Mushin scratched his stomach unhurriedly while he inspected the holding spell. Furious gold eyes promised to destroy him if they did not hurry. Blue wisps of smoke arose anytime they attempted to remove the black arrows from his shoulders that kept him prisoner against the tree.
That bastard is getting away with Kagome!
"Kohaku and Kilala went after them, Inuyasha. This man will not get far. I had to stop Sango from putting on her gear," Miroku sighed. His palm closed around the arrow. More blue sparks made him howl as a burning sensation threatened to rip him in two. Miroku lifted both hands.
"I am going to gut that son of a bitch!"
"So you think the bandit planted these peaches, hoping to poison you?" Mushin interrupted. The monk completely ignored his need to hurry. It wasn't his wife being kidnapped by some sneaky human. "Yet he left them in a basket for you both to consume. What poison is only effective against demons but not humans?"
"I don't know! Take the spell off, already. I have to save Kagome!"
"Hmph. Patience is an act of compassion, young demon."
Shippo confirmed that the magic did not belong to a kitsune. Kaede could not remove the sealing arrows either. He banged his head against the tree in frustration while he replayed the encounter in his mind. Kagome had gone with him willingly to save him – because he had been too weak to save her from a random human thief. The image of his wife bound and gagged made him furious. The man had been wearing old leathers with dirt on his hands. Straight black hair past his shoulders. Quick on his feet. Inuyasha winced when he felt the familiar prick of an annoying retainer on the skin of his throat.
"Master Inuyasha, what has happened?"
"Get off me, Myouga!"
The annoying flee perched on his shoulder to examine the foreign magic. He described the human bastard. The flea went to investigate Kagome's half-eaten peach. Shippo came back from the house to announce that the man had also raided the household goods.
"The bastard did WHAT?"
"Master Inuyasha, you and Lady Kagome ate these?" Myouga interrupted. He vowed death to this human. "These are white peaches of immortality from the Continent. They are deadly for mortals to eat! Even a half-mortal should suffer for tasting these fruits. Did this man want to poison Lady Kagome?"
"He kidnapped her!"
"So he expected you to die but not Lady Kagome?"
"Kagome eats a lot of things she shouldn't. The stubborn girl ate an offering of mochi to Tsukiyomi on our honeymoon. So what?" Inuyasha struggled. "It doesn't matter! The jerk has my wife! Can you please get these arrows out of my shoulder? I have to go after them."
"Was Lady Kagome wearing the kaiken Totosai crafted for her?"
"Yes. I make her wear it. The girl uses it to cut herbs in the garden!"
"Lady Kagome is a miko and cannot wield demonic so Totosai used human steel to make the blade. Folded into the steel are strands of fur taken from Tetsusaiga's handle. You should be able to sense the direction of the kaiken like you would summon the Tetsusaiga with its sheath." Myouga shrugged. His panic subsided slightly. "We discussed at length the Lady's propensity for attracting trouble. So long as she wears it, you should be able to follow your wife. What do you think, young Master?"
"Why didn't you tell me months ago, idiot?!"
"Brace yourself, Inuyasha. This is a sutra from the Continent written in their language. It might sting." Miroku cupped a sutra in his hand before gripping the arrow. The magic could not break through the sutra. He yelled when it pulled free. Miroku apologized before bracing his hand against his shoulder the second time. Blood poured down his torso. His body felt weak. Miroku examined the thoroughly black arrows painted with foreign characters. A spell.
"This man could have killed you, Inuyasha. These arrows are dangerous," Kaede interrupted. "Sister Kikyo only used arrows of sealing or purification. These are arrows of ruination. Shot through the heart, not even a demon could survive."
Kagome!
"What are you doing, Inuyasha? Sit down. You are in no condition to travel." Miroku tried to stop him from rising. The human monk was able to force his clothes off his shoulder. Branching darkness followed his veins. "Lady Kaede? I believe we need medical assistance."
"Get off! Kagome needs me. I have to save her."
Master Mushin tossed a string of rosary beads in his direction. Inuyasha yelled when they wrapped around his body like a vice. Miroku sighed but he simply applied a sutra to his forehead that used up his remaining energy. He collapsed to the ground in a dizzy mess.
"Sorry, Inuyasha. It's for your own good!" Shippo pleaded.
The man cut the bonds on Kagome's wrists once they had were away from the village. It was a relief to rub her skin to restore proper circulation. They were sore. He idly flipped the beautiful black kaiken decorated with golden flowers Inuyasha had given her. Without fail he could toss the handle in the air and catch the blade or toss the blade to catch the handle. Kagome admired the unusual bow he carried. It probably took considerable strength to draw.
"So...what is your name?"
"Walk, Princess."
"My name isn't Princess. It's Kagome. Ka-go-me." The man finally met her eyes. "I'm an archer too. That's a nice bow. What is it?"
"Tiger bone."
"Oh-oh." Kagome blinked. "That's impressive. Did you make it yourself?" The man seemed surprised by her desire for friendly conversation. When they came to a river he moved a heavy log into place so she could cross. He even held her hand to help her cross. It was easier to engage her kidnapper in small talk when he was not threatening her husband's life. The more I can learn about him, the better I can help Inuyasha when he comes. The bow was surprisingly supple for being made of bone. Silver carvings covered the limbs. She could not identify what substance formed the bow string.
"Tendons from a loong."
"A dragon? Wow. You must be really strong." Kagome recognized the Chinese word for dragon. She felt sorrow for the creatures that had sacrificed its life for the bow. "So you came here from the Continent?"
"You are very strange."
Kagome shrugged. The man definitely spoke with an accent and he hesitated before he spoke. Maybe he is not fluent in Japanese? It must be a second language. She stayed cordial while they walked through unmarked animal paths. He could pass through the brush without a second thought. Branches and thorns snagged on her hair. It forced him to double back to cut her free with her own kaiken. When she complained about being hungry, he found a tree bearing fruit for her dinner.
The man pulled her down into the bushes with little warning. She squirmed and fought but he was very strong. A familiar shadow passed overhead. She recognized the fire-cat and the young man that passed overhead. Kohaku! He was in the village for the twins' visit to the shrine. Inuyasha can't be far behind. Disappointment made tears well in her eyes when the slayer continued forward.
"We go on. Up, girl."
It was hours until they stopped again. Kagome collapsed on the grassy hillside to massage her poor tired feet. The archer unrolled a silk mat to place on a boulder directly in the moon's light. She watched with great interest when he set an assortment of items on the silk. He bowed on his knees with his hands outstretched on the grass. A prayer was offered in his language to the moon. Kagome waited until he was sitting with his head bowed to interrupt.
"You are Hou Yi."
The archer did not disagree. He simply left his offering on the boulder to inspect her feet for blisters. She had more respect for the black arrows he carried. They were made from the tendons of dragons. In the time of ten suns, the great archer Hou Yi shot down nine to save the earth from burning. He prays to the moon because his wife Chang'e ran away after she drank the elixir of immortality rewarded to him by the Jade Emperor. Xiwangmu was married to the Jade Emperor – charged with tending the Peaches of Immortality. Her daughter Zhinü fell in love with a cowherd. Some of the legends say they founded the legend of Tanabata because Xiwangmu weaved the stars each night.
"Are you human?"
"I am."
"But you must be hundreds of years old. How are you alive? Is it because of the peaches?" The addictive taste of the sweet fruits made sense. Stories from her Chinese literature class came back instantly. The Jade Empress only plucked the peaches once a year to serve to the immortals so their lives could continue. She had a brief vision of herself staying young while everyone around her aged.
Hou Yi ignored her. A single glistening peach was offered on a tray to the moon. Kagome huffed. He clasped his hands in prayer and bowed his head. If she didn't already know that he could catch her, she would have run. She settled for admiring the bright, full moon nestled in the sea of stars. If his wife really is imprisoned on the moon, he must miss her terribly. How would I feel if Inuyasha and I were separated? The wind shifted suddenly. It blew her hair into her face.
An animal made a strange noise. When she tucked her hair over her ears, a four-legged chimera stood on the grass. It was only the size of a goat but it was glittering gold. A pair of fantastical horns decorated its dragon-like head. It tilted its head to consider her curiously and its beard shifted.
"A kirin," Hou Yi named. The beast walked forward carefully to investigate the peach. Kagome was in awe. The adorable little body was covered in soft, flexible scales that sparkled even in the darkness. It made a noise when she moved too quickly and spooked it. It's adorable! Hou Yi passed her the bowl so she could offer the kirin the peach it desired. She giggled when its beard brushed against her fingers. The horns were beautiful. The little kirin allowed her to touch its head.
"I love him! Does he have a name?" Kagome turned. Hou Yi had a significant hunting knife brandished. There was a hardness in his eyes she mistrusted. "What are you doing? You aren't going to kill him, are you? He's harmless! Kirin will not even harm a blade of grass, you jerk!"
"I promise that you will not suffer." Hou Yi bowed his head. The kirin bleated nervously. "Better to die at my hand than become the lord's slave. While his bounty is great, it is not equal to your worth, even if you are a treacherous fènghuáng."
"Your apprentice, Fengmeng?" Kagome racked her brain for any clue from her Chinese literature class. In some versions of the story, Hou Yi had an apprentice that betrayed him by trying to steal the elixir of immortality from Chang'e. The moon goddess drank the elixir to stop its theft, thus separating the lovers forever.
"Fènghuáng, silly girl. Vessel of He Xiangu. The Lotus Flower." Hou Yi glared. Kagome briefly wondered if there was a mistranslation in the original texts. She had little time to ponder. The legendary archer moved very quickly to turn her wrist. A single slice of his blade drew blood.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Hou Yi pressed down on her wound. The blood dripped down her fingers into the clay vessel.
"Shì, Shì! You are the girl. I will have my revenge at last, fènghuáng."
"What are you TALKING about? I have done nothing to you? Ow!" Kagome fell on the grass. Hou Yi was preoccupied tilting the contents of the clay pot. In horror she watched him dip a finger into her blood and taste it. Her revulsion pushed her back when he laughed. The kirin bellowed. It tried to climb into her lap. Blood dripped down to darken the white sleeve of her kimono. Reiki flowed up beneath her kimono to mend the flesh.
Whoa.
"That lord wants you for his wife. Cǎobāo. I will have the elixir," Hou Yi showed the cup to the moon. The archer was in the midst of a formal prayer to his estranged wife. Kagome followed the wise kirin down the slope. Hou Yi turned but she slipped down the dewy grass. Panic gripped her when he went for his bow. She had no intention of becoming the main ingredient for any potion!
"Stop, girl!"
Kagome heard the string being pulled taut. She could only imagine how much strength it took to pull that bow! An arrow shot from Hou Yi would cut through her like paper but running was the only chance she had. He is too strong. Kagome heard the arrow cut through the air. Panic drove her to turn. If Sesshomaru could catch one of her purifying arrows in mid-air, surely she could redirect one. The sweet little kirin hid behind her knees before the barrier rose. It wasn't her intent but the black dragon arrow turned one-eighty in the air. Hou Yi was struck forcefully in the chest. She stopped.
He's dead!
Kagome dropped to her knees beside the body. The kirin nudged her elbow mournfully. Kagome hugged her elbows when a chill wind blew over the field. She trembled before closing his eyes with her fingers in time for his body to dissolve into specks of light. Her eyes lifted to the cold, sad face of the full moon. She made a solemn prayer that Hou Yi be reunited with his love. The kirin bounced alongside her when she investigated his bow. It was lighter than she expected but she could not draw the string. The artifact was too valuable to abandon for a youkai to claim so she bowed her head through the gap. She donned the quiver of black arrows.
"Let's find a place to sleep, eh little guy?"
They walked a decent distance until she spotted an enormous estate. There was a horse post with a stack of fresh hay and a bucket of water. She gave the water to the kirin and collapsed on the hay. Her kimono protected her from the chilly night air. It comforted her when the magical animal joined her. Inuyasha was surely tracking her but he might not be able to find her until the morning. She would have to get her own breakfast.
Kagome was very rudely awoken by sticks poking her. The children stepped back when the kirin popped its head free of the hay to shed gold glitter. The youngest brought their father to investigate her. He recognized her clothes.
"I am Kagome, a priestess from Musashi. Could I trouble you for some water?"
The man was charged with running the stables of the nearby castle. She passed several ordinary horses on her way to the humble home attached. The man served her a good breakfast with plenty of tea to strengthen her spirit. The kirin settled on a cloud of vapor by her knees. It refused the eggs it was offered. The sadness of Hou Yi was better in the bright sun. Guards greeted her when she stepped outside.
"You are the Kagome, Princess of Musashi?"
They were polite but she was very forcefully 'invited' to visit the magistrate of the nearby estate. It was not until they passed through the gates that she realized the estate was simply a wing of a much larger castle. Two guards led the way while two others followed behind in a square formation. Kagome did a quick approximation of the path Hou Yi had taken on her memory of old geography. Then it clicked.
We came here on a family trip when I was ten!
"Is this Kyoto?"
Kagome's mood improved when she noticed the construction. The little kirin floated alongside her with his vapor to avoid kicking up the white gravel. The kirin only left his cloud when she was invited up the steps to a large building. She beamed when she noted the men playing kemari in a courtyard.
"Kagome!"
"Hojo?" The descendant of her friend rushed forward to greet her. Akitoki Hojo was a little older but still wore a lovesick smile. She sat down with him on silk cushions for a proper tea. He fussed over the state of her. The bow and arrows were taken by a very pretty servant girl. The Hojo lord ignored his admirer.
"Have you come all this way for the Moon Festival?"
Kagome idly shielded her face from his hope. He took her shyness as a sign of encouragement. Numerous cakes and sweets were brought out to impress her. It was awkward to have him sit improperly close. "You have always been so kind to me. It would be my honor to give you shelter during your stay. Maybe you would even do me the honor of attending the festival as my guest?" Hojo blushed. He was sweet enough but she was in love with Inuyasha. What she really needed was a way home.
"Hojo…"
"My lord Hojo?" A sweet voice called. The lordling nearly jumped out of his seat. Kagome rose to be polite. The pale girl who came forward left her breathless. Beautiful dark eyes observed her. Long, shining dark hair nearly swept the ground when she bowed with natural elegance. Her kimono was extremely rich with many layers. Hojo noted her silence and mistook it for feelings of inferiority. He introduced his honored guest, the beautiful bride-to-be of the new shogun, Kiyohime. The princess greeted her warmly to the castle. She was too distracted to say much. Hojo apologized profusely for his callousness. He voiced how her womanly constitution must need rest after such a trip. The servant obeyed his command to prepare guest chambers for the Princess Shrine Maiden.
The princess looks exactly like Inuyasha's mother!
