Chapter 3: Eric and Kikyo
My eyelids flutter open as dawn greets the land of the rising sun. Damn that sun's bright! I begin to get up, and every muscle whines in protest. Did I mention I'm not a morning person? Well, I'm not. Hey, what's that smell?
I look to my right, and realize that no, I'm still not dreaming. Kikyo tends a small cook fire, over which she is roasting some fish skewered on a small stick. There is also a rabbit, spitted and turning a golden brown. She is completely immersed in the task until I let out a groan and begin to get up. She looks at me but says nothing.
"What, no good morning?" I say, hobbling over to the warmth of the fire. It's a cool morning, plus I fell asleep in the mud and now I'm soaking wet. My favorite shirt, a t-shirt with 'Disturbed' emblazoned across front and back, is coated in mud. I'm not happy; I like this shirt!
"Are you feeling better?"
"Still a little confused, but otherwise okay. How about you?"
"The dead do not worry about such trivialities."
"Whatever, just trying to be friendly." I hope she has more to say than that, considering I'm not leaving her side until I know what the hell is going on here. The last thing I want is to be wandering all alone through this place. That would amount to suicide. Even so, I want to get out of this disaster area, and quick.
"Kikyo?"
"…"
"Are we going to be staying here for very long?"
"No, we will be leaving soon."
"To where?"
"I don't know."
"Well, good enough for me."
……….
Breakfast was delicious. Kikyo cooks pretty good for being dead for fifty years, but her attitude needs some work. That's funny, me talking about attitude!
Anyway, we started walking about an hour ago and we haven't seen any sign of civilization yet. Nothing but trees, dirt paths, the occasional pagoda in the distance, and untamed wild land. I must say though, that this is a beautiful land. In my world, you can't walk ten feet without running into some kind of man-made structure. There are only a few places like this, but they were too far away from me. Here, the equation is reversed: you'd be hard-pressed to find anything man-made. I thought this would make me want to go back sooner, but it's exactly the opposite. I want to spend a little more time here. Even though Kikyo is being…well, Kikyo.
"Hey, do you know where you're going? I'd like to have some shelter by next week."
"I told you, I don't know where I'm going. I will stop when it feels right."
"Is it going to feel right in say, the next hour or so? This walking deal isn't very cool."
"Your language is very strange."
"Yeah, that's what people tell me, but I can't stand being normal. It's way too overrated. Anyway, what are you looking for?"
"…"
We continue walking for another two hours, but surprisingly, I'm not as worn down as I normally would be. I couldn't even stand walking around the mall for this long, yet I haven't even broken a sweat. This whole youkai thing is getting to be pretty cool. The only thing to remember, though, is that there are a lot of people here who hate youkai.
Kikyo stops right in front of me.
"Kikyo?"
I walk around her, and take a peek at her face. Her eyes are set straight ahead, into the forest. She doesn't even notice that I'm staring at her. Her attention is focused on something down the path in front of us. Then she starts walking again in rapid stride.
"Hey, wait up! What are you doing?"
"…" This is getting annoying. She keeps walking at a brisk pace until we reach a clearing. One hundred feet before the clearing, and I already know that there are people there. Not only that, I know how many, how old they are, and I could even tell you what they ate for dinner last night, or if any of them are related, all from their scent. You see, it's all instinct; the knowledge must be inherent in a youkai's mind, which is why someone like me can use this ability. Hmm…what else can I do? I'll think about that later. The people here are in trouble.
A new scent invades my nostrils. There are other youkai nearby, and they sure as hell ain't friendly. Or cute. I charge past Kikyo and into the clearing. There I see a group of ragged peasants huddled in the middle of the grass. It looks like an old man and two children. Just as I suspected, the old man is the grandfather of the two children, who are brother and sister. Wait, what is that delightful aroma? It's…fear! Fear is good? They're terrified! Somehow, I like this scent! Yet I won't allow myself the luxury. I can't just allow them to die!
As I stand there, chewing over this new dilemma, the source of the peasant's fear appears above them. It's a giant vulture! At least as long as a bus and with the wingspan of more than that, it casts its massive shadow over us all. Its feathers are a dark purple: the color of unspilled blood. Its wings and breast are slashed with yellow streaks, and its eyes gleam crimson. It opens its beak, revealing rows of razor teeth, then screams its unholy battle cry. Instead of attacking the peasants, though, it flies over them and lands on the ground in front of me, sending up puffs of dirt and causing the clearing to shake. Wind from its beating wings blows my now-back-length hair out behind me. Its eyes fall upon me.
Can I fight this thing? It appears to be wary of me. If there's a reason, I have to find it! Is it afraid of the kind of youkai that I am? Maybe, but I don't know what kind I am. Maybe inu? Who knows.
Anyway, what do I do? I've never been so afraid in my life. This isn't some high school bully, this is a monster. A very big monster. The kind that eats wimps like me for breakfast. But I've got to do something. Maybe I can hit it with these new claws, possibly draw some blood. Let's see how fast this thing is.
I crouch down slightly, readying myself to spring. I charge forward, and the creature takes the defensive, lowering its own body closer to the ground, wings stiffening. I continue running until I am ten feet in front of it, then leap to the left. I sail through the air over its right wing, execute a midair 180, and come to ground behind it. Getting my feet after a shaky landing, I see the exposed back of the creature. It isn't turning fast enough, I can hit it! Charging again, my claws flex instinctively and I raise my left hand to strike, then…
*THUMP*
*CRASH*
I am thrown aside by the creature's wing. It turned faster than I thought, and I am thrown back from a furious backhand. My eyes see the sky, full of white clouds and sunlight, then stars fly as I impact a tree. Well, several trees, then hit the ground and skid to a stop. My body is racked with pain, and blood covers me, pouring from fresh wounds. So much for a simple claw strike. And guess what? The damn thing is fast! In seconds, I am beaten. I can't even stand. Am I really youkai?
Looking back through the wreckage of my forced trajectory, I see the beast preparing itself for flight. It raises its wings, and leaps into the air. Its eyes are once again upon me. They glow a sinister crimson, but also with something else: hunger. I spoiled its meal, so it will make one out of me. I realize, barely an afterthought, that it will probably eat the villagers once it's done. The beast descends from the sky kicking up winds and dust from the dry ground. It lands twenty feet in front of me, then begins a shambling walk toward me, lying spread-eagle in the dirt and splintered wood. If I don't get up, I'm going to be lunch!
It continues its sloth-like approach, its eyes fixed on me still. I try to get up, but pain flares through my entire body, and apparently I'm not supposed to move just yet. The beast is now ten feet away, and I am in his shadow. One swift movement of that razor-sharp beak, and I'll be in for a one way trip to his stomach, and the Reaper. He lets out another traumatizing scream, and inches closer. Then it falls silent, and stops approaching. It only looks down at me, breathing heavily. It sits for 10 seconds, but does nothing. Every muscle in my body is tight with fear, so tight you could probably play Metallica's "Call of Ktulu" on them. The creature continues to wait. 30 seconds have passed, and still it sits. It's hunger is extreme; I smell it on the air, and see it glowing in hate-filled eyes. I am incapacitated, so why doesn't it strike?
Then, in an instant, the eyes change. The hate leaves them, and no emotion comes to take their place. Its body quivers. It shakes violently and begins to topple…on me.
Seeing the massive bulk crashing down on me, I decide that whatever my body wants will have to wait. I won't be crushed by this thing. I roll to my left, and am covered by its descending wing. Its heavy, but at least I'm alive. What happened?
"Are you okay, son?" The grandfather peasant stands on top of the furrow created by my body, and looks down, smiling.
"Yes," I say, trying to push the gigantic wing off of me, "I'm fine…"
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Youkai!" This nice old man begins to back away, a horrified look on his face, then runs away, grabbing his grandchildren on the way. No, there is no other youkai around. He was talking about me. You know, I haven't exactly had the opportunity to take a look at myself lately. I must look pretty monstrous. People will be scared. He he, good!
I finally succeed in getting out from under the beast's remains, at the same time getting a look at its back, where three arrows protrude from its flesh. Arrows? Kikyo? Wow…she saved my life. Again.
"Kikyo!" I call. No answer. Where is she? Freeing myself from the beast, then gathering my feet, I begin to walk, then run back to the path. I stop, and there's no one there. I look down the path, and through enhanced vision I see her. She is walking at her same steady gait: eyes ahead, head aloft. The crazy chick saves my life, then walks away! I begin running to catch up. Even though my legs don't want to cooperate, I manage to make it to her in about 20 seconds.
" Hey, Kikyo! Kikyo, would you stop for a minute?!" Of course, she keeps walking, so I grab her shoulder and turn her around. She stares at me, a bored expression written on her features.
"What?"
"Well, um, I just wanted to say thank you. Again. You saved my life. Thanks to your timing, I was spared the fate of being something's meal."
"That creature hesitated to kill you, why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"Who are you?"
"I told you, my name is Eric. I was just a normal, let me rephrase that, regular kid living in my world until I blanked out and ended up here. I wasn't born a youkai and I'm not trying to trick you."
"I'm not convinced. What do you mean, your world?"
"Aw, damn…how do I explain this? You don't exist where I come from, which means that I must have crossed worlds or something, somehow. Alright? I don't know what's going on here, but I want to find out. If you'll let me stay with you for a little while, I can survive long enough to do that and get my keester home." She must have seen the sincerity in my eyes, and believe me that doesn't come often, because she turned and continued walking.
"Hey, you're walking faster. Does that mean we're going somewhere?"
"Yes. I'm going to find the villagers and see if they are hurt, since you didn't bother to see to their safety."
"Excuse me, I was face-to-face with a giant youkai! I had to get rid of him before I could do anything else!"
"You made no move to put yourself between the youkai and the villagers. You made no moves to protect them at all. You only thought of your own survival, didn't you?"
"Well…of course."
"Exactly. You are youkai, therefore you think of nothing but yourself."
"Kikyo…I'm not like that. I just…went on instinct, which told me to fight the youkai and everything would be all right."
"Youkai care little for humans, and most don't even care for their own kind. Even youkai of the same kind will kill each other for sport. They respect nothing; not the bonds of tribe, or clan or even family. That is what you are."
"Kikyo! I didn't mean to do it that way. I…I just don't know what I was doing. Alright? And I'm sorry."
"You don't approve of your actions?"
"You look surprised."
"Youkai do not admit weakness or wrongdoing. Your behavior is odd."
"Youkai don't talk hardly ever, and mostly not to humans. Of course there are exceptions."
"Yes, there are, aren't there?" She fell silent for several paces.
"Kikyo…I smelled their fear."
"What? Who's fear?"
"The villagers…and…I…liked it."
"Youkai typically like the smell of fear. It excites them the same way it would a wild animal. It heightens their desire to kill. It, like enhanced senses and speed, is a part of you."
"But that's sick! How can any sentient creature take pleasure from killing! Especially humans! I wasn't like this a few days ago…What's happened to me?"
"I can't help you. You must find the answer for yourself. Maybe talk to other youkai."
"Yeah, uh-huh, sure. Before or after they try to eat me alive?"
"Some may wish to listen, especially if they are your own kind. What kind are you?"
"Couldn't tell you."
"Are you inu, crow, serpent, stone, dragon? You must have some idea."
"No, not at all. In fact, I was wondering about that myself. Hey, you sense youkai, don't you? Maybe you can tell me."
"I can only sense that you are youkai through and through, no trace of human blood. I can't tell beyond that."
"I've got to figure this out somehow. That was probably why the vulture didn't kill me."
"Maybe. Stop."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Village. Up ahead. I'm going in, so you'll have to wait outside. I'm warning you, don't get too close, and stay out of sight. There are priests in there who will try to destroy you if they can."
"Hold on, I just wait out here?"
"Yes. I will be back tonight, if you wish, to let you know."
"Let me know what?"
"If I'm staying."
"You mean you're going to live here?"
"If I can, yes." I take one look at the village, then it hits me. This place looks damn familiar…Oh crap! This is…
"Kikyo? I don't think that's a good idea…I mean, the villagers don't look friendly, the place is dirty, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to know what kind of animals they're raising down there. P-U!" I even add the dramatic flair of acting like I'm choking to death on imaginary fumes. The point of this is to get Kikyo to turn around, fast!
"What are you talking about? It looks like any other village."
"Yeah! Why would you want to live like that? C'mon, let's stick to the open road. Please?"
"No, I've made up my mind. Farewell." Aw crap. This is gonna get complicated.
…………
Kikyo made her silent way down the hill and into the outskirts of the village. She continued walking until she heard the din of many voices raised in alarm. Ahead, she saw several villagers gathered in a throng. They were all staring at something.
"Get Seikai-sama!" One cried.
"Oh kami…" A woman said, then fainted. Kikyo came to the edge of the crowd. A young girl turned and looked at her, then yelled to the group.
'Hey, a miko!" Every head turned to look at her. One man, she assumed it was the elder or one of them, spoke to her.
"Miko-sama, we are in dire need of your assistance. This man has been attacked by youkai."
"Let me see him." Kikyo replied, instinctively ready to help. The crowd parted for her, and she received her first glimpse of the injured man, lying facedown on the road. She recognized him immediately as the man from the clearing.
"What is wrong? There are no visible wounds."
'He ran into the village carrying his two grandchildren, then collapsed once he reached this spot."
"He is still breathing. He has simply fainted from exhaustion. We must get this man inside, and he will require water as well. Will someone fetch it?"
"I will!" Said the little girl who first saw her, and ran off towards the village well. Two men came forward and lifted the man up. Everyone else began to disperse once they realized the man would be okay.
"Will she be able to handle that?" Kikyo asked.
"Of course," replied the elder, "Sayo is a strong little girl. She can handle it all right."
"Sayo is her name?"
"Yes, she is the granddaughter of the man you are tending."
"Very well, let's go inside and look at him." Kikyo rose from her kneeling position and walked over to the house. Pulling back the covering, she saw that the grandfather was resting comfortably.
"I'm back!" Sayo called as she carried the overflowing bucket with only one arm.
"Good," Kikyo said, "bring it here."
"Hai." Sayo set the bucket down next to the bed where her grandfather lay and watched with concern. "Will he be fine?"
"Of course, once he wakes up and has some water, he will be fine. Don't worry." Kikyo smiled, and the girl's fears were calmed. Kikyo noticed that the girl didn't seem to be affected at all from her previous encounter with the youkai. She marveled at her strength. She instantly took a liking to her.
………
Great! Wonderful! Spectacular! Kikyo is having a grand old time in town, while I'm stuck out here in the damn woods! She'd better get out here soon, I'm hungry! And of course I don't know where to find food in this dump. Oh my stomachs growling. Maybe I can raid a house or something.
It's been one hour since Kikyo left and stuck me out here, and after wandering around all that time, her wonderful culinary creations are long gone. I think youkai have a higher metabolism or something.
Luckily, I haven't run into any other badasses who want a piece of me, literally. It's been pretty quiet. I took the opportunity to get my bearings and walked around the outskirts of the village. It's not that big, only a few huts no different from anywhere else; my home probably sat on more land than the buildings here do. The fields ,however, are much larger. You could probably fit my high school and middle school on them. Young men have been working them all day, some girls too, about my age. People bustled around in town as well, carrying one thing or another. I watched from the trees as Kikyo brought the grandfather into the hut, then came out several minutes later, a little girl in tow.
Now for the bad news. You see, I know the little girl, I know where we are, and I know what's going to happen in ,oh, say, a couple days. Kikyo's going to run into some trouble, and as a result will be forced to leave the village where she is so happy to stay. Not good. I say that because after this happens, Kikyo's mind gets more warped than it already is, a.k.a Kill Inuyasha, Take Inuyasha to Hell, Kill Kagome, Pal Around With Naraku, etc. Get the idea? That will be bad for me, since she probably won't be interested in helping kids anymore. The last trace of her humanity will be lost here.
And what does that mean? It means that I've got some work to do. I must think, and then I must act. Or else, both Kikyo and I are screwed.