AN: I hope you all enjoy it! Let me know what you think of the sisters too! :]
And totally listen to the Inuyasha soundtracks while reading. It makes it feel authentic XD
Here's what the sisters look like- Excuse the horrific quality.
http:/lvowl . deviantart . com/#/d3emge8
http:/lvowl . deviantart . com/#/d3emfqw
Just remove the spaces around the periods :]
Chapter Two: Priestesses, Divided by Flames
Over the next few years, both Akita and Aikyo grew in strength and further developed their abilities as priestesses. They grew closer as sisters as well, making up for their time apart. Akita came to realize that Priestess Megumi's wise words had been true; her abilities had gotten much better although, she still had a lot of catching up to do.
"Try and break through my barrier, Akita!" taunted Aikyo.
Akita flushed slightly. "Hush! You know I can't! Besides, you're just jealous my shikigami magic is stronger than yours!" she said sticking out her tongue.
"So you can make a piece of paper fly around. Big deal! The wind can do that!"
Akita glared. "You make it sound so easy!"
"That's because it is!" laughed Aikyo.
"If it's so easy, how come you can't do it?"
It was Aikyo's turn to flush. "Why should I waste my time with origami? That's kid stuff." She lectured, "A real priestess focuses on offensive magic and incantations. You can't believe origami spirits will help you do anything important, huh?"
"If I practice more, they-"
Impatient and annoyed at her younger sister's persistence, Aikyo continued with the rant. "You don't see the infamous Kikyo using origami spirits, do you? No! She honed her spiritual energy into a force to combat demons! I mean, not just anyone is entrusted with the sacred Shikon no Tama!"
Aikyo smiled to herself. "One day, I'll be just as strong as her! Maybe I'll even be able to meet her or-"
"Or marry her!" Akita laughed, "You speak so highly of one you haven't met. You must be in love!"
Aikyo glared. "Shut up! At least I have a role model!"
Akita put her hands up defensively, sensing her sister's temper flare. "Calm down, Aikyo. I was only joking with you."
"You're always joking! Always acting like a child!" Aikyo shouted angrily, "You're a priestess and nearly twenty years of age! Start acting like it!"
The elder sister glared and stormed off. Akita sighed, watching her angry sister leave. Sometimes Aikyo's temper and Akita's playfulness clashed, resulting in a passive aggressive Aikyo and an overly apologetic Akita. She hated when her sister became this way.
"And she tells me to practice temperance…" Akita said quietly to herself.
Akita didn't see her sister for the rest of the day. She meditated and ate alone then began her spiritual exercises. Akita tried working on her barrier techniques. She actually managed to form a visible shield around her then when a flying insect flew through it with ease, she became disheartened and delved into her familiar origami. Akita made a common crane and summoned a paper spirit to animate it. She laughed as it flew circles around her.
The evening gong drew her attention and the spirit left the origami crane, letting it fall to the ground. Akita looked at the sky which was turning a deep red. She decided to skip dinner and dressed in her cotton kimono after lighting the lanterns. Thirty four lanterns, I don't know how Aikyo does it so quickly, she thought before lying down. She fidgeted under her covers. It was eerily quiet without Aikyo's soft breathing. She felt strangely cold and alone. After another minute of tense silence, she groaned.
"That's it!" she said to herself, kicking off her blanket. Even if she is upset, she has to come to bed. She doesn't get to say that I wasn't concerned about her disappearance…
Akita searched the entire temple by candlelight and found nothing. Frowning, she started down the temple steps towards the dark forest.
"Aikyo?"
The candle's flame flickered in a slight breeze. "Aikyo, are you near?"
She wouldn't go to the village. It'd be imposing on them, which she doesn't approve of. If she's not in the temple, she must be here... She's probably just trying to scare me!
Akita scowled at the surrounding trees. "I'm going to bed! If you keep up this grudge then you're more childish than I!"
A cold gust blew through the forest, rustling the trees and extinguishing her candle. "Oh, just lovely, " she muttered. eying the burn wick.
Behind her, a crash sounded and suddenly orange light sprang to life, casting its glow on her and the forest. She spun around and looked up at the temple. "What's going on?"
She gasped as it hit her. "The temple's on fire!"
Heart beating wildly, she raced up the flight of steps. Frightened, she stood at the temple entrance, shocked and speechless. All of the lanterns had burst and their flames were engulfing the temple. A scream pierced through the roaring flames.
"Priestess Megumi!" she cried, running to her room of meditation.
She opened the door quickly. Priestess Megumi was cornered by a ring of flames. She did not seem concerned about the fire for her eyes were focused on something in the darkness. Akita couldn't see what she was looking at. Taking a step into the room, she called out.
"Master! Come quickly or the flames will engulf you!"
The aged priestess's eyes remained fixed on the darkness. "Leave child! This demon is too strong!"
A demon? "But-"
"Heed my warning! Take ye sister and flee!"
"No! I won't leave you, come with me!"
The priestess looked at her with wide eyes. "Look out!"
Akita was struck in the stomach by an invisible force and was thrown backwards. She had no time to brace herself as she landed hard in the temple courtyard. Her vision swirled before her as she tried to stand. She collapsed on the ground, trying to regain her senses. A figure rushed by her.
"Aikyo?"
Her sister turned to her, looking worried and angry. "Get out, you baka!" she yelled before rushing into Priestess Megumi's chambers.
Akita's eyelids drooped as she fought to stay conscious. "Aikyo…" she breathed as she fell over as blackness consumed her vision.
"She's coming to."
"Can you hear me?"
Akita groaned as light assaulted her eyes. "Where… am I?"
She was surrounded by a few women. They look familiar… from the village. Akita sat up quickly.
"You shouldn't move," one woman said, "You hit your head very badly."
Akita brought a hand up to her head; it was wrapped in a cloth.
Another woman stood, "I'll get Priestess Megumi-sama…"
Akita's eyes widened. The fire! The demon! "My sister!" Akita exclaimed, "Where is Aikyo?"
The three woman exchanged glances.
"Tell me! Is she well?"
Priestess Megumi came into the hut. Akita noticed her hands were bandaged.
"Where is Aikyo?" she demanded.
The priestess bowed her head. "Aikyo-san is alive but-"
Akita jumped to her feet and rushed past the bamboo curtain. "Aikyo?" she called.
Knowing the layout of the village, she ran to the medical hut. Why she, herself, hadn't been treated there was strange, it could fit five people at least. She came to the hut and with a shaking hand, drew back the curtain and stepped in.
The room was dimly lit, despite it being daytime. Akita could see a figure lying on the floor. She took a step forward. "Aikyo?" she said softly.
"Stay away…" she croaked.
Despite herself, Akita smiled slightly, glad to hear her sister's voice. "Don't be silly,"
The curtain opened behind them, flooding the room with light. Akita gasped as she saw her sister.
"I told you to go…" Aikyo growled.
Aikyo was heavily bandaged from her waist up. Her hair that had once been long and silky was now nearly gone; what remained looked like blackened straw. Her face was covered with a white mask, one that Akita knew to be a mask of healing.
"What… happened?"
"The fire ravaged her," Priestess Megumi said softly, "She is burned severely."
Akita's eyes welled with tears. "Oh, Aikyo…"
"Leave!" her sister shouted with more force than possible.
Akita stared another moment then reluctantly obeyed.
Priestess Megumi put a hand on her shoulder once outside. "Aikyo saw the fire and rushed in," she explained, "She was able to see the fire demon and trapped it within a barrier. She had been so focused on the beast, she was helpless as a wooden beam fell and knocked her unconscious."
The aged priestess looked away sadly, "As I battled the demon, the fire engulfed her. For some reason, the demon fled, allowing me to aid your sister. I was barely able to pull her from the flames."
Akita looked down, her tears spilling over. "If I had not been rendered unconscious…"
"No child."
Akita looked up as her master spoke. "You could not see through the demon's invisibility shield, therefore you could not have helped. If you rushed in as well, you could have been killed. What happened to Aikyo was not your fault."
Akita nodded solemnly then looked at the closed curtain. "Will her wounds heal?"
"The burns, yes, but the scarring will be permanent, I'm afraid."
Akita shook, trying to hold back tears. "Aikyo… My sister…" she said, looking towards the closed off hut.
