InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Life's Menagerie ❯ Burnished Gold ( Chapter 2 )

Life's Menagerie

A/N~ Of all the stories I could have posted, I put up the one where I haven't finished working out the kinks. The original idea popped into my head one night. I wrote it down almost verbatim, and the rest of the scenes are loosely connected ones that have been floating in the sea of confusion known as my brain. Thanks to the Almighty Naimh St. George, whom I worship. She is a genius at writing, and has assisted me greatly! Check out her work, it's definitely worth it.

Disclaimer~ It isn't worth the lawyers' bill to sue me.

Chapter one- Burnished Gold

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Memories shape the person we once were, the person we are today, and all that we can become.

~~~~~~

A weary band of travelers made their way along the countryside. They traveled fast for all their exhaustion, for they carried a precious package. Two of the travelers ran at incredible speeds, one hauling a child on his back, while four others rode on a magnificent demon cat. One was a red-robed demon, pounding at the ground with furious intensity. The other wore voluminous robes and struggled mightily to match his companion's speed while still maintaining his grip on the young demon exterminator.

Seated on that demon cat was a sobbing fox-child who cradled a slight bundle close to him. Wrapped in white lay a pale girl. She was as cold as a winter chill, and lay lax in his arms. A flickering blue light kept her in a state of suspended animation; on the brink of life and of death. That aura was held in place by solemn-faced priestess, seated behind the fox demon.

Riding before the pair was a battered demon huntress. Her face was drawn with lack of sleep and sorrow. Below the flying demon, both men were pushing themselves to the extent of their abilities. They were drawing on desperate strength; the delicate balance holding the girl's tenuous grip on life depended on swiftness.

A wolf demon watched mournfully as they passed beyond the boundaries of his lands. He could not follow, for to do so would risk an attack on the small band, one they could not handle in their state. A inu-youkai Lord tended to the recently killed and watched his small ward with an intent gaze. Under the power of his sword, they regained their souls and returned triumphantly to life. But to the one person who was needed most, healing could not come from the formidable sword and it's magic.

All of the travelers were lost in their own thoughts, oblivious to everything. Everything, that is, except the soul held in place by gradually-weakening restraints. Memories of that soul, shining through its mortal body in a glance, a smile or a moment of anger, filled their minds. We look now into the thoughts of the two to whom the dying girl meant most.

~ ~ ~

Sunlight shown down on the grassy knoll, filtering through the protective awning of the Goshinboku. A small off-white butterfly fluttered nearby, searching out the sweet smell of citrus flowers. Alighting on the source of the delicious scent, it walked, delicate and frail. Two wide green eyes watched with breathless wonder as the insect nestled comfortably into the silken strands of Kagome's hair. With wings gently opening and closing, it looked as though it were paying tribute to this beautiful creature of the forest.

Kagome watched, lips curved in a sweet smile, as Shippou crept closer to her, wary of frightening off the object of his attention. Her cerulean eyes crinkled at the corners as Shippou climbed laboriously up her school uniform . Reaching out, he gingerly caressed the wings of the butterfly. Intoxicated with Kagome's sweet scent, it lay docile under his childish touch. An expression of undiluted joy spread across his face. A giggle escaped him, and the butterfly, startled by the gust of air, lifted off from Kagome and winged away. Kagome began to chuckle as Shippou shouted wordlessly and gave chase. He followed the insect's erratic flight through the trees, leaping at times to capture, but always missing.

She tilted her face back to the dappled light and heaved a sigh. An open trigonometry book rested forgotten in her lap, pages waving idly in the slight breeze. Dark hair drifted in strands across her face, caressing and teasing. Closing her eyes, she relaxed into the comforting strength of the mighty God tree. Birds flitted through the quiet woods, calling to each other. A gorgeous blue sky, littered with a few wisps of cloud created a brilliant dome of color on the world. All in all , a beautiful day in Feudal Japan.

Her eyes drifted open at the sound of Shippou's triumphant return.

"Kagome! Look, I caught it!" Eagerly he presented his closed hands for inspection. Leaning in, Kagome gazed into the cautiously opened hands. Shippou cradled the butterfly as though it were spun glass, and glanced expectantly up at her face. Smiling , she studied the creature, then shifted her gaze to Shippou's happy face.

"Good job Shippou," She ruffled his hair, and he beamed with joy. "But why don't you let it go?" His face fell and he dropped his chin to his chest, crestfallen.

"Can't I keep it, just for a little?" he pleaded.

"I don't think that's wise, Shippou." Kagome studied the butterfly again, which searched for escape from it's imprisonment. An unreadable look spread across her face, and her smile drooped slightly. "It will die if it's confined. You can't take away what it needs to live."

Shippou looked quizzical, then returned to his downcast examination of the insect. He glanced up just before she knuckled her tears away and looked at him with the full brilliance of her smile.

Shippou, though, looked horrified. "Don't cry! See, I'm letting it go!" Anxious to prevent any sorrow from his beloved Kagome, he spread his hand wide, and anxiously flapped them about. The butterfly, disoriented, clung desperately to his tiny hands. Kagome's unexplained grief vanished completely at the comical sight of Shippou dancing around, attempting to dislodge the tenacious insect. His laughter started as muffled giggles, increased to quiet chuckles, and then to full throated guffaws.

Shippou turned from his frantic waving to gaze at Kagome at first with consternation, then with a bewildered form of happiness. He didn't know what was so funny as to make her double over, clutching at her stomach. He grinned. He was always the one making her laugh. Though come to think of it, he wasn't always telling jokes when she giggled at him. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought she could be laughing at him, not with him.

Gradually, her laughter trickled off, though an occasional snort of remembered amusement caused a miniature eruption. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she held her trembling sides.

"Shippou, you are one of the most wonderful men I know." He puffed out his tiny chest. Kagome had doubly complimented him, by calling him a man and by saying he was wonderful. His bravado fell away quickly and he leaped to take his favorite position in her lap. Cradling him close, she smiled down at him, sides still heaving slightly from her mirth. "What would I ever do without you, my little protector?"

He snuggled into her warmth, breathing in the strange scent of his Kagome. Sweet orange blossoms mixed with the slightest tang of lemon, and a hint of ginger. Days that he could simply sit or play with her were few and far between, and he savored them all the more for their brevity.

The search for the jewel was harrowing and rest was often forgone in favor of travel. For now though, the group relaxed in the village, and Kagome grasped the opportunity to study in relative peace and quiet. Except that Shippou had followed her, and after a time of him silently hovering around her, she had called out to him. Guiltily, he shuffled from his place of concealment, waiting to be berated as Inuyasha often was for interrupting her studies. Instead, she had smiled and beckoned him closer, patting the ground beside her.

He spent the time peacefully sitting or playing under the shadow of the Goshinboku. He never strayed far though, careful to keep the top of the huge tree in sight. Even in Inuyasha's peaceful forest , demons could lurk, seeking a meal or the power of a shard. But now the gentle warmth of the day and the comforting presence of her embrace lured him into a deep and peaceful slumber. He slipped into the welcoming grasp of his childish dreams, feeling loved and protected.

~ ~ ~

"No! Fuck it, there has to be something!" An angry hand slashed through the air, rejecting the inability of Kaede to assist Kagome. The old priestess bowed her head, and spoke quietly.

"I have done all that I can. I am but a mortal woman, one who is old and infirm." Her wise gaze raised to meet the pain-filled eyes of the hanyou before her. "Kikyou has a much greater power than I, and if she cannot help our young lass, then there is naught to be done."

In the hut, hopeful faces fell. Sango turned into the strong embrace of her betrothed, seeking comfort. Kohaku gazed fixedly into the wall, attempting to give his sister a moment of privacy. Miroku's façade, a mask of calm, cracked. Sorrow creased his face with lines not meant for one so young. Burying his face in the softness of Sango's hair, he hugged her slender body close. In the entrance of the hut, Kikyou turned away, not wishing to intrude on their grief. A faraway look settled on her face as she considered what was to become of her reincarnation.

"If the Tensaiga is not used, there is no hope." Kaede said, studying her worn and gnarled hands. Hands that had saved so many but could not assist this one frail life. "I cannot recall her soul, as doing so would destroy Kikyou's body. Kagome herself would never have opted to endanger the life another, even if in exchange she lost her own. I will not make such a decision. The only option is to use the Jewel, but you," Here she paused, "Inuyasha, you say she rejected that."

Inuyasha looked away at this, and Shippou glared accusingly at him. Kikyou did not respond, but a muscle in her jaw tightened. Inuyasha's eyes were shadowed beneath his heavy bangs, and his hands clenched tight.

'Please Gods, don't do this to me. Don't make me.'

Kagome lay arranged in a comfortable position, the blue aura now replaced by one of inter-mixing hues of purple and pink. Kaede had instructed Miroku to assist her in bolstering her sister's flagging spell. Beneath the shifting colors, Kagome remained still and perfect. She was like Snow White, having bitten into the poison apple. Only this time, the kiss from her prince wouldn't awaken her.

'I can't use that damn wish! On her dying breath, she asked me not to. Right after she told me… she loved me.'

Shippou approached the shield and looked down on his adopted mother. His face scrunched up against the pain inside. Suddenly, he wailed and scampered out the entrance of the hut into the depths of the night.

"Maaamaaaaa!"

Inuyasha started at the sound of his piping voice. For a moment he gazed after Shippou, watching the mat covering the door sway to a standstill. He looked to where Kagome lay, still and peaceful.

Kaede and the others looked on in surprise as Inuyasha turned and followed the small demon through the door. Sango shuddered and buried herself even deeper into Miroku's robes, and he squeezed, an instinctive expression of comfort. He caught Kohaku's confused gaze and shook his head slightly.

Miroku watched Kohaku lean back and close his eyes, a troubled expression hovering about his youthful features.

'So much to deal with. Captivity and death, for such a long time. The time when he should be healing and relearning how to be a boy, he is forced to observe yet more suffering inflicted by Naraku. When will we earn our happily ever after?'

Miroku held the demon huntress closer. She would not want anyone, especially her brother, to witness her sorrow. He looked to Kaede, who sat calmly monitoring Kagome's condition. He sent an extra surge of his power to her. Her eye darted to meet his as she gave the slightest inclination of her head, a kind smile softening the lines age had wrought in her face. Miroku then moved to study the silent priestess standing alone by the entrance of the hut.

Kikyou's face remained composed, but there seemed the slightest edge of distress tightening her perfect mouth. He could only wonder at what thoughts ran through her mind. He himself was as lost as he had ever been. Not since he had begun his training for priesthood had his concentration scattered so. It required intense control just to channel his spiritual power to the shield protected their sleeping princess.

Kaede sighed, reaching out to re-arrange Kagome's hair. She smoothed it, then slid her hand down to test her pulse. Nothing.

If anything, Kagome was fading faster. Her soul slipped farther and farther into the realm of death, leaving her friends to grieve.

~ ~ ~

Shippou came to his senses slowly, blinking against the setting sun. He still lay cocooned in the warmth of his mother, but a soft, lilting sound drifting to his sensitive ears had awoken him. Kagome was gently stroking his back, humming to herself as she gazed at the magnificent sunset. Her face was lined with salty tear tracks and occasionally her breath would hitch on a sob. Saddened, he pressed closer, searching her face for a sign of what had upset her.

His slight movement caught her attention, and she offered a gentle smile, not disguising her pain.

"Okaa-san, Daijobu?" His instinctive question caught her breath in a swift rush. He covered his mouth; he could not believe he had been so bold. Why oh why had he addressed her as mother? After a few moments in which he waited for a response which never came, Shippou loosened his tight grip on his run-away mouth. He sat up and inched closer. Daring greatly, he reached up and gently patted her cheek.

"Mother, are you all right?" He ventured again. She smoothed his hair with a trembling hand.

Mother…

Looking into the small face which gazed so intently into hers, she softly resumed her humming. Kagome opened her mouth, and the voice of an angel sounded clear and silky. He looked into the eyes of the girl he considered his mother, enraptured.

"John, I love you,

I'm ever so fond of you.

Will you wait for me,

Till I am heavenly?

Oh, there's much more to do.

But I love you.

Oh, you're tender, your names a whisper."

Kagome's voice grew in strength as she continued, pouring out her emotions into the foreign tune. Shippou did not know what to make of the exotic words, but the feelings invested the strange tongue told him true.

The noises in the woods faded as the song traveled through the green interior. A pair of snowy white ears twitched in response, and swiveled to follow the gorgeous notes.

"I let tears fall like rain,

Apple-sized, they were all there,

And through all of those times,

When you could have died,

This is what you will find."

She grew quieter, but more intense. She bent down and sang into his ear, her breath tickling his sensitive skin. It felt as though magic was woven into those words.

A tentative hand moved aside the underbrush, the better to see the singing girl. The breath caught in Inuyasha's lungs as he viewed Kagome, cradling Shippou as though he were a child to be comforted.

"There's life outside your mother's garden,

There's life beyond your wildest dreams,

There hasn't been any explosions,

We're not spinning like Dorothy."

When Kagome stood, Shippou tumbled over to land on his feet, gazing up in wonder at her. She gave him a bittersweet smile, inclining her head and sang freely, loudly.

He didn't know why she sang, but only that it was in honor of their losses and victories, love and sorrow. She sang for her companions, and for herself. Inuyasha's mouth tugged downward, as his heart gave an unmistakable lurch.

"If you look out, then you'll you see why,

Don't be afraid to cry,

This time, don't let yourself fly.

Child…"

The pace of her singing increased, and she swept him into her arms, throwing Shippou and catching him. They spun giddily about, Kagome crooning all the while.

She always seemed to be the one who knew what to do. Kagome was like his rock in a tide of uncertainty. What would he do if she slipped away?

"Pick up those dancing shoes,

Kick off your wedding blues,

These are the ways you can chose."

The world was a blur; nothing but her grinning face was solid in the swirling mass of color. Shippou's tiny hands clutched her arms for all he was worth, a irrepressible grin spread from the feeling in the pit of his stomach. He giggled, then laughed as it tickled away at his insides.

Inuyasha watched the pair, traveling in tight circles around the base of the God tree. His heart was pounding, trying to escape from his chest.

"Child…

You're tender, your names a whisper."

Shippou would never forget that instant, with her hair wildly whipping about her tear-stained face, reddened eyes full of so many emotions, the bitter-sweet smile, the dying sunlight giving her a halo of gold. The maelstrom of colors surrounding them could not touch the beauty of the one who had returned his childhood to him.

The image of the dying sun, painting them with colors both brilliant and dark as two voices raised in joy, burned itself into his mind, then even further, till it was imprinted on his soul. Shippou's childish laughter ringing high over Kagome's strong voice; the harmony created would play in his heart for ages to come.

"There's life outside your mother's garden,

There's life beyond your wildest dreams,

There hasn't been any explosions,

We're not spinning like Dorothy.

If you look out, then you'll see why,

Don't be afraid to cry,

This time, don't let yourself fly.

Child…

Pick up those dancing shoes,

Kick off your wedding blues,

These are the ways you can chose."

They slowed, dizzy and breathless. Kagome's sweet airy voice cracked, but she continued to grin. The song slowed again, and she gently fell to her knees before him.

Her song was ending. Inuyasha closed his eyes, holding on to the image of a mother and her child.

"Child, I love you,

I'm ever so fond of you."

She tugged Shippou into a tight embrace. He had never seen her act in such an unrestrained or unusual manner. Only once in his memory had she ever raised that beautiful voice in song, and that had been when she had thought herself alone.

Shippou stretched his little arms as far as they could go, patting her back, rubbing in circles as she often did to lull him to sleep. Tears stung his own eyes. He was so confused. His heart hurt, and emotions he couldn't voice raced around mindlessly. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain inside and hugged with all his might. Using the new endearment, he spoke softly, hesitantly.

"Mama…"

"Shippou, I'm fine. I just wanted to sing you this lullaby I heard when I was last at home." Kagome sniffed and pulled out of his embrace. She poked his pointy little nose playfully; his eyes crossed and he squealed. "You made me think of my mama. Last time when I was home she was playing this American woman's songs. This was one of them, and it seemed to be her favorite. That night, when I went to bed, she came in to wish me good night. She sat beside me in the dark and smoothed my hair. Then she started to sing. Mama hadn't sung to me in forever, and it made me feel like a little girl again." Her eyes seemed to see far away, into a past that lay in the future.

Memories of Shippou's mother humming an old ballad to help him sleep on restless nights sprang up. Nearby in the woods, Inuyasha closed his eyes, recalling the ditty his mother had comforted him with when he was sick or uncomfortable.

Sighing, she pulled him close. "I know you miss your mama. I just, I don't know if I can be that for you. I'm only fifteen and I never even see my own mother anymore. Let's not even talk about my lack of responsibility. I'm definitely not a good role model. I mean, I'm barely passing in school!"

Kagome heaved another sigh and flopped back onto the grassy hill. Shippou sat down beside her and began to tear up a fallen leaf.

"Kagome," he ventured, "I don't care about that stuff. I still don't even know for sure what school is." Here he scratched his head. Shrugging, he continued. "You saved me, way back then. Nobody would have taken in an orphan youkai like me. I probably would have died." Shippou trailed off. Kagome moved her head so she could see him. He was looking at the shreds of the leaf in his hands and a dark expression had settled on his young face. Frowning she propped herself up on her elbows.

"Careful. If you make faces for too long, you'll stay that way."

Shippou looked at her strangely, and she grinned. "See? I'm too weird. If you were my son, I'd let you stay up late at night, and feed you chocolate all the time." He thought for a moment, then his face lit up.

"You give me pocky, and I always go to bed whenever I want. So you already act like you're my mama!" He smirked triumphantly. Kagome sighed. She didn't have it in her to battle with him over this right now. Later… She was just too relaxed right now. Flopping back down into the grass, she sucked in a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the fragrant scent of flowers. What a perfect day.

Inuyasha sat, silently musing. He was so deeply in thought, he didn't even notice Shippou running down towards his hiding spot…

~ ~ ~

Inuyasha followed the scent of salty tears. It wound a convoluted path through the underbrush. Often the branches and leaves of plant had been trampled blindly. His red-clad form ghosted silently after the fox-kit. Black eyebrows met as his eyes darkened to a hard amber. He couldn't let the fox-kit go off alone like this. 'It isn't safe. Kagome'll have my hea-' His train of thought came to a screeching halt.

'Kagome will never have anything from me. She doesn't want the only damn thing I can give her. My wish.'

He slowed, coming to stop. His heart beat heavy as he extracted the Shikon no tama from his thick fire-rat haori. Gazing into it's crystalline depths, he wondered. Was Kagome's mind unclouded by the poison of Naraku, or had she known what she was saying?

'Had she known?'

Shaking himself roughly, Inuyasha shoved the cause of all his tragedies back into his undershirt. Shippou was alone and defenseless. He had to find him. Turning on his heels, he abruptly sprang into the trees, quivering leaves his only sign of passage.

Finally he emerged from the dense foliage. Shippou had returned to the site of one of his happiest memories of Kagome. One that he unwittingly shared with Inuyasha. The Goshinboku… Inuyasha's time spent with Kagome had begun at this very place. Many times, painful or joyous, they had come together under its majestic branches.

Slowly he approached the sobbing kit. Shippou had tucked himself into the roots of the massive tree, curling in on himself. He did not notice the appearance of the dog-demon until he was lifted gently into the air and held face to face with him. Inuyasha stared into his tear-filled eyes. Shippou drew himself up as well as he could and shouted at Inuyasha.

"Go 'way! I don't wanna talk to you or anyone!" He threw a half-hearted fistful of fox-fire at the wall of Inuyasha's chest, but the dog-demon didn't even have the decency to flinch. Seeing how his only defense had no effect, Shippou's bravado wavered and fell. His lip quivered, and he was close to breaking down again when he felt himself scooped into the crook of the hanyou's arm.

Inuyasha leaped upwards and settled himself on his favorite branch, looking into the surrounding trees, refusing to meet the startled kit's eyes. Instead, he began to speak softly, his normally harsh voice falling into a surprisingly gentle tone.

"You know, she's given us everything she had. You're gettin' careless. I crept right up on you, and you never noticed. Kagome would scold you like nothing else if she knew you had left yourself defenseless like. Do you really think she would want you to be so sad that you could get yourself killed?" He paused, and when he spoke again, it seemed as though his voice was being dragged from his body.

"She's too damn important to me, and she means just as much to you." Gruffly he looked down into Shippou's wide eyes. Huffing at the lack of understanding he found there, he tried again. "Look, I ain't one for heart-to-heart speeches. You know I leave this shit to Miroku. But Kagome…" he paused, his bangs shadowing his eyes, " She doesn't want shit like this. Kagome has always been the one to tell us not to fucking give up. She wouldn't want people cryin' about her."

Shippou sat for a long moment in the awkward hold of the hanyou. He didn't know what to say, and he wasn't even sure he understood what Inuyasha was trying to tell him. The memory of Kagome's smile flitted briefly across his mind. Her song drifted past him, a mere whisper of notes etched in his soul. Shippou looked into the face of the hanyou that had frustrated her, protected her, and most of all, loved her.

The scent of ginger, orange blossoms, and lemon was faint, lingering in the air. Shippou gazed out into the surrounding night, then upwards to the stars. His mama wasn't perfect. But she was everything to him, and now she was leaving him, just like his parents had.

He sneaked a glance out of the corner of his eye. Inuyasha sat, silent and somewhat foreboding. Yet he knew, from those times when Kagome drew Inuyasha from his shell, that he had a soft and gentle side to him. Once or twice he had demonstrated just how much he cared for his companions. Tonight, as the woman he loved lay dying, he had chased a small and foolish child into the woods. In the last hours of her life, he had left her side to help an orphan struggle with the pain of his loss.

Inuyasha stiffened when he felt Shippou wiggle closer to him. He looked down into the little face full of resolve.

"Inuyasha, you never make any sense. If I let an oaf like you wander around, you're sure to get yourself into trouble. Look, Kagome loves me, and she loves you. I know. I won't run off again." For a moment Shippou hesitated, wondering. He came to a silent decision. He hugged Inuyasha then, just as he had hugged Kagome that lovely summer day, comforting her tears.

Inuyasha's eyes, so hard, softened. He sat for a moment, unmoving as he took in the distant stars and the tiny body pressed to his chest. Sighing, he leaned down and returned the desperate embrace. Moments passed as the two demons reached out past the walls life had forced them to build around their hearts.

'With the trust placed in me, I have to choose. I have to choose for her, and for all those who love her.'

~ ~ ~

"What the fuck was that all about, bitch Why the hell did you sit me!?"

"You shouldn't be so rude! How dare you eavesdrop on us like that!"

"Keh… whatever. If you haven't noticed, I ain't bein' rude. I'm just asking a fuckin' question, and I didn't fuckin' eavesdrop. You didn't notice me because you have such weak human senses!"

"My senses are not weak! I can sense a demon almost as well as you can, I was just distracted! And how does foul language constitute an intelligent query, "

"Huh? What the fuck did you just say?"

"Oh, so you can't understand anything other than swearing? Then let me make this clear; Stop with the fucking insults and don't fucking eavesdrop, you goddamn son of a toad demon, or else I'll rip your fucking ears off!"

Golden eyes blinked in utter astonishment. Mouth working soundlessly, Inuyasha watched Kagome as she flounced past him, pushing her bike and carrying that ridiculously large yellow backpack. He'd never heard her talk like that before.

"You must have really annoyed her. Geez Inuyasha, if you keep insulting her like that, she'll be leaving you for Kouga as soon as he gives her one of his sappy declarations of love. Oh, I'm gonna have to remember those words so I can use them the next time you're mean to me."

"You obnoxious, snot-nosed little rat! Get back here and say that to my face, you coward!"

The last rays of the sun caressed the arguing group as they traveled down through the rice fields to the village. Kagome watched with quiet amusement as Inuyasha chased the taunting Shippou down the path to Kaede's hut. She smiled, hands on the handlebars of her bike. Guess she just needed to let out a little stress… The golden tint cast beautiful reflections on the still water, turning them to molten pools of precious metal. What a beautiful day. She turned her face upwards, enjoying the faint heat, and studied the sunset.

How better to end a perfect day than in the company of the friends you adore.

A/N~ This is extremely confusing… I realize this, but at this point, I'm updating anyway. I haven't updated in about two months and I don't want my story to fade into total obscurity. Credit for the song included in this chapter goes to Sinead O'Connor. If you don't understand what emotions were being explained, I don't blame you. They were supposed to be confused about their issues, but it seems to me they're just confused. Period. Hopefully all will be revealed in later chapters. Hang in there, because I've started writing them out already. (Please excuse the jumbled nature of this Authors note… I wrote it while sick)

P.S. Naimh is my hero… I worship you to the ends of the earth.