Chapter 87

"Today's th' day!" Momiji chirped as a young Emishi woman tied her hair up in a high Emishi ponytail. "Genji's gonna bey cured aat laast!"

"Alright!" Goten cheered as another woman stuck a wooden hairpin into his finished Emishi hairknot. "Way ta go, Genji-kun!"

Genji smiled sheepishly on the other side of the hut as he picked bits of sweet and sour pork into his mouth with chopsticks. Trunks sat next to Genji, already finished eating. Neither boys were getting their hair done up. Genji's hair was too long and Trunk's was too short.

"So why are Goten and I going?" Trunks asked. "Not that we don't care, but it sounds pretty boring."

"Yu dun't rememba me sayin wot happond th' first time Genji got exorcized, do ya, Trunksie?"

"Yeah, I do. He got possessed. So?"

**SO?!** Genji glared hard at Trunks. The purple-haired half Saiyajin put his hands up defensively.

"Hey, settle down. It didn't last that long…"

Momiji glared too.

"His highness, Daimao, held Genji down as Murasaki n meself haandled th' mess. If nune ove us were they, whu knows wot hey culda done."

Genji lowered his head sadly.

**I still think I broke Saki-chan's wrist…**

Ryu sat next to Genji and patted the boy's shoulder.

"Take it easy, kid." The tiger priest assured. "Murasaki wants Trunks and Goten to come so that it won't happen again. It'll all be over before you know it."

"What do we have to do?" Goten asked, joining them.

"Hold him down." Ryu instructed. "Keep him where he is. If anything happens like last time, Murasaki can handle it."

"N me tuu!" Momiji insisted.

Ryu nodded over to her.

"You're pretty good yourself, kiddo."

Momiji smirked.

"Yu forgit, demons aare me specialty."

"Being one, that says as much."

Momiji pounced on Ryu in offence, and they started wrestling.

"Hey!" Ryu exclaimed, as he was shoved around the floor. "Don't be doing that! I'm married! Momiji!"

Everyone laughed at the sight, and Genji paused breakfast to clap.

Being with his friends always helped him feel more relaxed and calm…

…right before something bad happened.

/|\

The sun began to set, and it was time for the final exorcism that would rid Genji of his demon. The entire village decided to attend, and they got ready to leave their homes for the afternoon and evening.

Genji sat on the platform waiting for Murasaki. Trunks and Goten were next to him, keeping him company.

"Nervous?" Trunks asked Genji. Genji shook his head, which earned him a pat on the shoulder.

"I thought you'd be nervous, since today is the day. You're gonna be cured, man."

"He shouldn't be nervous." Goten insisted. "He should be excited."

Genji smiled. Yes, the moment had finally come. His curse would be lifted and he would go home with his friends.

Murasaki rode up to Genji on Hasanko, and jumped off the elk's back with the sleeping potion in hand. Genji smiled at her.

**Ready?**

"I'm ready." She nodded. Then, she smiled at Trunks and Goten. "Can you boys go make sure everyone is ready?"

"Sure." Goten nodded, getting up. "C'mon, Trunks."

Trunks grinned at Murasaki and Genji, not about to be fooled so easily.

"You two listen here. If you can't be good, be careful." He warned playfully.

"Huh?" Murasaki blinked. Trunks grinned as he got up and followed Goten.

"Bye-bye, you lovebirds! Don't take too long because we're all waiting on you!"

Genji glowered at Trunk's back.

**Trunks, how dare you! I'd never…**

"Genji-chan, I need to talk to you…"

Genji looked up at Murasaki.

**Saki-chan?**

"I was just wondering…after you are cured, what are your plans?"

**I'm going straight home with Yume and the others.**

"Oh." Murasaki lowered her eyes. "Will you ever want to come back here?"

Genji scratched at the scars on his face.

**Well, I dunno…Your people may not want me to come back after this. I mean…our tribes…can't…we don't…**

Murasaki put her hand over his.

"I know what you're trying to say. The wolves and the ravens are enemies, but you and I are not. You're welcome to come back whenever you wish, I allow it."

Genji smiled weakly at her.

**What's all this about? Is something wrong?**

Murasaki clenched his hand.

"I'm scared. I'm scared to do this, Genji-chan. If something goes wrong…"

Genji squeezed her hand comfortingly.

**Calm down, Saki-chan. There's no pressure on you…**

Hearing that made her break down.

"Oh, Genji-chan!" She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry. Clearly annoyed and blushing, Genji hugged her back.

**Now, now…none of that, Saki. It's okay…**

"It's my most powerful spell." She began to sob. "A spell that could destroy your soul. If I mess up, or if something goes wrong, you could die. It would be all my fault, and I couldn't forgive myself!"

**Saki-chan…**

"I love you, Genji!"

**Oh no…here we go again…**

"I've had this feeling since we first met. I knew it was my destiny to be with you. I didn't care who you were or what tribe you came from or who your father was… I love you. I truly love you, Genji-chan!"

Genji wasn't sure what to say now…

**Saki-chan, I…**

Before he could get his case across…

…her lips pressed softly to his, taking him by surprise.

Half of him wanted to pull away, but the other half wanted her so bad. He kissed her back and pulled her closer to him, not wanting the moment to end.

Then, he heard the demon purr in his ears, being pleased and wanting more.

Coral-chan…Coral-chan…

Genji became alarmed. The demon would hurt her!

NO! Leave her alone!

Genji quickly pulled away, and pushed her back slightly. She landed on her rear, and looked at Genji in confusion.

"Genji-chan? What happened?"

**You shouldn't have done that.**

"What?"

**Saki-chan, listen to me. I like you, and I care about you… But not in that way. We're friends…so…please don't kiss me again.**

He wanted to tell her so bad about the demon who was mistaking her for his mother, but she wouldn't believe him and think he was a nutcase for the rest of his life.

Murasaki looked at the ground sadly.

"I understand. I know what happened…"

**Eh?** He looked up at her.

She doesn't already know about her and the demon, does she?

"Papa said you could marry me, and you got scared when he told you. Strange, he said you would go to the ends of the Earth for me…so I thought…"

**Marcus said that?** Genji blinked. **Wait a minute…did he say you had permission to marry me?**

She smiled at him with her still sad eyes. Genji pieced together the situation and glared up at the sky.

**Madrid, you rat! What are you trying to accomplish, trying to hook me up like that! Why I outta…**

"Genji-chan, are you alright?"

Genji sat up and held out his hand.

**Let's get back to the situation. Potion, please.**

She nodded, and handed him the bottle.

"This is a stronger brew. This amount will weaken the demon so it won't cause another uprising. However, you'll be asleep for three days."

Genji nodded, and pulled the cork out of the bottle.

**Well, see ya in three days, Saki-chan.** He held up the bottle in toasting. **I'll be dreaming about you. Cheers!** He swigged the sugary potion down in a few gulps and handed back the bottle.

Then, he went completely out.

/|\

The loud clatter of kodama clicking and clacking filled the forest. Most of the tiny tree children were gathered around Nago's tree. It was giving interesting vibes today, and they grew curious. They all gathered around the safety of their mother trees, staying far from Nago's tree all the while.

Soon, a faint figure walked from the root of the tree, and all the kodama hushed. From Nago's tree came small spirits that looked in every respect like kodama, but something was different…

The new kodama clicked a few words, then hurried down the path. More of the new kodama jumped from the tree, and scurried after their brethren. They poured down the path in hundreds, clicking and clacking together, looking like an insane kodama parade.

When they all left, the normal kodama resumed clicking and clacking to each other, and all of them were worried.