DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.
Chapter 12
The rest of the island had paid surprisingly little mind to her absence. There was a festival to be had, after all. The whole temple was wrapped up in the preparations. Even the Avatar was only a passing distraction. Her return brought her no more than a few waves, smiles and glances.
That was a relief, if nothing else. No one would question an extra training session with Kaede. Especially not when there were games and songs and dances to be had elsewhere. Strange how the festival's bustle was almost relaxing after the tunnel's closeness. Then again, she'd take any relief she could get after that meeting.
Of course, it was all too short. As her escort skirted the corner of the main courtyard, she was met by a rush of voices.
"Kagome!"
Her friends burst through the crowd. They skidded to a breathless halt before the guards' spears. She waved them down.
"It's okay, guys. They're my friends."
The guards lowered their spears a fraction. They still kept them at a good length.
Eri was the first to break the awkward silence. "It's Akitoki."
Kagome's heart thudded to a halt. Her hand shot to her chest. Her lips somehow formed a question.
"Is he-"
"He's awake."
Her heart skittered from shock to worry. She gathered a breath before she tried another question.
"How is he?"
"He asked about you," Ayumi said with a smile.
"He's been asking about you since he woke up," Yuka continued. "I think he's more worried about you than himself, really."
That didn't surprise her. It didn't reassure her either. She forced a smile.
"I'm fine. Really."
Yuka wasn't fooled. "Hey, I'm sure he won't mind if you need a rest first."
"No. I know - he'll worry." She buried her misgivings and met Yuka's eyes. "I'll go see him."
"Now?"
"I - think that's best. He might not stay awake for long."
"Well, if you say so." Yuka replied with a shrug.
"We're happy to come along if you need us," Eri offered.
"Thanks Eri," said Kagome. "But I think it's better if I go alone."
"Really?"
Ayumi's face creased into an uncharacteristic frown. Yuka and Eri exchanged knowing glances.
Better not get them started. "Sorry guys. But I think it's best," she insisted. She steeled herself with a deep breath. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
She was breathless by the time she made it to the infirmary. Even the tunnel hadn't been this hard on her. The guards allowed her a few moments' rest before one of them popped the inevitable question.
"What brings you here, Avatar?"
"Akitoki. He's a friend," she added quickly. "May I see him?"
The guards exchanged a couple of whispers. She did her best not to pry. Their eyes were already too knowing for her liking.
It didn't take long for them to agree. One of them gave her a nod. The other had a hint of a smirk. She covered her irritation with a dip of her head.
"Thank you."
They let her enter alone. It wasn't like the place was crowded. Takeshi lay in one bed. A young woman - the one who'd been wounded by the spirit - lay opposite him. Both were sound asleep.
The other two occupants were at the far end of the room. Aput sat on the end of one of the beds. He was nodding along to a halting conversation. His eyes were on Takeshi. His lids were beginning to droop. No doubt he had half a mind to follow suit.
As for Akitoki... Her hands flew unbidden to her mouth. His arms and chest were swathed in bandages. What little flesh showed through was red and raw. His face was scratched and singed. Even sitting up in bed took a clear effort. His smile was weak but his eyes were bright as ever.
"Kagome... "
"Akitoki." She hurried to his bedside before he could drag himself upright. A pang of guilt tugged at her chest. He'd put himself through more than enough for her as it was.
"Ah, it's okay. Take your time."
"Don't worry. I'm good." He winced as he eased himself onto one elbow. "Well, better."
"You don't have to-"
"No, no, it's okay." He waved her off with his free hand. That got another wince out of him. "Sit down. Um, if you'd like."
Well, it might help to keep him still. She settled down on the opposite bed, at the other end to Aput. Aput gave her a grateful glance for the interruption.
That brought another smile to Akitoki's face. He cleared his throat.
"So... "
"Well."
She shifted on the bed as she searched for the right words. Her bag bumped against her leg. She gave Mama a silent thanks for her icebreaker. She reached into the bag and drew out a sealed earthenware jar.
"This is for you." She held out the jar. "Sorry, it's not much."
"Oh, sea prunes!" His face lit up at the sight. "And you got the ones with cloudberries!"
She had to smile at that."They're your favourites, right?"
"Of course." He nodded eagerly. "Ah, sorry. They'll have to go in the chest for now." He motioned for Aput to take the jar.
"That's okay."
Aput took the jar with a small bow. He set about the unenviable task of squeezing it into the chest without collapsing its contents. Takeshi and the woman somehow slept on through it.
She gave Takeshi a glance. "How's he doing?"
"Better. The healers say he needs rest more than anything else." There was a creak as he shifted on the bed. "They're more worried about the girl. Umi, was it?"
"Yeah."
She turned her gaze on Umi. Half her torso has sheathed in bandages. Her face was near as pale as the walls and just as blank. The sight was enough to make her mouth run dry.
"She hasn't batted an eyelid since they brought her in here. If it wasn't for her breathing... "
"That spirit... " She gave a shudder. "I don't know what she did to her but-"
"Master Kaede's done everything she can," Akitoki reassured her. "We'll just have to pray for the best."
"Guess so." Her chest was still tight. She shifted her gaze back to Takeshi. If she'd never touched that tree...
Akitoki allowed her a few moments. He drew her eyes back to him with a small cough. "So... I hear you're the new Avatar?"
Her smile wavered a little. There was no escaping that topic for long. Of course, there wasn't much sense it beating around the bush either. She suppressed a sigh.
"Well, that's what they're saying."
"They?"
"Well, most everyone," she admitted. "It's kind of complicated."
"Oh." He processed that with a brief frown. "But still. You're a waterbender now. That's amazing."
"That's... kind of complicated too."
"I guess it's not easy," he admitted. He still couldn't keep his smile from returning to his face. "But it's amazing too. Dad couldn't believe his ears at first."
Well, she could hardly blame him. "I know I sure couldn't. I'm still not sure I can, sometimes."
"Hey, no one learns to bend overnight," he reassured her."I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."
She swallowed a laugh. If only she shared his optimism. She could at least try. "Well, Master Kaede did say I had a gift for healing."
"You see?" Akitoki beamed at her. "Why, I'll bet you're a natural."
She suppressed a wince. Best not go down that road. "Well, I wouldn't go that far."
It didn't escape his attention. His eyes became apologetic. "I guess this Avatar stuff is a lot, huh?"
"Yeah." She shook her head. "I mean, I don't even know where to start, really."
"Hey, you're still you. Right?"
She glanced back up at him. His eyes and voice held nothing but sincerity. A smile found its way to her face.
"Right."
"Glad to hear it." He relaxed back against the pillows. "So... any plans for the rest of the week?"
"Plans?" Guess news didn't travel that fast here after all. She'd best break it to him gently. "Well, there's a lot going on right now."
"Oh, I don't mean the Council meeting." He waved it off as if it was a mere distraction. "I mean, I still owe you one."
"You don't." She raised her hand before he could object. "Sorry. It's just - well, I don't even know if I'll still be here after the Solstice."
"Of course you will." His voice was honestly baffled. "Dad says we're not going anywhere until I'm healed up."
"Akitoki... " She forced her frown away. "Listen. I don't want you to worry but - well, I'm not sure your Dad can overrule the entire Council."
"He won't have to." His face had lost none of its earnestness. "I'm sure they'll see our side of the story."
"Akitoki?" A suspicion tugged at her mind. "What are you-"
"You done there, Aput?"
Aput straightened up with a nod. He held a small package in his right hand.
Her brows creased. "Aput?"
Akitoki scratched at his cheek. That brought another wince to his face. "Ah, well, as it so happens, I've got something for you too."
"Something for me?"
Her stomach quivered as Aput approached her. Her suspicion deepened. She kept her face as calm as possible.
Aput held out the package with a bow.
"Uh, thanks."
She took it with only a faint tremble of her hands. Akitoki couldn't take his eyes from them. He didn't say a word as she unwrapped the gift. His gaze said more than enough.
She didn't need to look. That didn't stop her stare from going straight to the clamshell box in her hands. The shell was cracked, the hinge was broken and the surface was scratched. There was still no mistaking it. Her fumbling fingers somehow prised the lid open.
"Akitoki... "
"I'm sorry - I must have landed on it." His eyes were still on her hands. "It's still good though. I mean, the necklace is-"
"Akitoki, I... "
The words caught in her throat. There was no avoiding his question. It had been weighing on the back of her mind ever since that night at the shrine. Yet in the face of everything else...
"Dad said they'll have to let you decide."
"Decide?" Her voice emerged as a squeak.
"They can't make you leave before I'm well enough to go home. Unless that's what you choose." Akitoki explained. His voice tightened a fraction on the last word. "It's a lot. I know."
"It's... a lot. Yeah."
She stared down at the necklace. Her reflection peered back from the stone's surface. Her eyes were unreadable. She was in no place to accept this. No matter what was at stake. Yet an outright refusal could be more than he could bear.
"You don't have to say right away. I'm sure the Council will understand," Akitoki reassured her. A tinge of hope crept into his voice. "I'll wait as long as you need."
"I - thank you," she managed. She closed the box and slipped it into her bag. It weighed against her leg; an uncomfortable reminder.
"I'll think it over. I promise."
Her heart sank as the words left her lips. She could promise him that much. That and no more.
He'd long lost count of the hours when the ice cracked open again. He'd had only the guards and the darkness for company. Hard to say which was worse. The guards weren't allowed so much as a drop but that hadn't stopped one of them from breaking out the drinking songs. His ears were almost sore enough to drown out his aching side.A few more hours of this and he might actually start to miss the girl.
A newcomer joined them with a whistle. It was just high enough to set his teeth on edge. His ears pressed back as the whistle grew closer. His face was masked by paint and shadows but there was no mistaking that smirk. Not this bastard again. He'd had enough bullshit for a week, let alone tonight.
The guard's whistle sharpened as he drew closer. It was accompanied by the stink of fish. That didn't give him much of a clue. One meal was as shitty as another down here.
The guard approached him with a smirk and a horn spoon. He bent down to rap the bars. He didn't take the bait. His ears drew flat as the guard skittered the spoon along the bars.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead."
He didn't bother. It wasn't like a bowl of fish slops was worth the effort. The smell alone had already demolished his appetite.
Another rap on the bars sent his ears twitching.
"Come on, get it while it's hot."
Fat chance of that. He'd be doing well if it was lukewarm. He kept his eyes on the ground. They all got bored eventually.
"Oh well, have it your way, then."
He opened the hatch in the door and pushed the tray through. The bastard left it just a finger out of reach. He shot him a glare. Even that half-arsed excuse for an Avatar wasn't this annoying.
"Enjoy." The guard gave him a smug little wave.
He drew back his hand to avoid his half-hearted swipe. The flames fizzled out before they got halfway across the cell. Damn cold. If it wasn't for all this ice he'd be healed by now. Healed and free and miles away from this bastard. He gave a frustrated growl.
The guard replied with a chuckle. "Save your strength, kid. You'll need it." He shot him another wave.
He blinked as a new scent tugged at his senses. Something fresh and rich and earthy, buried under layers of fur and sweat and grease. Something almost familiar.
The guard gave another chuckle. That one was all too familiar. His head snapped up. He fixed his glare on the guard. His back was already turned. His glare sharpened.
The guard didn't look back. He left him without another word. His footsteps were swallowed up by the ice. He was left in darkness once more. With a thousand questions for company.
Constructive criticism is very welcome!
I update once a month.
