It's a hot day today and every one feels pretty lazy. The majority of the "campers" are down by the dock or somewhere around Water Front. I haven't seen Juno or Inu Yasha all day and I find out that the two of them are up at the horse ring.
"You haven't seen the horses yet, have you, Miroku?" I ask the monk.
He shakes his head listlessly. No one wants to do anything. It's so hot. The sun is beating down on us and the pure whiteness of his robe is blinding. He has finally discarded the black and purple robes in favor of an airy white one and he's sitting barefoot under my favorite tree.
I have no idea where Van is. He keeps taking off on his own and I don't think he's enjoying himself at all. It was a mistake bringing him here and I feel bad about it.
I'm sprawled out in the grass. Even though the heat is sweltering I still have pants on. My favorite pair too, the light blue ones with stars and moons all over them. They're lightweight so I'm not really hot. With them, I have a blue tank top. I am also barefoot and my hair -once again long- is pulled back in a braid.
"You wanna go up to the ring?" I roll over on my stomach and look at him.
"Does it require much walking?"
"I'm afraid so."
He groans. "Eh...It's too hot."
"We-ell...we could drive up in the Gator."
His eyebrows go up. "What's that?"
"Here, I'll sure you." I push myself off the dry grass and stand up. Then I offer him a hand and pull him to his feet.
We walk sluggishly back to the lodge. The Gator, which is like a golf cart of sorts, is parked in the front by the side of the road.
He looks at it and blinks. "You can work this contraption?"
"Sort of. I'm not really supposed to, but who's gonna stop me? Random's the oldest of us and she won't care."
So we drive up to the riding ring. Laura no Baka's up there too, which surprises me because she and Inu Yasha seem to hate each other.
We sit under a tree and watch them with the horses. Inu Yasha is riding bareback, without even the use of reins. He's discared some of his clothing and has nothing but his pants on. A mound of red fabric that is his top is tossed on the ground, the Tetsusaiga is carefully laid on top of it.
He's seated on a white horse and galloping around the ring. His hair whips behind him on the breeze and he looks very relaxed. Juno's on a black horse, wearing jeans, a tank top and her riding helmet. Her horse is following the lead of Inu Yasha's and the two circle the riding ring together.
Laura no Baka is watching all this from where she sits on the wooden fence. For once, she's keeping out of the way and not being too obnoxious. Although I did hear her grumbling to herself "...Don't understand why he's allowed to ride with no helmet. And he's going bareback no less..."
The warmth of the sun is making me drowsy and I fall asleep here with my head on Miroku's shoulder. He looks at me and smiles slightly. He glances at his hand for a moment. He's only nineteen, but he often finds himself wondering how much longer it will be until his life is over. He sighs and that is what wakes me.
"...Miroku?" I blink.
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. I suppose for the time being I am."
"Thinking about the Hellhole again?"
"I am always thinking about it. I wonder all the time how much longer it will be until I die."
I frown. I hate hearing him talk like that. It's very sad.
He looks at me and sort of smiles. "Don't you trouble yourself over it, Michelle." He never refers to me as PiccoLo any more; to him I am only Michelle.
I hug him. "I can't help worrying. It's what I'm good at."
He laughs and I smile. He puts an arm around me and we sit watching the two horse back riders a while longer.
"Give me another piece of paper." Random is trying to light the fire. I rip another page out of my AP Gov notebook, which I have graciously donated as fire starting materials. She twists it together and lights it, then pokes it down into the pile of wood. It catches on a small pine twig and soon enough the little blaze is a roaring fire.
We're doing hot-dogs over the fire tonight. Every one was sick of Taco Crap and Beef Thing and it was only the first Thursday. Can you tell that the novelty wore off quickly?
I'm slicing the ends of my hot-dog to make it into a spider dog when Rini comes running down the path. "Look who's here, PiccoLo!" She exclaims.
I look up, expecting it to be another bishonen. Imagine my surprise when I find it to be my best friend in the world, Reianna.
"Rei!!" I jump up from my seat on a log and sprint towards her. "Rei, what are you doing here?"
She grins. "I knew it was camp fire night, so I came to visit."
"Cool! Every one, this is Rei."
There is a chorus of "hellos" and "hiyas" as I sit back down and Rei finds a stick for her hot-dog. She surveys the crowd, probably to figure out how many of the boys she knows. Her gaze comes to rest on Van who's laughing about something with Duo.
"Van's here." She states.
"Yeah...I, uh, invited him, but I don't think he's having much fun. He doesn't seem to like it here."
"You've been ignoring him." Laura no Baka accuses.
"Oh, I have not!"
"Ever since Miroku got here, you've been ignoring Van."
"No I haven't!"
"Right..."
Rei interrupts at this point. "I can take him home, if he wants to leave."
"Okay. I'd hate to make him stay if he's not having a good time." I agree.
"Cool."
"Hey, Van, come here a moment!"
He comes. "What?"
"Are you having any fun here?"
"Not really."
"You want to leave? Rei's willing to take you home."
"Sure! Can we go now?"
"After camp fire."
As it is growing darker, it is also getting cooler. Here in the mountains it gets pretty cool at night. But after a day like today, the chill is welcomed. By the light of the setting sun, I hear Random's voice drifting across the fire and encircling me.
There's a camp on Lake Waletka
where my heart will always be
and it's name is Amahami
and it's nestled in the trees
To it come young and old folks
it's beauty to behold
and all who share it's treasures
have memories of gold...
I look out across the lake. The sun is sinking into the mountains, the sky is a hazy pink-orange hue. Every one is relaxed and comfortable. It's a nice end to the day.