InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Awakening of Fires ❯ The Wind that Fed the Fire ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]




Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does.

A/N: Again thank you for your patience. The story could be steered in multiple ways and choosing one, especially one that fits accordingly is difficult. Once I have that down, it’s a matter of organizing the stew of thoughts in my head. The only things keeping me motivated are the itch to get this story written ( or in this case typed) and the readers.


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Chapter 4: The Wind that Fed the Fire

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“Sango!” said Shippo in a half worried, half sleepy voice, his call couldn’t have been the most opportune distraction…perhaps he had been instructed by ‘her‘.

Whether his timing was intentional or orchestrated by fate, it had doomed Miroku…or was it saved him? Nevertheless, the sands of time will stop spilling for no one…

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Kagome or the parasite that had infected her, erected a barrier around the open field…And of course, Chiyo would be the signaled out as the culprit…She returned to her former attentions.

“He smells just like I remember…” the thing was restoring more of its memories and with them strong feelings…perhaps among those was a pinch of human frailty.

It stared into Miroku’s eyes then into a void. She took her hands and placed them on his face, tracing his cheeks and jaw line…an old habit…

“Oh Makoto, if only you could remember too…” she thought inwardly then sighed with sadness that turned into bitterness, “I would get the satisfaction I deserve…but this ‘you’ will do just fine.”

She hadn’t yet taken his mouth; instead, she had decided to transport herself to a bittersweet moment in time…the sweetness was now gone, all that was left was the jagged, sharp hate.

The thing looked up at Miroku’s now bare chest and found a wonderfully submissive face, in his eyes - those eyes that were blinded by euphoria, was complete willingness, and in his mouth lay the eagerness of desire. His arms had encircled her just they way they used to, they never forgot the trace they had left on her body. She slowly slid her hands from his shoulders to his biceps…she knew by the strength of his muscles and the surface of his hands upon her skin that his body had hardly been idle.

“I have fantasized this day for an eternity…how I have missed you my Makoto…your very essence…” she said as her eyes concentrated only on the moment.

“Kagome, I don’t understand why you would call me that…” Miroku was beginning to feel an awkwardness towards the sound of that name; reality threatened to break the thing’s spell.

She smiled at irony; it provided her with a knowing answer, “ ’Makoto’ is what you would be called in my time, but I forget this is not my time Miroku.” The thing managed to successfully tighten the binds against his will.

“I feel as if I were forgetting something and yet… it’s as if with you nothing else mattered. But it all seems so sudd-”

She took her hand and with the pad of her thumb stroked the outline of his lower lip.

“What does it matter?” she tried to falsely convince him. The thing searched Kagome’s memories and in it found a way to silence the pray’s dangerous doubts.

Her hand fell to his arm once again…

“Listen,” she started, her voice losing all of its seducing velvet becoming an exaggerated innocence and guilt, “ I know it’s scary, you and I never meant for this to happen…” Her eyes beaming sympathy…“But how much more of ourselves do we have to sacrifice for Naraku’s sake? Just because we are traveling together and are putting on faces that are supposed to beam courage, doesn’t mean we can’t feel loneliness.”

She wrapped him with her arms, then placed them upon their former place, “And what is Inuyasha’s embrace when he is forever enveloped in Kikyo’s memory?” She looked up at him…menacingly…her soothing voice returned…“You and I are two of a kind, we both share a connection, an understanding…among other qualities…” she gave him a counterfeit smile of reassurance.

…her hands continued a path to his forearms…she pressed onto the bulging veins and could feel the surge of his blood against his skin…she could envision the liveliness of his being…his warm breath…she took his hands into hers and began to gently kiss the palms. Her lips moved to his fingertips, just then her tongue felt the need to meld itself its own place in the caress… his heart beat steadily increased with her touch, the primitive brain of the reasonable Miroku awoke.

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“Whe re is everyone?…” Shippo began to survey the area in hopes of finding anyone but then frustrated, began to blame himself for his ignorance…”Oh why didn’t I wake up?! I hope they didn’t tell me where they went while I slept! It would be just like the time Kilala told me to tell you all---” his ranting was interrupted by Sango.

“Shh, Shippo listen to me, I don’t think this time it’s something harmless, something tells me there is something sinister very close to us…“ Shippo began to sweat and shiver profusely.

Sango removed her hand from Shippo’s mouth…he exhaled deeply and began to whisper, “D-Do-Do you t-think it’s Naraku or that woman Chiyo?”

“I don’t know but I know we have to find the others---” Sango stopped herself to hear what the wind would tell her; it carried whispers. “It sounds like it’s coming from there; it sounds like Kagome.”

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One kiss…just one contact between sensitive and arousing flesh and his heart would stop beating forever…his spirit and his soul would become trapped in a place where not even Buddha himself could reach.

The thing that posed as Kagome had decided; death would be both Miroku and Makoto’s sentence…

She sharpened her soft lips with her poison; she had been jury, judge and was ready to carry out justice as an executioner would; her lips would serve as a guillotine.

The sound of the crisp grass bending under pressure told her it was the perfect time, the murderer or at least the one who would be made accountable, had decided to make her presence known.

The thing remained her eye contact with her victim or was it victims?… “You never could surprise me, but you still haven’t given up hope…”she said toward what seemed to be empty space.

The ground bore the footsteps of that bothersome, meddling bitch. “What did she call herself these days, ah yes-“ she recalled her new identity, “Chiyo.”

Chiyo came forth from the shadows… “I know you remember, as well as I do… it’s been over 500 years but you still remain the same…still the same whore, right… Kimiko?”

A grin spread from cheek to cheek; she waited for Kagome’s manipulator to turn.

Kimiko sighed out of boredom, “There is nothing you can do now, I have awoken and as you can see I AM ‘Kagome’, besides Mak-” she forgot the time and corrected herself, “Miroku” she continued, “has a debt to repay, I’m here to make sure they all do, starting with him.”

Kimiko felt worry and knew she must maintain her firm grip, “His time was now…as well as Kagome’s,” but she knew she had another concern …another would be looking to escape the confines of the girl’s physical body and the hold she had on their soul…

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“Ugh, you pervert!”


The sound of two surfaces clashing made a clapping sound…


“MIROKU! Keep your hands to yourself will ya?”

Sango and Shippo had been trapped at camp by a barrier but it had recently and unexpectedly dissipated. They followed familiar sounds into the open field and stumbled onto a scene that for all its commotion was common to both.

Chiyo’s face displayed a disgusted and outraged look; common for any victim that had ever fallen pray to Miroku’s “cursed” hand.

Kagome’s body language said it all; both hands on her hips, both legs spread apart and planted firmly on the ground, teeth tightly grit at his imprudence.

“When will he ever learn?” sighed Shippo as he shook his head from side to side. He jumped from Sango’s shoulder to Kagome’s; he wanted a better look at the welt forming on Miroku’s cheek courtesy, no doubt, of Chiyo’s chastising hand.

“Yes, I’d like to know,” consented Sango as she made a tight fist then sighed in disappointment, “typical man, nothing but sweet words…” she became catty, “On the other hand, this just goes to show that Miroku likes pain and the women who inflict it upon him.”

Shippo jumped onto Miroku’s shoulder and unnecessarily commented, “That makes sense, I mean you always want to grope women and in the end, they just end up slapping you. Miroku, you and Inuyasha are similar that way; you are both two-timing your women constantly--”

Miroku growled and began to tighten his jaw; Shippo knew the signs, out of fear and for safety, he jumped once again onto Sango’s shoulder…he knew his comment had made Sango’s anger greater and Miroku’s horseplay was under an even more severe scrutiny.

The revered monk stood hunched over while being reprimanded by his master for indulging in what seemed to be a guilty pleasure…he began to nervously rub his neck and was about to smooth over Sango’s anger when he heard her comment and twitched…”I-…”

Chiyo diverted Sango’s attention, “Sango is something wrong, why are you dressed for battle and where is Inuyasha?”

Kagome or was it Kimiko…turned around in a worried gasp toward Chiyo and smirked…then turned once again and worriedly questioned Sango, “Did something happen to Inuyasha?”

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He wiped the blood from the side of his mouth and scoffed, “That all you got?” He raised Tetsuiga’s blade; his stance told his enemy that he was ready.

The man managed to conceal his entire form in the darkness of his black satin robe; his head covered in an oversized hood, his face was nothing but a shadow. His sleeves were slack and draped over his hands including the one wielding his weapon…The only identifiable aspect was his katana; it seemed to be an ordinary, metal blade… dyed in Inuyasha’s blood.

They were closely monitored by Saimyoshou; so it was a new incarnation…

“What are you supposed to be another one of Naraku’s minions?”, Inuyasha had clashed his sword against the figure’s and could not overcome his opponent’s sword…The man had no demonic aura; a sense of evil did emanate from his skin.

The figure answered Inuyasha by sheathing his weapon, not bothering to wipe off his opponent’s blood as is customary…could he be a foreigner to the customs of the country?

Kilala had been besides Inuyasha ready to attack as viciously as her legacy had foretold…she saw something twinkle at her at it reflected the moonlight…it was coming from behind a nearby tree…a familiar sort of shine; it was a mirror… “The void named Kanna.”

Kilala returned her glance towards the coward, who even now, hid its identity. She knew she must somehow unmask him. The man’s ally left her with no inhibitions to either severely or mortally wound…she must do either with one unfailing strike…

Her ears tweaked upwards, her fangs were now fully exposed each of them promising to tear away at any weakness. She then turned to Inuyasha and growled towards the borders of the dark forest…he understood…he turned the blade of his Tetsuiga towards whoever or whatever was hiding in the forest…he hoped for a final and decisive confrontation with Naraku but deep inside he knew the bastard’s strategy and it involved twisted mind games, dead ends, and pointless mazes all with a sole purpose; for Naraku‘s sadistic entertainment… nothing ever was as it seemed.

Inuyasha thought he saw a glimpse of white as the thing (perhaps Kanna) began to delve deeper into the pitch black greenery…it seemed to be luring him…or was it afraid?

Roaring, Kilala lunged at the cloaked man who seemed to have no voice of his own, even as she came at him directly. To Kilala he remained anonymous… regardless, she aimed for her goal. She sunk her teeth into the side of his neck where a vital artery would reside and fatality would be guaranteed with a tight snap of her massive jaws…

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” yelled out a smug Inuyasha, confident as he waited for the body of the man to drop…instead, Kilala had clung onto her bite and was now being repelled by some kind of shield or barrier.

There had been no blood shed on the stranger’s behalf…had Kilala even pierced flesh?

Kilala landed on her legs…her shape diminishing in grandeur and rapidly becoming, in a burst of flames, the seemingly harmless demon cat; her true form had been purified.

The feline fell, as if from complete exhaustion…

Inuyasha gasped, “Kilala!” If something happened to Kilala, Sango would never forgive him…HE would never forgive himself.

The figure spun towards Inuyasha. As he reached his human hand out, the silver bracelet he wore dangled loosely and chimed as the polished amethysts grazed against one another…

…Clink…

With the flick of his wrist, he threw a small dagger.

Inuyasha deflected it with his sword…“You’ll pay for that!“…But the worn, leather bound handle of his mighty dog-demon fang suddenly became a searing hot poker in his hands…as he released Tetsuiga in its barren, rusty form, it clanked helplessly onto the floor; along with Inuyasha’s guard.

The man took full advantage…his bracelet swayed once again.

…Clink…

His second dagger cut through the air swiftly and surely; it was meant for Inuyasha’s neck…

“Inuyasha!!!”

The convincing actress Kimiko, played the character of a distressed Kagome…her performance was almost seamless…the others all gasped in genuine worry and fear.

Inuyasha turned at the sound of his name, he glanced towards “Kagome”… but the supposed warning came in vain…the dagger stayed its course and struck away at its target.

“No!” Chiyo yelled and exposed her vulnerability…or was it her heart’s longing?

The religious beads that were responsible for administering Kagome’s wrath, the very ones that Kikyo herself had originally enchanted, had been snatched and entangled in the tip of the dagger’s blade. The priceless relic was pinned onto a tree trunk of the verdant canopy behind Inuyasha.

“He missed!” yelled a relieved Shippo, failing to realize the man’s true intention.

“I wouldn’t be so sure…” said Miroku pensively not conformed with appearances. He shifted his glance to Shippo and Sango then noticed Kagome’s expression of complete mortification…undoubtedly processing an overwhelming panic for Inuyasha’s safety.

Chiyo, however seemed docile and accepting, almost as if she could see the reason behind the stranger’s action; she couldn‘t have planned it better herself…could she? But then had the alarmed “No” been said out of a necessity to turn suspicion away?

Sango noticed Kilala on the floor; her heart jumped to her throat preparing itself for yet another loss and placing itself one step before insanity.

“Kilala!” she yelled hoping to awaken her…

“Sango! Is she alright?” asked a worried Shippo as he caught up with her.

She noticed her companion was not visibly wounded and her rhythmic breathing told her that she was in a deep sleep. Sango took the napping warrior into her arms and shielded her from harm; returning one of endless favors.

“Yes, she just needs to rest. I think whatever that thing did to her it knocked her out…”Sango reassured Shippo as she stroke Kilala’s head.

Meanwhile, turmoil unseen by the physical eye brewed inside Kagome’s body, mind, and soul:

“Oh does the damsel in distress want her precious pet to save her?” taunted Kimiko…ignorance was her upper hand, so long as Kagome believed what she wanted her to believe…

“I don’t know who you are or how you took control of my body but I know that Inu---” Kagome’s threat was interrupted; Kimiko couldn’t resists mocking Kagome’s blindness…

“How I got inside YOU?! Don’t make me laugh you stupid bitch, I regret to inform you that you‘ve reversed the roles…” she caught her own hint but had confidence Kagome had not and continued, “this may be your body and as Chiyo has said, it is not under my sole control. But even you must realize that if at any moment you chance upon a relapse of my power and manage to express any form of distress, I will take over you again; death would come quicker for all, for I cannot be exorcised.”

“They will find a way to free me, if they don’t they’ll avenge me and it would mean your death.”
Kagome was willing to gamble all.

Kimiko called her bluff, “I can survive without a body,” a partial truth, “besides your friends lack the nerve to kill you but I don‘t have the slightest inconvenience claiming an early victory before this “Naraku“ character. The longer I inhabit your body the more memories, thoughts, and feelings I access. Simply put, your freedom for 5 continually beating hearts…don’t mistake the latter for a choice; this is a small redemption from ignorance.”

The evil remind Kagome of that arrogant--- she had no choice but to comply…for now…

Inuyasha quickly felt around his chest…having grown accustomed to the enchanted beads hanging from his neck, he felt as if a he had been stripped of an overbearing weight. But why? Of all things to claim, of all places to aim, the man had taken what would be least missed.

Inuyasha looked up in complete confusion, then he decided the man was a fool and felt somewhat victorious, “Heh, now I dunno whether to kill you or thank you… But seein as how you and Naraku must be connected in some way, how about both?” …but in releasing Inuyasha from his “collar”, had the enigmatic stranger willingly unleashed something far more dangerous?

The figure retreated or was he claiming the spoils of a won battle?…even more baffling, had he won the war?

…Clink…Clink

He wasted no time leaping towards the bark that held, what were to him, two coveted artifacts; both acting as his defense and power.

Despite having redeemed his freedom and spared his body from any “sit” related injuries, his enemy would certainly use it to their advantage. What seemed to be nothing more than a trivial incident would eventually lead to a greater misfortune. The turmoil between his suppressed inner selves intensified:

“Good riddance, now we aren’t constricted and we no longer have to submit to the wench as if we were some untrained pup…the very idea of a human possessing such power is sickening…” the youkai within celebrated the loss and impatiently waited; for he would be free to dominate and upset the balance within, hoping to once and forever rid himself of his humanity.

“No! We have to get the necklace back, its purpose is keeping us in check.” protested the mortal.

The demon could not allow this opportunity to slip away, “What is your ultimate goal, your ultimate desire? If you wish to become a pure-blooded demon you must saturate your human blood slowly…in time you will surpass even Sesshoumaru.” The bitterness of sibling rivalry never failed to stir a decisive ultimatum. “Not to mention, you would free yourself from the desire to seek the shikon no tama’s power as other weak unsuccessful humans and demons have done for centuries… ” The youkai skillfully baited.

The human reminded him of remorse and anger, “The other times you’ve transformed, you have harmed innocent people; no matter how many times you play the good Samaritan, their blood will never be washed from your hands,” his heart twitched in pain, “Are you prepared to do the same to those that care for you…like Kagome?” The argument seemed to have had a compelling affect.

“Half-human, half-strength isn’t that right,” the demon would strike a cord, “how will ever be rid of that despicable monster Naraku depending on Tetsuiga for half of your power, not to mention the capacity to remain in control?”

The focus would be shifted by the human, “That’s not the issue. If your enemy wants them, they must mean something more that just ‘Osuawri’.”

The reasoning behind the man seeking the cursed beads was unsure and though Inuyasha felt divided towards the consequences; the intention remained evil.

“Yes, it is more than just a subjugation. It’s a form of stripping us of our dignity; the heartless bitch has your balls in her hands!”

“Better her than the enemy,”
the human made an outstanding point, “If Kagome is the only one with the power over the necklace, then why would he need something so useless?”

So it was decided, the youkai within would need to call upon more reserves of patience, for his time would not come…yet.

“Leaving so soon? It would be rude of me to allow you to go before my sword and I thanked you properly!!” he said as he swung Tetsuiga in a downwards stroke meant to slice his opponent in vertical halves.

…Clink

The figure withheld the pathetic excuse for a sword from striking the intended blow with nothing more than a miniscule and insignificant dagger.

“Have I met him before?” The feeling of vague familiarity swept over his memories but could retrieve no trace…

The man punched Inuyasha’s chest with his fist.

It was not so much the weak blow as it was the impact of the contact between them that triggered an explosion of images within Inuyasha’s mind…

The shock of such scenes overloading his very soul proved to be unbearable, it was indescribable; the flashing emotions…

A blinding light stunned him…the images had been submerged and stored in the subconscious…temporarily.

The distraction had served its purpose, the figure distanced himself from Inuyasha. But not before delivering a message…

He placed a hand inside his robe and pulled out a small object…

…Clink…

Whatever he threw, it landed near Inuyasha’s feet. And with that delivery, the figure took its leave, as did the Saimyoushou and the thing thought to be Kanna… to a place beyond the forest, beyond the night.

Inuyasha gaped at the sky then looked down towards the ground…

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“I see…” Naraku had been watching the affair from Kanna‘s all seeing mirror in the comfort of the stolen castle, “Huh, so Inuyasha suspects you of spying for me…interesting…”

The mirror changed back to a reflection of Naraku; misleading its true purpose…

”The …spark…is---” rare words came from Kanna’s mouth.

“Yes…” he clairvoyantly predicted the question, “I believe I have found a way to “smother it”, he smiled wickedly as he remembered the vivid dream and the thing in the shape of a woman, “find whoever battled Inuyasha and bring them to me…I will grant Inuyasha’s death wish soon enough…”

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Kimiko ran towards Inuyasha, a convincingly worried Kagome, “Inuyasha!” ;the others followed suit.

“Are you alright?” She added detail to her acting by placing her hands around his arm, ignoring the temptation to stroke it further…

“Who was that?” asked Sango as she stood next to Inuyasha; she too stared hopelessly into the myriad of trees.

“I---…y-yeah…I’m fine…I don’t know…” he answered both women, he tried to call upon the images but only found a headache.

“Whoever it was, they’re intention was not to kill you despite their lethal skills, it was almost as if they ran away to avoid another confrontation…” speculated Miroku.

Shippo had leaped towards the floor, he picked up the artifact the figure had thrown, “Why would he leave something like this behind? It’s just a feather.” It puzzled him, how could a feather serve as a weapon?

He held its tip between his index finger and thumb while unknowingly jumping onto Kimiko’s right shoulder…she welcomed him as usual; glad to be getting a closer look in the hopes of remaining one step ahead of them…

“That’s---” Sango stared incredulous; it was no ordinary feather. The bead around it was unmistakable… “But- that’s impossible…she’s… dead.”

Inuyasha took the feather in his hand, it had to be true; Naraku’s insects, Kanna… “It belongs to Kagura…”

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No matter how many servants, warriors, and seekers passed through its halls, the temple remained the same…that and of course, the main attraction…the seer who had the audacity to place the great lord as her second priority while she trifled with her silly concoctions.

She attempted what few dare to and possibly even none had succeeded in accomplishing…she tried to converse with his imperial highness…

“Ah yes, how did that last prediction go?…hmm” the seer tried recalling the riddle, “I remember the ending: ‘Protected yet never known to its protector’…how did that fare for you Sesshoumaru?” She asked while holding a clay vase as she began filling one of 12 wooden saucers. They were set upon a circular platform…the ritual seemed ridiculous in Sesshoumaru’s eyes…

“I’m glad my ways humor you,” she said reading his thoughts, “happiness is spread thinly around the world these days. It believe it would tame your temper…” her suggestions began to irritate him.

“That is none of your concern,” he remained cool tempered but would douse his words with insults, “I cannot fathom why my father chose to entertain cheap parlor tricks from an old hag such as you.” They exchanged a momentary glance but she cackled to add more truth to his claim…then returned to her preparations…

“This old hag as you so adequately put,” she turned to him and closed her eyes tightly focusing her power, “knows about you powers,” her eyes flung open; they had a lighter shade, a different color, “about your strengths,” her hair began to whip around her face changing tone to match a familiar face, “your desires,” her body and voice had been dipped in an invisible fountain of youth, “and your FEARS.”

Sesshoumaru only flared his imperial nostrils and tightened his jaw at the sight the seer had assimilated, “I, Sesshoumaru, fear nothing.” he said as he shifted his eyes away from her…he was not yet accustomed to the sight of her, but would rather die than ever admit it.

“Do not fool yourself,” her true voice returned, “I will ALWAYS carry more pearls than you could uncover in a hundred lifetimes…” She knew her new form had somewhat humbled him…

He fixated his glance upon her, sheer ice was beaming from his eyes…

“Tell me,” disguising her voice once again, “does this form unsettle you?” she jested but made a fatal mistake of remaining a nuisance to the dog-demon…

The seer opened her hands, in her palms a smoke began to materialize something; the form of Sais in either hand…

She maneuvered them skillfully; each of her hands worked simultaneously as she flipped each handle between her fingers so that the thin blades pointed upwards. Nonchalantly…she examined the craftsmanship of her illusion… “This Chiyo, she was your lover was she not?”

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To the following reviews:

~* Etaont: I absolutely don’t think of you as a flame, on the contrary, thank you for your honesty and positive criticism. I see your point and even though my the scene changing may seem abrupt and non-descriptive, each scene has correlation to the previous one. Besides, no matter how much a picture paint with words, the way the reader pictures it will always be different from the author…I suppose it’s my way of letting the individual’s imagination fill in some of the blanks. At any case, I hope you continue to read and review and hopefully enjoy it.

~* Vandreador: Thank you for faithfully reading my updates; of which I expect to reduce the huge time gap in between *crosses fingers*. I hope you continue to enjoy it and expect to hear more feedback!

~*Angelstars: Its definitely hard to make a great cliffhanger, thank you for the compliment! I hope you remain a constant reader and look forward to other reviews!

~* Dark Miko: You definitely speak the truth when it comes to all readers, stories, and even authors. And like any other author, I love to hear any kind of constructive feedback, but I think that even though there may be not be many reviews, I still need to continue the story to give my creativity peace of mind. I very glad that you took the time to review and support the story-Thank you!

~* ScifiAmy: I do hope this fanfic strikes everyone as something that stands somewhat apart from the others; it’s difficult to find an original plot line these days and I’m glad it sparks your interest…hopefully it continues to do so!

~Daflyingarrow^_~ Keep on reading, reviewing, and enjoying!

Side note: Pearls are a symbol of wisdom.