{The Path to the Heart}
{chapter seven – the little angel}
~~~
"So we missed them!?" Sango exploded at Mary. "By three goddamned days!?"
"Yes," Mary replied calmly, sipping her tea serenely. "Tsuraiuta-san, it's so good to see you again. Have you studied the White Arts recently?"
"Of course. I must say that I like destruction much better; so I'll keep practicing my role as a Black Dancer."
"Most youkai do seem to prefer the Black Arts," Mary mused. "I wonder why."
"There was one who hated them, though," Tsuraiuta shrugged. "Daiji Shiroi, I think her name was."
"Correct. Ironical that a girl named 'white' would chose to be a White Dancer."
"What are we expected to do now?" Miroku interrupted. "Or do you have any idea of what is the best course of action?"
"I think you should try to catch up with Miryoku-san," Mary said calmly. "Then, hurry back with Shiroi-san so that we can perform the High Summoning. Tsuraiuta-san, I believe I am right in thinking that you wish to summon your fire-based Magic – I apologize that I can't remember her name. That puts Shiroi-san and myself as summoning healing and shielding Magics, respectively. Well, Miryoku is quite deadly with that ice Magic of hers, can't place her name either. So that would leave Inuyasha-sama to fully become a Black Dancer in that time, find, train, name, and learn to love his own Magic, which I'm afraid will have to be of the thunder element. All we need now is a Prophet and a Barrier."
Sango and Miroku had absolutely no idea whatsoever what half of that meant.
Mary, seeing their confused looks, and Tsuraiuta's grim approval, began to explain. "There are seven parts to the High Summoning. Three Black Magics must be summoned, as well as two White. There must also be a Barrier, somebody pure of heart and strong in spirit to stop the excess energy from destroying anything nearby – or even far away. Lastly, a Prophet must also be present, in case one of the Dancers begins to lose heart or strength. I have no idea who we'll recruit for those last roles."
"I think Nankahen," Tsuraiuta said quietly. The High Summoning works best if all participants are closely bonded in some way. We all know one another, correct? One way or the other, I think using Kagome as the Barrier and Nankahen as our Prophet will be best."
"Is there another reason for a Prophet?" Sango wondered aloud, having calmed down slightly.
"Sometimes a great Prophecy will be born," Mary answered. "With Nankahen-san as our Prophet, the Prophecy will be much clearer and probably a bit farther into the future, which is good, as that will give us time to do what we need to. To do what we must."
"Is it dangerous?" Miroku asked bluntly.
"Yes," Mary said, without missing a beat. "Great risks involved – but considering the team we've decided on, we should all escape with our race intact. By that, I mean all parties involved will remain human, youkai, or hanyou, in Inuyasha-sama's case. No changes will be made, unless something goes horribly wrong. If the High Summoning fails, then...I'm not sure. It is necessary, however, for us to attempt."
Tsuraiuta's face was troubled. "I feel the need to hurry," she mumbled. "I don't know why, but something isn't right. We need to be transported to wherever Inuyasha-sama is now, and fast. Mary? I think we should save our strength."
"Of course. Tell Inuyasha he must discover a Thunder Magic."
"Agreed."
With a wave of her hand, Mary sent Tsuraiuta, Miroku, and Sango off to the location she had pinpointed the young Dancer's energy signature. "God be with you," Mary whispered softly, closing her eyes. She had foreseen the events that would come to pass, and none of them were particularly good news. Somehow, she knew that some things would be fine, and some would not. God grant me the power to change the things I can, the resolution to accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Some things are best left alone.
~~~
What Sango expected to see when she was zapped to wherever Inuyasha and Kagome were wasn't the image that greeted her. What she saw was alien, cruel, and it made her sick.
Inuyasha was standing over the corpse of a huge youkai. He was laughing. The laugh was...wicked. Evil. "I had so much fun killing you, Goshinki," he taunted, ignoring everybody else. "Maybe I can do this again with your bitch of a sister. It'll be so much fun to kill your bastard father. But your blood doesn't taste very good, so you really have no use to me anymore. Ah, well, it was fun while it lasted."
Standing next to Kagome was a young girl, who wore an eye patch and leaned on a pair of roughly made crutches. She looked upset. A young human Sango had never seen before was on her knees, her eyes dilated with fear. Kagome's face was shocked, horrified. Another woman – wait, that was a man – had crumpled to the ground near the trio.
"Inuyasha," Kagome croaked out. It was then that Sango noticed Inuyasha's appearance. He had several bloody wounds all over, and his shirt had been discarded somewhere, leaving his chest bare. His eyes, instead of their normally intense golden colour, were bright red. The pupils were blue, and they shone with the demonic light of bloodlust and desire. His claws and fangs were much longer; his cheeks were now also striped. One purple stripe each. And then he did not have his sword with him. No, there it lay nearby, in two pieces.
The thing that had replaced Inuyasha laughed again when he turned to face Kagome. When he saw Nankahen reach out to clasp her hand, his face darkened with rage. "Get the fuck away from her, you goddamned freak!" he roared, lashing out at the young Prophet. "Do not touch what is mine!" Kagome screamed, right before Inuyasha snatched her up in his arms, snarling over at the small group. "Mine," he hissed, one of his deadly clawed hands stroking Kagome's body urgently. Then, suddenly, he spun around and began to run away, taking his mate with him.
The young girl with the eye patch shook out of her daze. She pulled a rosary out of her kimono, and tossed it over Inuyasha's head. "Kagome-oneesama!" she called out. "Say a restraining word!"
"OSUWARI!" Kagome screamed, and Inuyasha toppled forward. Kagome fell to her knees; tears coursing freely down her cheeks as she Inuyasha twitched on the ground. When he raised his face, it was normal. She threw herself at him. "Oh, gods, you're alright," she cried out, sobbing into his chest. The hanyou looked angry. Angry at himself, angry at Goshinki, angry at the world for doing this to him.
"I'm...I can't believe it..." he whispered. "I'm so sorry..."Nankahen rose, wincing as he tenderly touched the gash on his cheek. "Okay, this does not feel good. I think your claws when you're in that form put some form of curse on a magician. We seriously need a Healer or a White Dancer...or I don't think I'll be living much longer. You pack a hell of a punch, Inuyasha – especially with those claws."
Miryoku stood up and said, "Fine then. We'll go to Daiji-san and her mate Kangae faster than originally planned. Daiji-san is probably the best White Dancer Mary has ever trained. She might even know something about that transformation of yours, Inuyasha."
Tsuraiuta cleared her throat loudly. "Excuse me."
Inuyasha spun around. "What are you doing here!?"
Sango rolled her eyes. "We have our reasons. Are you going to introduce us at any point in time? I don't know most of the people here." Kagome gestured to the girl with the eye patch on,
"That's my little sister Kaede. I don't know how she got here, but I'm glad she's with us for now. That guy there is a Prophet named Nankahen – I've known him since I was a little girl. Um...the human is Miryoku, Black Dancer and Inuyasha's friend."
"Nice to meet you," Miryoku said politely. "And you are...?"
"Sango. I bet you know Tsuraiuta, but I'm not sure about Miroku-sama here."
Miryoku laughed. The sound was musical. "So why are you here?"
"I sensed danger," Tsuraiuta answered, her face blank. "Mary transferred us. I think we should get to Shiroi's soon – Nankahen's injury looks like it's getting worse by the second."
She was right. Instead of gushing blood, some thick purple substance was oozing over the gash, hissing as the red of the wound mixed with the curse's purple, forming a darker colour that didn't look exactly healthy. Inuyasha flopped down. Nobody noticed, except for Kagome, but he blocked her out. My fault, my fault, he kept repeating in his mind, over and over. He's gonna die and then the High Summoning won't happen and Naraku will get the Shikon no Tama and he'll kill Kagome and then – his thoughts were cut off abruptly by a sweet, high voice in his mind.
/Do you really want to help him? / It asked playfully. /I could help you...for a price.../
Who are you?
/I'm a Magic. I could become your Magic, Inuyasha. If you want it badly enough, and are willing to pay the price. /
Tell me your name.
/We aren't born with names. If you really do want me to be your Magic, you will name me. That's how it works. But I am not a destructive Magic, I warn you. I exist to do manual labor of any sort. /
What is this price?
/You must name me, allow me to always be at your side, to sometimes influence your thinking if I see something you cannot, to promise that you'll love me forever and name me. I have to be like family to you. If you will Name me, I'll be your Magic. I'll protect your Kagome if you want. I can get the Prophet named Nankahen to Shiroi's in the blink of an eye. /
Fine. Inuyasha felt the Magic's delight in him choosing it. He noticed another channel in his mind. Now there were two: one to Kagome's mind, and one to this unnamed Magic's mind. Slowly, he eased himself into this thing's mind. He knew all about this one immediately. It was a girl, a sweet childlike flower of a spirit. All she wanted was to be loved, and in return she would do anything. Tenshiko, he decided. My little angel.
/I like that name, Master. I love you too. /
Don't call me that!
She was confused, hurt. /Why not? /
I don't own you like that. You're not a slave. You're my little angel, not some servant.
She was happy beyond all meaning of the word. /I'm going to become a Jewel now. Hold out your hand...then you must summon me. / Slowly, she faded from his mind, and he felt a slight weight in his outstretched palm. When he opened eyes he did not know were closed so tightly, he saw a shimmering iridescent jewel. An opal. He tossed it into the air.
There appeared a pretty girl-child in soft white, her long white hair freely swishing around her shoulders. She nodded to him. /I understand, Inuyasha. Get on my back, Nankahen. It's time to go to Shiroi's. /
The young Prophet's face was contorted in pain. "Thanks, little girl. Dunno who you are, but I owe you one."
/I am Tenshiko, / she said proudly, pulling him onto her back. /I am Inuyasha's first magic. Hold on tightly. / And then they both vanished. Inuyasha smiled, satisfied. He let down the mental barrier between him and Kagome, and she came to snuggle in his lap.
Don't scare me like that again, she scolded silently. Why did you shut me out?
I...don't you see what I did? How can you not hate me?
Because I love you too much, you big idiot.
~~~
Mary smiled slightly as she looked into the mirror, seeing Tenshiko pick up Nankahen. "Well done, Inuyasha-sama. Interesting that your first Magic is of an indecisive element, but good nonetheless. Nankahen, I hope you recover."
To this Dancer, all of the students were like her children. The odds of her ever having children of her own were slim to none, but it didn't matter. She had several hundred trainees that she could call her own. It was so easy to grow soft, to forget how to see futures that she would rather not. Mary knew that something was wrong...but she wasn't quite sure what.
Right now it was up to those very children. They would have to learn how to grow. But she also knew that they could do anything they set their minds to. The only limitations that were set upon them were the ones they created.
They were her students, after all.
~~~
FINALLY!!! I'm so sorry that took so long, it's been kinda crazy around here recently. Guess why...okay, here's the answer:
We're moving!!! Just across town, but meh. I've been packing up a lot recently (it's amazing how much crap a family of four can accumulate in seven years) so for the next month or so, my writing schedule's gonna be a bit...weird.
Also, I'm working on my own book right now. It's a collection of fairly short stories and essays called My Colours. So you see, in a year, tops, you'll have to look for my book! (that rhymes...) GASP you'll all know my real name! Horrors!
THIS is why I don't drink coffee very often. Review! And Duo-chan, I meant that I don't eat reviewers.
-Katra Winner