Two Sides of One Coin

Summary: The In-Between…a realm of lost and wandering souls. There is a creator…universe…before she was the universe…she was Origo. From her void was born from fires, Creo...and Pestis. Origo gave her powers as gifts to the twins, creation and destruction. A Seer's sudden appearance throws their balance off and both find themselves within the depths of the In-Between. Every five hundred years, twins are born from the fires of Origo, and blessed with creation and destruction. What one creates, the other destroys. However, when one crosses the threshold of balance, can that balance be restored? And is it possible that the Seer who brought the destruction of the first children of Origo has appeared once more? Is this Seer the reason for all the other children of Origo dying?

Anime: InuYasha/Naruto

Couple(s): Kagome/Neji and Kikyou/Orochimaru

Genre: Romance/Angst

Rated: M

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Origo – The Beginning

Part One

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Origo; the beginning before there were beginnings; she was the universe before it was called the universe and matter before it was called matter. There was nothing for her to do but be. From her smallest movements suns came to life and died in an instant. Whole cosmos stirred out of her nothingness and systems of stars created themselves and disappeared as fast as they came. Not one thing stayed still. Origo was a being that was unstable. Always stirring. Always changing.

Two small balls of fire grew in the void of Origo's belly. And from her self, two beings, twin girls, were born. She named them Creo and Pestis.

Origo knew that her slightest movements made things come into being and this needed to be controlled so she presented her powers as gifts to her fiery children.

"For you Pestis, I give you the gift to end all things. Lands and kingdoms perish at your will. Living creatures die silent deaths when you whisper to them. Creo of the light, you ill have the gift of bringing life. From you hands, worlds and the things that live in them will be made."

The infants sat quietly. Their bodies were on fire. Their minds were still forming as they listened to their mother. "Creo, everything will live in its own time. When their time is done, Pestis, they will cease to be. And so will be the order of things. The dark and the light. One cannot live without the other. One must not become the other. One must not know the secrets of the other. My daughters, I say to you; use these gifts with care. Following these words will bring harmony but chaos will proceed if you do not."

Origo stirred and swirled again. Land grew inside her and a vast garden-like nursery appeared for the infants to rest their heads. Origo's former self passed on but her spirit remained and would be bound to the earth her daughter would create.

The twin girls grew into powerful beings. The universe became their playground. Creo created and Pestis destroyed and so was the order of things. What was a moment to them was an age to those in the land of the living. Creo of the light was clever and placed her creations in systems so that suns, moons and seasons were stable and flowed with ease. She also created a shrine-like stone body to remember their mother in their garden so that her spirit could rest there and the sisters could visit her and give offerings.

Pestis was the more patient, yet deadly of the two and it was her job to bring darkness, death and disease to Creo's work. She whispered her dark words and beasts fell at her feet. Pestis always did a good job. It was always perfection. There was no more beautiful a place than when Pestis touched a realm with night.

"Sister Death," Creo would teasingly call her "What underhanded work you have done! You deserve a star for your trouble!"

"Ah-ha! You have seen my good work, light bringer, but I have not even begun...what else have you, for me to end?"

And how they played! Teasing and running around on discs of broken stars after each other. Creo would hop from star to star creating a twinkling path for herself, her laughter in solar light and ice crystals.

"Catch me if you can!" she would say.

Pestis, chuckling in fireballs and moon dust, would chase after her imploding each star as she went. What fun they had!

Their favorite game was called, 'I Can Do What You Do'. The girls would sit in the starry garden-resting place and with a wave of her hand Creo would stir living creatures into being. Feathers, scales, fur...or all three! Creo made the most wonderful beasts. Then it was Pestis' turn to copy and make better. But she never could. With a wave of her own hand, Pestis' creatures were ghastly, foul-smelling and begun to rot the minute they appeared. Creo would squeal her sunlit laughter at the sight of her sister's abominations. Pestis liked this game. She knew the gift of creation was not hers but liked to entertain her sister all the same.

And Creo secretly knew this. Sometimes Creo would look at her sister, while she was not watching and weep silently to herself. She loved her so. She loved her so much it was almost as if she did not want to exist. Words could not describe. There was no greater happiness than this. Pestis was her world. But she could never tell her this. Pestis was a fearless and sometimes troublesome girl. She had no care for soft words when there were whole realms to undo...

The twins had used their gifts well. Their work and offerings pleased their mother's spirit. She called upon spirits from other planes. She was going to hold a ceremony in their honor. Her almost soundless voice, like winds whispering among leaves, called the two girls to her shrine. "What is wrong, mother? Have we done something to displease you?" Pestis asked, on arriving. Origo said nothing. The sister's stood looking at each other. They did not want to be rude so they began speaking to each other in their minds.

'Why is it she says nothing?' Creo said.

'It is a trick! You have done something to upset her- apologize! APOLOGIZE!' Pestis replied playfully.

Creo giggled 'If you shout at me I will not be able to hear my own thoughts...besides it is you who should apologize...for looking so awful in your dress...!'

"My children, I have called you here to honor you..." Origo's spirit breathed.

Drops of light rained down into the garden. A blanket of stars covered them. Origo's spirit sighed and it suddenly became dark, so dark not one thing could be seen. Creo became scared and reached for her sister's hand. Pestis laughed "Ahhhh...darkness my old friend, she has come to visit us!"

"My daughters," their mother sang, "Do not be rude; it is customary for you to welcome your guests!"

"Guests?" Creo asked. Origo's spirit sighed and once again light came upon the garden. Spirits, ghosts, gods and goddesses of every kind from other planes had descended upon the garden in that brief darkness. They had come to see the work of the noble spirit Origo's offspring.

Pestis took her place beside her mother's shrine. She, on the left side, while Creo sat on the right. The guests were many and showered the twins with gifts. The twins had destroyed and created many things but their eyes had never seen beings such as these. They chatted in their minds about each guest and how grateful they were for the celebration.

"Such fine daughters, Origo!" said one.

"Look at the beauty they have created! What powers they have!" said another.

Ghost after God after Kami after Spirit had made their way into the great garden and were about to start procession, when a silence so loud, it made all of those who heard it stand still in their places, arrived. Everything seemed to move slower than it should. This meant one thing. When The Silence arrived he was sure to be followed by his mistress: Parcae.

"But who is this, why does she cover herself this way?" Creo asked, her words dancing in her sister's head.

"Who is this indeed? Let us see what she has to say" Pestis replied. Origo's stone face looked on. Parcae was a woman whose beauty was too much for the eyes of mortals and immortals alike- tricks could be played if you looked at her for a time. She wore a white hooded cloak and remained faceless.

The twins quickly covered their ears. The Silence had moved closer and was addressing them. Origo did not car for his soundless words and stopped him. She addressed Parcae. "Why do you come here soothsayer...the invitation was not extended to the Netherworld". The twins did not know who this woman in white was...It was clear however, that her presence was not an accident. She had heard of the celestial twins and their wondrous strength. Children of Origo? There was power to be had.

Parcae opened her mouth to speak and when she did, three voices seemed to come forth from one body: "Come now, Origo, we too have come to celebrate the work of your handsome daughters...I bring gifts..." From her sleeves Parcae produced two small boxes. One white and one black. She gave the black one to Creo and the white one to Pestis. Ribbons circled the box making them float in mid-air.

"What trickery is this, seer?" Origo's spirit demanded.

"No trickery here..." Parcae answered

Creo was curious and was quick to view the contents of the black gift box. To her surprise inside the tiny box was a seed. "I thank you for your present," Creo said. She paused and looked over at her sister then said, "But I have made many of these."

"Dear child, this is the seed of a tree from my realm- I know you will tend to it and take care. Many great things will come from it." The three voices echoed. Creo bowed her head as if to thank her again. Pestis looked at her own gift box. She tried to open it but found that she could not. She pointed at the box and was about to destroy it with a single thought. Creo giggled and made fun of Pestis in her mind. Pestis smiled and felt shame, realizing where she was. Parcae could see that she was having trouble. "Let me help you, child." The seer reached into her sleeve and pulled out a pair of rusty cutting shears. She cut the floating ribbons and they disappeared. She nodded her head for Pestis to continue.

Pestis opened the box and looked inside. Her eyes grew wide. She began to smile to herself. Creo was speaking to her thoughts but she could not, would not listen. Origo spoke: "You have presented your gifts, Seer, please leave." Parcae bowed her head but before she stood up straight, she caught Pestis' eye. Pestis was entranced. The face of Parcae was her own. The Silence became deafening again. He too was saying his goodbyes.

Creo could not understand what was going on. She could no longer speak to her sister. She simply was not listening. She suddenly felt cold. It was because Pestis also felt this. She was afraid but tried to hide it so she forced a smile and said out loud: "What were you given, dear Sister Death? Let me see:" She ran over to Pestis and peered inside the box. "But there is nothing- it is empty- there is no gift, Pestis."

"But there is..." She looked up at Parcae "...I thank you." And with that the Seer and her silent follower vanished.

Hushed voices at Parcae's departure filled the great garden. "Mother, who is this seer? Why did she give poor Pestis nothing?" Pestis was staring into the box smiling.

"This is a question I cannot answer in one breath, my child. A visit from the soothsayer is never welcome. Her gifts are part of the order of things. It could not have been stopped. This is the way of Parcae." There was sadness in her voice. Creo looked into her sister's face.

Something had changed.

What that was, she did not know.

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Me: Hope you all enjoy! The second part to this will be up soon. Then the third chapter will bring Kagome and Kikyou into the picture.