In the shadows of the moon, Kagewaki slowly walked along the open engawa that encircled the building. The gentle wind of the night whispered and caressed his hair, pushing them back from his face. He stopped and stared up at the full moon.
It was a beautiful night. And it was also the night of the full moon that Mikazuki receives the most power. But during new moon…
Kagewaki shook his head. This journey was too dangerous to consider for his precious child. If he could go along, perhaps…but that was out of the question. Because of his sickly body ever since he was but a child, the physicians of the palace has restrained him from venturing outside the castle often. Therefore, he had rarely been out if not for an important matter.
They suspected he had some sort of internal illness that lay dormant, except when he gets excitable. Then, he must remain in bed for at least two weeks. Coughs, headaches, fevers, and unconsciousness would conquer him for the time, and until they pass again for the time, he was their victim. They do to him as they please.
To the antiquated doctors, it was their ancient belief that their young master had been possessed by an evil spirit, which resides within him. It was until Mikazuki came along, bringing the sunlight into his life, when his spells left him and surfaced less often. It still occurs now and then, and Kagewaki wondered wryly why the news of Mikazuki's newly found brothers didn't put him to bed.
The young Hitomi heir stopped in front of Mikazuki's door and saw that the lamp stilled burned. The silhouette of her figure shown through the insubstantial amado. He quietly knocked, then hearing upon her whisper to enter, slid the door open.
"Kagewaki." Mikazuki looked up at him with soft glowing amethyst eyes. "I knew you would come." She slowly ran her ivory brush through her hair, which was now down and covering the tatami floor like a carpet. He sat down and took the brush from her and began to run the brush gently through her silky hair. Soon it became a rhythmic manner.
"Mikazuki, dear. I can tell you have already made up your mind about this expedition." The heir of the palace began quietly, his fingers working into the ends of her hair.
"Mmm…yes, I have." She sighed and relaxed as the rhythm of the brush took the same stride with her beating heart. Kagewaki looked over.
"You do know it would be a dangerous trip?" He cautioned seriously. "And you have only known your brothers for one day, do you trust them?"
"I do. They are my father's sons."
"You're too trusting. No matter what, they are still demons."
"So am I." She replied evenly.
"Physically, spiritually, and emotionally, you're not. Your age, thoughts, action, appearance, emotion, they're all human."
"But technically, I am half demon." Kagewaki sighed and they were silent. The only sounds were the lamp burning steadily and the rhythmic, steady strokes of brush pulling through hair.
"I am going to miss you." Mikazuki heard softly behind her. "Very much." She turned around.
"Oh, Kagewaki, don't feel sad for me." She took his hands in hers and smiled. "I am happy."
"They're thinking of leaving in four days." He couldn't keep the sorrow from his voice. "It's so soon. Too soon."
"It is." A reassuring pat. "But don't worry. I'll do alright." Her older friend tried to smile.
She's growing up, Kagewaki. It's time to let her go. Let her venture slowly out of your protection and into the world beyond this palace. Kagewaki sadly let Mikazuki out of his protective grasp.
"I hope…" he had a bit of difficulty finding his voice. He cleared his throat. "I wish, that after you find what you're looking for, you'd come back to me, even though you found your family now. Of course," he added quickly. "It is not a must, I only wish you'd consider it. After all, ever since the day you arrived, we have not been separated. I care for you, you know that. Do consider it, dear."
"Oh, Kagewaki," Mikazuki turned around and took the brush from him. "I am going to return. Do you think I'd run off and leave you now that I found my family? You've cared and loved for me when they weren't there. You were the one that held my hand when I took my first step. You were the one wiping away my tears when I cried. You were the one that took care of me when I'm sick. You were the one that was with me when I laughed. You have been my family. You were there. Who could come before that? Who could take your place through the years that had passed?"
"I only wish you'd stay because you find this your home." Kagewaki looked up with solemn eyes. "I wish you'll stay because you love me, not because you think you owe me."
"Of course I'm coming back because I love you!" She cried, giving him a gentle smack on his arm. "I'm shocked you have so little faith in me. We grew up together."
"Of course." He cleared his throat and muttered, standing up. "Well, it has been a rather long and tiring day, sweet. Better get your pretty nose into that pillow if you wish to discuss more in the morning." She scrunched up her nose at him.
"Kiss?" She tilted her head up in their old childish fashion and he tenderly kissed her forehead. She rose herself up and planted her kiss on his cheek.
"Night." He heard her whisper softly from her room as he walked out into the cool night breeze.
"Night."
"Remember, no cooties." She called out, reminding him. He laughed out loud.
"I'll remember."
He heard her door slid close and smiled, feeling just a bit better about the future, but knew that he will miss her more than ever.
The next three days were busy ones at the Kagewaki Palace, for Mikazuki was getting ready to go with her brothers and there was much sewing for the women of the castle to be done, and many things to be talked over and arranged among the men. Mikazuki's clothing was ample and pretty, for Mamotu saw to that, and, Kagewaki for once made no objections whatever to anything the elderly woman purchased or suggested. More—one evening he went up to Mikazuki's room with his arms full of a delicate pale lavender material.
"Mikazuki, here's something for a nice light dress for you. I don't suppose you really need anymore yukatas, you've plenty of pretty kimonos and gowns in our traditional style, but I thought that maybe you'd like something real dressy to wear if you happen to be somewhere special…or met someone special. I got Mamotu to pick this out in the Village of Silk yesterday and we can get Ketsuya to make it for you. She's got taste, and her fits aren't to be equaled."
"Oh, Kagewaki," Mikazuki's delicate features lit up. "It's just lovely. Thank you so much." She fingered the material lovingly between her fingertips and looked up at her guardian. "I don't believe you ought to be so kind to me—it's making it harder everyday for me to go away."
"Go with my blessing." Kagewaki could only pat her shoulders, for he doesn't know how he would get on without her.
The lavender frock was made up with as many designs and garnishes and sashes as Ketsuya's taste permitted. Mikazuki put it on during the last evening for Kagewaki and played a lovely number on her koto. Her hair had been piled up and her mother's ivory comb held it in place. A few rebellious tresses escaped the teeth of the comb and framed her face.
As the Hitomi heir watched the radiant sweet face and graceful motions, his mind went back to the raining, dark evening when Mikazuki had arrived at the palace. The memory recalled a vivid picture of the odd, frightened infant in wrapped in clothes, the fear in her eyes as she laid their amethyst orbs on him for the first time. Something in the memory brought tears to his own eyes.
He had never quite believed that he was the one that raised Mikazuki up. Back when she was short and scrawny with gapes for teeth and hair falling out of the ponytail, yes, that was his precious treasure, that was the child he raised. But this tall, slender young woman with the romantic sparkling eyes and the soft feminine loving nature that could tame the wild beasts of the forests?
Tears also silvered his princess's cheeks.
My last day here, the place where I've grown up. The palace I had grown up in, with the people that had shared my happiness, my sorrow, my tears, and my anger. The land that had watched me grew from a spirited little girl to a beautiful young woman.
After the number, Mikazuki quietly excused herself as Kagewaki and Sesshoumaru went over more details of their journey.
"There are two things I must bring to your attention." Kagewaki sat down his cup. Inu-Yasha looked up from his meal and Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow and gave a little sigh. The prince of the palace gave a wave with his arms, and servants were immediately dismissed.
"Now," Kagewaki stared straight into their eyes. "One…" He walked over to the other side of the room and drew from its sheath a sword with gleaming blades that looked as dangerous as it was beautiful. He walked over and placed the tip of the sword on the tatami between the brothers. They eyed it curiously, but understood from one simple sentence.
"You break her heart, I break your neck."
Sesshoumaru ignored the humane act, but Inu-Yasha gave a "feh." Kagewaki, not to be taken as a joke, arched a brow and raised the tip of the blade toward the hanyou's throat.
"Alright, alright." He finally yelped. "Geez…"
"Good." Kagewaki set the sword down and sat. "Now, secondly. Because of Mikazuki's healing power, it is especially dangerous for her to get hurt. She can heal people, but her body itself is vulnerable. She's vulnerable to all sort of damage that touches her body. A thorn could be as bad as a cut, and a cut could render her unconscious. And if she does get hurt, even though it seems not life threatening—perhaps a gash or a very light flesh wound that any other victim would not give a second thought—to her, it could mean the end."
"The end…" Curious, Inu-Yasha pressed.
"…of her life." Kagewaki finished. Inu-Yasha narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"It could be explained as…" Kagewaki looked troubled. "Her energy and strength are on loose in her body, ready to be given to someone else at anytime, that they do not do their job as to protect her well. They are not on her side, instead, is simply using her body as a carrier. It's like a wall, ready to fall anytime, that it would offer her no protection." His eyes turned hard. "Whatever you guys plan to do. You cannot let her get hurt. She cannot hurt herself, because her body is like an unprotected village. Anyone could come in and easily destroy her. She cannot protect herself from anything."
The garden was a dear place that night, still and mysterious dim in the pale radiance of the moonlight. Mikazuki loitered through it in a pleasant silence, not caring to talk.
How she would miss the familiar, soothing running of the small brook. The artistic touch of the small bridge that was set upon it. And the fragrant blossom that bloomed all year round. And all the secret hiding places of her and Kagewaki's old hide-and-seek games.
After her peaceful stroll. She found herself standing in front of her mother's grave. She sighed and sank down next to the marker.
"Hello, Mother." She said softly out loud as she brushed the dried leaves and other nature debris from the inscription. Her mother still remained the nameless lady in her and everyone else's' minds. "It seems as though I will be leaving after all." She spoke to her mother as she always did and told her everything, and finally ending it by tracing the simple letter of her memorial lovingly.
"I'll come back, Mother." She stood up and brushed herself off. "This is my home, no matter how many brothers I find."
That night, Mikazuki left her lamp burning, as well as lit dozens of scented candles. This would be her and Kagewaki's last night together. She sat, idly staring at her reflection in the mirror.
The soft knock that was expected came and Kagewaki entered, carrying in his hand a small ivory box.
The twinkling light of the lamp and candle cast a rosy glow on her face. He was struck by her ethereal beauty and swallowed hard.
Her skin shone like the moonlight and he saw a teardrop trailing down her cheek. And her eyes, those dark violet pools were so deep and expressive that they seemed to be pulling Kagewaki in within their depth. She had lips that shamed the red, red rose. Her long tresses were caught in the night breeze and danced around her lovely face.
"I don't want to leave you tomorrow." She said tearfully as Kagewaki wrapped his arms around her. She couldn't help herself as she began to sob into his elegant clothes. She was eager to leave days ago, but now that the time had actually come, she couldn't even bare the thought of leaving Kagewaki and her home behind.
"Go. Make me proud of you." He tried saying steadily as he rocked her back and forth.
"I don't want to leave you. Your health—"
"Have no worries about me, Mikazuki. I'll take care of myself. It's you I'm worried about. Just remember, keep yourself safe. Do not let your compassion over others harm yourself. You know how dangerous that is in your case."
"Yes."
"Be sure to watch for the new moons. It may not bring you harm after sunset, but it's the morning that follows that's dangerous."
"I will protect myself."
"Now then, I want to give you some things." He reached for the box. "These were also left by your mother along with the comb. I'm sure they were very precious to her." He handed her the box and she opened them, brushing her tears away.
"A pair of fans. How pretty!" She looked surprised at the left treasure.
"I believe they were carved by your grandfather to your grandmother as a wedding gift."
"How precious!"
"I have something for you too." He gingerly drew from his pocket a black silk ribbon. Attached to it was a crescent shaped moonstone that glowed in the moonlight with some internal power energy. As she drew her breath, he smiled and added. "I thought it might bring you luck. Moonstone, the color and shape of a moon. Your moon."
Mikazuki pulled her hair away and allowed Kagewaki to tie the ribbon as the moonstone rested at the throat.
"Thank you." She whispered, then hugged him fiercely, as the child in her won out. "I'll miss you so much."
"I'll miss you, too, my little love." Kagewaki took the brush from her hands and ran it through her hair. It soon began the familiar rhythm. Stroke, pull, stroke, pull. The room was silent besides the warm presence of each other. And they stayed that way, until the first pink rays of dawn.
This morning in the Kagewaki castle was especially hectic. Maids and servants hurried in and hurried out. Cooks scattered about. Guards and watchmen shouted across the courtyard to each other. Sesshoumaru sat and refused to talk to anybody, besides offering occasionally cold, sarcastic words. Inu-Yasha bounced from one end of the castle to the other, pestering everything and everything that he stumbles upon.
Kagewaki slid opened his door and viewed his palace with tired eyes and was almost run over by a servant with a basin of fresh crayfish. In the corner of his eyes, he watched, irritated, as Inu-Yasha mercilessly and childishly teased a crab that had lost his way to the kitchen. He rubbed his haggard eyes.
Sleep had not came to him all night, though he flipped and turned and tossed and beat upon his pillow. He was suddenly worried beyond measure lest these two demons were cruel, or insensitive, or even just cold to his precious Mikazuki. What if she was unhappy but was unable to return home? What if she was hurt, and there was no one to take care of her? What if she got homesick and no one cared?
This will not do, he said to himself as he strode purposefully down the porch. I must ask her to rethink.
But it was a happy and beautiful princess who came down the up the steps and into the greeting hall that morning—the first female child to leave the Kagewaki Palace, slender and shining-eyed, in the mist of her maiden veil, her arms full of fresh wild roses. Kagewaki, waiting for her in the greeting room, looked up at her with adoring, sad eyes.
"Good morning, Kagewaki!" She removed the gauzy veil across her face and gave him a light kiss. She beamed down at him, before filling his arms with roses. "Don't they smell sweet?"
"You look fine today." He complimented. Immediately, the effect of the compliment sprinkled across her cheeks becomingly.
"Thank you."
She wore a robe of a light gossamer fabric, very fine and graceful, with a beautiful golden girdle about her waist and a veil to shade her face from the sun. A white cloak trimmed in silver embroidery was also provided as well as a matching veil to cover her hair, which hung down over her eyebrow.
"We should be leaving shortly." Sesshoumaru said his first words of the morning as he stood up and walked out into the courtyard. Mikazuki tried to stay smiling as her eyes teared up. She hugged Mamotu and bid her farewells to Soutei, Ketsuya, the cook, and everyone else in the palace.
"Come on already," Inu-Yasha urged. "It's not as if you're never coming back. You'll be back as soon as we find the Breath of Divinity." He also stalked out of the building into the courtyard bathing in sunlight.
"Good-bye, Kagewaki." Mikazuki was pulled into one last embrace. Her voice was teary as they whispered her final words of love. "If you love me as I love you, then nothing but death can part us two."
He nodded, burying his nose in her sweet smelling hair for the last time, and guided her out the door.
The door banged behind him as he went out with the others, walking out into the morning. Mikazuki draped the shimmering silver veil over head before running down to join her brothers. She was beautiful.
"Good-bye!" She called back as she followed her brothers out into the world.
"Good bye, my little love…" His words were inaudible.
From his position high upon the steps, Kagewaki saw Mikazuki turn back from the path below, before she disappeared, and blew him one last kiss.