.
...Gentle Currents...
...
"For telling a man that he will win the treasure of life,
But then later discovering that he will lose,
Will harm him more than by telling him
That he may lose,
But then he wins."
― Suzy Kassem, (Rise Up and Salute the Sun)
...
Winding through the woods like a turquoise- blue ribbon, the stream gushed and rippled, bounding over limestone rocks, glinting like tinsel in the light of the midday sun. Clumps of cattails lined the riverbank, their tall wispy stalks gently swaying with the breeze, dragonflies weaving between them on shimmering wings. Standing in the pebbled bed with the water lapping against her bare calves, Sachiko felt a sense of quiet harmony descend upon her, despite the heavy exhaustion weighing her down. Placing a palm against her forehead, she wondered if she were coming down with something.
"Hey Sachiko!" Jaken, his pants folded up to his knees to reveal scraggy greenish legs, barked, "Look alive! The fish are getting away!"
"Why am I expected to know how to do this?" She grumbled under her breath. Stomping against the river bottom, she tried to stall the fat trout that darted downstream at lightning speed.
"Not like that! You've got to be faster!"
"How about you catch them faster?!"
"It's not as easy as it looks, girl!"
"Stop yelling, you're scaring the fish away!"
"You stop yelling!"
It was a miracle how they managed to catch the one fish that already looked half- dead. Panting and drenched from head to toe, Sachiko dragged herself to the shore.
"You are terrible at this", Jaken carped, his bird-like feet trailing water across the succulent grass. The fish writhed feebly in his arms. Sachiko, barely possessing the energy to keep her eyes open, could only scowl.
"It's your fault for giving away all your food, you know", the kappa reminded snarkily, "Now we have to share this measly fish between the both of us."
"Would you give it a rest already?" Plopping down under the blessed shade of a tree and away from the harsh sun, Sachiko grabbed a towel and began to dry herself. Jaken sat a little away, cleaning their catch.
"Why should I? Food means survival in the wilderness, especially for a human like you! Who in their right mind would give away their rations to some half-breed brat they barely knew?"
"He needed it more than I did", she said pensively, a twinge of guilt in her chest at having forgotten about Umeo. Hope he's doing okay, she prayed. Hope he's getting enough to eat. Instinct told her that the wizened owners of the tea- shop weren't so unprincipled that they would kick the boy out callously.
I told them I'd return in a month, she mused. It had already been two weeks since then.
Sachiko had lost track of the days after the first three weeks or so in the feudal era. However, since she was a female, her body had other ways of keeping time. She winced as her lower abdomen cramped painfully. And here I was, hoping I could avoid my period for this month, she mused sourly. She had even taken her tablets religiously, but apparently her body had other plans.
Considering how things are going, should I even be surprised? Glumly, she dislodged the dirt that had accumulated under her fingernail. Her food stores had almost run out and she was down to her last packet of rice and a few condiments. Jaken was still giving her hell for giving away most of his beloved pocky. She gazed at her backpack. That she had the rest of her belongings to ease her journey was a small relief. Her abdomen cramped again.
"Ugh." She reached into her backpack to grab some painkillers. She was dead- tired these days, dragging herself behind Sesshomaru and Jaken as they brought up the front. Also there was this strange, worrying bit where she collapsed into her sleeping bag as soon as they stopped for the night, sleep for twelve hours straight, then wake up in the morning to a screeching Jaken, feeling like she had barely even closed her eyes. Lately her sleep had become so deep and dreamless that couldn't even find Haruo to ask for advice. To top it all, the green flames indicating the decay of her body were beginning to appear with increasing frequency on her person. Everything was grating on her nerves, making her high-strung, causing her to occasionally scream into her sleeping bag when no one was looking, just to vent her frustration.
As much as she wanted to ignore it, her body was failing, and it would only be a matter of time before…
"Jaken", Sachiko said quietly, "How long before we reach mount Akakura?" The imp blinked, the fish limp in his hands.
"Three weeks, another month", he replied carelessly, "Depends on how long you drag us down."
There's nothing to it then, she thought, we will have to fly again.
"Stop lazing around and help me prepare lunch, you indolent creature! Get started with the rice, since this fish would barely suffice for the two of us", Jaken commanded.
"Ugh, I'm sooo tired Jaken", she moaned pitifully, "Could you please please pleaaaaase do it for today? I'll give you all of my pocky in return."
"All of it?"
"…There's one packet left."
Jaken sighed exasperatedly. "Fine, but just for today, you hear?" He barked.
"Thank you", she breathed in relief. Since when did the imp begin heeding her requests, she wondered with mild surprise. Relaxing against the trunk of the tree, she let her eyelids gently close, listening to Jaken muttering darkly about having to do all the work.
When she opened her eyes again it was almost dusk.
"Oh no", she gasped, scrambling to her feet. "Jaken, where are you?" She called out. Ah-Un lifted their heads and looked at her questioningly.
"What are you yelling for?" The imp said from behind the tree she was resting against.
"I overslept!"
The kappa rolled his eyes, as if to show this was not at all an uncommon occurrence. "So?"
"Shouldn't we be on our way? We've lost so much time." She said anxiously. Jaken huffed.
"Lord Sesshomaru instructed to spend the night here."
Astonished, she sat back. "For real?"
"Yes, for real", Jaken snapped impatiently.
"Oh." Did Sesshomaru get hit in the head by any chance? She wondered.
"Watch your words, woman!" Jaken flared up. Sachiko belatedly realized that she had spoken the last bit out loud.
"Sorry!" she amended hastily. "Why would he ask to stop though? Isn't he always telling us not to waste time?"
"Ask him yourself," Jaken grumbled, leaning against the tree. "Your food has gone cold by the way. You wouldn't rise, no matter how much I called you."
Although having next to nil appetite, Sachiko told herself that she couldn't afford to be picky in a forest in the middle of nowhere in feudal Japan and began the process of chewing and swallowing the sticky rice and roasted fish that was supposed to be her lunch. With little else to do after that, she began walking down the riverbank. The water lapped against the shore merrily, whisking about glittering pebbles in the underwash. Overhead, birds twittered on the trees, basking in the last rays of the sun. What a beautiful place, she thought, a soothing rush of breeze gently lifting her hair. She felt a welcoming sense of tranquility, spreading over her frazzled psyche like a light, fuzzy blanket. Even Jaken seemed to be less crabby than usual here, she observed.
Sachiko was somewhat used to the forest now that she had spent a good part of the month travelling, and so, when the sounds of the forest abruptly stilled, instinctively knew that something was wrong. Wheeling around, she was face to face with three red eyes over a cruel black beak. She barely had the time to scream before a hole blossomed on the crow's chest. Spasming violently it flapped its wings fruitlessly, frothing from its beak, then falling to the ground on death throes.
Hand clamped over her mouth as if to trap a scream within, Sachiko stared at Sesshomaru flicking blood away from his claws.
"T-thanks", she managed, trying not to look at the body of the demon- a weird mix of bird and reptile- wheeze its final breath.
"How do you plan to triumph over a god if you cannot win against a lowly carrion crow?" He wanted to know.
"I…Can I get back to you on that?" She felt a headache pooling behind her eyes.
"Hn."
"What's with all the demon attacks though?" Sachiko wondered out loud as they walked back to camp. "Kagome said that they'd run into an aggressive youkai about once or maybe twice a week on their journey. And here I have lost count of how many we encountered over the past week."
The daiyoukai regarded her with a stony gaze. "You have not realized it yet", he accused. Sachiko rolled her eyes.
"No, obviously", she mumbled, irritated, "So if you could enlighten me, that would be wonderful."
"Fool", Sesshomaru said simply. "The youkai arrive seeking you." Sachiko opened and closed her mouth like a fish several times in an attempt to comprehend this statement. Why? She thought incredulously, then, realizing that her queries had better chances of being answered if she actually said it out loud, did just that.
"Why?"
"Figure it out yourself", the daiyoukai said dismissively.
"Nooo Sesshomaru!" She wailed. "I am stupid and I have no idea how things work here in this time!"
"That much is obvious."
"You are not behaving like a friend", she wagged an accusing finger at him. Sesshomaru shot her such a withering glare that it was surprising she didn't turn to dust then and there. "Still touchy about losing I see", she muttered, poorly stifling a giggle. "I mean, it was kind of underhanded, but it is technically a win. And I guess you do admit defeat, since I haven't been kicked out-"
"It is your aura", the daiyoukai interjected, more to stop the woman from elaborating. The grin instantly vanished from Sachiko's face.
"What about it?" She asked in a thin voice.
Satisfied that her smug expression had disappeared, the daiyoukai continued. "Consuming a god's flesh enables a creature to gain its powers. Your aura is like a siren song to power-hungry youkai, especially the base ones that are driven purely by instinct."
"My flesh?" She asked disbelievingly. "Like…eating me? The youkai want to eat me?"
"Correct." Sesshomaru said complacently, his nose registering the scent of her fear. Sachiko massaged her temples, feeling her headache returning with a greater intensity.
"That was too much to take in", she said finally. Okay! Her coping mechanism kicked in, Push it all in. Repress the fear honey. Don't scream like a lunatic, don't turn into a blubbering mess, don't freak out, don't- Still massaging her temples, Sachiko decided that yes, she would be caterwauling into her sleeping bag tonight.
"Wait", she said as the demon lord was beginning to walk away, "I was thinking, maybe we should resume flying." Sesshomaru regarded her silently, prompting her to elaborate, "I mean, I know there is a possibility that wishes may pull me down, but you can catch me, right? You're like lightning- fast. And I can take a few scares, probably."
"It seems you have started getting desperate", he observed.
"Yeah…", she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I am not entirety sure what I am even going to do when I get there, but at least I will have some time to plan things out after I know the whereabouts of this fallen god." Sachiko tried to smile. "My body is weakening...I am tired all the time, and the flames…well let's just say I'm running out of time", she sighed gustily. "Also if we fly, I won't have to walk, since that is starting to tire me out like hell. And we'll reach there faster, even if I have to fulfil wishes, and then we can go our separate ways that much sooner!" She spoke with brittle levity.
Sesshomaru considered the smiling face that belied the scent of distress that radiated from her. "Why", he asked, "are you so intent on fulfilling wishes?"
Sachiko tilted her head. "Huh?"
"If you ignore these wishes, you will reach the northern mountains in mere days, greatly improving your chances. You know this, yet you still take it upon yourself to fulfil every wish that comes your way. Why is that?"
"Well…", she fidgeted.
"You do not have to answer if you don't want to. I was merely curious."
Sachiko was struck with the distinct impression that asking questions was somewhat of a rarity to him. "No wait", she called, her voice a little shriller than usual, "I was just thinking of the best way to put it. Just... give me a moment." She looked away and contemplatively worried her lower lip.
"Well, there are a lot of reasons, I guess", she said finally, collecting her thoughts, "but the most important is that…I am weak."
Seeing the quirk of his eyebrow, she continued, "Life is hard for creatures like me, Sesshomaru. If you lack in power, you have very little control over what happens to you. A wish is a plea born out of desperation, and I know that desperation- I have experienced it myself." She paused. "What I mean is...I think it is sad when a soul incarnated in this world to fulfil a certain purpose just fades away without having accomplished it."
To be weak was to live in the shadows, to lose everything- pride, dignity, meaning. To be weak was to suffer voicelessly. This was the unwritten law around which the world- the cold, uncaring world- turned. Weakness was a fate so deplorable it was worse than death. And yet here she was, this doomed woman, withering away as she spoke, wanting to give the powerless a chance. How strange, Sesshomaru thought. How futile.
"Now that I have the power to, it is only fair that I do what I can to help beings like myself with their own wishes, as long as I am able to", she was saying. "I may be a lot of things, Sesshomaru, I may be stupid and weak and annoying", she put her hand over her chest, sincerity blazing in her eyes, "but I am not a hypocrite. I don't want to be a hypocrite."
"Hey, maybe that's what my tombstone should say", she grinned, as if the morbid thought had just occurred to her, "Here lies Sachiko- not a hypocrite."
For some reason, the daiyoukai thought of the nights where she would lay awake, staring into darkness, silently letting her tears fall when she thought nobody was watching.
"Do not say that", Sesshomaru said. Her wide grin shrank by a couple of teeth. Eyes full of questions, she held very still, as if listening to him with her entire being.
"Do not make such tasteless jests about your own demise."
Her breath hitched in her throat. "Hey", she protested weakly, "my jokes are not tasteless."
"That is not for you to decide", the daiyoukai asserted imperiously.
Her smile blossomed like a sun-touched flower. The sweetly melancholic sensation stirring in her breast made her bring a hand to her heart. How was it possible for him, she wondered as she watched the demon lord walk away, to keep surprising her at every turn?
Sachiko sat under the tree on the riverbank, gazing out at the river. Night was upon her. Wisps of grey clouds floated across the bluish black sky, lit by the night of a bright full-moon. Although framed by darkness, the scenery before has was still lovely, with the moonlight bouncing off the susurrous waters, illuminating the plants that grew along the riverbank.
Sighing dolefully into the cool night air, she watched the murmuring river- gentle, yet capable of eroding anything that stands in its way by virtue of its sheer perseverance. Centuries may come and go, she thought, but the river will remain, long after her bones turn to dust, long after the memory of her fades away- mighty, eternal, breathtakingly beautiful. She smiled. Just like...
Turning around where she sat, she looked for the demon lord. Where was he, she wondered, her brows drawing close, scanning the landscape around her. Sachiko frowned, feeling something amiss.
Where were her companions?
She scrambled to her feet, panic momentarily overwhelming her, before she realized what was happening.
"Huh", she said out loud, "I am dreaming."
But why was she here, and not in Haruo's forest?
The soothing thrum of the river suddenly gave way to the troubling rush of turbulence. Curious, she walked over to the river, watching her shadowy reflection getting distorted by the undulations in the water. The ripples began to grow in intensity, the surface of water bubbling violently. Earthquake? She wondered, before a spout of water rose from its surface, causing her to step back in alarm. The pillar of water rose high, high up, before splitting into multiple crystalline droplets that fell to the ground like rain, revealing a silhouette against the moonlit sky.
From the shadow, a man stepped into the grass of the riverbank, his features illuminated by an otherworldly glow.
The first thing Sachiko noticed about him was his hair, a shocking shade of cerulean, pulled back from his face in a low ponytail. Draped loosely over his shoulders and bound at the waist, the elaborate navy blue kimono he wore hung off his body, revealing the smooth plains of his well- muscled chest, flawless, tanned skin stretched over ridges of chiseled abs.
"Like what you see?" He raised an eyebrow, distinctly unimpressed.
Making the tiniest of squeaks, Sachiko blushed violently and stepped back, realizing that she had been openly staring. Surely her mother had taught her better, she silently chastised herself. The man who stood before her, to put it mildly, was an uber-hunk. "I'm so sorry!" She cried, hanging her head in shame, "I didn't mean to be so rude."
"Let me introduce myself", the man said brusquely, crossing his muscular arms. "I am the god of this river. You, can call me Taiga."
"My name is Sachiko", she said, somewhat hesitantly. "Nice to meet you." His aura, albeit weaker, was similar to that of Haruo's. There was no doubt about it- this person was a god. Cast against the bright moon that glowed like a halo behind him, he looked down his nose at her, intently scrutinizing her with bright crimson eyes, causing her to fidget uneasily.
Why was he so abrasive, she wondered. Maybe he didn't like her arrival? "I…just happened to end up at this place for some reason", she managed to say. "I don't know why. Maybe I should leave."
Out of the blue, his hand shot out and grabbed her chin. Face set in a scowl, he turned her head from side to side.
In a haze of confused terror, Sachiko opened her mouth to call for Sesshomaru, before realizing he couldn't reach her, he couldn't come save her here. Frozen in shock and fear, she could only stare at the fearsome deity as he roughly examined her face.
"Tch", he snarled, face pulled into a grimace. " What was Hateshi- sama thinking?"
"G- get your hands off me", her voice wavered, not sounding nearly as intimidating as she was hoping it to be.
The river god let go abruptly, a look of mild surprise in his face. "Do you realize, girl", Taiga said evenly, "that you are dying?"
Dumbstruck, Sachiko could only manage a nod.
"Tell me", he growled, a note of concern hidden somewhere within the words, "what could possibly have happened to make you end up this way?"
In a completely reckless move, Sachiko decided that if anymore shit were to happen in her life at this point it would actually be comical, and so told the river god everything, right from the moment she fell down the bone-eater's well for the first time. Taiga massaged his temples at the end of her tirade.
"This is suicide", he sighed, "but if it is Hateshi- sama, he probably has a good reason."
"Who is this Hateshi-sama?" She prodded, wondering if there was another player behind the scenes.
"The same god you keep calling Haruo", the river god replied carelessly.
"A god can be known by many names", he elaborated upon her questioning glance. "Especially a god like Hateshi- sama. That reminds me, were you not given a shinshi?
"I was", she nodded. "Hotarou", she called, prompting her familiar to appear. Hotarou hovered before her, brighter and more compact than when she had summoned him the first time. Sachiko looked back to the river god, who was gazing at the shinshi with poorly masked incredulity.
"…Girl", Taiga said slowly, taking in Hotarou's appearance, "What on earth is this?"
"My shinshi?" She said innocently.
Taiga executed a face-palm. "You poor fool", he lamented, "Just looking at you makes me want to cry." Sachiko rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, that is very encouraging." She grumbled under her breath. When will this shitty dream end, she quietly wondered.
"This", Taiga pointed at the orb, "is supposed to look like a boy."
"I...know that."
"Your familiar is of no use to you in this form, Sachiko", Taiga crossed his arms again, speaking her name like an insult. "Let me guess, you keep dismissing him after you summon him for whatever reason."
"I'm not supposed to?"
"No!" Taiga glowered, making her wince. "Your familiar is dependent upon your power. Keep him with you at all times. Only if you do that can he grow stronger."
"O-okay", she squeaked.
"Heavens", the river god muttered in exasperation, "such a hopeless girl! At the rate your body is burning you probably won't even make to the north, I hope you realize."
Sachiko said nothing, only looked away uneasily.
"Well, perhaps I could help you out a little", he said, his voice soft. "What, I said I can help", he barked when she looked back at him, wide-eyed.
"Mind you, there is only so much I can do. My powers are really nothing compared to those of Hateshi- sama."
"But…he's a forest god", she said.
"Is that what he told you? A forest god?" Taiga smirked mirthlessly when Sachiko nodded.
"Then…what type of god is he, if not a forest god?"
"That is for him to tell you. I am not interfering in your business", the river god asserted, "But I will tell you this much, he is more powerful than you give him credit for."
Sachiko blew a gust of air at her bangs, ruffling them. What was the point of all these mysteries anyway? What exactly was Haruo playing at?
"Now listen closely", a plant appeared on Taiga's palm. "Do you know what this is?" Sachiko looked at the strange plant. Its had a a small cap and long stalk, with a dark greenish, powdery substance on its head.
"Mushroom?" She ventured. Taiga rolled his eyes.
"A herb", he corrected, "It is known as tsukushi."
"Oh…" Sachiko had never heard of it in her life.
"This plant grows aplenty along the banks of this river. I shall infuse the plants with some of my essence. Pick as many as you can find and consume daily", he instructed roughly.
Sachiko gasped. "And will this cure me?" She asked hopefully.
"No", Taiga said. "But it can stop your condition from worsening- possibly even make you feel better."
Her lips parted in surprise at this unexpected aid. It was more than what she had been hoping for. "Thank you–"
"No need for gratitude", he stopped her with a careless flourish of his hand, "I owe Hateshi- sama one. Think of it as me repaying a debt." He turned away from her and stepped into the river.
"Good luck, Sachiko", he said. His voice had a smile in it.
Jaken rose just before sunrise, just like he had always done for the past seven decades traveling with Sesshomaru. Stretching, he stood up, scratched his back and rubbed the sleep off his eyes. He looked for his beloved lord Sesshomaru, finding him gazing meditatively at the river, satisfied that he looked pristine and perfect as always. Then he looked at Ah- Un, sampling the leaves from the low branches of tree that grew on the river bank. Under the tree was the strange bedding of their newest companion.
Jaken frowned. Why was the sleeping bag empty? Where had Sachiko gone off to, so early in the morning? Usually the girl wouldn't rise well past this hour, that too after Jaken lost all his energy shaking and yelling at her for a longer time than what he was willing to spare on the human. Scanning the area, he spotted her sitting on the riverbank on her haunches, hemmed by cattails and arrowheads. Jaken was aghast at the vulgarity, thinking that she was doing her business in the bushes- right in front of the lord- before he realized that she, in fact, wasn't.
Face set, he tramped over to her, intent on giving her a talking to for being annoying so early in the morning.
"Ah, Jaken", she said before he could open his mouth, giving him a bright smile. "Good morning!"
Jaken took a moment to analyze this picture. The woman looked like hell with dark circles around her tired eyes and pale, sickly complexion- the general look of someone terribly sleep- deprived. Despite that she was grinning from ear to ear, a manic glint in her eye, uprooting weeds from the riverbank and gathering them in a piece of cloth.
"What…are you doing?" Jaken asked suspiciously.
"Gathering medicine", she supplied with a wide smile.
Yes, Jaken decided with a sigh, the stress of traveling had finally got to her, leading her to lose her mind.
"Could you help me pick the plants on that side?"
Poor lord Sesshomaru, Jaken shook his head sadly. All that hard work and the girl went and decided to go bananas halfway through their journey. How regrettable it should happen so.
"Jaken... Jaken!"
"What?"
"Did you not hear anything I said?"
"Why should I listen to your crazy ramblings you silly woman?"
Sachiko went back to collecting the plants. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let that pass", she said, gathering the tsukushi in the crook of her elbow and standing up. She hummed as she walked, scanning the ground for more of the herb. Jaken gaped at her, his mouth hanging open. He turned to see Sesshomaru behind him.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I have terrible news!" He squawked, tramping over to him, "The woman seems to have gone insane- she has been gathering useless weeds since cockcrow!" He explained as the daiyoukai narrowed his eyes questioningly.
Sesshomaru gazed at the young woman kneeling on the riverbank, the sky behind her the fresh rose-gold of early dawn. A few kodama gathered around her, almost translucent in the light of the day. It looked like they were pointing out the herbs to her. Her scent had brightened up. She seemed serene, happier than she did yesterday. Before her the river purled in dulcet notes, its waters mirroring the pastel tones of the first blush.
"Milord", Jaken called questioningly, impatient for his master's opinion.,
"Cease spouting nonsense and get Ah- Un ready", Sesshomaru ordered.
"But milord-" The retainer started to protest, but his liege was already walking away.
…
Gazing down at her impressive collection of herbs, Sachiko smiled. Things seemed to be looking up for her, finally. She took an experimental nibble at the head of a tsukushi plant, almost gagging at the horrible bitterness. Chewing fast, she hastily swallowed the morsel of the precious herb, feeling a comfortable chill spreading throughout her body, from her throat to her chest to her fingertips and toes. Sighing in profound relief, she leaned against her tree. Her condition had been worsening so gradually that it had snuck upon her unaware- it was almost shocking to remember how light and comfortable her body used to feel.
Although the weariness had diminished she could still feel her affliction, lurking dangerously in the shadows like a wily predator, ready to pounce on her at a moment's notice. But that was for another day. Today, she decided, she would choose hope.
"Hurry up girl, we are leaving", Jaken urged her, clambering up on Ah- Un, already in a foul mood. Sesshomaru waited ahead, his argentine hair brilliant in the cords of sunlight that filtered through the leaves.
"Coming", she said brightly, a new lightness in her step and tone. Strolling over to the two- headed dragon with her backpack, she looked at the serene river one last time. Thank you, she thought, hoping with all her heart that her gratitude reached the river- god.
At least she had a fighting chance now.
So this chapter is shorter than usual, but I updated early didn't I? :D
Sesshomaru's thoughts are not really described in detail since all he is thinking about now is getting to the northern mountains and thinks nothing of Sachiko except as a mildly annoying woman he is travelling with. But he is developing a soft spot for her, which I hope I have conveyed in the most non- OOC way possible. The romance in this story, if there is any (and I hope to God there would be), will be slow developing. I don't think I will be doing justice to Sesshomaru's character if I rush him into a romance. Sachiko is head-over -heels though. Although she has way too much on her mind and is subconsciously trying to ignore her feelings.
Tsukushi is a real herb, which is a sansai or edible wild vegetable of Japan. It contains mineral salts such as silica, magnesium, calcium and potassium and are believed to help promote bone health. They also are rich in the trace element silicon which is shown to help promote collagen production in the body. Was used as herbal medicine. So technically very healthy. Also grows along river banks.
Thanking my very consistent reviewers Ridethelightning26 and Mrs. Hatake Prime and Cori. You guys are the best encouragement an author could ask for. I'm glad this story happened to catch your eye :-)
The next chapter is very dear to me, since it will be kind of philosophical in nature. What I have planned for may take one or two chapters. Aaahhh! I'm so excited for it!
Stay tuned...XOXOXOXO