Disclaimer: Inuyasha isn't mine. Some bits of the storyline and themes belongs to L.J. Smith, and Garth Nix. Majority is mine.
AN: Free from piano exams at last! The first 2 chapters finally have been rewritten. 13 will be rewritten in the very near future. I didn't like it.
I'm leaving on the 21st, to Alberta (Banff/Jasper national parks). Won't be back till the 30th. But I'll try my best to get chapter 15 up before that, if the sever lets me (they're upgrading).
Chapter 14: Resurrection
"Sango…" the Lord's blood is trickling down.
Her turquoise eyes are hard, he's dying…but I just can't call him…father… Instead with a still voice she asks, "What happened to Kohaku and the rest?"
"A-all dead." Beads of sweat are seeping from his forehead.
Oh. Her entire family is gone.
His leg is still bleeding, its been bitten off by the demon that's lying in a puddle of its own thick black blood.
The man dying on the ground looks up at the rich red carpet, and the golden path in the middle, his gaze follows the golden stairs that lead to a seat.
That seat is casting a shadow upon his face. It's made of dark wood, with a elaborate carving of a falcon about to take flight. At where the eye of the fierce bird of prey is a single ruby.
That is the throne of the Northern Lands.
The Lord's narrow blue eyes are sparkling as he gazes at the throne. His gaze is not full of longing, but…hatred. The throne is the reason his greed devours his own soul. That is the reason he drives his own daughter into exile. That is the reason Sango's childhood…well, she doesn't have much of a childhood anyways. People treat her like she doesn't exist. And that's the way it was, she is just the scraps, the unwanted. The only reason she could live at the palace was because of her grandfather. The only one who treats her like a child, and not as an object. An unwanted object.
The burning pain at his leg is drawing the underworld ever so close. The rays coming from the window illuminates his body on the ground. The light seems dim because all the smoke in the air. Someone screams from the outside, the cloud of ash distorting its pitch.
The pain gnaws at him, as if the demon is slowly chewing his leg off savoring every moment of his pain. "Sango, please…kill me…" He wants the suffering to end.
"No." She stands up, there's firmness in her voice.
"Isn't fate…twisted…the prophecy," He whispers.
She knows if she kill him, the prophecy will be fulfilled. "You still believe in that don't you?" Anger is surging inside her as thousands of bolts of lightning crackling.
"My daughter…" his voice is straining, "I'm sorry…please end this…"
It's my father dying before me, something heavy drops inside her.
His blood is soaking his rich robes staining. No one should ever suffer this way. A sharp thought pierces through her mind as a needle awakening her. It's wrong. "If that is your wish…" she drains all the emotion in her voice.
Her hand finds its way to the cold hilt of the sword at her waist. Slowly she draws it out, it gleams dully from the light from the window. That sword feels as if it weighs a ton. Looking at the way the wrinkles on his face deepen as he struggles to take every breath. She raises the sword. But something else happens, something against every single one of her instincts…
No. This isn't right. How can she, if she kills him the prophecy will come true…
"I just have one more…wish," He shuts his eyes with pain and opens them once more, "can you…call me…father…just once…"
Why is it a simple word cannot escape her lips? Why is her hand trembling? Her heart is tugging her, hurry up, there's people dying outside! But she can't.
She remembers seven years ago her father orders soldiers to shoot arrows after her, to drive her away, right after the death of her grandfather. I cannot kill him, killing him means losing to the stupid prophecy, I have the power to choose. Then a sudden question emerges from her mind, like large block of ice, do I hate him?
No.
"Sango…you are the last in our line…" He shuts his eyes, waiting for her to end his misery. "My life stops here, but please…don't abandon your people." He is waiting for the sharpness of the sword of life. Waiting for death to calmly take him by the hand, waiting for that blade.
But instead, she puts the hilt of the sword into the palm of his hands and stands up.
She glances at the throne once more. It seems ugly. How power can draw someone to such end. The elaborate wooden carvings of vines on the windowpane are as deadly vipers that can wraps around the neck and suffocate. The beautiful vases at the side has flowers inside. But the light reflecting the redness of the drapes above makes it appear as those savage blossoms are feeding from blood.
Crack, the heavy wooden opens. Sango keeps on walking, Miroku behind her. Mechanically she takes forward steps, she walks on down the hallway with ink paintings of the Lords of the North. Something inside her is waiting to burst. Miroku is by her side, still silent. She needs that silence.
She stops at one painting, it's of a middle aged man in his dark red armors. His eyes are turquoise, just as hers. There's a single word to describe him: powerful. It's a painting for her grandfather, when he was young. He was a warrior. Sango slams her fist down on the wall beside that painting, grandfather! If only you are here now! You can tell me what to do!
Then the wall beside the portrait lets out an eerie blue glow. That glow soon carves illuminates the shape of an entrance.
Sango watches as a memory surfaces once more. It can't be…She can hear the voice she longed for once more, her grandfather's voice speaking in her mind. "When the first Lord that united the Northern States ending the quarrelsome conquest of the tribe leaders, he built a secret cellar in this very palace." His wise eyes are twinkling as he tells her this story. "Him being a powerful Mage, he vowed that if the realm is in grave danger, it will open again to the one it's meant for."
Suddenly the sound of sword piercing through flesh interrupts her thoughts, it fills the silent hall.
No.
"Father!!!" Sango screams, her voice reverberating down the eerie hallway where a few bodies of guards lie.
The Lord has put his own life to end. But at his last moment in this world he hears her voice. A single word that means more to him than life itself…
"I will not abandon my people!" Determination fills her voice. I can change destiny. The prophecy did not come true… At least her father's suffering ends, he dies but with dignity.
Finally Miroku signs, "Sango, we've a battle ahead…" His footsteps accelerating down the empty corridor.
"Naraku! I'll make you pay!" She screams down the hall, passing the many faces of her ancestors, those before her. I will not fail you, she silently says, I will take that identity over again…
The city is still wasting away, dying outside…
There is a giant phoenix soaring from the cliffs above. It has no shadows because it is simply made of violet light. From its wings, ice crystals are trailing as snow, purifying the cloud of ashes. Its tail is as flickering flames, its shape shifting.
Its sorceress is standing on a cliff, her hair is pure black, her eyes like deep violets, she is on one knee and palms stretching facing the majestic bird in the grayish sky.
Strange waves of the ancient power is flowing out of her fingertips sending her hair up with its turbulent wind. Glancing down at the dying city before her eyes, "Go get'em!" She says as she watches the fierce bird dive closer and closer as the large demons below lets out fearful cries of different forms. It seems between her and the phoenix, there is a bond, an invisible string connecting from her fingertips. The will in Kagome's mind guides the phoenix. I will hang on, Kagome tells herself, I can do this.
The phoenix's large wings cast blurs of light on the ground. It spirals down, closer and closer bringing an ice storm along…Lady Kaiya, thanks.
"Measly human lives," he says without the slightest bit of concern. "Getting crushed like flies, pathetic…" His feet shuffling through the grass is soundless as the slightest bit of wind, as if he's not even there.
The assassin watches as silver pincers and claws strike down and when they come back red. He is wearing his usual black yukata with sakura blossoms hiding at where the collar is in the darkest shade of silver, it's almost black.
"No, he won't be here," Sesshoumaru steps over a giant rock that the wind carves over time, a centipede crawls into a little slit with its many little legs. Naraku's minions does the dirty work.
His golden eyes flicker as the violet bird charges at Naraku's army below.
There's a few shrubs growing at his feet, he steps over them. From thirty feet away, that's when he sees her…
Her palm is outstretching, something before her glows a bright sapphire light.
Foolish sorceress, he watches her. Trying to save those useless human lives…he sighs. She probably thinks she's actually saving them…but she is going to end up dead at Naraku's feet.
He stops his steps. He is almost on the edge of the cliff, a few strands of silver bangs fall in front of his eyes as he blinks. The air reeks of blood. But of course he's used to that, being what he is. What a waste, saving these useless vermin…
Sango looks up, the sleeve of her yukata shifts slightly as every time the phoenix beats its wings. That sorceress, is she trying to help us?
"Stupid demons," Kagome mutters trying to distract herself in order to keep her consciousness, "They all assume being human, I'll be weak. With her mind, she commands the phoenix to fly to the eastern corner of the city, "I'll prove them wrong!"
Clatter! The demon soldiers drop their spears one after another.
"It's a sorceress," Miroku says scanning the edge of the cliff, where a girl in a green yukata kneels.
"What the hell is that?" A demon soldier asks the one with a mask and three red stripes – it's their general.
With a cold voice, the tall demon with brown hair in a high ponytail and a blind eye answers, "we'll retreat, now." He looks at it with pure venom then he pulls the reins of his black horse as it snorts. And the sounds of about thirty hooves stamping the ground leave the courtyard sending a smoky trail of dirt.
Beyond the white walls of the palace, flashes of lightning attacks. Setsuya…Miroku knows it's her, he recognizes the attack they use back home.
Now the phoenix is right over the fallen city gates, so bright, it outshines the wicked fire. Ice crystals falling with every beat of the wings. Crystals of purity, cleansing away the ash snow. Putting out the savage flames licking the houses as they go.
Whenever a demon gets near the fire trailing from its tail it dissipates and leaves behind only a slight black shadow hanging in the air. Perhaps it's better for those demons to end this way. They once are just creatures of the earth, living peacefully until the guards snatches them away. They starve until they are mad and they live with only a single burning desire. They even turn on each other to feed – and that's how Naraku's guards know the time is ripe for an attack.
Instead of ending by the pain of hundreds of stabbing spears, the phoenix is actually freeing them…It's easier leaving the earth in the warm violet light and the painless flight. It's better that way.
There is a purple mist wherever the giant bird passes over the broken homes, the crimson stained street, over the ashes.
On the streets bodies are everywhere, alongside broken pots of flowers and loose bricks. Naraku's army is retreating. They clutch their spears and cruelly beats their horse for them to accelerate. The clever general knows, it's time to retreat. General Moutou looks up at the cliff with one vicious silver eye, he whispers, "Sorceress, you are dead."
The hooves' sound diminishes as they retreat through the broken city gates.
Damn it! Coldness spreads down to her fingertips. It feels as her essence is leaving her. Almost the same ripping feeling when she leaves to the death realm.
A drop of seat trickles from her face as the cliffs, the city and the violet mist fades. In slow motion Kagome senses gravity weighing down on her, dragging with immense force to the air ahead.
But before she realizes, she is at the very edge of the cliff. The sun is sinking as a giant orange semicircle painting the thin clouds various shades of yellow, orange and red.
She plunges ahead but only realizing there is no ground to catch her fall.
Her hair spills down her back as a liquid black arc.
Down below, after sweeping through the city, the Rune symbols making the violet phoenix slowly dissolves away, leaving little glowing orbs on every corner, as millions of little lanterns.
He hears her fearful scream. He's so familiar with that sound being what he is. He still doesn't know the true identity of the sorceress illuminating the city.
The world spins dully before her eyes. The rocky cliff below appears rugged, as sharp as knives.
She watches with blurry vision a few little rocks slip from under her feet and tumble down into the nothingness.
And the only thing between her and that is the root of the pine tree growing out of the rocks.
Kagome, think, she tells herself. I don't know how to survive this one. Her hand feels as it is on fire from grasping the rough rot of the tree. Summoning that phoenix, it takes all her strength…she hangs here, weak and drained…At least…no more will die after this…
Ouch, she winces as splinters of the pine root dig into her fingers.
And that's when a cold hand closes around her wrist.
Her eyes closing, why does that seem so familiar…Then it hits her…she remembers those sharp claws once digging into her skin as a deadly lock never having the intention to let her escape.
But only this time that deadly grasp is pulling her up. Not gently, no, but in an uncaring way as a sharp rock scrapes the side of her yukata making a slit.
It is him…her heart pounds harder in her chest as she blinks as her gaze meets a pair of golden eyes from above. Her throat is dry, her body feels as if it's made of stone, she cannot move even an inch. Why? Why is he saving me?
"Thanks," she mutters as her vision finally betrays her.
"Don't ever think I'm going to save you again." His icy voice is the last thing she hears.
This time, their connection isn't there. Because in his mind, he puts up strong impermeable walls. Whatever happens last time will never again, he swears.
Sesshoumaru leaves her lying on top of the cliff. Anger surges inside him. I thought I got rid of her. Why is she coming back? He just realizes he saves the girl, he has no idea what drives him until…he's done it already.
He just forgets the past they once shared, shoving it into the most obscure corner of his mind and locking it away.
But that face, her closed violet eyes and fragile body hanging on the edge of the cliff is forever engraving in his mind. At the same moment, wind sends his silvery mane behind him as his cold heart accelerates, a little, not too much. Just a little.
Get out of my life! He steps back, soundless. Crushing his sudden impulse to lift her up with his arms and take her to some place safe.
Then another demonic aura approaches as Sesshoumaru automatically flexes his claws. Before he knows it, he is already between the new demon and the girl.
Then there is a roar as a saber toothed tiger leaps from the air below and lands softly on the cliff.
Its fangs sharp, red eyes glittering at the tall assassin. Its fur is white but dyed orange by the setting sun. From the tip of its two tails are black markings and flames.
Slowly and cautiously, it approaches the unconscious girl.
I care for no one. Sesshoumaru leaps back. Whatever happens to her, is none of my concern. "Go ahead," Sesshoumaru stares at the fire cat. It's so easy for his claws to rip through that body of white fur but somehow he halts himself. "Devour her," I will not interfere. I don't care.
The fire cat growls.
Then demonic wind radiates from beneath his feet. And a blur of black and silver.
He's gone.
He does not even turn.
Instead of sinking her fangs into the sleeping girl's throat. The fire cat tugs at the collar of her green yukata covered in blood and dirt. Carefully avoiding her face from those sharp fangs.
Then she puts Kagome on her back and sets out towards the city.
"I know there's heavy losses for all of you," A mans voice carries down the city block where survivors slowly join. He feels the tension in the air. He is a General of the city of Suto. Duty. So many pairs of expectant eyes look up at him. "There is no time to grieve, we must revive this city…"
From where General Hayato is standing are broken bits of signs everywhere, scraps of pottery and fruits lying beneath the thin layer of ash – this used to be the central market of the city. "We must keep ourselves together because for this city to live, it will take every single one of you, and our Lord – "
"— is gone." Setsuya's voice cuts in as a cold knife before he can finish. That's the breaking point, as cracks spreading from a thin crust of ice.
Some in the crowd begins to weep, "our Lord…It can't be!" clutching onto the shoulders of the other survivors.
General Hayato covers his eyes with his hand, controlling the outburst emotion. He stands tall, perhaps the only General left alive after this slaughter. He is around twenty-five, his dark brown hair in spikes…
"What about the Lord's family?" a young boy asks General Setsuya who is void of emotions on her face, as her black armors clad tightly to her shoulders.
"All dead."
Thud! The boy drops down onto his knees, "They can't!" Crystal tears are trickling down his face as his messy black hair shudders.
"No, you are wrong…" Another voice joins them, grim yet strong. From the bits of violet mist lingering and the paint of the sunset sky. A figure emerges. Over the rubbles.
Her eyes are turquoise, her hair pitch black, but this time short, it now barely touches her shoulders. Her hand is closing on the strap of a boomerang at her back. Her cloth, they are now different. A black suit with blue armors clamping on her shoulders. That is what she finds in the secret cellar within the palace. The suit of armor fits perfectly, almost as if the first Lord knows…she's the one that will return.
"You came back." Setsuya's voice is different, no longer full of coldness and void as she grasps her weapon – the lightning spear.
"Indeed…"
A wave of whisper begins in the crowd, spreading…
"I remember you, you are the only daughter of our Lord." An old man speaks in a soft voice, his beard is long and white. "You left…seven years ago, if I remember right."
"Sango?" The tall General suddenly realizes, he gazes at the girl with disbelief.
"General Hayato," strangely she remembers him. "It's been a long time." In her childhood, since no one cares anyway she runs alone around the palace. She falls and scrapes her knees. She doesn't get to see the Generals often, but then a hand is stretching before her, pulling her up. And that's the last time she sees him.
The whispering dies from the crowd. The young boy that is sobbing on his knees looks up, "Will you…leave the city again?"
Her gaze meets his brown crystal filled eyes then at the crowd of survivors – about a few hundred of them – standing before her down the wasted market in burnt and dirty cloth and with tear smeared faces.
So many have died this day…that fact sinks ad hits her as a pang. The day before she is simply a demon exterminator, out to earn a living. But then the world suddenly comes crashing down, she's back once more. And now, her entire family is gone, not that she knows them, just in the afternoon…It's too much, seeing so many stripped homeless and alone…I will keep myself together, she locks all her emotion away.
"I will take my place," She scans the faces in he crowd, meeting the eyes of everyone, "If only you'll accept."
There is a bit of murmuring in the crowd.
Grandfather, I will not abandon them…please, make the trust me…Hot tears are spinning within her blue-green eyes. It'd be so easy to just let them fall. I cannot falter, not now.
Everyone looks at the elderly man in the front. Wisdom lives within those measuring ancient eyes.
There is a slight pause. The air is tense for a moment.
"In that case, we will."
Those cursed tears are almost spilling from the brim of her eyes. It'd be so easy to just let them fall. Thanks, grandfather, I know you can hear me…wherever you are now. Then she does something braver than ever before.
She smiles.
"We must not despair," she says to the crowd. "The Northern Lands will not fall!" Then thunderous yell fills the sky, as powerful drumbeats and battle cries. Birds from the distant forest takes flight into setting sun. The low thunder rumbles and spreads wave after waves. Young children, and every single one of the survivors scream, something new is born into their eyes.
Then Sango says, "Anyone their loses their home today can spend the night in the palace."
With that she turns, leading the people once more, sun makes her short hair change into not just black. But different colors weaving together, dark blue, violet, orange strands. Her identity changes in a single day. Those short locks that barely touch her shoulder trails in the wind. Something will change…that is her promise within the secret cellar before black hair drifts down the edge of her blade.
So long, she seeks a moment to be alone.
Sango is sitting beside a fire, lit in the middle of a room in the palace. However half of the room collapsed, she has a clear view outside. Miroku is leaning against the wall beside her.
So much have happened, but he's always there beside her. Finally she decides, I owe him…the truth.
"Miroku," She looks away, her face is in the shadows so he cannot see. "I'm sorry to have kept this from you…"
"It's alright…" He looks into the flickering flame, consuming the logs from within. He knows she's talking about the secret in her past.
"There is a prophecy when I was born, that I'm destined to kill my father," there is pain in her voice, but somehow the burden in her heart lightens a little, "After my grandfather passed away, I was in exile."
Silence.
"You were driven out by your own family?" He looks hard in to the fire.
Sango laughs bitterly, "What would you do if you were in my father's position?"
"Drive out the prophet –"
"Impossible," there is disgust beneath her voice, "He contributed to this kingdom 'in so many endless ways', as they'd say. He's also a key member of my father's advisors." She bites her lips.
The harsh voice of her father still rings in her ears as he sent arrows after her, 'you don't belong here!' And her own mother and brother, 'get out!' The memory is burning her from inside…the last reminiscence of the world she leaves behind but now returns.
Then that memory rips apart as a claw tearing paper into shreds. All dead, all of them today. Her city is in ashes.
The vision of her dying father is crystal clear in her mind. That face, probably will never fade. He asks her to forgive him, he asks her to not abandon her people. "Tell me, this is just a nightmare! Miroku!" There is desperation in her voice.
Silence.
It isn't. All that died in one day…it's too much. She gets up, her dark suit merges with the shadows facing away from the fire.
"Miroku, turn around, I don't want you to see this," She tries to keep her quivering voice still.
She looks outside at the half fallen walls, the dark night air is stuffy and still, the scent of blood hangs in the air.
She steps out as a cold drop of water falls from the sky onto her hand.
Drip. Drip.
The drops are more frequent. Then it becomes splashing sounds. She envisions the rain washing away the blood on the street. Washing away the tears of the young child who weeps for his family.
She closes her eyes. No, I will not cry! Her fists are tight.
"Sango, don't kid yourself…stop the pretending!" It's his voice…
I can't. I can't let him see my tears. She runs faster through the curtain of rain.
That suit of armor, it fits her perfectly…it's destined to be hers.
The sound of the rain is the only thing in the night. The water from the sky covers everything. But then…
"You don't have to face any of this alone!" Miroku's voice is behind her. It's almost as a lantern in the dark. A voice telling her to get up from the pitch-black pit she has fallen into. Miroku's black hair is wet from the rain. It's just as they first met. That voice, there's so much in it…like trust…and that does it…
"Miroku!" She buries her face in his shoulder, holding onto his black robes, tight. She never cries in front of anyone before. His gentle voice, the firmness of his chest, she hangs on. She finally let all the tears she holds back in years fall. I don't know where I'll be if you weren't here…
She's so brave…He runs his fingers through her shortened hair. The one that doesn't allow anyone to see her cry.
Somehow she's not cold anymore. She believes him. The burden on her heart seems lighter once again.
Tsunami, please please be safe, he prays. All mages has a certain connection with each other, but he didn't feel any of the other's dying…Closing his eyes, he puts an arm around her, letting the cold raindrops splash down his face.
The rain washes away demon remains down the street. They stand there, water drops pouring down from above. Somehow they know, hardship is yet to come. But maybe one day, it'll be all over. Maybe one day they'll live to see it.
Then Setsuya's voice against the rain brings his thoughts back to earth. "The fire cat saved the sorceress that summoned the phoenix. We need to do a healing spell."
Coming up Next:
"Watch with your own eyes: this, is how your last life ended…"
"I don't want to see anymore!" Visions of his claws sinking into her neck flashes right before her eyes. It can't disappear, can't be washed away. She can almost feel the fresh pain.
She finally sees the truth. Another piece of puzzle slides into place…
Her soulmate killed her. In another lifetime.
Chapter 15: Those Who Sleep
The Original Characters:
Hayato: the good natured, spiky haired General. 25 at the moment, he was the only one apart from her grandfather that showed kindness in Sango's childhood. (his name is 'borrowed' from a character in "Legend of Basara") It's a pain in the…to name my OC's. You'll see him later…I like his character…
Setsuya: Another general of the North, it's highly unusual for a general to be 17 years old, there must be something unusual about her, but I won't reveal that here. She's a mage from Miroku's homeland. I was doodling randomly one day and came up with her appearance. She wears black armors, a long white dress, she has long red hair and brown eyes…Her role is just another piece of puzzle in this story, you'll see if you stick around…
Author's Note:
I'm finally done with piano exams! Yay! I did pretty well overall, however I think for people doing exams at least they should get decent pianos. The old piece of crap, each time I touch a key something else sounds. Thanks to the "soundproof" room I get to listen to violin while I hit the keys. Anyhow, hopefully I can type/write 15 before I leave…
Replies on Reviews:
hellokitty-sayhello: Ya, Kagome, Miroku and Sango will meet…thanks for reviewing!
Amaris-11: I'm about to proceed to a lighter part of this story, in the very near future, hope you like this one.
Hinoiri Fighter: I can't wait to write the chapter where many things will be revealed. So nice to be free…ack, summer homework…have to start.
CursedMoon: I'm glad you want to be an author as well. I say go for it! Thank you very much for reading.
Syrinxsong: Hey, thanks, I'm just glad I'm done with piano, at least this summer anyways, meaning more time to write. Sesshoumaru's back, hehe, but only briefly. But, he'll be more of the focus in a few chapters of time. I wasn't happy with my battle scene and the last chapter, not so detailed and real perhaps. Your battle scenes are really awesome (yep I'm telling you this again). Well, I hope you like this chapter!
CometsChaos: I tried to cut back on cliffies, but that didn't work. I hope you like this chapter.
Olay Biscuit Barrel: Thanks a lot for the review! Awww, I'm glad you like this story so far, personally I think it will get a lot more interesting later in the plot. And when Kagome and Sesshoumaru meets again (this brief scene doesn't count), in a few chapters of time…depends on how on the few scenes I planned take.
Dancing-by-moonlight, InuyashaJunky, Snipergirl: thank you, hope you like this one!
Blueice anime gurl: first, thank you for reading and taking your time to review. As for the pacing of the story, well, I'm still experimenting with writing, so I don't know what pacing is right (different people's taste). I'll certainly keep your comment in mind, but maybe this is my style. As for wanting to kill me, haha, try, but let's just say no one will get to know the ending…again, thanks for the review.
Tsuki Yume: Well, about the timeframe change, sorry if it bothers you. Personally I think it makes no difference because if no drastic change in a society occurs in 8000 years then it would make people kind of stupid. Thanks for reading.
Kittymui: thanks for reading, the last chapter didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, hope you like this one.
x…GuardianOfTheNight…x
p.s. all reviews are welcome, also constructive criticism…thanks!! See y'all in 15.