CHAPTER 9 of Memories : The Monster is...
No chatty – chatty… It's been long I abandoned it after all, so let's finish what have to be finished :) ( 2 Chapters at the same time *confetto*)
Disclaimer : I do not own Inuyasha nor Alice in Wonderland and other related characters. They just inspire me.
(bold= a bit flashback, italic = Rin's mind)
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The morning sun has been up a little higher than when we departed, walking through long unknown path with sound of marching feet stomping loudly from the Crystal Army behind the Queen. Their spirit of freedom make they won't stop in middle way.
Sitting strurdy on Kirara's white furry back, I start wondering when we will reach the battle field.
Seriously, this long walk make me bored, but rather nervous of the upcoming fight at the same time.
As I think about how I can take down Naraku with unskilled champion like me, the surrounding changes drastically. The flowery woods and comforting atmosphere of Crystal Queendom turns to huge dead-burned forest covered by desperate sensations under my skin, all but ruined building and black soil in every inches.
My brown eyes catch strange view at the center of the disaster. It's an almost-collapsed gate, with bigger stacks of concrete which are scattered around, but not in oddly large brick floor with remained old cracked pillars at its sides. Much like a former ballroom or a hall…
As we close to the place, a piece of memories and notion pop in my head, supported by another ruined towers and small fallen palaces.
It's the place! The first main castle of Underland, the kingdom I once visited! What kind of war had happened between these Queen?!
Other sound of march in front of us aim to the same negotiated place. Kikyo sits arrogantly on her throne which lift by exhausted covered eye humans, leading her army behind which contains all her allies. Their number may be the same, or bigger than ours. Especially a huge cage covered by blood red fabric which makes everyone shiver with its mysterious strong aura of darkness.
Each of the opposite armies stops their steps as we enter the battle floor, or batte field I guess? Kagome alights from her loyal horse, Kikyo also steps out from her throne. Both rulers meet at the center of brick floor, an unpleasant reunion.
I count down myself, the time to fight of Frabjus Day.Here we go…
"Good morning, Kikyo," the raven crystal hair queen greets.
"Hello…Kagome," the Ruby Queen replies, cocking her fired head without glancing.
Trumpet is blown by Shippo, who has arrived between the Queen as the mediator and the announcer of historical battle.
"On this, the Frabjus Day, the Queens, Crystal and Ruby shall send forth their champions, to do battle on their behalf. And the winner shall rule the Underland in peace and justice…" he emphasizes at the last part, glancing a bit nervous to current ruler.
"Kikyo…we don't have to fight." Kagome says smoothly. The sadistic queen finally look at her sister, face as stoic as marble.
"I know what you do. You think you can blink those pretty little eyes and I'll calm the fire, like moms and dads, and EVERYONE did…" She answers, more like mocking.
"Please…?" Kagome convinces again, reaching out her hand. Kikyo widens her eyes, chuckles darkly.
"No!" Kagome a little stunned with her loud exclaims.
"You stole all from me! The attention, the people, the castle and even the prince! Letting this beauty hair flaming to ashes and those aren't enough for you, Greedy Princess?! This crown is mine! I am the eldest!" Her hair flames wilder as her face lets out all the sorrow and rage of hers.
Like a code, each queen steps back to their troops immediately. There is no way back…
"I present my champion. Let out Naraku!" Kikyo orders. The Red Army spontaneously make a line, presenting the huge shadowed cage. The red curtain is pulled, showing the creature in it.
Not a creature, more like a mutated human. It's a long wavy black hair man stands tall in the cage, both of his hands and feet change into dark dragonic claws. Moving strange dark tentacle thing covers up almost all of his black habergoen to his neck, leaving that pale stoic face and his deep green eyes staring at …me?
Like a click sound of lamp's swith, I remember that gaze,
"Impossible. Isn't he…"
"Only if you think that way and yes, it's Ruby Queen's favorite general, Onigumo." Hatter answers my guess, helping me alight from Kirara.
"Wait, I supposed to fight Naraku, didn't I?" Those regret and fear of slaying some unguilty soul under Kikyo's feet come again. But then, he is the bad guy….he is the bad guy, why do I feel regret? Ah, must be Kikyo's previous stressful speech…
"Right again, but he is Onigumo and also Naraku. The last is his name for his appearance as fully demonic dragon in battle. Everybody here has that type of thing…" I glance a while to him, he looks to the battle field like it was all nostalgic place. So…here stand by me… is not his fully demonic self? Oh, what am I supposed to be surprised anyway. It's Wonderland.
I smile to my own thought, my eyes gaze back to Naraku, who has been fully covered in his dragon form. A huge about 8 meters black dragon with sharp eyes and hungry fangs, also silvery spikes behind the head running down to his back to the long tail, and don't forget the sly and sadist character inside him…How do I win from this monstrous being?
"You know, I usually count six impossible things before breakfast," I say to Sesshomaru, trying to relax myself.
His sharp claws break the cage easily, steps out slowly as his demonic eyes never leave me.
Hatter rises his eyebrows, "That's… an excellent practice."
"But, I think you have to focus on slaying him. Or you can choose to concentrate on his middle of throat. It's his weakest point."
I just realize there is a red glowing thing stick in Naraku's throat as he steps from the crowd of Red Army, enough big to be seen.
Kikyo hold her waist, wide smile spreads on her face,"Where is your champion, sister?!"
"Thanks, Sesshomaru. For everything." I whisper loudly enough to be heard by him, then straighten my posture and step out from Crystal Queen's side, holding tight the silver shield on the left and Vorpal sword on my right. The mad hatter just can smile to the brave girl.
"Here!" I exclaim, resulting unamused and narrowed eyes of Ruby Queen.
"Hello…Kami,"
"Six impossible thing. Count them, Rin," I mutter, each steps bring me closer to Naraku.
One, there is a potion that can make you shrink.
Each champions have reach the centre, ready for the final fight.
"We meet again, Kami," Naraku hisses with that indigo snake-like tongue.
"No. It's Rin," I state
Two, a cake that make you grow.
A light growl, or a chuckle, escapes from the grinning sharp teeth.
"My, my... such a confident statement. Seems the little girl has grown a bit,hm?"
I just give my best raged stare. Three, talking animals and demons are real.
"I have attracted to you a little bit this past days. Why don't you just give up now, joining me in mighty and euphoria as we take down the Queens?
I rise one of my eyebrow,"Are you sure? Because standing right in front of you, is not a mere lady, it's your death angel."
Another sound of trumphet interrupts, a sign for the beginning of battle. What's number now? Ah. Four…..
Naraku narrows his eyes, taking a few steps backward. "I don't think so, my lady…"
He suddenly snaps, the long neck easily melesat to me. Four…cat can smile and disappear.
Luckily, I can get out from his direction, pointing the sword to his neck. It miss, the head is taken back just to take another snap. Dodging and clashing the sword to the unsurprisingly thick dark scales...
Five, there is a place called Wonderland.
Catching sword's movement, he steps out on two feet, making me steps backward quickly to avoid from his crashing claw.
I'm too slow, realizing his bat-like wings trapped me from the back to face his growling nasty jaw. I smell a burning thing... He'll shoot fire!
I tear down the unexpectedly weak membrane from one of his wings, enough space to run away and taking him back as he growl from the pain. But then, the green eyes back to me, let out the fire. I still have time to cover up with the shield.
Six. "I can slay Naraku,"
The heat stops, replaced by a huge dark claw push me to the left a few feet away. I in reflex survive with the curling position from the blow and the steel of my armor preventing from any broken bones or bigger bruise. My hand grips nothing but empty air, the Vorpal has drift far right of my reach. Am I too fast speaking about that?
Naraku walks closer, I stand and spontaneously run to the only weapon, forgetting about the aching pain at my right side.
I won't get it on time, if Sesshomaru doesn't cut roughly the tail and attracts the attention of Naraku. He burst out the fire again, but the ex-general run from it easily. I have much gratitude for the hatter, who salute me from afar.
But, Kikyo watches all, getting upset at the disturbance.
"The hatter interrupted! Off with his head!"
As I grip back the sword, both of armies have broken loose, fighting each other. Demons face demons. Witches lets the goblin. Words fight in the air between dark curses and light spells. Dragons and Black Dragons battle with those strong long neck and throw fire to each other.
My eyes dart back to the largest black dragon, Naraku has walked closer to me.
Another growling and smokes from his mouth, I inisiate taking the fight to the remained wrecked castle, stepping on the concrete stairs.
The Jub – Jub bird's scream echoes, the clashing sound of swords…
I almost fall to sudden empty space of the ruin stairs, taking a look from my back. His huge dragon form doesn't stop him running after me.
Clashing swords, loads and rocks thrown by catapults, shade of bloods…
I take a little steps backward, jumping to the other side. Landing safely although almost lose the sword again, I continue my runaway.
Fear of the monster, frightened face of slaying a life being, beating heart doesn't want to die... and I don't know how to win!
I reach the remained highest floor of the castle, stop in the middle by dark spiky head appears and ready to shoot fire. Shit, he's fast!
I run to standing still pillars, shelter there from the destructible heat. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why are you keeping that unresponsible and coward attitude of yours, Rin? Face it!
The wide claw breaks the upside of the pillar. I turn left to face the monster, both hands grip the Vorpal tightly pointing to him.
I start slicing the sword to him, but he dodge more quickly. But then, is it the monster...? Is it worth for me to kill and the servant to be killed?
He snaps his head, making me back away and away…
The space is limited, I almost reach the edge of the ruin, cornered. Argh?! Why is that mind coming in this situation?!
Seeing the chance, he pushes me down to the floor, gripping my throat.
By the sudden movement, Vorpal sword is released from my grip. My hand desperately search for the weapon, only to be thrown and separated afar by Naraku's tail.
"Just give it up already. There is nothing you'll win today…" he growls in front of my face, the green eyes threaten mine.
He is monster, monster...is he the monster? Another smell of smoke from that nasty head.
I gasp for air, my hands come to the claw, a futile efforts to get out of his tightening grip.
Everybody is fighting to their death, just for this girl to lose? No way!
No, I have another chance.
"You're right…there is nothing I'll win…" Loosening every bit of oxygen, I still can attract his hearing and delay the final shot. I have another option...
"May I borrow that?" Kohaku rose one of the eyebrows to the girl's request.
I believe he is grinning inside as his eyes piercing again to my face.
"Seems the brave Rin has lose her spirit already…"
I save the remaining air in my lungs, my right palm has reached the left arm without his noticing.
"It's Seshomaru's lesson, and don't know how to get any kind of it without called stealer." I convinced, he narrowed his eyes.
"I may not win anything today…but…"
The young general smirked, offering his favorite silver knife,"Sure. Don't forget to return it,"
His questioning look is answered by sudden pain through his throat. Silver dagger finds its way from a petite grip of the young lady.
...Wait till enemy comes near to you...
"They will win…" I choke my head a bit, smirking full of winning for the first time.
He doesn't realize that he loosen his grip, another chance for Rin thrusts it deeper to his throat and slice it up to the middle of the neck.
...then thrusts it to their heart, till the hilt of the dagger. Don't hesitate, looks into its eyes, don't lose it till it die!
No hesitation, I cut open the dark red glowing ruby, dirty my palm from the burst of absurd green liquid.
Sorry, Sesshomaru... I just can do this.
Naraku chokes vainly, screaming with his broken vocal cords to the gloomy sky.
He is absolutely the monster...and just one of the strongest used demon...
And there you can watch the gigantous flesh of the black dragon drops one by one from the head to the center of his body, changing quickly to pieces of black ashes blown by wind and reappearing the host body.
The previous Onigumo in his black armor bents, face to the ground, coughing blood as receiving the same-but-less-impact from his former dragon flesh.
The real monster will still live, even if I decided to kill him...
A silvery sword is pointed to his neck, making his human eyes look up to the wielder.
A young lady in the messy silver armor, ruby gems as his source of magic in her left grip. Her brown eyes are different from those frightening girl.
It ends. It's the end..Please God, no more crimes and sins must spread from her...
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