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 18
Everything was a mess. She'd long lost count of her attempts to sort things out. Each was less successful than the last. She'd never get this done in time. She put down her spare parka with a sigh. She'd have to ask Master Lusa for a bigger bag.
She stifled a yawn. She'd go straight to bed once she was finished. She'd need all the sleep she could get.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the tinkle of chimes. She glanced over her shoulder. Master Lusa stood silent in the doorway.
"Master." She turned to give her a bow.
"Kikyou." She dipped her head in return. She took in the room with a frown. "Do pardon me but I wondered what all this-"
"Packing." She picked up an undershirt. "Master Amaruq said we need to leave by the sixth hour."
"Amaruq." Lusa's frown deepened. "The Council was not informed of this."
"The White Lotus chose him, Master." She began to fold the garment.
"The White Lotus. I see." Her face said otherwise. "And Kaede?"
"Kaede will stay here for now." A twinge of doubt tugged at Kikyou's stomach. She carried on folding. "She says she still has much to learn."
"As we all do."
That was hardly subtle. She glanced up at Lusa. "What troubles you, Master?"
"You have not offended me, Kikyou." Lusa attempted a reassuring smile. "It's just that, well, this is rather sudden."
"I'm afraid we don't have much time, Master." She resumed her packing.
"I'm sure you have enough time for a good night's sleep."
"Thank you. But I'll sleep better once I've packed."
"Kikyou... you've given this quite some thought, haven't you?"
More than she cared to admit. A nod would do for now.
"Kikyou." Master Lusa shuffled over to her bedside. She laid a hand on her shoulder. "There's no harm in allowing yourself a little rest. Even Avatar Lobsang didn't master all four elements by the age of thirteen."
She shrugged her hand away. "I'll be fourteen next Solstice."
That was less than a month away. Not that Lusa needed reminding. The preparations had taken up so much of her time, it was a wonder she could keep an eye on anything else.
"Fourteen," Lusa mused. "When I was fourteen, the biggest things I had to worry about were gossip and boys and wearing my sister's old parka."
"Maybe," she replied. "But if you'll pardon me for saying, Master, the war didn't start until you were thirty."
"True," Lusa agreed mildly. "Still, I don't remember us putting fourteen year olds on the front lines when I was your age."
"We won't be anywhere near the front lines, Master." She held back a sigh. "Ba Sing Se is the safest city in the Earth Kingdom. Master Amaruq says its walls are impenetrable."
"Amaruq says many things." Lusa rubbed her chin. "Although I do recall that he has yet to see those walls for himself."
"Have you seen them, Master?" She tinged the last word with a touch of impatience.
It was Lusa's turn to sigh. "Kikyou. You know I wish only for your happiness."
"I am happy, Master."
"Are you now?"
She nodded in reply. She had no reason not to be.
Lusa squeezed her arm. "You take so much on yourself. Perhaps too much. There's no harm or shame in sharing your troubles."
"We both know our troubles, Master," she answered. "This is the right choice."
"That remains to be seen. It is not the only choice."
She shook her head. "Thank you. But it's my choice, Master."
"Your choice."
Lusa didn't need to voice the rest of her thoughts. They were as plain as her face. She was still a child in Lusa's eyes.
Lusa couldn't hold her gaze for long. She released her arm and lowered her head with a sigh. "I'll be here if you need me."
"Thank you, Master." She gave her a bow.
Lusa returned the bow. She didn't move from her side. She cast a look at Kikyou's packing. "May I at least help-"
"Another bag would be very helpful." She dipped her head in a second bow. "Thank you."
"Another bag. Of course."
Lusa shuffled away. Kikyou turned back to her packing. She had enough on her mind already. She reached for another undershirt. There was no sense in troubling herself further. She'd made the right choice.
Kagome woke in a haze.A hushed wind whistled in her ears. Unfamiliar bird cries echoed after it, followed by a faint crash of waves. She took in a breath of salt air. The smell lingered in her nose. So she'd made it this far.
Her relief was small. Her body ached in a dozen new places. None of them were half as bad as her head. The light in her face wasn't helping much. She eased an eye open.
Her surroundings were dim. She blinked them into focus. What little light there was came streaming through a crack. Perhaps she was still underground?
She tried to sit up. That only brought more pain. Her limbs were stiff and stubborn. Her wrists and ankles were bound by something soft. Some kind of fabric? Something made of fur or leather. Something very like her...
Her parka. She wasn't wearing her parka. Yet she wasn't even shivering. The shock jolted her out of her daze. She squirmed to roll herself onto her back. She collapsed before she got halfway there. She let out a groan.
"What-"
"Don't get up!"
She gave a start. That was the thief's voice. She jerked her head towards the sound. Her only reward was a wince. He was definitely somewhere close. She wriggled in his direction. A shadow fell across her face.
"Hey. Stay still."
His voice was a low growl; harsh but not threatening. He laid a hand on her shoulder. She flinched away.
"Ow... "
"I said don't move. You'll hurt yourself."
Her muscles ached in agreement. She lay still while her eyes scanned her surroundings. They must be in some kind of cave. Somewhere close to the shore and the surface. There was a light coming from somewhere. Somewhere near the entrance. She craned her neck towards it.
"Hey... "
She ignored him. The light stabbed at her eyes. She squinted stubbornly. It was coming from outside. Sunlight. The sun was still up. A chill shot through her. Just how far north had they gone?
She swallowed. Her mouth was parched. "Where are we?"
He blinked. "You're asking me?"
"You... don't know?"
He gave a brief shrug. "Hey. You're the one who brought us here."
She shook her head. "How?"
He stared at her for a few moments. She stared back. There was a new wariness in his eyes. Tension tugged at his mouth. He was slighter without his furs. His clothes were a muted red, worn and ragged. He'd have been a good deal more imposing if he wasn't quite so obviously in need of a hot meal and a bath.
He broke the silence with a scoff.
"Don't tell me you don't remember."
She didn't answer him. He had to be lying. He had to. Repeating it did little to reassure her. The chill crept into her how long had she been out for?
His brows rose. "You don't?"
She swallowed again. "What... what did I do?"
"What did you... " He shook his head. "You don't - any of it?"
"I don't." Her voice quivered on the word.
He gave her another stare. "Shit. You don't."
That was no lie. Her stomach froze. What did she do? She cast back her mind. It was like trawling through fog. She squinted to focus.A memory flitted before her. She snatched on to it before it could flutter away.
"You."
His ears pricked in her direction.
"You said my name."
He made a small shrug. "So?" He still didn't look at her.
"You could at least use it."
"Keh. Like that'd make you listen."
Like he was one to talk. She tried a different tack. "You're Inuyasha, right?"
He gave her a grunt. She'd take that as a yes.
"So you really don't remember what happened?"
"Oh for... " He heaved a sigh. "Why'd you think I was asking you?"
"But you remember some things, right?"
"Can't believe I forgot how annoying you are," he muttered under his breath.
Well, it was worth a try. She lay back on her side and scanned the cave for clues. If only she still had her bag. Her bag. Her eyes homed in on the familiar object. He'd placed it atop a pile of rocks, well clear of the damp.
She shot him an accusing look. "Did you-"
"Like I'd want to." He wrinkled his nose.
She stifled a giggle. Those salts sure came in handy. She mouthed a silent thanks to Grandpa.
He shot her a suspicious glare. "Don't see what you've got to be happy about."
She gave him a small shrug. "Just making conversation." It might give her a few clues, if nothing else.
"Keh. I'll be done with you soon enough."
"Oh?" She cast her eyes around the cave. "Funny. I don't see any of your friends around here."
His eyes narrowed. "You don't even remember that?"
"That?" It was her turn to frown. "What-"
"The Oasis."
"Oasis?"
"You know, the big wet hole in the ground."
She answered him with a blank stare. He heaved a sigh.
"You don't even remember the spirits?"
"Spirits?"
"Or Tsubaki?" His voice was almost desperate.
"Tsubaki... "
The name tugged at her memory. Another image flashed before her. An old woman bent double below her, her face and limbs twisted in agony...
She recoiled with a shudder. She shut her eyes to banish the thought. That only made it more vivid. She shook her head.
"What did I do?" she whispered. "Oh, sweet moon, what did I do?"
He cleared his throat. "Hey."
She shook her head again. Her mind's eye was fixed on the night at the Oasis. The towering cavern, the twisted roots, the encroaching shadows... all of it was far more real to her than any of her surroundings.
"Hey. You listening?"
His voice barely reached her. Her mind was still far image loomed out of her memories. Hitomiko lay impaled on the monster's claws, her blood streaming down her shoulder, staining the grass...
Her heart lurched. Her stomach followed. Tears pricked her eyes. She choked back a sob.
"Master... "
"Hey."
He took a step towards her. His hands stayed at his sides. She raised her head and gave him a wordless stare.
"Hey, don't."
"What?" she snapped. "What do you want me to do? Laugh?"
"What? No. Just-" His cheeks flushed. He took a breath. His eyes were almost apologetic. "Just stop it. Okay?"
"How? How am I supposed to-" Her voice broke into another sob. "How?" She couldn't manage another word.
His gaze fell. He turned away. Even he knew better than to open his mouth.
She lay tearful on the ground for what could have been hours or minutes. He kept up his silence. It was finally broken by the rustle of cloth.
Something soft settled around her shoulders. The fabric was unfamiliar but something about it caught her eye. She blinked away her tears. In the dim light, she made out a faded red; the same colour as his shirt.
She glanced up at him. His eyes were on the entrance.
"Stay there."
His words were rough but not harsh. He still couldn't meet her eyes.
She swallowed. "Where are you-"
He took off without another was left staring into space. So much for conversation. Not that that had ever been his strong suit. She shook her head. If it wasn't for the shirt draped over her, she'd have sworn she imagined him.
She rolled over with a sigh. As obnoxious as he was, she'd still take him over being alone with her thoughts. She closed her eyes. Perhaps her exhaustion would lull her to sleep. She gave another sigh. All she could do was wait.
Constructive criticism is very welcome!
I update once a month.
