by C. J. Anaya
Tie groaned in frustration. “How did he manage to figure that out? I thought the power encasing your heart would withstand him.”
“He sensed me when I healed the Vampers. I had no idea it was possible for him to do that.”
“It makes sense,” Hachiman said as he approached our group. “The Underworld has such a strong foothold here, it is probably impossible to use your power without his notice.”
“So he knows we’re coming now?” Kirby asked.
“Since we haven’t yet made the loop back toward the Palace, he might assume we’re looking for the prophecy somewhere else,” I said, even though I hardly dared hoped that Amatsu would be that stupid.
“No.” Bishu’s grim look appeared even more intimidating as he walked up to stand behind Angie. “He knows we’re coming. We’ll have to be extra cautious as we get closer to the palace.”
I noticed Angie’s back stiffen a little as she sensed Bishu’s nearness. It seemed like Angie had been far more comfortable around him when he was a nekomata. Of course, the first thing out of his mouth once he turned human was a proposal.
Idiot.
Angie was easily frightened away by serious topics such as marriage, commitment, and love.
“Then we don’t have anymore time to waste,” Victor called out. He shoved a few more provisions in his pack. “It’s going to take us two more days to reach the palace at the rate we’re moving, and the veil doesn’t have that kind of time left.”
“What do you suggest?” Tie said.
“We run.”
My eyes widened at the thought of them running while the rest of us mere mortals fought to catch up.
“You mean, you guys will carry us while you do that superhuman speed thing?” Kirby asked. He was entirely too fond of this idea.
“It’s too risky,” Bishu said. “That kind of a run will deplete our energy and leave us defenseless for several hours. What if something attacks us during that interval of time?”
“But I’ve seen Tie and Victor run like that before. It didn’t seem to affect them,” Angie said.
“That’s because the run to your school and your house encompassed a few miles,” Tie said. “Covering two days’ worth of travel in a few minutes will be rough. More distance equals more energy.”
Victor shook his head, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Angie, Hope, Dr. Fairmont, and even Kirby can handle themselves if they have to.” Victor pinned me with an inscrutable look. “Hope singlehandedly saved us all from the Vampers and healed the trees. I’m inclined to never underestimate her abilities again.”
I mouthed a silent thank you at this unexpected praise. He nodded and stepped close to Angie. I got the feeling she would always find herself stuck in between her two gods.
“We agreed that Hope would never be put in a position where she had to face off with a weapon from the Underworld again,” Tie said. He took a deep breath through his nose as the tension in his body wound itself tight. “We do everything we can to protect her from that.”
“Then we need to make certain we find a safe place to hide while we recover from our run.”
My eyes lit with the beautiful memory of a hidden cave nestled underneath a waterfall. Tie met my gaze and automatically knew just where my thoughts had taken me. He slid an arm around my waist and pulled me to his side.
“I believe Hope, and I know just the place.”
***
I kept my eyes tightly closed as Tie flitted through the woods at a speed that thoroughly nauseated me. I had no idea how they could handle that kind of movement without making themselves throw up, but I guess being immortal gave you a stomach of steel. Within a few minutes we arrived at the river I’d spent so much time dreaming about while trapped within my stone prison.
Tie stopped at the edge of the bank and held me steady against him until I felt able to stand on my own two feet. I didn’t bother to take in my surroundings since I went down hard the minute my feet touched the floor.
“Oooh,” I moaned, grabbing at my head and lowering it between my knees. “My equilibrium needs a minute to catch up.”
“Sorry about that,” Tie wheezed. He sunk down next to me and leaned his head against my shoulder. “I haven’t done a run like that in a very long time. That’s gonna cost me.”
Before I could ask him just how bad it was going to be for him and the other kami, Ms. Mori arrived next with Kirby on her hip.
I lifted my head, feeling much better and stared at Kirby in surprise as he curiously surveyed his surroundings as if he hadn’t just covered two days’ worth of ground in a few minutes.
“That. Was. Awesome,” he said.
Ms. Mori let out an honest-to-goodness laugh and kissed his forehead before letting him down. She caught my shocked look, and the carefree smile on her face slowly melted away into a more reserved expression.
Geez, Kirby was good medicine for just about anyone.
My father arrived next on the back of Hachiman with Daiki and Angie following close on their heels. I already knew my father would be on the ground for a while. He couldn’t handle rollercoaster rides, let alone an immortal jaunt in the woods. The sounds of his dry-heaving got me moving. I reached over and connected with him to help him steady his equilibrium and his queasy stomach.
Angie was just as bad off, but Daiki was already smoothing her back and forehead, allowing his own ki to quiet hers. It didn’t surprise me at all that he was willing to use up some of his power to help her. She leaned against him and took in a few shuddering breaths, thanking him for his help.
“Where’s Bishu and Victor?” I asked.
For the first time since I’d met him, Hachiman pushed out some seriously annoyed vibes.
“Those two morons started arguing over who was going to carry me.” Angie was equal parts irritated and mortified if the deep blush on her face was any indication. She was an attention hog for sure, but with two guys she actually had feelings for, there was much more at stake here, and more issues she had to face.
“I offered my services to your best friend when Victor challenged Bishu to a sword fight,” Daiki said. He held back a chuckle, but his lips twitched.
“For reals?” I asked.
Ludicrous.
Our gods of war were fueled with superhuman testosterone, apparently.
“They probably don’t even realize I’m gone yet. I hope they maim each other good,” Angie said, refusing to meet my gaze.
Just then, Bishu arrived, with Victor one second behind. Each one sported a few cuts on their arms, and Victor already had a colorful bruise forming just under his right eye. Angie only had a moment to appreciate the maiming that had indeed taken place before their bodies healed right before our eyes.
“Angie, why did you leave before Bishu and I settled the matter?” Victor said, offering her his hand.
She swatted it away and stood on her own.
“Like I wanted to stick around and possibly get killed by some wild beast while you two fought like Neanderthals,” she said.
Bishu let out an amused chuckle.
“I do believe the young lady has made a most unflattering point,” he said.
Victor’s chagrined smile made the entire group laugh, something I think we all needed.
“We better get to the cave fast before I pass out,” Tie said. His face was pasty, and sweat trickled down his cheeks. Ms. Mori showed visible signs of fatigue, and I figured the rest of our kami would soon follow.
“This way, everyone,” I said.
The group struggled behind me as we made our way down the side of the riverbank and down a small hill where rocks jutted out at the base of a beautiful waterfall. The crystal blue liquid didn’t appear quite so blue as before. A green tint infused the water. I didn’t like the possible significance of that, but we had to walk through the waterfall to get to the cave, so I pushed back my reservations and parted the water with my arms, ducking through quickly and still getting soaked in the process.
I’m not sure how I thought I’d avoid it.
The rest of the group followed suit and soon we were all straining our eyes within the cave’s dim lighting, dripping water on the stony ground.
Tie was the first to slink to the floor with the rest of the kami following his lead.
“How many hours will it take for your ki to replenish its energy?” I asked as I sat next to him and placed his head in my lap.
“I haven’t done this in a long time,” he said. His words began to slur. “It might take all night.”
Great. There was a distinct possibility they wouldn’t wake up until tomorrow morning.
“And we’re only a few hours’ walk from the palace now?”
He was barely able to mutter in the affirmative before his eyelids fluttered with fatigue.
“Okay. Get some rest, and we’ll watch over you all.”
“Starting with a fire,” my father said. “Hope, why don’t you come with me to gather some wood along the riverbank. We’ll leave Angie and Kirby to keep watch over everyone.”
I nodded and gently rested Tie’s head to the stone floor. I set my pack down, grateful that it was waterproof. The small blanket within was dry and comfy. I hoped it would be enough to keep him warm until we had the fire going.
After we helped Angie and Kirby cover up the other kami with their pack blankets, my father and I headed back through the waterfall.
When I came out into the morning sunlight, I gasped at the blackish-green color staining my skin.
“We’re both completely covered in it,” my father said in a wary tone. “Can you sense anything from it with your ki?”
I paused long enough to close my eyes and concentrate, but I couldn’t sense anything malevolent from the discoloration.
“I’m not sure if this is going to be something to worry about, but at the moment I’m not feeling terrible side effects from it.”
My father’s lips thinned into a deep frown. We gathered up what little driftwood we could and then ventured further into the forest for more substantial fare.
“How are you holding up, Dad?” I kept my voice soft, still unsure as to what types of dangers we might face within the forest.
“When you disappeared off our airplane, I’ll admit to operating in crisis mode. I’m used to playing the role of your protector, Hope. It’s been difficult for me to constantly allow you to be placed in harm’s way like this, but I know the only way you’ll be truly safe is by healing the veil, which means all of the harm’s way stuff is a necessary evil.” He let out a defeated sigh as he bent to grab another piece of wood. “Your mother is probably railing at me from heaven.”
“Do you think she really is close to us? Daiki says he can feel Hatsumi, but I’ve never once felt Mom.”
“Daiki can sense the veil, Hope, and from my spotty memory of him, he was always fairly intuitive before he became a kami.”
I titled my head and really studied my father. The tension and stress of our situation was there in the lines of his forehead and around his eyes, but there was also a strange sense of peace I wasn’t accustomed to seeing in him.
“Your normal reaction to any and all change is usually pretty volatile,” I said. “You don’t like things unpredictable because you can’t control how it effects me, but your memories of your previous life have really grounded you.”
My father smiled.
“I would hope that all of those years of sword training would have instilled within me the patience and levelheadedness that medical school most certainly did not.”
I chuckled.
“Interesting how different experiences and upbringings can produce so very different versions of ourselves.”
“Yet the core of who we are remains the same. Our ki never changes, but I think our choices do. I’m just a dad with two different life memories, trying to do what he thinks is best for his daughter.”
“You’ve got my vote for world’s greatest dad.”
He shook his head, flashed me another smile, and grabbed another piece of wood.
“I think I know another father who definitely deserves that title.”
“Daiki?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember much?”
“Enough to wish I remembered more.”
I nodded.
“I can make that happen.”
He handed me some of his load and we turned around to head back to the cave.
“I think we focus on the most pressing needs of the group first. Let’s help you heal the veil and save the world before you decide to give me back my other life.”
“Okay, but I think Daiki is anxious for you to remember.”
My father nodded. “I think he is too.”
Once we got the fire started and unpacked a few more provisions, I sat watch while everyone else got some sleep. After all, I was the one who’d slept after the Vamper debacle.
I suppose it was too much to hope that the rest of the evening might go smoothly. About an hour into the group napping session, I heard a sound just outside the entrance to the cave that made my skin crawl.
Click click.
My eyes jerked to the large silhouette hovering on the other side of the cascading waterfall. It was not human, and it was most definitely not friendly.
The nekomata’s head titled to the side as if it sniffed the air. It suddenly snapped to attention and walked right through. I knew his eyes would have to adjust to the dim lighting of the cave, and I took advantage of that small window of time by silently sliding over to Katsu’s side and retrieving the Grass Cutter Sword. My foot made a slight scraping noise against the stone of the cave. The nekomata’s ears flicked up and his head turned in my direction. I held my breath and stayed crouched low with the grip of the sword clasped in my left hand.
Kirby’s still form was the closest to the beast. My impulse to protect him waged a war against the more prudent route, which was to remain still and wait for him to spot me.
But he never did.
The beast swung its head left and right, sniffing the air, and at some intervals, staring directly at the sleeping members of our group and even me in my terribly uncomfortable position. Yet in the ill-lit cave, I never did detect a hint of recognition in the cat’s eyes. It was as if he was completely blind to our presence, and I hoped to hell no one decided to wake up and change that scenario.
“Yang! Where did you go? Did you find something?” came a voice just beyond the waterfall.
Yang turned back and yelled, “I smell them. They were definitely here, but they’re gone now. They can’t have gone too far. There’s still a fire burning low.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. This brute named Yang really had no idea we were here. Was he blind? Could nekomata not see very well in the dark?
No. From everything I knew about them, these beasts’ sensory development was far superior to anything I had ever encountered. It was what made them so difficult to hide from. So difficult to run from, but he had no idea we were mere feet away from him.
My stomach did flip flops when Yang took a step forward and gave the air another sniff. His foot was mere inches from Kirby’s left leg.
Don’t move, Kirby. Don’t even breathe.
Now there was no doubt I could take on this stupid nekomata easily enough. I could probably even handle its partner outside, but I didn’t have any idea if there were more with them. If I gambled wrong, blew our location, and several more nekomata ran into the cave, I’d never be able to defend everyone on my own. The nekomata would plunge their swords into every single person I loved without a second thought, and then they would either kill me or cart me off to Amatsu.
The brute inched its foot a little further as it leaned in and sniffed again.
“They can’t be far,” he shouted. “Their scent is too strong for them to have traveled more than half a mile.”
“Then we turn back and head in the other direction,” his companion barked. “We’ll capture them
soon enough.”
The hellcat took one more excruciatingly long sniff and then turned around and exited the cavern, the inky shadows of the waterfall swallowing it whole.
I didn’t dare move a single muscle for several minutes, too afraid that Yang would hear me or that he might have doubled back. Once I felt it safe to move, I collapsed onto my fanny hard.
He couldn’t see us. How was that even possible?
“Is it gone, Hope?” Kirby whispered.
“You were awake the whole time?” I asked.
“I was too,” Angie said, slowly getting into a seated position. “I thought it best to follow your lead and defend everyone once you made a move.” She lifted one of the swords Victor had gifted her from the Underworld and placed it before her feet. “Any idea why that thing had no clue we were still here?”
“None,” I said. “I have no idea what was preventing it from seeing what was right in front of him.”
“How much longer before these guys wake up?” Kirby asked.
“Too long. Probably another four hours. Once Yang loses our trail he’s sure to double back with his friend and how ever many of his fellow minions he has with him. They’ll be back here trying to puzzle out this mystery, and I have no idea if we’ll be able to go undetected again.”
“I think we will so long as we stay wet,” my father said from his prone position on the floor.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Did no one get any sleep?”
“I slept fine until I heard that clicking sound. It’s not exactly something you forget,” Angie said.
I tried to piece together my father’s comment and asked, “What do you mean we need to stay wet?”
“This is just a theory.” He sat up and rubbed the stiffness from his neck. “I think the green substance in the water is masking our presence.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. It’s not exactly camouflage.”
“I think we blend into the area because the taint of the water is covering the goodness of our ki. The cats may be able to smell us, but they can’t see the goodness or power of our aura if it is being masked by something tainted and evil.”
I shook my head. “I get what you’re saying, but their eyesight is sharp, Dad. They may not be able to see or sense our aura, but they should be able to see our physical bodies.”