^^ Ne, thanks for the…uh…ENTHUSIASTIC reviews, minna-san. ^^;; I'm rereading them…and yes, Dark-Autumn, the evil dude who shall currently remain nameless was modeled after Yakumo. There are a few differences, but I'd just finished watching the YYH movie when I first came up with Kikyoku, and it stuck.
Reading Lexi-chan's author note, I started wondering about Densetsu no Kagami. So I went back, trying to remember how it came about. I remember sitting there, thinking a lot…I wanted a good story, something that wasn't Main Character Saves the Girl Who is Actually a Princess and They Live Happily Ever After Or She Dies in His Arms, Which Leaves Him So Traumatized, He Joins Her in Death. -.- I HATE that sort of thing…it's so damn common! I needed something that didn't revolve around that…I needed a character who wasn't a Mary-Sue. Oddly enough, I wanted the name to have something to do with rain. When I found Satsukiame, I almost dismissed it as a mouthful. But somehow, the name kept bothering me. So I shortened it. Kia. Which, oddly enough, was my name. o.o Kia's probably a lot braver in the face of danger than I'd ever be, and definitely a lot calmer. But now what?
Originally, Kia was going to carry a sort of jewel inside her body…NAH. The idea of a mirror leapt out at me, and then I had to think some more. Kia needed something…someone to balance her out. And I thought of my pen pal. Kelsey would be perfect! So the Mirror became Mirror Halves, the bad guys became slightly zany (Like Loki, the giant seagull), and the cookie sheet became a huge running joke. Not sure why…and I wasn't sure who to pair Kia up with…someone suggested Touya, others were for Kurama, and still more for Jin. Well, I couldn't see her with Kurama, but the Jin idea appealed to me. There weren't too many stories like that. So Densetsu no Kagami was born, and you know the rest. I've had encouragement from all of you (Lobo-chan, Shin-san, Lexi-chan, Kelsey, Celebrindae, Chloe-chan, KKC-chan, Mai-chan, ALL of you!) and I'm eternally grateful. I never wouldn't have gotten this far without you.
And now here I am on the last story of DnK…it's been a long road, but I'm glad I got this far.
On a totally different note, I turn 17 on January 22! *dances* Waiiiiii!
Okay, last chapter, Kia and Kelsey were attacked by this evil guy, Kelsey got her Mirror Half stolen, and the trials are only just beginning…this is a very short chapter. -.- To make up for the long prologue, I guess…
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Aghast, everyone stared at Kia. The girl's eyes were glittering with unshed tears, but her voice was steady when she spoke again.
"That man stole her Mirror Half…he was trying to get mine, but Kelsey took the hit…" She looked away, closing her eyes briefly.
"She's valiant," Shishiwakamaru said from the floor.
"But…" Yusuke looked at Kia questioningly. "How is she still alive? I thought you'd die if you lost your Mirror Half."
The girl blinked. "I…don't really understand it myself," she admitted ruefully.
Kage lifted his head. -There is only one reason for Kelsey remaining alive, and she's sitting right here.-
"KIA?" Rinku said incredulously. The Mirror Holder seemed just as surprised, looking down at the dog.
"Really, now." Hiei's face remained impassive.
-Indeed.- The canine turned his calm stare on the Jaganshi. -The man attacked Kia first…purposely.-
"WHY?" Jin demanded. "What could've been gained from it?"
-Because she possesses the Healing Half of the Densetsu no Kagami, thus ensuring her friend's survival.- Kage sighed. -If he had succeeded in drawing out her half, and gone after Kelsey, neither girl would have survived. Kelsey didn't die on the spot, because of Kia's half. It's keeping her alive.-
"So…" Kurama thought he understood now. "If this situation were reversed, and Kelsey had survived, but Kia had been hit, would the results be the same?"
-No. Kia would die.-
Jin gasped, stepping protectively closer to Kia.
"Why not?" Kuwabara was still confused.
-The Courage Half cannot heal,- Kage explained. -It has its own assets, but only Kia's half is capable of healing. Unfortunately…even WITH the other half, Kelsey must get her Mirror Half back soon, or she will die.-
"How soon is 'soon'?" Suzuki asked tersely.
-Two weeks, at most.-
Kia stopped glowing. "I have to go."
"NO," Kurama said firmly.
"NO," everyone else echoed, except for Rinku, who seemed surprised by the immediate veto.
"It's my fault that Kelsey's like this in the first place!" The Mirror Holder protested. "And I can pick up the trail! I HAVE to help her!"
"Kia, that bastard is going to come looking for you again!" Yusuke reminded her. "If YOU go looking for HIM, you're a walking target!" She glared at him, and he quelled under the heat of her gaze. "Uh…not to say that you're not capable of defending yourself, of course…"
"It would be best if you stayed with Kelsey," Touya said gently. "And you're in no condition to go anywhere."
He was right. Kia felt like her energy had ebbed completely away and she had a migraine. Not to mention that her eyes were stinging like mad from the amount of crying she'd done. But that didn't sway her.
"I'm going." She struggled to her feet, glaring defiantly in all directions. "And don't try to stop me."
Jin stepped closer, wondering what the best way to subdue her was. But someone else got there first.
Two calloused hands, one bandaged tightly, firmly pressed down on Kia's shoulders. Caught off balance by the sudden weight, the girl sat heavily, staring at the owner with wide eyes. "…Hiei?"
He didn't reply, just carefully removed the strip of white cloth from his forehead, revealing a violet eye. His Jagan eye. It glowed bright green as Hiei locked eyes with the Mirror Holder.
"Sleep." His calm voice was strangely compelling, and Yusuke found himself yawning.
Kia blinked. "What are you…" She trailed off as he continued to stare, eyelids dropping.
"Sleep," Hiei repeated.
"Hiei…" The girl's eyes closed completely and she toppled off her chair. The Jaganshi caught her.
"Get her to bed," he told Yusuke, who was closest, passing his armful to the Tantei.
Kurama smiled. "She's going to be furious when she wakes up."
"Tch." The miniature youkai smirked. "I can handle it."
"Sure you can." Yusuke tucked Kia into the other bed, trying not to grin at Hiei's smugness.
"All males out," Botan said firmly, shoving Suzuki, Jin, Yusuke, and Rinku out of the room. 'We have work to do."
Chuu chuckled, rising and slinging Shishiwakamaru over his shoulder. Hiei, Touya, and Kurama followed. Rei closed the door after they'd left, sighing. "Well, let's clean 'em up." She did a double-take, spotting her giant weapon propped up against Kia's chair. "Axe, get out of here, you naughty boy!"
Botan grinned to hide her nervousness. "Uh…"
"You too, Kage." The priestess nudged the large black dog with her foot. He obediently shambled out. She followed him, then returned, arms firmly wrapped around a large bowl of water and several clean cloths draped on the side. "I'll clean up Kelsey, you get Kia."
An hour and thirty-two minutes later, Botan collapsed in Kia's chair, azure bangs slipping into her eyes. "There!"
"You can't possibly be tired," Rei informed her. "Cleaning up Kelsey is a LOT harder than cleaning up Kia."
The ferrygirl nodded, glancing at the two Mirror Holders. Kelsey had been changed into her pair of soft green pajamas. The blood had been cleaned off and the gaping wound had been carefully closed. She was breathing somewhat raggedly, still incredibly pale. Kia was still in her school uniform, but her small injuries had been cleaned and doctored. Her hair had been removed from her ponytail and now spread out against her pillow, the dark brown tresses neatly arrayed. She hadn't stirred once the entire time.
"Are you done yet??" Rinku whined from outside the door. "You've been in there for DAYS!"
"Hardly," Suzuki said dryly. "Learn some patience, my young friend."
Botan laughed. "It's okay. You can come in now."
The door flew open, banging into the wall and leaving a mark, and the males stampeded in. Well, some of them. Hiei and Chuu remained in the living room, but Shishiwakamaru, Suzuki, Kuwabara and Yusuke approached Kelsey's bed, while Kurama, the two Shinobi Masters, and Rinku went over to Kelsey. Shishi practically shoved Botan out of her chair, sitting down in it instead and holding Kelsey's hand, stroking it with tender fingers. Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged exasperated looks and Suzuki smiled, although his blue eyes were still clouded with concern.
"Are they gonna be okay?" Rinku asked, scrambling up onto Kia's bed and sitting by the girl.
Kurama leaned forward, adjusting the wet cloth on the girl's forehead and gently moving a few strands of hair away from her closed eyes. "Kia's just resting…but Kelsey…"
"We're goin' t'have t'do something about that," Jin remarked, holding Kia's hand in his. "Before our lass tries t'do somethin' on her own."
"She should sleep for the remainder of the day," Touya commented quietly. "Hiei's Jagan is very powerful."
Kurama hid a smile with his hand. "Maybe…but it doesn't look like it'll be just Kia who sleeps all day." He pointed to Rinku, who was breathing deeply and evenly, eyes closed. He was curled up against Kia, who remained unaware of her visitors.
"Let him stay," Suzuki advised, looking over. "He'll whine and complain otherwise." He stretched. "Let's go back to the living room and think up a plan to get Kelsey's Mirror Half back."
Shishiwakamaru hesitated, eyes still fixed on the young woman he loved. "I think I'll stay here. Let me know if you come up with anything."
"Will do." The blonde youkai leaned down, ruffling Kelsey's light hair.
"Come on, Jin." Kurama touched the Wind Master's shoulder. "We should go too."
The usually cheerful redhead sighed, reluctantly letting go of Kia's hand. "Alright…" He stood, following the others out of the room. No one saw the tears glimmering through the girl's closed lashes.
*OOC*
God, this fic is gonna depress me something awful…and it hasn't even got to the truly dark stuff yet! Whew…anyway, please review! NEXT chapter!
* Kia wakes up…and comes to an important decision.
* Rinku wakes up as well…can Kia keep him from blabbing?
* Who wants to see Suzuki get mad? At HIEI? And why does Hiei not seem surprised?
Reading Lexi-chan's author note, I started wondering about Densetsu no Kagami. So I went back, trying to remember how it came about. I remember sitting there, thinking a lot…I wanted a good story, something that wasn't Main Character Saves the Girl Who is Actually a Princess and They Live Happily Ever After Or She Dies in His Arms, Which Leaves Him So Traumatized, He Joins Her in Death. -.- I HATE that sort of thing…it's so damn common! I needed something that didn't revolve around that…I needed a character who wasn't a Mary-Sue. Oddly enough, I wanted the name to have something to do with rain. When I found Satsukiame, I almost dismissed it as a mouthful. But somehow, the name kept bothering me. So I shortened it. Kia. Which, oddly enough, was my name. o.o Kia's probably a lot braver in the face of danger than I'd ever be, and definitely a lot calmer. But now what?
Originally, Kia was going to carry a sort of jewel inside her body…NAH. The idea of a mirror leapt out at me, and then I had to think some more. Kia needed something…someone to balance her out. And I thought of my pen pal. Kelsey would be perfect! So the Mirror became Mirror Halves, the bad guys became slightly zany (Like Loki, the giant seagull), and the cookie sheet became a huge running joke. Not sure why…and I wasn't sure who to pair Kia up with…someone suggested Touya, others were for Kurama, and still more for Jin. Well, I couldn't see her with Kurama, but the Jin idea appealed to me. There weren't too many stories like that. So Densetsu no Kagami was born, and you know the rest. I've had encouragement from all of you (Lobo-chan, Shin-san, Lexi-chan, Kelsey, Celebrindae, Chloe-chan, KKC-chan, Mai-chan, ALL of you!) and I'm eternally grateful. I never wouldn't have gotten this far without you.
And now here I am on the last story of DnK…it's been a long road, but I'm glad I got this far.
On a totally different note, I turn 17 on January 22! *dances* Waiiiiii!
Okay, last chapter, Kia and Kelsey were attacked by this evil guy, Kelsey got her Mirror Half stolen, and the trials are only just beginning…this is a very short chapter. -.- To make up for the long prologue, I guess…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aghast, everyone stared at Kia. The girl's eyes were glittering with unshed tears, but her voice was steady when she spoke again.
"That man stole her Mirror Half…he was trying to get mine, but Kelsey took the hit…" She looked away, closing her eyes briefly.
"She's valiant," Shishiwakamaru said from the floor.
"But…" Yusuke looked at Kia questioningly. "How is she still alive? I thought you'd die if you lost your Mirror Half."
The girl blinked. "I…don't really understand it myself," she admitted ruefully.
Kage lifted his head. -There is only one reason for Kelsey remaining alive, and she's sitting right here.-
"KIA?" Rinku said incredulously. The Mirror Holder seemed just as surprised, looking down at the dog.
"Really, now." Hiei's face remained impassive.
-Indeed.- The canine turned his calm stare on the Jaganshi. -The man attacked Kia first…purposely.-
"WHY?" Jin demanded. "What could've been gained from it?"
-Because she possesses the Healing Half of the Densetsu no Kagami, thus ensuring her friend's survival.- Kage sighed. -If he had succeeded in drawing out her half, and gone after Kelsey, neither girl would have survived. Kelsey didn't die on the spot, because of Kia's half. It's keeping her alive.-
"So…" Kurama thought he understood now. "If this situation were reversed, and Kelsey had survived, but Kia had been hit, would the results be the same?"
-No. Kia would die.-
Jin gasped, stepping protectively closer to Kia.
"Why not?" Kuwabara was still confused.
-The Courage Half cannot heal,- Kage explained. -It has its own assets, but only Kia's half is capable of healing. Unfortunately…even WITH the other half, Kelsey must get her Mirror Half back soon, or she will die.-
"How soon is 'soon'?" Suzuki asked tersely.
-Two weeks, at most.-
Kia stopped glowing. "I have to go."
"NO," Kurama said firmly.
"NO," everyone else echoed, except for Rinku, who seemed surprised by the immediate veto.
"It's my fault that Kelsey's like this in the first place!" The Mirror Holder protested. "And I can pick up the trail! I HAVE to help her!"
"Kia, that bastard is going to come looking for you again!" Yusuke reminded her. "If YOU go looking for HIM, you're a walking target!" She glared at him, and he quelled under the heat of her gaze. "Uh…not to say that you're not capable of defending yourself, of course…"
"It would be best if you stayed with Kelsey," Touya said gently. "And you're in no condition to go anywhere."
He was right. Kia felt like her energy had ebbed completely away and she had a migraine. Not to mention that her eyes were stinging like mad from the amount of crying she'd done. But that didn't sway her.
"I'm going." She struggled to her feet, glaring defiantly in all directions. "And don't try to stop me."
Jin stepped closer, wondering what the best way to subdue her was. But someone else got there first.
Two calloused hands, one bandaged tightly, firmly pressed down on Kia's shoulders. Caught off balance by the sudden weight, the girl sat heavily, staring at the owner with wide eyes. "…Hiei?"
He didn't reply, just carefully removed the strip of white cloth from his forehead, revealing a violet eye. His Jagan eye. It glowed bright green as Hiei locked eyes with the Mirror Holder.
"Sleep." His calm voice was strangely compelling, and Yusuke found himself yawning.
Kia blinked. "What are you…" She trailed off as he continued to stare, eyelids dropping.
"Sleep," Hiei repeated.
"Hiei…" The girl's eyes closed completely and she toppled off her chair. The Jaganshi caught her.
"Get her to bed," he told Yusuke, who was closest, passing his armful to the Tantei.
Kurama smiled. "She's going to be furious when she wakes up."
"Tch." The miniature youkai smirked. "I can handle it."
"Sure you can." Yusuke tucked Kia into the other bed, trying not to grin at Hiei's smugness.
"All males out," Botan said firmly, shoving Suzuki, Jin, Yusuke, and Rinku out of the room. 'We have work to do."
Chuu chuckled, rising and slinging Shishiwakamaru over his shoulder. Hiei, Touya, and Kurama followed. Rei closed the door after they'd left, sighing. "Well, let's clean 'em up." She did a double-take, spotting her giant weapon propped up against Kia's chair. "Axe, get out of here, you naughty boy!"
Botan grinned to hide her nervousness. "Uh…"
"You too, Kage." The priestess nudged the large black dog with her foot. He obediently shambled out. She followed him, then returned, arms firmly wrapped around a large bowl of water and several clean cloths draped on the side. "I'll clean up Kelsey, you get Kia."
An hour and thirty-two minutes later, Botan collapsed in Kia's chair, azure bangs slipping into her eyes. "There!"
"You can't possibly be tired," Rei informed her. "Cleaning up Kelsey is a LOT harder than cleaning up Kia."
The ferrygirl nodded, glancing at the two Mirror Holders. Kelsey had been changed into her pair of soft green pajamas. The blood had been cleaned off and the gaping wound had been carefully closed. She was breathing somewhat raggedly, still incredibly pale. Kia was still in her school uniform, but her small injuries had been cleaned and doctored. Her hair had been removed from her ponytail and now spread out against her pillow, the dark brown tresses neatly arrayed. She hadn't stirred once the entire time.
"Are you done yet??" Rinku whined from outside the door. "You've been in there for DAYS!"
"Hardly," Suzuki said dryly. "Learn some patience, my young friend."
Botan laughed. "It's okay. You can come in now."
The door flew open, banging into the wall and leaving a mark, and the males stampeded in. Well, some of them. Hiei and Chuu remained in the living room, but Shishiwakamaru, Suzuki, Kuwabara and Yusuke approached Kelsey's bed, while Kurama, the two Shinobi Masters, and Rinku went over to Kelsey. Shishi practically shoved Botan out of her chair, sitting down in it instead and holding Kelsey's hand, stroking it with tender fingers. Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged exasperated looks and Suzuki smiled, although his blue eyes were still clouded with concern.
"Are they gonna be okay?" Rinku asked, scrambling up onto Kia's bed and sitting by the girl.
Kurama leaned forward, adjusting the wet cloth on the girl's forehead and gently moving a few strands of hair away from her closed eyes. "Kia's just resting…but Kelsey…"
"We're goin' t'have t'do something about that," Jin remarked, holding Kia's hand in his. "Before our lass tries t'do somethin' on her own."
"She should sleep for the remainder of the day," Touya commented quietly. "Hiei's Jagan is very powerful."
Kurama hid a smile with his hand. "Maybe…but it doesn't look like it'll be just Kia who sleeps all day." He pointed to Rinku, who was breathing deeply and evenly, eyes closed. He was curled up against Kia, who remained unaware of her visitors.
"Let him stay," Suzuki advised, looking over. "He'll whine and complain otherwise." He stretched. "Let's go back to the living room and think up a plan to get Kelsey's Mirror Half back."
Shishiwakamaru hesitated, eyes still fixed on the young woman he loved. "I think I'll stay here. Let me know if you come up with anything."
"Will do." The blonde youkai leaned down, ruffling Kelsey's light hair.
"Come on, Jin." Kurama touched the Wind Master's shoulder. "We should go too."
The usually cheerful redhead sighed, reluctantly letting go of Kia's hand. "Alright…" He stood, following the others out of the room. No one saw the tears glimmering through the girl's closed lashes.
*OOC*
God, this fic is gonna depress me something awful…and it hasn't even got to the truly dark stuff yet! Whew…anyway, please review! NEXT chapter!
* Kia wakes up…and comes to an important decision.
* Rinku wakes up as well…can Kia keep him from blabbing?
* Who wants to see Suzuki get mad? At HIEI? And why does Hiei not seem surprised?
