Chapter four nature

No matter the problem, nature has the cure.

"Tai?" Kurama opened his eyes, though they seemed to be glued together. Sitting up, he looked around to see that the large garden room he sat in had not changed. The small waterfall flowed smoothly out of the walls, to fall into a pool of fish. Rhododendrons surrounded it, except for a smooth white stone where one might sit.

He stood, and touched the roses, feeling the life and happiness in the beautiful plants that seemed to move their thorns away from his fingers. A yellow rose bud was beginning to open, in that stage that he thought was the most beautiful.

He had decided to try something that morning, though from the feel of things, he had slept through the designated morning. And the next one as well. Skye had told him about a very different kind of energy than Spirit energy. One he may have been using for a long time, but didn't know it.

True, some plants seemed to speak with him, tell him what they wanted, and say hello, but he had never dreamed he had anything to do with it.

Earth energy. What was earth energy?

It was the energy dealing with all things growing, as well as stone and soil. If he could manipulate it – subtly – he could make thing happen. Maybe. He could possibly even make his own garden here, one of rare beauty and strength. He touched the earth energy in the roses in front of him, and his eyes widened.

Were those plants speaking with him in those green, ever changing voices? Greeting him and telling him they were glad of someone to talk to? Were the vines really twining around his arms, not wanting to let go of their new friend?

Was it possible that this was earth energy? He was so surprised that he broke contact, but perhaps because he had an affinity for it, that did not daunt the plants at all, which were encasing him in a living suit of vines.

"It's not earth energy."

Kurama turned, or tried to, which was difficult because of the plants surrounding him. "What?" was all he managed to get past the vines. They were so eager to embrace a new friend, the kind they had not seen in so long, that they forgot he'd be no fun suffocated.

"Behave." She told the plants sternly. The plants meekly returned to their natural places, with difficulty due to the fact that they had grown rapidly at his touch. "Come on, you know you can't keep most of those. Fast growth results in weak areas. I'll just have to take them off later."

"What did you mean…not earth energy?" Kurama asked her, puzzled and bemused, and not just because of his sickness.

"I mean, past your Oriiji, or first touching - probably comes from the English word origin - you'll always be able to hear them. You don't need earth energy, they'll just do as you ask because you're their friend. Ask, mind you, don't demand, it irritates them. You're an earth adept. It's strange to see someone finding it so late. Not so rare to find adept though. I myself am an air adept, but that really applies to all weather, including rain."

A gust tugged at Kurama's rose-red hair, and she grinned as if to say, I told you so. He smiled, amused, and it occurred to her that he had heard her. Odd, an unconditioned mind rarely heard another's comments.

"So, when can I leave this…hospital room? Soon?" he asked without much enthusiasm. Time as a demon must have given him some sense of what was happening in his body. Time as a demon? How did I know that?

"The long explanation, or the simple answer?"

"I don't…."

"No." she told him simply, serenely. "You aren't nearly over it yet. You still have the spots, don't scratch them, and Windstorm was able to give me a full summery of the illness. It's a long one, this. You've gotten over the mild," she coughed with slight derision, "fever, and usually there's a worse one after that. A cough, too, and the seizures and dehydration that comes with fever."
Kurama visibly paled, and the plants around him drooped. She could hear them, sad, crying out with green voices. She, too, was an earth adept, but mastery of Earth and Spirit came naturally to a Miko. That was one of the ways a possible future Miko was found in humans. She was an air adept by chance.

"Then, if you survive all that, you're home free." She scowled slightly, without warning. "Now I'm picking up phrases from your mind." The green voices wiggled in distress at her black mood.

"From my mind? I had thought as much. If you want to stop hearing minds, make the winds stop carrying thoughts. The winds listen to you, and you, them. In return for your friendship, they try to carry information to you the best they can. With thoughts. Your mistake was to let them carry whatever they wish."

"It's never too late to let the fever have you." She reminded him lightly, her voice betraying neither amusement nor irritation, both of which she was feeling. When he said nothing, his mind on the plants again, she sighed. "It's broken anyway." She felt his mind question that she had not checked, and she answered half formed thoughts. "You're sweating. Surely you must know that much about the human body, O Wise Demon." she added teasingly.

Skye turned at a ripple, and laughed, a small sound of delight leaving lips pale from exhaustion. "Alut'tum. How fare the silver waters?" The sound of ceremony echoed from the words, and the plants tuned it out, having heard it many times.

"Bright and swift. How fares the growing earth?" the small creature in the water replied, the same sound of ceremony applied. She was no larger than a man's hand, with long sky-blue hair, and tiny, delicate features. She wore no clothing, but perhaps that was ordinary. Clothing was a human concept, and this creature was no such thing. A human concept, but not purely a humane one.

"Strong and green. How fare the burning flames?" Skye replied, her voice finally betraying some emotion, but faint at that. It was the bare echo of eagerness to get on with the greeting ritual.

"Just and versatile. How fare the clever winds?"

"They bear heavy tidings."

"May the Spirit bring lighter news."

"What goes on in your world? I cannot stay past a moment. A man comes. A demon. He is very…full of hatred." Kurama wanted to protest that this elegant little creature, her voice like crystal being struck by a spoon, or of a glass bell, would leave because of one being.

"An epidemic. Don't go, it's just Hiei, Alut'tum. He won't try and chase you away." Skye's voice pleaded with her, saying the things she heard Kurama wish he could say.

The door opened with a whispering sigh, and Alut'tum left, without another word. Perhaps the reason ceremony was so important was because conversation was so short. But if it were gone, more could be said…it was a beautiful ritual anyway, one that gave tribute to the elements.

Kurama turned to see Hiei framed in the doorway, weight shifted to his left, perfectly centered and balanced. He noticed that with a warriors eye, regretting that such a posture was necessary, for it betrayed mistrust.

"You've been killing again, Hiei." Kurama said.