I'm so bloody bored out of my skull! That's the only reason I'm writing this chapter. Each of the Days will be viewed in a different Character. If you can't guess from whom the views are without my usual name then you're an idiot.
Chapter 5: As Summer Fades
July 7thIt was a grave? As the storm whipped his hair around, Inu-Yasha stared down at the stone. It was a perfectly flat stone about ten feet long and two feet wide. A symbol was written on the front that looked almost like a crescent moon. "How extraordinary. This must have taken great skill to be smoothed so beautifully."
This was the first time he had been allowed outside the hut in almost three weeks. Kaede had adamantly refused the idea, stating that the storm was coming, but he had pushed past her and walked into the damp forest alone. The rain had started soon after. He had taken shelter here under a great stretching oak tree. And he had also found this grave.
Quietly the Roman sat down beside the grave and took a deep breath. He despised this place, with all its rain, and it's natives. They were all barbaric savages. He had heard of Boudicca and her warriors. Those people who had used humans as a sacrifice and drank the blood of men. Kaede's image popped into his head. She stood at her fire adding random vegetables to a stew. She was the only Brit that he didn't mind. Her wizened beauty was comforting and motherly. Kagome was something different. She never removed her veil but her eyes had softened since the one time when he had made her laugh. He had made a comment about the idea of a woman being submissive. She had burst into a hysterical laughter. He had been confined to the bed at the time, and didn't see the humour in his comment.
Kagome. She confused him. He had been living with them for a month or so, and Kagome had never dropped her veil. He didn't even know the colour of her hair. The veil she wore was two pieces that only left room for her eyes to be shown. It was like what women in Syria wore. But how did a Brit know what women wore in a culture that was on the other side of the known world? He had heard her voice many times singing when she though he was asleep. She could possibly become a bard if she wanted. But he didn't think she would. Also, Kaede never talked about Kagome's parents or her past. She would always say though, "Please forgive her. Her family is not fond of Romans."
Looking down at the grave beside him, Inu-Yasha tried to imagine what man would deserve such a great burial. Was the man one of those rune-masters that the Brits seemed to hold dear? If he were buried out here then he would not be a druid. Still, the symbols on the grave caught his attention. For a moment the wind sounded like drums and the branches clattered in a rhythm. Closing his eyes, the Roman listened quietly. The drumming circled for a moment before getting louder and louder. A clap of thunder shook the earth; the drumming ended. Opening his eyes, Inu-Yasha took in the rain soaked appearance of a large black horse and his rider.
Through the cold that had taken over his body, Inu-Yasha watched the woman dismount and slowly walk over to him. Offering her hand she pulled him up to his feet. Instantly her cloak was around him bringing a comfort his soaked clothing couldn't compete with. He exhaled loudly as she led him to the horse. The raven black hair cascaded down her back and slowly she began to become soaked as well. Knowing what to do he mounted her horse on a nearby rock while she simply jumped on behind him. For a moment he turned his head to thank his saviour but quickly drowned in the depths of her purple eyes. It was these eyes that he fell asleep to. Kagome didn't wear the veil again after that.
July 25Miroku watched in hesitation. He stood just beyond the tree line of the old woman's clearing. He had left his friend here weeks ago. Everyone in Rome would have been looking for him, except Miroku that had told them that he was off in Hibernia and that he would arrive back in the fall. His brother had been about to send out a few hundred legions before he had gotten Miroku's letter of his bothers safety.
Now he watched a young girl stomp outside yelling, and to his great amusement, Inu-Yasha had followed her outside. His superior officer was yelling also.
"You bloody idiot! If you feel so mistreated here then leave and go back to your snitty home! I'm fed up with this idea of perfection that you place on everybody. No ones perfect!"
A smirk crept onto Miroku's face. It had been a long time since he had seen a woman stand up to his friend and cousin. It had always riled his cousin when someone had argued with him, especially a woman. It was Miroku's own fiancé that wouldn't put up with Inu-Yasha's crap. Now this Brit girl would be added to the list.
"Well Kagome if you would at least try to be a little more considerate and soft spoken you might find perfection to be that much closer."
The girl turned to his cousin. Her smile was sweet but even from the trees Miroku could see her clenched fists.
"And why pray tell should I aim to perfection?"
Miroku prayed silently to Hera that Inu-Yasha wouldn't open his mouth in retaliation. His prayers went unanswered.
"So that you could find a husband wench! An unmarried woman at your age is unrespectable."
Miroku put a hand over his face and waited for the reaction. Even though Inu-Yasha was half Brit he had never bothered to look into their culture or practices. His double blood had made him the talk of Rome and his whole life had been about trying to erase that connection. Miroku knew that woman in Britannia didn't marry until the average age of sixteen to eighteen.
"Well oh great Roman," Miroku could hear the open mockery in that sentence. "Unfortunately for your assumptions, I may not marry. I will live out my life here as the rune master I am. I will live and die alone here. And if you want to tarnish the blood of a girl Childs innocence then so be it. Your ways are only of disrespect to those who bare your children Do you think you would be here if not for a woman? Your Roman culture disgusts me. The fact that you take a child to bed is a sin against all nature in itself!"
Her final act of anger was a slap across Inu-Yasha's cheek. Even from the bushes, Miroku could hear the crack. The Brit was strong. He could feel the fury that radiated off both people. He watched as Inu-Yasha straightened and raised his hand. The girl stood her ground and awaited his fist. Miroku deciding now was a good time to appear stepped out of the forest cover. The noise alerted Kagome and her head instantly turned to Miroku. It was in this moment that Inu-Yasha had decided to strike. He hadn't noticed Miroku. To Miroku's great horror, his cousin's hand came across to Kagome's Face.
Opening his eyes, Miroku gasped loudly. Kagome's hand had come up and was now fisted around Inu-Yasha's wrist. A sizzling sound was coming from where her skin met his and the smirk on her elegant face was almost scary. Inu-Yasha's eyes were wide with pain and the smell of burnt flesh wafted on the breeze. "If you were meant to hit me. I wouldn't have caught your arm. Go talk with the other Roman."
As she walked off into the forest, Miroku didn't move. What in the name of Hades had just happened? He could feel the disgust in her voice when she uttered the word Roman. He was brought out of his thoughts when Inu-Yasha's arms encircled him. "Inu-Yasha?"
"They told me that you had left me. I thought you were dead."
As Miroku's eyes widened his arms instinctively went around his cousin. He had not received a hug from his cousin in almost 5 years, other then the proper Roman greeting. Now as the tears poured from the other mans eyes, Miroku held him close. "I'm still here Inu-Yasha. I should have returned sooner. I'm sorry my cousin."
August 10Well this was going to annoy her to all hell. Here she was riding Etain across the small burns and hills, enjoying her peace and quiet, and now there were hoof beats behind her. She had yet to turn because she knew who it was. That bloody invalid!
The other day, the one called Miroku had arrived with a white mare in tow. Kagome had immediately taken to her. Just as the mare had immediately taken to Etain. When she found out the beautiful creature belonged to the man she was now only lightly nursing back to health, her thoughts had immediately gone to pity towards the thing. However when the delighted squeal of the mare shook her out of her thoughts, she was just about run over. The mare in seeing Inu-Yasha had nearly pummelled her down in an effort to reach him. Etain had come to her rescue and bared his teeth at the female. Kagome had been so proud when the mare had submitted instantly. Much to Inu-Yasha's annoyance.
Now the invalid who still had a giant wound across his hip and shoulder, which were indeed healing well, was following her. Finally she glanced back to see him leisurely cantering just a few lengths back. Her scowl grew when he smiled and waved. What was this idiot doing? Oh well, she show him a ride worth his time. "And his pain."
Smirking she slowed Etain to a slow trot until the Roman was beside her. Still giving a devilish smirk, Kagome turned her head and looked to him. "So Roman, having fun?"
"You're too slow Brit. You probably couldn't get that horse to go anything faster then a canter."
Kagome's smile became genuine as she remembered flying by this man and his officers on the road one day. He probably didn't recognize Etain yet. But he would once they passed this corner. As they neared the corner Kagome stopped her horse fully. Inu-Yasha stopped a few paces ahead and looked at her questioningly. In an act that was solely instinct, Kagome grabbed Etain's mane and yelled Go at the top of her lungs. Knowing the Latin command as well as the whispered Celtic word to fly, Etain reared and pawed at the Sky. As soon as his feet touched the ground he was off. They flew past the white mare like an arrow. A black bolt of shadows running across the fields and rocks. Giving a tiny prayer for the sun, Kagome leaned over her horses' neck. Her Legs wrapped around his sides and she rocked with him to the beat of their pace. The wind whipped her hair back with her horse's mane and a ray of light broke through the clouds. Circling, and signalling Etain to rise she stared at the Roman as her horse pawed at the air.
When her horse landed again she stared at Inu-Yasha trying to gage his reaction. He seemed almost horrified. Not quiet what she was looking for but it would do. Her voice called out across the burns and field, "Still to slow for you Roman?"
His open jaw shut firmly and Kagome could almost hear the click in his mind. Her smiled grinned as he pushed his mare forward. Even as he came upon her fast, Kagome didn't move. For long moments she just watched him and laughed at how, like herself, his body seemed to be portrayed in the horse. His long silver hair flew out beyond him and his effort was matched in his mare's eyes. As he passed her, Kagome tapped Etain with her heels and whirled to catch him.
A man who sat on a giant boulder watched the smile on her face at the chase along with Inu-Yasha's cocky smirk closely. "This might not be good Helos." The Raven that sat beside him cawed in reply.
August 18Kaede passed a bowl of stew to Kagome, Then to Inu-Yasha. The deer that the Roman had caught yesterday would fill them for a good long time. It was no antlered male, but the medium sized doe would become the meat for many meals. Kagome grimaced at the stew. Of all the meats she had ever tried, Venison was her least favourite. However, as Kaede knew, Kagome would not turn down the meat if it offended anyone. And Inu-Yasha had been so proud when he brought the deer into the clearing.
In her old age, Kaede was unable to do anything with the deer. This left the butchering and hide tanning up to Kagome. Through the entire ordeal, Kaede could see the frown building on Kagome's face.
Kaede watched as Kagome looked thoughtfully at the stew, she wondered if her granddaughter would actually turn the meal down. However when the spoon was lifted, the old woman knew that Kagome's politeness had won out. Now would be the time to give her announcement. She had seen how Kagome and Inu-Yasha would go out to ride their horses in the field together but she had also seen how Kagome's back had begun to hurt while sleeping on the floor. "Well I think this deer proves that the time has come for Inu-Yasha to move out of the bedroom and into the guest hut."
Inu-Yasha had looked up quickly then his eyes returned to his stew. He grunted an answer, which Kaede would simply take as a yes. "Actually Kaede, I think it's time I returned to the Romans. I think I am overstaying my welcome. And I must go home to my duties."
He truly meant it. For he had not addressed her as old woman or Hag as he would on the other meetings that they had. Kaede flashed her eyes to Kagome who didn't even flinch. Then her eyes snapped open. In a ruffle of skirts and fabric she was out the door. Her bowl was laying on the floor and the meal spilled out across the floor. Kaede and Inu-Yasha watched her go. Little did Kaede know that Inu-Yasha also heard and was called by the soft drumming of the wind. A tear slid down her cheek. "Och, my wee uan. She will never escape Her will. Kagome will never escape the music; I don't think she wants to. Even her father would be unable to steal that from her."
August 14Etain watched as Samara and her master trotted off into the forest along with a chestnut and a black haired rider. His mistress was mounted on him and he could feel her tighten her grip in his mane. Her one hand was resting on his neck, and he could feel it trembling. Would she miss this human male? She seemed to hate him before a silent truce was called between them.
The stallion's eyes wandered to the mare that was disappearing into the forest. She was an interesting creature. His mistress was interesting as well. The one on his back tapped her leg to his side and he followed the command and moved away from the pressure. He could hear that the hoof beats had stopped and Samara whinnied to him. Damn females. They were so annoying. One was crying the other was calling. Well, his lady wasn't crying exactly, he knew she would never willingly shed a tear outright for a Roman, but the man had been a companion.
Another sound reached his ears. They perked backwards as the Roman softly whispered his mistress's name.
Oh horse and wind walkers this had to stop! Giving no warning the black horse reared. He felt his mistress grab onto him and give the signal to run. Which he did. He ran down the old path that the small group had travelled to escort the Romans to the end of the forest roads, he passed the hut that his mistress and her granddam lived in. Shining raced on over the fields, jumping the burns and up a rocky cliff.
At the top he stared down and watched the two horse and rides gallop over the fields. His mistress sat atop him and watched as well. He heard her whisper to the wind and summon a rune of protection for the two. The wind answered and blew against his mane and her hair.
For whoever would see them there, they looked like a phantom pair. One woman who was watching from her cart as she drove the horse to town swore to herself that she had never seen a more beautiful and saddening picture, while one Roman would never forget the scene. Their wild beauty portrayed on a background of the bland grey cliffs. The anguised trumpet of the stallion. The wind gently blowing a colder wind from the north as summer faded from their eyes.