Mizoshi's consciousness returned pleasantly.
Ah, the morning light.
A smile coaxed her lips.
Matters between Naraku and I are settled. Our quarrel is over. Now, I can focus on…
"I saw that. I know you're awake," a heavy voice grumbled.
…Kagura.
Without further delay, her eyelids popped open whereupon she saw the wind demoness herself occupying a space of floorboards that was a considerable distance away from the bedding itself. It was as if she was afraid of catching some disease. In fact, the entire room seemed to disagree with the scarlet-eyed demoness.
It is her master's chamber, after all.
"You slept well?" A raven eyebrow flew upwards.
She no longer hid it. "Yes. Immensely well." Mizoshi would've sighed at the memory.
Kagura muttered something under her breath, but thankfully Mizoshi couldn't make it out. Reluctantly, she took a few dainty steps forward as if the floor had turned into hot coals.
What is she doing her? Did Naraku send her?
"I heard you fighting last night," the woman in lavender commented. "I feared I would find you less than alive this morning. But, instead I discover this."
"Naraku is a complicated being." Mizoshi was watching Kagura warily for any form of physical or verbal attack, but it appeared that all the wind sorceress wanted to do was chat. And pry.
"I know. I know better than anyone." She looked right into her eyes.
"Where is he? Where's Naraku?"
The demoness stopped pacing. "Somewhere." Her blank expression did not change. No smirk curled those polished lips.
"You're plotting something." Mizoshi spoke these words unthinkingly, and it was the wrong thing to utter.
Kagura's head snapped up, and her red eyes held their old fire. "I'm plotting something? No, hanyou, he is plotting something. Soon."
"What do you mean?" She pulled the covers closer to her chin as if warding off a long anticipated monster.
"Let's just say that Naraku may go through a significant transformation. The barrier is changing. It won't be long until we receive unexpected visitors. Kohaku has already fled. Naraku always sends him away before something detrimental is to occur " The wind witch glowered down at her.
Mizoshi was growing frightened. "What do we do?"
The demoness laughed. It was a laugh of both derision and bitterness.
"It's not funny!" Mizoshi would have risen to her feet, but her kimono was currently in an inconvenient place.
"'What do we do?'" Kagura mimicked nastily. "What we always do, hanyou—await orders. Of course, Naraku is most concerned with saving his own skin. We'll be the last to know."
"I have to see Naraku." Mizoshi's voice was becoming anxiety-ridden.
How can he do this right now? After our reconciliation?
More distressing was the thought of facing the two ferocious dog brothers again.
I barely escaped yesterday.
The wind witch glared at her peevishly. "Find himself yourself, hanyou." With that, she disappeared through the door.
I have to get going. Who knows what will happen if I wait here?
Furiously throwing on her kimono, she fumbled with the tie as she regained her footing. No sooner was she dressed was she propelling herself into the corridor itself. Kagura was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the dark hanyou.
This place is still too massive.
Suddenly forming a thought, or rather a dim suspicion, Mizoshi walked calmly enough onto the veranda. And, right there he was. Plotting. But, he was not alone.
Gazing almost lovingly at his palm, Naraku stroked his pet's bristly black hair. Kuro hissed in content. Cautiously approaching this seemingly innocent display of affection, she hesitantly called out to him.
"Naraku?"
His crimson eyes met hers instantly. "Ah, Mizoshi. I was hoping to meet you here."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Return to your web, little one." He was talking to the spider.
Transfixed at this communication, she watched in amazement as the spider jumped to the floor and immediately started to crawl. Faster than she dreamed possible, Kuro moved like a dark liquid stain running down the adjacent hallway
Shouldn't the impact have killed it?
But, then again, Kuro was no ordinary spider. Just as Naraku was no ordinary man.
"Now, Mizoshi." He had returned to an almost business-like tone. "What can I help you with?"
"Kagura said…" As soon as the words left her mouth, she instantaneously regretted them.
"Oh? What did Kagura say?" His eyes were burning now.
"That the barrier was weakening," she replied in a rush. "If this barrier is gone, what does that mean?"
"It means that I am about to increase tremendously in power," he answered wryly. Carelessly.
"Naraku…" her voice wavered.
I'm frightened. Just when everything is turning out right…
"Scared, Mizoshi?" He looped his familiar around her waist. "Don't be," he purred. "I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you." Amusement tinged his comforting words.
"But, you nearly died last time!" she blurted out. "What will you do?"
"Are you suggesting that my power is inadequate?" Danger was lurking beneath his deceptively calm expression.
She realized her blunder. "No!" she exclaimed. "I'm merely worried about you."
"Hmm." He frowned. "And worried about yourself as well."
Naraku, I didn't…" she started helplessly.
He chuckled. "It doesn't matter. I know you're true, dearest Mizoshi. Never fear—you shall be provided for. You won't be separated from me that easily."
His reassuring tone should've helped, but it did not. Not when the dark hanyou was sizing her up as if she was a meal in his web.
However, he was not finished. "Unfortunately, Mizoshi, I must leave you now."
Her mouth hung open. "W-w-hat?"
"I've prepared for several long weeks. Now is the time when my transformation goes into effect." A marble smile creased his perfect features.
She decided not even to argue. It was going to happen.
"Kagura will take care of you when it is necessary. I'll make sure of it," he added before she could even reply in protest.
Kagura? Take care of me?
"Now, if you don't mind, I must retreat. My guests will surely need some company, and I best make sure that I'm in the proper position to receive them."
His lips curved into a playful smirk before they hurtled into her own. Unthinkingly, she kissed him back.
"Do not worry, Mizoshi. All will turn out well."
One second, he was there. A second later, he had melted into the darkness—moving away to some small alcove where he could dine on new prey and molt into a stronger form. Just like the arachnid he was.
Her sense of trepidation rising, Mizoshi meandered on the veranda.
Well, at least I'll get off this mountain. We'll all get off in this mountain in a flurry of smoke.
No doubt there would be fighting. A lot of fighting.
I suppose I'll be with Kagura again?
She was alone. Supposedly, Kohaku had fled. Naraku was gone. That just left the wind witch with her lethal pink fan and the ghostly little girl with her soul-stealing mirror.
It suddenly occurred to her that she should've trained herself better. What if she needed to tap into her power of flame in the shadow of an instant? Not that it would do much good against the dog brothers.
In the end, she returned to the castle's dim interior. She guessed she'd better start cultivating a "friendly" relationship if she and the demoness were to be together. But, lo and behold, it appeared that the wind sorceress herself was keeping herself hidden. With nothing else to do, Mizoshi stepped over the threshold to her own chamber and went to her special corner.
Still undisturbed.
Here, concealed beneath a stack of old parchments were new parchments and the art supplies themselves.
I wish I had some colored paints, but this black ink will have to do.
Completely engrossed in her work, the hours just flew by. Her drawing became more frantic as the hunger in her stomach deepened.
I have forgotten how much I loved to do this. Thankfully, my brother Ken hasn't hardened me against it.
Alarmed that her thoughts turned to her estranged brother who wouldn't even recognize his demonic blood and had resorted to masking his deformities with abnormally long sleeves; Mizoshi resolutely dipped her brush in more ink to add more detail to her creation. It wasn't more than a minute until more rumbling distracted her.
I think I should eat.
Packing away the supplies and unfinished sketch; Mizoshi threaded her path through the open doors and into the eerily silent corridor. Quietly, she padded her way to her food stores. And, they were her food stores. Save for Kohaku, no one ever ate. Even Naraku had given up his habitual cups of tea.
Preparing some rice with some kind of meat, she allowed her food to cook whilst listening to the sharp winter wind moan and whistle through the cracks of the structure. Unprecedented quiet reigned. The sound of boiling water was deafening.
Once she had situated herself with her meal, then the distressing noises started. Confusedly—her chopsticks raised to her mouth—she listened to what sounded like shouts and growls coupled with a horrible creaking. It was as if wood was breaking.
They're here.
Hurriedly scraping what she could into her stomach, she cleaned her bowls. As it turned out, Mizoshi might very well need her strength tonight.
The noises had finally stopped, but something was still wrong. Frowning, she began to gather her mean belongings.
Food…warmer clothes…my drawings of course…
She was in her room when it happened.
"Hanyou." Kagura's tone was cold. Colder than snow.
"Yes, Kagura." It was not a question. She understood the predicament, but the wind witch believed otherwise.
She jumped on her. "Must I chase you all over this castle?" Kagura literally shrieked. "They're here!"
"I'll leave immediately." Mizoshi faced the peeved incarnation.
"Leave and not fight? How typical." Her lacquered lips pulled into a challenging smirk.
Mizoshi was flabbergasted. "You wish me to fight? I suppose I could if you need—
"No, I do not need help!" the woman in lavender exploded. "I'm to protect you. Not to mention save myself," she murmured half in thought.
"Kagura?"
Her head snapped up. "Oh. Right."
No sooner had she spoken, the demoness made her move--leaving Mizoshi with the unkind choice of either running to safety or being left behind. Marching after the wind sorceress's long strides, it wasn't surprising when she found herself on the open veranda. Dusk was coating the sky a slate gray and the light was growing poor. In a moment of awkward hesitation, Mizoshi stood and waited. The mountain mist was thick in the air. The demoness mumbling incoherently at her side, Mizoshi turned her head when she heard a strong blast of air. Unsurprisingly, there was the wind witch's elongated flying feather. Making no pointless inquiries, she got on without being expressly told to do so. In truth, Mizoshi was getting used to this.
I stay in a place for a couple of weeks to a couple of years, and then, I leave without a trace. The same outcome over and over again.
Giving into the situation and spreading out on the sturdy down of the fantastical feather, Mizoshi watched sullenly as Kagura stepped on the enchanted thing. Immediately, the feather departed the manor grounds when its mistress was aboard.
The two women did not speak as the feather sped across the cloudy sky to some unknown destination. Kagura focused her scarlet eyes intently ahead of her to steer, but that was all. Relaxing in spite of the company she was with, Mizoshi did her best not to look down at the rushing landscape below.
Minutes passed—perhaps an hour or more. All of a sudden, the downy plume began to descend. Mizoshi could guess that the barrier must be completely destroyed if Kagura, a youkai, could get past.
What is going on there?
"Here," Kagura said stiffly as the feather touched the grass. "I'll come get you when the time is right, or rather, Naraku will. Don't do anything stupid. He'll never surrender you. He never surrenders anyone he encases in his web." At this, her eyes blazed hotly. "I suggest you run far if you wish to escape his heartless form."
Taking the initiative to get off the magnificent flying feather, Kagura was up in the air as soon as she cleared it with her foot. Mizoshi's gaze was fixed on the diminishing shape that was the wind sorceress and her primary method of transportation until they disappeared.
Now, what am I to do?
Feeling immensely glad she had taken what she could when she did, Mizoshi walked down the road. Naraku had promised this might happen again.
I need to find a shelter. I need to keep myself sane to keep myself from worrying about the dark hanyou and his affairs!
He'll be fine won't he?
The dirt road wound through the wooded area with ease. She followed it with dread.
Why did Kagura drop me off in the forest? What if an overzealous demon gets me?
There would be little chance of finding a convenient rocky enclosure like before, and she wasn't going to enter the woods if she could help it. Bad things always happened in the woods.
Except for Naraku rescuing me. That wasn't bad.
With not even the tiniest speak of starlight to accompany her, Mizoshi hurried up the road. As it turned out, she didn't have to travel far this time to find appropriate shelter.
It's a storage shed.
Sure enough, the slim outline of a warped wooden building stood guard at the edge of a blackened field.
Perfect.
With the sheer good fortune of finding it unlocked, Mizoshi hastily glanced over its interior. There, in the corners, she could make out farming tools. The bottom of the shed was covered in old straw and ripped reed mats.
It won't be comfortable, but at least it's suitable.
Placing down her belongings, Mizoshi too ushered herself inside after them. Unfurling the silken blanket she had taken from her own bedding; she wrapped it around her shivering frame to guard against the chill.
The fire can wait. Besides, some restless member of the village could easily see a fire.
And indeed there was a village. There would have to be. No one would simply build a storage shed in the middle of nowhere.
I'll inspect the village later. Maybe. As long as I avert my eyes…
Leaving the door open a crack so that she wouldn't be totally swallowed by blackness, Mizoshi yawned and allowed her head to lean back against the wall. Her eyelids fluttered closed.
It's been an exciting day. I don't want to see two exciting days.
However, the gods did not hear her prayers.
At first morning light, a pair of voice awoke her. One was strange, and the other was disturbingly familiar.
It can't be…
"…the wedding will be in April. I'm so excited!" that disturbingly familiar voice cried in exuberance.
"Yer a lucky man, Ken. Kita will be a beautiful bride," the strange voice commented wistfully.
My brother Ken is here...
Author's Note: This chapter took a lot longer to write. In the next chapter, there will be an appearance of Naraku's new form. Also, Ken has returned!