Chapter 7
Rin covered her mouth as she yawned. She was glad to see that Akane's health improved. She did everything for the old woman, which included cooking, sprucing the house up a bit, and some of the yard work with Abe-san. After all said and done, she plopped down, exhausted. She knew country living was hard, but man was she wiped out.
"Rin, thank you for all you help today. You didn't have to go to all the trouble." Akane said. She sipped her tea, bundled in her blanket.
Rin shook her head. "It's fine Akane."
"Still, you could have been out enjoying the wildlife and taking pictures, but you stayed to watch over this old woman."
"I helped too." Abe-san said with a quirked eyebrow.
Both women chuckled. "Yes, Abe-san, you did. Thank you!" Rin said, bowing. "Well, since this may be my last night here, I'm gonna go out and take some photos." RIn stood up, reaching for her camera.
"Don't wander too far." Abe-san said.
"I won't!" Rin slid the door shut and walked away from the home. It wasn't too dark yet, so she started snapping photos. Rin sighed in happiness at how quiet it was. She could hear the wind whistling and a few birds. There were no black bears out this time. She checked her surroundings as she ventured further away. She figured she would be ok if she wandered a little way from the home. Just as she got closer to the thick tree line, the ground shook.
She steadied herself on her feet as the rumbling continued for another 30 seconds and stopped. She looked around with wide eyes. Her gaze fell to the mountains when she swore one of them moved. "What?!" Rin gasped. She used the zoom finder on her camera to get a closer look. The mountain stopped. Something suddenly shot out of the mountain, across the sky. She immediately snapped a series of photos and then it was gone.
"RIN!"
She turned to see Akane and Abe-san looking for her. She sprinted back. "Did you guys feel that? Do you think it was an earthquake?"
"Maybe. Let's call it a night. We'll be up early tomorrow." Abe-san said. The old man bowed and walked towards the home he was staying in. Rin walked into Akane's house. The woman bid her goodnight as well. Just before walking into her room. "Rin, perhaps sleep away from the window just in case it was an earthquake." And then she disappeared.
Rin marched up the stairs and grabbed her toiletries items. She moved as a quick as she could freshening up for the night and ran back in the home. Now in her sleeping clothes, she remembered the photos she took with her camera. She scrolled through and zoomed in to see what the object was that came from the mountain. After a quiet moment of disbelief and squinting, she sat in shock. She scrolled through the rest, and it was the same. She felt like asking Akane, but didn't want to bother her. Looking back at the photos one by one, she knew she wasn't mistaken. It was plain as day.
She captured multiple photos of what looked like a two-headed dragon, but that wasn't the strangest part. When she zoomed in as close as she could, there was…..something riding it with a staff. Something small and green. She wished she had her laptop, so she upload the photos to get a better look.
"What the fuck is going on here?" She whispered. The few odd things that have happened since she got here, she could write off as her imagination playing tricks on her, but this…she couldn't explain this. She actually had proof of something….
Mythical?
Paranormal?
Not of this world?
Rin let the camera slip from her hands onto the futon between her thighs. She told Akane she wanted to bring exposure to this hidden village, but the old woman still said nothing. If Akane didn't give her permission, how could she release these photos to the public? She didn't want to betray the old woman's trust. "Oh god…" Rin whined. She rubbed her face and then looked towards the window. After moving her futon, she laid down, staring at the ceiling.
"Literally one of the strangest trips I've ever been on." She rolled to her side, pulling the blanket around her. Now she just hoped she wouldn't have any strange dreams tonight.
…..
Yellow sclera eyes with black irises scanned the darkened home. The green, two- headed dragon hovered silently outside the window. Intense eyes peered at the young woman as she slept. The small green imp wiped his eyes as he smiled. "You're finally returned, Lady Rin. It won't be much longer now." He pulled on A-Un's reins, pulling him away from the window. The dragon gave a soft whine. "Shh, my friend. Soon she will be herself again."
The green dragon pulled away, and they flew back to the mountain that entombed their lord. His small feet touched upon the hard earth and he took cautious steps inside. He slowly approached to find his lord deeply asleep. Earlier in the evening, he feared the worst when the great dog demon almost woke. Inuyasha told him he was going to get Kagome. He couldn't help but wonder if Kagome, being awake now, is what caused his master to briefly wake. For those few moments, he saw the madness his master still carried. He tried to calm him as best he could, but it was futile. Lord Sesshomaru fought against the sleep, his legs twitching and his jaw snapping.
Then he stopped, slipping back into his sleep.
"Ye will hold for him as long as possible until the others return."
Jaken shrieked and turned around to find…Kaede!? He stood, trying to form words but failing.
"Ye is the spirit of the God Tree, nothing more." Kaede said. "It best ye leave for now." Jaken snapped out of his shock, nodding. The green imp jumped onto A-Un and shot out of the mountain. He flew around the sky village for a while, recalling life in the old days.
Now, after leaving Rin, he needed to go to the opposite side of the mountain. Once he landed, he retrieved his flashlight from his satchel, clicking it three times at the designated tree. He heard some rustling from a nearby tree and then a head popped out.
"Jaken?" An adult fox yokai said, stepping into the clearing.
"Yes. I'm sure Inuyasha told you."
The yokai walked to him and the green dragon. "Yeah, he told me. He's on his way back with Kagome now. He called me a while ago on the satellite phone. They should be by early dusk."
"Good….did you feel it earlier?" Jaken asked.
The fox yokai sadly nodded. "He's still looking for her."
The yokai stood in silence.
"Shippo, you have everything you need for the ritual?" Jaken looked in worry towards his old friend.
Shippo squatted down to be eye level with the green imp. "Hey, we may have had our differences in the past, but I promised I would help in any way I can. I meant it." He then stood. "I gotta go. There are a few last-minute things I need. I'll be back mid-day, ok?"
Jaken nodded and took the sky, leaving behind Shippo to make his preparations. As he raced back to his lord, he whispered. "Just hold on a little longer, Lord Sesshomaru."
~oOO~
