ch 4

I watched over her all night long, making sure she had no more bad dreams. The moonlight drifted down through the trees and light up her peaceful face. Her red hair seemed to glow and the jewels around her neck gave off a faint shine. She stirred in her sleep and I noticed goose bumps on her arms. I took off my shirt and laid it on top of her, giving her warmth.

I leaned back against a tree, watching her as Cume watched me. I supposed he still didn't trust me completely, even though I had saved his mistress from an untimely death.

"What had happened that would make her have such a nightmare?" I asked the cloud. He looked at me doubtfully.

"It is really not my place to speak of the Mistress' past," he said. I wasn't going to take that.

"Clearly there is something in her past that is bothering her," I argued. "What is it?"

"You will have to ask the Mistress that," Cume answered. I scowled.

"At least tell me your past. How did you come to meet her?"

Cume sighed. "It was not a pleasant meeting," he began. "I found the young Mistress when she was 7, crawling at the edge of a forest. The child had just collapsed from the heat of the day and from utter exhaustion. I lifted her up and carried her to a nearby stream and waited for her to revive. When she woke up she told me what had happened to her. I couldn't let her stay on her own. She hunted her own food with her powers and I carried her from hunting ground to hunting ground. We have stayed together ever since."

Tears sprang unbidden to my eyes as I listened to the clouds part of the tale. What had happened that would caste out a girl at that age and make Aki cry out in her sleep from terror? I wanted to wake the sleeping girl and ask her what she was afraid of and to comfort her.

"And why are you so concerned for my Mistress demon?" Cume asked, suddenly suspicious. I raised my eyebrow at him.

"No need to get defensive," I said. "I am not going to harm her. I travel the land HELPING people, not killing them."

"A helping demon? You're the first I've heard of."

"Then you haven't heard of Inu-yasha, the great demon lord?"

"And I suppose that you traveled with him?" Cume asked.

"Yes, I have!" I answered in a huff. "I trained under him too." Cume looked at me in a new light.

"Then perhaps you aren't as bad as any of the others," he said.

"Thank you for your support," I answered sarcastically.

"Cume, you always were a doubter."

Aki raised herself from the cloud and stumbled her way to the edge of the lake. I refrained from helping her. Some people wanted to show how strong they were. She knelt by the waters edge and took a long drink. Then she wiped her mouth and sighed contentedly. Making her way back to the trees she sat down next to me.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked her with a smile. She flashed her teeth back at me.

"Yes I did, thank you. I believe this is yours." She handed me back my shirt with a blush. I took it with a smile and put it back on.

"Were you warm enough?"

"Yes, thank you. The frogs in my dreams told me that you were awake. Thank goodness they didn't tell me to burn you!"

I looked at her strangely. She glanced at me and laughed.

"I'm just kidding!" she said. Cume rolled his eyes.

We sat in state of embarrassed silence until I started to speak.

"Did you-"

"Thank-"

We both chuckled at the others attempts for conversation.

"Go ahead," she said.

"No, you go first."

"Ok. Umm, thank you……for saving me…..I guess," a small blush began to creep along the girls cheeks.

"I was at the right place at the right time," I answered. "You're welcome."

Aki giggled.

"The cows are coming!" she exclaimed, sitting up suddenly. "Oh! Umm…."

I just stared at her blankly. She giggled.

"What was it that you wanted to say?" I shook my head, trying to rid myself of her crazy sayings.

"I was just wondering…..that nightmare you had…." I was sorry to see her happy smile dissolve off her face. But I needed to know. I wanted to get this over with and never make her sad again. "What were you dreaming about?"

Aki heaved a great sigh and slouched against the tree. Cume looked at me reproachfully for making her sad. Her slim legs were brought up to her chest as she hugged them close to herself.

"I was born in a village of pure weather witches and plant mages," she began. "My father was a weather witch and my mother a plant mage. My father was training me since I was five to protect myself with my magic. I had no brothers, just a younger sister. My Grandmother would tell us both stories after supper when the moon was up and the fire was high…."

Aki went on to tell me the invasion of the demons and the destruction of her village. As she told me about how each time a demon was in their way and she didn't do anything I noticed a faint hint of guilt. Perhaps she resented herself for not being able to take action against the demons. I knew how she felt. I had felt the same when I was small and demons had murdered my parents

A sniff made me look up. Aki, overcome by her memories buried her face in her hands. I was taken aback. Nine years had gone by and she was still haunted by her past! I scooted next to her and drew her into my arms.

Aki gasped and stirred slightly, but I wouldn't let her go. I was a little embarrassed myself, but the best thing a person could have when they were hurting is a shoulder to cry on. She finally relaxed and let her heart leak out on my shoulder. Cume hovered nervously above us, wanted to comfort his Mistress, but knowing there was not much more he could do.

When Aki's sobs became quieter I let her sit up slightly. I took out a clean piece of cloth and wiped her eyes.

"Feel better?" I asked with a smile. She looked up and smiled wide.

"Yes, better than I've felt in a while," she answered.

"Good. It's amazing how a good cry can comfort you." She nodded understandingly.

I stood up and offered her my hand.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Wherever the wind takes us," I replied with a smile.