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Suggested Listening: Ghost by Ella Henderson

Phases of the Moon

Chapter Three: Up in Flames

Ash and smoke rose in the air in twin columns of black. Kagome felt her throat burn. The house she'd built with her own two hands was up in flames. The crackle of the fire's furious roar drowned out all the other sounds. There was nothing besides the scarlet monochrome that engulfed her tiny sanctuary.

Was this what it all came to?

Her eyes settled upon Seiji's cool gaze. There was no warmth, no affection not even the slightest hint of remorse. Just the cold, unfeeling gaze of a vengeful snake. Vile cretin.

Kagome kept her smile. Through the tears, the burning of her throat and pain in her limbs; she smiled. Not because she wanted to. Oh no, because she knew it was her last chance to rebel—her single action she could take to tell them how she truly felt about them. She wouldn't miss this opportunity. Not when death lurked so near.

The hands upon her loosened. All eyes were drawn to the house; falling in upon itself in a heap of smoldering matchsticks. Kagome braced herself. This was her only chance.

She buried her shoulder into the side of one of the men holding her. The hunger had made them weak—falling over the instant they'd connected. She thrashed wildly, freeing herself and scrambling to her feet. The muscles in her legs cramped and ached in pain. She couldn't waste any time.

The young woman darted into the forest. The fire from her burning home cast dancing shadows wherever she went. If she could make it to Edo, she'd be safe. The mass of people stumbled after her. They were so thin and frail but their hatred burned as brightly as her house did. Kagome focused her attention on the tiny pathway. She only had a small distance between them. She needed to hurry.

Arrows buried themselves into the tree trunks around her in rapid succession. She kept running. Her leg stumbled over an upturned rock, sending her careening over it. She braced her arms, steadying herself just in time to avoid falling completely.

Searing pain tore at her shoulder. Kagome bit at her lip to avoid crying out. An arrow protruded from the fresh wound. She couldn't pull it out. Not here; not just yet. Her eyes narrowed on the stream of water. That was it! She just had to follow the Sumida River.

Her breath came in rapid pants. The ash still burned at her throat, making it more difficult to breathe. Just a little further.

Another arrow grazed against the calf of her leg. The taste of copper filled her mouth from the strength she'd used to bite down upon her own lip. Screams of rage and hate filled the air in a cacophony of white noise. Kagome jumped into the shallow embankment of the river. Her feet glided across the thick mud—never stopping despite the pain that burned and seared through her body. She couldn't give up.

A rush of water lapped against her feet where the earth met the river. She knew these lands like the back of her hand. She'd traveled through them every day. She'd scoured the flora for remedies. She'd hunted the game for her food. She'd felled the trees to make her home. This was her territory. She would not be outdone in these lands.

Kagome's gaze narrowed upon the pit fall of rushing water. The white caps of the waves tumbled over the edge in a mighty show of force. Her stomach coiled nervously. The drop alone could kill a man. Not to mention the jagged rocks in the pool of natural water below. It was a risk but one she couldn't afford to not take. She pushed herself off the ground even faster, her legs carrying her quicker than she'd ever been able too before.

The edge came into view. Along with it so too did the sharp stab of fear in her gut.

"She's over here! Stop her!" The villagers surrounded the river. Torches, blades weapons and bows clutches tightly in their thin hands. Death would take them eventually. Tonight, she would not be their victim.

Kagome shot forward. She crouched briefly before launching herself from the waterfall. Screams and the deafening roar of rushing water filled her ears. She curled her arms around her face and tucked her legs close to her chest. Weightlessness hit her.

She wasn't sure what was more frightening. The thought of dying at the hands of the villagers, or the thought of being impaled by one of the rocks below.

She didn't have the time to dwell on it. The vision of death careened towards her at a breakneck speed. Kagome hit the water. The surface smacked against her much the way a brick wall would. Her body doubled over in pain. Bruises formed over her arms and shins where she'd braced herself. Wind knocked from her lungs. The rush of the current pulled her away from the waterfall, down the river and ever closer towards Edo.

Kagome fought to keep her head above the water. The vitriolic screeches faded away. Were they giving up? Or had the river had taken her quicker than they could follow? Regardless she was relieved. The young woman treaded the surface of the water, allowing the current to take her wherever it pleased.

It only took a few minutes before her body rebelled. The pain grew unbearable. Her limbs ached and throbbed. Her legs screamed in agony as her should stung from where the arrow was still piercing her.

Merely keeping afloat grew tedious. Kagome used what strength she hand left to make her way towards the embankment. Her hands dug into the muddied earth; pulling her torso upon the ground. She dropped her head upon the wet grass. If only she could rest.

Kagome felt her eyes close. If only she could get a little further. Her vision blurred and the world went black.

Amagiri stopped in his tracks. Steely eyes surveyed the drastic change in the surroundings. A fire still smoldered in the place Kagome's home once stood. Ash whipped in the brisk wind; whispering of a tragedy he had not foreseen.

The oni crouched onto his his haunches. His fingers traced along the track of several footprints.

An ambush.

Most likely orchestrated by the people of Kanna Village. He rose to his feet, following after the remnants of their path.

Kagome has escaped. Trace amounts of her reiki remained upon the earth and bark that she'd touched. He treaded deeper into the woods—not missing the fresh yet thin trail of blood. She'd been injured. His hands curled into tight fists at his side.

He should've stayed with her. He hadn't intended on invading her space while she came to a decision. As he'd waited he'd chosen to go to Edo. He'd had a mission to fulfill there anyways. It had gone almost as planned but in the end he'd finished what he'd needed to. Now he knew that he should've waited here; with her.

Amagiri was not ignorant to the reality of Kagome's vulnerability. She could handle her bow but dealing with humans was on a level far outside of her capabilities. That'd been one of the first reasons why he'd extended an invite to her. They desperately needed her skills. Thus leaving her within the range of a hostile village was not an optimal solution. The second reason was more complicated.

The oni stopped as her reiki ended at the embankment of the Sumida River. She'd jumped in. The tracks surrounded the ledge and followed a short distance before stopping altogether at the waterfall. His eyes peered at the thrashing waves. He could only draw one conclusion:

Kagome had used the river as a means of escape. She'd jumped over the waterfall and followed the current back into Edo. At least that was likely the plan she'd gone with. His expression hardened. He still needed to be sure.

Amagiri did not deny the faint squeeze of nervousness. He was not prime for expressing his emotions but that did not mean that he didn't feel them. Kazama often told him that he was made of stone—tough and inflexible; set in his ways and more stubborn than any living creature. It was a somewhat accurate view, he had to admit.

The oni followed the trail down to the whirling mass of the water pool. The currents were violent, swiftly pulling everything away. He searched and searched yet found no evidence that she'd gotten caught on the rocks below. Which meant only one thing. She'd chosen to drift into Edo using the River.

Amagiri followed. His eyes narrowed into thin slits. He'd deal with the village shortly. For now he only had one goal:

Find Kagome.