Chapter 25: SURPRISE!
Sesshomaru woke up and blinked a few times. His vision seemed somewhat duller than usual. Maybe because he was half-asleep still. He snuggled into her hair and sniffed. He couldn't smell her scent. He sat up and saw a surprising sight. Kaori had silver hair. Why did she have silver hair?
She moaned as she woke up. She looked up and crawled away from the stranger, falling to the floor. Who was in her bed?
"Are you all right?" Sesshomaru asked, giving her his hand. Then he saw he had no claws. He took his hand back and looked at it. Why the hell didn't he have his claws?
"Who are you?" Kaori asked. He averted his attention from his hands to Kaori. She had amber eyes that were looking up with him with fear. Or was it anger? He couldn't tell without his intense sight.
"It's me," he told her.
"Who are you?" Kaori asked again. He then saw her hands and saw she had claws. So they exchanged species? How?
Sesshomaru tried to get the information correct, but he just couldn't. His mind felt like it was going in overdrive and he laid back down.
"Get out of my house, now!" Kaori ordered.
"I'm Sesshomaru," he told her.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked. "How is that possible?"
"I'm trying to find that out," he told her.
"Prove it," Kaori said. Sesshomaru raise his left hand. She didn't see any claws, which scared her, but then saw the wedding band. The one she had bought him. She crawled back up onto the bed and laid in his arms. Why was he human? Wait, how did she know that?
"Sesshomaru, did I change as well?" Kaori asked. She saw him look down at her.
"Yes," he told her.
"How?" Kaori asked.
He was afraid to show her, but picked up a small mirror next to the bed. A high pitch scream rang throughout the house, injuring Sesshomaru's ears, even though they were human.
Sesshomaru lowered the mirror and Kaori's face was in pure shock.
"I'm... I'm..." Kaori stuttered.
"Calm down," he told her.
"HOW THE HELL AM I'M SUPPOSED TO BE CALM WHEN I'M A FUCKING DEMON!" Kaori yelled.
"Kaori, there is a logical explanation for this," Sesshomaru told her.
"Really? What?" Kaori asked.
"I'm trying to find that out," he told her. He decided to dress and went to the mirror. His eyes went wide. His silver hair was now black. His demon ears were now human ones. He already knew about the claws but he saw human teeth when he gasped.
"Something the matter?" Kaori asked from the bed.
"I am a human," he nearly hissed. He refused to brush his hair and left the room.
Kaori got a casual dress on and went to the mirror. She might as well find out what features she had. She could feel fangs in her mouth and saw claws on her hands. Her hair was silver and she had Sesshomaru's markings. A crescent moon was on her forehead. It was like she was the female version of Sesshomaru. Kaori smiled when she realized her eyes were amber. But now she couldn't look into his amber pools. She sighed and left the room.
"Who the hell are you!" Someone screamed downstairs. She hurried downstairs to where she heard her mother's voice.
"Must I get this everywhere I go today?" Sesshomaru sighed as he poured a bowl of cereal. He didn't know why, but he was starving.
"Mom, dad, it's just fine," Kaori said. They both looked at her and Kaori saw her mom ready to purify her. Sesshomaru's caught her hand.
"Don't purify her," Sesshomaru growled. It was as efficient as a human.
Kaori's mother dropped her hand and looked at Sesshomaru and Kaori. Kaori washed some dishes and had no food. She usually would have breakfast, but she felt full already. Sesshomaru munched on cereal. It was odd for both of them.
"What happened?" Kaori's father asked. Sesshomaru shrugged while reading the back of the cereal box.
"We don't know," Kaori said.
"Well, find out. I really don't like the feeling I'm getting from my own daughter," Kaori's mother said, walking out of the door, followed by Kaori's father. Both needed to get to work.
Sesshomaru munched on the cereal, still reading the back of the box. Kaori looked at him and told herself he didn't look half-bad with the black hair. She wrapped her arms lightly around his neck and rested her chin on his head.
"You don't look too bad like this," Kaori told him, making him look up at her. A small river of milk ran down his chin. Kaori wiped it up with a napkin.
"Kaori, we need to find out how to reverse this," he told her, looking back to the box. Kaori got slightly angry and took the box and put it away. "I was reading that!"
"Well, now you aren't," Kaori said, closing the door.
"Kaori!" Sesshomaru whined. He froze, shocked he sounded like that.
"Big baby," Kaori said, walking past him and flipping her hair at him. He growled, but it wasn't as effective as earlier.
Kaori sat down on the couch and hit some buttons to watch TV. She could tell Sesshomaru sat next to her and distracted her from the TV.
"I wonder, while we still have this change, would everything change?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Sesshomaru," Kaori sighed and shut the TV off as soon as his saliva hit her ear.
It felt better than when she was demon. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. He smiled, but almost frowned when he realized he didn't have fangs to drive her crazy with. He just kept her preoccupied with licking her ear and went for her neck and nibbled. He wasn't worried about hurt her with fangs and she let a small whine out as he pushed her down on the couch. She smiled and kissed and tried something. She pushed her mouth farther into his and let her fangs graze over his lip and he gasped.
"What are you doing?" Sesshomaru asked, sitting up slightly.
"Experimenting," Kaori said and raked her claws over his bare chest. He moaned and Kaori took her chance to overpower him. He ended up underneath her, her sitting on his thighs.
"Kaori-" Sesshomaru started, but Kaori held one claw to his mouth.
"You told me males were usually on top, last night. But when it came to humans and demons, demons are on top. I'm the demon now, so relax like I did," Kaori told him. She put her mouth under his chin and nibbled carefully.
He gasped and his breath was caught in his throat before he nodded slightly. Humans had advantages as well. Their skin was tender and sensitive.
Kaori placed a kiss on his lips and played with his chest with her claws. She heard footsteps and sat up. Sesshomaru whimpered but Kaori looked at the door. It sounded like it was coming closer from there. That only meant one thing; they were about to have guests. Kaori got off and sat at the other end of the couch. Sesshomaru was in a daze, but once the kisses stopped, he was confused. He sat up and heard the doorbell, making him jump. Kaori stood and smiled, indicating to Sesshomaru she knew that was going to happen. He took note he was going to make her pay later on.
Kaori opened the door and Kagome gasped. What had happened to Kaori?
"Kaori, you're..." Kagome stuttered. Inuyasha walked in. He didn't even notice it. But he did notice someone with black hair on the couch with their back to them all.
"Hey, you have a guest!" Inuyasha said and put his hat on and gloves. He didn't know they had a guest, especially since it was their first day together. "I wonder where Sesshomaru is."
Sesshomaru nearly growled. He would have ran out of there if he knew Inuyasha was going to be there at that moment. Before they arrived was better than now.
Sesshomaru stood and made sure to keep his face covered. If Inuyasha found what had happened to him, he would never hear the end of it. Plus, his life would be in danger.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kagome asked.
Kaori knew instantly where he was going.
"Uh, my guest is tired and is planning on going upstairs to rest," Kaori said.
"Oh, ok," Kagome said. "It was nice to meet you..."
Inuyasha was sceptical, but allowed it to pass.
"Where is that asshole?" Inuyasha asked. Sesshomaru's anger hit a high level and was trying not to lash out with human nails. At least he knew he wasn't going to transform.
"Kaori, what happened to you? You look like Sesshomaru," Kagome said.
"Does he look like you? Will he look like a hot babe who I really think should be with me?" Inuyasha asked.
Sesshomaru couldn't take it anymore and let a growl loose.
"What's your problem?" Inuyasha asked. Sesshomaru continued to keep his face hidden as much as possible.
"He is really protective of me..." Kaori said.
"Why? I could understand that asshole of my brother being like that, but a guest, naw," Inuyasha said. Next thing he felt was his back hitting the floor.
Kaori's eyes were wide as Sesshomaru threw Inuyasha across the room and watched him land on his back on the floor.
"I'm not an asshole," Sesshomaru growled, working well again.
"Holy shit!" Inuyasha gasped. Kagome ran to Inuyasha's side and looked at where he was looking at. She gasped as well.
"You're, you're..." Kagome stuttered.
"He's human," Inuyasha said, smiling. "The more easier to kill you."
"You touch him and the only person who's dying is you," Kaori threatened, walking calmly to stand in front of Sesshomaru.
"So your wife is going to be your protector, huh?" Inuyasha asked. "She won't be able to do shit!"
Inuyasha came running full speed towards Kaori and Sesshomaru, but Kaori put one hand up and poison shot from it, sending Inuyasha flying to hit the wall this time. Kagome watched in horror. Kaori wouldn't do that. Was this odd transformation causing it?
Inuyasha got up slowly and glared at Kaori. He came running towards Kaori again and Kaori twirled, sending her Poison Whip at Inuyasha. That sent him flying to the spot he came from. Sesshomaru was shocked Kaori was using this power without any training.
"Don't make me do that again," Kaori told Inuyasha. Kagome crawled next to an unconscious Inuyasha and glared at Kaori and Sesshomaru.
"So, this alliance we have is over now? Are this how you break alliances? It's lousy," Kagome said while shaking Inuyasha awake. It worked.
"We're getting out of here. They can get yelled at for destroying the house," Inuyasha spat, standing up uneasily. They rushed out of there and Kaori's eyes went wide. What the hell happened? She was just angry at them. She didn't mean to attack them.
"This all your fault!" Kaori yelled, running upstairs and locking the door. Sesshomaru just watched. This was all his fault? Why?
"Kaori-" Sesshomaru started, but she slammed the door with a great amount of force. He hung his head and sat on the couch. Shattering glass was heard upstairs. He was worried that she would cut herself, but it seemed it wouldn't care if she did. With her being a demon, the cut would heal almost immediately, depending on how deep it was.
The door opened slowly and he looked up at the banister. Kaori came out and leaned on the banister.
"Can you hold me?" Kaori asked. Sesshomaru smiled and walked up the steps and held her.
"Always," he told her. He heard her sob and he held her closer. He had a feeling she didn't want to be a demon any more than he wanted to be a human. He kissed her cheek and she looked up at him.
"Why must our lives be so difficult? Why can we just have normal lives and be able to just have normal families?" Kaori asked.
"What is a normal life? What is a normal family?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Me being able to go to school and then college and you being able to rule your lands and attempt to kill Inuyasha everyday," Kaori said, looking over the banister.
"But that isn't exactly normal. There is no actual definition for normal, is there? And why would we have normal lives if we aren't normal ourselves?" Sesshomaru asked. He felt Kaori's knees give weigh and he kneeled down with her. "It's what makes us special and ourselves. It's what makes us different than others. With your destiny to rule all and my destiny to rule the west side, we have to have something that is different."
"But it's always different! It's always special! It's always out of the ordinary!" Kaori cried. "I just wish it would stop!"
"So that you do the same thing over and over? So that our lives are a never-ending circle of never-changing events? That's why we need change and difference," he told her. "Or we would all die of boredom."
Kaori turned and cried on his shoulder and he held her close. He felt generous at the moment. Humans were strange creatures. They could change in the blink of an eye. Well, so could he.
Kaori lifted her head from his shoulder and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"But with us, we have constant problems. Why?" Kaori asked. "Problems almost everyday."
"What's the point of life if there are no problems to solve?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori sat in silence with him. Kaori sighed and pulled away to look at his eyes. He had chocolate brown eyes. She could get used to that. She smiled and felt him place a hand on her cheek.
"Will you be all right now?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori nodded. Sesshomaru held her chin in his hand and looked at her face. Her markings suited her well.
"What?" Kaori asked.
"You look good with my markings," he told her.
Kaori laughed and embraced him. He did the same. Kaori cried a little bit more on his shoulder before she said she was all right now. He smiled at her and gave her a brief kiss.
"I'm sorry. I must be bothering you," Kaori said, leaning back on the banister.
"No, it's just fine. I have nothing better to do," he told her.
"It's just, I don't know why all this stuff has to happen to me," Kaori said.
"Just be happy you're not Inuyasha. More shit has happened to him then us combined," he told her. Kaori and Sesshomaru laughed and Kaori looked up at him.
"I feel for a bath," Kaori told him.
"Go ahead," he told her.
"Want to join me?" Kaori asked as Sesshomaru stood and helped her up.
"Maybe," he said.
"I take that as a no?" Kaori asked.
"A yes," he told her. Kaori took his hand and led him to the bathroom. Before she entered, Sesshomaru asked if she needed any of her odd cleaning herbs.
"I think I'll do just fine without them," Kaori said, walking into the bathroom. "I probably just need a soak."
Kaori closed the door and locked it to make sure if her parents came in, they wouldn't walk in on her, I mean their bath. Kaori bent over to turned on the tap and felt fingertips slowly work their way up her thigh. Kaori shuttered, but tested the temperature with her hand.
"How does water come from there?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It's a modern thing. A tap. We use it for the sink as well," Kaori said, putting a little more hot water. She wanted it steaming.
Once at the right temperature, she put the plug in and pulled her hair up in a messy bun.
"You want your hair up as well?" Kaori asked. He shook his head no.
The bathtub filled up fairly quickly and Kaori turned the tap off. The mirrors were steaming up and Kaori smiled. Exactly how she liked it. She took her dress off and put a toe into the water. Her body would always need some time to get used to the excessive heat. She put her foot in followed by the other. Sesshomaru was doing almost the exact thing. His skin was more sensitive than hers and it took a while before he put both feet in. Once each of them were in, Sesshomaru pulled Kaori into his lap and she relaxed against his chest. His hands rested on her midriff. She had her hands behind his head and relaxed in the heat. A relaxing bath was all she needed to calm her nerves. She most likely need one every day she was a demon. One every day she was a human wasn't too bad either.
"There isn't much room here," he told her.
"You shouldn't be moving around too much in a bath. It has just enough room to bathe in and soak in," Kaori told him, closing her eyes to relax. "Now quiet."
Sesshomaru brought his head to her shoulder and blew cold air onto it.
"Will this help?" Sesshomaru asked and Kaori shuttered.
"Sesshomaru," Kaori sighed as her hands got a fistful of his hair.
He smiled and moved his head so he didn't breathe on her shoulder anymore.
"Dear, either you don't start at all, or continue all the way," Kaori told him. "Now get going."
Sesshomaru smiled and nibbled at her neck.
"Like this dear?" Sesshomaru asked, his hot breath hitting her neck. His answer was a longing moan. "I take that as a yes."
"No, it was a 'hurry up or you're dead,'" Kaori told him.
Kaori's eyes went wide as she felt something rumble inside her. Like something wanted to be let out. It didn't feel like the Uzuha angel because it usually warned her before it emerged. Kaori moved away from Sesshomaru and tried to think. What was this feeling that was growing every time she breathed?
"Kaori, something the matter?" Sesshomaru asked.
"What's this feeling?" Kaori asked. "It feels like it's growing."
Sesshomaru knew what she was talking about instantly. "Take few deep breaths and relax, ok. Think about your breathing and only that," he told her, getting out of the bathtub.
Kaori closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. It was easier when Sesshomaru left the bathtub. He got out of the bathroom and got his clothes he usually wore for the past. He returned with the kimono he had gotten made for her in hand.
"Kaori, get dressed, all right?" Sesshomaru asked and saw Kaori get out and dry off a little before getting into the kimono. He quickly tied the sash and told her to pack as quickly as possible. She disappeared into her room. Sesshomaru went downstairs and got a pen and paper. What was he supposed to tell Kaori's parents? He was recently told to give them a note if they were returning to the past to tell them when they would return, if they knew.
Mrs. and Mr. Uzuha,
It seems we had to cut this visit short again. Sorry we couldn't stay any longer, but something has come up with us and need to leave almost immediately. Be back once it's solved. I don't know when, but we'll be sure to return before Christmas, if we can.
Sesshomaru.
He finished it and added Uzuha at the end of his name. He was married to Kaori now, so why not have her last name as well?
Kaori came down with her backpack in hand and passed it to Sesshomaru out of habit. He threw it right back at her and told her she was a demon now, she could carry it on her own. She was shocked, but he smiled and took it for her.
"That wasn't funny. You cut my bath short and then be rude to me," Kaori said. "I'm not in the mood for jokes."
Sesshomaru helped her through the well, but they had to both climb out. Kaori didn't exactly understand flying yet, so he wasn't going to take that chance. It was bad enough her demon was arising while they were taking a bath. If anything should piss her off enough, she would most likely transform without knowing any way to turn back.
"We're going to go see the healer to the west that dislikes priestesses," Sesshomaru told her, walking westward. "He was an old friend of my father and might know why we changed."
"So then he can help us change back?" Kaori asked.
"I hope so," he told her.
It took over a few days to get there since they didn't fly and they continuously needed to rest. Sesshomaru was not used to travelling long distances as a human.
Once they arrived, he told Kaori to sit on the boulder while he talked to the healer. He entered and saw darkness except a hole in the roof that allowed light to enter.
"What do you want?" Someone snapped in the darkness.
"I need help," Sesshomaru said.
"Sesshomaru!" The man exclaimed. "Why are you a human?"
Sesshomaru knew the old demon could tell, but he just hoped he didn't have to show his face.
"Come in to the light," the demon told Sesshomaru. He stood in the darkness and reluctantly walked into the circle of light. The moon lit up his face and he looked up to it.
"Ah, nice features, for a human," the demon said. "Give me your palm."
"Must we do this every visit?" Sesshomaru asked, but placed his hand out with his palm up. A hand held it and claws traced over it.
"I see. Something huge has recently changed in your life," the demon said. "A marriage?"
"Yes," Sesshomaru said, taking his hand back. It felt creepier when he was human and the old demon told events of his life.
"To a human, I suppose," he said.
"Yes. How did you know?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Call her in," the old demon told Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru stood and came to the door.
"He wants to see you," Sesshomaru told Kaori. She stood and came over to Sesshomaru. He gave her a nudge inside and she looked around. It looked like the place was empty. She saw a hand twirl in the light in the middle of the room and the feeling grew inside her again. Her head buzzed and she held her head while backing into Sesshomaru.
"She's resisting her demon. Did you tell her to do that?" The demon asked.
"Stop this! Do you really want her to transform?" Sesshomaru asked.
The hand return and twirled and the feeling stopped. Her head was cleared and she fell to the ground. Sesshomaru was next to her.
"Why did you do that?" Sesshomaru asked, helping her to kneel.
"She will die if she continues to refuse the demon in her," the old demon said.
"Die?" Kaori asked.
"She won't have the demon rise in her anymore," Sesshomaru told the demon.
"Come here," the demon said.
"No way. After what you did to me-" Kaori started but a hand flew out and grasped her chin. Sesshomaru would have cut it off, but he no longer had claws. The hand pulled Kaori into the light. She was frightened of this man.
"So, you didn't just get married," the man said. Kaori looked up and saw two amber eyes looking down at her. Amber... Wasn't that for dog demons? Well Sesshomaru had said he was an old friend of his father.
"We only married," Sesshomaru spat.
"No. From the looks of it, you also mated," the demon told Sesshomaru.
"Mated?" Asked Sesshomaru and Kaori.
"Yes. An after-effect of mating. Your father used it on your mother, but not Izayoi," the demon said, releasing Kaori's chin. She sat up and backed up a bit.
"I don't remember mating Sesshomaru," Kaori said. "Actually, I don't even know how to mate."
"Did you 'interact' one night?" The man asked.
Kaori blinked, trying to get the facts straight. Sesshomaru understood and kneeled behind Kaori.
"Yes, our wedding night," Sesshomaru told the demon.
"Does he mean-" Kaori started, but Sesshomaru nodded.
Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around Kaori's waist and laid his head on her shoulder. He would like to see if that had anything to do with their changes.
"Did you bite her?" The demon asked.
"No," Sesshomaru said to the demon.
"Are you sure?" The demon asked. Just to prove it, Sesshomaru took the top of Kaori's kimono and pulled it down to her shoulder. If he mated her, he would have bitten there. He shocked himself when he saw a scar of a bite on her shoulder. He traced it with his finger.
"What?" Kaori asked, looking at him from the corner of her eye.
"This is trickery, isn't it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I use no trickery. Seeing that you seem to want to change back, I will advise you to go to the far north to see the angel," the demon told Sesshomaru.
"Angel?" Kaori asked.
"Uzuha Kiona Angel," the demon said.
"Uzuha?" Kaori and Sesshomaru asked.
"Why? Is there a problem?" The demon asked.
"I'm Uzuha Kaori. I have an angel as well," Kaori said.
"Sesshomaru, you are in for some trouble," the demon said. "Before you go, may I read your fortune?"
Kaori was sceptical, but moved forward and gave him her hand. He flipped it palm up and traced her hand with a claw. Sesshomaru and Kaori could see a smile form on his face. Sesshomaru pulled her away. Unless a demon had just killed a precious thing, smiling was extremely bad.
"Good luck, Sesshomaru. You will need it," the demon said.
"What did you find?" Kaori asked.
"Kaori, let's go," Sesshomaru said, standing. Kaori didn't follow.
"What did you find?" Repeated Kaori.
"Problems will form when you get there," the demon said.
"What type of problems?" Kaori asked.
"Kaori, come on," Sesshomaru told her. She stood, but wasn't leaving until she got some answers.
"What type of problems?" Kaori asked.
A presence left the room and only Kaori and Sesshomaru were left in the room. Kaori eventually followed Sesshomaru outside.
"I could have saved you the trouble. Once he starts talking in riddles, you won't get anything out of him," Sesshomaru told her.
"I understood him," Kaori said to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru looked back at her questioning.
"How?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I understood you when you talked in riddles," Kaori said.
"I never talked in riddles," he told her.
"Really? Naming yourself in the third person got slightly confusing," Kaori told him, walking in front of him.
"Are you trying to get something?" Sesshomaru asked in her ear.
"Maybe," Kaori said.
Sesshomaru shook his head. How was he going to survive with her?
Sesshomaru saw a pink, purifying light and it was aiming at Kaori. He tackled her down in time that a purifying arrow passed by.
"I knew you liked to be forceful, but I didn't know you wanted it like that," Kaori said.
"That wasn't why I pushed you down," Sesshomaru said, getting up. He sat on her legs. She propped her body up on her arms and looked up. A priestess came out of the woods holding another purifying arrow.
"Demon," the priestess said.
"It was bad enough I was hunted down to be taken, but now I'm hunted down to be killed," Kaori sighed.
Sesshomaru moved so he could get up and whispered into her ear, "Welcome to my life."
Kaori sighed as she sat on her knees. The priestess's bow and arrow shook with fear and Kaori felt sorry for her. She actually thought Kaori was going to attack her.
"I'm not going to attack you," Kaori said.
The priestess wasn't listening. Her bow and arrow shook even more.
"I'm-" Kaori started to repeat, but Sesshomaru held her shoulders.
"They won't listen, no matter what you say," Sesshomaru told her. "But the problem we have here is if we leave, will she shoot?"
"I'm not going to hurt you," Kaori said. "We'll just leave."
"Guards!" Someone yelled in the bushes.
The young priestess turned her arrow and pointed it at the voice. She was completely frightened, she just dropped her bow and arrows and ran. Kaori sighed. Why didn't the girl just listen?
"Let's go while we can," Sesshomaru told her in a whisper.
"Leave the human here, and you'll survive," the voice said. The sound of clinking metal was heard.
"Leave the human?" Sesshomaru asked. They meant him.
"I bet he means you no harm, so leave him and everything will work out just fine," a male said, coming out of the bushes on a horse.
"I'm not going to leave Sess-" Kaori started, but Sesshomaru covered her mouth.
"I'm not a hostage of hers. We'll just go and live on, all right?" Sesshomaru asked, backing away slowly. Kaori struggled with him, but found it useless and glared at the man.
"You must be possessed. We have a priest in the village. The evil soul will leave your body. Just follow us," the man said to Sesshomaru.
"No," Sesshomaru said.
"Men, surround them!" The man on the horse ordered. "Kill the demon!"
Kaori freaked and ran, with Sesshomaru on her heels.
"Follow them!" The man ordered. Kaori ran at top speed for a human with Sesshomaru close behind her. Sesshomaru stayed close behind her so he didn't get lost. Without knowing where he was, he would be a goner, especially now that he was a human.
They got to a safe distance and Kaori relaxed while leaning against a tree. Sesshomaru was doing the same.
"Next time, warn me," Sesshomaru growled.
"Sorry. If I did, they would have known as well," she told him.
"Well, you can make it up to me," he told her, pulling her to his chest.
"You really think so?" Kaori asked.
"Give me a night I'll never forget," he told her. She smiled with obvious mischief and pushed him into the covering of some bushes. He would not forget this, even if he tried.