Ultimatum of the Damned
Kagome was so shocked at the spirit's declaration that almost instinctively her hands pulled away from the treat of being so close to this vengeful creature. Going against her own warning, she released the scryer. Realizing what she had done only after she had done it, Kagome drew in a startled breath, her eyes widening in apprehension as she looked upon the sprit board.
To her horror, she found that both Eri and Ayumi had also pulled their hands back from the scrying arrow, leaving only Yuka to hold on to the connection with the dark spirit. Then, just as the terrible realization began dawning on her, she heard Yuka's laughter. The sound was dark and hollow, containing no mirth, only a vindictive hateful scorn.
Slowly, hesitantly Kagome lifted her eyes to look upon her friend. The wicked laughter continued, but in her eyes Kagome could see no spark of life, no trace of will. To look into those eyes was like looking into an abyss, depthless and black, soulless, lifeless, terrible.
"Yuka?" Before Kagome could say anything in warning, Eri had reached out to try and bring her friend back from her maddened, maniacal laughter. But her hand had only just touched Yuka's shoulder when the girl shifted violently, her right arm shooting out and knocking Eri back with such force that she skidded across the ground before coming to a jarring stop.
"Foolish, child." The voice was Yuka's and yet it was not. It was deeper, darker, and conveyed without any kind of emotion. And still her eyes remained locked with Kagome's, the blackened depths so haunting they seemed to pull her in. "So, after all these years He really thinks that you could ever hope to defeat me."
"Vengeful spirit," Kagome ground out through clenched teeth, "You hold no power in the land of the living. Release my friend before I send you to your eternal damnation!"
As though Kagome's threat meant nothing to it, the spirit laughed again. "Damnation. I am already damned. And you, Kagome, are the one responsible for this wretched existence."
Pulling back slightly, Kagome blinked in confusion. "I'm responsible? How could I be…?"
"Are you so naive that you still believe you can not affect your present by your time in the past? I warned you that your presence could only end in more chaos, but you refused to listen. So headstrong, so impulsive. You think you can do whatever you want, take whatever you want, live however you want; and not have to pay the price you cast off onto so many others, a price I have paid like no other."
Kagome shook her head sharply. "I don't know what you're talking about! Who are you?"
"Someone who died," the spirit replied. "Someone who wants to live again."
Kagome shivered at the implication. Like all spirits, this specter from the past envied the living, wished to join them again. She shook her head sadly. "Impossible," she breathed out. "The dead can not be returned."
"You know better than that," the spirit chided, her voice dark and knowing and making Kagome shiver again, because she did know better, because she had seen magic do both miraculous and terrible things.
"I will not bring you back." Kagome was firm in her conviction. She would never allow it. She would never bring one of the damned back to the world of the living. She would never allow that kind of darkness to be unleashed in her world.
"You do not have a choice," the dark spirit replied. "You will give me your life, your soul, or the spirit that belongs to this girl shall walk in eternal condemnation, a spirit unable to find rest, unable to cross over, lost in the world between the living and the dead."
"Your threats are hollow, spirit," Kagome bit out hotly. "It is within my power to see you sent properly, but test me and you will find my compassion for the walking dead is sorely lacking." She paused, letting her words sink in, and realizing how much she actually meant them. For too long she had felt the pull against her soul by the one that wished it to be her own, for too long she had witnessed the terrible effects that the dead had upon the living, for too long, for far too long, had one of the dead been given false life. It filled her with pain and sorrow to even think of all the souls that had been lost because of that walking nightmare. She would not allow for it to happen again.
When she spoke again, her voice was hard. "I could destroy you."
"Destroy me, and you destroy this girl's spirit as well."
"Lies!" Kagome hissed. "I will not be manipulated, spirit!"
"Why lie when the truth is so much more compelling?" the spirit asked in a dark sneer. "This spirit is bonded to me now, just as Hers was. She can not escape me unless I will it. If you destroy me, I will drag her with me into the pits of hell to burn for all eternity in suffering anguish. And it shall be her cries of betrayal that will haunt your dreams and be the focus of every one of your nightmares."
Silence descended upon them then, only the words spoken by the dead hanging heavily on the air. Kagome knew the treat this spirit posed, understood the words she had spoken; but she could not bring herself to accept them, could not allow herself to fall into this trap. There had to be a way to save her friend. There had to be a way to drive off this vengeful spirit. There had to be something she could do. Something…
"I will not help you." Her voice trembled, fear and uncertainty mingling together with the pain it caused her to even think of the possibility of loosing her friend to this…this monster.
"But you will," the spirit replied. "I know you will. Because you are me, if only a sad and poor copy of the original."
Kagome's breath caught on a startled draw. Her eyes snapped wide with terrible understanding. But she knew then, perhaps had known all along.
"Kikyo…."
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Well, it seems I confused a few people with who was talking to the girls. Wonderful! Kukukukuku! But, the secret's out now….at least some of it ;P But, if you really want to know, I'll let you all in on a little bit of truth. Most legends are based on some form of reality, only skewed by the perceptions of those writing them and altered by time's passage. Still, the old legend that Yuka spoke of holds some manner of truth to it. Perhaps a few sharp minds will be able to pick up on it before this comes to an end.
So tired…..Sorry folks, but three chapters in one day is definitely my limit. Errr…like all of my stories, this one is dragging out a little bit. But, hopefully I'll be able to finish it tomorrow. I actually know what's supposed to happen next (a rarity, I assure you) so it shouldn't take all that long to bring to a close.
Anyways, I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams everyone (provided you haven't gorged on too much candy ;P)
TaTa
Shadow