Escape
Chapter 19- Fires of Curiosity
The next day came and went, and again at the crack of dawn- really Hotaru's air alarm- Kagome arose, got dressed into her training gear, and went with Hotaru to the female's caves to train. "Today, Kagome-chan, we will learn the mantra of the fire elements-including lightening- and work it out. After that, we will again go over our water techniques." She instructed. Kagome- used to the early mornings and no longer tired- nodded. "You know the drill, listen to what I say and repeat it. Also, stand with your feet firmly planted in the grass, and your hands open and fingers curled as though in the process of making a fist." Hotaru called. Kagome positioned herself and waited.
(An: bold italic underline= Hotaru, bold italic= Kagome)
"Hi no yō ni, watashi wa dochira ka no sonogo no jinsei no engimono ya shi no kisōshadesu. Watashi wa samu-sadearu ka, matawa sorera o moyasu hitobito o atatame, kibō ya zetsubō de sekai o terasu koto ga dekimasu." "
Hi no yō ni, watashi wa dochira ka no sonogo no jinsei no engimono ya shi no kisōshadesu. Watashi wa samu-sadearu ka, matawa sorera o moyasu hitobito o atatame, kibō ya zetsubō de sekai o terasu koto ga dekimasu."
"Watashi wa, watashi no ashi ni hikari jinsoku katsu tsuyokunakereba naranai. Watashi no kanjō wa watashi no hi, watashi no hikari, watashi no netsu o aoru. Kasaidearu tame ni wa, watashi wa toki ga deki antei shite ori, seigi no ikari to masayoshi Masayoshi hitsuyō o ataeru hitsuyō ga arimasu."
"Watashi wa, watashi no ashi ni hikari jinsoku katsu tsuyokunakereba naranai. Watashi no kanjō wa watashi no hi, watashi no hikari, watashi no netsu o aoru. Kasaidearu tame ni wa, watashi wa toki ga deki antei shite ori, seigi no ikari to masayoshi Masayoshi hitsuyō o ataeru hitsuyō ga arimasu."
"Hi wa fevor to watashi no hone, watashi no chi de nenshō suru to,-ji ga kureba, tatoe keiryō-ka wa watashi no komando ni narimasu to, watashi wa subete no aku no owari to heiwa no hikari o teikyō suru tame ni, sore, watashi no honō o shiyō shimasu."
"Hi wa fevor to watashi no hone, watashi no chi de nenshō suru to,-ji ga kureba, tatoe keiryō-ka wa watashi no komando ni narimasu to, watashi wa subete no aku no owari to heiwa no hikari o teikyō suru tame ni, sore, watashi no honō o shiyō shimasu."
And just like before, when Kagome opened her eyes, she saw the full flicker of flame above her hands. She didn't feel the heat or searing pain, there was none, the fire seemed to caress and smooth her hands, delivering a nice calm. The fire looked like a vibrant gem or the most exotic flower. Kagome stared at it in wonder as it changed brightness, it was dull, tentative. Hotaru giggled. "The fire reflects your emotions, Kagome-chan. To attack, think attack, feel the adrenaline and determination of battle, and the fire will match you. However, you must remain true, of the fire will flicker and become as confused as you." She recited. Kagome nodded, and then looked sheepish. The fire grew a light pink and grew smaller. "How um…how do you put it out?" she asked with a nervous giggle. Hotaru shook her head as her hands fisted and flicked to reveal a confident, warm and bright fire. "Thing is, it doesn't go out until you finish what you started, until you feel complete. It takes much skill to command and extinguish it with no feelings of doing so." She replied as she charged. Kagome nodded again, and her fire grew to match Hotaru's- only it waved back and forth with inexperience. Hotaru smiled. "You are a fast learner, Kagome-chan. Even if your flames betray your inexperience, you're face says otherwise. We'll spar for a few moments and we'll return to the water." She called.
Kagome gave a grunt of approval and she envisioned her flames to be a set of ninja stars, and immediately the flames spread to both her hands and became small and circular with the outline of ninja stars. "How original!" Hotaru appraised as she did the same. Kagome smiled lightly and threw then near Hotaru best as she could. A few stuck to her boots before diminishing and the rest sizzled in the grass. Hotaru returned some and Kagome rolled to dodge. She quickly jack-knifed to her feet but had to drop to avoid a wave of fire. "Don't be predictable. If you find yourself on the ground attack from there like a snake." Hotaru said as she flipped to Kagome's side. Kagome did a sweep-kick and caught one of her trainer's legs but missed the other by an inch. Kagome, remembering a dance move from an American music video, balanced on her back and used her weight to swing her legs around and around until a hula-hoop appeared on her legs and Kagome kicked out, the fire flinging itself like a whip at Hotaru. It struck true, wrapping around the hanyouness and tripping her up. Kagome jumped to her feet and flipping to Hotaru, standing over her with a triumphant smile. Hotaru faced the ground with wide eyes before the fire dissipated and she stood.
"WH-what was that?! What kind of move was that?" she asked with disbelief in her voice. Never before had she ever seen that kind of thing. Kagome shrugged. "A dance move called the 'flare'. I just thought it would be cool." Now Hotaru looked confused and skeptic. "A dance move? You have quite the creativity, Kagome-chan. It's deadly. That's enough fire for now; we will expand on your water skills. Your ice conversion is sketchy at best." She said, and her fire went out. Kagome's did as well and she looked at her cooling hands wonderingly. "So when I do the task or self-mission I used the fire for, the fire will leave?" she asked. Hotaru nodded, a little ball of water bubbling to her hand. Kagome took a breath and calmed herself and summoned the water above her as well. "Now, remember that when you create ice, you are commanding the water to harden and become solid. To do this means to post-pone the grace of it and become rigid and strong. Imagine yourself as ice, rigid and strong, and the water will follow you." Hotaru told her. Kagome took a moment and soon enough the ball of floating water became ice and dropped to her palm with a small tap. "Good, that was faster than last time. You know what? I feel we've done enough; you are doing better than I did in training, so you deserve a break, Kagome-chan. After lunch we'll get back to training." Hotaru called at a whim, her eyes unfocused at Kagome but something in the trees.
Kagome's eyes lit up and she nodded. "See ya later then, Hotaru-chan!" she chirped as she jogged out of the caves and into the warmth of Kouga's bed. Hotaru stared at the trees more, her nose wrinkling a little as she analyzed the wind. The scent of the hanyou filtered into her brain and Hotaru tilted her head. "I know you're hear, why you don't come out and show your face to me?" she called. She saw the flash of a fire rat haori and soon the body of Inuyasha was standing right in front of her. "You've been doing this for a while now, Inuyasha. Why?" Hotaru asked, walking up to him and tilting her head. Inuyasha looked away as his face reddened. "To watch." He muttered. Hotaru sat down, motioning him to do the same. "Watching who? Kagome-chan and I?" at his nod she smiled a little. "What for? The practice or our bodies?" she teased. Inuyasha spluttered as his face darkened more. "A little of both I guess. The fire…I liked the fire the most." He answered. Hotaru scooted closer to him, staring into his molten gold eyes with her thick green-blue ones. Inuyasha stared back; entranced in the way the colors seemed to move in her eyes, like a gem. "Why do you like fire?" she asked again, ever the pensive one. Inuyasha blinked, mentally pulling himself together to find coherent words. "The way you described how in touch fire is with your heart. It describes how my emotions work." He whispered. Hotaru blinked, resting her head on her wrists. "How so? The fires of curiosity have awakened. Quench them." She said.
Inuyasha smiled a little and two seconds later the two were launched into a long, deep conversation. All over fire and emotions. Inuyasha found himself at some kind of peace as he talked. Hotaru found herself opening her heart and learning what it really is to enjoy another's company. Together, they lost the loneliness inside themselves, and a new strong friendship bloomed between them.
OH JESUS GUYS! IT'S BEEN FOR EVER SINCE I'VE UPDATED ESCAPE AND I SINCERERLY APOLOGIZE TO MY ONCE HYPED-UP READERS. I HOPE THIS REKINDLED SOME HOPE IN YOU. I'M NOT DELETING THIS STORY YET! IT'S TOO IMPORTANT- AND POPULAR TO DO THAT! I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT UPDATE WILL COME ALONG, BUT I'LL TRY! Most of the delay was due to outside things and the evil writer's block pandemic. unnng. I know everyone gets is, but don't worry, I think I'm getting cured! Review please, and thanks!
~Mistress Kagome