FOREIGNER By: OtakuSailorV
Chapter 24: Identity Switch
Heather woke as the sun was getting into the sky. The sun made the sky pink in the sky outside. With a groan Heather lifted herself up & looked around the room. Rubbing her dreary eyes she noticed that she was no longer outdoors. "Hmmm." She thought as a cup of steaming hot chocolate appeared in her hand. She stood & crossed the room to the door that led outside. Tugging on it she found that it was stuck shut. She gave it several hard tugs before giving up & thrusting her hand through the wicker interior. Moving her arm around in a circle she bent the sticks that were poking her arm & pulled the door open from the outside. "Piece o' shit." She grunted as she opened the door & stepped out in her baggy pajamas. She took a sip of the hot chocolate & looked quietly out at the place outside. Not a blade of grass on the ground, not a single tree or bush or any organic matter was on the vast plane. "Man, & I thought the grubs got to MY front yard."
Kagura entered shortly after to check on the girl. She stood stunned in the doorway, looking at the back of the girl who was standing outside with the door leading to the outside torn away from the doorway. The Black dragon, Hisui, was sitting on the banister beside Heather, looking out. "What." Kagura started. Heather turned around & smiled at her. "Yes?" Kagura pointed to the door. "How." Heather took notice of the demon ears on the woman but didn't mention them. "Oh.that?" Heather asked pointing to the broken & destroyed door on the ground inside the house. "I can fix that."
When Heather had replaced the door Kagura had found her voice. "So, I bet your wondering what you're doing back here?" Heather gave her a curious look. "No. Never been here before lady." Kagura noticed the word from before. "I am not 'lady' I'm Kagura of the Wind. Are you sure you've never been here before 'Hikari'?" Kagura smirked at Heather's shocked look. "Hikari? I'm not.uh.I guess you caught me huh?" Heather became suddenly aware of who the woman that she was. "Not much gets passed you now does it?" Heather plopped down on the ground, smiling. Kagura walked to the doorway. "Well, now that I know who you are I don't suppose you'll mind dropping your disguise?" Heather jumped back up. "Riiighttt.disguise." Heather got a picture of her friend ready. With a small flick of her fingers upward she started to change. Her hair got longer & formed a braided ponytail. Her freckles disappeared. Her eyes changed from their multiple colors to clear blue ones. But there was no helping her wings, she couldn't change them yet, she hadn't learned how to change the color of her wings. She shrugged it off, maybe she wouldn't have to use them. Kagura smirked at her. "I think Naraku wants to see you now." Heather shrugged. "Whatever."
Kouga could feel the weariness in his legs but he kept himself going. He could smell the barrier getting closer, he was almost there.
Hikari flew as fast as she could. A thought had occurred to her that Heather might be gone from the castle when they got there, but wouldn't Kagome be able to tell if Heather was on the move? Another thing ate away at Hikari as she flew. "What about Rin & Jaken? Those that couldn't defend themselves? Kohaku did not seem happy about returning to Naraku's castle so soon after his escape. Kagome had removed the jewel shard from his back nights before & Hikari & Heather had helped heal his wounds when the blood had started to flow. But was he still susceptible to Naraku's commands? Hikari sighed her thoughts away for the moment. Rin was under her care so there would be no question that she would be safe, Jaken would hide in the trees until the battle was over with Myoga miles away. Plus, she added in her mind, Kohaku was stronger than he thought & would not be taken from his sister & friends again so easily. She smiled at the way she had worked the problems out. The final battle with Naraku was close at hand.
It stank beyond what Heather could bear in Naraku's chambers. It was of miasma, poisons, rotting flesh, & other foul stenches that Heather could not name. Her disguise of Hikari would hold for as long as she willed it to but she was afraid that the fumes would knock her unconscious before she had dropped the disguise of her own free will. With a bit of a glare she looked at Naraku. 'Alright, Hikari has been here before & I can read minds. So this shouldn't be too hard, but what if he knows when I'm looking at his thoughts?' Naraku looked up at her as she sat down across from him as he had seen Hikari do weeks before. "So, Kagura tells me that you have no memory of this place?" Heather shook her head. "Nope I remember this place.it still smells the same." Naraku raised an eyebrow at her but Heather paid little mind to him. "I see that you have a Shikon jewel shard in your pocket." Heather smiled. "Yeah, so?" heather shrugged her shoulders as if it meant nothing to her. "I suppose you remember that I have collected most of the shards including this one which is extremely powerful?" He held out a shard in his fingers. "I desire the entire jewel. But.I see that you are attracted to the power as well?" He let Heather take the jewel from him slowly. "This doesn't seem to be a shard at all. I think your trackers faulty bub." Kagura & Naraku raised their eyebrows at the strange word but Heather only looked at the shard. She gasped slightly as one of the sharp corners dug into her skin & cut her. "Hmmm." She ignored the blood & looked it over again. The shard glowed with strange power, it was no Shikon shard, she could tell from the power it was emitting. "Yeah, this isn't one." Naraku smirked at her but Heather paid little mind as the skin on her finger reformed & the blood was wiped away by an unknown source. Naraku's smirk faded as he saw her heal. "I see you have acquired new powers." He said flatly. Heather smiled & held up her thumb. "Hell nah. I knew this." Naraku raised his eyebrow again. "You don't seem curious about your fate or defiant like the last time you were here Hikari." He noticed. "I learned to control such emotions until they are needed. She said shrugging her shoulders. "What's to be defiant about? It's not like anything's happening that's buggin' me or anything." Naraku noticed her wince slightly & grab at her hand that had been cut by his shard. She tossed it suddenly at him. "Think fast." She commanded with a smile at his shocked look. It hit him square in the forehead & bounced off, landing in his lap. Heather held down a laugh. "I said think fast." She said with a smile at him. He glared at her. "How did you come back & which such different powers that you can disguise yourself completely?" He demanded. "For all YOUR sources I thought you would know." Heather looked sidelong at the door behind him. He waited, glaring at her, Kagura watching the girls wince again. Heather groaned & grabbed her arm. It hurt so badly, & the pain seemed to be spreading fast. Sweat formed on her forehead as she tried to bear the pain. Naraku still glared at her as she winced again & again, shuddering & trying to talk against the pain. "If you can do tell me your secrets because you are dying & only I can save you." Heather groaned a curse. "Your people will not bother me any longer! I will be rid of you Hikari Oukami & then I will kill Inuyasha & take his shards & become full demon." Heather smiled at him but winced again. "Fool. Baka!" Naraku & Kagura stopped & looked at her. "Are you so blind that you cannot see a trick when you see one? You are doomed Naraku! I am no Hikari Oukami!" Heather's disguise fell away & Heather could feel some strength come back to her as she dropped it. Her eyes changed back to their usual color, her hair to its usual length. Her freckles reappeared on her cheeks & nose, & her aura shone a deep red of hatred. "I am Heather of the Black Dragon Clan! I am a True Dragon & friend to True Dragon Kayla Lorenz or as you know her, Hikari Oukami! Fool. You kill the wrong girl." Heather managed to stand up & her feathered wings appeared. Hisui was only starting to feel her master's pain as she flew around the red aura. "That poison will kill you before you can leave these grounds. I perfected it from the one that I used on Kouga of the Eastern Wolf Demon tribe. His worked slowly but yours is working twice as fast & it involves no movement to hasten it, it will only kill you faster if you run." Kagura said with a smirk but hated that the girl did not seem strong enough to withstand the poison & kill Naraku. "It does not matter if you are not Hikari. Your death, if you are truly her friend, will devastate her until she has no control & will foolishly jump into battle & kill herself." Naraku smirked but could not see Heather's beneath her bowed head & bangs. "Baka." She groaned out as her legs started to buckle. "The power of a True Dragon is that when we reach a point of no control.we turn into dragons ourselves.then we are at our most powerful & we are almost unstoppable except for when fighting another of our own kind. You are doomed either way." A tiny girl with long blue white hair stepped from the shadows at that. "Naraku. Kagome & Inuyasha bring many friends including Kouga of the Wolf demons here. They will arrive soon." The tiny girl's voice was sweet but Heather could sense that she was not a real being. Taking the opportunity though she disappeared & flew out of the barrier.
Naraku stood & walked out of the room swiftly. "Kagura bring me that girls body. I want to present it to Hikari herself when she arrives." He smirked to himself. "We will see what power this 'Heather' spoke of is about."
Heather swooped low, her wings felt like dead weights instead of nimble appendages. She groaned & winced against the pain again. Hisui started to dive down in pain also. "Hisui go find help.quickly I don't think I'll make it." The dragon disappeared with a sorrowful look at her master. When Heather died, she died.
Hisui appeared by Kouga's arm with a sharp squawk to catch his attention. He grabbed at her & pulled her with him through the air as he ran. He could feel the tiny body, rigid, shaking, like in deep pain. He looked at the tiny dragon sitting in his palm. "What news of Heather?" He demanded. He had been told by Heather only days ago that she was connected body & soul with Hisui & that whatever happened to one, happened to the other, except for death. Hisui could die & Heather would only have an empty space in her heart, like a piece had gone, she would be like a zombie. But, Hisui was not so lucky, if Heather died, Hisui died. Heather had told him. 'It would be better if both died if the other died, it is horrible to see those who have lost their dragons.it is a fate worse than death itself.' "What news of Heather?!" He repeated more urgently to the shaking body. "Poison.help.now." Hisui passed out soon afterwards. Kouga tried to speed his pace but it was like his legs were logs, the weight bore down on him & dragged him back. With a growl he forced himself forward.
Heather had fallen in a cove of thick trees & lay by the roots of one, her head propped on a root, her wings losing their color fast, along with her skin. Her breath came in pained gasps & leaves & twigs stuck out of her hair & wings & out of her clothing of jeans & a T-shirt. Kouga could smell her a mile away. With a bound he landed by the tree & tried to get her up. "Heather, Heather.get up." She was shaking badly but she managed to open her eyes to look at him. "Hey." she smiled at him but quickly groaned as the pain spread through her again. He helped her stand up. "What happened?" He asked. Heather fell back down with a gasp. "Poison.poison shard.ugh." He scooped her up in his arms. "Hey, you ok?" Heather shivered & tried to smile at him but couldn't speak. He could see the pain in her eyes & took off.
He ran until he caught the scent of Inuyasha, which no longer stood out as the scent of a mutt to him. He ran toward them with Heather's body in his arms. She was still shivering despite the fact that she was unconscious. Hikari gasped & ran to her friend's side. "Oh dear god, what happened?" She asked, feeling her friend's forehead. It was like touching fire itself. She sighed & looked at her dragon. Shiro, does Hisui know anything about the poison & how it can be stopped?" Saisei flew in front of her face with a cheery chirp. "Not now Saisei." She brushed the dragon aside. "Shiro?" The white dragon appeared on Heather's lap & started chirping away to the dull & unconscious figure of Hisui. A small chirp issued from the black beak & then Shiro was back, hovering in the air. 'Strong poison. She should be able to withstand it but Hisui is not sure.' The answer rang in her mind as Shiro turned toward her with a very human expression of sadness. "Oh, dear God." Hikari said & looked away. "Damn, if only I could talk with Hikaru." Kirei jumped at the name, but said nothing. "He would know what to do." She paced until a groan caught her attention. Kouga looked at Heather in amazement. H eyes fluttered open but the pain reflected in them was unbearable. She took one look at Kouga & smiled at him. She didn't seem to be surprised at where she was at all. "Remember.remember Mr. So-And-So, remember, I'm a Lady." She teased him but another shot of pain made her silent again. Kouga looked up at Hikari, with large, pleading eyes. "Dammit." Hikari cursed & stomped over. Grabbing her friend's shoulders, her eyes went suddenly soft. "Oh, Heather." She breathed. Her eyes went back to her hard, angry stare, taking a firm hold on her friends shoulders she shook her hard. "WAKE UP, DAMN YOU!!!!!" Heather's eyes flew open & she stared at her friend in amazement & a bit of amusement. When Hikari let go again Heather smiled painfully at her. "Thanks." There was deep gratitude in her voice. "I was ready to sleep again. I was about to take the prize for worlds longest nap." Hikari shook her head but immediately put her hands on the finger that had been cut by the poison shard. "This is not the time to joke about death." Heather gasped at her friends cooling touch. Kagome ran over & took hold of the finger also. Rin was close behind her. "Heather-sama!!!" She yelled, hearing Heather scream in pain for the first time when the coolness from both hands became unbearable with her fiery fever. With a jump Rin grabbed onto the hand also, clasping her hands over Kagome's, whose hands were clasped over Hikari's. Blue, pink, & green light filled the small area. Kouga shut his eyes since he couldn't drop Heather to cover them so he could see. Rin yelled something that was fell on deaf ears in the roar of the lights meeting. A swirl of color & a loud roaring like a dragon was heard & then it was all silent. The other's had caught up in time to see all 5 of them on the ground, swirled in light. Heather, her eyes shut again, her skin & breath restored to what they originally were, was stretched across Kouga's lap. Kouga was leaning back against his arms with his eyes shut against the light that had blinded him through his eyelids. Hikari was sitting upright, holding her head & looking at Rin in amazement, the girl was swirled in green light. Kagome glowed pink & was also holding her head & staring at the tiny girl. "Rin.you're a miko?" The tiny girl nodded slowly. "Rin guesses that Rin is.Rin never knew Rin could do that before." Hikari's blue glow, Kagome's pink glow, & Rin's green glow had all died away, slowly, but Heather's fiery crimson did not go away. It seemed to pass through her open mouth & beat into her veins as she lay there. Kouga opened his eyes to look at them, when he saw Heather & the crimson light he immediately grabbed her shoulders & spoke to her. "Heather?" The girl stirred slightly & the last of the crimson light disappeared as she closed her mouth. She opened one eye, then the other & looked at Hikari up side down. She smiled at her friend. "I think something went wrong. You guys are up side down." Hikari laughed at her friend. "Look up dimwit!" Heather did as she was told & smiled at Kouga's worried face. "Hey, don't look so surprised. Were you wishing for my death?" He stared at her with his mouth slightly open but it was replaced by a large grin that showed all his fangs. "That's exactly it." Heather laughed as she tried to sit up without crushing Kouga's legs with her weight. Her legs were wobbly still but she thought she could master walking. "See? There was no need to worry I have it all under contro.oof!" Heather's knees buckled as she tried to walk & she fell flat on her face. "See what I mean? All under control!" Heather said from the dirt. Hikari laughed again still seated on the dirt. "What does dirt taste like hmm? I've always wondered but since you've done it for me then I'd really like to know your thoughts. It looks like you did catch some as you fell, flapping your yap." Heather rolled over & sat up. "It's really something you should learn first hand.but it does have a gritty taste to it." Heather said with a smile. Miroku cleared his throat & everyone on the ground hopped to their feet. The wind rushed past suddenly. "Ah, hell nah!" Heather cried as she looked at the darkening clouds. "It's Kagura!" Hikari yelled & drew Isanken from its sheath. It shone a beautiful white in the dark place. Inuyasha & Sesshoumaru drew their swords as well. Kohaku stiffened but grabbed up his chain-weighted weapon also. Kirara transformed in a flurry of red embers. Myoga & Jaken took to the hills. Shippo stayed on the head of Kirara, showing off a dozen different toys that he meant to be a threat to their adversary. Heather grabbed for her sword but remembered what Julie, her talking youkai dog, had once told her. 'Someday, to draw the full power of this blade, you will have to name it, but only the right name will bring out the full potential. Find the name in your heart, for only the heart does not lie.' Heather pulled the sword out & pointed it straightforward with her eyes closed. 'The heart.' She had it! Her eyes flew open & her mouth opened as wide as it could to carry the name on the raging winds. "I call on my sword.I call thee 'Ridaoukamiaino-ken'!!!" the words were strange to her & she hadn't even deciphered their meaning when she had heard them & repeated what she had heard. Kouga looked at her startled for a brief moment before he smiled at her softly. She suddenly realized what she had said. She had named the sword for him! "Love of the wolf leader sword." She breathed, touching her lips. 'Was that truly how she felt toward him?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone's voice. It was Kagura. Heather turned steely eyes on the woman who was eyeing her in distaste. "I thought that poison would cure you." She said disgustedly. Heather smiled at her, raising her now gleaming white sword at higher. "Not a chance, we Dragon's have a way of curing ourselves very fast of any kind of disease. We have immunities to most things including many different poisons." Kagura scowled at her, trying to keep her amazement at such a discovery to a minimum. A noise behind her drew the attention away again. Behind was a mass that writhed & seemed to block what little sun could be seen. It was Naraku, THE Naraku. Not one of his stupid puppets or one of his golems, it was Naraku, come to finish what he started. He looked down at Heather in what she guessed was amazement. "I thought you would be dead by now." His cool voice didn't hide the shock that had taken him. Heather smiled evilly & gave him a dirty finger sign that only Kagome & Hikari understood. "Yeah, right!" Heather stuck out her tongue & pulled the bottom lid of one eye down. "Takes a lot more than a tiny bit of poison to kill me! I'm waiting!" Naraku narrowed his eyes at the girl. 'No wonder he had thought that she was Hikari!' It did not matter now! He would finish them now, the jewel was almost complete & the largest part in his possession. With a slight nod at Kagura they went for the attack.
The next chap is the final one of this series! ^_^ Thanks for bearing with me for so long! After the final chap I'm going to post about whether I plan on making another but I need your comments first! If you are not part of this sight then write in your review whether you want a sequel or not! But wait until the last chap is aired to say the ending should be good, or maybe a cliffhanger? In the review of whether I should make another or not, please say what you think the sequel should be called if you want one. ^_^
As for Heather's sword, here's the break down: Rida - Leader Oukami - wolf Ai no - love of the (or something like that.) Ken - sword That's it. And if you've forgotten Hikari's sword is called Isanken, destiny sword. I hope you will enjoy the ending!! ^_^ I look forward to writing it!
~ OtakuSailorV ^_~
Heather woke as the sun was getting into the sky. The sun made the sky pink in the sky outside. With a groan Heather lifted herself up & looked around the room. Rubbing her dreary eyes she noticed that she was no longer outdoors. "Hmmm." She thought as a cup of steaming hot chocolate appeared in her hand. She stood & crossed the room to the door that led outside. Tugging on it she found that it was stuck shut. She gave it several hard tugs before giving up & thrusting her hand through the wicker interior. Moving her arm around in a circle she bent the sticks that were poking her arm & pulled the door open from the outside. "Piece o' shit." She grunted as she opened the door & stepped out in her baggy pajamas. She took a sip of the hot chocolate & looked quietly out at the place outside. Not a blade of grass on the ground, not a single tree or bush or any organic matter was on the vast plane. "Man, & I thought the grubs got to MY front yard."
Kagura entered shortly after to check on the girl. She stood stunned in the doorway, looking at the back of the girl who was standing outside with the door leading to the outside torn away from the doorway. The Black dragon, Hisui, was sitting on the banister beside Heather, looking out. "What." Kagura started. Heather turned around & smiled at her. "Yes?" Kagura pointed to the door. "How." Heather took notice of the demon ears on the woman but didn't mention them. "Oh.that?" Heather asked pointing to the broken & destroyed door on the ground inside the house. "I can fix that."
When Heather had replaced the door Kagura had found her voice. "So, I bet your wondering what you're doing back here?" Heather gave her a curious look. "No. Never been here before lady." Kagura noticed the word from before. "I am not 'lady' I'm Kagura of the Wind. Are you sure you've never been here before 'Hikari'?" Kagura smirked at Heather's shocked look. "Hikari? I'm not.uh.I guess you caught me huh?" Heather became suddenly aware of who the woman that she was. "Not much gets passed you now does it?" Heather plopped down on the ground, smiling. Kagura walked to the doorway. "Well, now that I know who you are I don't suppose you'll mind dropping your disguise?" Heather jumped back up. "Riiighttt.disguise." Heather got a picture of her friend ready. With a small flick of her fingers upward she started to change. Her hair got longer & formed a braided ponytail. Her freckles disappeared. Her eyes changed from their multiple colors to clear blue ones. But there was no helping her wings, she couldn't change them yet, she hadn't learned how to change the color of her wings. She shrugged it off, maybe she wouldn't have to use them. Kagura smirked at her. "I think Naraku wants to see you now." Heather shrugged. "Whatever."
Kouga could feel the weariness in his legs but he kept himself going. He could smell the barrier getting closer, he was almost there.
Hikari flew as fast as she could. A thought had occurred to her that Heather might be gone from the castle when they got there, but wouldn't Kagome be able to tell if Heather was on the move? Another thing ate away at Hikari as she flew. "What about Rin & Jaken? Those that couldn't defend themselves? Kohaku did not seem happy about returning to Naraku's castle so soon after his escape. Kagome had removed the jewel shard from his back nights before & Hikari & Heather had helped heal his wounds when the blood had started to flow. But was he still susceptible to Naraku's commands? Hikari sighed her thoughts away for the moment. Rin was under her care so there would be no question that she would be safe, Jaken would hide in the trees until the battle was over with Myoga miles away. Plus, she added in her mind, Kohaku was stronger than he thought & would not be taken from his sister & friends again so easily. She smiled at the way she had worked the problems out. The final battle with Naraku was close at hand.
It stank beyond what Heather could bear in Naraku's chambers. It was of miasma, poisons, rotting flesh, & other foul stenches that Heather could not name. Her disguise of Hikari would hold for as long as she willed it to but she was afraid that the fumes would knock her unconscious before she had dropped the disguise of her own free will. With a bit of a glare she looked at Naraku. 'Alright, Hikari has been here before & I can read minds. So this shouldn't be too hard, but what if he knows when I'm looking at his thoughts?' Naraku looked up at her as she sat down across from him as he had seen Hikari do weeks before. "So, Kagura tells me that you have no memory of this place?" Heather shook her head. "Nope I remember this place.it still smells the same." Naraku raised an eyebrow at her but Heather paid little mind to him. "I see that you have a Shikon jewel shard in your pocket." Heather smiled. "Yeah, so?" heather shrugged her shoulders as if it meant nothing to her. "I suppose you remember that I have collected most of the shards including this one which is extremely powerful?" He held out a shard in his fingers. "I desire the entire jewel. But.I see that you are attracted to the power as well?" He let Heather take the jewel from him slowly. "This doesn't seem to be a shard at all. I think your trackers faulty bub." Kagura & Naraku raised their eyebrows at the strange word but Heather only looked at the shard. She gasped slightly as one of the sharp corners dug into her skin & cut her. "Hmmm." She ignored the blood & looked it over again. The shard glowed with strange power, it was no Shikon shard, she could tell from the power it was emitting. "Yeah, this isn't one." Naraku smirked at her but Heather paid little mind as the skin on her finger reformed & the blood was wiped away by an unknown source. Naraku's smirk faded as he saw her heal. "I see you have acquired new powers." He said flatly. Heather smiled & held up her thumb. "Hell nah. I knew this." Naraku raised his eyebrow again. "You don't seem curious about your fate or defiant like the last time you were here Hikari." He noticed. "I learned to control such emotions until they are needed. She said shrugging her shoulders. "What's to be defiant about? It's not like anything's happening that's buggin' me or anything." Naraku noticed her wince slightly & grab at her hand that had been cut by his shard. She tossed it suddenly at him. "Think fast." She commanded with a smile at his shocked look. It hit him square in the forehead & bounced off, landing in his lap. Heather held down a laugh. "I said think fast." She said with a smile at him. He glared at her. "How did you come back & which such different powers that you can disguise yourself completely?" He demanded. "For all YOUR sources I thought you would know." Heather looked sidelong at the door behind him. He waited, glaring at her, Kagura watching the girls wince again. Heather groaned & grabbed her arm. It hurt so badly, & the pain seemed to be spreading fast. Sweat formed on her forehead as she tried to bear the pain. Naraku still glared at her as she winced again & again, shuddering & trying to talk against the pain. "If you can do tell me your secrets because you are dying & only I can save you." Heather groaned a curse. "Your people will not bother me any longer! I will be rid of you Hikari Oukami & then I will kill Inuyasha & take his shards & become full demon." Heather smiled at him but winced again. "Fool. Baka!" Naraku & Kagura stopped & looked at her. "Are you so blind that you cannot see a trick when you see one? You are doomed Naraku! I am no Hikari Oukami!" Heather's disguise fell away & Heather could feel some strength come back to her as she dropped it. Her eyes changed back to their usual color, her hair to its usual length. Her freckles reappeared on her cheeks & nose, & her aura shone a deep red of hatred. "I am Heather of the Black Dragon Clan! I am a True Dragon & friend to True Dragon Kayla Lorenz or as you know her, Hikari Oukami! Fool. You kill the wrong girl." Heather managed to stand up & her feathered wings appeared. Hisui was only starting to feel her master's pain as she flew around the red aura. "That poison will kill you before you can leave these grounds. I perfected it from the one that I used on Kouga of the Eastern Wolf Demon tribe. His worked slowly but yours is working twice as fast & it involves no movement to hasten it, it will only kill you faster if you run." Kagura said with a smirk but hated that the girl did not seem strong enough to withstand the poison & kill Naraku. "It does not matter if you are not Hikari. Your death, if you are truly her friend, will devastate her until she has no control & will foolishly jump into battle & kill herself." Naraku smirked but could not see Heather's beneath her bowed head & bangs. "Baka." She groaned out as her legs started to buckle. "The power of a True Dragon is that when we reach a point of no control.we turn into dragons ourselves.then we are at our most powerful & we are almost unstoppable except for when fighting another of our own kind. You are doomed either way." A tiny girl with long blue white hair stepped from the shadows at that. "Naraku. Kagome & Inuyasha bring many friends including Kouga of the Wolf demons here. They will arrive soon." The tiny girl's voice was sweet but Heather could sense that she was not a real being. Taking the opportunity though she disappeared & flew out of the barrier.
Naraku stood & walked out of the room swiftly. "Kagura bring me that girls body. I want to present it to Hikari herself when she arrives." He smirked to himself. "We will see what power this 'Heather' spoke of is about."
Heather swooped low, her wings felt like dead weights instead of nimble appendages. She groaned & winced against the pain again. Hisui started to dive down in pain also. "Hisui go find help.quickly I don't think I'll make it." The dragon disappeared with a sorrowful look at her master. When Heather died, she died.
Hisui appeared by Kouga's arm with a sharp squawk to catch his attention. He grabbed at her & pulled her with him through the air as he ran. He could feel the tiny body, rigid, shaking, like in deep pain. He looked at the tiny dragon sitting in his palm. "What news of Heather?" He demanded. He had been told by Heather only days ago that she was connected body & soul with Hisui & that whatever happened to one, happened to the other, except for death. Hisui could die & Heather would only have an empty space in her heart, like a piece had gone, she would be like a zombie. But, Hisui was not so lucky, if Heather died, Hisui died. Heather had told him. 'It would be better if both died if the other died, it is horrible to see those who have lost their dragons.it is a fate worse than death itself.' "What news of Heather?!" He repeated more urgently to the shaking body. "Poison.help.now." Hisui passed out soon afterwards. Kouga tried to speed his pace but it was like his legs were logs, the weight bore down on him & dragged him back. With a growl he forced himself forward.
Heather had fallen in a cove of thick trees & lay by the roots of one, her head propped on a root, her wings losing their color fast, along with her skin. Her breath came in pained gasps & leaves & twigs stuck out of her hair & wings & out of her clothing of jeans & a T-shirt. Kouga could smell her a mile away. With a bound he landed by the tree & tried to get her up. "Heather, Heather.get up." She was shaking badly but she managed to open her eyes to look at him. "Hey." she smiled at him but quickly groaned as the pain spread through her again. He helped her stand up. "What happened?" He asked. Heather fell back down with a gasp. "Poison.poison shard.ugh." He scooped her up in his arms. "Hey, you ok?" Heather shivered & tried to smile at him but couldn't speak. He could see the pain in her eyes & took off.
He ran until he caught the scent of Inuyasha, which no longer stood out as the scent of a mutt to him. He ran toward them with Heather's body in his arms. She was still shivering despite the fact that she was unconscious. Hikari gasped & ran to her friend's side. "Oh dear god, what happened?" She asked, feeling her friend's forehead. It was like touching fire itself. She sighed & looked at her dragon. Shiro, does Hisui know anything about the poison & how it can be stopped?" Saisei flew in front of her face with a cheery chirp. "Not now Saisei." She brushed the dragon aside. "Shiro?" The white dragon appeared on Heather's lap & started chirping away to the dull & unconscious figure of Hisui. A small chirp issued from the black beak & then Shiro was back, hovering in the air. 'Strong poison. She should be able to withstand it but Hisui is not sure.' The answer rang in her mind as Shiro turned toward her with a very human expression of sadness. "Oh, dear God." Hikari said & looked away. "Damn, if only I could talk with Hikaru." Kirei jumped at the name, but said nothing. "He would know what to do." She paced until a groan caught her attention. Kouga looked at Heather in amazement. H eyes fluttered open but the pain reflected in them was unbearable. She took one look at Kouga & smiled at him. She didn't seem to be surprised at where she was at all. "Remember.remember Mr. So-And-So, remember, I'm a Lady." She teased him but another shot of pain made her silent again. Kouga looked up at Hikari, with large, pleading eyes. "Dammit." Hikari cursed & stomped over. Grabbing her friend's shoulders, her eyes went suddenly soft. "Oh, Heather." She breathed. Her eyes went back to her hard, angry stare, taking a firm hold on her friends shoulders she shook her hard. "WAKE UP, DAMN YOU!!!!!" Heather's eyes flew open & she stared at her friend in amazement & a bit of amusement. When Hikari let go again Heather smiled painfully at her. "Thanks." There was deep gratitude in her voice. "I was ready to sleep again. I was about to take the prize for worlds longest nap." Hikari shook her head but immediately put her hands on the finger that had been cut by the poison shard. "This is not the time to joke about death." Heather gasped at her friends cooling touch. Kagome ran over & took hold of the finger also. Rin was close behind her. "Heather-sama!!!" She yelled, hearing Heather scream in pain for the first time when the coolness from both hands became unbearable with her fiery fever. With a jump Rin grabbed onto the hand also, clasping her hands over Kagome's, whose hands were clasped over Hikari's. Blue, pink, & green light filled the small area. Kouga shut his eyes since he couldn't drop Heather to cover them so he could see. Rin yelled something that was fell on deaf ears in the roar of the lights meeting. A swirl of color & a loud roaring like a dragon was heard & then it was all silent. The other's had caught up in time to see all 5 of them on the ground, swirled in light. Heather, her eyes shut again, her skin & breath restored to what they originally were, was stretched across Kouga's lap. Kouga was leaning back against his arms with his eyes shut against the light that had blinded him through his eyelids. Hikari was sitting upright, holding her head & looking at Rin in amazement, the girl was swirled in green light. Kagome glowed pink & was also holding her head & staring at the tiny girl. "Rin.you're a miko?" The tiny girl nodded slowly. "Rin guesses that Rin is.Rin never knew Rin could do that before." Hikari's blue glow, Kagome's pink glow, & Rin's green glow had all died away, slowly, but Heather's fiery crimson did not go away. It seemed to pass through her open mouth & beat into her veins as she lay there. Kouga opened his eyes to look at them, when he saw Heather & the crimson light he immediately grabbed her shoulders & spoke to her. "Heather?" The girl stirred slightly & the last of the crimson light disappeared as she closed her mouth. She opened one eye, then the other & looked at Hikari up side down. She smiled at her friend. "I think something went wrong. You guys are up side down." Hikari laughed at her friend. "Look up dimwit!" Heather did as she was told & smiled at Kouga's worried face. "Hey, don't look so surprised. Were you wishing for my death?" He stared at her with his mouth slightly open but it was replaced by a large grin that showed all his fangs. "That's exactly it." Heather laughed as she tried to sit up without crushing Kouga's legs with her weight. Her legs were wobbly still but she thought she could master walking. "See? There was no need to worry I have it all under contro.oof!" Heather's knees buckled as she tried to walk & she fell flat on her face. "See what I mean? All under control!" Heather said from the dirt. Hikari laughed again still seated on the dirt. "What does dirt taste like hmm? I've always wondered but since you've done it for me then I'd really like to know your thoughts. It looks like you did catch some as you fell, flapping your yap." Heather rolled over & sat up. "It's really something you should learn first hand.but it does have a gritty taste to it." Heather said with a smile. Miroku cleared his throat & everyone on the ground hopped to their feet. The wind rushed past suddenly. "Ah, hell nah!" Heather cried as she looked at the darkening clouds. "It's Kagura!" Hikari yelled & drew Isanken from its sheath. It shone a beautiful white in the dark place. Inuyasha & Sesshoumaru drew their swords as well. Kohaku stiffened but grabbed up his chain-weighted weapon also. Kirara transformed in a flurry of red embers. Myoga & Jaken took to the hills. Shippo stayed on the head of Kirara, showing off a dozen different toys that he meant to be a threat to their adversary. Heather grabbed for her sword but remembered what Julie, her talking youkai dog, had once told her. 'Someday, to draw the full power of this blade, you will have to name it, but only the right name will bring out the full potential. Find the name in your heart, for only the heart does not lie.' Heather pulled the sword out & pointed it straightforward with her eyes closed. 'The heart.' She had it! Her eyes flew open & her mouth opened as wide as it could to carry the name on the raging winds. "I call on my sword.I call thee 'Ridaoukamiaino-ken'!!!" the words were strange to her & she hadn't even deciphered their meaning when she had heard them & repeated what she had heard. Kouga looked at her startled for a brief moment before he smiled at her softly. She suddenly realized what she had said. She had named the sword for him! "Love of the wolf leader sword." She breathed, touching her lips. 'Was that truly how she felt toward him?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone's voice. It was Kagura. Heather turned steely eyes on the woman who was eyeing her in distaste. "I thought that poison would cure you." She said disgustedly. Heather smiled at her, raising her now gleaming white sword at higher. "Not a chance, we Dragon's have a way of curing ourselves very fast of any kind of disease. We have immunities to most things including many different poisons." Kagura scowled at her, trying to keep her amazement at such a discovery to a minimum. A noise behind her drew the attention away again. Behind was a mass that writhed & seemed to block what little sun could be seen. It was Naraku, THE Naraku. Not one of his stupid puppets or one of his golems, it was Naraku, come to finish what he started. He looked down at Heather in what she guessed was amazement. "I thought you would be dead by now." His cool voice didn't hide the shock that had taken him. Heather smiled evilly & gave him a dirty finger sign that only Kagome & Hikari understood. "Yeah, right!" Heather stuck out her tongue & pulled the bottom lid of one eye down. "Takes a lot more than a tiny bit of poison to kill me! I'm waiting!" Naraku narrowed his eyes at the girl. 'No wonder he had thought that she was Hikari!' It did not matter now! He would finish them now, the jewel was almost complete & the largest part in his possession. With a slight nod at Kagura they went for the attack.
The next chap is the final one of this series! ^_^ Thanks for bearing with me for so long! After the final chap I'm going to post about whether I plan on making another but I need your comments first! If you are not part of this sight then write in your review whether you want a sequel or not! But wait until the last chap is aired to say the ending should be good, or maybe a cliffhanger? In the review of whether I should make another or not, please say what you think the sequel should be called if you want one. ^_^
As for Heather's sword, here's the break down: Rida - Leader Oukami - wolf Ai no - love of the (or something like that.) Ken - sword That's it. And if you've forgotten Hikari's sword is called Isanken, destiny sword. I hope you will enjoy the ending!! ^_^ I look forward to writing it!
~ OtakuSailorV ^_~