Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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The hand that Hikari had raised lit, seeming to be covered in a translucent sliver flame. It remained on her hand for a few moments, growing brighter and blazing, distracting them momentarily from the fight at hand. Hikari opened her hand wide, spreading the fingers as far as they would go. The fire obeyed her unspoken command, stretching itself to form a long, thin rod of silver. It curved at the ends and a thin strand connected to two, now tapered, points, to create the stunning image of a blazing silver bow. It was complete.
And not a moment too soon. The youkai swarmed around them, streaming in torrents around Kohaku and Kagura in haste to attack the group.
"You bastards," Inuyasha growled, willing the winds to form around the blade of the Tetsusaiga, "Kaze no Kizu!" Hundreds of youkai fell to his attack but the youkai did not seem to be decreasing in number.
Hikari frowned at the calm on the wind youkai's face. There was something odd about this. She turned her attention to Sango and Miroku, who were having problems of their own. The Saimyoushou buzzed eagerly around them, making it impossible for Miroku to use his Kazaana without injury to himself.
She saw Sango trying vainly to ignore the boy that was making his way towards them slowly, his eyes dead. She scanned him briefly, surprised when she felt a human mind hiding in the depths of his memory. "Ah, so that's it," she said, "Easy enough to fix I suppose."
Hikari reached into his mind, none to gently, and tore out all the restraining power that hid his memory. Kohaku screamed, falling to the ground and covering his head, "No. No. No. Please stop!"
He jumped to his feet, sprinting in the opposite direction, tears running freely down his face.
"Kohaku!" Sango struggled to leave the mass of youkai around her but they only swarmed tighter, "Hiraikotsu!" The youkai broke abruptly and Sango looked around hurriedly but it was too late. Kohaku had vanished.
Hikari shook her head, noticing that Miroku was having problems now. He reached for the rosary that held his greatest weapon closed. "Fool . . ." Hikari sighed, bringing her hands up. She, with her right fingers, grasped the silver bowstring, drawing back what appeared to be an empty bow. The instant she released it, a brilliant flame erupted, soaring forwards through the poisonous insects, streaming and curving to get as many as was in is range. Miroku looked around, shocked when the first of the Saimyoushou flamed. Hikari paid him no attention, drawing back her bow one last time to finish the rest of them. He nodded his head in thanks, already drawing in as many youkai as he could.
Hikari watched in amusement as Inuyasha chopped down the last of the youkai, making his way to the wind youkai. Kagura still appeared to watch in boredom.
"Matte, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha froze.
Hikari frowned as the soft voice hit her. Then she grinned, 'Ah. It's time isn't it Kagome.' She nodded, her presence fading as Kagome took control.
Kagome looked around curiously for the source of the voice, only looking down once when the silver bow crumbled. She stiffened immediately as a familiar looking person emerged from the forest growth. Another one of the images that she had gotten appeared in the front of her mind as she struggled to remember.
'Who?!?' Kagome thought frantically, for some reason not liking it when the stranger approached Inuyasha with arms outstretched.
"Kikyo . . ." Inuyasha whispered as she came towards him, Kagura and everything else forgotten.
'Kikyo!' Kagome's mind whirled, the name spurring thousands of memories to her head at once, all of which she did not like in the slightest. Kagome fell to her knees, grabbing her head as the barrier to her thoughts wavered.
Kikyo lifted her hand and placed it on Inuyasha's cheek.
Kagome's eyes widened in shock. The barrier shattered. She screamed, her eyes shut tightly and her teeth gritted together. The force of the emotions and the strength of her own mind pressed in on her. Kagome shook violently, arching her back as she screamed. The balance of her sanity was almost overloaded as every thought, memory and feeling that she had ever had came crashing down on her, to the very point of snapping her nerves.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran to her, unsure of what to do as she screamed in obvious agony, but there was nothing to tell him what was the cause. His head snapped up as he heard Kikyo's voice drift to him, "Does this girl mean more to you than I do?"
Inuyasha watched in shock when Kikyo began to fade, vanishing completely within moments.
"Hmph, that wasn't of much use," Kagura stood off to the side, her arms crossed as she frowned with disapproval.
Sango and Miroku came up to them as Kagome stood shakily, her mind still whirling but clear enough for her to think. Inuyasha was shaking with rage as the implications of what she said finally struck him. It had been an illusion. Used to deceive or distract him while Kagura attacked. His muscles bunched in preparation to leap forwards to slice apart the youkai. Kagome took a step forwards, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to her questioningly, but her attention was focused on Kagura.
She didn't spare him a glance as she responded, her voice whispered, "I remember."
Kagome shot forwards, not knowing what she was doing, but finding herself moving at an incredibly fast pace. She ignored her friends' shouts for her to stop. She darted forwards, the distance between her and the wind youkai growing considerably shorter. She raised a hand, lashing out when she came in range.
Kagura blinked in surprise when the young miko came closer and closer to her, almost seeming to blur. She didn't see Kagome move at all but her face was slapped sharply aside and a thin line of blood formed across her cheek. Kagura jumped back, surprise written in her face but there was anger present as well. She pulled a feather from her hair quickly, raising it as winds swirled around her. Kagome stopped abruptly raising her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth when dust swirled in the air.
She glanced up, glaring at the shape that was quickly fading in the distance. She turned to face her friends, who were coming up to her. "Wait for me here," she told them, "I'll be back soon."
Kagome said nothing else as she raced forwards yet again, in pursuit of the escaping youkai. Inuyasha shouted after her, launching himself to follow her but the wind was still scattering the scents in the air. "Kuso!" he swore when he realized that he had lost her. Her scent was nowhere that he could detect. 'Since when had she gotten so fast?!?' he thought as he trekked back to his companions, frustration and anger written clearly on his features.
"Let's go," he said, gesturing to Shippo and Rin that they would return shortly. He dashed into the woods, trying to follow the path that she had taken, as Kirara took Miroku and Sango to search the sky.
***
Kagome followed Kagura and her speed making it easy for her to gain on her quickly, she could tell that the wind youkai was nervous now, as she kept glancing behind her before crouching lower in her feather. She increased her speed, running faster, until she almost had a hand on the feather. An arrow streaked out in front of her. Kagome stopped abruptly, stumbling back as the arrow caught the bottom of her sleeve. She searched the area quickly. Her eyes narrowed as she found the source of the sudden attack.
"Kikyo." the name slid past her lips as she was once again felt the draining sensation that meant that she was being shoved into the flux again but this time, she fought it. She wanted to use her newfound power to even her score with Kikyo but apparently that was not to be the case. She could hear something sigh in her mind but she ignored her curiosity and struggled harder but the sensation increased and she once again found herself in the flux, but it was different this time, she could feel another being there with her.
It was Hikari that strode calmly to where Kikyo was. Except there was something different about the undead miko this time. Hikari felt her aura ripple as the 'Kikyo' dropped the bow and faced Hikari completely. Hikari knew what had happened.
Kikyo was still Kikyo if you were looking from a distance far enough away that you couldn't feel the intense power that alone rivaled Hikari's. 'Kikyo' too, had a mark blazing across her forehead, a dark, almost black, power that was could be described only as dark. It was the only thing that was able to match the mark of Light in brilliance. Yami blazed across 'Kikyo's' forehead. Dark. Hikari had finally located the Child of Dark.
So begins the first Event.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome had huffed and went into a seated position in the floating abyss. A voice came to her, jolting her out of her irritation, "Child of Light, you must listen now, while there is still time."
"Nani?! Child of Light? Who are you? Give me my body back!"
"I am Light. You know that you are Child of Light, did you not read the prophecy that you yourself brought here? You are my vessel. The time for the first Event is now and you must listen as I explain to you what will happen before my time is out and you will be alone to face the first Challenge alone."
It sounded serious whatever it was, and is was possible, she supposed, listening wouldn't hurt any. "Fine, I'll listen but I won't promise anything."
"Miko this is serious. You must listen. In a moment, the flux area that you are in is to be connected to another zone. In the zone, you will find your opponent, Child of Dark. You are to battle in this flux area. Arm yourself Child of Light. I will be unable to assist you in the Challenge. I gift to you the weapon that will protect you as best as it is able."
The space in front of her seemed to twist and flex until an item dropped from the spot and into her hands. She looked at it incredulously, a thin katana was to be her weapon. It was a beautiful weapon, she saw as she drew it from the scabbard. It was lighter than air and the metal seemed to be made of water, not sharp steel that seemed to hum from within. The blade seemed to be a thin version of a broadsword, with the exception that one side was glowing and shining with an inner light, while the other seemed to have shadows beneath the metal.
The hilt seemed plain at first, until you saw the way the metal molded itself to fit her hand as she grasped it. There was a clear globe that joined the hilt to blade on both sides. The crystal shone clear through the sword and within it, Kagome swore she could see the reflection of a silver fire flaring up without a cause. The hilt itself was remarkable. It was made from silver metal, you could see that clearly, but it wasn't quite silver or steel that it was made from. It was a metal that had not been found in this universe it seemed, the phoenix winding up the hilt stopped directly below the orb. It's eyes burning as it stared straight into the eyes of the wielder, seeming to encourage and lend it's strength.
Kagome was in awe as she clasped the blade. It was a beautiful weapon indeed, "B-But I can't use this! I don't know how to use a sword!"
She could hear the laugh in the voice as it spoke, "Do not worry Child of Light. The sword knows what to do. Just let it teach you."
"Let it teach me," she muttered to herself, "Let a sword teach me how to use it. Somehow I knew this wouldn't be easy."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile
Hikari and the Dark had just been staying in the same positions, neither moving, each conversing with their chosen. They broke away at the same time.
"Are you quite finished?" Hikari was asking.
"Quite," Dark smirked, "Let the Challenge begin."
Dark leapt up and flew to a better location, in setup for the next meeting and Hikari was left alone. "Yes," Hikari whispered, "Let the Challenge begin."
With that said, Hikari retracted. Kagome's body, lying on the ground. Her eyes were opened so it would have seemed that she was awake except for the dead, soulless look in them. Before Hikari had left, a powerful shield was locked into place, so that only the chosen would be allowed to enter. And thus the Challenge begins, and the barrier between the two flux zones, vanished. Leaving the two chosen to battle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome could feel the power coursing though her. She stood ready for combat as she watched her opponent warily. Unfortunately so did Kikyo. The undead miko was now free from all physical bonds and the emotion crossing over her face was unmistakable. It was pure hatred in the most developed form. There were traces of a new confusion and some satisfaction mixed in as well but they were consumed by the hate that was there. Kagome flinched unintentionally when she saw that but the blade in her hand had started to throb.
Kikyo too had a blade. Almost completely the same but yet, so different that it would be impossible to tell them as the same. The shades in the blade were dark, almost consumingly so. Where there was light on her blade, there was dark on Kikyo's. Where there was shadow on hers, there was a thin shine of light on Kikyo's. The hilt was the curve of a dragon, replacing the phoenix on hers. The hilt was a dark shine of a silvery material, almost black it was.
"There can be only one of us and I do not intend to die," Kikyo spat, coming towards her with speed filled with all the hatred and anger she had died with.
Her blade was poised and ready to kill. Kagome brought her blade up just in time, but was almost startled into dropping it when a painful jolt went through her and with the haste that Kikyo broke away, she had felt it too. They met in the middle this time, blades clashing with the steely hiss of metal upon metal, each trying to overpower the other with pure force of will. Kagome didn't expect Kikyo so break away so suddenly or attack again in that time. Kikyo's sword whipped around and connected with Kagome's left shoulder, drawing blood that Kagome couldn't see but knew that she had been hurt badly. The jolt streaked through her blood. Coursing through her so quickly that she couldn't suppress the groan that tore from her throat as she spun, connecting her blade against Kikyo's thigh. Kagome again jumped when the force ran up her arm upon contact with Kikyo's blood.
Kagome broke away, clutching her arm but still watching Kikyo carefully for signs of attack and attack she did. Kagome ducked under the blade but wasn't fast enough and Kikyo managed a deep cut across the side of her face. Kagome attacked again and again, being repeatedly blocked and attacked by Kikyo as she hurried to block and save herself more bloodshed.
The battle seemed matched as the two studied to damage the other had done from opposite sides of the zone. Kagome's shoulder and face were still bleeding heavily, along with the other cuts and gashes that she had received. Her forearm had been cut and Kikyo had slashed against her chest, leaving an open wound there. Her uniform was in shreds and she was breathing heavily from both blood loss and exertion.
But Kikyo wasn't much better. Along with the before gash on her thigh, Kikyo had gained a cut along her ribs and numerous scrapes along her body.
Kikyo suddenly smirked, "You will be destroyed and I will take Inuyasha down to hell with me where he belongs."
Kagome's eyes narrowed rapidly, "I will not allow that Kikyo. I will not lose if that is all you wish."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha was racing to where he could smell Kagome. Her scent had settled not to long ago and it seemed as if she had not moved. He cursed at the thought of what that could mean but shook it aside as she moved faster, with Kirara not much further behind. He was close now. He could feel it.
'Dammit Kagome, where are you!?'
He whirled when he heard Sango cry out. Kirara was streaking towards the ground. Inuyasha's eyes traced their path and gasped when he saw a figure curled on the ground. He sped there, landing briefly before Kirara did. Sango and Miroku dismounted immediately and all three sped towards the crumpled form. Sango and Inuyasha turned when Miroku let out a surprised shout. They saw him laying on the ground a good distance from where they were. His robes were smoking.
"Oi Miroku! What the hell is wrong with you!?" Inuyasha was kneeling at the unconscious girl's side.
"I can't get through! There is some sort of barrier. What's wrong with Kagome-sama?" Miroku's attention had turned when he saw the blood drain from Inuyasha's face, glancing down at the girl, he saw the poor condition of her body. He turned his gaze up to her face and gasped when he saw the soulless eyes, almost like when she had been controlled.
Sango was by her friend's side. Both her and Inuyasha shaking her and shouting her name, but nothing happened. Both jumped and cried out when they felt a power flash from nowhere and a new gash appeared across Kagome's chest, as if by sword. Inuyasha trailed her eyes down her form, taking in the bruises and cuts over her body. He noticed something new. He lifted Kagome's arm. She was clutching a scabbard in her left hand. The hand only tightened as they tried to remove it but Inuyasha and Sango pried it loose. Inuyasha carried it over to where Miroku was still staring at Kagome's body, eyes calculating.
"What is wrong with Kagome, monk? Do you know?"
"She . . . She seems like . . . almost like . . . she has lost her soul."
"Where could it have gone then monk? How do we get it back?"
But Miroku's gaze had moved down to the scabbard that Inuyasha clutched, "What's that?"
"It's a scabbard, bouzu. Kagome was holding it but I've never seen it before."
"Someone will have to retrieve Kagome-sama's soul."
"You do it monk."
"I cannot. I would have to be in physical contact with the body and I am unable to come into range. It must be you or Sango."
Miroku turned to Sango, "You should do it Sango, as a human, your soul is more capable of leaving than Inuyasha's would be."
"What do I do houshi-sama?"
"Hold Kagome-sama's hand and go into her mind, follow the trail that her soul would have left. Be careful Sango. There's something dangerous there and it's doing that (He gestured to Kagome's injuries as another gash appeared on her face) to Kagome-sama."
Sango nodded and sank to a seated position and closed her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome and Kikyo were once again locked together in fierce combat. Kagome gave a shout and lunged but Kikyo had been waiting for that and she curved her blade up and around driving it straight into Kagome's stomach and yanking back as the tip appeared through Kagome's back. Kagome fell to the ground. She tried to stand but Kikyo had her sword at Kagome's neck, "You lose. Inuyasha will be mine."
Kikyo brought her sword up and swung it in a curved arc down, towards Kagome's neck.
So ends part one of the First Event
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jap. Translations:
Kuso - Dammit
Houshi - Monk
Bouzu - rude term for monk
Matte - Wait
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Author's Note: Mwahahaha I'm so evil for a cliffy like this. Not really considering the next chapter is already up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The hand that Hikari had raised lit, seeming to be covered in a translucent sliver flame. It remained on her hand for a few moments, growing brighter and blazing, distracting them momentarily from the fight at hand. Hikari opened her hand wide, spreading the fingers as far as they would go. The fire obeyed her unspoken command, stretching itself to form a long, thin rod of silver. It curved at the ends and a thin strand connected to two, now tapered, points, to create the stunning image of a blazing silver bow. It was complete.
And not a moment too soon. The youkai swarmed around them, streaming in torrents around Kohaku and Kagura in haste to attack the group.
"You bastards," Inuyasha growled, willing the winds to form around the blade of the Tetsusaiga, "Kaze no Kizu!" Hundreds of youkai fell to his attack but the youkai did not seem to be decreasing in number.
Hikari frowned at the calm on the wind youkai's face. There was something odd about this. She turned her attention to Sango and Miroku, who were having problems of their own. The Saimyoushou buzzed eagerly around them, making it impossible for Miroku to use his Kazaana without injury to himself.
She saw Sango trying vainly to ignore the boy that was making his way towards them slowly, his eyes dead. She scanned him briefly, surprised when she felt a human mind hiding in the depths of his memory. "Ah, so that's it," she said, "Easy enough to fix I suppose."
Hikari reached into his mind, none to gently, and tore out all the restraining power that hid his memory. Kohaku screamed, falling to the ground and covering his head, "No. No. No. Please stop!"
He jumped to his feet, sprinting in the opposite direction, tears running freely down his face.
"Kohaku!" Sango struggled to leave the mass of youkai around her but they only swarmed tighter, "Hiraikotsu!" The youkai broke abruptly and Sango looked around hurriedly but it was too late. Kohaku had vanished.
Hikari shook her head, noticing that Miroku was having problems now. He reached for the rosary that held his greatest weapon closed. "Fool . . ." Hikari sighed, bringing her hands up. She, with her right fingers, grasped the silver bowstring, drawing back what appeared to be an empty bow. The instant she released it, a brilliant flame erupted, soaring forwards through the poisonous insects, streaming and curving to get as many as was in is range. Miroku looked around, shocked when the first of the Saimyoushou flamed. Hikari paid him no attention, drawing back her bow one last time to finish the rest of them. He nodded his head in thanks, already drawing in as many youkai as he could.
Hikari watched in amusement as Inuyasha chopped down the last of the youkai, making his way to the wind youkai. Kagura still appeared to watch in boredom.
"Matte, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha froze.
Hikari frowned as the soft voice hit her. Then she grinned, 'Ah. It's time isn't it Kagome.' She nodded, her presence fading as Kagome took control.
Kagome looked around curiously for the source of the voice, only looking down once when the silver bow crumbled. She stiffened immediately as a familiar looking person emerged from the forest growth. Another one of the images that she had gotten appeared in the front of her mind as she struggled to remember.
'Who?!?' Kagome thought frantically, for some reason not liking it when the stranger approached Inuyasha with arms outstretched.
"Kikyo . . ." Inuyasha whispered as she came towards him, Kagura and everything else forgotten.
'Kikyo!' Kagome's mind whirled, the name spurring thousands of memories to her head at once, all of which she did not like in the slightest. Kagome fell to her knees, grabbing her head as the barrier to her thoughts wavered.
Kikyo lifted her hand and placed it on Inuyasha's cheek.
Kagome's eyes widened in shock. The barrier shattered. She screamed, her eyes shut tightly and her teeth gritted together. The force of the emotions and the strength of her own mind pressed in on her. Kagome shook violently, arching her back as she screamed. The balance of her sanity was almost overloaded as every thought, memory and feeling that she had ever had came crashing down on her, to the very point of snapping her nerves.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran to her, unsure of what to do as she screamed in obvious agony, but there was nothing to tell him what was the cause. His head snapped up as he heard Kikyo's voice drift to him, "Does this girl mean more to you than I do?"
Inuyasha watched in shock when Kikyo began to fade, vanishing completely within moments.
"Hmph, that wasn't of much use," Kagura stood off to the side, her arms crossed as she frowned with disapproval.
Sango and Miroku came up to them as Kagome stood shakily, her mind still whirling but clear enough for her to think. Inuyasha was shaking with rage as the implications of what she said finally struck him. It had been an illusion. Used to deceive or distract him while Kagura attacked. His muscles bunched in preparation to leap forwards to slice apart the youkai. Kagome took a step forwards, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to her questioningly, but her attention was focused on Kagura.
She didn't spare him a glance as she responded, her voice whispered, "I remember."
Kagome shot forwards, not knowing what she was doing, but finding herself moving at an incredibly fast pace. She ignored her friends' shouts for her to stop. She darted forwards, the distance between her and the wind youkai growing considerably shorter. She raised a hand, lashing out when she came in range.
Kagura blinked in surprise when the young miko came closer and closer to her, almost seeming to blur. She didn't see Kagome move at all but her face was slapped sharply aside and a thin line of blood formed across her cheek. Kagura jumped back, surprise written in her face but there was anger present as well. She pulled a feather from her hair quickly, raising it as winds swirled around her. Kagome stopped abruptly raising her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth when dust swirled in the air.
She glanced up, glaring at the shape that was quickly fading in the distance. She turned to face her friends, who were coming up to her. "Wait for me here," she told them, "I'll be back soon."
Kagome said nothing else as she raced forwards yet again, in pursuit of the escaping youkai. Inuyasha shouted after her, launching himself to follow her but the wind was still scattering the scents in the air. "Kuso!" he swore when he realized that he had lost her. Her scent was nowhere that he could detect. 'Since when had she gotten so fast?!?' he thought as he trekked back to his companions, frustration and anger written clearly on his features.
"Let's go," he said, gesturing to Shippo and Rin that they would return shortly. He dashed into the woods, trying to follow the path that she had taken, as Kirara took Miroku and Sango to search the sky.
***
Kagome followed Kagura and her speed making it easy for her to gain on her quickly, she could tell that the wind youkai was nervous now, as she kept glancing behind her before crouching lower in her feather. She increased her speed, running faster, until she almost had a hand on the feather. An arrow streaked out in front of her. Kagome stopped abruptly, stumbling back as the arrow caught the bottom of her sleeve. She searched the area quickly. Her eyes narrowed as she found the source of the sudden attack.
"Kikyo." the name slid past her lips as she was once again felt the draining sensation that meant that she was being shoved into the flux again but this time, she fought it. She wanted to use her newfound power to even her score with Kikyo but apparently that was not to be the case. She could hear something sigh in her mind but she ignored her curiosity and struggled harder but the sensation increased and she once again found herself in the flux, but it was different this time, she could feel another being there with her.
It was Hikari that strode calmly to where Kikyo was. Except there was something different about the undead miko this time. Hikari felt her aura ripple as the 'Kikyo' dropped the bow and faced Hikari completely. Hikari knew what had happened.
Kikyo was still Kikyo if you were looking from a distance far enough away that you couldn't feel the intense power that alone rivaled Hikari's. 'Kikyo' too, had a mark blazing across her forehead, a dark, almost black, power that was could be described only as dark. It was the only thing that was able to match the mark of Light in brilliance. Yami blazed across 'Kikyo's' forehead. Dark. Hikari had finally located the Child of Dark.
So begins the first Event.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome had huffed and went into a seated position in the floating abyss. A voice came to her, jolting her out of her irritation, "Child of Light, you must listen now, while there is still time."
"Nani?! Child of Light? Who are you? Give me my body back!"
"I am Light. You know that you are Child of Light, did you not read the prophecy that you yourself brought here? You are my vessel. The time for the first Event is now and you must listen as I explain to you what will happen before my time is out and you will be alone to face the first Challenge alone."
It sounded serious whatever it was, and is was possible, she supposed, listening wouldn't hurt any. "Fine, I'll listen but I won't promise anything."
"Miko this is serious. You must listen. In a moment, the flux area that you are in is to be connected to another zone. In the zone, you will find your opponent, Child of Dark. You are to battle in this flux area. Arm yourself Child of Light. I will be unable to assist you in the Challenge. I gift to you the weapon that will protect you as best as it is able."
The space in front of her seemed to twist and flex until an item dropped from the spot and into her hands. She looked at it incredulously, a thin katana was to be her weapon. It was a beautiful weapon, she saw as she drew it from the scabbard. It was lighter than air and the metal seemed to be made of water, not sharp steel that seemed to hum from within. The blade seemed to be a thin version of a broadsword, with the exception that one side was glowing and shining with an inner light, while the other seemed to have shadows beneath the metal.
The hilt seemed plain at first, until you saw the way the metal molded itself to fit her hand as she grasped it. There was a clear globe that joined the hilt to blade on both sides. The crystal shone clear through the sword and within it, Kagome swore she could see the reflection of a silver fire flaring up without a cause. The hilt itself was remarkable. It was made from silver metal, you could see that clearly, but it wasn't quite silver or steel that it was made from. It was a metal that had not been found in this universe it seemed, the phoenix winding up the hilt stopped directly below the orb. It's eyes burning as it stared straight into the eyes of the wielder, seeming to encourage and lend it's strength.
Kagome was in awe as she clasped the blade. It was a beautiful weapon indeed, "B-But I can't use this! I don't know how to use a sword!"
She could hear the laugh in the voice as it spoke, "Do not worry Child of Light. The sword knows what to do. Just let it teach you."
"Let it teach me," she muttered to herself, "Let a sword teach me how to use it. Somehow I knew this wouldn't be easy."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile
Hikari and the Dark had just been staying in the same positions, neither moving, each conversing with their chosen. They broke away at the same time.
"Are you quite finished?" Hikari was asking.
"Quite," Dark smirked, "Let the Challenge begin."
Dark leapt up and flew to a better location, in setup for the next meeting and Hikari was left alone. "Yes," Hikari whispered, "Let the Challenge begin."
With that said, Hikari retracted. Kagome's body, lying on the ground. Her eyes were opened so it would have seemed that she was awake except for the dead, soulless look in them. Before Hikari had left, a powerful shield was locked into place, so that only the chosen would be allowed to enter. And thus the Challenge begins, and the barrier between the two flux zones, vanished. Leaving the two chosen to battle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome could feel the power coursing though her. She stood ready for combat as she watched her opponent warily. Unfortunately so did Kikyo. The undead miko was now free from all physical bonds and the emotion crossing over her face was unmistakable. It was pure hatred in the most developed form. There were traces of a new confusion and some satisfaction mixed in as well but they were consumed by the hate that was there. Kagome flinched unintentionally when she saw that but the blade in her hand had started to throb.
Kikyo too had a blade. Almost completely the same but yet, so different that it would be impossible to tell them as the same. The shades in the blade were dark, almost consumingly so. Where there was light on her blade, there was dark on Kikyo's. Where there was shadow on hers, there was a thin shine of light on Kikyo's. The hilt was the curve of a dragon, replacing the phoenix on hers. The hilt was a dark shine of a silvery material, almost black it was.
"There can be only one of us and I do not intend to die," Kikyo spat, coming towards her with speed filled with all the hatred and anger she had died with.
Her blade was poised and ready to kill. Kagome brought her blade up just in time, but was almost startled into dropping it when a painful jolt went through her and with the haste that Kikyo broke away, she had felt it too. They met in the middle this time, blades clashing with the steely hiss of metal upon metal, each trying to overpower the other with pure force of will. Kagome didn't expect Kikyo so break away so suddenly or attack again in that time. Kikyo's sword whipped around and connected with Kagome's left shoulder, drawing blood that Kagome couldn't see but knew that she had been hurt badly. The jolt streaked through her blood. Coursing through her so quickly that she couldn't suppress the groan that tore from her throat as she spun, connecting her blade against Kikyo's thigh. Kagome again jumped when the force ran up her arm upon contact with Kikyo's blood.
Kagome broke away, clutching her arm but still watching Kikyo carefully for signs of attack and attack she did. Kagome ducked under the blade but wasn't fast enough and Kikyo managed a deep cut across the side of her face. Kagome attacked again and again, being repeatedly blocked and attacked by Kikyo as she hurried to block and save herself more bloodshed.
The battle seemed matched as the two studied to damage the other had done from opposite sides of the zone. Kagome's shoulder and face were still bleeding heavily, along with the other cuts and gashes that she had received. Her forearm had been cut and Kikyo had slashed against her chest, leaving an open wound there. Her uniform was in shreds and she was breathing heavily from both blood loss and exertion.
But Kikyo wasn't much better. Along with the before gash on her thigh, Kikyo had gained a cut along her ribs and numerous scrapes along her body.
Kikyo suddenly smirked, "You will be destroyed and I will take Inuyasha down to hell with me where he belongs."
Kagome's eyes narrowed rapidly, "I will not allow that Kikyo. I will not lose if that is all you wish."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha was racing to where he could smell Kagome. Her scent had settled not to long ago and it seemed as if she had not moved. He cursed at the thought of what that could mean but shook it aside as she moved faster, with Kirara not much further behind. He was close now. He could feel it.
'Dammit Kagome, where are you!?'
He whirled when he heard Sango cry out. Kirara was streaking towards the ground. Inuyasha's eyes traced their path and gasped when he saw a figure curled on the ground. He sped there, landing briefly before Kirara did. Sango and Miroku dismounted immediately and all three sped towards the crumpled form. Sango and Inuyasha turned when Miroku let out a surprised shout. They saw him laying on the ground a good distance from where they were. His robes were smoking.
"Oi Miroku! What the hell is wrong with you!?" Inuyasha was kneeling at the unconscious girl's side.
"I can't get through! There is some sort of barrier. What's wrong with Kagome-sama?" Miroku's attention had turned when he saw the blood drain from Inuyasha's face, glancing down at the girl, he saw the poor condition of her body. He turned his gaze up to her face and gasped when he saw the soulless eyes, almost like when she had been controlled.
Sango was by her friend's side. Both her and Inuyasha shaking her and shouting her name, but nothing happened. Both jumped and cried out when they felt a power flash from nowhere and a new gash appeared across Kagome's chest, as if by sword. Inuyasha trailed her eyes down her form, taking in the bruises and cuts over her body. He noticed something new. He lifted Kagome's arm. She was clutching a scabbard in her left hand. The hand only tightened as they tried to remove it but Inuyasha and Sango pried it loose. Inuyasha carried it over to where Miroku was still staring at Kagome's body, eyes calculating.
"What is wrong with Kagome, monk? Do you know?"
"She . . . She seems like . . . almost like . . . she has lost her soul."
"Where could it have gone then monk? How do we get it back?"
But Miroku's gaze had moved down to the scabbard that Inuyasha clutched, "What's that?"
"It's a scabbard, bouzu. Kagome was holding it but I've never seen it before."
"Someone will have to retrieve Kagome-sama's soul."
"You do it monk."
"I cannot. I would have to be in physical contact with the body and I am unable to come into range. It must be you or Sango."
Miroku turned to Sango, "You should do it Sango, as a human, your soul is more capable of leaving than Inuyasha's would be."
"What do I do houshi-sama?"
"Hold Kagome-sama's hand and go into her mind, follow the trail that her soul would have left. Be careful Sango. There's something dangerous there and it's doing that (He gestured to Kagome's injuries as another gash appeared on her face) to Kagome-sama."
Sango nodded and sank to a seated position and closed her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome and Kikyo were once again locked together in fierce combat. Kagome gave a shout and lunged but Kikyo had been waiting for that and she curved her blade up and around driving it straight into Kagome's stomach and yanking back as the tip appeared through Kagome's back. Kagome fell to the ground. She tried to stand but Kikyo had her sword at Kagome's neck, "You lose. Inuyasha will be mine."
Kikyo brought her sword up and swung it in a curved arc down, towards Kagome's neck.
So ends part one of the First Event
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jap. Translations:
Kuso - Dammit
Houshi - Monk
Bouzu - rude term for monk
Matte - Wait
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Mwahahaha I'm so evil for a cliffy like this. Not really considering the next chapter is already up.
