Chapter 4 – A Day in the Woods
Kurama sat next to Sarome's motionless body, pondering, going over her face, oh; her flawless face. Something told him they had much to do together, and it would be coming soon, fast, and hard.
Hiei was out with Sango, battling, seeing how well a girl can battle, and from what Kurama could see out the window, he was loosing. Kurama smiled as Sango pinned Hiei down with her giant boomerang, and he struggled in her grip. She is a great and powerful fighter, he thought to himself, turning back to Sarome's flawless face. Why do I feel as though there is a connection between us, like, what Tarja said was about me and her. I'll talk to her once she awakes.
Tarja walked into the room, carrying a bucket of water and a cloth. She smiled sweetly, nodded to the fox demon, and sat next to her cat-demon friend. She dipped the cloth into the water, squeezed out the access liquid, and placed it on Sarome's forehead. It has been four days since she had transformed, and she had been asleep the entire time.
"How are you doing?" she asked, trying to sound kind and unnerved by her friends late sleeping.
"Fine, thank you."
"Are you ok? You look troubled," she said. Kurama looked up into her midnight black eyes, and nodded. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I was just-." He cut himself and thought for a moment. "Do you know who Sarome's lover is supposed to be?" he asked. Tarja blushed at the question, looking back at her unconscious friend.
"Actually, back in our world, I think, you guys are a TV show," she said, sounding embarrassed. Kurama tilted his head to one side. Tarja saw this and chuckled. "She asked me not to tell you last time I talked to her, not so soon, but, I think you have a right to know now. She has had the hots for you. She loves your personality, and from what I have seen from you so far, yours and hers are the same."
"What do you mean?" he asked, tilting his head to the other side. Kirara walked in, and curled next to Sarome's head, the fur pushed against her face.
"Her power relies on the strength and power from her friends."
"Do you mean she takes power away?"
"No, Kurama. Sarome relies on the power of friendship. When her friends are weak, her power grows immensely, to protect them, when her friends are strong; her power stays the same; it is a balance of protection and love," she said, smiling. Tarja seemed to be making sense to Kurama. "When I saw you battle Miroku not too long ago, the way you moved, the way you battled, is the exact same way to Sarome. You measure out your opponent. You use your power for your friends and family, not just yourself."
"That is how I have managed to stay alive this long," he whispered. Kirara purred softly in her sleep, and that for a while was the only noise in the hut. Tarja redid Sarome's wrap a couple times, and then left. The only people in the room were Kirara, Kurama, and the unconscious Sarome. Inuyasha and some of the others came in to check on her earlier, and left.
Kurama was beginning to fade off when a stutter came into the room. Sarome was beginning to move. First her eyes opened, to show their beautiful shade of fiery red, and then she turned her head to face Kurama. "Kurama," she said, her voice was harsh. He poured some water into her mouth. She accepted it, and drank what liquid went down her parched throat.
Later on, Sarome asked him if he would go on a walk with her, and he said yes, wanting to get some time alone with her while she was awake.
"So, how do you like Feudal Era so far?" she asked, as they walked through the oak woods.
"I enjoy it. It is beautiful, and the people are nice."
"You mean Inuyasha?" she asked, smiling.
"What is there something wrong with him?"
"I can name one flaw about each one of the original Feudal Era kin. Miroku is a lecher, Inuyasha has a huge ego," she said, beginning to laugh.
"What is so funny, Sarome?" he asked, trying hard not to laugh. She shook the thought and smiled at him.
"Nothing," she said, and turned back to the path ahead of her. "So, I am curious, why did you stay by my side the entire time I was out?" she asked. The conversation took a quick turn, and they were on the path of the subject Kurama had least favorite subject. He tried to ask how she knew he was there the entire time, and she spoke before him. "I may have been unconscious, Kurama, but my aura seeker never fails. I felt three foxes with me, and your aura was the one that was there the entire time. I am wondering why."
"Well, I was thinking. I had," he stopped remembering what Tarja had told him. She asked me not to tell you last time I talked to her, not so soon, but, I think you have a right to know now. She has had the hots for you. She loves your personality, and from what I have seen from you so far, yours and hers are the same, "a talk with Tarja."
"Oh, about what?" she asked. Her face showed no betrayal to her expression.
"About you powers," he said. It wasn't necessary a lie. They did talk about Sarome's strength and weaknesses, basically, which was power, "Your strengths and weaknesses."
"Ah, well, that is Tarja for you. She will talk, but, she is still a good loyal friend," her expression showed hurt and pain, but it quickly turned to excitement, when she grabbed Kurama's hand and pulled. He kept up with her. "I have a place to show you. It is my favorite place in all of Japan, and I go there every chance I get. I think you will like it too!"
After a little bit of off-roading hiking, Sarome stopped and took in a deep breath. Her body transformed into her four legged form. Kurama took a step back instinctively, but, there was no evil aura around her this time, and, the spider scar on her forehead was not there. "What?" she asked. "We need to fly to get there." She noticed that he was staring at the entire form she was in, and she sighed. "It is Ok; I have control over this form, which isn't my full blooded form that you saw the other day. This is still Sarome's half-form."
Kurama felt comforted by her words, and he got on her back. He felt her shift weight under him, and she told him to hold on to the red fur around her neck. He grabbed a good hold, and gasped as she leapt into the air with ease. Flames busted from the black fur on her paws and tails, which help gave her, her flight. He looked over Sarome's side and saw the forest sweep under him at great speeds.
"How do you like your first flight on a cat-demon's back?" she mused. Kurama laughed and felt the cool air in his hair.
After a few minutes of flight, they landed at the bottom of a canyon, with a flowing river, grass, soft trees and plants, and a large waterfall. It was absolutely beautiful. Kurama could see a small cave behind the flowing waterfall.
"How do you like it?" she asked. Kurama placed his hand on top of Sarome's cat-head, and smiled.
"It is truly beautiful, Sarome. It really is."