Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Inuyasha, Disney, or any movie produced by Studio Ghibli and distributed theatrically through the Disney Corporation. Don't sue. The plot is also based loosely off of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles by CLAMP. The plot will eventually begin to differentiate from the manga/anime written by CLAMP, so don't sue for that either.
My Story's Ending
Chapter 6
firefox369
"So you're a priestess, are you?" a voice mused. Crimson tinted eyes peered at her from the safety of the shadows and Kagome felt a chill run down her spine.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Kagome snapped, not liking the aura the eyes gave off one bit. A fog of evil clouded her senses and nearly suffocated her. She had a difficult time standing under the onslaught of the menacing atmosphere, and was afraid that she may very well succumb to the chilling darkness.
"A priestess" the voice repeated, laughing slightly. "I wonder how well you'll fair against the demons wandering these worlds. They're a little more... evasive than the ones you are accustomed to."
The time traveler's legs trembled with her weight and she eventually dropped to her knees. Her vision was going hazy and her body numb, but she could still feel the evil looming over her and threatening to consume her very soul. She would not let go, though. No. She had a certain boy to protect and she would not die until her final duty was fulfilled.
"You can try to scare me, but nothing you say or do will make me scared. I'm much too stubborn for that you ugly bastard."
The figure laughed a laugh that echoed in her ear drums. "And I thought you holy saviors weren't supposed to swear."
"That's one place where you're wrong" Kagome smirked, feeling a comforting warmth enter her heart and fight the shadows. A figure with silver hair flashed before her eyes, strengthening her resolve. "I'm not holy at all."
A bow and arrow, formed from her violet energy, appeared in her hands and she aimed the weapon at her opponent. Red eyes, black hair. He was all too similar to Naraku, yet the miko knew for a fact that he wasn't. He wasn't nearly as manipulative as the spider hanyou.
"I'm damned."
She released the arrow and the darkness exploded in fireworks of light. The man screamed in agony, but she ignored his howls. If he thought he could have taken her on, then he should have put up more of a fight. Strangely, when she could see again nothing remained of the man's body, not even the ashes that came with a successful purification.
"Guess I'll send out the hell hounds" she murmured, eyes glinting with the excitement of the hunt. After this final battle, she would finally be able to rest in peace. She would finally be able to rejoin her friends from the Sengoku Jidai.
She looked around the now lit up area one more time to make sure. She was positive now. Her antagonist was still alive. Not wanting to waste any more time, Kagome did the only thing left for her to do. The young miko finally opened her eyes.
----
"Damn lizard" Riku grumbled, sifting through the wires in the circuit board in an attempt to fix the space shuttle. "Stupid Cid. Why'd he have to make the thing so goddamn complicated?"
Riku grunted as he accidentally yanked out one of the thicker wires in the forest of electrical strings before groaning in pain. The entire metal plate landed on his face, smashing his nose and colliding painfully with his forehead. The impact stung, and he swore he broke his nose, but a light giggle made him stop the rant of swears that was about to fly out of his mouth. Gingerly, he lifted the hunk of metal and shifted it to the side to see bright, cerulean irises.
"Kagome?" he breathed. The girl laughed at his expression and traced a finger down the length of his nose. As the soft touch moved down his face, he could feel the pain fading away into nothingness. Thank god for that strange pink glow on her pointer.
"What are you doing, Riku?" she greeted, though her voice was strained and fatigued. Riku didn't care though. He was surprised the young woman could even stand after sleeping (or, just maybe, rotting) for so long.
"This isn't a joke, is it? You're actually alive and you're talking to me, right?"
Kagome laughed at the boy's hopeful expression. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm talking to you."
Riku dropped his wrench and sat up, slowly lifting his hand to pinch his arm. He winced. Yep, this sure as heck wasn't a dream. The girl before him was definitely awake, and she was talking to him, and staring at him with that all-too adorable gaze of curiosity.
"So, how old are you again, Riku?" she asked innocently. The silver haired boy froze and looked at her worriedly. Shouldn't she know? She always knew how old he was, even if he didn't tell her. Hell, the priestess knew how old he was the first time he met her and Riku was positive that she didn't guess a random number back then. Something was not right here.
"Ah! Kagome's awake!"
Riku looked at the gummi's entrance to see Sora. The brunette was holding a bamboo basket filled with what looked like rice and stir fried vegetables, at least until Mushu and Cri-kee poked their heads out of the small compartment. Kagome gazed at the entourage curiously before backing up and slowly hiding herself behind Riku's large, broad shoulders. Riku looked back at her, confused. Kagome was never this flighty.
"Sora, why don't you go check to see if Kagome's still in there" Riku suggested, motioning his toward the small room to his left. Understanding the wariness in his companion's expression, Sora nodded and peaked into the dark space.
"It's empty."
Riku's eyes narrowed before widening in realization. So that was it. He gazed at Kagome for a moment before turning back to face Sora.
"Come on. Help me fix this thing so we can hurry up and get out of here."
"But we haven't said goodbye to Mulan and Shang!" Sora argued. "Leaving without saying goodbye would be rude! Besides, Mulan's family already made us lunch..."
"And if you don't eat it, I will!" Mushu chimed from the basket. Cri-kee chirped in agreement. Kagome giggled and peaked over Riku's shoulder, cerulean gaze filled with wonder. Riku fought back the blush that threatened to rise on his cheeks when he felt Kagome's warm breath against the back of his neck and her soft body pressing softly against his spine.
"Want to try some, Kagome? Mulan's cooking is amazing" Sora stated before holding up the basket invitingly. "Don't worry; they only bite guys they don't like. They make sure to leave the girls alone."
Mushu snickered at that. "Except for that matchmaker. Cri-kee pulled a number on that fat lady." The cricket chirped and puffed its chest up in pride, clearly happy about the incident.
"Knock it off, Mushu. Kagome's nervous enough as it is" Sora chided.
"Hurry up and get over here, Sora. We can eat after we finish fixing the ship."
"Yes, mother" Sora grumbled after setting down the basket of food, making his way to the dashboard and picking up a screwdriver. Riku rolled his eyes and gently nudged Kagome in the direction of the petite dragon (though he was positive that the little red thing was a lizard). She looked at him hesitantly before inching to the basket and kneeling beside it.
"Hi!" Mushu greeted flippantly, grinning mischievously. Riku narrowed his eyes in warning and the grin was immediately wiped of the dragon's face. He already broke the ship once and he didn't particularly want to break it again.
"Hi"
----
Sapphire eyes blinked nervously behind a curtain of strawberry colored locks. They shifted glance at the ground, then fidgeted uncertainly under the determined hazel gaze of a certain Yuffie Kisaragi. Kairi really wasn't ready for this whole weapons training business, especially if it involved shuriken and kunai. Throwing objects was definitely not her strong point.
"Can't Cloud or Leon teach me how to use a sword or something?" she whimpered. Yuffie huffed and held out a large shuriken, staring at Leon who was watching the exchange.
"Sora and Riku are both made for close combat. They need a long ranger to balance out the party and you just happen to be it" he explained shortly. Kairi clearly wasn't convinced.
"What about Kagome? Doesn't she use a bow?"
"From what I've heard Kagome's an all-rounder" Tifa commented from her perch atop one of the craggy, crystalline cliffs. The wind flapped her hair wildly and made Kairi think faintly of an epic, but cliché, movie she watched recently. "Sora and Riku won't have any long range support if Kagome decides to enter close range combat. Also, I've fought alongside Yuffie. I've seen her use the shuriken like a four-pointed blade several times."
Kairi looked at the shuriken for a few moments. She sighed and gingerly took the weapon from Yuffie's grasp.
"Besides, you have the right body type!" the ninja chimed, moving Kairi's hands to hold the weapon correctly. She then moved to Kairi's side and began adjusting the girl's stance. "You have to keep your stance wide so you can get more of a momentum when you throw it. Bend you knees a little so you're not so stiff."
Kairi dutifully obeyed, dropping her arms to her side so she could focus more on her lower body. Yuffie frowned and shook her head.
"No, keep your arms up. Hold the shuriken behind you. Bend your elbow a little, no straight limbs in this stance. Yep. Just like that. Now, the other arm goes in front to help keep balance." Yuffie placed her hand on Kairi's back and shoved the girl so that she was leaning forward. "There we go! That looks good."
The copper-haired female began to stand normally, straightening her back and lowering her arms again, but Yuffie gave her a tern glare and she immediately returned to her fighting stance. The ninja sighed and shook her head again.
"Your arms are too low and your back is too straight."
"You could go a little easy on her, you know" Aeris giggled as she walked to Leon's side and watched Kairi's training progress. "She doesn't have as much muscle mass or flexibility as you, Yuffie, and the shuriken is awfully heavy."
"But Sora and Riku need her! I can't go easy on her or else she'll never finish learning in time!" the kunai-wielding thief argued childishly. Aeris raised a brow and looked up at Tifa. The martial artist shrugged as if to say 'Let her train the girl however she wants to train the girl.' Aeris laughed and nodded, wringing her hands together behind her back and placing her lips in a tight line. She would not speak to Yuffie until Yuffie spoke to her first.
Kairi felt her grip loosening on the large piece of metal and her arm trembling under the force of its weight. She gripped the shuriken's handle as firmly as she could in determination. She would not let go of the shuriken!
Clatter!
"On second thought, maybe Aeris was right. We should probably start with some conditioning..." Yuffie mumbled. Kairi blushed with embarrassment while Aeris grinned with victory.
-----
"Are we all set to go?" Sora questioned, looking around and checking things off in his mind. They had Kagome, food, water, clothing, healing items, the cat... "Wait. Where's the cat?"
"The big orange thing? It's outside playing with Khan and the girl" Mushu replied nonchalantly. Riku and Sora looked at each other before bolting out of the ship in a scramble of flapping limbs and crashes. Sora skidded to a halt, ran back into the gummi and grabbed Mushu before running back out again.
"You're not about to screw up the gummi again. Not after we spent all morning fixing it, at least" the brunette grumbled. His efforts were useless, though, considering he dropped the poor dragon the moment he stepped outside. Riku was obviously in a similar state of disbelief. His eyes were awfully wide.
Cri-kee was perched atop Khan, eyes burning with determination. Kagome met Cri-kee's fiery gaze with her own from her spot on the Coeurl's back. The two steeds looked at each other and snorted in unison, amused by their jockeys' competitive natures. Cri-kee chirped tauntingly at the girl and smirked menacingly. Kagome glared.
"Come on, Shou, we can take them on."
The coeurl grunted and lowered its head, finding the soft grass beneath its feet strangely interesting. Khan neighed with annoyance when Cri-kee chirped furiously in his ear.
"What are they doing, Mushu?" Riku asked, not sure if he would like the answer. The dragon looked at the silver-haired boy in disbelief.
"How the heck am I supposed to-"
"Whoa! Look at them go, Riku!" Sora cried excitedly, tugging on his companion's sleeve and pointing at the two forms sprinting across the large expanse of grass. Steeled muscles rippled beneath the skin of both animals in a mad dash to the finish line. Khan's slender legs galloped hurriedly, yet somehow effortlessly at the same time, while the coeurl's movements were graceful, but forced and slightly strained. The fact that Khan was built for speed and the coeurl for endurance became painfully obvious and Riku couldn't help but think of the race as a battle between predator and prey.
"Come on Kagome! Go! Go!" Sora hollered.
"Go, Cri-kee! Go!" Mushu cheered, but immediately stopped upon seeing Sora's and Riku's glare. "Uhh, yay Kagome!"
"No" Riku breathed, eyes narrowing dangerously. His hands clenched at his sides. The brunette glanced at him with confusion wrinkling his brow. "Stop, Kagome!"
"But she's winning!" Sora argued. The two animals changed the direction of their sprint and started to head towards the gummi. "Look! She's way in front of Khan!"
Sadly, Riku was already gone before Sora could finish his comments, racing toward the coeurl as fast as his legs could take him. That was when Sora first noticed Kagome's strangely pale complexion. And then, Kagome lost her grip on the steeled mount and began to fall. Mushu and Sora watched in both awe and horror as Riku lunged and caught Kagome before she hit the ground, sliding across the dirt and blanketing her body with his larger form.
"Riku!" Sora cried, running down the gummi ship's ramp and tearing across the field. "Riku, are you alright?"
"Kagome?" Riku whispered, swiping the bangs out of the way of the girl's slightly glazed eyes.
"I think I may have overdone it, ne Riku?" she laughed, wiping the sweat off her brow with a trembling hand. By now, Khan and Cri-kee had slowed to a stop and were watching the girl worriedly.
"Are you okay? You're not going to..." the teal-eyed teen trailed off, not wanting to voice his fears aloud. Kagome laughed through her nose at his question while the coeurl knelt by her side and gently nudged her cheek with its velvety nose.
"I'm fine, right Shou?" the girl mumbled, turning to gaze at the coeurl and scratch behind its ear. The coeurl purred, pressing its furred cheek against Kagome's face. Riku slowly got up, ignoring the aches and stings in his battered body. Sora stepped forward and offered his gloved hand to the girl.
"Can you walk?" he asked and watched as the girl tentatively refused his hand and struggled to sit up. Riku knelt down and easily hoisted her to her feet. He then decided that walking wouldn't be the best choice and proceeded to help her get on the coeurl. Kagome smiled at him and the trio plus steed slowly made their way back to the gummi.
"Tell Mulan and Shang that we headed out and that the food she made was yummy" Sora requested, patting Mushu on the head as they walked up the ramp. Mushu huffed and slithered off the hunk of metal, glancing back at the door roared to life and began to shut.
Cri-kee chirped a fast goodbye, fascinated by the loud noises the gummi made. A stream of fire burst out of the bottom of the contraption, raising a large cloud of dust before the ship rocketed into the air.
"Man, I wish I made thing explode. That would've been pretty" Mushu commented. Khan snorted and stomped the dragon under the force of its powerful hoof.
Meanwhile, Riku had just sat down, a limp Kagome in his arms.
"Is she...?" Sora murmured, nervous of what Riku's response would be.
"She's sleeping. Where are we headed?"
Shou purred and sat beside Riku's seat, ears flicking in Sora's direction when the boy stated "Halloween Town."
"Halloween Town?" Riku repeated.
"Yeah. The town constantly in a state of halloween. If heartless decide to show up anywhere, Halloween Town is definitely the first place they'll be. Lots of darkness and sneaky little kids running around."
"Then why didn't we go there first?"
"It's really far away from Radiant Garden" Sora explained, happy that he was the all-knowing one for the moment. "Beast's Castle was much closer, and Mulan's world is on the way to Halloween Town, so I thought we'd drop by for a while. You can't say it was a bad decision considering Kagome's alive and kicking."
"I hardly consider Kagome's state 'alive and kicking,' Sora" Riku stated somewhat bitterly.
Shou growled softly, making Sora sigh and nod.
"But at least she's alive. We don't have to worry about the time limit anymore."
Riku's silence was all the answer Sora needed to know that he agreed. Kagome was, after all, breathing and warm.
"Hey, do you think she'll help us when she's got all the pieces of her soul back?" Sora asked, glancing at Riku for a moment before typing away at the dashboard and setting the gummi on autopilot.
Riku sighed. "She doesn't have a reason not to. But if she does refuse, King Mickey will probably use the fact that we brought her back to life to make her feel bad and force her hand."
"Yeah, I guess. But wouldn't that make her upset? We'd be taking advantage of her kindness."
"We're already taking advantage of her powers as it is."
Sora snorted, tapping the keyboard one last time before spinning to face his partner with a skeptical look. "And you, my friend, are not doing a thing about it, are you?"
"I can't do anything about it, Sora. King Mickey needs her back to finish whatever the new bad guy has started."
"But you're the one doing the hunting for her soul. You're bringing her back to turn her into a weapon."
Riku glared at Sora, fists tightening so much that his knuckles turned white. "Why the hell would I do that, Sora? I love her."
The brunette hesitated and tapped his pointer against his chin, deep in thought. His face screwed up in concentration as he tried to find a way to word his thoughts and make them understandable.
"Well, its kind of like... how do you know she wants to come back only to fight another enemy? She finished her task, and now your bringing her back to finish yours. How do you know that this is what she wants?"
Riku was speechless. His friend's question was innocent, but painfully truthful. How was Riku supposed to know if Kagome wanted to come back? How was he supposed to know that Kagome wouldn't hold hatred, no matter how large of an amount, for him when they recovered her entire soul? He looked down at the girl in his arms, slightly broken at the possibility of her hating him.
"Sorry, I didn't want to sound mean."
"No, I probably should have thought this through more before I agreed."
Feeling guilty for adding yet another worry to Riku's already heavy load, Sora stood up and made his way to the cockpit. As he walked past, he gently ruffled his friend's long, silver hair. Gosh, he felt like such an old man doing that.
"Hey, Sora?"
The brunette paused as the canopy doors opened to reveal Riku's usual spot next to the guns' control mechanism. He then turned around, smiling nervously.
"Yes?"
Riku didn't turn to look at him, but continued to gaze at Kagome while gently threading his fingers through her soft locks. "What should I do?"
"You should probably find out whether or not she wants to live again first."
Riku's words were soft and uncertain when he spoke. "I know, but what should I do if she doesn't?"
"Well if you really loved her, shouldn't you let her go?"
Sora had to strain his ears to hear Riku's next words, and even then he wasn't sure if he heard Riku correctly. Quietly, barely even a ghost of a whisper, Riku breathed "I don't know if I can, Sora."
To Be Continued...