Ch. 41: A Promise

An icy wind blew over the dreary bay, stirring the rough indigo waters below and rustling the simple wooden boats along the docks. The overcast weather left many to seek refuge and warmth indoors – even the small white seagulls took shelter in the shafts of the small sea community. However, a few figures remained outdoors, facing the day and all it brought so that the town could remain on the map. After all, someone had to provide for the hungry mouths back home. A few of these dedicated men returned from a long day's worth of hunting in the nearby forest, huddled together to retain even the slightest bit of warmth, and passed by a lone girl sitting on the docks with her feet dangling to and fro in their own effort to keep the cold at bay.

Alice rubbed her shoulders and gave a slight bout of shivering to revitalize her numb body. The suddenness of the turn in the weather took the whole group by surprise, though she supposed it shouldn't have considering fall was well on its way. Still, being from the modern age, the girl forgot about the joys of a thick coat and an indoor heater. Sure the wool coverings Sango acquired were nice and took the bite out of the wind, but she found herself longing for the simple luxuries of her own time.

"Hello Alice, how are you faring?" Miroku greeted, his tone contrasting with the atmosphere.

The named turned to see the monk – accompanied by Sango, Shippo and Kirara – approach her on the dock. She responded, "I'm hanging in there. Any news?"

"If you mean a sailor willing to lend us his vessel, than I'm afraid not," Sango replied with a sigh.

Alice mirrored the demon-slayer's disappointment and turned her attention back on the distant island in the massive blue sea. It had been nearly a week since they arrived in Shiyosai Village yet they couldn't manage to find a single sailor willing to take them Asagiri Island. Although she understood their need to provide for their families – as well as their unease to sail on such turbulent waters, which had fiercely rejected even the slightest attempt to go out – the Shikigami user grew restless. Her enemy was within sight, yet she could do nothing but wait for the weather to lighten up.

Shippo jumped from where he perched from Miroku's shoulder to land on Alice's lap, burrowing into the thick covering she had draped over her. At his cool touch, she instinctively recoiled but as his fur began to provide another source of heat, she gladly accepted his presence. Meanwhile, Sango and Miroku remained standing, and with a smile from the girl, closely to keep warm as well.

A strong wind came from the direction of the island on the horizon and twirled around the small group, causing them to shiver at its touch as it swirled around them. Alice tightened her grip on the woolen overcoat she wore and bowed her head slightly to ease the onslaught of the unforgiving gust. From within, she could feel the tiny kitsune child shiver violently momentarily and press against her body more.

Narrowing his deep blue eyes, Miroku braced the wind as Sango drew closer to him for warmth. When it passed, he commented, "The weather doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. It appears that we still have a while to wait until we can find a way to Asagiri Island."

"Tch," Alice grumbled, glaring down in frustration.

From below, Shippo poked his head out and looked up at the girl with understanding in his teal gaze before following her own eyes to the island. He spoke up, "Inuyasha won't like to hear that."

"No kidding," Alice agreed, taking Shippo into her arms as she stood up, "But it's not like he can do anything about it. We'll just have to wait and pray that things clear up soon before he destroys the whole village in his impatience."

Or I do Alice inwardly added as she headed towards the nearby inn across from the boardwalk where they had been staying. Entering the tiny hut, she took a right and came to the room at the end of the hallway where Kagome sat inside before a small fire. The priestess, warming her hands near the flames, looked up and smiled upon their entrance.

"Hey guys. Any luck today?" she kindly asked.

"Nope," Alice replied with a shake of her head and Kagome gave a small frown. "Have you seen Inuyasha?" the girl continued.

"No, he's probably still out hunting with the rest of the village men," Kagome answered.

The Shikigami user nodded and sat down next to the young priestess, taking off the cobalt deer-skin boots she had gotten from a passing trader a few days back. Letting the heat from the fire revitalize her feet, Alice let out a content sigh, allowing her body to rest until it was her turn to go out and hunt.

While first entering the village, they had discovered an entire community of thin – as in thinner than a typical feudal resident – people, including children. Instantly Alice's heart was moved with pity for them. It didn't take long to figure out that they were totally dependent on the marine life within the sea for sustenance. Sure, they tried to hunt in the forest, yet one trip with them clearly showed that their professions lied on the waters, but with the current weather, sailing had become impossible. The group later found out that desperate attempts had been made to go out a few days before their arrival but had disastrous consequences, with many men returning with serve cases of hypothermia or not coming back at all.

So they took it upon themselves to teach the village to hunt in the forest once more. Even Inuyasha joined in, albeit grudgingly with his annoyance of the villagers' lack of knowledge of "basic skills" as he called it. Each day they took a shift, leading a group of villagers out and letting them learn from their example. By now, they had improved to the point where some small groups could venture out on their own, which impressed Alice, who found her own skills sharpening from the lessons.

It was dark by the time Inuyasha returned with two small fowls slung over his shoulder. Depositing them to Sango and Kagome, he settled down beside Miroku and folded his arms inside his haori. Unsurprisingly, the news of yet another unsuccessful day came upon unhappy dog ears, and Inuyasha growled that they could've defeated Naraku weeks ago if they'd allowed him to take a boat.

"We've gone over this a million times Inuyasha," Alice grumbled, "We can't steal a boat, and even if we did there is no way that I'd let you drive it. We might as well jump in the water and swim."

"Keh! Says the one who has boatsickness," roughly responded Inuyasha, "It would get us to the island faster than sitting around and waiting for the weather to change."

"Seeing as it is the only option we have if we actually want to stand a chance of defeating Naraku, waiting is far better. And it's seasickness!" Alice shot back.

Shippo and the others looked on with frowns at the two bickering once more, the event becoming commonplace as of late. Both had become so overwhelmed with their impatience to go to the island that they were nearing their breaking points and had could only let out their frustration through yelling at one another. However, as each day passed, the arguments worsened and today's reached a climax.

"Whatever! At least I'm trying to get to Naraku instead of staying here and helping these flimsy humans learn how to do something a kid could do," the hanyou growled.

"Oh, I'm sorry us "flimsy humans" aren't perfect like you. Forgive us for having enough sense not to go and do suicidal things," Alice snapped.

"Please, you're just too weak and scared to try."

"What?!"

"You heard me! You're too scared to go over to the island. That's why you haven't bothered to try and go."

"I-" Alice began, but Inuyasha cut her off.

"You must be happy to wait here where it's nice and warm instead of going out and finally defeating Naraku. That's why you keep on insisting we stay, because you're afraid of such a pathetic person as him. In the end, you're the same as these villagers: helpless."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed at the very moment Alice swiftly stood up and glared down icily at the hanyou with such intensity that he was shaken from his hotheaded mood.

"If you truly believe that I'm weak you have a big wake-up call coming your way Inuyasha," Alice spoke coldly, glaring with what appeared to be deep hatred towards the hanyou, making the entire room seem to drop 10 degrees.

Grabbing her boots, she proceeded to put them on while Inuyasha stuttered, "W-Where do you think you're going?!"

"Away from you!" she snarled back, causing everyone in the room to flinch as she stormed out of the room.

Inuyasha shook his head, concealing his own shock, and opened his yellow eyes to see the rest of the group looking towards him disapprovingly.

"What?" he exclaimed, looking between their faces.

His only reply was an exhausted shake of everyone's heads before they continued on with preparing for the next day to come.


An angered yell reverberated through the silent forest on the edge of Shiyosai Village and a giant oak shook from a grave impact. Below, Alice swung her sword in a fit of rage, its sharp edge scaring multiple trees in the dimly lit clearing. All around her, the trunks were decorated with long, deep scars that were added upon with each passing moment.

How dare Inuyasha accuse her of telling them to stay because she was afraid of Naraku! There was no way on earth she was even frightened of the diabolical man, but for him to even think that she was made her blood boil. She hadn't insisted that they stay because she was "scared" of him. Rather, she was only looking out for the group's well-being. If anyone were to get hurt on the voyage over, Naraku would surely take advantage of the weakness and Alice couldn't be certain she would be able to protect them.

"Baka!" she snarled, swinging her sword once more at the base of a nearby pine, disfiguring its once pristine bark.

"Why can't you see that I'm doing it for you!" she continued, swinging with each word, "You. Stupid. Head. Inu. Yasha!"

With a final burst of anger, Alice cried out and swung with all her might. The dark blade cut through the remainder of the trunk and the tree began to sway in the wind before falling down beside the girl, who breathed heavily while remaining in her stance, glaring at the invisible form of the hanyou before her.

A quiet moment passed by where all began to descend back into silence, but before it could come, a blinding pain tore through the girl's skull. Gasping, she stumbled backwards, gripping her head with her right hand. Her back found a still standing tree and she pressed against it as if she could somehow out run the pain torturing her head.

Unbeknownst to her companions, the migraines had been plaguing her ever since they had left Kikyo back in Minamo Village, and with every passing day they grew worse and worse. Grimacing, Alice closed her eyes and once more attempted to will the pain away as she had done before, but this time her efforts proved to be in vain.

"All alone again are we?" a voice echoed in the darkness, one that momentarily stopped Alice's heart.

She opened her eyes and swiftly surveyed her surroundings for the source as it continued, "My, my Alice, you simply can't seem to stay with anyone these days."

"Where are you? Show yourself!" the girl commanded, turning left and right, still unable to pinpoint the voice.

"Where do you think?" the voice clearly spoke from behind Alice as she swiftly turned to face the crimson gaze of Naraku.

"Naraku!" Alice gasped before taking a defensive stance.

The dark hanyou laughed, "Don't be afraid dear Alice, it's only me."

"S-Shut up! As if I'm afraid of you!" the girl retorted, swinging her sword at him only to find his image vanish like smoke from the sweep of her attack, leaving her baffled.

"Please, don't kid yourself," replied the hanyou in an unamused voice from across the clearing as the girl whipped around to face him, her eyes wide, "You can't deny your fears."

Growling, Alice stepped back. "Why you… Just die!" she yelled, rushing towards him and attacking once more with the same results.

He appeared once more a few feet to the left and she again swept her sword through his dissipating form, the trend continuing until the Shikigami user's grip on her sword faltered, causing it to fly across the clearing and Naraku's form before being implanted into an oak's trunk.

Sweat beads traveled down her head as Alice gasped for air from the intense movements her body had been forced to make. Her hand stayed where it was, outstretched from swinging her sword moments before, and she glared around the now tattered clearing trying to anticipate where he would appear next. However, the clearing remained empty as it was the moment she entered it and no one except her had ventured within.

Forming a fist with her hands, she glared at the ground murmuring, "What kind of a fool does he take me for? I am not afraid of him!"

Yet when she scanned the torn clearing and rested her gaze on her sword, still firmly implanted into the tree, her anger ceased and she felt the cold temperature press on her. Grabbing her upper arms, Alice quietly walked away from the clearing deeper into the woods.

A few minutes passed until she found a cliff overlooking the village and sea, unnoticeable from the place unless scouted out by a trained eye. Coming to the edge of the cliff, she let out an exhausted sigh, rubbing her arms to keep warm. She allowed her weary legs to rest and came to a sitting position, looking out at the waves and flickering firelight below.

For a few moments she allowed her mind to go numb as she stared at the sight, letting it pass by unchangingly. Her weary eyes seemed weighed down from the effort of staying open and she felt her body start to grow numb from the chill.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay out here," a voice spoke up, followed by a thick woolen blanket draped over Alice's shoulder.

The girl spun around, nerves on end, only to meet a startled golden gaze, whose owner slightly backed away from the sudden movement while the girl murmured, "Inuyasha?"

"W-What? Are you still mad about before?" he replied hastily, "Listen, I'm sorry it's just-"

He was cut off as the girl wrapped her arms around him tightly, saying, "It's alright! I understand, and I'm sorry for what I said as well."

The hanyou slowly relaxed in her embrace, stuttering, "R-Right, I forgive you."

Alice pulled away and he settled down next to her, looking out over the sea and commenting, "It's a nice view."

"Mmhmm," she replied softly, her smile slowly drifting away.

Apparently catching this, Inuyasha inquired, "You alright?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," she replied, looking over to where he was with a small smile, "While I was out here I was able to get some fresh air and clear my mind, and it allowed me to see some of the things that you said were true."

"Huh?" the hanyou blinked, tilting his head, "What do you mean?"

"I mean the thing that you said back there. About me keeping everyone in Shiyosai instead of going to Asagiri," Alice continued, "The truth is I may have been doing it because I'm afraid, afraid of one of you guys getting hurt but also…"

She trailed off, closing her eyes momentarily and grabbing her left shoulder, "Also because of what you said Inuyasha."

Her words caught Inuyasha off guard as he stared at the girl who suddenly appeared very much like the villagers he hastily deemed helpless, totally unlike his normal perception of her. Frowning, he growled at himself for somehow bringing up the topic earlier and thus causing the unneeded pain upon the girl. Shaking it off, he wrapped an arm protectively around her.

At the warmth of his touch, Alice looked up curiously with damp eyes as he reassuringly said, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

A smile lit her face as she nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, the hanyou becoming almost like a brother to her in their adventures. Peacefully she closed her eyes and let herself fall asleep, while Inuyasha himself laid his head down on hers.

Not even an hour later, a rustle sounded within the bushes behind them as Kagome and the others emerged, smiling happily at the sight of the rising sun piercing the foggy cold and illuminating the two stubborn souls' forms as they finally got some much needed rest.


Hey Guys! :D

Long time no see eh? Well just wanted to post this chapter so you all know that I am in fact not dead and I do still plan on continuing the story c;
Lately though school has been impossibly busy (the retard who said that Senior year is "easy" should be shot). But anyway, I'll do my best to keep writing and posting the chapters. I'm sooo sorry for the wait!

God bless you all!
- Tally (who epically failed with the chapter's title xD")