"That's a good wish, kouhai," Takamuku said, looking up at the Wish Tree.
"Let's make a promise, Muku-senpai," Homugi said, holding up a hand. "When we're ready to marry, let's find our own brides!"
"You don't get a bride. You get the groom!" Takamuku corrected, squishing Homugi's cheeks together. "I'll have to think about mine for a little while. I'm going to wish for wisdom on it instead. When the time comes, I'll have a better idea by then for sure. Learning the strongest technique sounds way cooler, though. Who will be my strongest enemy when that day comes?"
"Well, I'm gonna wish for both a bride and a groom!" Homugi cheered, twirling around before plopping next to Sesshomaru. "That way, I have a new friend in the bride and a first love from the groom. Plus, I get an awesome fighting technique to protect them all. I wanna be the best girl protector of the inu clan!"
"Of course, you want to steal my job," Takamuku said, sitting on Sesshomaru's other side. "Stingy princess!"
Homugi laughed then said, "Yup!"
"Yeah," Sesshomaru said quietly with a soft smile on his features.
Together, the three pups sat at the Wish Tree with their offerings and slips of paper in front of them, hopeful for the day when they each will learn their own version of the Wind Scar and for the day they'll meet their significant other. After a moment of silence and wonder, they strung their bags and papers together and tossed them in the tree. Each one was able to wrap around a branch, a sign that meant the wish... was on its way to be judged and answered...
~ ...Years later... ~
Sesshomaru was looking at the stars outside, wondering about his upcoming mission from the Court of Elders. His first hunt was soon. Takamuku had spoken of the difficulties of the mission and wished him luck prior to the supposed day. Inu children typically begin their first hunt right before the coming-of-age ceremony, and Sesshomaru was going to be one of the youngest to start both at only thirteen inu years. Hearing arguing in another room, Sesshomaru turned for a moment, lowered his eyes with sadness, and then looked to the piece of paper in his hand. He had a new wish this year: a kiss of restoration. It wasn't for him, though. Holding his knees and sinking his forehead between them, he tore the paper without looking at it and curled into a ball.
Hearing his bedroom door open, Sesshomaru turned around to see his grandfather walking inside and towards him. The old man looked down at him fondly, though his lips were set in a line as they often were, and asked, "You're not coming down for dinner?"
"No," Sesshomaru replied, turning to the stars.
The old man looked at the torn pieces of paper near his grandson and said, "You've many unspoken wishes, young one. Why have you torn them? That's bad luck."
"They're worthless," Sesshomaru answered coldly.
"All of them?" the grandfather asked, raising an eyebrow. When Sesshomaru grew quiet in response, the man then said, "What of the ones on the Wish Tree? Surely those are precious to you."
"I only kept one up there. The rest I took down," Sesshomaru replied, surprising the elder.
"Come down for dinner, young one. Your wish is being observed today," the elder said, earning the boy's attention.
Sesshomaru was curious but also a little nervous. His grandfather could be awfully cryptic sometimes. He didn't rush in dressing for dinner. It didn't sound like a formal thing was happening. Choosing simple gray attire and pinning his hair up into a high ponytail, Sesshomaru walked down the hall to the dining room in silence. Catching a familiar scent, he stopped when he heard an equally familiar voice.
"Uwoah! It's so beautiful!"
Rounding a corner with quickened steps, Sesshomaru went to find Homugi. What on Earth was she doing here? When he did find her, his breath caught in his throat. She looked gorgeous. Her furisode matched her personality brilliantly! Even her hair looked nice! She looked like a true princess. When she caught his scent, she turned around with a curious pout before cheering up and running over to him.
"Tikun!" Homugi called with a smile on her face. When she reached him, she asked, "So, you really are a prince? How come you never told us?"
"It wasn't important, and... it was the only way I could keep my friends," Sesshomaru answered honestly. "Are you staying for dinner or something?"
"Yeah, Lord T - uh, your dad invited us to come. I didn't get to hear why. Only my parents know," she replied with equal honesty. "Mama dressed me up all pretty. See!"
When he watched her twirl around, he produced a soft smile and said, "You're such a girl."
Homugi winked at him then pointed at his forehead with appreciable confidence before saying, "Yup! But I'm going to be your family's best protector, so you be nice to me. I wonder what everyone's so nervous about, though. It's just dinner."
"Is Muku-senpai here, too?" Sesshomaru asked, feeling much better about the situation than before.
"I dunno. No one's mentioned it. I'm worried about senpai, though," Homugi said, face showing her worry. "Earlier today, I saw him by the Wish Tree. He looked upset about something and wouldn't say anything to me."
"Senpai doesn't talk much when he's like that, but, if he felt the need to visit the dojo, then it is serious and it has something personal to do with him. If he was at the Wish tree, a life goal he had made is being threatened. If he had been by the elm tree, then it would have been something related to us or his family. I don't know if he knows it himself, but he tends to drift to certain areas when he has a problem," Sesshomaru said, looking down. If he had time tonight, he might go check on him.
"Ah, there you are, pup."
"Lord Toga!" Homugi cheered, blushing with excitement then bowing excitedly. "This is so cool! Tikun's dad is you!"
Toga chuckled at her and bowed politely. He then said, "You know, I was upset that my little mongrel over there never mentioned having friends for so many inu years, but he was right in hiding his identity if it meant he got to have an honest ally. I have to apologize to him."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened before he backed away a few steps. He then called with some apprehension, "Mother?"
Toga didn't expect that face or reaction from his son, so, when Milady walked into the hall to see everyone's expressions, she could only guess that Toga said something of alarm. She sighed before asking, "I take it you're trying to butter them up?"
"Milady?" Homugi questioned, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. When the woman turned to her in response, she blushed and placed her hands on her cheeks. The girl then said, "You're Tikun's mom! My best friend really is a prince!"
"We just went over this," Sesshomaru remarked, puffing his cheeks up. "You're such a girl, Mugi."
"Yup!" Homugi replied, smiling brightly.
"Well, before dinner gets cold, we should probably tell you. The first hunt for you both will be quite soon. As young nobles, you will have to view candidates for marriage. That's the purpose of this dinner. Your betrothal is being setup," Milady informed professionally.
Sesshomaru didn't like where any of this was going and practically snapped out of anger. While Toga didn't immediately catch on to it, Milady saw the change in disposition of her son in comparison to Homugi. It was as predicted on her end. Sesshomaru wasted no time in asking, "To who?"
"To Homugi there," Toga answered, believing the answer to be obvious. "We've been watching her for a while. Your mother and I have our reasons for choosing her, but, ultimately - "
"No," Sesshomaru interrupted with a dark undertone in his voice and narrowed eyes.
"What?" Homugi asked, turning to Sesshomaru. He was furious.
"I said no. I'm not marrying Homugi. You didn't even ask us if that's what we wanted to do. We only just graduated from basic training at the dojo. What are you trying to prove?" Sesshomaru demanded, slightly angering Toga.
"Homugi is the best candidate for you. We didn't know you both were friends. That makes this far easier to accept than someone you don't know at all," Milady replied. "There is nothing to prove. We made our decision simply based on evidence that you both provided."
"Well, your evidence is poor! I'm not marrying Homugi and I'm not going to be part of something that leaves me no choice in the matter! It's no different than the situation here! To hell with your dinner and your decision!"
"Don't you disrespect your mother again, impudent boy!" Toga barked, fuming at Sesshomaru's lashing out.
"I'm not disrespecting anyone! I'm making a decision here and now. I'm not marrying ever if it means you get to dictate my choice. Go home, Homugi! Don't come back even if they beg you!"
~ ... Years Later ... ~
"Ack!"
Feeling her head getting pushed against the wall, Homugi was struggling to get out of a boy's grasp. The boy whispered, "Like your screams are gonna do you any good. You're unworthy. You're lucky I'm even wasting my time trying to be nice and you have the nerve to refuse me. You're beneath a real woman anyway."
"Let go!" Homugi demanded, punching the boy in the jaw to break out of his grasp, but she was soon overwhelmed by another boy and held down.
"Sure. I'll just let my buddy here keep you still..."
Before she knew it, her kimono was being ripped open and she started fighting in a panic. Eyes welling up with tears, she let out a final scream until Takamuku came up behind her attacker and nearly took his head off. He did the same to the other boy holding her in his arms and went straight to Homugi. She leapt into her senpai's arms and cried. Silently, Takamuku held her there and helped her fix her clothes. She was escorted home, but the situation wasn't much better there either.
"You sold yourself to a soldier to reclaim your title?" her mother questioned with outrage at her state.
She tried to defend herself and explain that she was attacked, but her parents wouldn't listen. Takamuku, as quietly as he saved her the first time, simply pushed her mother back inside and slammed the door on her. He then said, "You're not safe here anymore, Mugi. Come with me."
__________________________________________
Meioshi and Yuko were resting at the shrine entrance until the doctor heard someone approaching them. Homugi was in a daze with the water in her hands, but fresh tears were streaming down. She didn't realize that she made it back to the farmlands. She felt disgusting at having to remember the attack, but she was more hurt that Takamuku was doing someone else's bidding unwillingly. He helped her so much despite them drifting apart throughout the years. Sesshomaru was a lost cause in their friendship. That seemed to be his gift to her: a life in his shadow and a friendship forever broken. Meioshi rose from her position on all fours in one seamless motion. She walked over to Homugi, looked at her with those beaming orange eyes, and nuzzled against her cheeks with a soft growl.
"Why cry?" Meioshi asked in her beastly voice.
It sounded a bit softer and more feminine this time. She must be returning slowly to her human form. When Homugi didn't respond, she growled to get her attention. That seemed to work. Meioshi controlled a tendril of hair to softly wipe away Homugi's tears while Yuko took the water from Homugi's hands and placed her hands on her shoulders. This comfort was so foreign to her. How was it that a human who walked the earth as a beast and another human who didn't even know her provided more warmth than her own parents? She had such pride in being an inu. She still does. But, was it worth it when her heritage turned away from her?
"Miss Homugi?" Yuko called softly.
"I hate them so much," Homugi whispered to herself, tears falling down a bit slowly this time. "I hate him so much."
Meioshi narrowed her eyes with visible anger. Only one person made her talk like that. Snorting before letting out a series of growls, Meioshi crouched down and looked at Yuko to give a silent instruction to her. When Yuko nodded, Meioshi turned to face forward and waited.
Yuko then said, "Meioshi wants to take you somewhere. We'll bring the water and herbs with us so she can recover."
Perking up at this, Homugi looked to the doctor and noticed her body had contorted to a low position like she was floating above the ground and only anchored by the axe-ended pillars of her limbs. The tendril that wiped her tears must have returned to the fur patch on her back. Yuko took the bucket and loaded it to the roped bone and hard flesh that formed the doctor's hips where the small of her back dipped to make an odd crevice for the bucket to perfectly sit still. Yuko then climbed onto Meioshi's back and held out her hand for Homugi to join.
She said with a smile, "Hop on, Homugi. I think sensei is trying to teach you something special. It'll help you."
Homugi was quiet at first, nervous about what was in store for her, but she took Yuko's hand and joined her on Meioshi's back. When she felt Meioshi roar and lift her body like a boat on high tide, she gasped and jumped from Meioshi's steady movements. She thought Meioshi was going to run like an inu or some other four-legged creature, but her legs twitched back and forth in isolated motions before one side went forwards and the other backwards. Before she knew it, the doctor's legs moved more like an insect's. They never moved from their spot. Meioshi was doing all of this in one place before she motioned her legs to go up to a certain momentum and she sped off to some arbitrary place.
"Where is she taking us?" Homugi asked, slightly turning to Yuko.
"Sensei goes on pilgrimages to many different places when she's in this form. She does it to remind herself of how precious life is and to remember to love all people in the many walks of life no matter how different or cruel they can be. It's something a hell traveler must do once a year, but sensei does it once a month if not more," Yuko explained.
"A hell traveler? What's that?" Homugi asked.
"Only sensei knows. I like to believe that they're people who save souls from their own hell. Not just from the place itself but from the situation. They can only do this if you want them to, though. They can't do it if you're unwilling to be free," Yuko answered, finding peace in traveling through the forests. As the sun rose to display the many colors of the world, she took a deep breath and watched blooms opening up and grass dancing. She then said, "My favorite beauty on the back of a beast: watching the world wake up for a new day. It's easy to miss if you only focus on Meioshi moving. I had to learn that years ago."
A chirp sounded from below them. Meioshi was sending out signals or something to that degree. Homugi decided to follow Yuko's indirect advice, however, and watch the world wake up. The calm breeze was relaxing. It wasn't long before fields of grass became one of vibrant purple lavender and white butterflies migrating to warmer climates. A row of pine trees created a border separating the field from a large hill. Protruding from the hill was a water tower connected to a wooden platform that was built almost like a stage. Some clothes lines were loosely hanging from poles at the very bottom of the hill. Meioshi let out a chirping sound before a bell rung in response. Her momentum was slowing down as she found a path of pure white sand with ripples in them leading to the platform and laundry house. It was beautiful!
The doctor just so happened to find this place on a whim? Homugi thought.
When Meioshi slowed to a stop, her legs twitched to revert back to her regular four-legged movements before she lowered herself and waited for the girls to hop off. Yuko did just that and took the water from Meioshi's back. She then said, "C'mon, Miss Homugi! This is where the doctor wants you to be."
"Why?" the blue merle beauty asked, lifting her body up.
Meioshi chose then to turn to her as though her neck was unrestricted from making a full turn and said, "Of mind. Need peace."
Homugi hopped off Meioshi's back and walked around to face her as the doctor sat on her haunches. In this form, she may have appeared menacing but she was still gentle and nurturing. How? How could she be so forgiving?
"Lavender. Pick," Meioshi instructed, lifting an axe-hand like an animal would a paw or claw. "Yuko. Follow."
"Why did you pick this place specifically?" Homugi asked, looking down at the ground.
"Homugi. Innocent. Need peace," Meioshi replied, lowering herself to lie down. "Want free?"
"Yes," Homugi answered with a shaky voice.
"Lavender. Pick," Meioshi replied, eyes lowering. "I teach."