroku-
"Airi has returned to us unscathed, that is what is important. But right now, we could be offending her defenders. Did you ever consider that?"
Sango clenched her jaw. She hadn't, but the ill feeling in her stomach had her doubtful that that was the case at all. Defenders, in her opinion, wouldn't hide away behind bamboo walls while a beast of a man conversed with them. Whether Airi had left on her own, which had been second handily confirmed by Airi herself, was all that she doubted.
"Besides," Miroku said to her silently, "This is the village Bokusenou told us about. We need to be here if we're going to find answers." They both looked down at Airi then, their priorities equally jumbled from all that had occurred. "We can work out what happened to Airi later, once we've figured out where we'll be staying. Alright?"
Sango sighed, uncomfortable but understanding. "Alright."
Without a skipped beat, Miroku retook his "simple monk" personality swiftly and effortlessly. It was a transition speed that Kagome secretly hoped she could master for her own mask.
"I must apologize for our behavior. We've been on the road for a long time. It seems the exhaustion is finally getting to us," Miroku gave a small chuckle. "I don't suppose you have a place where we can stay for the night? Or perhaps even a few nights?"
"Hmph." The man gave a short sneer, a failed attempt at a half-smirk, and then he lifted his paw of a hand and motioned for them to follow. "You will see Okimi Dokyo. He will say if and where you can stay."
The lumbering man sauntered off, his heavy steps soundless despite the impossibility. The group lingered behind for a moment, waiting for anyone to propose an objection, but when none came, they followed. Airi kept close to her mother, her fingers pinching the clothing on Sango's calf as they walked. Aimi, on the other hand, climbed onto Kirara's back, clutching her younger brother closer to her than she ever had. It was hard, for, despite their years apart, they were still close to the same size. But she held onto her brother so because, regardless of her inability to fully understand it, she perceived a danger that threatened her and her brother; a danger that stemmed from their sister. Purposely tugging onto Kirara's fur, Aimi directed Kirara to slow her pace so a greater distance existed between her and Airi.
The domain was large, at least two stories tall with an additional third at the very top the size of a single room. What had not been seen from a distance was the curved, stone platform the building sat upon, the height of which matched Kagome. It was a castle. A small one, but a Japanese castle nonetheless. Kagome studied the exterior of the building; the jade roof with flying eaves; the white walls and red lacquered beams. It all struck a chord with her, a string of memories of photos she had seen in her history textbook. Recognition was quick to come to her, and while she had never seen a photo of this particular castle before, she knew through its similarities what time this castle had belonged to. Unlike the buildings that surrounded it, which were a mish-mash of architecture plucked from varying times, this one was specifically from the Nara period. The math flashed in Kagome's mind like a blinding neon light. From this time period, the one she currently stood in, this building was over 800 years old.
"Woah," Kagome awed, shocked to see such a building, one that was near a century years old, in such pristine condition that it appeared almost brand new.
"This is a Lord's domain, isn't it Miroku?" Sango asked as she looked up to the highest point of the building.
"Our friend didn't mention we'd be seeing a lord, but given the circumstances, my money would be on most likely."
"What money? You don't have any remember?" Shippo laughed.
"Hmm," Sango hummed as she contemplated, "we'd best show our respects, just in case."
The group continued on, but Kagome, still marveling over the building, stood still in shock. Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha pulled the collar of her shirt.
"Keep moving, tourist. We can go sightseeing later."
Kagome gave a huff as she followed, catching a long-standing smile on his lips as he placed his hands behind his head. Butterflies? No. No, she couldn't be feeling butterflies. She placed a hand on her abdomen as the giddiness inside flipped her stomach around. She was feeling sick. Sick of herself. Her butterflies for Inuyasha had died quickly after her return, and their death had been slow and painful with each torn wing being felt to the very core of her heart. Dammit! Why was she feeling butterflies now? Why was this happening after they had broken up? Ugh. Kagome felt she might throw up.
Spurred by confusion mixed with dissonant desperation, Kagome looked to Sesshomaru. The sight of his golden eyes stole her breath, a stoic gaze focused on her, locked with emotions as though they were hieroglyphics and she was a master reader. The tension eased as new butterflies swirled. Lighter. Livelier. Free from former harm or brutal deaths. Kagome smiled, and then the large reinforced doors to the castle opened.
Within, white wood decorated the floor and ceiling fully, while bronze beams squared the white walls. The lanterns that hung from the ceiling were made of brass and were designed with an interesting claw cupping the top of their enclosures. The polished floors reflected the lantern lights perfectly, bringing a certain warmth to the tall ceiling room, and worked to highlight the jade with white gold designed banners that hung on every golden pillar. A long, matching rug extended from the entrance to the back of the long room, where, raised by a few steps, was a platform with bronze railings and a gold and jade throne placed at its center.
"Hm?" Shippo tilted his head as he walked beside Kagome. "Hey, Kagome, what's up with that gold lion head on top of the throne? Why does it have a beak?"
"It's called a griffin. It's a mythical creature. It's not real."
"Oh. Is that what those two statues are too?" Shippo asked, speaking of two golden statues that rested on either side of the short steps that led to the throne.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Oh. They look funny."
"I guess they do," Kagome said absentmindedly, instead distracted by a large, red, multi-pointed star that adorned the center of the rug. It was such an odd thing to see amongst the gold and jade, and yet it was on nearly every decor piece.
The walk to the steps of the throne was long. Long enough that Kagome felt free to have her eyes on a swivel, looking left and right at the various decor pieces. More statues of griffins, more red stars. On two diverging hallways were Shoji-sliding doors, big and beautiful with the standard decor as the rest of the ornaments, but with the jade design so large and precise that the image was clear even with a passing glance. A jade landscape with a forest of trees on one side, and a distant, shadowed mountain on the other with the red star looming above it. A chilling surprise to Kagome was a cave located within the forest section. A cave with a moss-covered bell on top. Kagome gulped, and for a moment, she believed she could see the fine intricate details of the stitching, sowed with such attention that the large image was in fact made up of small designs of people giving way to various vices and passion, from murder to lude acts; an odd photomosaic. But that was ridiculous. Photomosaic art hadn't been conceived yet, so it had to be Kagome's eyes playing tricks on her.
The diverging hallways were passed, their odd doors out of view, and at last, they were before the throne. Tied up gold curtains with jade edgings encircled the throne, much in the way the Emperor of Japan's throne was designed, with the exception of the curtains behind the throne that closed off the view of anything beyond them. Currently, those particular curtains were being pushed apart. A bald man, not quite old yet not quite young, emerged from the curtains. He was a plump figure, adorned in purple robes with floral designs, and he held a gold staff in his hand.
"Hey, Miroku," Kagome whispered, "Is that a monk?"
"It appears so."
"I thought monks couldn't be Lords though."
"Well to be fair, there is no rule stating that we can't be. However, I imagine that lifestyle would carry many spiritual conflicts."
"You mean like how a lecherous lifestyle would be in conflict with your beliefs?" Shippo jabbed at Miroku.
"Hey now, I'm not the one under speculation. Besides, I'm married now. That part of my life is in the past… the sweet, glorious, not to mention bountiful past-
"I think that's enough, husband, don't you?"
"Ahaha. I was… just reminiscing. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"That depends on what you were reminiscing about."
"Hey! Shut your mouths, the lot of you." The brutish man shouted, "I suggest you show Okimi Dokyo respect if you know what's good for you."
"That's alright, Otama. These are our guests. Let's treat them with kindness."
Otama relented, though a scowl remained on his face. Eager to get the conversation going, Inuyasha volunteered Miroku to the speaker by placing a hand on his back and shoving him forward. Miroku staggered forward, managed to retain his balance, and turned around with a look of disbelief. Inuyasha simply folded his hands into his sleeves, and when no one stepped forward, Miroku gave a sigh and turned to Okimi Dokyo.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Okimi."
An eruption of laughter came from Okimi Dokyo and Otama, and while Miroku turned back to see if anyone had caught why his thanks had been worthy of laughter, the two who speculated they knew the answer remained silent.
"I'm sorry," Miroku interrupted, "did I say something wrong?"
"Ah, forgive me, young monk. My name is not Okimi. Rather, that is my title, not lord."
"Okimi is a title? I've never heard of it before." Sango said in a whisper to Kagome. Kagome shrugged her shoulders, but, having the historical knowledge, Sesshomaru decided to answer the question loudly, so even Okimi Dokyo could hear.
"It is an old word that means King." Sesshomaru said, suppressing a sneer.
"That's correct, demon lord. You're well versed in history it seems."
"So…" Miroku scratched his head, trying to find a way to formulate his sentence without sounding dumbfounded. He failed. "You're a king?"
"It is what the citizens of the village call me, so I suppose I am."
Miroku blinked hard and dared a peek at Sango who held an equally confused face. Huffing, he tried to bypass his surprise and continue on in the conversation as respectable as he could.
"Then… I suppose I must apologize for any offense I may have given."
"Ha!" Otama chortled, "Offense? The only thing you gave was your absurdity. That's the first time I've ever heard someone refer to another as 'lord king'". Otama gave another breath of laugh before Okimi Dokyo raised his hand to silence him despite himself having a grin on his face.
"Now then, my friends. How can I help you?"
Miroku bowed. "If it's not too much to ask, you're, uh… majesty… we've come here looking for answers that could help our friend, and require a place to stay for a few nights."
"Is that your friend there? The one on the two-headed demon's back?"
"Yes, you're majesty. Her name is Rin."
"Hmmm…" Okimi Dokyo stroked his black beard as the wrinkles on his forehead became prominent. He gave the group a once over, staring particularly long at Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Kagome shuffled on her feet. Something about his gaze, dark, deep, and full of hunger, made her want to jump in front of the brothers and guard them behind her.
"Very well. I think we can make room. Otama."
"Yes, Okimi."
"Show them to the empty house on the edge of the village. The one beside the sullied."
"As you command."
"Do not worry friends. Sullied is just what we call the house that burned down a few years back. It's actually a quaint place where you will be staying. I'll send some helpers as well. You can tell them whatever you need, and they will provide it."
"Really? That's great- ehem. I mean. Thank you so much, Okimi Dokyo. If there is any way we can repay you…"
"Oh I'm sure we'll think of something before your time here is done," Okimi Dokyo gave a wide, toothy grin, and while she didn't understand why, Kagome's skin became prickly with goosebumps.
Otama ushered them out of the building, walking quickly as he did. This time, a few of the villagers dared to step out of their homes, spectating the latest attraction to their village. Some dressed in furs or rags, primitive in their outfits, while others wore robes, not quite exquisite for current times but appealing nonetheless. It was odd, to say the least. Yet another blend of separate eras. What was with this place?
The house they were to stay in was a rectangle with no inner walls and a single window. The symbol of the red star was painted small on the door frame, but when Kagome asked what it meant, Otama ignored her. Rather, he explained to them that wood for an outdoor fire would be provided, along with a small ration of food and water, but bedding would be something they would have to figure out on their own. His last note was that the villagers, while distrustful, would answer their questions once word of the king's approval spread. He then shut the door behind him without a moment to spare, and the group was grateful to be free of his cold demeanor.
"Oh, man. I was starting to worry he would never leave," Shippo said as he stretched his back, still feeling sore from his dream, "talk about being cold. He's even colder than…" He peeked up at Lord Sesshomaru and quickly coughed away the remainder of his sentence.
"Forget him," Inuyasha spat with his ears pressed back, "What about their so-called king? Now that's someone to look out for. All of that treat them with kindness and callin' us friends. Talk about a load of crap."
"I agree." Sesshomaru replied, shocking the group, especially Inuyasha.
"Y-you do?"
"Hn. The fact he goes by Okimi is suspicious enough. Human's haven't used that term since before Father's years."
"Wow, really? That long?" Kagome asked as she began to unpack her bag. There was a particular corner she was hoping to get. The one right beside the window.
"I don't care what he calls himself. It's his character I've got a problem with."
"Once more you have proven your ineptitude, little brother. One's title, especially one not given to him by birth or status, says many things about a single being."
"Yeah, I bet it does." Inuyasha mocked, speaking under his breath. Jaken was quick to pounce in response.
"Hmph. Of course, you wouldn't understand what the importance of titles is. You're nothing but a half-breed."
"Care to run that by me again." Inuyasha glared with a balled fist, but Jaken simply turned his back and continued to speak.
"Not only are you incompetent but you're also ingrateful, even when my lord is agreeing with you."
"Keh. Is that right? So I guess that means you can explain to me why it matters that he calls himself king, huh?"
Jaken stammered. "Well, of course, I can! it's… uh… erm- well its…"
"It's because the human's relinquished that word when they chose their emperor." Sesshomaru explained, not caring for the little spat between them. "For a human to call himself Okimi is to undermine the human emperor bloodline, and it asserts that they believe that they are greater than their ruler. Human or demon, insubordination remains the same."
"Wow," Kagome awed with a smile as she rested her chin on her palm with her elbow on her crossed knee, "you really don't like him, do you?"
Sesshomaru let out a short exhale, a snippet of an inaudible laugh as he caught the amusement in Kagome's eyes. Her keen insight had managed to catch the clues in his tone and posture to see the irritation the false king had stirred, and this slip in balance was greatly entertaining to her, most likely due to its rarity. If anyone caught his quick display of endearment, they either didn't understand it or didn't dare to mention it.
"Weaklings of great hubris are seldom better than vermin."
"Heh. You can say that again."
"Inuyasha, I doubt you even know what hubris means," Sango quipped while Kagome remained silent in her corner, staring off through the window as a deep thought consumed her attention. Sango continued. "So, you think we should avoid him?"
"I don't believe we have much of a choice, love," Miroku pinched his chin as he thought while Airi sat perfectly still between his feet. "We can't very well ignore him while at the same time accepting his handouts. That would only arouse suspicions."
"Then we'll pretend like everything is fine, and just continue our investigation like normal?"
"We should be wary of the villagers as well." Sesshomaru added, "If they've chosen to follow a false king then it is consistent to say they hold the same ideals and value."
"Okay, so we do our investigation while withholding information from the king and the villagers while acting like we're not withholding information and at the same time accepting their hospitality?"
"At least until we find out more about them." Miroku finished.
"Keh. That's great." Inuyasha grumbled, "It's not like this was gonna be hard enough already."
So that was chapter 38! Next chapter will be uploaded the day after tomorrow (so 4/14).
Please, please, please let me know what y'all think. Criticism is welcomed here (just be constructive plz), and if y'all catch anything I may have missed, please let me know. Favorite, Follow, and Review. Each one of those helps me out greatly! I'm really glad to be back, and I hope y'all are, too.
Wanted to give a quick Thanks here to:
-K.C.I.C (You're review made me laugh, and definitely "urged" me to keep it going lol)
-Veraozao (You get how the algorithm works, and I can't thank you enough!)
Happy Easter! I'll see y'all again very soon. Bye!
Dokyo*: Japanese historical figure. A prominent monk who had an affair with empress Koken and who was given powers and authorities from said priestess despite political disapproval. He attempted to become Emperor by persuading an oracle to predict there would be peace in Japan if he were Emperor, but another oracle was summoned to counteract that claim (that oracle was exiled). When Koken died, he was stripped of titles and banished
Flying Eaves: The proper term for the edges of a roof that curve upward.
Okimi: it's actually really hard to find this term unless you know what you're looking for. It's a term used during the Yamato period when the Yamato chieftains were known as the "great kings" (okio or okimi). This essentially lead to there being a single great king, aka the emperor
