Girls' Trip!

"Eh?" Hasumi questioned, eyes glittering and hands on her cheeks. "Look at these rare demons! They're everywhere!"

Though the sunflower miko was overstimulated with the walls of fossilized fish and aquatic demons just waiting for her to mine, Homugi and Yuko were perplexed as to why Meioshi didn't just live at this pilgrimage site. She undersold the hell out of this hot spring! Not only were the waters blue to perfection, the obsidian stairs and stone walls in the pools of steaming water themselves were an architectural masterpiece. As the girls marveled at the lush, flowering bushes dropping spent flowers into the bottom pool, they observed the wood and stone cabin behind them. The beautiful palms were happily swaying from the cool winds passing through them, and the hell traveler's tapestries were hanging on the front engawa. Homugi took a fascination with the doctor's family crest since Meioshi never really carried it around like members of the House of Inu would carry their furs. She was quite interested in the bright orange and deep indigo colors, but the golds and deep grays of the dragon scale guarding three ornate circles were captivating. Homugi couldn't recall seeing Meioshi's family tapestry at the lavender field, but she did recall spotting her lanterns. Maybe the lanterns were specific to Meioshi as the new representative of her family? The most interesting detail to the blue merle beauty about the marks was the gold to bright yellow flame that probably represented hell itself. It was an elaborate collection of curves that almost resembled the Zen circles Meioshi made from her rake in the sands. She wondered if there was a Zen Garden near the springs. She wanted to learn how to meditate the way the doctor does.

As for the log cabin itself, it was meant to be fairly small since Meioshi travelled alone during her pilgrimages, but they knew their kind mentor preferred being in open spaces. Her house in Heiwa was an open space in design. It appeared small until you actually went inside of it and realized that she had a true estate with multiple buildings connected to her one home. It wasn't a shack by any means. This cabin was no different. One could view this pilgrimage site from any direction and have the breath taken away within an instant just from the visual alone. As intimidating as it was to see an adult shachihoko trapped in a crystallized coffin within the volcanic cliffs, its statuesque size and figure made for a beautiful focal point. The presence of the youkai was enough to showcase Meioshi's personality: the tiger for nobility and fearlessness, and the fish for compassion and empathy. Eager to go inside of the cabin, Homugi walked across the bridge leading to some stairs where the cabin overlooked the springs. The upper pool was next to the cabin and was dripping water into the lower pool. Yuko was twirling on her feet and running about to collect the flowers near the bottom pool. Hasumi, of course, was inspecting the demons trapped in obsidian or volcanic rocks.

Meioshi giggled and encouraged, "Well, go take a closer look at them! I think you'll find some rare materials for your collection. Just make sure you don't go by any of the wells built along the path. It's very dangerous."

"What's so dangerous about a well? Is it just a long drop?" Yuko asked.

"Indeed," Meioshi said with a nod. "Sealed off wells drop down into lava tubes of varying heights. During flood season, the water from the shore there will fill up those tubes to alarming depths. There'd be no safe way for me to reach you and pull you out without being swept away by barreling undercurrents. Toward the cliff there is much safer to view the tubes. There's a beautiful tunnel of sky lights at its edge."

"What are sky lights, doctor?" Hasumi asked.

"Little holes that form along this very surface just above the lava tubes. Sunlight and moonlight pour into the holes. You can see inside of the lava tubes quite well at peak light and during dry seasons. After that, travel at your own risk... which I allow no one to do because that'd be suicide," Meioshi said, disconnecting her wagon from her hips and back. "Now, then, let's have some fun!"

"Yay!" Hasumi cheered, jumping into the pool without her swimsuit.

It was a good thing that Kiyonobu's transformation magic had worn off in time to enjoy the springs. Yuko found Meioshi's planned vacations to these pilgrimage sites to be quite wonderful and enviable. She had no idea that her sensei went on vacation to simply relax. She was so dutiful when it came to medicine and teaching children. She loved doing her job and doing it well. She was with her during late nights, healing the sick and wounded or even the drunk. She worked herself to the bone until her patients were well enough to be released and monitored periodically. It just seemed strange to see her... not working. Watching her mentor stretch out like a cat before lying on her stomach to look out into the distant beach made Yuko wonder a bit. She knew Meioshi was happy being a single lady, but... did these journeys ever get... lonely for her? The hell travelers have to remind themselves about the beauties of the world and the people who live in it. They even have to help ghosts or simply folks who have yet to go into the afterlife. That had to be severe wear and tear on the mind. Maybe she could investigate this "Mr. Perfect" Meioshi mentioned. The doctor still had a great body and was as healthy as a horse. There should be a companion out there for her.

'There's someone out there...' Yuko thought. 'I know there is...'

For the next couple of days, Yuko would wonder about this, but it didn't ruin her vacation time. Meioshi taught them Tai Chi! She almost never teaches anyone about her meditative training. It's usually the self-defense stuff. She wondered if there was a reason for this change, but Yuko instead soaked up the new training like a sponge and focused on her movements. Homugi, too. There were so many new things to do at the hot springs, but the time for relaxation was coming to a close. Before the girls knew it, it was time to pack everything up. No more bathing in the hot springs or cooking the luxury meals or mining rare items or even admiring the sky lights or sleeping in the softest sheets in the night. They were going to miss this place. Somehow or another, Yuko noticed that her sensei was slowly growing unhappy right around the middle of their five-day getaway. Though she wanted to ask about it, Yuko waited for the right moment when Meioshi found herself alone. As all of the clothes were being folded for the night, the doctor just so happened to be resting on a stone and staring into the night sky. She had been doing that since the oni brought them back to the camp.

Yuko walked out to her sensei, watching her turn slightly to show her attention had been gained, and said nothing when Yuko sat next to her and rested her head on her shoulder to cuddle. She then whispered, "You're sick."

Meioshi let out a bitter chuckle then said, "I've run out of emotion tonic, I'm afraid."

"Not every sickness has a tonic," Yuko responded, repeating her sensei's words from years ago. "Some merely need to be spoken instead. Others are unfortunately unknown."

"You've a good memory, my Yuko," Meioshi said, smiling a little before returning to a blank stare.

"Those stars don't eat people, sensei," Yuko replied, nodding to them.

"... I'm going back," Meioshi finally said, a feeling of dread finally escaping through her voice. "That orange star there is the hell traveler's call. It's my time."

"Time for what?" Yuko asked, lifting from her shoulder.

"To return home to the threshold on the cliff... my family's souls have to be released and returned to the sentry. I miss them and love them so much. I'm not ready to let them go. It's why I never went back home. After you found me and helped me return to being a human, I couldn't look at my childhood home without feeling sick. I had failed everyone, even myself. I've been going to these pilgrimage sites to try to remind myself that there is still something worth protecting, but the only thing that's been on my heart has been revenge. That hatred... is why I feel like such a failure. I had forgotten how to love unconditionally... until I met all of you. I had forgotten that you need to find peace before you can find the strength to make things right. I wasn't a doctor because I cared about people... I was a doctor because I was afraid. I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help others. I did love everyone once. Once I came back home, I could hear so many people's truths either about me or their own neighbors. It disgusted me! I didn't want to help anyone destined for an afterlife in hell, but... you found me, my Yuko. You could see my real face behind the skin of a beast. You knew I was mortal. Training you has been one of my greatest joys. If not for the sheer enjoyment of teaching, then certainly because you reminded me about what it meant to have compassion for others no matter how they looked or where they were in life. You helped me start over. Though I can't escape the nightmares like I want, you've taught me that there are still good dreams that will follow. I don't want to be trapped in this nightmare any longer. I want to chase good dreams. I want to be a good doctor and one day open a larger clinic with multiple wards... like I dreamed of in my youth... but I also want to do what's right for the family I've lost. For that reason, despite my grief and my selfishness, I have to free my family from their nightmares. If I can't see them physically, I can at least see them in dreams," Meioshi confessed.

"We can go together," Yuko suggested, but she earned a headshake of disapproval instead of a nod of encouragement.

"This is part of our trial. I have to go alone," Meioshi explained. "But... you can help me do something else."

"Eh?" Yuko asked out of curiosity. "What?"

_____________________________________________

"WHY ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE!?"

Jaken spat out his tea from the outburst. Rats! He was actually enjoying the time away from battle and sleeping in a new place for a week. First, he was able to enjoy Kirameku Ha's gardens; then, they returned to the guest inns and traveled through the youkai district of Heiwa; afterwards, they only toured the farmlands to visit Ichi mostly, but they were surprised in meeting Princess Yatsumi of the wild boar kingdom and learning of her marriage to Ichi. While they could see what might have triggered the attraction towards the man in terms of fighting prowess, the rest of their story was oddly romantic.

Ichi was the direct opposite of Inuyasha. While Sesshomaru's brother was outcast and inevitably chose a life among humans, Ichi was outcast from the eastern territory until his mother moved him to the farmlands. He grew up around Yuko and wasn't treated nearly as poorly as he grew up. Prince Yamashi and Princess Yatsumi were sent to conquer more territory and essentially wound up in Heiwa. They tried taking over, but the other demons defended Heiwa quite well until Meioshi showed up. She was a fierce opponent! While working, Yatsumi took notice to Ichi helping many of the wild boars' enemies in the farmlands. Out of curiosity, she asked him why and could sense her people's blood within him. Ichi was quite honest. He was bullied in his youth much like Inuyasha but found peace in the farmlands. He never knew his father much like Inuyasha but wasn't angry at him for leaving his family. Yatsumi tried to manipulate him into doing her bidding, but Ichi had a good head on his shoulders and refused. There was nothing she could give to him, so she tried to go for his weaknesses. Both she and Yamashi did. In the end, their plotting didn't work. Ichi did something that set everything in motion for their romance to begin. He charged at armed soldiers to stop them from disgracing her and won! Before he could even process what he did, Ichi ran to his bouquet of flowers to ask if Yatsumi would join him for dinner some time. From there, the rest was history. It was very sweet.

When Sesshomaru felt satisfied with the story, he walked to the doctor's home and merely stared at it at first. A young couple had come to visit her but noticed that her lanterns were either destroyed or unlit, so they bowed before the western lord and walked over to the guest house right next door to the clinic. Apparently, they knew their way around the doctor's estate. Turning to stare at the home again, Sesshomaru started to remember his first time being at Meioshi's home. He was in the backyard by the pond the night of their first fight. That's when his rival's words truly settled on his heart.

"Do you remember when we first met, my lord? The night you and I fought for the first time? Look how far we've come since then! Scuffles, arguments, chasing me into the river! It took us some time to trust each other, didn't it?"

As impolite as it was, as much as it went against everything he stood for, he entered her house through the front door. In truth, if he had to admit it to himself, he trusted her a bit more now. She was right. A rivalry well-deserved developed a trust well-earned, even if that trust was merely a fraction. Once he entered the home, Kyoko and the boys came running up to him to check on the house with him. They didn't do very much other than their designated chores, but the little ones helped themselves to the snacks their sensei left behind for a job well done. The children offered tea and snacks to the western lord in the tatami room, which was where Yuko had come out to confront them that fateful night, and it was in this dining and lounge space where he could see the porch facing the pond and waterfall of the cliff. The children then went on to organize the library after cleaning up behind themselves. Sesshomaru merely stayed alert in case of injury or attack. Kyoko was eager to show him Meioshi's art collection and some of her own works. The young one had true artistic talent... much like her missing sensei. When it got dark, Sesshomaru very politely escorted the children back home along with Jaken. Satisfied with the menial task, he led the way back to Meioshi's home and met another visiting couple. They bowed to him in greeting and interacted with the couple he first met before lodging in the doctor's guest inn. He didn't realize his rival knew so many people until now.

Feeling somewhat tired himself, Sesshomaru quietly and hesitantly walked into the tatami room again to sit down. He never left the cozy space and drifted off to sleep without realizing it as Jaken was talking about something unimportant most likely. They stayed there for at least two nights while Sesshomaru left to do things during the day. That's how Sesshomaru and Jaken wound up in Meioshi's house until she returned with Homugi and Hasumi in tow. As for the screaming? Yeah, Jaken wasn't prepared for that. Hence why his tea was everywhere. Sesshomaru was more irritated that his sleep was being interrupted.

"You are the backbone of nightmares, witch," Sesshomaru grumbled, getting comfortable again and dozing off. "Do something productive."

Meioshi turned into a wicked witch indeed as she huffed through her nose and a dark sheet of anger covered her eyes. Her clothes and hair floated and rippled supernaturally well as she locked her sights on the sleeping lord. She growled, squinted her eye, and squirted cold water directly into Sesshomaru's exposed ear from a canteen before bolting out of her house. She didn't wait for his reaction, but she knew he'd be mad regardless. He was furious with her, of course; otherwise, there'd be no reason for his eyes to be blood red or his teeth and claws to be at dangerous lengths. He had every intention of murdering the woman.

"Doctor, you're back from your trip!" a familiar voice called out to her.

Meioshi stopped mid-run with an impeccable form and turned to the person in response. She then said, "Oh, my darling, Kita! How are you, love?"

"Where are you running off to?" Kita asked, lightly jogging up to Meioshi and placing a kiss on each of her cheeks in greeting. While not a traditional greeting, she adored her doctor. "Is your new man giving you trouble?"

"Man? What man?" Meioshi questioned. SLICE! Well, that answers that question. She had to have been referring to Sesshomaru. His sword was aching to cut her head in front of an audience. "Ah... that man. He's not mine, darling. You're awfully early for a checkup."

"Actually, I'm here as your model!" Kita replied, lifting a small book with an orchid on the cover. An odd choice. "Did you forget about your request for new art models?"

"Good heavens, I most certainly did," Meioshi said with a jump. "Let me get to work on some things and I'll meet you at the studio, yes?"

"Of course! If this gentleman isn't your man, is he a new art model?" Kita asked with some interest. "He's quite cute."

"Oh, his lordship wouldn't be interested in such a thing. He's more focused on his beauty sleep," the doctor joked, swatting at Sesshomaru's sword. Only for the western lord to point it back at Meioshi's neck.

And vengeance... Meioshi thought.

"Drawing my portrait will not impress me," he said with a slight hiss.

"It's not you I'm here to impress. You wouldn't be interested in this art anyway. Don't be alarmed."

"What art are you talking about? The animals?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Not quite..." Meioshi replied, eyes shifting elsewhere.

"Here, I've another copy you can take," Kita said, shoving another book into his hands.

When he opened the item, he slammed it back, dropped it on the ground, and said, "Fight me."

'Shit...' Meioshi thought.