Day 20 – part 4:
Thud-thump...thud-thump...thud-thump...
Her heartbeat was calm, steady.
No cold fear dampened her skin; she was warm from the burn of her reiki. It danced atop her skin, eager to explode. Her reiki had become a living creature, awakened from its years of dormancy. Finally it was free, and when it had sensed the darkness that was foolish enough to approach...
Oh, when it had sensed the darkness, reiki that had been complacent turned ravished.
To consume the taint of the world, oh the pleasure it found in that.
Finally, power had been liberated and it would be free to show the Earth the vast depth of its true strength.
Even though her reiki had surged to the forefront, ready to annihilate demons that brought darkness to the world, Kagome calmed it. When her reiki yearned to push free of her mortal frame, she reined it in, soothing it with promises - soon, soon sweet reiki you shall do your duty. Patience.
Familiar presences of youkai surrounded her, and her reiki knew better than to attack them.
Protect the pack.
Reiki was eager to obey, bursting forth from its mistress and surging around those who were in need of protection. The strength of the barrier was formidable, singing victoriously to the miko, reassuring its mistress that no evil would be able to breach its might. Kagome crooned silent praise.
A distant voice called out to her. "Mama…"
Shippo.
She slipped into an upward position, turning to the sound of the precious voice, but she was blinded by reiki. She could not see with mortal eyes, it was by sensing energy she was able to distinguish the world around her.
Words were too far away to summon to her tongue, she could not offer comfort to her little one and assure him that she would protect him. It did not matter though, he would know the truth soon enough.
Kagome wouldn't be able to protect them from within the barrier though. She stood, ready to leave her loved ones safely within the barrier and take care of the darkness that threatened them.
Youkai moved towards her. "Kagome."
She looked in the direction of the familiar voice. The force was formidable. She pushed her essence into his being, assessing him. If he attempted to stop her she would have to subdue him. Oh her pack could be so troublesome. She sifted through his thoughts, and tasted the emotions, there was no aggressiveness towards her so she let him be.
It was a good thing. She did not want to leave the pack without an alpha.
She continued on, guided by the pulsing essence of darkness. It seemed indeed, opposites did attract. This meeting though would not be a pleasant one for those that dared to threaten her loved ones. She walked through her barrier, feeling its warm caress and respect. It sang of promises of victory, it would not fail in its duty.
She let the pull guide her, but she would not wander too far, she had to keep the energies of pack close, their safety was paramount.
Now I wait.
It would not be long, for the attackers drew ever closer. Her reiki burned brighter, readying itself. It pulsed and grew with every passing moment, engulfing its mistress fully in a radiant display of power.
Finally.
They had arrived.
She exploded. Reiki ruptured, blinding and burning those few foolish demons that had surged to the front, eager to feast on the flesh of the miko. They were the first to go.
Though there was a distant ache for the comforting feeling of a quiver on her back and bow and arrow in her hand she could not pause. Besides, her newly awakened powers would have been too impatient with such a method, later, once she had time to analyze and get to know her new strength she could teach it the might of the bow, but for now, she let her reiki have its way. It whipped out, earning final screams before those youkai vanished, only to be replaced by the multitude of demons that surged towards her.
They were moths drawn to the flame.
They would never learn, though the fire would only grow stronger for it, so it was no true concern to the miko who guided the force of her holy powers. She felt it all, watching through eyes that did not see in color but in the surging of energies. Darkness would be consumed, bringing a moment of greater light, only to be replaced by the endless number of demons that threw themselves to their deaths.
These were just pests, mindless creatures and their master was not here. Though a piece of his essence was, and with it, the glowing beauty of a shard. The Shikon no Tama called to her, coated in darkness, but nevertheless straining towards the soul that it called home.
Words drifted to her as though pushing their way through water, distorted but yet still present. She couldn't stand puppets. Her eyes were drawn to the essence that had so plagued her, the swirling miasma that was Naraku's puppet. The words merely brushed by her, she did not make an effort to pay attention, and besides when ever he spoke it was merely meant to disconcert his opponents.
The shard was so close, and she wouldn't let it escape her grasp.
Her reiki strained, barely tethered to its mistress. Her living power was a salivating dog with the scent of prey just within its reach.
Go.
The floodgates were opened and the lights of purification poured forth at a stunning speed, erupting like a volcano. Just as bright and just as destructive. Not to mention, just as beautiful.
It was with a sigh she closed her eyes, lowering her upraised hands.
All that was left was the purity of a single, shining shard, gleaming in the last few rays of the setting sun.