Thanks to Keiko Nobumoto and Rumiko Takahashi
Promises Under the Moon: Chapter Eight
"I am so hungry!" Hige complained holding his hand over his stomach and staring up at the sky.
"If you hadn't eaten the rest of the supplies last night you would have had something to eat tonight," Toboe said. He held his hands over his elbows and shuddered in the night air. He leaned closer to Kagome's side under the large tree they'd found for shelter that night.
"Sorry, but I was starving last night!" Hige said stressing his statement with an angry growl from his belly.
"Since you're not receiving enough energy from the waxing moon I suggest we could start with Toboe. He is the weakest," Tsume said with a smirk.
"Not funny," Kagome said wrapping her arm around the small boy protectively.
"You're right. It would be more wise to eat the porky one," Tsume said with a pointed glare toward Hige.
"Why isn't Kiba on the menu?" Toboe asked curiously.
"Because he's full of crap," Tsume said.
Hige burst out laughing at the answer and Kiba rolled his eyes. Kagome fought hard to hide the fit of giggles threatening to spill past her lips.
"That's enough talk of cannibalism. We'll go into the city tomorrow and acquire some goods. I needed to pick up a map of Japan," Kagome said. Toboe calmed at her suggestion no longer in fear of being eaten by Tsume.
"You've got that big back pack and you don't have a map in there?" Tsume asked incredulously.
"Maybe I knew where I was going before I was struck with amnesia and forgot everything," Kagome answered defensively.
"No you didn't. You didn't have a clue before either," Toboe supplied helpfully.
"We'll do that then, go into the city" Kiba agreed.
"Do you even know where the next city is?" Tsume asked. "It could be days away for all you know."
Kiba blinked at him. "I can only hope we have enough energy to sustain us for the duration."
"That means no, you don't know." Tsume turned to Kagome. "And you? Any clue?"
"No, but I assume you know since you seem to know everything," Kagome answered sharply becoming annoyed with the man—er wolf—whatever.
"Luckily, unlike the rest of you, I actually pay attention to where we're going. Roughly, we're twenty miles from Shizuoka."
"This one is grateful of your knowledge," Cheza whispered.
Everyone turned at once toward the flower maiden who had spoken for the first time since healing Kiba's eyes.
"Cheza!" Kiba cried wrapping his arms around her limp frame and pulling her into a sitting position beside him. "You're okay!"
"This one is growing stronger as the moon grows stronger," Cheza said with a weak smile. Her eyes landed upon Kagome. "This one thanks you for the herbal medicine before. It has helped greatly."
"This is great! Cheza's okay! We're going to be getting some food. Tsume knows where we are!" Toboe smiled broadly after his declarations.
"Things certainly are looking up," Kagome agreed. She eased away from Toboe and moved to Cheza's side. Tsume watched her like a hawk. She extended her fingers to lightly touch Cheza's cheek and sent a tendril of healing power into the flower maiden. She didn't remember enough of her techniques to do anything fancy, but she did re-learn enough from her journal to send a boost of energy into the pink-haired companion. At the same time she was able to sense the remaining strength within Cheza. And she was still very weak. They needed to find Wolf's Paradise in the next few days or else Cheza would never make it.
"This one thanks you, Kagome," Cheza said locking eyes with her. "This one hopes to reach Paradise where this one can put down roots."
"Paradise is the only place where a flower maiden can truly live a full life," Kiba explained. "We need to find it as much for her as for ourselves."
"We certainly won't give up!" Kagome said determinedly.
"So, in your little journal did you and your companions often go in search of hidden locations?" Tsume asked.
"No, most times we'd just wander randomly in hopes that we'd run across a demon in possession of a jewel shard that we could defeat."
"I feel so confident," Tsume muttered.
"Oh please, stop with the negativity," Kagome said.
"Can't. I don't believe in quitting that which one is good at," Tsume retorted with a cheeky grin.
OoOoO
Kagome waited until the others had fallen asleep before she snuck away from the camp to read the portion of her journal that she had so studiously ignored over the past few days. There was no problem reading the academic section about potions and spells--while she couldn't remember herself performing many successful spells she did vividly remember reading the entire Harry Potter series during a week-and-a-half long fight with Inuyasha while five-hundred years and a magical well separated them. Did she ultimately kill Naraku with an Avada Kadabra curse? Kagome stifled a giggle at the thought and then opened the journal to the middle section she'd been avoiding.
With her flashlight's beam cut short by the proximity to the journal she let the words scrawled in her own hand carry her back in time.
500 years ago:
Who would have seen it coming? The Casanova of the Feudal Era was in love. And not only was he in love, but he was in love with the one woman who swore that she'd never love anyone. Kagome had nothing against Sango--the young woman was her closest female friend--but she had been severely disturbed by the atrocities Naraku had visited upon her family. Her only surviving member was a zombie of a brother and though at moments in their encounters he almost seemed like the sweet Kohaku Sango would describe he'd abruptly switch into a mass-murdering zombie the moment Naraku sent his secret orders. And there seemed nothing they could do about it.
Probably Kikyou could do something about it, but Kagome could not. She was just grateful when her arrow hit its intended target. She'd given up on trying to compete with her previous incarnant--tired of falling short of someone trained in her skills her whole life when she herself was thrown in without any training and expected to save the lives of her comrades. The undead priestess has an unfair advantage--which both Miroku and Sango were quick to point out to her.
"Something is troubling you," Sango said sitting beside Kagome. She'd been sitting on a half-rotten log by the hotspring two-hundred yards from their camp. Inuyasha was out collecting kindling for a fire and Miroku and Shippo were checking the perimeter for anything unusual--which was an excuse for Shippo to have stories told to him by the ever-creative monk.
"Is that a question or a statement?" Kagome asked with a playful smile.
Sango didn't return the smile. "It is unwise to let ourselves be troubled by things we cannot control."
"You really have been spending too much time with Miroku, Sango-chan," Kagome said with a nudge to the demon-huntress' side.
"Houshi-sama has nothing to do with my saying that. I do have insightful thoughts all of my own."
"Right," Kagome said with a nod of her head. "You don't need Houshi-sama to sound smart. And why are you still calling him that? We've been traveling together for months. Don't you think you can call him Miroku yet?"
"I will not be familiar with that man. He is our companion and the priest of our group. His role is of utmost importance and I will not jeopardize our delicate balance by--"
"By giving him hope that he might actually have a chance with you?"
"Your culture is much more blunt than mine."
"Perhaps in the future we've learned there isn't time to waste. Though, given the shorter life spans due to all the violence of this era I'd think it would be the reverse."
"Are you going to keep asking me about Houshi-sama or are you going to enjoy a soak in the hotspring?"
"I actually don't feel like it."
Sango blinked owlishly. "You're serious? Then why are you out here?"
Kagome shrugged. "I just wanted to be somewhere where Inuyasha wouldn't be listening and I know he keeps his distance when I'm at the hotsprings."
"Any particular reason you're seeking this solitude?"
"I'm worried. I've learned a great deal from Lady Kaede, but I'm still so lacking as a priestess. How am I going to help you guys defeat Naraku? All I seem to be good at is getting kidnapped."
"You do seem to make interesting allies whenever you become the kidnapped instead of a victim." Sango placed her hand on Kagome's shoulder and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "Your strength is within your heart. And you've made great advantages for our situation with that strength. I doubt if Lord Sesshoumaru would consider aiding us if you hadn't befriended Rin, or if Kouga would help us if he hadn't decided to claim you for his woman. And let us not forget all the times you've managed to stop Kikyou from dragging Inuyasha to hell!"
Kagome felt the weight on her shoulders loosen at Sango's words. The demon-huntress removed her hand and stood abruptly. At the same time Kagome felt the familiar approach of a pair of jewel shards followed by a tornado cutting through the woods.
Kouga stood before them and took hold of Kagome's hands before she could even blink.
"How's my woman doing?" He glanced over at Sango. "Sango, it is good to see that you are well." Kouga's bravado didn't waver in the slightest even with the emergence of Sango's bone boomerang.
"Kouga-kun, what are you doing here?" Kagome asked trying to pry her hands out of his firm grip.
"Naturally, I came to see you. I want to join your group."
"Excuse me?" Sango demanded. "We might have appreciated your help in the past, but we don't need you. We're a team and we don't need any more members." Kagome forced down the urge to ask Sango what she meant given her earlier statement.
Kouga flashed her his arrogant grin. "Were that only true! Naraku is the foe of us all and the only way we'll defeat him is in numbers."
"I never pictured you as a strategist," Sango said.
"I am the leader of a tribe," Kouga said releasing Kagome's hands and putting them in fists at his sides.
"What's left of the tribe," Sango said cruelly.
"And what exactly is left of your demon hunters?"
"Stop it! Both of you!" Kagome said reaching out and placing her hand on a shoulder of each. "Kouga-kun, your assistance is always appreciated. But, we both know that you and Inuyasha don't get along and he's the leader of our group."
"Actually, you're the leader of your group. And he's the reason I'm joining you."
"What do you mean?" Sango asked.
He sniffed the air. "We should head back to your camp now. You'll find your other new member there."
His words made little sense, but Kagome and Sango didn't argue and together they walked back to the camp. Going at such a sedate pace wasn't even a torment for the normally impatient Kouga. If Kagome didn't know him any better she'd think he was actually nervous.
Kagome could feel the pull of purified jewel shards as they approached the camp and at first she assumed they were the ones that belonged to Miroku, but she was quickly proven wrong at the sight of Inuyasha and Kikyou starting the camp fire and talking quietly.
Inuyasha looked up at their approach and snarled at Kouga's approach. "What are you doing here you mangy wolf?"
"He's joining our team," Sango answered before Kouga or Kagome could.
"What? We don't need him!" Inuyasha cried.
"Inuyasha, perhaps we should tell the others," Kikyou said gently gripping his arm. He visibly relaxed at her touch.
"We need Kikyou. If we have any chance of defeating Naraku we need a real priestess," Inuyasha said looking at everyone, but Kagome.
Miroku stepped into their camp with Shippo riding on his shoulder. "If you're implying we have a need for a trained priestess whom our mortal enemy has a soft-spot for due to the small sliver of humanity in his rotten heart then yes, we have a need for Kikyou. However, if you're implying for one moment that Kagome is anything less than a priestess of great power who's saved our lives countless times then you and I will have some serious words, Inuyasha. I will not stand for you belittling a vital member of our group."
"What he said!" Shippo said pumping his fist in the air. He jumped off Miroku's shoulder and came to stand between Kouga and Kagome.
"Keh, whatever, the mangy wolf can join," Inuyasha said folding his arms over his chest.
"And just so you know, Sesshoumaru plans to join us in the next few days," Kouga said.
"What?" Inuyasha demanded. "What could he possibly want to do with us?"
"Something about having to settle some business with the half-breed that tried to absorb his essence a few months ago. At least that's what he told me," Kouga said with a shrug.
"And why would Sesshoumaru waste time talking to a lowly wolf like you?" Inuyasha sneered.
"He and I have an understanding," Kouga said with a nonchalant shrug.
For the first time since she met the undead priestess Kagome's heart actually felt light in her presence. It was the first time in a long time that she'd felt hope at the possibility that she and her friends just might be able to defeat the being that destroyed so many lives. And it was also nice to have Kouga with her when Inuyasha was standing across from her with her former incarnate.
Perhaps having the wolf prince in their group would help them stay more focused on the goal.
Present
A shadow blocked some of the light from the moon and stars. "Good readings?" Tsume asked causing Kagome to jump slightly.
"I'm just trying to learn more about my past," Kagome said closing her journal.
"How about you try reading something that will lead us to paradise?" Tsume leaned against the outcropping of rocks at Kagome's back and continued to look down at her from his superior height.
"Shouldn't you be at the camp moping and spewing off negativity?"
"They're used to me. You're the only one that gets annoyed with my attitude." A smirk spread across his lips. "You're my only source of entertainment."
"You should really find a new hobby. Maybe Sudoku would work?"
"I don't really care for numbers. You need to come back. The clouds are gathering and the winds are shifting. In the next hour a storm will come and the trees at our camp are thickest to offer protection, but it should be gone by daybreak. It will be harder to travel in the mud and slush so it's important to rest well."
"I'd almost say that sounds like concern coming from you," Kagome said rising to her feet and back toward the protective thick copse of trees from their camp.
"Yeah, well, don't get a big head or anything, but I'd be really annoyed if you went and died on us."
"Your concern is touching."
"I hear my heart is like gold," he agreed.
"A lifeless, unfeeling, hard metal. Yes, I suppose that could describe your heart."
"Ouch," Tsume said clutching at the scar on his chest.
Kagome once more resisted the urge to ask how he got it and simply made her way to Toboe's sleeping form and huddled next to him.
She felt both joy and sadness at the return of her memories unlocked by the entry she'd just read in the journal. The camaraderie she'd felt then was just as strong now as it had been those years ago. The difference was she had no idea where any of her best friends were now and even to see one of them would be a welcome relief.
posted 9/12/09