Update (February 2021): Chapter edited and lengthened!
Chapter 54 (Special): Deal with a Three-Sided Devil
Picking up where we last left off in our story, Coraline and Inuyasha had just reconciled after a tense separation of the heart, and were heading back to the village where their companions would be waiting...However, the young Croft's mind was still muddled with negativity in regards to the other soul connected to her and the half-demon...
A negativity that would be easy prey for a new entity that enters the area, using a strange power to pull the girl's conscious state into her mind to talk.
...Right now, poor Coraline couldn't find any way to respond to the demonic being who calls himself Bill Cipher, too busy drinking in the latter's appearance. His form reflects a striking uniqueness to the usual yōkai running around in Japan (past or present), that being a large, cobalt yellow equilateral triangle with a likeness to an unfinished pyramid, the lower portion having brick patterning. In dead center is a single almond-round eye with four lashes at the top and bottom, pitch black like his thin limbs, small bow tie and tall top hat.
"Oh...my...dhia..."
Wha', in the world 'm I even looking at?
"Helloooo? Little Doll? Look, I know I'm awesome, but we can't get anywhere if you keep gaping at me like a fish."
She shakes herself loose of her stupor and manages a reply.
"S-Sorry...I've jus', never seen'a demon of your like before. (Tilts head) Yu're no' from around here, are yae?"
"Nope~! I'm not even from this dimension. I come from a place between space and time, known as 'The Nightmare Realm'."
"Nigh'mare Realm?"
"Heha, yeah, not a place a human should go exploring without a helmet...and a high tolerance to chaos. It'd almost make Hell look like a resort!"
Coraline swallows a small lump of nerves, and takes a few brave steps forward while shaping her expression to appear neutral.
"Why'r yeu here? Wha' do you wan' with me?"
"I already told ya, Little Doll: I'm here to make a deal with you!"
Bill then pops out of sight for a second...before reappearing behind Coraline, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and causing her to jump.
"Gah!"
"Heheh, sorry, can't resist; I gotta be me!...Anyway, I've been cruising through universes and the dimensions in-between, trying to find something that'll give me some good karma after a-uh, 'stunt' I pulled a long while back."
"Stunt?"
The three-sided demon replies offhandedly with a wave of a hand,
"Yeah, a little beauty known as 'Weirdmageddon' in a strange, sleepy town. Nearly got away with making that universe go bye-bye, but I got tricked by some smart-alack family. (Grumble) Damn those Pines..."
Coraline notices his body faintly throb a red glow, a possible sign of suppressed anger.
"...I, see."
Bill calms himself before his temper got out of control, and chimes with a 'smile' (it was hard for the girl to tell since he technically has no mouth),
"But never mind that! That's in the past. I've had some time to think as my being floated aimlessly in the point of no return, and I decided it would be in my best interest to try and do something more, productive and less, destructive..."
"Um, auy, I suppose tha' would make sense...This isn' really answerin' my questions, though."
"Ah, ah, ah~, patience, Little Doll. I was just coming to that part!"
He floats around the redhead until he's facing her with only a few inches between, and lightly pokes her nose before saying,
"I've since been scouring the cosmos trying to find a good candidate to form a deal with. Had a couple trials and errors, with most ending quicker than they started. Haauh, such as it is with humans..."
He backs up a bit and announces,
"But now I think I found my next and hopefully more successful human: you!"
Coraline takes a cautious step back and asks in surprise,
"M-Me? Why me?"
"We~ll, one of the perks of being a Dream Demon is that I can have full access to what's goin' on in that head of yours, and in some way, your heart. You have a pretty high sense of selflessness for someone as young as you, and I find that kind of human re~al entertaining."
She widens her eyes, and looks down at herself while placing a hand over where her heart beats.
"...Yeu c'n see into my heart?"
"Pretty much. The mind and heart are more connected than you humans think, and it's all thanks to your very soul. Its energies connect them together...and yours, ('grin') is drawing me in with something delightfully strange and powerful. But to be expected, with Aura Readers."
"Uh! Y-Y' know I'm an Aura Reader, do ye?"
"Yeah. I'm kind-a omniscient: I usually know a good deal about who or what dwells in each dimension I dive into."
Though more confused than ever, Coraline nonetheless looks back up at Bill and asks,
"...Yeu wish to construct a deal with me. Wha' kind of deal?"
"(Clap) And here we come to the center of our conversation! Ahem, you were wallowing earlier about how you'd do anything to heal the soul of Fuchsia Arrow, right?"
"Fuchsia Arrow?...Oh, y' mean Kikyō."
"Yep! So anyway...what if I were to tell you, that I could separate your own soul from that half once and for all, and put those halves back together?"
"What?!"
"Hahaha, like I said, I've been drifting through dimensions for a loooong time now, and I've acquired some new powers replacing a few old ones I lost after, 'that event'. One power, is to safely remove a human soul and even divide it without causing any real damage!"
Bill then points his finger at Coraline's torso, and his fingertip glows a bright lemon yellow...before the latter's torso emits a faint glowing mix of ice blue dominating amaranth pink!
"Hh...!"
"With the right preparations, I can play Doctor and remove that bit of soul so you won't have to worry anymore! I mean sure, there's a faint chance you and Fuchsia Arrow may still share a spiritual connection, but at least the light of another wouldn't be annoying the heck out of ya."
The glowing stops, and Coraline looks at Bill with even wider eyes.
"...Tha's incredible! (Worried frown) Bu' wha' will happen to her ligh' half afterward?"
"Not to worry. I'll send it to Fuchsia Arrow and she'll take it back; no muss, no fuss...So, whaddo you think?"
The human girl looks away from the demon with an uncertain expression.
"...I dunno. It's, tempting, I'll admi' tha' much...bu' it also sounds incredibly risky..."
"Aww, come on, Little Doll, what's life without taking a big risk every once and a while? Besides...I know the guilt and old anger must be eating at ya."
She whirls back at the 'smirking' entity.
"Wha're you implyin'?"
"Oh~, playing the denial card, eh? I've got a fix for that too."
He points his index finger at her again:
"Let's go to the playback records, shall we~?"
(Pow)
He then shoots a small bolt of energy at Coraline's forehead, and the latter drops to her knees while gripping her sides of her skull as an expression of pain contorts her features.
"Agh! Aa-a-aah...!"
(Flash)
"I'm not Kikyō! Quit callin' me by a name that's not mine!"
"I will never be a priestess!"
"I'm just'a surrogate reincarnation!"
"Kikyō...I, wish I could help yae find peace."
"This isn' fair f'r either side. Inuyasha and Kikyō need ta find a way to move from the past and into the future."
"Why must 'e keep pinin' for what's already gone?"
"Why can't 'e jus' look at me?!"
"I'm the reason Kikyō's such'a targe! I should be sufferin' in darkness, no' her!"
(Flash)
"STOP IIIT!"
Having all she could take of the pressure from these berating messages in her head, the redhead inadvertently calls on a large portion of aura energy to expel from her body, cancelling the effects of the demon's power and causing him to recoil back a little with a shiver...He then bursts into laughter and comments with glee,
"Aw man, you're slayin' me already, Little Doll! Most humans would've been in tears and spazzing on the ground by now, but you...you actually fought back and broke the echoes! That takes guts!"
"Hh, hah, hah, wha' the hell was tha'...?!"
"That, m'dear was a snippet of your emotions regarding your 'monkey in the middle' problem with Fuchsia Arrow and Red Sword. Hehaha, I've heard people say that girls have more complex emotions than boys, but you've definitely taken it to a whole new level!"
...Coraline looks down at the ground as she continues catching her breath, and thinks about what she just experienced.
That was...me emotions over this mess?
...I could feel...Anger...Resen'ment, Depression...Envy, Guilt...and Pity...
Do I really feel th's way...or is Bill tryin' to manipulate me?
...Either way...it's working.
"You okay there, Little Doll? Need a few more minutes?"
The girl snaps back to reality - or rather, the reality of her mindscape - and shakes her head, before rising to her feet again.
"No, 'm fine...and...hah, I'd like ta hear more abou' this 'deal'."
"Do~ you now?"
"Yes...If I was t' agree, what would I have to provide in exchange?"
"Mm, a fair enough question, and I'll be happy to answer!"
Bill waves his right hand in a series of fast-paced gestures...and a holographic projection of a crystalized heart manifests from his palm.
"You know those shards that your brothers carry, from the Seven Light Crystals?"
"Auy?"
"Well believe it or not, they can still be found in their full form in this era of your dimension. They've just been playin' Hide and Seek for the last few centuries after you humans and other demons pilfered a good amount, heheheh. But anyway...if you can get me a fully intact Seven Light Crystal, I will split your full soul from Fuchsia Arrow's light half, and sent it back to her to be fused back together with her dark half. Nice and simple!"
Coraline narrows her eyes in thought as the projection fades away.
"...I just hafta find one, and you'll separate mine and Kikyō's souls, no questions asked?"
"Yep!"
"...How 'm I suppose to find it?'
"Oh you'll get a beep from me when you're close to one of the locations; don'tcha worry none...So..."
Bill holds out his left hand, and it sparks with an ominous azure blue flame.
"Do we have a deal?"
The young Croft stares at the offered appendage for a few minutes...before looking at the demon straight in the eye and replying firmly,
"Deal."
She takes the his hand with no fear, her thoughts being,
This is wha' I want...I wan' the chance to make things righ'.
The flame ignites further upon skin-to-skin contact, and Bill lets out another booming laugh...
(Sizzzz)
"Aa-aah!"
Coraline's bare right wrist suddenly starts aching in a fashion similar to an excruciating burn, and as she struggles, the demon gleefully explains,
"You'll be fine, Little Doll. This is all part of the covenant process! Just think of it like putting a notary stamp at the end of a paper contract. I'm the stamp, and you're the paper!"
The girl grimaces and cries out in pain, but manages a weak nod...After a few more minutes, the burning ceases, and the flame dies like a smoky ember. Bill lets Coraline's hand go, and after blinking back some moisture from her eyes, the latter looks down at the new design etched onto her skin like a tattoo. The shape is a large soot black triangle with a blood red eye the same shape as the demon's in the middle, the larger shape situated between two sets of parallel lines on the top and bottom with a black dot in the middle of each set, like the triangle was sitting on a ribbon...
"I can tell this is gonna be fun already! Well, time for ya to jump back to reality. See ya soon, Little Doll~!"
(POW)
"(...Blink) Uh!"
After a bright flash of white light comes and passes, Coraline found herself back in the vibrant colours of true reality!
"...Somethin' wrong?"
"H-Huh?"
She turns her head to see Inuyasha staring at her with a confused expression as they continue their gradual trek to the Goshinboku Village.
"Uh, (...smile) No, everythin's fine. Just, reminiscin'..."
"...Alright."
Both focus in front of them, and while Coraline appears calm on the outside, inside, she's running wild with paranoia.
I-I-I'm back!...And it looks like, nothin' really happened while I w's inside my mind.
...Inuyasha doesn' seem to suspect anything eith'r...I'm surprised he didn' pick up on Bill's scent.
...Maybe i' has somethin' to do with bein' a dream demon...
Did that really happen, or...was tha' a vivid daydream from all th' stress?
...I can't be sure...
Eventually, the pair reach the perimeter of the small populace, and immediately head in the direction of Kaede's where everyone else would be waiting...Shippō is the first to greet them.
"Hm? Ah! Coraline! Inuyasha!"
He hops down from Miroku's shoulder and bounds over to the arriving redhead's waiting arms. She laughs out in response,
"Hey, Shippō!"
"I was so worried that you weren't gonna come back again!"
"(Playful smirk) Wha', and miss ou' on the daily bullhonky? Yu're jokin'!"
They giggle at the funny term just as Miroku, Sango and the twins come out of the hut, each having their own relieved smiles when they see a pair of teens and not a singular dog demon.
"Coraline."
"Sis."
"You came back."
"See? Told ya!"
She smiles happily at the quartet before coming over to hug each of them...As she steps back from Besa, the slayer asks,
"So, are you okay now, Coraline? Are...you and Inuyasha...?"
"Yes, Sango, everything's alrigh'. We had a frank discussion abou' where we stand, and to pu' it short, we agreed to stay by each other's sides in the comin' trials ahead, like best friends should. (Turn) Righ', Inuyasha?"
He nods with a neutral expression, choosing to remain quiet on the subject.
Everyone else sighs with relief, and the monk comments,
"That's good to hear. It's always better to keep as many friends close to you as possible as life goes on."
With that in the wind, Freeman makes the suggestion of heading by the riverside for lunch...Just as our group begins heading that direction, Inuyasha notices Coraline lagging behind.
"Hm? Hey, you comin'?"
"Oh! Auy, I'll be with yous in a momen'. Jus', need to retie my boot laces."
The silverette raises a brow, but shrugs and turns to keep going...Once he was far enough away, the girl stalks over behind one of the posts of the entrance torii by the elder priestess's hut, and pulls back her sleeve.
...I have this feelin'...that wha' happened was no dream.
A few seconds of staring later...the symbol from before fades into view on her right wrist, glowing a mix of strawberry red and licorice black!
"Uh-h!"
I-It's here!
...So then...I really did it...I made a deal with a demon.
Sure did, Little Doll~.
She nearly jumps six feet into the air when the entity's voices rings in like he was right next to her ear.
Uh! Bill!
Hehaha, the one and only!
...But when she looks around, Coraline sees nothing.
Where are ya?
Oh here, there, everywhere! I don't have to really make myself known to all the beings runnin' around in this dimension. I suppose you can say I'm in the mind~scape atmosphere...
She could almost feel herself sweatdrop from his explanation.
Uhh, right...
Anyway, just poppin' in your noggin for a second to clarify on one itty bitty detail: that mark on your wrist can only be seen by you and me, and it's only when you eyeball the spot long enough.
Oh?...Hauh, that's actu'lly a bit comfortin' to know...I wanna keep this deal as quiet as possible.
Smart girl! I was thinkin' the same: better to keep something like this hush hush. Wouldn't wanna send your loved ones into a panic attack, right...especially Red Sword~?
Red Sword...Uh! Y-Yeu mean, Inuyasha?
Coraline feels a tinge of pink rise to her cheeks.
Jus' wha' precisely are yae implyin'?
Heheh, nice try, but'chya can't play dumb with a Dream Demon. Remember that I can see into every nook and cranny of your cranium, including this new development from your earlier epiphany...Need I say more?
Please don't!
Hahaha, aww, is someone embarrassed~?
...Shut up!
Alright alright, I'll stop teasin'...for now. I got some other business somewhere else in this dimension, so I'll catch ya later!
With that, Bill disappears...Coraline lets out a breath of nerves and exasperation, and comes out from behind the pole before glancing down to watch the mark fade from view...
"This is more th'n likely gonna bite me in the ass later on...He sounds both sane an' insane...Even so...I don' regre' my move."
An' who knows? Maybe there is a selfish par' of me doin' this to eliminate the reincarnation title on my back, but I'm not makin' a big deal like I used to in the beginnin' of this whole adventure...I know I'm no' tha' petty...
But first and upmost, 'm doin' this for you, Kikyō...
I promise I will not stop, until you become spiritually whole again.
With a firm and reassuring nod, the young Croft tucks the subject into the back of her mind, before jogging off to catch up with the others, a new weight of responsibility and danger on her shoulders...