Notes: Wow, this chapter is 5 pages long, nearly six. Haha, anyway, this chapter is a bit humorous but also deep. Hope you like. Bloodshed and a bit of emotional angst will be in the next chapter. Also, Inuyasha will be appearing soon. The closing of Reflections is getting nearer, as well as that 'tragic' ending. The tension is nigh. Muah-ha-ha!
Kazuki dragged himself out to where Kikyo and Kaede had been waiting for him. He told them that the demon had run away when he spotted it that it was nothing to be worried about. Before he left to go pick up Kikyo's supplies from the Kabuki actor, Kikyo turned to him and asked, "Kazuki-san, you appear heavy." What she meant by this was he seemed sad. Indeed, it felt as though his soul carried a weight, but he denied it, saying he was all right.
He turned around again when Kaede stuffed a tiny flower within his hand. "A blessing, Mr. Kazuki." She said cheerfully. Kazuki gave a weak smile in return, nodding. He made off towards the south, when he got to the edge of the village he spotted a large house with red wooden pillars, gabled roof decorated at the top with a crouching dragon. A stone walkway led up from where he stood to the engawa and there as Kikyo had said was a pool with a small bridge over it as a shortcut to the house. Contained inside the pool were Koi fish their vibrant colors flashing in the sunlight.
Kazuki sighed and strode across the bridge, stepping up into the engawa and knocking upon the wooden frame close to the Shoji, or sliding doors. "Hello?"
There came a tiny man's voice from inside before the door slid open. Before Kazuki was a small man with funny, but cute features, like a lizard. He had a tuff of black hair sprouting from the top of his nearly bald head and a flowing mustache that he always seemed to play with. He pulled on it, while examining Kazuki, "My!" He cooed, "Aren't you a nice-looking one!"
His statement made Kazuki feel rather uncomfortable. He was starting to realize what Kikyo meant about Yoshima's 'liking'.
"Yoshima Toku?" Kazuki asked, making sure it was the right guy. This man appeared to be about in his late thirties.
"Yes that I am, young man." The man replied, eyeing him.
"I am a…" He stopped and then gave another sigh, saying, "Acquaintance of the Lady Kikyo. I have come to pick up whatever it is you give her."
"Ah!" Yoshima exclaimed, clasping his hands together, "Kikyo-sama! Ah, she was a great dancer. Come, come on inside! I shall give it to you!" Kazuki would have politely reclined, but Yoshima grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. For a small man he was rather strong and tight-fisted, like a crab. Those tiny fingers pinched him, unlike Kikyo's. Although he had only felt hers that one time when she gave him his new clothes, and even though they were firm from handling the bow, they were still gentle. As Kazuki was thinking about them and why she always appeared so blank and sad, Yoshima interrupted him when the actor jerked him inside a formal room where a scroll hanged in an alcove bearing the symbol 'beauty'.
Yoshima let go of his hand and reaching down, he picked up a package that lay on a low table. Handing it over, Yoshima suddenly asked, "By the way, would you care for some tea?"
"No really, Yoshima-san, I mustn't." Kazuki replied, almost begging.
The little man laughed in an odd, chirping way and chortled, "Oh really now! Don't be so modest! You look thirsty! Come let us go to the irori!" Before Kazuki could say another one, the crab fingers pinched him again and thus he was dragged to the heart of the wooden house. There, Yoshima, quite gracefully, poured tea for Kazuki and himself. Kazuki sat patiently; tense, as he listened to Yoshima talk on and on about Kabuki and this one actor who was really amazing. Yoshima sighed dreamily and then spoke, "Yes, indeed! Tesaku was renowned for his acting! Even Kikyo-sama herself came to see him perform a few times before she fully became priestess."
"What? Kikyo-sama acted?" Kazuki asked, nearly spitting the tea out
"No, no boy!" Yoshima laughed, "She took dance from me half a year and she was very skilled in it. She could have moved higher but it would have ruined her when she became priestess. You see, females in Kabuki perform suggestively and can give themselves to men once the show is over, like prostitutes. Not a good thing, eh?" Yoshima bobbed his head, looking oddly like a chicken when he did so.
Absolutely true. Look up 'Kabuki' on wikipedia.
Kazuki suddenly felt sick, "No sir."
"Ha! Well, no matter, all is well." Yoshima chuckled, "So, boy…"
"Kazuki."
"Kazuki? That's a strong name. Well, Kazuki, will you be staying around here for some time?" Yoshima asked, pulling his whiskers and winking at him.
"Yes, Yoshima-san, with Kikyo-sama." Kazuki explained, he felt hot.
Yoshima seemed saddened by this; he cocked his head and inquired, "Are you a monk in training?"
"No sir."
"That's strange. Well, allow me to lead you outside, I know Kikyo-sama will be worried." Yoshima bobbed his head again, giggling, as he snatched Kazuki's hand again and pulled him off towards the entrance. He opened the sliding door for Kazuki, and then bowing, "I hope you will visit me again soon, Kazuki-san." He chirped. Kazuki nodded, bowing in return.
"Thank you for the tea. I shall tell Kikyo-sama of you and your kindness." For some reason Kazuki felt queasy saying that.
Yoshima chortled again at his remark, like a tiny mouse, "Your presence is all that matters, Kazuki-san. Farewell." He closed the door, his footsteps disappearing within.
Kazuki breathed a sigh of relief and made his way across the village, back towards Kikyo and Kaede's house near the Shinto shrine. The small minka home was a welcome sight to behold in his eyes and he gladly stepped unto the engawa and slid open the shoji. Instantly for that moment what Sesshomaru said was forgotten, as he called out for the priestess.
Kikyo emerged from the hallway and came up to him and asked, "How was it? Did you get it?"
Kazuki handed Kikyo the package and nodded, "It was…unusual to say the least. Yoshima-san was kind to me. He offered me tea."
Kikyo smiled something he had never seen before, "That is good to know." She fiddled with the wrapped on the package and inside was small bottles lined in an orderly fashion. Instantly Kazuki realized what it was, his mother used to have something of the same sort sitting on a black, oiled table.
"Lotions?" Kazuki spat, gawking.
"Yes, ointments and perfumes too." Kikyo added, giving a light laugh at his stare, "I rarely get things such as this, so it is a treasure. What is it Kazuki-san? Hasn't your mother ever gotten stuff like this?"
Kazuki turned away, grumbling. Kikyo realized it was a touchy subject and she bowed in apology, "Forgive me, Kazuki-san. I must look before I leap." She turned away, "I will be getting ready, please stay here and look after Kaede."
She started to walk away, back into the hallway where she had just moments before exited, when Kazuki said, "I would sometimes watch my mother beautify herself in front of the mirror in her room. She would often sing and before she left hold me close. What you said just reminded me of that…Kikyo-sama."
Kikyo turned around, knowing what happened. "She is dead, isn't she?"
Kazuki gasped, shocked, "How did you know?"
"Your eyes are the gateway to the soul. You turned your head away and glanced downward and you thought of her. They glazed over with sorrow. How can I not see? Plus, I am surrounded by death constantly. I learned the ways of the afterlife." Kikyo stated, her face contracted, tense, but her eyes relaxed, a leakage of sorrow escaping.
"You are truly wise…Kikyo-sama." Kazuki sputtered, he could barely breath.
"No…just different." Kikyo said slowly. Kazuki stared, never had he seen Kikyo so…weak. It was as if a mask was being taken off bit by bit. No…it was probably just a trick to let his guard down. She would never understand.
Kazuki turned away, but a hand grasped his shoulder. He froze when Kikyo spoke softly, "I'm sure she is proud of you."
Kazuki shook of her hand, "No, Kikyo-sama, more like disappointed." He went outside, leaving Kikyo staring sadly at his back, her package of oils and lotions clutched tightly against her bosom.
---
Kazuki sat outside, feeling the warm breeze of summer wash over him, as he watched Kaede frolic in the grass, trying to snatch butterflies. He looked down at the flower she had given him in the morning. He squeezed it, but replaced it back within his kimono when suddenly Kaede tackled him playfully from behind. "Good evening, Mr. Kazuki!" She yelled excitedly.
Kazuki whipped about and Kaede froze, expecting a chiding, but instead Kazuki knelt down and pulled out the flower again from his kimono and handed it to her, "Here, I give it back. Thank you for your blessing."
Kaede grinned, wide-eyed, and snatched it from him, "Your welcome! Come, let's catch butterflies!" She called, grabbing his hand, but unlike Yoshima, Kazuki gladly allowed it. Together they raced, the birds chirping overhead, as they grabbed at the air, trying to get the beautiful butterflies.
By the time Kikyo came out, Kazuki had ten in hand and Kaede, two. "Aw, Mr. Kazuki, you're so fast!" Kaede said sadly, examining the flapping insects in Kazuki's grip. Kazuki smiled at her and peering up she smiled in return, "What is it, Mr. Kazuki?" She asked.
Kazuki threw the butterflies into the air and watched them dance freely in the sky. Kaede did the same with hers. "Look how free they are. I wish I could fly." Kaede said dreamily. Kazuki merely nodded at her reply, when suddenly a loud bird cry rang out. A large, powerful falcon flew overhead searching for a meal. "Kaede…if you'd like, I could get you a Taka (falcon)."
"What? Really?" Kaede gasped, looking at Kazuki with a stunned, but excited face, "But those kind of birds cost plenty of money!"
"Ha...!" Kazuki chuckled, smiling down at the girl, "No need to worry…Miss Kaede, considering it a gift for all the kindness you've given me."
Kaede stared at Kazuki. She had never heard him speak her name before, until now. Even though there was still looming sadness in his eyes, there was a sparkle she had never seen before, a sparkle of happiness. Kaede smiled widely and springing forward she wrapped her arms around him. Kazuki lurched forward, stunned, but then after a minute he looked down fondly at the girl who just a day before bestowed care upon him, even though the villagers were wary of Kazuki. He hoped that if Kaede ever found out he was demon she would still come to accept him for who he was.
"That will be enough of that, Kazuki-san." Kikyo suddenly spoke, coming up behind them. "Don't get my little sister's hopes up when I will not have a bird with a hunting instinct flying around my house." Her voice was stern, her face blank, but instantly Kazuki picked up a small trace of jealously.
"Kikyo-sama, it will be a good pet, when trained." Kazuki responded in return.
"And who will train it? Not me! Kaede does not have the time—" Kikyo froze when Kazuki strode forward.
"Kikyo-sama…Kaede has plenty of time, especially when you are gone. Mostly the times she is beside you is when battles occur within the village. Besides they can be great defenders even against Yokai." He cocked his head as if remembering something and then sighing he added, "Please relax Kikyo…" He placed a hand on her shoulder, as he searched her brown eyes, trying to show her his concern. So far this was the only time he did not hesitant in expressing himself.
Kikyo's face instantly became hard and she jerked her hand off her, "Do what you want!" She snapped, "But do not ever touch me!" She whirled about and strode off down a road, whipping around again she called angrily, "Kaede come! As for you, Kazuki-san, you may come to the Shinto shrine if you'd like." She then started down the road again.
Kazuki had never seen Kikyo this angry before. His thoughts were broken when Kaede said, "You've gotten under her skin, and I suppose this is a good thing, Mr. Kazuki. Don't worry, she'll calm down." Kaede bowed and hugged Kazuki one last time before racing off to catch up with her sister.
Kazuki stood there for what seemed a long time, listening to the wind and the rustle of the grass. Then s the sun set over the mountains in the distance, Kazuki knew he had to go to the Shinto shrine, it was polite, but most of all, it was to make amends with Kikyo-sama.